I used my $10.00 pastor appreciation gift from Lifeway Stores today to buy a Rich Mullins cd/dvd. As I was watching it I had a thought: Sometimes God is not the shelter from the storm, sometimes God is the storm and we just need to let go and be blown away.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Stating it another way...
Picking up on my the theme of my last post I'd like to state things in a different way. Imagine that you and your family decided that it would be wise to build on to the house. The new space will be nice for visiting relatives and friends. You have been setting aside extra money for over a year to pay for the home renovations. Just as you are ready to hire a contractor you get terrible news that your child has a serious medical condition. If surgery is not performed soon your child will die. The medical cost will wipe out your savings and possibly more. Would you continue the house renovations or save your child?
Now perhaps that seems like a ridiculous question because only the most callous, hard-hearted individual would chose not to save their child. So then what does that say about the church that invest millions in gyms, education buildings, conferences, conventions, coffee houses, and untold numbers of fellowships and social gatherings while 30,000 children are dying today for lack of basic necessities?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Just who is responsible?
I heard a political candidate the other night state that if elected it would be his responsibility to provide shelter, food, and clothing. The only problem with this statement is that such responsibilities are not outlined in the Constitution (just to make sure I actually read the thing). There is no mention in the Constitution of the government providing shelter, food, or clothing.
So then just who is responsible? Well, some may say that it is the individual's responsibility to work and provide for themselves. We may say that it is the responsibility of the parents to provide such things for their children. We would be correct in these assertions. Never the less, we must also recognize that there are many who even with the best intentions and efforts cannot adequately provide even these basic necessities of life.
So then, who is responsible to assist those with shelter, food, and clothing? Again, these items are not mentioned in the Constitution. However, these are mentioned in such places as Deuteronomy 15, Isaiah 58, Matthew 25, and James 2. It is right to say that it is not the government's job to care for our neighbors. It is also right to say that it is the job of the Church. How can we claim to be the Church of Christ, the one who came to preach good news to the poor, when we spend untold millions on our own comforts? At what point does the Church recognize that millions spent on gymnasiums, grand fountains, coffee shops, and "Christian" teddy bears is an abomination as nearly 30,000 children die today because of a lack of basic food, shelter, and medical care? Of course, we justify the spending of these millions because we say that such things help us to attract and win loss souls? I just have one question then: If spending money on such things is helping us to win loss souls, then why is the church in North America on the decline?
So then just who is responsible? Well, some may say that it is the individual's responsibility to work and provide for themselves. We may say that it is the responsibility of the parents to provide such things for their children. We would be correct in these assertions. Never the less, we must also recognize that there are many who even with the best intentions and efforts cannot adequately provide even these basic necessities of life.
So then, who is responsible to assist those with shelter, food, and clothing? Again, these items are not mentioned in the Constitution. However, these are mentioned in such places as Deuteronomy 15, Isaiah 58, Matthew 25, and James 2. It is right to say that it is not the government's job to care for our neighbors. It is also right to say that it is the job of the Church. How can we claim to be the Church of Christ, the one who came to preach good news to the poor, when we spend untold millions on our own comforts? At what point does the Church recognize that millions spent on gymnasiums, grand fountains, coffee shops, and "Christian" teddy bears is an abomination as nearly 30,000 children die today because of a lack of basic food, shelter, and medical care? Of course, we justify the spending of these millions because we say that such things help us to attract and win loss souls? I just have one question then: If spending money on such things is helping us to win loss souls, then why is the church in North America on the decline?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Reaching the World One Coloring Book at a Time
I received an email today from my father. He had recently been on a mission trip to Brazil with Christian Missions Unlimited. He takes a week every year to go there and help build a church. A couple of years ago I started sending with him coloring books that I'd put together using coloring pages I found online. When the books are put together they tell the story of Christ in Portuguese (the language they speak in Brazil).
In the email Dad sent he had attached a couple of pictures from his most recent trip. In one of the pictures it shows the line of kids standing outside the new church building waiting to receive the coloring books. Tears came to my eyes as I realized that each kid was not just getting some coloring book but that they were getting a book that told the Gospel. There is always in me a deep desire for world missions. And admittedly there is always a deep frustration that I can't go more often. Yet, here with a simple coloring book I was able to participate in the mission work being done thousands of miles away, in a different country and in a different language.
To be honest, I put those coloring books together just because I thought it would be something nice to do. I know the children who are ministered to on these mission trips have nothing and that they appreciate something as simple as homemade coloring books. However, seeing the picture of the kids lined up to receive this coloring book changes things. I know that as they look through it they will read about the Christ who died for them and lives again. Now I find myself praying for these kids. Now, I'm connected to a group of kids who I have only seen in a photograph. Now, I need to make some more coloring books.
In the email Dad sent he had attached a couple of pictures from his most recent trip. In one of the pictures it shows the line of kids standing outside the new church building waiting to receive the coloring books. Tears came to my eyes as I realized that each kid was not just getting some coloring book but that they were getting a book that told the Gospel. There is always in me a deep desire for world missions. And admittedly there is always a deep frustration that I can't go more often. Yet, here with a simple coloring book I was able to participate in the mission work being done thousands of miles away, in a different country and in a different language.
To be honest, I put those coloring books together just because I thought it would be something nice to do. I know the children who are ministered to on these mission trips have nothing and that they appreciate something as simple as homemade coloring books. However, seeing the picture of the kids lined up to receive this coloring book changes things. I know that as they look through it they will read about the Christ who died for them and lives again. Now I find myself praying for these kids. Now, I'm connected to a group of kids who I have only seen in a photograph. Now, I need to make some more coloring books.
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