Social Justice and God’s Math

God’s ways are not our ways and thank God for that.  We look at things with our limited logic and think there is no way that 1 + 1 = 3 (our US government being the exception).  God looks at impossible equations and says, “watch and see my glory.”

A couple of the best examples of God’s math are found in the Gospels.  Not once, but twice, Jesus feeds thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and fish.  Amazing as this was, many people still did not get it.

God is still doing amazing math today and we still do not get it.  It does not work out logically so we tend to see the problem as too large.  We often do not want to confront a large problem if it appears impossible.  This is especially true if the problem is not our own.  It’s easier to ignore it than to risk looking like Don Quixote fighting a windmill. Read more

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The Tau Connection

What a fine looking group of young men…  I lost touch with many of these guys until recently on Facebook.  Now I see random status updates from time to time.  Amazing as it seems, most of us grew up.

What’s more amazing is how God has used a part of my life that was way off the Christian path for his good purposes.  There are many past experiences and life choices (good and bad) that make up who I am today.  God has used them all to mold me and grow me and he is still at work.  The job often looks hopeless to me but with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26).

This story however is about how God has used my past not just to mold me, but to dramatically change the life of 57 orphans in Liberia and a suburban Baptist church in Cypress, Texas. Read more

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How much do I give?

Each month I receive a variety of solicitations from worthy Christian organizations asking for money.  These organizations are doing great things to help those in need both physically and spiritually.  Right now on my desk I have requests from the following organizations:

ServLife – this organization has a vision to equip 1000 indigenous leaders to share the gospel with their own people, educate and care for 1000 children through sponsorships, and help start 1000 micro-businesses to rescue people out of poverty – all by the year 2013. Read more

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Economic Certainty

I hear on the news over and over again about the struggles of our country as we continue to face economic uncertainty.  This is great statement about the mindset of Americans and how capitalism has replaced Christianity as our value system.  Even in the best of times, our economic future is uncertain.  What is the old saying, “the only thing that certain is death and taxes.”

Unfortunately, unlike America, most of the world lives in extremely certain economic times.  Almost half the world lives on less that $2.50 a day.  Eighty percent of the world lives on less than $10 a day.  For these people, there is no economic uncertainty.  They have extreme poverty today and they are quite certain that they will have extreme poverty tomorrow and probably their entire lives.

I can stress about my 401k and all my savings that I no longer have in my future.  However, I’m not too worried about what I am going to eat tomorrow.  I can stress about the economy getting even worse and I can watch it all in my air-conditioned home on my wide-screen TV through cable provided to me for a measly $75 month.

Many people in have lost their jobs recently.  Many fear that they could lose theirs at anytime.  However, even if you lose your job, your home, and your cable TV, will you starve to death?

There is a reason Jesus tells us not to put our faith in wealth.  I like to tell myself that my faith is in God and not my money.  I’m sure most Christians would say the same.  If that’s true, think about the rich young ruler that came to Jesus looking for eternal life.

Luke 18:18-25 (ESV)
¹⁸ And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ " ²¹ And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." ²³ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ²⁴ Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

If ask the average Christian, if they should sell everything they have and follow Jesus, they will probably tell you that this passage is not suggesting that Christians do that.  They will probably tell you that this passage means that you should be willing to do that if called.  They may say that following Jesus should be more valuable to you than all of your possessions but this passage is a principle and not a practical application for all Christians to follow.

Ok, so let’s go with the principle concept.  In principle, if God were to ask you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, would you?  How do you know if you could do it?  Better yet, how do you know if God were to ask you?  Are you assuming that God’s call for your life is to have your current standard of living?  Why would God not want you to give so much away that it dramatically lowered your personal lifestyle?  Why do you think that the eye of the needle is so large for you?

Maybe we should take this time of economic uncertainty and think more about the rest of the world and their economic certainty.  Maybe we should adjust our standard of living so that others can live.  Or I guess you can go to the fridge, get another cold drink, sit back in your lazy boy, and change the channel.

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Merry Christmas World

It’s Christmas time again.  My kids are excited.  The youngest are expecting Santa to bring some great presents.  My oldest knows the scoop on Santa but there is still excitement about a celebration that includes presents.

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What is your World Vision?

This is Lewal. Lewal lives with his parents and 2 brothers. His parents struggle to provide for the family. His father is a farmer and his mother is a farmer. Despite their efforts it is difficult to meet the family’s needs.

