A few months ago our church had their missions highlight weekend. We have some pretty creative people on our staff- last year they handed out a bag of lentils and rice "meals" for every family in the congregation. The point was this is the meal (or something similar) that the majority of the world would be eating today. Pretty eye opening.
This year they handed out a copy of this book:
Wow- what a worthwhile read this is!
It is an easy read (although long) but just full of information that will 1. awaken you to the realities of life in the rest of the world and 2. challenge you with what you're going to do with that information! Although it is impossible to sum up a read such as this I would dare say a statement for this book would be :
If we consider ourselves people of faith- then we also need to be people of action.
He very thoroughly describes is own journey from CEO of Lenox to president of World Vision (a non-denominational charity that supports child sponsorship as well as a HOST of other hands-on ministries in the world) He humbly describes his own realization that his view of God's Word was flawed- it had a Hole in it. Basically- it was easier to write a check to a mission than care about the people the mission encounter. It is easier. But what did Jesus do?
I was reading thru Matthew recently and looking for action words associated with Jesus.
he came
he was purposeful
he was obedient
he was led by the Spirit
he fought with Scripture
he preached
he walked alongside
he saw
he talked
he fed
he taught
he called
he cared
he healed
And that's just the first several chapters. Jesus was a man of action. And, as the author of this book mentions too, Jesus takes care of the peoples physical needs - food, healing etc... before addressing their spiritual needs. What a challenge- if we allow it be one and not just gloss over it- to examine our own view of the Gospel- What does my life say that I believe about God?
yikes.
The author also addresses the Hole in our Churches-
This quote just blew me away:
"A church that lives within its four walls is no church at all."
What does our church activities, classes, and outreach say about what our church believes about God?
yikes.
Here is a Franciscan benediction to reflect on (and pray if you're really adventurous!)
"May God bless you with a restless discomfort
about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationship, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom and peace among all people.
May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you reall y can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. "
And hey- I don't even get PAID to promote! =D
This year they handed out a copy of this book:
Wow- what a worthwhile read this is! It is an easy read (although long) but just full of information that will 1. awaken you to the realities of life in the rest of the world and 2. challenge you with what you're going to do with that information! Although it is impossible to sum up a read such as this I would dare say a statement for this book would be :
If we consider ourselves people of faith- then we also need to be people of action.
He very thoroughly describes is own journey from CEO of Lenox to president of World Vision (a non-denominational charity that supports child sponsorship as well as a HOST of other hands-on ministries in the world) He humbly describes his own realization that his view of God's Word was flawed- it had a Hole in it. Basically- it was easier to write a check to a mission than care about the people the mission encounter. It is easier. But what did Jesus do?
I was reading thru Matthew recently and looking for action words associated with Jesus.
he came
he was purposeful
he was obedient
he was led by the Spirit
he fought with Scripture
he preached
he walked alongside
he saw
he talked
he fed
he taught
he called
he cared
he healed
And that's just the first several chapters. Jesus was a man of action. And, as the author of this book mentions too, Jesus takes care of the peoples physical needs - food, healing etc... before addressing their spiritual needs. What a challenge- if we allow it be one and not just gloss over it- to examine our own view of the Gospel- What does my life say that I believe about God?
yikes.
The author also addresses the Hole in our Churches-
This quote just blew me away:
"A church that lives within its four walls is no church at all."
What does our church activities, classes, and outreach say about what our church believes about God?
yikes.
Here is a Franciscan benediction to reflect on (and pray if you're really adventurous!)
"May God bless you with a restless discomfort
about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationship, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom and peace among all people.
May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you reall y can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. "
And hey- I don't even get PAID to promote! =D
1 comment:
read that one a few years ago... was challenged and changed.
walking and talking Jesus's Gospel, even in a place like this where the needs are so great and so everywhere (like in my front yard, outside my gate, every street corner, 98% of the congregation at church...), is impossible without Him... b/c you start looking past the poverty, you don't even greet those on the corner...
in the States - you don't see it because you live in such a different world, so far removed. here we are drowning in needs we could never begin to meet, feel overwhelmed and start to become calloused...
not just a hole in our Gospel... but a hole in our hearts that Jesus must first fill every day ~
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