Discipleship….Lou-Dawg Style

Posted: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , , | Comments Off on Discipleship….Lou-Dawg Style

Right now as I type…This is what’s happening on the front porch on a beautiful RVA day. Louis is with a neighborhood youth who calls us God-mom and God-dad. We call him son. Love watching them as I sit at my desk. I guess you could call this stalking. LOL Terence uses his God-dad’s iPhone Bible app, while Louis uses the large print Good News Bible. Other good news….I can’t hear them over Lifehouse cranking from the computer. And yes, it’s March 27th…and my Christmas cactus is finally blooming! God is good. I’m so blessed!

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Feeling Spent? Can you make it until the end of the month?

Posted: Monday, March 19, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Feeling Spent? Can you make it until the end of the month?

You are unemployed.  Lost your house.  A single parent..and only have $1000 in the bank.  Can you make it to the end of the month?

Several years ago, I got involved with a family who struggling at every turn. After a death in their family and another serious health condition, I found myself shopping for the family of 2.  It was then that I became overwhelmingly aware of the extreme financial struggles of some of my friends and neighbors and the difficult choices that have to be made every day.  In addition…these were decisions my parents also had to make as they were raising 4 children. And some decisions that I had to make early in my career.

Decisions like….Pay the light bill or put food on the table or rack up credit card debt? Go to court to contest a speeding ticket (requires taking off work) or pay the $200 ticket? Pay for health insurance or the car repair bills?

I was recently thinking about what it might look like to put together a decision tree for these types of decisions….when I stumbled on Play Spent.  Go ahead…click the link.  I dare you.  After trying several times, I couldn’t make it to the end of the month with enough money to pay rent at the first of the next month. Imagine…if this weren’t just a game…imagine this was your life..every day.  Or maybe it is.

Check it out…see how well you do.  www.playspent.org

Just a few stats from the Sources Link…

  • Many children who qualify for free or reduced lunch choose to go hungry rather than face the stigma of being identified as poor.
  • Many low-income workers would rather keep quiet than push for better working conditions because they don’t want to risk losing their jobs.
  • More than 44% of people living below the poverty line visit the public library to get online.
  • For more than 50 percent of American households, access to public transit is too limited to go completely carless.
  • Almost 15 percent of American households had a hard time getting enough to eat at some point during 2009.

So…how did you do?

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Posted: Sunday, March 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on A Walk Down Memory Lane

Nearly 7 years ago, I moved into Southern Barton Heights, and a little over 2 years ago, I started documenting life here on MissMartisHouse.com.  Over the years, I have been asked many times “How did you end up living in the inner city?” So, I thought I would list the posts that tell that story and some from the first couple of years.  Enjoy my Walk Down Memory Lane…..

in the beginning…
Daring God
our house…is a very very very fine house…
The Chair
Forgive Me…
This little light of mine…
Reflections from Tuesday’s earlier post…
Lookin’ to the Hills
Don, Luke, Jesus & Marti
Lambs Among Wolves
A Barber, a Yoke and a…. Part 1
A Barber, a Yoke and a Baptism Part 2

Thanks for reading over the last 2 years. I really appreciate it! I hope you find it encouraging….that you, too, can live an incarnational life.  It doesn’t have to be in the inner-city, but can be right where you are or hang out….at the gym, in your apartment building, in your suburban home, at the PTA, in your country village. It doesn’t matter. You know…Jesus gave us a great example during his life here on earth.  The best example ever! Hopefully you can see His impact through my life.


Propaganda Speaks

Posted: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , | Comments Off on Propaganda Speaks

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‘Pray that Gospel prospers. Because if that Gospel prospers, you do too.’

‘There’s only one race…

Posted: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on ‘There’s only one race…

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the human race.’ I could listen to Dr John M Perkins all day every day. We are at the Verge Conference in Austin, TX.

On the Verge…For the Gospel, For the City and For the Nations

Posted: Sunday, February 26, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On the Verge…For the Gospel, For the City and For the Nations

The last couple of days, Louis and I have been in Houston, Texas enjoying a lovely visit with my sister and her family.  Tomorrow, we leave for Austin, where we will remain until Saturday.  Austin, you say?  Yes…Austin.  We are attending the Verge 2012 Conference.

