Imported Peanut Butter and other things that are hard to share.

[James] If you haven't tasted natural peanut butter before, I recommend that you do. The pure taste of peanuts without the guilt of hydrogenated oils beats out the candy tasting skippy of our youth. I discovered Adams along with a number of other healthy foods during my years in Montana. Ryan and I would buy Adams 36 oz. at a time. In order to stir this vat of sandwich spreading, banana topping, carrot dipping goodness, we would take a power drill, attach a wooden spatula to it, and mix the ingredients to perfection. After returning from Montana, I have yet to find a distributor of Adams. Recently a great friend of ours, Sarah, was in Montana visiting and as a gift to Ryan and I, she bought a jar for us and mailed it back to us in St Paul. The box arrived along with a picture she took of us mixing a jar with the power drill.

Over the course of the next few weeks the peanut butter began to be enjoyed, not only by Ryan and I, but by the community. I will never know if the roommates thoroughly savor every taste of the peanut butter goodness or not, but it was eaten. This morning, I finished off the jar and I thought about how it seemed to have disappeared before my eyes, like the years of a child growing in the midst of their parents (; And it was HARD! What were my other options? Could I have put Ryan's and my name on it?... yes. Could I have asked the roommates to buy some other peanut butters?... yes. But I, like my brothers have been challenged to let go of the things that we consider so sacred and so important to us. In the process of doing so, it hurts! But we believe that the benefits thereof are far surpassing to the personal possessions of selfish and hording mentalities. There is still a line at which we draw "mine-yours", but I feel that this line is shifting all the time towards "ours" and it is beautiful... and hard.

Another "thing" of mine that is maybe most difficult to share is my personal space, especially that of my room. I have no walls separating my room from the community space which makes for exposure to a lot of commotion. I am able to adapt quite well, I would say, to the circumstances, but there are those few times that my sleep and my need for alone time is severely jeopardized. I always try and keep an open-bed policy for my brothers. Often times when I am away my roommates and friends will sleep in my bed which I am more than happy to share the comforts of; and it is comfy, but at times it gets to be too much... crawling into an unmade bed, with sheets everywhere, pillow cases soaked in other peoples B/O, and sharing a bed with people who are "loud sleepers" is not always EASY!

I am trying to find the balance between being a humble and gracious giver with still allowing myself to be honest and true to the things that are important to me. As the line moves from "mine-yours" it will be important that I treat everyone's gifts as gifts and attempt to be a good steward of those gifts. How many times have I left my things lying in other peoples space, taken of their food without contributing whole-heartedly, and how many times have I expected that someone else would do the dishes, sweep the floor or clean the bathroom.

What would be hardest for you to share with others?
What things of others do you enjoy the use of and maybe take for granted?

Prayer for a "Homeless" Man

[Ryan Ny]
Let me start with how this whole idea came about. A few weeks ago while sitting in on the 180 service at Crossroads, Pastor James was speaking about an event coming up called 30 Hour Famine. 30 Hour Famine, as described on their website, "is an international youth movement to fight hunger. It will bring your group closer together and to God, feed hungry children, and change our world forever. Students fast for thirty hours and raise funds to help feed and care for children around the world. By sacrificing and serving others, they are learning to think outside themselves and see the world as Christ sees it"(www.30hourfamine.org).

Over the next few days my mind kept slipping back to 30 Hour Famine and I felt the LORD calling me to do something more. I felt that God wanted me to know and feel not only was it was to be hungry but also to be homeless.

So starting this week on Thursday afternoon (April 23) I will set out on this adventure and return Saturday evening. While I am homeless I will be fasting, wandering and sleeping the streets of St. Paul, playing guitar and singing to raise money to donate to 30 Hour Famine and doing whatever else I feel the LORD calling me to do while I am there.

I am writing this blog for one reason: I need prayer. Prayer for a few things. First of all that God will keep me focused on why I am there, that I will allow God to use me as the hands and feet of Jesus, for safety and perseverance and that through all this that I will not leave that same man that I started as and will be able to see the world a little more like Jesus does.

