I don’t have much time, so I’ll let this speak for itself.  Perhaps not directly on point at first glance, but the heart of this Pensee is all about living in the present, which is at the heart of thankfulness.  It also highlights the effect and ultimate result of a life dominated by yearning for the future rather than contentment (thankfulness) for our present circumstances.

We do not rest satisfied with the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if in order to hasten its course; or we recall the past, to stop its too rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander in the times which are not ours and do not think of the only one which belongs to us; and so idle are we that we dream of those times which are no more and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists. For the present is generally painful to us. We conceal it from our sight, because it troubles us; and, if it be delightful to us, we regret to see it pass away. We try to sustain it by the future and think of arranging matters which are not in our power, for a time which we have no certainty of reaching.

Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means; the future alone is our end. So we never live, but we hope to live; and, as we are always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be so.

This is good stuff, probably the one verse I have held closest to my heart and mind as I have struggled through a past of depression, anxiety, and bitterness (I’m a pretty wretched person in the flesh).  Like I’ve said before, I tend to think spiritual “formulas” are bogus.  But, when the clear reading is a clear promise, and when it just makes this much sense…

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This is a formula for true peace, and I believe it will work 100% of the time.  Now… getting to the point were we rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, and IN EVERYTHING present our requests with thanksgiving, and think ONLY about what is right, pure, lovely… there’s the rub.  That’s not easy and I certainly don’t do it.  At least not always… OK, maybe only rarely do I really do it.  But when I’m in “that place”, I get real peace.  How can I not have real peace if I am rejoicing in the Lord, in thanskgiving knowing that my requests are in the hands of an omnipotent, sovereign, and loving God, with my thoughts on things that are pure, lovely, and praiseworthy?  It’s a no-brainer.

Real peace.  I don’t know about anyone else, but that’s what I really want in this world.  I’ve spent far too much time lacking it.  And THAT’s a formula that works.  All predicated on a thankful heart in a state of praise.

Tomorrow (or perhaps Saturday if I have trouble posting remotely), Thankfulness Part V - a Pensee.

Why do I think thankfulness is so important?  Just the volume of biblical references to the concept is enough for me to think it’s pretty ciritical, but here is one specific verse (another to come tomorrow):

Ephesians 5:15-21 (NKJ)
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

By the way, I looked at three different translations and all command us to give thanks either for “all things” or “everything”, this one even adds redundancy: “always for all things”.  So, my “why” in this verse is pretty simple.  There is a clear implication that we are acting as fools if we do not give thanks for all things, and a direct statement that giving thanks for all things is a fundamental part of acting wisely.  And this is not a passage in the context of everything going good in life.  Note that it is prefaced that we must act wisely, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  And that’s the setting in which giving thanks for all things is critical.

I’ve heard people stand up and vigorously object to this verse before, i.e.: “I’m not going to give thanks for trials from the enemy…”.  Well, I guess God stands corrected.  Look, “all things” and “everything” seem pretty clear to me.  Back to my philosophy of accepting that I’m not very smart, God knows that, and He intends for clear language in His Word to mean what it says it means.  I, therefore, will not reject anything in the Word.  But rather, I will work to understand how it can all fit together - it all has to be true, we can’t cherry-pick to fit our desired interpretation regardless of what that is.

So, how do we live in God’s victory, hold fast to the great promises in His Word, and at the same time give thanks for the very things in our lives that are in contradiction to those promises?  It seems clear to me.  I have absolute faith in God’s sovereignty, and his love for me - and in His promises.  So why should I find any difficulty in standing on His promises, and at the same time giving thanks for the opportunity for Him to show Himself faithful on my behalf.  Giving thanks for the trial is not passive resignation.  On the contrary, it is evidence of absolute faith in His ultimate deliverance from that trial. 

For me, that is an expansion of the “why” in this verse.  Giving thanks for even the things we are fighting against demonstrates our faith, and is one way the words we speak line up with His promises.  “Ok, devil, you want to bring (name your trial) to me?  Fine, bring it - you will not be victorious, but you will turn and flee.  Not only am I not afraid of it (or you), I’m going to give thanks to God for that trial because it’s just one more testimony I’m going to have to His power and deliverance.”  That’s faith with teeth and confidence behind it.  The kind I think we need.  I’m not a formula guy so I’m not going to assert that giving thanks = faith = healing or anything like that.  God’s not about formulas, but He is about the attitude of our hearts, and I beleive an attitude of thankfulness leads to, enhances, and supports faith. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Paul writes, “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Paul simply says very directly, “In everything give thanks.”  No exceptions, no excuses.  Nothing is outside those parameters, in everything give thanks.  The word enpante in the Greek means in connection with everything that occurs.  He is saying no matter what happens to you in life, be thankful.  No matter your lot, no matter what circumstance, no matter what struggle or trial, give thanks.  No matter what the situation we are to find reason to thank God.

