Ham or Condoms?

Inside every church and community are everyday heroes. The people that give their lives away to others just because they are fleshing out what it looks like to ‘love your neighbor’ as Jesus commanded.

We have tons of those at West Ridge. One couple is Jake and Natalie. Jake and Natalie have adopted a community near their home. They have collaborated with other families to meet needs and build relationships, and God has blessed their efforts in tremendous ways. If you attend West Ridge and drive in from 92 North, (Bentwater, Seven Hills, Parts of Brookstone, etc.) you have to pass this community to get to our campus. It’s a community filled with tremendous need. Broken down homes filled with people who have to make difficult choices that most folks in suburbia are not faced with.

Natalie had a conversation with a gal in this community recently. A young woman stamped with the image of God from the moment of creation. Finances are very difficult. There are days when this family is not able to have even one meal. Natalie attempted to celebrate the news of the pending addition to this family only to get this response (I’m paraphrasing), “Some times you have to choose, whether to buy food or other things you need. You know, you get to the check out counter at the grocery store, and it’s like, Ham? or Condoms?”

Quick question; How would Jesus answer that question? He probably would answer it with a question himself, or maybe a series of them.

As followers of Jesus we can help answer the question and see what it would look like for the kingdom of God to incarnate in the places it is needed most. It takes sacrifice. It takes time…lots of it, but isn’t that what we are here for. We are here to play our part in redeeming the earth for the return of the King.

Where are you doing that? Where will you do that?

Everyone Belongs, 

Paul