2 years ago, Louis and I stumbled upon the Verge Conference on their first year.  Although I was soon to be unemployed, we found the resources to attend….and I am so glad that we did!  Last year The Verge Network joined with Exponential – the largest church planting conference ever – and this year we are back in Austin.  I am thankful for some generous people who have given to us – providing us the opportunity to attend, allowing us to be better prepared (and encouraged) for the work we do each and every day in Southern Barton Heights, in Richmond, VA. I love the ‘church’ – flaws and all.  Admittedly, I love the people more than I do the actual building and institution. But, I sometimes feel like a fish out of water in a typical Sunday morning worship church.  I often leave thinking…is this it?

2 years ago, while attending Verge 2010, I got it.  I had found my people group, my tribe.  People who strive to live out God’s mission EVERY day…at work, at home, at the PTA, gym, soccer field, and coffee shop,  and every where else their everyday, walk-around, work-going, weekend-loving lives take them….not just on Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, and on missions trips.  Every day is viewed as a missions trip.

I wish you…every one of you…could attend.  Although it is sold out and located in Austin, you do have an opp to attend the Main Sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, at least, through a simulcast.  Check it out and sign up here.  You will hear from folks like Dr. John Perkins, Bob Lupton, Alan Hirsch, Neil Cole, Dave Ferguson, Mike Breen, Jen Hatmaker, David Platt and Matt Carter.  Let me know if you do!  Would love to hear your thoughts and comments.

Haters Gonna Hate

Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Haters Gonna Hate

Today, I have spent a good part of the day praying, reading the Bible and preparing for a number of “talks” and conversations I will give/have over the next few weeks.  I have been invited to speak to a couple of groups about what I do and why.  In addition, there are a couple of churches that would like for me to help them brainstorm what they can do to be a good neighbor and living incarnationally in their community and in our city.  Admittedly, I am nervous and honored and excited at the same time!  Never thought I would be asked to speak, however, with the Spirit’s guidance, it will be OK, actually more than OK.

While preparing, I’d also indulge myself with a few breaks of FB and Twitter, and I was stopped by this.  John Piper (Pastor – Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN) tweeted the following ~

Resist the illusion that the gospel can be made popular. “You will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” Matthew 24:9

Hmm….wow.  That caught my attention. We are so grateful for the many supporters and encouragers we have in our life.  You guys have been nothing short of AMAZING!  However…in the short time I have lived here, it has not been without slander, character attacks, gossip and other forms of persecution.  That shouldn’t catch me off guard, but some how it does.  So, now…I kinda wonder…how many people have blocked me their FB feed, blame me for ‘bringing on my own trouble’, and make fun of my way-of-life and my faith, criticized us for our decisions, etc.  hmmm.  OK.  Jesus told us that would occur here too…

John 15:18-21  (MSG)

Hated by the World

18-19“If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you. 20“When that happens, remember this: Servants don’t get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them.

21-25“They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’

So, people hated on Jesus…and they will hate on me.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (MSG)

 7-12If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!

I guess I should say “thanks’, but I’m not quite there yet.  But, it’s good to be reminded.  Peace…to the lovers and the haters.

Dying to Live!

Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12, Frank | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.”


Elisabeth Elliot, wife of Jim Elliot, missionary to Waodani people of Ecuador

I moved to SBH almost 7 years ago.  I had no idea what God was going to do, or why I was called to live here.  In the first few years, a few things went awry…small items stolen from the yard, neighborhood kids presented minor challenges, etc. However some more challenging things occurred as well, like my car being stolen – what the police suspected was gang initiation because a bunch of Altimas got stolen that night and car windows being shot out on another occasion when kids were having a bit too much fun with a bee-bee gun.  During these times, friends and family challenged me about my decision to move here.  Others asked if I was moving out.  Of course, there wasn’t a chance I was leaving.  The good outweighs the bad.