Lewal is growing up in a farming community in the Kwame Danso region of Ghana, almost 300 miles from Accra. A typical home is built of heavy mud with a thatched roof.

My family has been sponsoring Lewal through World Vision for about 5-6 years now.

There is a lot of poverty and hunger in the world. We forget that sometimes in our comfortable homes. We worry about mortgages, taxes and who’s going to win the World Series. Across the world, other people, just like you and me, are wondering if they are going to have anything to eat tomorrow.

If you honestly sit down and think about all of the pain and suffering in the world it can be overwhelming. That’s why many times it is easier just to block it out. It’s much easier to go back to worrying about our own petty problems than worrying about life and death around us. What can we do anyway?

There is some good news. The good news is that it’s not your problem to fix the world. God has a plan of redemption and a promise to bring forth a new heaven and new earth. However, it is your calling to have love and mercy for the poor and the oppressed in our current fallen world.

God has a purpose for each of us in our lives. I have a really good hunch that none us have a divine purpose to just accumulate wealth or just tread water in our lives, every day until we die. Our calling is to show the world the love of God to others.

For some, that calling takes them into the ministry, and in some cases it takes them into the mission fields far from home. For some, that calling has them living in the suburbs where their mission fields are their neighbors and their co-workers. Frankly, I’m not sure which calling has more challenges.

Regardless of where God calls us to serve, we are all called, as Christians, to take care of the poor, the hungry, the sick and the oppressed. There are no valid excuses for ignoring the suffering around us.

There are many ways you can serve. World Vision, offers a way for those of us with much to help the children in this world that have less than even a little. Through World Vision, you can sponsor a child or an entire family for about the cost of a tall coffee from your local coffee shop each day. You can make a difference, providing clean water, nutritious food, health care, education and spiritual nurturing.

Fixing the suffering in the entire world is an overwhelming task. However, the opportunity to help the world, one child or one family at a time is available to you today.

Visit my sponsorship campaign page for more information about joining me in helping to change a child’s life. Isn’t it time that you had a “World Vision”?

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Father Knows Best: Blessed are the poor

I have four awesome kids and I love them beyond words. So when they ask me for their hearts desire and it is something I can afford, how do I say no?

I remember when I was growing up that my Dad said many times that he wanted to give to us boys because his parents could not afford much when he was growing up. I did not get everything, but there was not much I didn’t get that I wanted. So what did I get that I just had to have?

I have no idea.

I got lots of stuff and I can remember some of the stuff I had, but I certainly can’t remember any gift that made my heart swell and think, “Wow! My mom and dad really do love me!” I’m sure some of the stuff I got really made me happy when I got it but over time, the joy brought by that gift was forgotten. Why is that?

We are basically born selfish and prideful. What is one of the first words we learn? “Mine!”

When parents feed that selfish desire it grows. If we continue to feed this desire it soon becomes almost impossible to turn back. When we do try to say no, we risk being pulled into psychological warfare with our little loved ones and we discover that they are really good at it. (How do they learn to push our buttons like that?)

Before we know it, we are giving to our kids out of guilt or avoidance of conflict rather than out of love.

What if we had no money to give our kids anything? What if the children in the picture above were you’re own children? How would you show them that you love them if you can’t give them any stuff?

It’s really an easy question. We’d hold them. We’d console them. We’d give them our portion of food. We’d pray for them and do whatever we could so they did not have to scrounge for food in the streets. Basically, we’d love them.

The problem we have in America is that even most of our poor are rich. For most of us, we can feed those selfish desires in our kids until they pop. It’s an easy way for us as parents to attempt to show love. It’s an easy way to keep the peace. What becomes increasingly difficult is saying “no”.

However, saying “no” once in awhile may be the greatest gift you can give your children. They will already have more stuff than they will ever really need and any stuff you give them will soon be forgotten. But if you can teach them that the world is not about stuff, then you have given them a great gift that will not only always be remembered, but it may just save their soul.

Matthew 19:21-22 (ESV)
²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

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God Loves the Panhandler

If you live in a medium to large city then you are well acquainted with the panhandler. These men and women hang out on our busiest street corners, holding up signs asking for work, food or money. If you’re like me you may fluctuate between feelings of guilt and feelings of indignation when you’re confronted with one of these folks at a red light. On one hand, there is the guilt, because just by the fact that you do not need to hang out on the street corner, looking for handouts, you are are better off. “Do I deserve what I have?” On the other hand, there is the indignation, because we are sure that they are where they are because of decisions they made and continue to make.

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