Earlier this week, I volunteered at Manna House (more about Manna House here, here and here) as I often do. There is never a time that I leave there without some new insight, but on this day I left with a book in hand as well.

The book, Radical Compassion, Finding Christ in the Heart of the Poor, (Amazon link*) is by Gary Smith, S.J., a Jesuit priest who lived and worked among the poor of Portland, Oregon for nearly 10 years. It is a journal of his ministry to them and their ministry to him, a collection of personal stories about his relationships with people who have been neglected, abused, beaten down and have endured struggles and hardships that are painful to read.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame* the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
I Corinthians 1:27-29

Note: King James Version uses the word confound — to perplex or amaze, especially by a sudden disturbance or surprise; bewilder; confuse — instead of shame. But I think both are applicable.

Some of the stories are funny, some sad, some are agonizing to read, but the story of a man named Robert is particularly poignant — the kind of poignant that makes it difficult to see the pages through the tears. Father Smith met Robert, 38, depressed, addicted to drugs and HIV positive and for the next two years or so, walked with him through his illness and death. Toward the end of his life, Robert asked to be baptized and during that holy moment, Father Smith shared the story of the good Samaritan. His reflections on that passage are profound:

You are the good Samaritan, Robert, because you have pulled all of us out of the safe trenches of our lives. And your love — so squeezed out of you by life and history — you have claimed again and given back to us a hundredfold. What a grace it is to be present to see you commit your life to the one who is the author of your love. Your faith is healing oil for our wounds.

And so the weak shame, confound — teach, nurture, edify — the strong. May we all know a good Samaritan.

*The only thing I get if you buy and read this book is a bit of satisfaction.

I just posted this on Memphis Connect:

Joe Carson talks with a friend in downtown Memphis

If you were asked to write your eulogy, how would it read?

For Kelli and Dr. Joe Carson, members of The Life Church of Memphis, that question launched a journey that led them from a comfortable suburban life to ministry in neighborhoods that people who look like them generally avoid.

The eulogy assignment was part of a small group Bible study that led the to Carsons re-evaluate their priorities. Kelli recalls. “We asked ourselves, with our kids nearly grown, what will the rest of our lives look like? A continuation of country club, travel, suburban privileged life? Or are we willing to invest in others?” After a month of intensely-focused prayer, the couple decided to sell Joe’s successful Bartlett dental practice to free them up for full-time ministry. It sold quickly and three weeks later, The Life Church’s senior pastor, John Siebeling, asked them to lead the church’s ministry to homeless persons.
Read the full story

I’ve always believed that the things that make us angry, make us laugh or make us cry say a lot about our character.

This is our youngest daughter, Sara Ann. Injustice makes her angry. Puppies, small children and her mom’s senior moments make her laugh. Poverty and homelessness make her cry.

She gave this talk — and shed these tears — during this past weekend’s a youth retreat at Germantown United Methodist Church.

Sara Ann: Connected to Jesus from beth g sanders on Vimeo.

And, before you even ask, yeah, this made me cry. Big time.

Shane Claiborne doesn’t look — or live — like an average preacher. This author, Christian activist and sought-after speaker wears no tie, not even a blazer and jeans, but casual, comfortable clothes and has dreadlocks that hang past his shoulders. Raised in east Tennessee, he now lives and serves among the homeless in inner-city Philadelphia in community with others who share resources and live frugally on about $150 per person per month. He ministered in Iraq during the bombing of Baghdad in 2003 and spent one summer among the poor in Calcutta with Mother Theresa.

Claiborne recently spoke at Germantown United Methodist Church, at an event sponsored by the student ministry, which is led by Alison Bocking.

Here’s my video interview with Claiborne and with two of my favorite women, Mary Ann Gibson and her daughter, Maddie.

Read the full post on Memphis Connect.