Jenny will be leaving for Ethiopia in the wee hours Saturday morning.  Our Charlie and her sister Barbra will be going with her.  It is unsettling not to be with her.  But those feelings are mild this time, better for having been there before and having grown so much in our faith and confidence in putting ourselves in His hands.  They will be traveling with Greg and Melissa (also active here at KTM), who happen to have been friends of Jenny and Barbra since they were kids.  Greg and Melissa will be bringing home an addition to their family as well.  God is so good in putting all of this together so the timing worked out like this.  We had no control over it, and the odds were essentially zero… or maybe the odds were 100% all along.

Anyway, we appreciate your prayers for all of us.  I know my part isn’t as hard as Jenny’s but we have several traveling and three partial families at home - we all need Him through this, even those of us staying here.  But I suppose that, in and of itself, isn’t different from any other day.

But I don’t have much time today and this is really good… so, discuss amongst yourselves:

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  - Jim Elliot

Back in the day, I was known for dishing out some taunting in the course of sporting events.  I wasn’t a showboater - it was a strategic thing.  I did it quietly and personally, and directed it specifically at real weaknesses that I thought my opponents might be insecure about.  Despite the issues I now have with our sports and star-based obsessions in the US, there is much we can learn from sports (aside from the fact that Jim is a jerk).  It’s an undeniable fact that if you can rattle someone’s confidence, they will be far less effective than if they are competing with confidence and assurance.  And if I saw my opponent rattled, it raised my own confidence because I knew I could control his emotions, and thus, his performance.

Maybe that’s why I appreciate the occasional taunting in the bible.  Among my favorites (if you know the original interpretation - it is a bit too crass for most English interpreters) is when (I hope I’m getting the right prophet here) Elijah challenges the phophets of Baal to call on their respective God/gods to light their offering with a fire from heaven.  When the prophets of Baal are desperately calling out, cutting themselves, and clearly starting to fear failure, Elijah chimes in with, “maybe your god is busy, maybe he’s in the bathroom relieving himself.”  After Elijah showed God’s power, there is a reason Elijah could single-handedly grab a sword and kill them all.  They were beaten and Elijah (and God) made sure they knew they were beaten without any hope of victory.

But my hands down favorite is1 Corinthians 15:54-55:

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Death has no power over us.  God’s promises tell us emphatically that He orders our steps, that He is all-knowing and all powerful, and that He loves us.  And when we do die - as Paul said, it is only our gain.  I have a feeling that death thinks he’s a pretty bad dude.  But where is that sting?  If we truly had confidence that there was no sting in death, I can’t help but think how different our lives would look.  And how rattled (and less effective) the enemy would be.

Read the linked blog post below.  Really.  You need to.  It is not easy to read or hear, but the Church must become aware of what we are allowing to exist.

http://talkissheep.blogspot.com/2010/07/korah-day-i-have-given-up-on-numbering.html

This unfortunately ties in to discussions I’ve had recently with several well-intentioned, serious Christian brothers and sisters who have heard “prophecies” of impending financial collapse.  First, let’s clarify what biblical prophets were (are).  Biblical prophets had a direct, shattering experience with God.  An experience that often compelled things like smearing themselves with excrement, marrying a prostitute to illustrate God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful nation, accepting the death of a wife (described by God as “the light of your eyes” when He told the prophet she would die so He could illustrate the message with more power)...  False prophets were stoned.  You had to be absolutely certain of your experience with God to speak as a prophet or you did so at risk of your life.  Biblical prophets spoke directly for God, passing on a specific message He gave them.  They were never scholars who, through their own diligence, insight, education, and research, figured out the timing and details of the future.  In fact, the future was never their primary concern at all.  Their primary concern was confronting God’s people with their unfaithfulness, and calling for repentance and a return to devotion to God as their Lord and Master.  They did not pull any punches, and were never widely accepted by God’s people - Amos referred to the wealthy women of Samaria as “cows of Bashan” (that particular breed was a show cow, overfed, useless for any practical purpose, and fat even for the bovine species).  These were not popular guys, and they did not give hollow predictions.  The future predictions were only a means to that end - a description of what would come to pass if the repentance was not forthcoming.

Did you link through to that blog post above?  Please do.  Really.