I will be keeping a journal as I embark on this adventure and I hope to possibly take pictures and video and will do my best to post it as soon as I return.

God Bless

Community Alive (the rest of my week)

[Tony]It didn’t feel right to comment only on what happened on Friday when the rest of my few days off have been equally satisfying to so much that my heart was thirsty for.
On Friday evening I had a chance to go golfing with my little brother and then have dinner with him at Champp’s in Woodbury where we both worked not long ago. It was so refreshing to be able to spend time with him without feeling that I had to rush my time with him because I had other things I had to get to. We spent hours together talking and joking and catching up on brother stuff.
I left my brother and Champp’s feeling full in my tummy and deeply happy at the day that was unfolding. When I pulled up to Ekklesiah in my car I saw a number of people outside on the sidewalk and on the porch. Then I saw a guitar. Then I saw a dgembe (I know I butchered the spelling). I parked and quickly proceeded to make myself comfortable on the porch. The next few hours was filled with worship that was loud, deep, genuine, and filled so much with the Holy Spirit it was palpable. There was prayer between brothers and sisters for one another, for the city and for our neighbors, and it was all done outside, for everyone to hear and anyone to listen and join. Our little community at Ekklesiah has grown so much! The depth of fellowship that was displayed that night could have only come as a gift from God. It is so satisfying seeing that we are growing so closely together and so closely together in God. We are learning, it seems everyday, that Christianity is meant to be done in compassionate community with others. I am so happy that we are becoming a community together that can show others what that looks like and how much joy it can bring.
On Saturday I was able to go with Ryan and Kelly Lindstedt to get a couch for their new home. This was the first time I have been to their new place (which is literally blocks from Ekklesiah. I love how God continues to infiltrate this neighborhood with his followers!). Seeing them there, together in their new home, while they worked together to unpack their things and move in, gave me a sense of awe. Their relationship together just seems so right and so God drenched. I am so happy for them (even though we miss Ryan at Ekklesiah).
Saturday afternoon Nathanial, his brother Isaac, his dad Greg, James, myself and a couple of bored kids from across the street went to the park to hit baseballs. Oh, how good that felt. There is something about running around like a little kid at the park that fills me with love of God and friends.
Nathanial, Sarah Malloy (a friend of James’ and Ryan’s from Montana) and myself went to Cossetta’s on Saturday night for a late night dinner. Enough said.
Sunday was such a day for God. The day started with 180 in the morning, learning about God and worshiping him with our joyful high school Jesus people. Then, Christi and I went out for lunch with my whole family. That was chaotic… and really wonderful. From there, Christi and I met with the Compassion, Mercy, Justice team for The Gallery and dreamed big about the outreach of The Gallery when it launches next January. After the meeting came Sanctuary and after Sanctuary came more time at Ekklesiah. This time, like many Sunday evenings, many people came from Sanctuary to the house to spend more time with each other in a place that is centered on living for God. God brings people into our home because He knows that we will see Him when we are all together there. When our community gathers like that in the home God has given to us, the Holy Spirit is heavy and alive. Nobody wanted to leave. Literally. Last night, nine people ended up sleeping at Ekklesiah. I cannot stop thanking God for the depth of love that comes out of the community He makes here. If you haven’t experienced this at our house yet, please come. We want you to know God in this way.
Today, after sleeping in for too long, I have spent most of my day here at Café Latte on Grand Ave. I spent most of my time completing my application for Bethel Seminary (finally, I am done!). Now, I look forward to another relaxed night of fellowship and God and two more days off. How wonderful God’s blessings are.
I’ m glad I had time today to write to all of our fellow Ekklesiah blog readers! May God bless you and guide you in everything you do.

Free Hugs!!

