{"id":2936,"date":"2014-11-20T10:50:56","date_gmt":"2014-11-20T10:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oshetablogs.wordpress.com\/?p=2936"},"modified":"2014-11-20T10:50:56","modified_gmt":"2014-11-20T10:50:56","slug":"permission-to-love-bomb-and-a-family-advent-giveaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/shalominthecity\/2014\/11\/permission-to-love-bomb-and-a-family-advent-giveaway\/","title":{"rendered":"Permission to Love Bomb and a Family Advent Giveaway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Last weekend, while in Los Angeles, my world was completely rocked. Do you know that moment in your life when you learn about something and you just. can\u2019t stop. thinking about. IT?<\/p>\n

Like when you meet a cute guy at an urban bible college in New Orleans and one of the first things he tells you is that he thinks you\u2019re beautiful and you just. Can\u2019t. Stop. Thinking. About him. Eventually you\u2019d marry him (during Mardi Gras) and start a life inviting kids around your table for fried chicken and praying for scared families after drive-by shootings.<\/p>\n

Or like when you see for the first time children living in abject poverty in a housing development in New Orleans, in the wealthiest country in the world. And you. Just. Can\u2019t. Stop. Thinking. About how these babies need to know they are loved by Jesus and you! Eventually you\u2019d give in and acknowledge that God\u2019s called you to minister to inner city kids and not get a degree to practice law.<\/p>\n

Or like when you decide to gaze deeply into global poverty and your find a company that\u2019ll give you the resources and training to advocate for vulnerable people in developing countries by creating a marketplace for their gorgeous jewelry and accessories. You just. Can\u2019t. Stop. sharing their stories and adding pieces of redemption to your shopping cart. Eventually you\u2019d become a Noonday Ambassador.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"worthyLogo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Or like when you\u2019re standing in a foyer of a theater center in downtown LA and an energetic, loving man with weathered skin and a warm smile tells you about a woman who throws elaborate birthday parties for homeless kids in a mission through a ministry called, \u201cWorthy of Love\u201d\u00a0<\/a> and You. Just. Can\u2019t. Stop. Thinking, OhMyGoodLordINeedToThrowAPartyWithThisWoman<\/em><\/strong>!!!!!!!<\/p>\n

Yeah ,this is my life.<\/p>\n

So,\u00a0 when I got home from LA, having my world rocked and completely intrigued by this woman whom they call, Sista Mary. I checked out her site<\/a> and y\u2019all when I saw what she does, I bawled. I mean, there was snot involved and big tears and a few hiccups. My daughter came into the living room, saw me a hot mess and asked, \u201cmama\u2026can I have a glass of juice?\u201d and I was all like, \u201cthese babies\u2026.these babies\u2026need birthday parties\u2026and hugs\u2026and gifts\u2026and\u2026.and\u2026.I wanna throw a birthday party!?!?\u201d and she was like, \u201cUm\u2026I\u2019ll come back for that juice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whatever man, we\u2019re still working on consistent compassion.<\/p>\n

So, what do you do when your world is rocked and you\u2019re snotty crying, and you\u2019ve got this little corner of the internet to raise awareness on how we can seek shalom for our cities?<\/p>\n

Feature this amazing ministry and women leading it, of course.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"skiddycat\"<\/a>
Mary Davis, of \u201cWorthy of Love\u201d used to be a professional mascot. She was an elephant at the University of Alabama and a tiger in Katy, TX. Now, she dresses up as Skiddy Cat for kids on Skid Row in Los Angeles. \u2013 See more at: http:\/\/audio.californiareport.org\/archive\/R201305171630\/c#sthash.InEe4tYa.dpuf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Did y\u2019all catch that? \u00a0 \u201cSkiddy Cat\u201d is a mascot bringing joy to kids on Skid Row. Skiddy Cat\u2026Skid Row<\/em><\/strong>\u2026.<\/p>\n

Y\u2019all! That\u2019s classic swords to plowshares, beauty from ashes, subversive upside-down kingdom thinking. Taking something that\u2019s meant to communicate hopelessness, darkness, and loneliness and creating a beacon of happiness, light, and community?!?! So, Jesus. So good.<\/p>\n

Do y\u2019all wanna see what had me crying? Are you sure?<\/p>\n

First go make sure the kids have juice and you have tissues\u2026<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll wait\u2026<\/p>\n

Ready for your world to be rocked? Very well. Let the rocking begin!<\/p>\n