One of the most dangerous and rewarding ways that we can Live Like Jesus is to step outside the walls of the church and serve people in the community. But stepping into the world around us means that things might get a little messy. We will have to interact with people that we would normally not hang out with. We will be confronted with the realities of this fallen world through the pain and suffering that people are facing in their lives.

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

The man answered, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:25-29

That is the key question, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus goes on in the parable to expand our view of “neighbor” to anyone in need. In the book Ministries of Mercy by Timothy Keller, he states, “Our nation is becoming a mosaic of different groups, each with a unique complex of needs” (p.25). In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) Jesus describes how the Samaritan came upon a Jew who had been beaten and robbed. The Samaritan provided physical protection from any kind; a new attack, medical assistance by bandaging his wounds, transportation by putting him on his own donkey, and assisted financially by paying for his stay at the Inn. In short, the Samaritan met a whole range of needs for this person. One of our goals and callings in our Christian life is to identify needs in our community and meet them in a practical way. It is by meeting these practical needs that the world will know our love for God and His love for them.

When I heard that our Women’s Ministry was going to one of our local strip clubs simply to let the girls know they are loved; I was blown away. They go to the clubs on a Saturday evening and throw a party for the girls. They bring gifts and homemade cookies with no conditions attached. You can imagine the first few times they went that the girls didn’t immediately warm up to them but as they kept going the girls did open up. The girls have hurts, stresses and brokenness just like anyone. Our Women’s Ministry was able to go out and identify a need in our community and begin to reach out and now has an ongoing relationship with many of the girls. What about you? What needs do you see in our community? How can you reach out and meet those needs?

One of the most overlooked factors in determining how we can restore our brothers and sisters is our past experience, particularly our hurts and problems we’ve overcome with God’s help.  Since our greatest life messages comes out of our weaknesses, not our strengths, we should pay close attention to what we’ve learned from life experiences. Rick Warren often says,  “God never wastes a hurt!”  He wants you to be open to ministering to people who are going through what you’ve already been through! Here is a short story to illustrate the point.

A drunk fell in a hole and couldn’t get out. A businessman went by. The drunk called out for help. The businessman threw him some money and told him get yourself a ladder. But the drunk could not find a ladder in this hole he was in.

A recovering alcoholic happened to be passing by. The drunk cried out, “Hey, help me, I’m stuck in this hole.” Right away, the recovering alcoholic jumped in the hole with him. The drunk said, “What are you doing? Now we’re both stuck here.” But the recovering alcoholic said, “It’s okay, I’ve been here before, I know how to get out.

He comforts us and teaches us in situations so that we can help someone else who is going through a similar struggle. Who can relate better to someone who’s had an alcohol problem than somebody who’s been an alcoholic?  Who can better relate to someone who’s going through a divorce, than someone who’s been divorced?  Who can better relate to someone who’s lost a husband or wife in a death, than someone who’s lost a husband or wife? All of our life experiences, God wants to use in the lives of others.

What a long strange trip it’s been! Sorry I’m flashing back to my Grateful Dead days. It is hard to believe that it has been over 16 years since I began my journey with Christ. They say, “Time flies when you are having fun.” Who are “they” anyway? Well “they” are right time. This has been the adventure of a lifetime but it sure has gone by fast. With that said I don’t want to waste any more time on the unimportant minutia of life but to focus more of my attention to helping others experience the freedom that I have discovered.

I grew up in a normal family (whatever normal is, right?). Although we were not a very religious family but we were Chreasters! You know attend church on Easter and Christmas. So growing up I didn’t have any kind of spiritual foundation. I was introduced to drugs, alcohol and pornography when I was about 13 years old. By the time I was a junior in High School I was in pretty deep. Parents have no idea what kids are up to these days. By the time I was 23 my life was grumbling when my family did an intervention. Ever see the show? Yeah, it was pretty much like that! I walked out the door with no intention of turning back BUT something began to change over the next few days and I found myself in my first recovery group. There I met a Christian man who brought me to a Christ-centered group at Saddleback Church called Celebrate Recovery.   Here I learned about living my life devoted to God and the tools to help me change.

One the key principles that I have learned is the need to help others. When all other attempts have failed to overcome temptation working with others gets me out of myself which is what this blog is all about.  ^“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (G6.1) I have learned that all of us are in a unique position to help someone else who is in the same place we were when we started. I look forward to continuing the adventure and hope that you will join.