Jefferson Street Baptist Center, one of our main service partners wanted to thank the Post community for our Christmas donations of plates, napkins, utensils, etc. For all of you who participated in this drive, here's a picture of how your generosity really does meet a great need that Jeff St. has.

“We thank God so much for your gifts. The paper goods that each of you purchased for Jefferson Street Baptist Center are so immensely helpful. We have a very small budget for paper goods. Each month, we can spend over $1000 on paper goods alone – that’s over $12,000 a year. This far exceeds what we can actually afford to spend, but, our friends who are homeless need to eat – and that means they need bowls, plates, utensils and cups. Your donation and sacrifice of these things helps us to continue to serve our friends food while freeing up finances to spend on other important things – like electricity, curriculum for our classes, and providing housing for men in recovery. We have seen your good deeds and we praise our Father in Heaven for His goodness and kindness displayed in each of you.” – Jesse Eubanks, Hope for Louisville Director, Jefferson Street Baptist Center 

Touch Week #4 from the Post - Southeast Christian on Vimeo.

We are all aware of the horrible tragedy that has taken place in Haiti. Story after story and picture after picture break our hearts as we all pray and try to help in whatever way we can. We see and hear so many stories of broken families, missing parents, suffering children, confusion and frustration, and the suffering of so many. Stories of so many people who feel so alone, of an entire country suffering in loneliness. And you just know that out of all that pain and loneliness, there are prayers going up that sound something like, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken us? Why? Why us? Why this?" Because that is the prayer of lonely people.

This world is full of loneliness. Its all around us. All of us have known it. For some, loneliness is their closest friend.

Even King David knew and understood loneliness. When the prophet Samuel came to the household of Jesse to appoint the new king, Jesse lined up all his sons but one. When Samuel chose none of them, he asked if there were any more sons, causing Jesse to admit that there was one more; the runt. David was overlooked by his father. He was left out of a family meeting. He was lonely.

As David served under Saul, he experienced more loneliness. Saul wanted to kill him. Saul despised him. Saul pursued him. And because of that, David lived a life on the run, living in the wilderness and sleeping in caves and eating who knows what. Loneliness.

And David wrote in Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have Your forsaken me?" It was the cry of his heart. His prayer. And evidently, God met David in his loneliness. In the very next chapter, Psalm 23, David writes, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." YOU ARE WITH ME!!! That's the promise of God!

He is with us. He meets us in our loneliness. He knows us and sees us and desires us. And He proved this to us. Even Jesus, the Son of God, knew loneliness. Jesus became lonely for the lonely; us. He was lonely in the desert, He was lonely in the garden, and you know He was lonely as He hung on that cross and cried out, "My God, my God, why have Your forsaken me?"

That's our God. That's His love. And God meets us when we're lonely; meets us where we're lonely. He meets us in the mess.

And so in this horrible mess in Haiti, something is happening. The more I have watched the news stories, the more and more I am hearing about churches and pastors and ministries in Haiti. I've seen them interview pastors in Haiti on national TV. And out of this tremendous tragedy and loneliness, the Name of God is rising up. Rising out of the mess. KEEP PRAYING!

So remember this promise, this prayer: You are with me. In my loneliness, You are with me. In the mess, You are with me. And may Your Name rise up!

Tonight, we are going out into the community instead of staying inside the Block! Our whole series has been about "Touch"...touching the lonely, hurting, blind, deaf. God, in His compassion and mercy, reached out to us when we were without hope. His love compels us to do the same for others.

We'd like to hear about how tonight has impacted to you. Take a moment to share your story in the comments. If you need some help, here are some questions you can answer:

--What project did you participate in? What cause were you serving?

--What purpose did you see in your project?

--Did the project help you connect to the Post better? To our service partners?

--What did you notice? If you went to a place you typically visit, was there anything different about the observations you made?

--How does this affect your idea of service? Of community?

These are just starting questions...feel free to share your favorite moment from the night, or anything else you would like!

Thanks for serving--it was an AWESOME night and we can't wait to celebrate and share the stories we hear!

Daniel teaches on touching the unnoticed.

Touch Week #3 from the Post - Southeast Christian on Vimeo.