Posts Tagged ‘poor’

Luke: When I Grew Up

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Yesterday Luke finished his year of kindergarten. (sorry not a current pic)  No graduation but they did have a pool party.  Robin and I are proud of him as he has learned a lot this year and really grown in terms of interacting with his class.

Last night we were talking as we went to bed.  he said, “Dad when I get older I am gonna feed orphans like you.  (Note:  Not sure I feed orphans but we are going together as a family to work with a ministry this summer that does that in South Africa.  You can read our team updates here. )  He said, “I am going to run an orphanage.  Dad, there are a lot of kids who die every year because they are hunger and I won’t be able to save them all but I can save a few from dying.”  
WOW!  Robin and I are hoping this summer is a life-changing time for our boys.  But even before we go, Luke is already thinking of serving those who don’t have.  When I was six I was saying I wanted to be something like a baseball player, an astronaut or a famous actor.   My son is saying he wants to serve the poor and run an orphanage!
(Before you put him on a pedestal, know that he got a time out earlier that evening for acting disrespectful  during the blessing over supper meal.  Its a nightly occurrence.)

The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

Monday, April 27th, 2009


What does God expect of me?


Richard Stearns, the President of World Vision, points out that this question is a profound one for those who say they follow Christ.  Stearns’ answer to this question is laid out in his excellent book, The Hole in our Gospel.  
Stearns writes passionately that God calls us to be partners in changing the world, that God desires us to live our lives in such a way for the world to catch a glimpse of His love, justice and mercy.  This is the gospel.  This is what Jesus came to do.  This is what he invites us to join Him in.
The Hole in our Gospel is a treatise for the premise that being a follower of Jesus requires much more than having a personal and transforming relationship with God.  It also involves a public and transforming relationship with the world.   Stearns, who left a high-paying executive job to take his current role with World Vision,  shares his own journey toward the understanding of this hole. He lays out how the deep the hole is in the world with real stories and more than just numbing statistics of poverty, injustice and disease.   But most importantly, Stearns share how we can move out of this hole toward being true followers of Jeus who live life the way Christ did.
I highly recommend this book.  The implications for the body of Christ today are huge, as are the implications for the world that needs Christ. We can either continue down a path of a diminished gospel that is amounts to a simple individual transaction with God or we can embrace a revolutionary gospel that can change the world.  
Buy it. Read it. Join the revolution.

Not Bad for a Mutant

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Hugh Jackman gave  $100,000 to two charities via Twitter.   He held a little contest and split the amount between Charity:Water and Operation of Hope.   How could you say no to these kids with the signs?

(BTW, I have never before been to Ryan Seacrest’s website.  Seems very People magazany to me. I got this message from a facebook cause application I am a member of. )

 
 

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