Ragamuffin Soul
I get asked all the time…
What does Ragamuffin Soul mean?
I give my answer.
But now I ask…
What do those words mean to you?
Los
I get asked all the time…
What does Ragamuffin Soul mean?
I give my answer.
But now I ask…
What do those words mean to you?
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
I think the meaning is fluid for me, it changes with your blog and how it grows. It has always meant something like being molded by God like a rag doll.
Its early, Im hungry, did someone say MUFFIN?
Anytime I hear the word Ragamuffin it makes me think of this book…
Well, wikipedia says this:
The Ragamuffin is a breed of domestic cat which first made its appearance in 1994. They are adoptable as early as four months of age, but do not reach full maturity until around four years of age. The Ragamuffin is an expensive breed and costs can range from $900 – $1200 USD per kitten.
So, based on that, I think your soul is a rare and expensive cat. OK, just kidding. The real definition is a dirty, child is shabby clothes or a ragged, disreputable person. So I’d guess that’d mean you’re in touch with your soul’s depravity and recognize that you’re always a work in progress… a person in need of grace everyday. ???
Hey, I read that book!
It reminds me that we are all dirty, ragged children that God has chosen to love and pursue. Your blog name did jump out at me because of Brennan Manning’s book. Over the course of last summer, I was finally, after 43 years figuring out what it meant to have a real relationship with God.
To me those words are constant reminders that we are imperfect. We may think we look good, but we don’t; we may think we’re good, but we’re not. But for the grace of God, we are nothing.
We’re all Ragamuffin’d Souls!
Hi Carlos:
I found this blog when I was looking for a link to Brennan Manning’s book, The Ragamuffin Gospel. I’ve been a fan ever since. Your messages are similar: God loves us as we are, not as we should be. Good Stuff!
I always think about the conversation about being real between the skin horse and velveteen rabbit in the nursery.
I know that’s a very simplified way to look at it, but I don’t think God means for it to be complicated… we were made to love and be loved.
Don’t forget Rich Mullins (1955-1997). “A Liturgy, A Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band” (1993).
I always took it to mean embracing what’s wrong with us and what’s right with God. We’re all ragamuffin souls in need of a Savior.
To me it means that we are a child of God, but we can also be greatly influenced by our environment. Our personalities and appearances change as we grow, but, our souls are His. We may stray, but, ultimately, we shall come back to our Father. And, when we do, there are still bits and pieces of our experiences that we bring with us. Just like the scraps that make up a raggamuffin quilt, these many different experiences make up a Raggamuffin Soul.
Yeah…Brennan Manning’s book.
I thought it was a tribute to Rich Mullins’ band…
OK. Not really.
I think it means that we can be aware of our frailty and shortcomings without walking around with sacklock and ashes on our head.
It means we can simultaneously be humble and bold, meek and beautiful…
I think of a ragamuffin as dirty and scruffy, so it means to me that you know that you’re unclean, but with Jesus you have been cleaned.
Brennan Manning.
DEREK
Well… I remember my mom telling my sister and I that we looked like a couple of ragamuffins when we came inside from playing…
But other than that, (to me) it implies that your soul (indeed ALL of our souls) — before God — is nothing finished nor perfect, and somewhat shabby.
Because I associate the term with childhood and children, I see it as descriptive, but a description with the hope of a (one day) better and completely fulfilled soul.
It makes me think that I am like that stale, 2 day old blueberry muffin that is all crumbly and stuff without God’s provision of grace to moisten me back up. Okay, kidding about that first metaphor.
Years ago we were living in downtown Toronto and from our apartment balcony we could see children playing on the sidewalk and the tiny patch of grass beside it. We called them ragamuffins. That’s why I clicked on to your blog all those many months ago. I remembered the ragamuffins.
The children seemed forlorn, scruffy…somehow like they were missing something…they were outside alone for hours…it made me sad to see them playing in the city.
Now…ragamuffin has taken on new meaning…I think we are all like those children. Playing in this world…sometimes forlorn, sometimes happily oblivious in our present place.
And we’re waiting for our Father to take us to a better place to play.
Ragamuffin Soul means…
Unashamed stat ho…
On every Christian bloggers blogroll on the planet…
My blogging man-crush.
Truth be told… a heavy-set ragtime/blues band.
What does Ragamuffin Soul mean to me? A great blog to read.
One that is transforming the way I think about church, especially big churches.
Before Ragamuffin Soul I wouldn’t have thought that you could use video colors to lead praise and worship. (it was a creative chaos post.) My mind is being challenged daily.
Ragamuffin Soul also means being real, relevant, and fun. I mean come on how many christian blogs do you read where you get to watch a Snoop Dogg video?
Thanks for keeping it real!
1st, it means I’m a royal mess, 2nd, now I’m God’s mess.
