Grand Rapids home becomes Boiler Room community ministry for …
The little room is lit softly by candles flickering from a cross on the floor and electric stars hung in the prayer closet. A dozen people sit in silence, eyes closed, until Chip Youmans’ rugged voice calls out to God.
“Father, I want to lift up my brother tonight,” he says. “Tomorrow, he’s gonna be in a place he doesn’t want to be. As much as it’s gonna hurt, I just commend my brother to you. Take care of him.”
Next to Youmans, Marv Hite sits with his head buried in his arm. He is scheduled to return to Kalamazoo County Jail the next day for violating parole. He hurts knowing he will have to leave this place, the Stockbridge Boiler Room, where he has lived since New Year’s Day.
Youmans knows his pain more than most. He has been in jail. He is a former cocaine addict, while Hite is a recovering alcoholic. Here, in a house of prayer on Grand Rapids’ West Side, they have found a home as spiritual brothers.
Tony Tendero and his wife, Jennifer DeGraaf Tendero, transformed the house at 713 Fifth St. NW into a neighborhood ministry.
This night, as every night, they pray, sing and read Scripture for an hour. They are joined by other Boiler Room residents, college students and whoever else shows up.
For Youmans, the prayer tonight is a little more intense.
“It hurts to see him go, and we’ll wait for his triumphal return,” prays Youmans, 38, putting his hand on Hite’s shoulder. “We’ll be there to pick him up.”
“You better be,” Hite says.
The others laugh softly.
Tony Tendero holds a Bible in his hand, quotes Scripture and praises God’s faithfulness. He and his wife founded this modern-day monastery centered on daily prayers.
“Perfect love drives out fear,” Tendero says. “I want to praise you for the way your love is emerging, even in the teeth of it.”
Tags: james, jesus
Sunday 23 Mar 2008 | Austin | Uncategorized
DNA evidence? When did we discover the DNA of Jesus? I didn’t realize that we had it available to us. Why don’t we clone him!?Something smells fishy here…If James Cameron wants to create a valid argument he needs to first make sure the evidence he provides is believable.Yes, I do agree that Christians have the same problem (not having concrete evidence) but it’s quite hypocritical to tell Christians that the lack of evidence leaves room for doubt when such an outrageous claim (having the DNA of Christ) lacks as well. Honestly, we all need to get off of our high horses and realize that we’re all operating on faith even if we don’t believe in a “God”. There are holes in all theories.Hence “theory” not “fact”(Ask any scientist, science is all theories… true scientist never claim 100% fact)Stay open minded. Quit arguing over who is right.Because we all might be wrong.
The Garden Tomb is old news. A lot of Protestants in the US visit it and think it is the actual tomb. I think it’s popularity comes from a desire to break with Roman Catholic tradition than any archeological merit the site has. The site doesn’t fit any of the New Testament descriptions. The grottos beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulcher seem to fit the facts well. The location is right. It is unfortunate that there aren’t more aggressive archeological investigations there. Some scholars think that the nature of the graffiti carved on the tombs by early pilgims to the site might reveal some info, as venerated early Christian grave sites in Rome do.
Trust me, it’s worth reading. As is the rest of David Sedaris’ body of work.
we’re having rabbit with chocolate sauce for dinner today!
Let’s get Larry King a Peabody or two.
There has to be more evidence than just the names, nobody would make such a claim on that alone. I don’t necessarily believe Cameron but he cant be that dumb.