Thursday, December 22, 2011

Radio Interview

Check out the radio interview I did with Malone Pioneer radio this morning about Laundry Love Project, Love Canton, and the importance of caring for the poor.http://www.whbc.com/pages/10355206.php (click on link to Dec. 22/29 show)


-Corey

Friday, December 16, 2011

It is I.

Take what I do
but not the man that it comes with
Sigh your heavy sigh
and see your breath in the cold winter's air.
As you walk out my door.

The masses will embrace the best
but it was you who stood for truth
who promised to love the man within.

It is I, who is inside
that is crying out for freedom
It is I, who is inside
begging for your touch.
It is I, who is inside
you leave breathless
It is I, who is inside
you reject when you are gone.

It is I, the longing. the wishing. the hoping, the waiting.
It is you, the one who vanishes.

It is you, the one who promises, and promises, and promises.
It is you, the one who fails.

It's the you, who's got the I
with hopes up in the sky.
but when you say goodbye
it is you, who makes the I cry.

My words may make no sense to you.
this situation makes no sense to me.
Because the I, just wants the you
to set me free.

There I go again
telling You who to be.
When all I ever wanted
was for You to be set free.

But no matter how many words I type
on this screen.
Reality will always surface,
and my hope will escape me.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Stories from Dec, 10 2011 Laundry Love Project

The following was written by my dear friend Britney Redpath.




Finding God in Laundry


This is the first blog post of many about Laundry Love Project of Canton, Ohio. It’s been going on for over a year now, yet, each project feels fresh and new. Consistently new people coming to get their laundry done, new volunteers, new interactions, new stories, new things brought to the table (grilling hot dogs, corn hole, Sweetest Day flowers, donuts, Thanksgiving Dinner, etc.) As someone who’s been volunteering for awhile, it’s so exciting to see how the project as grown. Friendships have been formed within the community, people are being helped, and Christ’s love is exuding in such a unique way.

The thing that strikes me most is God’s undeniable presence. We find ourselves searching for God all the time, and we look for Him in places like church, worship services, retreats, Bible studies, etc. Who’d have thought we could find God in a little laundromat in downtown Canton?

Today was mad cold. Maybe because we Ohioans have been getting spoiled with 50 degree, rainy weather until now, as opposed to the 10 degree blizzards we normally get come December. Time to get re-accustomed to the blistering cold that is Ohio’s winter.

Yet, despite the chill, people made their way to Professional Coin on the corner of Dueber and 9th this morning to do their laundry. And the volunteers of Laundry Love were there, ready to serve and build relationships and show a Christ-like love to the community. It wasn’t quite as busy as some of the past projects perhaps, but nonetheless, there was still a steady stream of people coming to the laundromat. And Laundry Love willingly served them.


For me, I didn’t do as much bonding with the people there as usual. Except for a select group of people. There were a number of children at the laundromat today and they took a liking to me. So, my LLP experience this month was different than those in the past, as I basically just gave other volunteers quarters and hung out with some little kids. The kids were great, too. The ones that I spent time with were Tanisha, Dejonae (sp?), and Antwon, who were cousins, and Jaelyn. They became fast friends with each other and with me, and I loved every second of the time I could spend with them.

There were also some new faces in attendance volunteer-wise today, too. Some people brought a dinner to serve to whoever wanted it, which was a great addition. And there were a few other volunteers that hadn’t experienced LLP before, but enjoyed it as much as any of the returning volunteers. There were also some new and old faces among those doing their laundry too. The old faces brought me joy because I love the bonds the project has given me. And the new faces brought a different kind of joy, because it means Laundry Love’s impact is extending, and there’s the chance for new friendships to be made (like the ones I formed with those children).

The other exciting thing that happened today was that some folks from The Canton Repository came to interview some of the people at the project and take pictures. Laundry Love will be in the Sunday paper, December 11th. This is just one more stride forward Laundry Love project has made in the short time it’s been in existence in Canton, Ohio. I, for one, am proud of what Corey and his friends have been able to do in the Canton community. And I’m excited for what the future holds for Laundry Love Project of Canton, Ohio.
Praise God for His presence in Canton.


 The Bible talks often about reaching out to the poor and oppressed, and that what we do for the least of these, we do for Jesus himself. God is out in the world, among the struggling. He sees those who have fallen on hard times as his children, just the same as he sees the well-to-do suburban folk across town. He continually makes himself known, and Laundry Love has shown me that Jesus likes to hang out in unconventional places, just waiting for his followers to actually go out and join Him. Places like inner city laundromats.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Dumont, NJ

A few days ago I was with my friend Cliff, my mom, and my sister on a trip to New Jersey. We were there to see Cliff's girlfriend and my wonderful friend, Deshanna.

Deshanna lives pretty close to New York City, one of my favorite places in the world to be. So myself and my family took a day to spend in New York City while Cliff and Deshanna spent the day together in Jersey.

To get into the city we took the New Jersey transit bus system. So that was our ride in and out of the city.

Well 11pm rolls around after a long, adventurous day in Manhattan, so myself and my family board our bus to get back to Hackensack, NJ. Or so we thought.

Turns out we took the wrong bus and ended up in Dumont, NJ which is about a half hour away from our car in Hackensack. So we are stranded in the middle of the night in Dumont, NJ. Now I'm not from New Jersey, so it is highly unfamiliar territory.

Something God has been showing me lately is the need for healing in my heart and life. I have let myself grow very hard hearted towards God and others. Couple that with being a recent college graduate and not knowing what the future holds at all, and I would say trying to heal and become the man God wants me to be places me in pretty unfamiliar life territory.

Luckily Deshanna and Cliff came to our rescue that night, and because Deshanna had already navigated the territory around her, being that she has lived in Jersey a long time, she was able to guide us home.

I feel right now like I'm stranded in a spiritual Dumont, NJ. Like I dont know the way, and I can try to explore and find it on my own, but I only get more lost. I need to walk with Jesus every step of the way, I need to follow him closely. I dont know what healing looks like.

I dont know what it looks like to truly know with all my heart that the Father loves me right now. I dont know the ground I stand on or the journey ahead. I dont know what it looks like to stop avoiding my wounds, or to stop covering over them by being a workaholic.

If it wasnt for Deshanna, we would have never gotten out of Dumont. If not for Jesus, I will not be made whole again. I can't know the way home apart from him. And I know he wants me home.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Followers of Jesus, Follow Jesus.

So I have been learning a crazy thing lately: Followers of Jesus actually follow Jesus.

If you read the gospels you find that the people who followed Jesus didnt just say "Hey Jesus I like what you teach and I think its great, you go on your journey and I'll chill out at home and check in every once in a while."

Some, like the rich young ruler, really wanted to follow Jesus but could just not come to grips with departing from their ways and their ideals about life.

But the people that actually followed Jesus, left everything behind, and set out on foot with him. They walked beside him, they ate with him, they journeyed with him physically.

Jesus even says in Matthew that one who would not leave behind Father or Mother or Brother or whatever and whomever was not worthy of following him. 

I'll keep it simple. I'm tired of following people. I'm tired of people following me. I only want to follow people in so far as it leads me to Jesus. I only want people to follow me in so far as it leads them to Jesus.

I want to hear his heartbeat. I want to walk in his footsteps. I want to walk with the person of Jesus. Not just an idea, a mission, a way of life. I want to be close with Jesus. I want to know each day how I can die to myself.

It's the only way that makes sense.