Nothing was more challenging than the night a man got shot 9 times outside my back door…on my 4th date with Louis.  I didn’t know him, but after the scene was clear, Louis and I responded with first aid, encouragement, prayers and the gift of presence.  I am happy to say that Frank didn’t die in the street that night, but lived.  That was 4 years ago to the day….January 27, 2008 at 8:30pm.  I am sorry that Frank was shot that day.  But, grateful that we were there and sooo appreciate the friendship we have developed since.  I can now say we are family.

While still in the hospital, Frank asked me if I was going to move.  He reminded me that not only was he shot 9 times, but that a bullet also went into my home.  The hole is still in the wall actually.  I’m not sure why we don’t fix it.  It’s like this constant reminder at the bottom of our steps.  If we had moved, who would have been there the night that Frank got shot? Who would have given him First Aid when everyone else ran? It reminds me that we do make a difference, even when things seem hard.  God loves Frank so much that we found ourselves cooking on the grill that night instead of going out.  He loves this community so much that the neighborhood kids were safely in the house that night, instead of being dropped off after Youth Group at 8:30, their normal time.  God is in the midst.  Even when I may doubt, there is no doubt.

If it’s not worth dying for, it’s not worth living for.  There are a lot of other things we could be doing, a lot of other places we could live.  But, this is where God has called us, and this is where we shall stay until God calls us some place else.

Especially after the last week, I am reminded again of how we are being used by God.  I am thankful for the many opportunities we have had to love and be loved.  I wouldn’t trade ANYthing for the last 7 years!  In the meantime, my prayer is that we will follow the advice of Jim Elliot…

 Wherever you are – be all there.

Jim Elliot

Thanks, Mark! Thanks, God! Thanks, CBS6!

Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Thanks, Mark! Thanks, God! Thanks, CBS6!

I can no other answer make,                                         but, thanks, and thanks. 

~William Shakespeare

Wow.  I’m rather speechless, which doesn’t happen too often.  I am overwhelmed by and grateful for the positive response to a blog post I wrote on Monday called Heart Breaking. Soul Weeping. Mind Reeling. Knees Bending.  Only a handful of people actually follow my blogs Miss Marti’s House and …into the neighborhood on a regular basis.  So, I was quite surprised when this post started receiving 100s of hits!  Miss Marti’s House started 2 years ago by telling the story of how I ended up living in Southern Barton Heights, how I met and married the ‘other half of my pair’, Louis Williams, and our life here.  …into the neighborhood is a more recent development, somewhat of an experiment, a direct response from questions we get a lot.  It’s meant to be a resource to individuals, families and churches who want to live more neighborly, incarnationally or missionally.  We get regular requests to speak or consult with people and churches, so we thought we would create an online tool to talk about it.  It will also showcase people, ministries , etc living it out and how God is being glorified throughout our city, country and in the nations.   I have 2 great stories in the works.  One from a friend living in a remote village in the country of Columbia.  The other being my aunts in Oregon.  Coming SOON!  Stay posted!  Go ahead and subscribe if you want to stay up-to-date.

Mark Holmberg from WTVR CBS 6 contacted me quite unexpectedly yesterday afternoon, because he had seen that post.  (Thank goodness I had just gotten my roots touched up!!!  LOL) He wanted to interview us about what and why we do what we do.  Of course, it also involved one of the young men accused of First Degree Murder.  He was a welcomed friend, almost a son, in our home on a regular basis.  You know what?  He and his family are still welcome!  Kids make bad, sometimes even horrific, choices or decisions.  It doesn’t mean we give-up on them. Don’t get me wrong.  I still believe that people should pay the consequences of their personal decision, choice or reaction. As much as the public wants to make this a race issue or a urban/suburban issue, it is not that simple.  I wish it were.  All our youth need us.  I’m still hopeful.  Emily said it perfectly in one of the responses to the post…

…they do need us and we all need to stick together (near or far), continue to impact, never give up hope, and pass the message that all children are reachable teachable lovable and savable….

Amen, Emily!

You can find Mark’s story here…  Miss Marti Brings Message of Peace and Love.  That peace and love is rooted in none-other-than, Jesus Christ.  He is my Savior.  I can’t save each and every youth or adult I encounter.  But, Jesus can.  I am but one tool that He uses.  Thanks, Mark and CBS6 for allowing the hope of Jesus Christ to be in the middle of this story.  I know it wasn’t want you intended.  But, you know what?  God did.  To God only be the glory!

