To Goatee or Not to Goatee

So, Justin finally caved to peer pressure and shaved the Peruvian Facial Hair. However, he got some mixed messages about whether or not to grow it back. In case you've forgotten what the Goatee looked like, Microsoft Paint and I have banded together in the common cause of helping you out:
And, just to give you a true comparison-shopping experience, there's this:

We know that the Facial Hair has at least one fan, but we also know that he has some stiff competition. Which will it be? Goatee or No? Give Justin a comment, and weigh in on this highly debated and deeply philosophical point.

Cooking with PJ at St. Barnard's

I want to describe for you the sensation that I felt today as we completed the serve aspect of our trip here in New Orleans...

We went down to the 9th Ward, the place most hit by "The Storm." The place there is ravaged by poverty, destroyed homes, joblessness, and lost hope. The church that we are there working with, Celebration, has established at campus, and we went down there to witness to the "shut-ins" and cook for them. It was perhaps one of the greatest things that we were able to do on this trip.

As a result of the hurricane, a lot of people don't ever leave their house or attend church. Our task today was to introduce them to this campus which opened on Easter Sunday and give them a free meal. Jeanna, Holli, and I stayed behind to set up the bbq and eating areas. The remaining people went out into the town and went to their homes and knocked on doors, and told people about Celebration and that we were cooking free meals at the campus.

At around noon, we got our first customers. They were grateful and appreciative for the efforts that we were making for the community and thanked us for the food. There was a van of Mom and two daughters that I remember most. They asked me how much I was charging for the food. When I told them it was free, the look of joy on her face, spoke volumes to me. She was blessed by the church and said that she would come and give the church a chance. What a great God we serve!

The team came back and we each did different tasks. There was the advertising team that went out and stood in the streets telling people that we were having a free bbq and where to go. They were awesome and entertaining. Ask Christina some time about her impression of advertising the free bbq. Jeanna, Liz, Beth, Charlene, and Christina (She did multiple things that were awesome!) each helped me at the grill, putting the cooked food into packages for the people. The rest of the team talked with the people, prayed with them, gave out Bibles, and promoted Christ and the church to the people!

We were supposed to be there till 2:00-2:30. We didn't stop feeding people, till almost 4:00. I couldn't help but be blessed by the people who were desperately needing to be comforted or fed. I know where my strengths are, and I know where I am weak. I am not the greatest witness in the world, something I am working on, but I can grill, I can cook. I wanted everyone who came to us to be fed in both body and spirit. I could handle the body part.

When all was said and done, after four hours of cooking, I had cooked 200 hamburgers and 134 hotdogs. My back hurt, my eyes were burning, but I didn't want to stop because this is what I could do on this day. I enjoyed serving this way.

So what is the point? My point is this... I was moved by the power of God today. I was moved by people... the people who came, the people who served, the people who advertised, the people who witnessed, all of it. I broke down and cried three times during the event... not because of the pain, but because of comments people made to me about how they enjoyed the food, or how they appreciated my work. I didn't do it for the recognition, I did it because it was something I could do for these people, the church, this team, for my Jesus. I put my last burger down onto the bun, and I felt a sense of relief, that I was done, and sad, sad that I wasn't able to cook anymore food.

My friends, my team, applauded me, and I thank them for it, but it has to go to God who inspired me to do this, to be this guy today, and to serve Him, the church, and my team. I didn't do it alone, I couldn't. I am blessed by this day. I am thankful for this day, and I wish you all, those who read this, to feel for one day, what it's like to be truly empowered by God, to build His church, and feed His people.

I guess all those Patio days, and Son of Man Soul Jam was preparation for me to be here and serve in this way.

This day meant the world to me, and I can't wait to experience another one like it. Thank you, Lord Jesus, thank you for creating a day like this. I am proud to be your servant.

PJ

Bringing in customers in true Fuel style - loudly with lots of smiles!

PJ hard at work on the grill

Chozen

One of the coolest opportunities we've had here in New Orleans is the chance hang out with the members of Chozen, Celebration Church's young adult group.

Last night we went to their Leadership Summit, where all the leaders of ministries in the church come together for a night of worship and a chance to catch up on the available ministries and fellowship with other leaders. After the main event, we got the chance to hang out with Chozen peeps and get to talk together about our common goals, frustations, joys and lessons learned in Christian leadership.

The incredible thing is the commonalities we have, despite the differences in hometowns and cultures. Seeing people come to Christ-centered community, find a place to belong, grow spiritually and reach out again in service is what we're all working towards and it is so encouraging to see people, thousands of miles apart, catching the same vision.

The Chozen folks were tons of fun, too, hence our nearly-midnight run to IHOP. We all gelled together right away, and were laughing and bonding together like one group (which I guess we are,) by the end of the night.

Tonight we're going back for more discussion, fellowship and leadership training, and we can't wait!