jesus loves strippers.

i know, some of you are reading this because of the title. some of you are offended. some of you are just wondering what in the hell i'm thinking right now. i just got back from my monthly women's group meeting for church and there was this girl there who was talking about her ministry "jesus said love." i was looking at her products from across the room at dinner and what stuck out was this t-shirt that said "jesus loves strippers." this caught my interest. i had no idea that i would love her message.

her ministry, jesus said love, is amazing. she's helping a group of people who have been outcasted from the church for so long that they were shocked that "christians" wanted to help them with no strings attached. they give gift bags to dancers at a few clubs here in town and in a few surrounding towns. no tracts, no message of fire and brimstone, just LOVE. they help these women who have estranged families, who have lost relationships, who have criminal histories, who are working women struggling to make ends meet in an effort of love.

now don't stop reading because i'm talking about strippers. also don't stop reading because i'm talking jesus. i haven't talked jesus in a LONG time. i haven't felt jesus in a long time. and i feel like maybe i was supposed to be in that room tonight because this is my greater good this year. i'm looking forward to being a part of this group. i'm looking forward to teaching women that there's hope and that they are loved and beautiful. when i started going to church in waco, i visited a few places and ended up marrying into central christian, which is the first place i've felt at home in a long time. they didn't care or know who i had been, they cared that i was there and they wanted me there. i hadn't felt at home in a place since i had been in zeta in college.

it has been a long time since i was interested in a particular ministry, but this girl, EMILY MILLS, is amazing and has such a beautiful heart. maybe they have room from a rude, crude person like me to show love to some people who don't know love. i'm looking forward to the chance.

i was put off for a long time with people who wanted to "witness" to me. i met a lot of wonderful people through the churches i went to over the past few years, but i felt like they all just wanted to "plant a seed" and leave. newsflash, that seed was planted when i was born. i grew up in church. i went to private baptist college. i led worship. i tried my hand at a christian music record. i'm home here. and it's high time i get involved with something more than the toddler class. i'm excited about the possibilities.

so here's to love. no matter who you love or who you show love, or in who's name you DO love, just do it. just LOVE.