Initiation

Posted by Jack

I’m told that all people involved in urban ministries are supposed to have exciting stories to tell about their exploits in the ‘hood. Well, here is one for our collection.

Today, I came home from work to find that our house had been robbed. Someone kicked in our basement window, trashing the whole area and then coming upstairs to rob us.

Also, I entered the house while the intruder was still here.

US Homelessness and International Opinion

Posted by Jack

(This is an article from Guardian News.)

A United Nations special investigator who was blocked from visiting the US by the Bush administration has accused the American government of pouring billions of dollars into rescuing banks and big business while treating as "invisible" a deepening homeless crisis.

Consp!re Party

Posted by Jack

Hello friends and lovers,

As some of you know, we are co-conspirators in a little project known as Consp!re. This is an exciting and collaborative effort in which communities of Christ-followers from all over contribute to the formation of a quarterly journal.

We were not very successful in passing out copies of Issue 2, from a few months ago, and we just recently received our shipment of Issue 3 of the publication.

On Saturday November 14, between the hours of 4pm and 8pm, you are invited to stop by the house and pick up your copy of Consp!re, Issues 2 and 3.

The time will be informal; you are invited to come in and out as you please. We will probably bake some cookies or something, and we are always willing to chat with willing co-conspirators.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions (or if you can't make it on Nov. 14, but still want to drop in for a visit).

Peace.

Year One

Posted by Jack

One year ago today, on October 15, I sat in an office on North Limestone Street in Springfield and finalized the paper work associated with the house at 125 West Mulberry Street.

Yes, today is the one year anniversary of the purchase of our house! Now let us all join together, raise our glasses, and celebrate. I propose a toast!

Early Learning Initiative

Posted by Jack

Every day at the preschool, I am given the opportunity to teach children important skills and lessons which become vitally important for their growth and development. During our scheduled lesson time, we recently decided to introduce some core curriculum of our own.

Death of a Homeless Veteran

Posted by Jack

Some of you who live near us may have heard about the man who was struck and killed by a train just a few blocks from our house. (The story can be read, with an accompanying video, here.)

What the news story did not tell you is this: Lorenzo was a homeless man who often slept outside a garage near the site of the accident. He had many injuries, some of which were associated with his military service in Vietnam. He had lost sight in one eye and his hearing was poor.

Coming...

Beggar's Night

Posted by Jack

In 2008, studies revealed 167 homeless individuals sheltered in Clark County. There were 127 unsheltered homeless. Also, 73 families with children were sheltered; 70 families with children were not sheltered. Interfaith Hospitality Network of Springfield reports housing 223 individuals in 2008, 101 of which were children.

Donations

We are now equipped to accept monetary donations online. Click the "Donate" button below to contribute any amount securely via Paypal account or credit card.

If you have questions about the donation process, or where Caesar's money goes once it is rendered unto us, feel free to email Jack using the contact information located on the right-hand side of the page.

A Little Less Conversation...

Posted by Jack

Please note: This is a sister-post, meaning it is meant to be read in conjunction with a previous blog posting. This is an extension of my earlier reflection entitled “Courting Mulberry Street.”

As you may have read in my previous comments, I have a healthy suspicion of “success.” When goals and projected outcomes are on the table, especially in terms of concrete data, I recognize the need for extreme caution and careful meditation. As such, we have shunned the compilation of any sort of 1 year, 5 year, or 10 year projected plan.

Courting Mulberry Street

Posted by Jack

Friends and lovers,

What follows is a "re-post" of some thoughts which appeared on the blog earlier this year, in a post entitled "The Best Laid Plans..."

I am posting these thoughts again, in a shortened form, for 2 reasons.

First, I think it is important that our friends and neighbors understand this aspect of our community development. Second, I have come to realize that some more needs to be said. The other side of this coin can be found in the sister-post entitled "A Little Less Conversation."

Words from a Profit

Posted by Jack

Hoooray!!!!! It's time for us to celebrate. Our banks are making billions of dollars again!

In what major news outlets are calling a record windfall, banks who received taxpayer bailout money just months ago have reported a huge increase in profits. Citigroup reported a second quarter profit of $4.3 billion. Bank of America reported a profit of $2.4 billion. Goldman Sachs raked in $3.44 billion, and JP Morgan-Chase went home with a comfortable $2.7 billion.

While many would consider this a victory, banking on the idea that a prosperous Wall Street will translate to a prosperous populace, the truth of the matter is far different.

A Prayer

Posted by Jack (adapted words from The Book of Common Prayer, and some pieces of the world to root them in, courtesy of The National Center on Family Homelessness)

Lord, have mercy on us. Hear our prayers.

An Unlikely Insurgence

Posted by Jack

This piece first appeared as an article in Consp!re: Issue 2.

We sat in the bar, smoke circling our heads as we quietly sipped our drinks. It is a tradition of ours, at least once a week, to walk about our battered neighborhood as improbable ambassadors, greeting all we meet with smiles. We seek out the seediest, shadiest, sleaziest bars in town and, in the simple act of pulling up a stool, we plant a flag for Jesus.

August Speaking Dates

Posted by Jack

Hello all,
I have been invited to speak at a few events/church services this coming month. I thought I'd post the information here for the curious observer.

You know what they say about idle hands...

Posted by Jack

In a sudden burst of creative energy, we acquired the first Mulberry House Sewing machine.

Consp!re: Issue 2 is Here

Posted by Jack

Hello friends and lovers,
I, on behalf of all of us here in the house, would like to apologize for our stunning lack of blog-updating lately. We've been "busy": both in the real sense that we genuinely have much to do, and in the false sense that have convinced ourselves that we are more important than we really are.

I personally intend to create time each week to post more consistently... so, if you read what we write here, you can expect more content soon.

Letter to the Editor

As appeared in our local paper, The Springfield News-Sun, and on their web page here.

Anti-begging law should be repealed

Greatest Fear

It is my fear, Christian, that you will find a decent-paying job and reside in safety and stability for the rest of your life. I fear you will live in comfort and calm, oblivious to the world outside your white picket fence. I fear you will be an upstanding citizen who goes to church three times a week, having never caused a stir. I fear you will live to a respectable old age and die peacefully in your sleep, with the covers drawn neatly around your chin. And I'm afraid your many descendants will gather around to bury you, under a shade tree, in a t-shirt that reads, "Radical Follower of Jesus Christ."

Friday Night Lights