Still In The Works (Spiritually)

Hey guys!
     You may have taken notice of our blog name and URL (or at least we earnestly hope so). Jonah's story is not actually a very redemptive one; it's a warning. The Sunday School story is only the 1st half. Jonah runs from God, gets eaten by a giant fish (They always make a big emphasis on it not being a whale...still haven't figured that one out), is sad, then repents, then gets vomited (In almost every Biblical translation that's the word alright!) onto shore. He goes to Nineveh, and preaches, the king tells everybody to be afraid, be very afraid, and they all mourn and repent their sin. Happy ending, right? Nope, you forgot the last chapter, my friend!
     "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it." (Jonah 3:10) Jonah's God's messenger; he must be so proud of himself! Plot twist #2. The next verse: "But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry." (Jonah 4:1). Jonah did see himself as God's instrument, but he hoped to lord that over others, and wouldn't share that power with these spiritual worms! So he goes up a hill and waits and hopes that the city ceases to exist in a glorious fashion. The book of Jonah ends with God's critique of Jonah's lack of love, and Jonah being a brat: Telling God that he is entitled to be angry about a shade-providing tree that died in the sun.

A very abrupt ending, huh?

     Has this ever been your attitude towards helping someone? For Believers it might sound like "Fine God, I'll give this homeless man a sandwich, but he's just gonna be helpless an hour later." Non-Believers: "My boss is watching, so I'll have a friendly-looking interaction with my project teammate, but inside I hope he gets fired for his laziness and how annoying he is." Shamefully, it has definitely been my attitude towards the downtrodden previously in doing "good things." I am no obligated superhero, in fact, "Christ came to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (I Timothy 1:15)
     So it's time for a reminder of how Christ treated them. It wasn't His action, but His heart that Jesus wanted us to see: Not the letter of the Law, but the Spirit. He brought Himself to us, and never lifted a finger at the injustice done to Him. And that injustice is not just the cross. Jesus had to be a man. He had lived forever with access to infinity and now had to walk the long, dry, hot dirt roads between the cities that rejected Him after He spoke nothing but Truth to them.
     Christ wanted us to take a similarly humble mindset. To see ourselves as more deserving of living in the devastation of Detroit as those who actually do. These aren't evil people, nor are they people we are to reach down to to gingerly carry out of their misfortune. They are brothers and sisters who have been hurt and would like for us to sit on their bed and cry with them, and then help propel them on in order to help them feel redemption.


Pray for us. We're 4 clowning, ADHD-ridden, sports fanatics and sometimes that can creep in the way of productivity. But oh we love Jesus; what an awesome brother He is to us! May He keep us on track. Pray for the campers, that God would be evident in all of their senses. Pray for the staff, that we and those we hire would have that highest goal of salvation for all of God's children to be able to dwell with Him. Pray that we would be united to all of God and to each other. Pray that we would pray. Do NOT pray for our safety, but rather for opportunity for kids to see God unhindered.

To The One Who Sits Upon The Throne be blessing and honor and glory and power forever,

He can have ours