Living Loved - LifeStream News
From Living Loved • Spring 2012
Book Recommendation: Tattoos of the Heart
By Gregory Boyle
It has been a long time since I have read a book that impacted me more than this one. It is a real-life story of some of the same themes in He Loves Me and The Shack. I laughed out loud reading this and I wept at the challenges some kids have to face just because of where they were born. Gregory Boyle is a man loving broken lives at ground zero of the gang culture in Los Angeles. It is a deserving NY Times Best-seller and it's all true. Yes, he's a Catholic priest, and that may bother some of you, but I love the way God is working out his love in this man. There is some coarse language here as he reveals Jesus? ability to make himself known at the most brutal edge of human brokenness. This is a great love story of transformed kids, told with humor and reality in ways that will inspire you to love the people around you.
Some Changes at Lifestream
We mostly think of winter as a cold, unproductive season. But in the vineyard it off ers the farmer his most signifi cant opportunity to aff ect the harvest to come. Vines pruned well will produce a bountiful harvest; those pruned poorly or not at all can end up fruitless. I've just been through a bit of winter myself as God sorted through a number of things I've been involved in to restage my life for the next season. That means cutting back on some things, and looking at others with fresh eyes that will allow me to get back to my greatest passion, which is helping people live in the life and freedom of a real relationship with God. I will no longer be an owner of Windblown Media nor involved in its operations. While I'll continue to write and publish the things God asks of me I gratefully will no longer be entangled in that industry. I also see me moving further away from BridgeBuilders as other priorities take hold. Finally, I am reshaping the podcast a bit. While Brad will remain a frequent voice on The God Journey, I will also be expanding the conversation to include others as well. Brad and I remain good friends as we free each other to the diff erent things he's put on our hearts and each give ourselves to the things God's asking of us.
Helping Others, Help Others
I'm not even sure how those will be done yet, but I do want to spend more of my time with those who are not only learning to live loved themselves, but also equip them to help others live loved as well. Forty years ago people with that passion became pastors or missionaries. Now they publish books and host podcasts. But is that really the best way to help others fi nd freedom and love in the life of Jesus? How does our focus move from what I want to do, to who does God want me to help? And how to we encourage people in this life if we're not meeting up in conventional ways. This project is sending me in two directions. First, I'm talking to and seeing what God will show us together. Some of that you can follow on The God Journey as I share some of their insights through the podcst. Second, I am also keeping my eyes open for some younger brothers and sisters who also share the passion of equipping others to see how Father is leading them. In the end I'm not hopeful to come out with a new method to use, but a way to encourage people.
New Resources
The Jesus Lens
We've been blessed at the overwhelming response to the new resources we released last fall to help encourage people on their journey. The Jesus Lens is a nine-hour DVD series designed to help people read the Scriptures through the revelation of Jesus Christ and come away with one cohesive view of God and how he works in our world. These videos are also available at TheJesusLens.com. If you've ever felt that the Bible was too long, too confusing, or full of unresolved contradictions THE JESUS LENS was designed for you. (3 DVD collection including more than 9 hours of instruction and dialog. $34.99 in a boxed set.)
A Man Like No Other
A Man Like No Other is a visual feast as well as a powerful tool for personal reflection or reading together with your spouse and family. It makes a great conversation piece on your coffee table or waiting room. (128 pages • $24.99 • 128 pages • 8.5 x 11.5 • Hardback)
In Season
In Season: Embracing the Father's Passion for Fruitfulness, will help you understand the seasons and times of God's working in your own life so that you can respond more freely to what he is doing in you today. His joy doesn't come in trying to follow his principles, but in following him as his purpose unfolds in us. (208 pages • Trade Paperback • $13.99)
Our Gifts To East Africa
The need in east Africa continues to provide us an opportunity for us to give to others in the world who are in great need. We are still supporting the operating costs of the orphanage we helped build last year and we are also working through a local organization that links up nine million believers in that area. The needs are ongoing. If you'd like to help us you can get more information on our website or send a donation to Lifestream. We are also looking for ways to help them find a means to make the orphanage sustainable through a local business enterprise they can operate. Any suggestions any of you might have would be most welcome.