Gross - The Gutter: Where Life Is Meant To Be Lived

The Gutter

Craig Gross

Copyright 2005 by Craig Gross

Smashwords Edition

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With significant detail, Craig Gross takes the reader on a journey toward knowing the true ministry of Jesus Christ. The Gutter will make you rethink your values. Grosss poignant honesty and hope-filled stories will inspire you to move out of your comfort zone and help you see where it is God needs you invested.

-MATTHEW PAUL TURNER , author of The Coffeehouse Gospel : Sharing Your Faith In Everyday Conversation (Relevant Books)

This lost world needs more people like Craig Gross, a person who is willing to live boldly for Christ. In his book, The Gutter , he challenges Christians to follow Christ into the dangerous places of this dark world. It is there that the light of Christ is desperately needed. I highly recommend not only reading this eye-opening book, but also asking God to change your ministry view on what it means to truly minister like Christ.

-DEAN WHITE , Associate Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California

The Gutter is incredible! It really challenged me personally to broaden my scope of ministry and to get out in my gutter and make a difference for Christ.

-PAUL DIAZ , Student Pastor, Morning Star Church, Salem, Oregon

The Gutter is a great book, and what you can expect from a person like Craig Gross. His life is and ministry is exactly what Christ would be doing today, and this book not only backs that up, but shoves the reader toward the gutter as well. My favorite part of the book is Craigs outreach to the elderly woman at the nursing home. If that doesnt push you out of your comfort zone and into the lives of lost and hurting people, nothing will. This is a must read for every pastor, youth worker, and young person who consider themselves followers of Jesus Christ. Two dirty, gutter stained thumbs up!

-PHIL CHALMERS , President, True Lies

(TrueLies.org, TeenKillers.com)

The gutter Craig describes is a place where us, the little Christs, have killed fear itself and trusted love in a way that infiltrates our very being. We become like mirrors to anyone and everyone around us. They see themselves, loved, beautiful, and powerful.

-DAVE TOSTI , PAX217, speaker

This book rocks!

-ROB BECKLEY , frontman for the group Pillar

With clarity and authenticity, Craig Gross shares a message of radical grace and hope. The Gutter will explode your stereotypes, inspire your faith, and motivate your compassion. It will challenge you to love others where they are and, in doing so, to become more like Jesus.

-JUD WILHITE , Teaching Pastor, Central Christian Church, Las Vegas, Nevada and author of Faith, Hope, and Love .... That Goes the Distance (Baker Books)

Thats one of those powerful concepts that I think most of us Christians would know in our heads but may tend to forget in our lives. Its a nice kick in the pants. I did feel challenged to re-evaluate how I live out my life, and how I can go to the gutter.

-JASON HARWELL , singer/songwriter

The Gutter is honest, confrontational in its own way, convicting, and motivating. As I read through the book in many chapters I asked myself, where is my gutter? Do I have a gutter? Why not? The motivation doesnt just come from your story it comes from the life of Christ.

-JAKE LARSON , Associate Pastor, Arcade Church, Sacramento, California

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO TOM RAMSAY thanks, Tom, for reaching into

my gutter and pulling me out. My life has never been the same. You are a true inspiration and a man I desire to become more and more like.

WHATS IN THE GUTTER?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii

SECTION ONE: MY GUTTER

CH 1: WHAT IS THE GUTTER? 01

CH 2: MY GUTTER 13

CH 3: HANGING OUT IN THE GUTTER 23

CH 4: THE GUTTER GETS DIRTY 37

SECTION TWO: HIS GUTTER

CH 5: THE GOD FROM THE GUTTER 51

CH 6: THE GOD WHO LOVED THE GUTTER 61

CH 7: THE GOD WHO EMBRACED THE GUTTER 73

CH 8: THE ULTIMATE GUTTER 89

SECTION THREE: YOUR GUTTER

CH 9: STRANGERS IN THE GUTTER 101

CH 10: THE BACKSTAGE GUTTER 115

CH 11: THE GUTTER AT MIDNIGHT 131

CH 12: THE GUTTER-FORGED GREATNESS ... WILL YOU GO? 145

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Just a few words to those who have helped me on my journey into the gutter. First of all, to the late Bob Brinerthanks for writing the amazing book, Roaring Lambs , which made me do what I hope many will do after reading this book. Mike Foster what a journey! Thanks for your friendship, willingness, and desire to join me in the gutter. My wife, Jeanettethanks for standing alongside me all the time. Jake Larsonthanks for asking me the tough questions and always watching out for me. Mom and Dad thanks for putting up with me all of these years. Jason Harwell ... thanks for all of your work on the proposal for this book. Arcade Church and Eastside Christian Church ... thanks for giving me my start in ministry. Thanks to everyone at Fireproof Ministries and XXXchurch who has worked with me over the years. And finally, to the crew at Relevant...thanks not only for publishing this book, but for doing what you do.

This book would not have had a life without the help, direction, and support of Jason Harper. Jason, your stories and your life encourage me to do what I do. Thanks for your time, your writing, and your desire to see this book through from start to finish. Your work on this project was so valuable, and you have taught me some new words to add to my vocabulary.

Adam Palmerafter reading the article you wrote and published about my ministry, I was blown away. Your writing, editing, and collaboration with me on this project were definitely what I needed to get this project where it needed to be. Thanks for supporting

me with your band, your magazine, and your time on this project.

WHAT IS THE GUTTER?

CHAPTER ONE

It was a long time ago, but it still seems like yesterday. Maybe it remains fresh to me because it transformed my life. It was the first time I had ever been to the gutter.

A group of students and I had decided to hit the streets one cold February Saturday to hand out some sandwiches and brown-bag lunches. We headed to downtown Sacramento and quickly distributed our fifty or so lunches. With only two brown bags left, we stood at the entrance to an area known as Friendship Park.

Located across the street from a major feeding program for the homeless, Friendship Park is known for its 100-percent transient population. The parks name isnt really a good indicator of the mood inside; its anything but friendly. And on this particular day, it was extra crowded. I looked at the students with me and decided this was where we would give out our last two lunches.

As we entered the park, I looked ahead and noticed a slightly elevated area with only three people sitting on it, self-appointed park kingpins. They glared at us, eyes screaming, What in the world are you doing here? Despite the visual resistance, we walked on. It felt odd, and I didnt understand why we werent welcomed. Here we were, entering Friendship Park to give away some free lunches, yet we faced resistance. I did not understand the scenario; I did not understand the gutter.

We approached the trio, the apparent leader of which was a bearded man with dark, curly hair flaring from beneath a baseball hat. His eyes were hidden behind an old pair of 70s sunglasses that would be considered retro in another part of town. I decided to give it a shot.

Hello, wed like to give you lunch today, I said, my voice shaking with nervousness. He said nothing.

Little did I know how significant to me this encounter would become. I had just entered the gutter, and my heart was being changed. Growing up, I was protected from this environment; I didnt even know this other world existed. But now as a youth pastor, I not only wanted to experience it, but I also wanted others to see it too. I didnt want the kids in my group to be as sheltered as I was. In my mind, I really thought I was making a difference, but the gutter was bigger than I had expected. And more crowded.