So I led worship at this conference this weekend.
The conference was in Memphis TN.
One of the most racially divided cities in America.
As I walked out on stage before the first set I saw white, black, asian, hispanic, and many other races.
When I walked off stage I no longer saw any race.
I’ll be the first one to admit I was nervous how these different cultures would come together and go after it.  Well.  That worry lasted all of about one measure.  They ALL went after it together when rock and roll happened and then when hip hop happened.
It’s only been a little over 2 years since I left Sandals Church but I’ve already forgotten what that looks like.
And at the end of the entire event…
I couldn’t help but ask myself why our churches are not more racially diverse?
The easy answer is we like to hang with our own.
I get it.
But I want the hard answer…
Because what I saw this weekend…
Well, heaven is going to look A LOT more like this weekend and A LOT less like what you experience on a Sunday morning.

Chew and spit on that ragamuffins…
Los

Sometimes I cuss in my conversations with God.
When I’m at the end of it all…
Weeping…
Sobbing…
Doubting…
Screaming…
Cursing…
Retreating…

And you know what?
I think that He hears a melody in those screams that He never hears on a Sunday morning.
The melody of authenticity in pain is so much better than an inauthentic melody of praise on a Sunday morning.

HE will comfort you.
And HE will sing with you.
So don’t be scared to sing in your screams ragamuffins.
Your haunting melody is music to His ears.
Los

I thought the title catchy…
And the weeks almost over…
So bear with me.
The conversation is too important to stop now.
Meet my friend Andrew.
Andrew Marin is the President and Founder of The Marin Foundation (www.themarinfoundation.org), a non-profit organization that seeks to build bridges between the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and religious communities.
He wrote an award winning book called Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community.
His life changed forever when his three best friends came out to him in three consecutive months and he was compelled to understand how he could reconcile his friends to his faith.
So his wife and him moved to Boystown, a predominantly GLBT community in Chicago to jump into the conversation feet first.
I asked Andrew to jump into the conversation and he recorded this video for your discussion.
Andrew will be bouncing around the comment section interacting with you guys so feel free to ask him anything you are interested in!!!

Talk…
Los

IMPORTANT!!!
I NEVER moderate the comments here at RS, But since this is SO touchy…
I’m a gonna be watching you guys like white on rice.
I don’t even agree 100% with EVERYTHING Andrew is saying, but I do agree with what he is doing.
And hopefully you don’t agree with EVERYTHING I say on this blog.
Meekness wins…
Disagree all day and night.
But disagree like Christ would…
In love…
Or poof…
Out ya go!
Thanks.
Los

I got this question from a great friend who was let go from a church staff because he struggled with homosexuality and asked him if I could share it with you.
It read…

If a fat man can lead a church, serve on a church staff, and not be held responsible for his lack of self discipline when it comes to gluttony…
Then why can’t a gay man lead a church, serve on a church staff and not be held responsible for his lack of self discipline when it comes to homosexuality?

I’ll share my response tomorrow…
But for tonight…
I’d love to hear your answers.
Answers…
Los

I was having a conversation with a friend last week and we started sitting on this topic.
Is God really in control of everything in this broken world?
I know He CAN be…
He CAN be whatever He wants. He is God.
But this scripture has been vibrating in my head for a week…

15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but the earth he has given to man.
Psalms 115:15-16

When I look at all the depravity, sickness, and flat out horror in the world, and then I read scriptures like this, I begin to wrestle…
Has He given US the earth and He allows us control?

Look. I believe in God, Spirit, Son.
Don’t freak out on me.
But as I look around the world…then read scripture like this…
I wrestle…
And to wrestle…
Is human…
Thoughts?
Los

The Church Should…
Los

When you look at me
Your spirit sets on my chest like a warm, heavy blanket
And my cold, calloused heart
Finds a moment of hope in this world.

Thank you for invading my life with your sweet, soft, soul.
Daddy

Beyond our control.

Beneath His hand.

Bending our comforts.

Baring our souls.

That is what I am praying YOU allow right now.
That is where revival happens.
That is where authenticity takes place.
That is where relationship turns into romance.

Won’t you join me?
Los

When I started this blog I came up with the name Ragamuffin Soul in about 2 seconds flat.
That banner up there was the first one ever way back in 2005…
1. I loved Rich Mullins and the Ragamuffin Band.
2. Webster defined Ragamuffin as this… a ragged often disreputable person; especially : a poorly clothed often dirty child
Perfect definition of my heart, soul, mind, and body.
The tag line for the blog on that first day was this…

To dive deep within your chest, past any aspect of self, seeking to admit your faults, while rejoicing in His strength.

While the number and demographic of readers has changed from just me and my mom, to you and your friends…
The vision is still the same…
To dive deep within your chest, past any aspect of self, seeking to admit your faults, while rejoicing in His strength.

I think if that is all I pull of the rest of my life, I’ll be ok.
To teach people to do that through music, words, talks, and actions.
If you had to describe what the term Ragamuffin Soul means to you…
And I’m not just talking about this blog…
What would it mean?
Speak to us Ragamuffins…
Los
I’d really like to hear from you blog stalkers and comment boy-cotters.

When the budget is tight…
When you feel the heaviness of life…
Sometimes the best thing you can do…
Is grab each others hand…
Walk downstairs…
And Just Jump
Los