One Feast at a Time

I John 5 says (among other things): Every God-begotten person conquers the worlds ways. What are the worlds ways? The worlds ways are the ways that divide us one from another because of ethnicity and political persuasion or gender or sexuality or economic status or handicapping condition -- you name it -- those are the ways of the world.

I heard a U.S. representative quote Chairman Mao on the radio a couple of weeks ago (my head is still spinning from that one) -- "power springs from the barrel of a gun." That sounds like the worlds ways to me. Doesn't sound like God's ways. Doesn't sound like Jesus' ways. But it is the way of the world, sure enough.

And so what do we do about it? How do we conquer the worlds ways? Marc and Karen hosted a moveable feast at their home on Saturday night. Today I got an e-mail from Marc saying that they had never done anything like it before. Well...you never would have been able to tell. The house was packed with people and the food was great (spectacular pineapple bars and tacos and spicy cheese dip). We all sang happy birthday to an 11 year old. There were people in their 80's in the room as well as a child that I don't think had made it 80 days yet. There were people from the burbs and people from the hood.

I enjoyed talking with Matt -- who lives down the street and just got his nursing degree and is working at Methodist. I enjoyed talking with Marty who lives a couple of blocks north and who is working hard to strengthen this neighborhood through his good work. I met Todd who works with Marc and Bruno who moved here from Brazil (not Brazil, Indiana -- Brazil where they speak Portuguese) and was an Olympic volleyballer for that country. I talked with Marc's dad and with Lonnie about music and Dave about his wife's recent surgery. I watched the children and the animals laugh and play. Gwen and I talked about the Children's Museum where she has applied for work to strengthen their relationship with this neighborhood, and about her garden where she grows very special and amazing tomatoes.

I'm not sure how do we do that -- conquering the worlds ways? Maybe I'd say we do it one feast at a time. One feast at a time.

What imagination the people of Broadway Church have! Why were Marc and Karen having a party? Because the church had encouraged and invited people to do so! Marc and Karen's was the 3rd or 4th of these going on. Sheila is having one next. Mike has had two. Anita is going to have one as are Tim and Jerrilyn and David and Jack. These are becoming wonderful places where we gather together and laugh and talk about important things and learn about one another. That's how we know what the Holy Spirit is up to -- in laughter and stories and over food. The people of Broadway Church know that -- they are busy conquering the worlds ways.