My heart still grieves for the devastating loss in our city, within the many impacted families and network of friends. Words can not explain, nor can they alone comfort the grief felt.  My prayers continue to be with those who grieve and our city.  May God’s Spirit comfort us and bring peace.

Psalm 23  NIV

A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Heart Breaking. Soul Weeping. Mind Reeling. Knees Bending.

Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2k12, CCDA | Tags: , , , , , , | 18 Comments

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My heart is breaking.  My soul is weeping.  My mind is reeling.  I don’t understand. But, my knees are bending.  And I have a pile of used up tissues beside my chair.

Almost 7 years ago, I moved into Southern Barton Heights in Richmond, VA.  I knew life would never be the same.  From the get-go, I fell in love with the neighborhood.  Especially the kids.  Literally, from the first weekend after I moved in, I met a bunch of the kids.  After that, they were over all the time.  I loved it.  I never went anywhere alone….one of the kiddos was always with me.  We watched sports together.  Yeah…me.  I watched sports and pretended to enjoy them.  We went to the grocery store together.  And cooked together.  And played together.  We did life together.  They were often at church with me….and always at youth group and retreats.  We talked about virtually everything! They were and still are…Miss Marti’s Kids.

But…over time…some of the kids moved to other parts of the city.  And, now most are grown.  Thanks to Facebook, we are able to reconnect.  Some are…graduating from high school.  Going to college.  Or..in some cases, ending up in juvy.  Today, one, now an 18-year-old young man, was arrested, along with 2 of his friends, for First Degree murder of 16 year-old Brett Wells in Mechanicsville, VA.  People would always tell me….”Marti – You can’t save them all.”  My response was “I can’t save any of them.  But, my God can.  If the kids will remember what it felt like to be loved.  If they can remember God’s unconditional love, while they are laying on the cot.  That’s all I can ask for.”

That response is really being put to the test this evening.  Why CAN’T I save them?  What else could I have done?  What could I have said?  Why does it have to be this way?  Those are some of the many questions that roll through my mind as I weep over our city and for our youth.  I know the standard responses….”You did all you could.”  “You loved those boys like your own.”  I know.  I know.  I know.  But, I ask myself those same questions just like any parent would.

One of the 8 Core Principles of Christian Community Development is relocation.  Through my relocation – living in this community – the community’s assets are now my assets.  But, the community’s challenges have also become my own challenges.  Today….that is even more evident than ever.  I can’t go into my home and go about life pretending like this hasn’t impacted me personally. I can’t ignore the fact that it has impacted my community, the Mechanicsville community, my church, and the rest of Miss Marti’s Kids.

No one said this would be easy.  No one said it would be “happy, happy, joy, joy”.  This world is broken.  This world is fallen.  And frankly, it sucks.  Big time.

For those who have seen the news, it isn’t a black/white thing.  It’s not a suburban/urban thing.  It’s not the “boys from the ‘hood” murdering a 16-year-old in the white suburban community thing.  It’s not that simple….at all.

But, it IS a tragic thing.  Our youth need us.  They need us in the counties and in the city!  This is such a complex issue.  It’s not a time to point fingers.  It’s not a time to say “they” should take care of this.  “They” meaning the government, the schools, the parents, the non-profits.  It’s a time to say WE should take care of this.  WE means each and every one of us.

I know people who know and love the victim and his family.  I know and love one of the 3 guys…love him like he’s my own.  How can I make sense of it all? How do we comfort the parents who lost their 16-year-old son? How do we comfort the mom who could lose her 18-year-old son to prison? How do we keep drugs and guns off the streets? How do we comfort the friends of both? How do we help the youth of our metro area?

How, we might ask?  It’s obviously not a simple answer…or we would have done it by now.  But, let’s see what the Lord has to say on the topic.  The answer may be different for each of us.  As for me….I’m gonna be on my knees.  Please join me in praying for our youth and young adults.  They need us on our knees.  On my knees.  God help us.

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