Sunday September 5, 2010 will mark the third and final installment of our once a month, summer outdoor gatherings. We’ll share parables, BBQ, games and time with one another and our neighbors. Burgers and hot dogs will be provided. Please bring something to share. Also, please note that we will be gathering at 11AM.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 9:1-19 together.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 8:26-40 together.

Jeremiah and Marjorie Campbell will be sharing with us about their upcoming departure for Cochabamba, Bolivia and the work they will be doing there to provide food, housing and education for abandoned and imprisoned children.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 8:4-25 together.

Sunday August 1, 2010 will mark the second of our once a month, summer outdoor gatherings.  We’ll share story, BBQ, games and time with one another and our neighbors.  Burgers and hot dogs will be provided.  Please bring something to share.  Also, please note that we will be gathering at 11AM.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 8:4 together.

The following is a post by Greg Boyd from the Q blog.  Do you agree with Boyd’s perspective?  Should followers of Jesus think more critically about how we express patriotism?

In Colossians 2:7 Paul encourages Christians to be “rooted and built up in [Christ] and established in the faith.” The American Patriot’s Bible, edited by Gerald Lee and published by Thomas Nelson, connects this verse to part of a speech by John Quincy Adams, America’s sixth president, concerning the significance of the Fourth of July. Adams says that “next to the birthday of the Savior,” the “most joyous and most venerated festival” is Independence Day. For “the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior.” Indeed, Adam’s contends that “the Declaration of Independence…gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from heaven at the birth of the Savior….” The birth of America, in other words, is the beginning of the fulfillment of Jesus’ mission in the world.

Several things are interesting about this passage. For starters, it’s a little surprising that the Fourth of July beat out Easter for second place in Adams’ rating of “venerated” holidays. One might have thought American Christians would find Jesus’ resurrection a bit more “venerable” than the fact that we violently emancipated ourselves from British rule. In fact, while I fully appreciate that many Americans are grateful to no longer be subject to the throne of England, I’m puzzled about how the Fourth of July could appear anywhere on a Christian’s list of “venerated” holidays. How can a holiday that celebrates one group of mostly professing Christians violently overthrowing another group of mostly professing Christians be venerated by people who are called to love their enemies and to be peacemakers, even if they happen to find themselves on the side that won?

But the most remarkable aspect of Adams’ speech is undoubtedly his depiction of the violent birth of America as the beginning of the fulfillment of Jesus’ mission. Let’s overlook for the moment the systemic and barbaric injustices done to Native Americans and Africans by Europeans as they conquered and developed this land. And let’s agree that the political freedoms to enjoy “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are among the noblest in history. Still, on what basis could Adams or anyone else claim that the birth of this nation has anything to do with the mission of the Savior?

As he made clear to Pilate, Jesus came to establish a kingdom that is “not from this world.” The kingdom Jesus came to establish is not a “new and improved” version of the systems of the world. It’s something altogether different. For example, while all versions of the kingdoms of the world resort to violence against enemies when they deem it necessary, citizens of Jesus’ kingdom are called to imitate him by sacrificing themselves out of love for their enemies.

As noble as America’s ideals are, followers of Jesus must never buy into Adam’s delusion — repeated throughout history and still widespread today — that political ideals are a formula for the Kingdom of God. For the Kingdom is not about enjoying “life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness.” It’s about looking like Jesus, dying out of love for the very people who crucified him.

Kaleo is hosting a work party following the weekly gathering on Sunday July 11, 2010.  During this time we’ll partner together to clean, finish up existing projects, etc.

Kamp Kaleo will take place from July 15-18, 2010 at Farragut State Park.  Please note there will be no Sunday gathering at The Kave on July 18, 2010.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 6:8-8:3.

Sunday July 4, 2010 will mark the first of our once a month, summer outdoor gatherings.  We’ll share story, BBQ, games and time with one another and our neighbors.  Burgers and hotdogs will be provided.  Please bring something to share.  Also, please note that we will be gathering at 11AM.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 6:1-7 together.

Jeremy summed it up best when reflecting on his initial thought upon arriving. “This can’t be fixed.”. Everywhere you look you see brokeness. Systems. Buildings. Roads. People. The people themselves are amazing, hospitable, and a pure delight to be with. But the layers of poverty and dissaray seem daunting when you first step onto them.

So back to the terraces and the local men who constructed them, as well as our host Dave Graffenberger who is spearheading the project. As we hiked with these men, saw their work, and the work that needs to be done we also heard a Haitian proverb. “Little by little the bird builds it’s nest”. The initial shock we experienced and ongoing problems facing this area will not be solved quickly. They will not be solved by mere policy or money. But they will be solved little by little. With men like the ones we hiked with. With partnership and collaboration at the local and daily levels. With a willngness to be friends, to learn with and to co-labor with our brothers and sisters here for the long haul.

And that is the essence of our Jesus following way. Eugene Peterson called it “A long obedience in the same direction.”. Our Haitian friends talk of “little by little…”. May we learn to see the world, one another, and our true calling as children of God and co-workers in his mission through this lens and act accordingly.

In just a few days Jeremy and I leave, along with Dave and Josh from The Porch, for Haiti.  As we’ve prepared for this endeavor two books have been very helpful for me.  The first, Paradise Lost: Haiti’s Tumultuous Journey From Pearl Of The Caribbean To Third World Hotspot, is authored by Phillipe Girard and is a very helpful work in terms of getting a sense of Haiti’s history, struggle, and what has led it into the issues it currently faces.  The second, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest Of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World, is authored by an author I’m growing to enjoy more and more, Tracy Kidder.  It chronicles Farmer’s work in Haiti and beyond, giving a glimpse into the medical and social need that exists in Haiti while also putting us in touch with the resilience of a people too familiar with death, power plays and the like.

I have both of these if you find yourself interested and wanting to take a deeper look at the context where we’re entering this long term friendship and partnership in mission.

Finally, to all who have invested in this work, thank you!  In the last week we have brought in somewhere around $1,200 – $1,500 (and this doesn’t count the amount brought in by our co-conspirators at The Porch).  Any money brought in beyond the amount mentioned for the water project will go to other needs that arise, such as one that we just found out about this week.  Our friend to be, Herod, who pastors in the village of Godin, is involved in the development of the school, water project, agricultural initiatives and beyond wrecked his only transportation last week, a motorcycle.  For Herod, this is a hard loss as the bike enabled him to mentor other church planters and develop projects in villages beyond Godin.  If you’d like to give towards the Haiti work in general, or Herod’s transportation, you can do so during this Sunday’s gathering.

To stay up to speed on this partnership, be sure to check in with The Haiti Collective site.

As we gather, we’ll step away from our ongoing journey through Acts to see and hear the experiences of the Haiti Collective, a partnership between Kaleo and The Porch.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 5:17-42 together.

As we continue our journey through the New Testament book of Acts, we’ll explore Acts 5:12-16 together.

Here’s a tune for this beautiful rainy day.  It comes from Sandra McCracken and can be found on her New Old Hymns project, In Feast Or Fallow.

What kind of conversations, experiments and such are you having related to this?

What kind of larger initiatives do you care about to the point of being willing to live more simply in order to live more generously?