Love Without Agenda » Jimmy Spencer Jr.

Happy Holidays from Spencer

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:02:09 +0000

LWA FoodShares: People Changing Their Neighborhoods

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:03:35 +0000

Things change when neighborhoods work together to feed one another. It galvanizes everyones dignity and humanity.

Sometimes programs that ‘help’ people while feeding their belly’s strip their dignity. I’m happy our FoodShares encourage not just taking food but building community thru sharing food resources LWA connects them with. I’ve witnessed the personal transformation of men, women and children who were once skeptical, stand-offish and disenfranchised…become community stalwarts inspiring those around them.

Our FoodShare strategy is simple.Connect people willing to work to feed their neighborhood with socially responsible grocery stores who want to partner with Love Without Agenda.

Here is how it works. Stores like Trader Joe’s donate unsellable goods to Love Without Agenda. LWA partners with community houses, social responsible organizations, local innovators and good hearted churches. Each partner is assigned a day, store and pick-up schedule. LWA Read more...

About Rob Bell and the importance of asking questions.

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:47:14 +0000

When we as people fear people asking questions we have lost something very deeply human. Let’s learn to respect questions and strive to respectfully disagree and work together to act like Jesus. Let us be a part of the solution—not a part of the problem. Lets practice loving others who disagree with us theologically without agenda.

“> Read more...

Jimmy Spencer Jr. @ Judson University

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:28:06 +0000

I was fortunate enough to get to speak to the students at Judson University a private Christian school outside of Chicago during one of their weekly chapel services. It was great to get to connect with the students and to talk with them afterwards—very life-giving and encouraging for the future. You can listen to the audio from the service below, and check out some shots my buddy Brad shot from around the chapel. Hope that you enjoy it (and it makes you think some too).

Read more...

About The Book: Why Give it Away for Free?

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 07:00:12 +0000

As you may know LWA has a book coming out in a little under 24 hours. We wanted to release this last 2 page section on how this book is going to be different with it’s technology and content. We think it’s going to be game changer. Check out the last pre-release “About this Book”

“Since we are in the idea spreading business and not the book selling business—we have decided not to pursue a traditional publisher. While we have friends in the industry and value their hard work, we feel that our admittedly ‘unorthodox’ methods of distribution and creating of content would have put us at constant odds with a traditional publisher. New ways of doing things has some admitted benefits: We can give the book away for free We can write and speak unmuffled It also creates some serious issues: Distribution depends on you LWA may die due to lack of funds But, despite the obvious risks, we are confident we have to take the consumer exchange out of this process. It is the right thing to do for such an important message. We risked Read more...

Lawnmower and Lemonade…2nd LWA book excerpt

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:32:08 +0000

Here is the 2nd excerpt from Love Without Agenda: My Journey Our of Consumer Christianity. It’s a transitional section called “The Lawnmower and the Lemonade”.

I sat there for a while and drank that lemonade. I finished the whole pitcher. I went back in and filled the pitcher with sweet tea. I drank enough that I wasn’t thirsty anymore. I kept sippin on that tea. Biding my time and stalling. I sat out there drinking and stalling for almost an hour or so. I swear—I probably would have sat there forever and let that grass grow up around my waist.

Click Here to download a PDF of ‘Lawnmower and Lemonade’ Read more...

1st Book Excerpt Release (11/2)

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:55:23 +0000

Today I will be releasing a short excerpt from our book Love Without Agenda: The Art of Being Christian. A few words on the section: A few words on Truth is in an independent section of the book we call FYI’s. They are little side discussions that I think are relative the whole picture of the book—but dont necessarily fit into the flow of the story. I actually think my Non-Christian friends will stand up and cheer at this book—and this little section. Hopefully the title of the book doesn’t pigeon hole our efforts Here is a little taste…

“This use of truth has historically warped Christian’s ability to see other humans thru the compassionate eyes of their Creator. It sets the stage for a low theological and practical view of people. Because our truths trump other people’s value. Others’ value becomes tied to their accepting of our truth. This blinds us to the inherent value God gives them It gives Read more...

No. Your daughter cannot play with my son…

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:24:30 +0000

My friend Brad, who works here in the LWA offices, told me a saying that goes “1/3 of all things our parents believed when they were growing up…we will eventually find very silly” Put this in that category. Today marked the passing of the judge, Sylvia Pressler, who forced Little League to allow girls the opportunity to play baseball with boys. Apparently in 1973, little girls were not seen fit to play baseball, with or without little boys. I’m reminded that this seemingly common sense thing—that we assume has always been—had to be fought hard for…and it (like all changes) was seen as both radical and deeply subversive at the time. I love the quote from the Little League on the court’s ruling (yes…Little league fought this tooth and nail…even appealing the ruling) The ruling was decried by Little League as “conceived in vindictive and prejudicial fashion of the worst kind” Amazing. The story really puts change in perfect perspective. Change is never easy—even for something as innocent as letting Read more...

LWA & Haiti

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:33:00 +0000

As the tragedy in Haiti fades into the background of the news media the real rebuilding and restoration begins. Gone are the constant headlines and outpouring of kindness from around the world, replaced with the business of helping restore a country which even before the earthquake had multiple challenges facing it’s leaders and people. As casual viewers from a far, it’s easy to let apathy or even the overwhelming nature of the situation lead us to look past the needs of the Haitian people, but this we can combat that urge with small, tangible—yet life saving steps of kindness and generosity. Like we’ve said above, Love Without Agenda friends “Haiti Partners,” have ran an orphanage in Haiti and been a consistent partner in Port au Prince for over 15 years and are on the frontline of helping to rebuild and care for the people of Haiti. If you are able to, please consider supporting them on an ongoing basis financially and check out the projects they have been working on during this rebuilding process. Organizations like this are the life blood of Read more...

A Letter from Jesus about Christmas

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:50:14 +0000

I’m a practicing Christian…although Love Without Agenda isn’s faith based– I do recognize the powerful foundation faith can provide for loving others—this is a note my friend Andrew Wood posted and I really like it’s sentiment…and since I’m a Christian & it so captures LWA’s spirit — I think its appropriate for me to share this here– Love you all….Spencer A ‘Letter’ from Jesus about Christmas It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity Read more...