Then consider this.  Even if the “prophecies” I’m talking about are accurate, what should they motivate us to do?  Does this sound right?  We should worry.  Then we should spend our time, effort, and emotional focus on figuring out how to best invest/hide/use our wealth so that our standard of living is impacted as little as possible.  Then we should worry some more.  Then we should spend most of our prayer time seeking specifics about how to keep our standard of living where it is “if” things get bad.  Then probably some more worry.  Because, after all, it is all about us. 

In case the post I linked didn’t get the message across, things are already bad.  Things are, in fact, desperate for billions of people, many of whom have never heard the Gospel.  If our time is short, where should our focus be?  If we have only a short time before the wealth of this nation collapses, what should we do with that wealth before it disappears?  Really.  What does the bible say about how we should use our excess.  That’s the prophecy this nation needs to hear.  The only problem?  Throughout history, true prophecy is harsh, raw, and requires that the hearer turn from selfish indulgences.  No one has ever wanted to hear that, and the Church does not want to hear it now.

I apologize for the tone.  Really.  I don’t want to offend anyone, but did you read that link?  My kids grew up in that city.  This is personal to me.  I’ll kiss two kids goodnight tonight who once faced that future.  I love them dearly, and I now see the kids who suffer and die every day due to hunger.  I know them now.  And I love them.  I will fight for them, and I will call things the way I see them on their behalf.  Please read this with the understanding that I am a father to two (soon to be five) of these kids, understand my sense of urgency in that light, and forgive my passion for them if it has offended.

Introduction by Barbra
Our KTM blogger today is Melanie.  She is a KTM member and friend who has helped us with Ludlati projects and is now organizing a project for a missionary family and the poor neighborhood they live in and love in Reynosa, Mexico which is right across the US/Mexico border.  Get to know the Soriano family, their love for their neighbors, and read about how you can help!

The last time I was in Mexico was 9 years ago this August.  Blistering hot.  Sunburned feet.  Stomach issues.  Struggling with the fast Spanish speaking (this is not like college class spanish).  Traveling with someone I had never traveled with before.  Uh, no, it was not for a “mission trip”.  It was my honeymoon!  Yes, it is VERY hot in August in Mexico.  But when you’re in love, crazy love (stealing a phrase here) you will do some things that just defy the world’s sense of logic.

Now we find our hearts turned toward Mexico in a love way again.  This time we would like to assist the people and children living in the Reynosa, Mexico area.  This city is located 22 hours south of where we live in Illinois.  This “project” started because Salome Soriano came to visit our church a few months ago to update us on their progress.

Felix & Salome Soriano, along with their 3 young children, have been friends of our church family for a few years.  We have been blessed & privileged to see them grow as a family, and as servants of the Lord.  They left for Reynosa last June.  We are excited to partner with them on this project of donations, and look forward to establishing a greater bond with them and the ministry near Reynosa, Mexico.  They have joined a group called La Vina Ministries.  You can check out their website for other programs (this one is listed as “yet to come) La Vina has established.  http://www.vineyardmcm.org/

In Salome’s words:  “The people in our neighborhood are very poor and struggle daily to meet their basic needs.  Most days they don’t have water.  Here are some of the ways that we have brought the Kingdom of God into these people’s lives this last year by meeting a physical need: weekly feeding program, food distribution, clothing distribution, medical clinics, shoe distributions, school supply distribution, and educational classes. We are most excited about the growth that we have seen in our church outreaches.  This last year we have added three vacation Bible schools, two weekly Bible study groups, weekly kids program, and Sunday service. It is amazing to see what God has done in this neighborhood this last year.”

If you would like to pray for this family, Here is a Top 5 prayer request list for them:

1. An outpouring of the Holy spirit.
2. *Provision for the construction that still needs to be done.
3. A reliable water source for the colonia.
4. Financial support for the Soriano Family.
5. Protection for the new believers.

The have some other needs, as well:  School supplies in Backpacks, clothing all sizes all seasons, shoes, pots, pans, sheets, blankets, towels, washcloths, Spanish books, Spanish Bibles, diapers, toys, canned food, flashlights/batteries, Cash donations for a 16ft. flatbed trailer to carry items across the border.

The exciting news is that a backpack drive is now under way!  They have about 390 students in their care area, and that seems to be growing all the time.  I set a goal originally of 25 backpacks from our church family. If you or your bible study group, youth group, homeschool group, family,  etc.would like to join us, we just may be able to get closer to that 390!

