Please, pray for the people of Haiti as they face the devastation of a 7.3 magnitude earthquake. Let’s not be silent as we go before the throne of grace with confidence. Let’s allow ourselves to enter into the pain of these people and in so doing, allow the Holy Spirit to guide our prayer and lead us to action–whether it’s creating awareness, contributing to an aid organization, or going!
At the dinner table tonight, I was updating my husband on all the latest news from our local area and around the world. We talked about the situation in Iran as explained to me by my friend, a former refugee from Iran, now citizen of the US. We talked about the Karen-Burmese children who have fled with their families to Thailand refugee camps–children who may not live past next week because the Burmese army is demanding that they be returned to Burma where they will likely be used as mine sweepers, servants to the army, raped or killed. We talked about these things as we sat in our peaceful home, eating a feast of “avocado pita delights” as we affectionately call our latest food obsession. And I thought I was going to throw up. What was I doing here in all this peace while people around the world were fighting for their very lives? I am grateful for the blessings God has given me; I’m not asking for terror to strike my life; I recognize that my struggles and griefs are relevant and important to God as well. But…
…As I come and go to work, laugh and joke with coworkers, go shopping, plan a 3 year wedding anniversary, enjoy the peace and quiet of my home, my coworker cannot concentrate on his work because his country is in turmoil, his friends and family face uncertainty and danger, his life has turned upside down, and he feels caught, unable to save anyone. And I seem relatively untouched by the whole ordeal…
So, we finished dinner, enjoyed our avocado pita delights, and set to washing dishes. I turned on the new CD that our friend just released, and here’s what came out of the speakers “I’m given it all to Jesus…” I felt a quiet come over me. I’m given it all to Jesus. This isn’t a “spiritual” excuse for inaction or apathy; this is not my rationale for ignoring these horrific injustices. This is just the first step of action. First, I’m giving it all to Jesus. Why? Because He is the Creator; He is the Healer; He is Just; He is Merciful; He knows Suffering; when everything was messed up, He came down into this world to make things right; He is the Beginning and the End; He IS. And we can trust Him. So, I’m giving all of this to Him. He can handle this; I can’t. Neither can anyone else. Then, step 2. Jesus, what would you have me do right here, right where I’m at? That’s what I’m going to do.
So, will you give it all to Jesus? And will you take step 2? He’ll be faithful with the first; He’ll also be faithful to give you something to do.
I have recently heard a lot of comments from fellow believers on the issue of redistribution of wealth, and I am disturbed. I should start out by saying that I do not agree with the idea that it is the government’s role to redistribute wealth. So, my concern and frustration at people’s reactions is not because I’m supportive of this as a government action, but rather because I hear in these responses a very American, but not a very Christian, attitude–an attitude that I think we in the US church have so adopted that we think it is a Christian attitude. My concern is with the heart and the tone of Christians as we discuss the issue of sharing the fruits of OUR labor with others. More »
I’d like to start sharing passages of Scripture for us to contemplate. The format will be a passage to read, followed, perhaps, by a few thoughts or questions. Here’s the first: More »
My husband and I just attended a thought-provoking, challenging and potentially life-changing conference this weekend focused on the changing demographics and “mission field” on our very own doorstep. We heard from Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, a professor at North Park Seminary and well-respected thinker in the world of Christian social action. Dr. Rah spoke of the theologies of suffering and celebration that mark different groups in Christendom. What I am sharing here are largely his thoughts gleaned from his study of other thinkers in this arena and their studies, but I write them because I am challenged by this and think that this idea should profoundly impact the Church. More »
The ESV Study Bible by Unknown
Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile by Rob Bell
