I'm a member of this Freecycle group online. Basically if you have something that you want to give away you post it and your trash may just be some one else's treasurer. In turn you can accept free items from others. It's a pretty neat way to recycle. I've seen just about everything from 1/2 used bottles of shampoo to old bicycles and guitars. I have also seen people post a "wanted" item and end up being able to fulfill some needs.
Sometimes people's needs go beyond a twin bed frame. I wish there was a "Freecycle" to meet emotional needs as well.
Offer: unconditional love and encouragement, pick up anytime.
I guess we would call that Christianity.
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
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3 comments:
Wow, Rachel, that's a great idea! I suspect it could get very draining, but great nonetheless. That would definitely be Christianity in my book. It makes me wonder how a lot of people who have their first encounter with "Christians" perceive the church, since most newbies don't stick around for too long. I wonder (thinking out loud) if a lot of them aren't looking for that "unconditional love and encouragement", or something else, and walk into too many of our conventional Christian barriers before they're needs are met... I suppose the old adage still holds true, people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. I don't recall Jesus making rules take precedent over relationship, and love. Not that boundaries aren't prudent, and even necessary at times. I thinking however I need to reexamine the hoops I require people to jump through (I probably don't see them as hoops :-( before I offer a cup of cold water, encouragement, or a hug. I know for myself it has been all too easy to prejudge someone's situation to determine if their predicament is their fault or not. My resulting self-righteous judgment probably hasn't served to help them at all, I hate to admit. Nothing like being kicked when you're down...
Thank you, Rachel--I very much appreciate your insight.
Nancy,
You've presented some powerful thoughts here! Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
Isn't it sad how we can take something so simple as "love one another" and complicate it beyond recognition?
Thank you for your insights!
Lon
I'm glad my thoughts have gotten your thoughts going. I do think as a whole the church has gotten very out of wack on what is required to be in the church. I think that's an area where society has crept in. I am just as guilty of this and am working more on loving and less on judging.
Thanks for keeping the conversation going. When we open our hearts, we truely touch each other and in turn show God's love. Thanks
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