I have a flyer here for you to see all the information in one place. Please feel free to print and share.
http://www.knowntome.net/index.php/site/Backpacks_for_Amigos/
Click on the flyer for one to print.

A truck is heading down to the Soriano family mid-August. So if you would like to pack a backpack or organize a group to do that, please let us know (see emails and phone numbers on the flyer). We are happy to pick up your items!

Thank you!

Here is a video from last years delivery!

As I lived with what I wrote Thursday, I thought I should clarify my intent and what I really think.  First - His burden is light.  It is a burden, it is a yoke - it does require us to submit and sacrifice.  But the yoke is easy and the burden is light.  The burden we will ultimately bear in this world if we choose to reject the yoke - the submission and sacrifice that He has for us - on the other hand, is heavy.  The point is that He is worthy of our all.  A focus on Him and a willingness to surrender all, evidenced by sacrificial giving, is a path to participation in His purpose and joy - resulting in that easy yoke and light burden.

So, in light of considering our “but”, how do we prevent that from becoming a burden that is hard to bear?  How much is enough?  How much is too much?

I can’t answer that for any of you.  Who am I kidding - I can’t even answer that for me.  It is very dangerous to compare ourselves to other people either way - either saying; “I’m doing more than them so I’m OK” or saying; “so and so is doing more than me so I am falling short”.  Surrender and willingness to Him is what is necessary.  So I see it this way - we need to try not to ask how much is enough at all.  Here is my practical application (I like practical applications and I realized my last post did not give one):

Be aware, be willing:  Make yourself aware of His purpose, and of the great physical and spiritual needs in the world.  Understand His passion for all people (we’re talking about people, not issues or causes - that’s just too impersonal), and understand their need and what his word says about our role in His plan.  Become willing to give any piece or even all of what you have IF He calls you to that.

Live simply, give sacrificially:  To what extent - how much sacrifice?  Wrong question.  Remember, we’re not going there.  Start down the road with one step.  If you don’t know how much or how far down that road is right for you, just start with something.  Give up one specific, small, tangible luxury and put that to use for His plan.  Prayerfully offer it to Him and tell Him it is offered to Him as sign that you want His will in your life, you want to know how much is the right balance for you.  Ask Him to give you His Spirit as a guide and a comfort as you wrestle with this question.  We ask for wisdom and He gives The Guide.  We ask for comfort and He gives The Comforter.  But we must do our part.  In this area, I believe that means living more simply than we could otherwise - even if only to a very small degree at first - and giving something that requires a sacrifice (even if a very small sacrifice)... and seeking Him - doing that with a focus on Him, His plan, and the great need around us. 

He promised to give The Guide.  Our willingness and initial step down the road WILL be met by Him in His grace and mercy to show us the way.  Sometimes I’m just not very patient in waiting for Him.  I need to work on that.

I stole the title from an entry my wife wrote on our personal family/adoption blog (let me know if you want the link).  As I often do, I’ll apologize for the shock value but it’s really an insincere apology since I’m kind of trying to get attention (and since an alternative title was Intellectual Honesty Part 2).  Before I start, let me emphasize that this is not a ranting against all or you - this is a (painful) change I have forced myself to make in my personal thought process because I realized I was not being honest with myself.

Jenny’s entry was longer and more comprehensive than mine, but my brief spin on it is this:  All the time, I catch myself thinking or saying, “I really want to do __________ for the (insert: poor/homeless/orphan/ child sex slave/sick/...), BUT ___________.”  Here’s where I must consider my but, and where I must be honest with myself.

$30-40/month can literally save a child’s life, prevent the slavery/forced labor for that child, prevent preventable disease, and provide education and hope.  We give that much many times over, but the need is still great.  So, there is only one but for me.  That but is this: “I really want to help, BUT I CARE MORE ABOUT HAVING MY SATELLITE TV / NIGHTS OUT / MOUNTAIN BIKE / MUSIC FESTIVAL TICKETS /... than I do about saving a life.  I do.  It’s shocking, but it’s the only honest but out there.  I don’t care how much I’m already giving.  If I choose to spend $70/month on satellite TV when that could save two lives, I care more about that TV than about those lives.  Any other argument is just plain dishonest (and I would say stupid if I wasn’t such a kind, subtle, and gentle person).