I always thought of Rich Mullins & the Ragamuffin Band — Jesus Record!
To me…Ragamuffin would be a person or thing that by itself if unfinished – not perfect – seeking love – desire to be accepted – humble…and in then adding the soul would indicate these descriptive terms coming from ones soul.
at first, the name reminds me of red-headed dolls eating breakfast. =]
got the new Hillsong CD. ace.
–ash
http://www.agenesislife.wordpress.com
I believe that Ragamuffin Soul is the story of a man. a retched man. but that god still loves him, him and his retched soul. everyone is retched, they just don’t know it yet.
raggamuffin soul. A man who’s real about his life and his ministry. A ministry that can reach milions of people via internet. An internet blog that makes ppl laugh and think and explore what God has called them too. Seeing people as souls instead of as mere human beings.
It reminds me that when I get to heaven Rich Mullins is going to give me hammered dulcimer lessons. Can’t wait.
It’s your personal website where you engage in completely self-absorbed rants with occasional spiritual gems, and you actually believe your line that a bunch of people coming to hear YOU rant every day on this site is an equal-level “community” of authentic believers and that it isn’t the ego-trip everyone else knows it to be.
That was amazing.
Anonymous people write the most amazing things.
Too bad it means nothing without a name.
But brilliant none the less.
Keep surfing the web anonymously.
you’re welcome.
Oh. And “John”. I’ll be sure not to tell your co-workers at Samaritans Purse your real name. So you can hide from them too.
“John”, bro…why you gotta hate like that?
Let me just say this…I’ve never even had a conversation with Los, yet…but all I know is that his blog has (and continues to) change my life.
Ragamuffin Soul? it’s meaning to me?……a willingness to continually strip away my inner pride and lay my naked, ugly, broken, messed up self in the dust at my Creator’s feet.
a·non·y·mous
lacking individuality, unique character, or distinction: an endless row of drab, anonymous houses.
Oh, it just doesn’t get any better than that!!!
wow – i’d just like to say “john” if you feel that way – why are you still reading the blog. if you don’t agree with what carlos is doing here that just leave it be and move along – there is so much more internet out there – there is no need for you to be nasty.
Los – Ragamuffin soul means to me that in my heart of hearts – my soul – is dirty and depraved – but i have the love and grace of a savior – and that is why i praise Him – psalm 63:3
looking forward to the night of worship tomorrow night.
Man there are some haters out there….I think it’s hilarious that this “John” dude forgot about technology – IP addresses….LOL
Btw, Ragamuffin Soul reminds me of Rich Mullins…
Silvana
“Oh. And “John”. I’ll be sure not to tell your co-workers at Samaritans Purse your real name. So you can hide from them too.”
i just laughed so hard i almost spit out my sweet tea. that was amazing. thank you, los, for being awesome.
thank you, john, for being the pansy catalyst to amazingly hilarious quotes.
Hey Los,
My name’s Isaac, and I’ve followed your blog since you had it over on Typepad. Anyway, I wanted to apologize to you – because I’m that guy that posted the insulting and inappropriate comments on your blog this afternoon.
I honestly don’t know what came over me… I was having a really bad day at work, and was nearing the edge of losing my temper – and then I read your post and for some reason I took it the wrong way and it just set me off… you saw the result. That doesn’t excuse it, but that’s how it happened.
As hard as it may be to believe, I’m not prone to lose my temper – and I can’t remember posting a hateful comment like that in my entire life. I’m absolutely ashamed. I respect you as a brother in Christ and the ministry you have both at Buckhead Church and online. Your blog HAS ministered to me and encouraged me over the years, and despite my PMS-ness, it is a great community.
Oh, one other thing – if you’d like to continue to ‘roast’ me publicly, I’d totally understand – but my employer is actually a great place with a lot of people who contain more self-control and apparently more emotional stability than I do. Tell people my name and phone number as frequently as you’d like (it’s at the bottom of this email), but remember that it was me that wrote it – not them. They’re innocent.
Finally, just to show that I’m not doing this as a cowardly way to back out in secret, I’m also posting this on your blog and mine. Hopefully this will indicate to you that I am being sincere.
–
isaac downing // mobile 309.472.9181 // isaacdowning.com
You just did an awesome thing Isaac! Proud of ya!
.
Still not sure I would have left my phone number on a blog that has thousands of readers
God bless you!
you’re right. oh well. if that’s the worst decision I make today then I think I’m doing alright.
Whoo! Real . . . with ourselves, others, and GOD. May GOD get the glory for stripping away all of our worldly foolishness.
Ragamuffin soul . . . means Carlos Whittaker living wide open unashamed for GOD as He shapes him for holiness.
Hard work GOD does on us, but when He’s through we are worthy to be in His hallowed presence.
grace and peace