[Tony]As a result of a change in my scheduled work hours at the airport, I am now on day four of six days in a row off. For those of you who know me, you probably can imagine how badly I needed this break. Since last Thursday evening, my time off has been a blessing of God as I have been able to find deep restoration of my body and my heart.
On Thursday, while at work, my friend Nick and I watched a video on youtube.com about a guy who walked around a city holding a sign that read “Free Hugs”. The images in the video were beautiful. The implications were deep and breathed hope and love. With two words, actions were able to speak volumes of healing and love that our world thirsts desperately for from each other. Nick and I decided that this was something we needed to try. We were already advocates of free hugs there on the ramp with our co-workers (which is an interesting endeavor when you consider that there are two female rampers and thirty-some mostly homophobic manly men rampers). On Friday afternoon, Andrew Holmquist, Ryan Nyquist and myself were sitting in the living room at Ekklesiah, hanging out and enjoying our day off when the idea popped into my head. After surprisingly little deliberation, the three of us were on our way to Target for posterboard and markers. Not long after, we were walking up the steps of the capital holding “Free Hugs” signs above our heads. Ryan ran up the hill before us while Andrew and I walked up just in time to see a mass of people running down the steps to Ryan. A group of German exchange students were at the capital for a tour and as they came outside, Ryan was in prime position for an ambush an of hugs. Throughout the afternoon, the three of us walked around downtown St. Paul, loving people openly and without agenda or cost. Some people looked down and walked directly away from us. Many others hugged us as if we were close friends. Some hugged us quietly, some ran across streets and intersection screaming “I want a hug!!” The three of us split up for most of the afternoon and then reconvened at certain times to talk about what had happened. The stories were beautiful and many. It seemed like each hug was a story. We told and heard stories of words of a deep need to be loved: “so many hugs today come with a price” (how true!). We told each other about how there were certain people who you could tell just needed, I mean really needed, a hug from anybody. People wanted to take pictures everywhere. Over and over again we found that we were being asked “why are you doing this?” Our responses kind of surprised both them and us: “because you needed a hug,” “because love wins,” “because everyone needs to be loved,” “because god has loved us so that we can love each other,” “its all about Jesus,” “to do something beautiful for someone else.”
Above all, I have stories from this that I will tell for a long time. I know I will do this again. I learned that even the smallest gesture of love can be received with profound implications. I learned that so many people long to be embraced for who they are. So many people need to be loved by anybody, or maybe by everybody.

“YEARS IN THE MAKING”

[Nathanial] I would like to share about one of the largest blessings in my life right now: My job.
My title is an “Educational Partner” in the Special Ed department of Academia de Cesar Chavez. ACC is a small charter school located on the east side of St. Paul [less than 10 minutes from my residence at Ekklesiah!] It is true; I do not have a teaching license. Even more ironic; me bachelor’s degree was in music management. My job is a true sign that God has a sense of humor. He has been paving my way and preparing me for this job for YEARS through my various life experiences. Here is just a small list of the “Godincidences” [not to be mixed up with coincidences]

• I am blessed to have 18 years of experience living with a [phenomenal] brother with Asberger’s
• My first job in high school was being a Personal Care Assistant for a local boy with high-functioning Autism
• I spent three summers with elementary-aged children employed by a Park and Recreation program.
• Summer 2007 I became a PCA for adopted boys of Latino descent.
• My senior year I enrolled in a class entitled “environmental education” because it was a science course without a lab!
• I took Spanish 101 my senior year at Luther out of curiosity.
• The highlight of my internship in the corporate music world last fall was an educational program entitled “Kinder Konzerts.” This included leading a program all by myself in December!
• Finally, I never truly applied for this job position. It sort of just fell into my lap. I have Jessica Print and Bridget Bursaw to thank for the “word of mouth” hearing about this job position.

I started on January 5th of this year and haven’t looked back. I get to spend all day with kids!!! I hear laughter and see smiles that need to shine to the corners of this dark world. I am discovering amazing concepts like “paid time off” and am blessed to be provided with health insurance. I also have a deeper level of appreciation for snow days and field trips ;) I believe this job is a true testament that although I may have tried my own path for the past numerous years, God knew where my path was supposed to lead all along. All the glory is due to Him and Him alone.