You can insert buts about time or effort for my example about money as well.  It still circles back to one but - I care more about a uses of time such as kids sports, jiu jitsu training, watching TV, etc… than I do about really connecting with neighbors who desperately need what Jesus has to offer through me.

So here I am - fallen, selfish and gluttonous at my core.  How do I reconcile this to what I believe?  I really beleive that the single but I propose is the only intellectually honest but.  How can I live like I do?  What a wretch I am, truly… truly in need of grace and ongoing change and growth in loving my neighbor as myself.  I need His spirit for that, but I need to be willing… God help me be.

Thanks so much again to everyone who worked for or participated in the Aprons for Orphans fund raising event.  Funds raised (see amount below!) will support the Swaziland Travel Team and items given to the kids/families the group will visit this September.  Below we are sharing the wonderful comments posted afterward on Facebook and some pictures from the event!

• Generous friends! We are so thankful for your coming out and giving today! The apron and dessert auction gifts FAR exceeded what we dared to hope! In the words of one of my favorite bloggers, Linny, YIPPEE, Jesus!!!
• Yes much fun…so will we ever know how much was raised? or maybe a general we could buy x amount of stuff with what we raised? I think that would be very cool to know.
• You all gave just over $2100.000. AMAZING!! It will go to the trip fund which helps our travelers to go and provides funds for the items that will be given (i.e. shoes and food packages) to the kids/families the group will visit.
• It was a great event!!! You all outdid yourselves!
• The BEST $12 ice cream creation I have ever eaten!! I did it for the children…
• It was WONDERFUL! You all did an amazing job and I am so glad God blessed your work…I knew He would. On behalf of our Ludlati kids….THANK YOU
• It was so wonderful to see so many people there caring for those beautiful kids. Thank you all for everything you’ve done to help them. I had a wonderful time there even if I didn’t win an apron.
• HALLELUJAH!! You guys earned every dollar! I can’t imagine all the hours & weeks you all put into this! What a blessing! I pray a hundred fold over each & everyone of you! I have never tasted coffee, but after the marvelous mocha brownies i think you have created a monster in me! L O V E THEM!!
• I am so sorry I missed it, but I am SO THANKFUL, for your success! God is truly working!
• It was such a good time. Everything was so pretty and the desserts were great. You all had to have spent months preparing and it showed. You all blessed me in more ways than you know. YIPPEE is a great word. Thank you for all your hard work.
• WOOT WOOT!! God is so good!
• We had so much fun ! My husband laughed so hard when I told him that me and my daughter were bidding on a cheesecake against each other !
• I love being part of such a cool thing with such great people! Hope to help out more before the trip. I had a wonderful time.
• LOVE my little apron! The auction was awesome. It should be a yearly thing. Hope you guys made a lot towards the trip!
• I had a great time today. You all did a great job!!! Love both my aprons!! Even my husband said they are cute. My mother said these are made so well. Thanks for the invite.
• So, most things don’t look as good after you get them home and out of the box. This is not the case with the apron. It is so cute and well made. I’m going to save it for a gift. You guys did an awesome job!!

Thanks to Michelle Jacob for the pictures.

I gave some thought about whether or not this is an appropriate venue for personal family news (actually about 3 seconds of thought), and I decided that it is a perfect venue.  We are trying to build more than a website, trying to raise more than funds.  The goal is community, a deep commitment to each other and to others outside our community.  We need to get to know each other better.

Our news is that we passed court in Ethiopia yesterday, and are now parents of three more kids, bringing the total count to eight.  There is so much to tell about how we got here, so many ways our adoptions have changed, challenged, and blessed us that this will fall far short.  These three are siblings, and had been waiting for a family for some time since it is difficult to find families for older sibling groups.  Jenny met them at the orphanage when she went to meet and bring home our first two adopted children.  Her heart felt an immediate “recognition” of the 12 year old boy in this group when she met him, and came home committed to find him a home.  We discovered that he had two siblings, one an older girl who stood out partially for her age but mostly for her gentle, quiet, yet confident manner.  We thought doors might be able to open for friends to adopt them, but those options did not work out.

I remember the moment when I knew they were ours very clearly.  We were in church, and Jenny gave a prayer request for a home for them, and broke into tears when she recounted how we had learned from our adopted 6 year old that the oldest girl had taught her about Jesus and prayed with her and was a comfort to her in hard times.  Immediately, I was overwhelmed with a certain knowledge that these kids were ours.  Not a desire to do a good thing for them, not a hope that it could work, not an obligation… I have never known anything with more finality or certainty in all my life.  And it happened in an instant.  It was powerful and emotional, yet calm and peaceful at the same time.

