Love Feast at Ridge

I'm writing this after having gotten back from our second Love Feast at Ridge. Tonight was a bit different than the first. The kids greeted us and waited patiently for the food to be finished. While it was cooking, about 20 of us headed out with shovels, rakes, brooms and trash bags. We quietly hit the perimeter of the lot, cleaning up the heaps of cups, broken decks, empty spray paint cans and plastic bottles. Looking at it, I thought we'd never make a dent. But, within minutes a number of the skaters asked if they could help. We filled 14 contractor bags.

Some of the kids lingered this time. They shared their stories and told us about their art. At one point tonight I thought..."have you ever had a moment, the moment, when you know you are exactly where you are meant to be?" Tonight was one of those moments for me. It was a love feast. We met these guys at their table...in their world. We served and ate with them. We listened and we shared. We left knowing, this is just the beginning.

Love Bombing

Last weekend we threw down a love feast at an underground skatepark not far from our home. For the last five years, skaters have come in droves to an abandoned parking lot. They have made it their own. As you walk into the area, past the metal gate you notice immediately this is sacred ground. You know you are walking into the precious territory of a misunderstood culture. It is an art installation...an expression. It reflects hurt and hope. It reflects love and hate. Above all, it reflects passion. These boys were passionate! The youngest one had to be 9 and the oldest, in his college years. (I couldn't help but think of the movie the Lost Boys. )

A couple of us went early the morning of our love feast to do a little prayer tagging, as we like to call it! We prayed over the area and asked Jesus to use us to bring more love to that place.

In the evening a group of us piled in trucks and vans with a grill, food and the tables we had made out of broken skatedecks we had taken from the area. We arrived and set up in a corner of the park. It didn't take long for a the line of hungry skaters to form...I think the smell of bacon cheeseburgers on the grill is enough to get anyone's attention! The kids began to ask, "What are you doing this for?" "What are you promoting?" I listened as our group answered. "We just thought you'd be hungry." "We wanted you to know someone cares about you guys." "We're not promoting anything...we like to call this a love feast." Some of the kids couldn't believe it. One kid said, "No one likes skaters. My mom wouldn't even feed my skater friends."

We ate with the kids, hung out and watched them skate. I can't help but think of worship when I see kids skateboarding. I can't help but think of the absolute abandonment they give to their sport...there is no fear. They ride and perform as if no one is watching. They give everything to that moment. I'm teared up just thinking about it. What if I gave everything to the moment...without fear. What if I worshipped with every part of my body, mind and soul not caring about who was watching? I know...they may not know who they're skating for...but, I know in my spirit, God knows. He is watching them and enjoying their expression. He is longing for them to turn their faces upward and have them see His smile. He wants them to feel his pleasure in their worship!

I learned a lot this weekend. There is something beautiful that happens when we go out of our comfort zone and open our hearts up to a different perspective. Our God is so creative and so immense!! There is no limit to the way He expresses Himself...and no limit to the way He has created us to express ourselves! I am so thankful for partaking in this love feast!

Manna and visions

God gave me new revelation the other day on my walk. I asked Him to reveal something new about Himself to me. He did. He's so cool! God gave the Israelites a vision of the Promised Land. He gave them manna to nourish them, sustain them and bless them. It was enough for the day...no more.

The Tangible Kingdom

I am in the middle of reading The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. You can find their blogs over to the right. I highly, highly recommend this book! It has been so exciting for Devon and I to read a book that so closely resembles what our journey has been these past three years with regard to building a house church...or as they call it, a missional community. It is such a cool thing to have, in writing, what we have been wrestling with and the conversations Devon and I have been having these past couple of years! I think we may go through this book with our missional community! We would love to see this grow all through Baltimore! It's grassroots, it's organic, and it's Tangible to everyone. If you read the book....let us know your thoughts!off to save Corban from the candy drawer!
Kristin
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1496398223

