Jesus Set Me Free!

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Wendy and Kenna freely exploring during Curtis' Community Day in Laguna Beach.

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! - Galatians 5:1, The Message

Last week I was driving along the historic Arroyo Seco Parkway on my way to Pasadena to visit Curtis at his worksite. Otherwise known as The 110, it's probably one of the most dangerous highways in America with all of its sharp turns and curves through the mountains between exits and entrance ramps that are smaller than most driveways. Carefully winding my way north, my eyes fell upon the side of a small house with the following painted as big as a billboard:

JESUS SET ME FREE

Immediately, I began pondering whether the sentence was a joyful proclamation or a desperate plea. And then, I realized, it's probably both.

For those of us who believe in Christ as our savior, we can probably reckon back to a moment, or series of moments, where we felt the burden on our souls significantly lifted by the love of Jesus. But the story continues, and I for one can admit that even though that has occurred in my life, I constantly feel the need to ask for a renewed sense of freedom. Especially as the burdens of life begin to build up again, like sediment collecting and stopping up a river every now and again.

Jesus, please, set us free.

The interesting balance I find, is that often the moment we ask Jesus to do this, we find that it's already done. As we step towards thanksgiving, or really, just the reminder that if we haven't been thankful in awhile, now is as good a time as any to begin, I hope we can find ways to celebrate the Freedom of Christ with grace and gratitude.

Many blessings, and thanks for reading!

"Aqua Man" celebrating new freedom in a bigger home.

Will celebrating his love of futbol with many of the kids from the Bible Study.

You're free to join us for Thanksgiving along with the rest of the neighborhood! We've been making pies since Monday!

Holding to Hope, Thoughts from Will

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“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:23-25

In the mornings I work with the finance department at the Alegria transitional homeless shelter (right outside of downtown LA), finding ways to save on purchasing and free up more money for their struggling budget. In the afternoons, I have been tutoring many kids that are behind in school, both at work at Alegria House and in the neighborhood. There are a total of around 10 neighborhood kids and 20 kids at the transitional shelter’s after school program. To get an idea of how many schools struggle out here, one high school in the community has a 30% graduation rate. It has been humbling to serve the kids and to love on them as Christ would, especially since many of them come from broken families or have a parent that has HIV/AIDS. A high majority of these kids don’t realize the extent of the hardship in the life ahead of them. However, being able to tutor and also give them a glimpse of the love of Christ through encouragement and playing with them has been a privilege for me. I am starting to see how tutoring and positive role models are crucial in the complexity of escaping poverty and finding hope for their future.

Aside from my placement at the homeless shelter, we also have a neighborhood ministry in urban Hollywood. During the second week a couple of Hispanic teens in the neighborhood, who were new in their faith, came to our house asking to start a Bible study. It started small and grew to 35 kids last week, where they are coming either to search out God or continue to grow in their faith. Two teenage boys shared testimonies that were very powerful. Both were once involved in gangs, alcoholism and drugs, and were nearly killed. One went to jail four times. But God has radically transformed their lives as they now are active in their church and reaching out to their friends that have the same struggles they had. There are no explanations except God’s gracious working. I joined a soccer team with most of the guys, which has been great opportunity for mentorship and getting them off the streets into a positive environment. Please pray for these kids in their growth, that they flourish in good soil, instead of falling back into the rocky paths or thorns of the inner city. (Matt 13:1-23)

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2 1/2 Hours, By Curtis

"Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything!" - Psalm 46:10, The Message

4 days a week I spend a total of 2 1/2 hours a day riding on the bus. The 780 Metro Rapid is the exact one, Hollywood and Vine to Colorado and Los Robles. You would think that riding on the bus that long would get really old and boring, but it has been a time that I almost catch myself looking forward to. I ride my bike up the street a little over a mile and begin to wait for the bus. I have waited on buses anywhere from 2 seconds to an hour, but usually around 10 minutes. I put my bike on the front of the bus, tap my TAP card (prepaid card each month) on the machine, and head to find a seat. I usually head to the back and hope for a corner seat in the back row because that gives me a little more leg room and a window to lean on, but sometimes I just have to sit where I can find a spot. Friday afternoons are the most crowded on my way home from work for whatever reason, it's usually standing room only, but most of the time there are several seats available at my stop. Most days I have my headphones in listening to either some soft Christian music or some country songs to make me feel at home. I choose that music because I try to read and listen at the same time. I typically read a chapter or so and then try to spend some time in prayer and just being silent in the midst of the busy traffic. I have found this time to be exactly what I was missing in my relationship with God over the last four years. I didn't take very much time in college to really just be still and quiet with God.

If you'd like to learn more about Dwell, a year of intentional Christian community, service, and simple living, please click here.