After that, the process was long and at times “uncertain”.  Illinois is reluctant to approve large adopted families for additional kids, another family became interested in these three (and we had peace that what we really wanted for them was a home so we were not unsettled when it seemed the agency would place them there).  But they were ours.  And now the “official” acknowledgement of that is complete.

International adoption must be undertaken with great care, especially when “demand” for healthy infants is strong (I would be remiss if I did not note that “demand” for older kids, sibling groups, and special needs kids is never strong enough).  There are abuses of the system, there is grief and loss in separation from family and culture.  Autonomy, equality, and elimination of the poverty that creates orphans and prevents people from caring for orphans within their own culture is the best long-term solution - far better to eliminate the need than to meet the need.  But for the kids who need families, who are lacking that love, commitment, and connection - adoption is the only answer.  We cannont abandon them.  God’s word is so clear on this point.  He demands that we care for the poor - both intact families that are at risk, and orphans for whom that window to help has passed.  You don’t need to adopt.  You do need to give to the point of some level of personal sacrifice.  That’s a strong statement, but I’ll stand by it.  If you are offended by my presumption to know what you must do, read the Word and tell me how you come to any other conclusion.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings… we are excited, and will soon be making real preparations for travel.  We have options for what that travel will look like and I am, frankly, struggling with the decision of who will go to Ethiopia this time.  I am still seeking a “moment” like the one I described earlier, but it is not always that easy.  We apprecaite your prayers and support.

Three NFL football players, Cornell Green, George Foster, and Anthony Hargrove, went on a trip to Swaziland to offer their time and energy in service to children and people in need.

The video linked below gives a brief overview of their trip.  Once again it is illustrated, when a person meets people where they live in poverty and the weight of so much death around them, a person gets to know the people, and begin to understand the situation.  It is quickly realized that something must be done.

One of the players said, “How can I live the American Dream knowing that Swaziland people are dieing everyday.”

“Help is needed…we can’t let Swaziland disappear.”

You can see their story after you get through the short NFL commercial.  Click on the image below to see the video.

Scott Borg who works with Adventures in Missions and Childrens HopeChest was their trip host and leader.  For more details of their trip, you can read how God answered these men’s prayer for protection and rain for a family of orphan children headed by two teenage girls with a garden of crops facing drought.

I asked, “God, why do you allow such suffering in the world?” to which He replied “Why do you?”—Mother Theresa

These words hit me like a ton of bricks in a good way.  I have read it before, but it was so good to read it again at this blog post link http://hopechestindia.blogspot.com/  These words shake me out of a way of thinking that is steadily being extracted from my mind.  The blog post also shakes me out of focus on my life, needs and daily schedule.  It is so easy to see suffering and evil in the world, and allow an overwhelming feeling to take over to the point that I feel like I can’t do anything.  Or perhaps feel nothing, and just ignore it.  Maybe I am beginning to see that the selfish side of my being likes to have an excuse to check out and pursue comfort.  My selfish response is to shrug my shoulders, ignore, forget, do nothing, and be comfortable again…it only makes economic sense, right?

According to the man’s logic:  RIGHT!

According to God’s logic:  NO!  THERE’S A HIGHER WAY!

The bible is full of scriptures that ask us…no…check that…command us to do difficult and counter intuitive things.  But He also said He would give us everything we need to do these things!  Left to our own power we could not do these things…not very long anyway.  Thank God He provides EVERYTHING we need to find ourselves doing those things that He wants to get done…oh and by the way it also pleases Him.

A recent study of the book of Romans revealed that God is completely in control of everything, and He will get all the praise and glory in the end.  He chooses to be patient with evil and evil men…who seem to be the source of a lot of suffering.  This is the most merciful and loving response God can give, and it only makes sense from an eternal perspective.  Because God desires for all men to find Him, submit to Him as Lord, and be saved.

Thankfully God offers true joy in the midst of our suffering and our neighbor’s suffering, because His ways are true and pure.  Part of receiving that joy comes when we choose to trust and obey Him.  He loves us, and He told us if we love Him, we will obey His commands.