September Potler Update

It was one quick summer!! I'm sure you all feel the same way. It was jammed packed for us...days at the pool, baseball games, gymnastics and a long road trip out west! We saw the arch and traveled to the top, in St. Louis. We visited the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and saw a shoot out in Deadwood, South Dakota. We spent a wonderful week with the Brekhus' in Minnesota and shared wonderful meal, after wonderful meal! We returned to get ready for school. All the kids began a new school this year. Kaya started as a Freshman at a School for the Arts. Nahum began middle school at their new school...and Zeb and Tavi started there as well. After the first week and much driving, the consensus is that everyone loves their new schools! Zeb said, "I can't wait for next week!" This is a beautiful change from last year!
So now we are getting back into the school groove! Zeb is playing fall baseball. Nahum is playing soccer. They both have a new love for skateboarding! You should see the ghetto skatepark in our back yard! Tavi is moving to a new gymnastics team. She was evaluated and is training at level 4 and the coach thinks she will be ready to compete come January. She is a determined athlete! Corban is talking a mile a minute!! He repeats everything he hears! We have to watch what we say! :) Kaya is focusing on getting into a routine for high school. It is a demanding school but he is loving the challenge!
Devon's company, Ripristino Remodeling, is growing quickly! He is busy! We still stand in awe everyday that this new career change is working out! He loves what he is doing.
We have been praying a lot about what God is doing with our house church. We feel like He has given us some specific directions for this year. Our house church will be doing monthly outreaches around the city this coming year! We are really excited about what we have planned...more on that later!
For now, please stand with us in prayer as we put our hand to the wheel and try and balance family, Kingdom building and work. May Jesus always be the reason we do what we do!
Thanks for reading!! As always, please let us know how we can pray for you!
In His Service,
Devon and Kristin and Tribe

Baptism by fire light...two years ago, remembered

"As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is the water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away." Acts 8:36-39

As Steve read this passage, I thought "Yeah, why shouldn't they be baptized ?" I know it's dark and our only light is from a couple of tiki torches but, I looked at the faces assembled...how they glowed. I felt the warmth and peace only the presence of the Holy Spirit could bring. A eunuch...a person typically set apart to serve the king...I looked at Damon. He was stretched out in his wheelchair, a cigarette slowly burning in one hand and he said, "I just want to say one thing...I repent for my thoughts, for my lusts, I repent for all I've done and for being a hypocrite..." He laid back, draped his head over this chair and Steve, Devon and Mike encompassed him. "I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit..." The words resounded and sang to the rhythm of the flowing water. Tears moistened Damon's cheeks. There was no eruption of applause but we all felt the deep joy, the peaceful joy of Damon's promise to be set apart to serve his King.

Devon moved onto Zeb. He laid his hands on his head. "How many father's get this opportunity?" I thought. Devon prayed a father's prayer of blessing, of publicly recognizing a 7 year old's heart desire to be baptised. He had begged for this to happen. We were all assembled because of his persistence. "I baptize you..." The water rushed and drenched him. Applause and rejoicing broke out. Faith like a child.

Eric walked up for his turn. His chest bearing the wounds and the scares of a life lived apart from God...a life lived on the streets, the visual marks of sin. Yet, emblazoned over his heart was a cross...sacrifice, mercy, forgiveness. He bows his head ad prays, "Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Thy rod and staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies..." (water, washed white as snow) "You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows." I went to hug him and he was trembling. Forgiven.

As we began to go back in the house, all I could think about was the poem God had just written. Each stanza had it's own rhyme and yet came together to create it's own hymn.

Wait. Everyone begins to file back outside towards the galvanized tub of water. The torches still flickered and Kristen walks up to be baptized. Kristen? She grew up on the mission field. She emanated the Spirit of God. "Haven't you been baptized already?" "Only as a child," she said. "I have the chance to make this declaration for myself."

The children lit their sparklers. "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit..." The rushing sound of water, a sparkling light...I layed hands on Kristen to pray for her. I began to laugh. I looked at her and said, "Only Jesus would be so creative to give you sparklers at your baptism!"

Here we were in the dark, but we were lights that broke through the darkness. We were His painting, His song. We had just experienced His anointing. Set apart for the King. Forgiven. Faith like a child. A light in the darkness.

Yahweh I need your help

Yahweh...I need your help
"Yahweh"Take these shoesClick clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoesAnd make them fit
Take this shirtPolyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirtAnd make it clean, clean
Take this soulStranded in some skin and bones
Take this soulAnd make it singYahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is bornYahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn
Take these hands Teach them what to carry
Take these hands Don't make a fist
Take this mouth So quick to criticise
Take this mouth Give it a kissYahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is bornYahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn
Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean This love is like a drop in the oceanYahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, tell me now Why the dark before the dawn?
Take this city A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

by U2