So how did God instruct us to respond to evil and suffering?  I have a favorite verse I believe reveals God’s strategy which He planned in advance for us to do.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

If you feel overwhelmed by this post, I encourage you to let that feeling go, and ask God to turn it into compassion, motivation, action and joy.  He is in control, and thankfully He wants us to be part of His work and plan.  In my ‘onion’ opinion, it’s the only way to live!

There was another famous quote in the blog post where a lot is said in just a few words…

“Preach the gospel always, if necessary, use words.”—St Francis

Gee, slow crowd this weekend… no guesses at all.  Does that mean you all know and I made it too easy, or that no one has any idea, or maybe that you just want me to go away and leave you alone already?  I’ll assume it isn’t no.3 and provide the answer:

‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.  They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.’  
-Ezekiel 16:49-50

Similar to this verse is a very short Pensee from Blaise Pascal that I posted once before:

Wretchedness: Job and Solomon

That’s all there is to that one.  A recognition that both were wretched in very different ways.  We see ourselves as blessed… and we are, in so many ways.  Yet our wealth and blessing can lead us away from reliance on and pursuit of God as all-fulfilling.  Just as Pascal compared the wretchedness of Solomon in his wealth to the wretchedness of Job in his physical distress, we should compare our desire for and surrender to God (or lack thereof) in our wealth with the desire for and surrender to God found in the poor and persecuted church (without posessions, He is all they have).  They are wretched in physical circumstances, but we must take care that we do not become wretched spiritually due to our comfort and self-reliance. 

One more quote… I’ll try to track down this final quote more precisely, but I believe it comes from a pastor who was jailed and tortured in Romania for his faith.  He may or may not be correct, but regardless, I think it spurs productive thought about our circumstances and our faith.

“I believe that 90% of Christians will pass the trial of persecution.  I believe that 90% of Christians will fail the trial of affluence.”

First, the quiz.  In Ezekiel (don’t cheat and search it), God cites a handful of specific sins of the residents of Sodom that caused Him to destroy the city.  Can you name one or more?  Barbra and Don, you are prohibited from participating (since you pointed this verse out to me).

On to the goal… Our community has already made a huge difference in the lives of our neighbor kids in Swaziland.  Our sponsorship level is near 50%, which is (barely) enough to provide basic nutritional needs.  Funds are set aside for a fence, kitchen, and well.  We can’t even imagine in our setting how impotant those things will be.  Clean water alone can prevent many early deaths, and frees hours every day for schooling, parenting, and other productive activity that would have otherwise been spent walking miles for (typically unsafe) water.  I can thank you for that, but my thanks mean nothing.  What you have is a deposit to your treasure in heaven, and the pleasure of our Father.  I think it is very important to note that Jesus did not tell us not to build up treasure.  On the contrary, He commanded us to build up treasure - treasue in heaven.

My goal is this:  we have over 40 neighbor kids with no personal connection to us - that is, “unsponsored”.  But that is a cold, statistical-type word.  It does not express their loneliness and need to know that the community behind their support cares personally about them.  Our financial support is also at the minimum level at which meaningful assistance can be provided to our kids as a group.  “Minimum level” is not where I think we can or should be.  We have a trip scheduled to our Swaziland community in September.  You are a big part of this.  We need funds to get there, and funds to get there with shoes for the kids, and news of sponsorship for more of our kids than we now have.  Links for helping with this effort and with sponsorship are all over our home page.  Please, don’t just read on past this post.  Think, work through it, make it a personal goal.  If you can’t help, tell the story to someone who can.  Find a way, make a way with neighbors, a Sunday school group, friends, co-workers… be creative… maybe a “cyber” shoe drive for an office or Sunday school, a sponsorship for an extended family… I am confident God will provide the way, this is simply an opportunity to be a part of the joy.

... I don’t believe He was really the Son of God”.  Who’s heard that one?  I think we all have, and I think we’ve all heard the counter-arguments that if you understand Jesus’ statements in light of Old Testament references He made about himself, He clearly claimed to be the Messiah.  Which means he was a liar, lunatic, or what He said He is - the Son of God.

The question is, as Christians, which do we really believe - great moral teacher, or Son of God (i.e. our Master)?  See, I’m a person who thinks that what we really believe should be evidenced by what we do, not by what we say.  Just a matter of common sense evidence - there is real wisdom in the sayings; “talk is cheap”, actions speak louder than words”...

Here’s my dilemma.  Take this for example: ” Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”  - Matthew 5:23-24 Have you ever heard that cited in church?  How many of us have seen anyone (or actually did oursleves) get up and leave to first be reconciled to their brother before finishing the service?  Did it even cross your mind when you heard that, that you really should get up that instant and leave the service to be reconciled to a brother that has anything against you?  If we accept Jesus as our Master, we should see that as a direct command.  Or did you accept the passage (as I always have) as a good moral teaching but not a command that you should be expected to perform, and to perform it as instructed? 

I have to admit that this is a new concept to me and I must further admit that my actions indicate that I see Jesus more as a great moral teacher and less as my Master.  All too often I treat His commands as good principles to live by but not explicit commands.  The point is that He gave many explicit commands, and I have treated nearly all of them as good general illustrative principles to live by, but I essentially never treat them as explicit commands.  So what do I really believe? 

Read the sermon on the mount and the rest of Jesus’words again and look for explicit commands - they are everywhere.  That whole don’t worry about tomorrow thing… that was not a self-help ideal, it was a command.  Pray for your enemies, bless those who curse you, if someone sues you for your coat, give him your shirt as well, do not store up treasure on earth… all phrased as commands, not tidy philosophiocal niceties.  But we don’t treat them as commands - so what do we really believe?  Holy Spirit, work through me to change the evidence in my life.  I am not happy with what my actions say about my beliefs to date, and I hope and pray that a wave of true belief, evidenced by obedience to His commands will sweep through my life and the church as a whole, I want to be a part of that.

We have assembled a team of nine wonderful people planning to travel to Swaziland to visit our Neighbor Kids at Ludlati Carepoint Sept 4th through the 14th, 2010.  As Christ works in and through the team members and each of you, there are many things planned for the trip, but…

  ...one need we want to meet is making sure every child at Ludlati Carepoint receives a new pair of school shoes.

For many of the children, this will become their only pair of shoes.  It is estimated we will have 100+ children attending Ludlati carepoint during our visit, and shoes cost between $10-$20 a pair.  This is our initial presentation of an opportunity for everyone following or involved in sponsoring a child at Ludlati Carepoint to contribute to the purchase of shoes for the children.  We currently have just under half the children matched with sponsors.

So to cover every child we are hoping for the 1 for 2 deal!  “1 sponsor for 2 children”

If you can give the gift and/or make the sacrifice, we suggest donation of $30 to cover your sponsored child and one more child.

Even if you are not currently sponsoring a child, we ask you for the same gift of $30 to cover two pairs of feet.

I look forward to sizing up and shoe-ing the little and big feet of our Ludlati Neighbor Kids, and sharing pictures back home of their and our smiling faces as we help them come to know Christ through this tangible gift of God’s love.

As best can be expressed through a blog post, I sincerely and humbly thank you for letting us make you aware of this need.  We will send out a couple more notices and updates on progress with the shoe drive over the next 8 weeks.  It will work best if gifts are sent before August 7th, 2010.

No gift is too small or too large for God to multiply.  Please consider sending donations in the following ways:

On-line Donation:

  Pay securely on-line through Childrens HopeChest on-line payment system:
  https://secure.pursuantgroup.net/pursuant4/hopechest/chcselect/donation.asp

  In the “NOTES:” box on the web page, please add the following information:
  Trip identification:  SZ100901T - Shoes

Donation by Mail:

  Make checks payable to:  Childrens HopeChest
Add trip identification to memo:  SZ100901T - Shoes

  Please mail to:
    Don King - Swazi Team Leader
    860 CR 2100E
    Sidney, IL 61877

  I am collecting and organizing donated funds for the trip, and will forward your mailed gifts to Childrens HopeChest.

Thanks in advance for your interest, support and love for the Ludlati Neighbor Kids and the people in their community.  We also appreciate your prayers for the trip and team members fund raising and planning efforts.  To God be all the Glory!

Yours in Christ,
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
217-390-6798

p.s. Jumbo and Kriek Gerber will be helping us in Swaziland during our trip, and are the full time missionaries working with CHC and AIM.  Here is a recent post on their blog describing another travel group bringing shoes for two carepoints.  There is also some fun news about Jumbo and Kriek’s coming baby. http://jumbogerber.myadventures.org/?filename=world-cup-and-another-great-trip