This is just a sample (just a sample, that’s why the numbering is odd) of the results I hit in an online serach of the bible for the word “Thanks”.  Modifying the search to thanksgiving and gratitude produced similarly lengthy lists.  For today, I’ll just emphasize the breadth and volume of circumstances in which we should give thanks and leave it at that.  Hopefully this will satisfy us that we should be thankful.  More on why it’s so important later…

26. Should be offered » To God (Psalms 50:14)
27. Should be offered » To Christ (1 Timothy 1:12)
28. Should be offered » Through Christ (Romans 1:8; Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 13:15)
29. Should be offered » In the name of Christ (Ephesians 5:20)
30. Should be offered » On behalf of God’s servants (2 Corinthians 1:11)
31. Should be offered » In private worship (Daniel 6:10)
32. Should be offered » In public worship (Psalms 35:18)
33. Should be offered » In everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
34. Should be offered » Upon the completion of great undertakings (Nehemiah 12:31,40)
35. Should be offered » Before receiving food ( John 6:11; Acts 27:35)
36. Should be offered » Always (Ephesians 1:16;5:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:2)
37. Should be offered » As the remembrance of God’s holiness (Psalms 30:4;97:12)
38. Should be offered » For the goodness and mercy of God (Psalms 106:1;107:1;136:1-3)
39. Should be offered » For the gift of Christ (2 Corinthians 9:15)
40. Should be offered » For Christ’s power and reign (Revelations 11:17)
41. Should be offered » For the reception and effectual working of the word of God in others (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
42. Should be offered » For deliverance from indwelling sin, through Christ (Romans 7:23-25)
43. Should be offered » For victory over death and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:57)
44. Should be offered » For wisdom and might (Daniel 2:23)
45. Should be offered » For the triumph of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:14)
46. Should be offered » For the conversion of others (Romans 6:17)
47. Should be offered » For faith exhibited by others (Romans 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:3)
48. Should be offered » For love exhibited by others (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
49. Should be offered » For the grace bestowed on others (1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3-5; Colossians 1:3-6)
50. Should be offered » For the zeal exhibited by others (2 Corinthians 8:16)
51. Should be offered » For the nearness of God’s presence (Psalms 75:1)
52. Should be offered » For appointment to spiritual service (1 Timothy 1:12)
53. Should be offered » For willingness to offer our property for God’s service (1 Chronicles 29:6-14)
54. Should be offered » For the supply of our bodily needs (Romans 14:6,7; 1 Timothy 4:3,4)
55. Should be offered » For all people (1 Timothy 2:1)
56. Should be offered » For all things (2 Corinthians 9:11; Ephesians 5:20)
57. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Eve (Genesis 4:1,25)
58. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Noah (Genesis 8:20)
59. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20)
60. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Lot (Genesis 19:19)
61. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Sarah (Genesis 21:6,7)
62. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Abraham (Genesis 12:7;13:4)
63. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Abraham’s servant (Eliezar) (Genesis 24:27,35)
64. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Isaac (Genesis 26:22)
65. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Leah (Genesis 29:32-35)
66. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Rachel (Genesis 30:6)
67. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Jacob (Genesis 31:42;35:3,7)
68. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Joseph (Genesis 41:51,52)
69. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19)
70. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Miriam (Exodus 15:20-22)
71. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Jethro (Exodus 18:10)
72. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the people of Israel (Exodus 4:31; Numbers 21:17;31:49-54; 1 Chronicles 29:22)
73. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Deborah (Judges 5)
74. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:27,28)
75. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:12)
76. Jesus set an example of (Matthew 11:25;26:27; John 11:41)
77. The heavenly host engage in (Revelations 4:9;7:11,12;11:16,17)
78. Commanded (Psalms 50:14)
79. Should be accompanied by intercession for others (1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4)
80. Should always accompany prayer (Nehemiah 11:17; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2)
81. Should always accompany praise (Psalms 92:1; Hebrews 13:15)
82. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of David (2 Samuel 6:21)
83. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:9)
84. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Hiram (2 Chronicles 2:12)
85. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of Jehoshaphat’s army (2 Chronicles 20:27,28)
86. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the Levites (Nehemiah 9:4-38)
87. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the Jews (Nehemiah 12:43)
88. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the sailors (Jonah 1:16)
89. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Of the shepherds (Luke 2:20)
90. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The man who was paralyzed (Luke 5:25)
91. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The demon-possessed man who was exorcized (Luke 8:39)
92. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The woman who was bent over for eighteen years (Luke 13:13)
93. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » One of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed (Luke 17:15,16)
94. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Blind Bartimaeus (Luke 18:43; Mark 10:46-52)
95. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The Roman centurion for his boy ( John 4:53)
96. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » The lame man healed by Peter (Acts 3:8)
97. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Before receiving food, by Jesus (Matthew 14:19; Mark 8:6,7)
98. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » Paul (Acts 27:35)
99. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » See PRAISE
100. TO GOD, INSTANCES OF » See PRAYER BEFORE RECEIVING FOOD

The answer to my question is explained below.  I think it is very usefull to look for words like “because” or “therefore” which indicate a cause and effect, and to me are indicators that my attention level needs to go up because something is just about to be explained in a cause and effect manner that is typically very useful.  Here’s what I see as the root of that diatribe in Romans 1:

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…

Pride certainly has a role, as does worship of earthly objects.  But the root… at the beginning of it all is in verse 21:  They did not glorify God nor gave thanks to Him.

A lack of appreciation for Him and the lack of a thankful heart leads to searching for gods in other places and starts a slide into complete Godlessness.  Thankfulness… who knew it was so important?  More to come on that topic throughout the week…

I’m going to write series of a few posts on a topic, which actually started with my post on Wednesday.  The topic will be revealed as the answer to a little quiz.  You can cheat, the answer is in Romans 1, but just for fun I’d like to see answers and guesses in the comments before you look (I’ll post the answer by the end of the weekend).

There is a litany of sinful behavior listed in Romans 1, and there is one attitude of the heart that is listed as the root cause.  The litany of behaviors follows, the question is: what is the root cause?

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

As Christians, we are children of The King.  I have heard that statement often in recent years, usually stated with broad general implications, but few specific practical applications.  I’m a big fan of practical applications, so I’ll give you mine for this (completely accurate) statement.  First, The Word is clear, we are joint heirs with Christ and thus God’s own children.  There should be no debate on that point among those of us who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

I’ve heard the statement that we are children of the king used most commonly to assert that we are missing out on physical blessings and worldly wealth and luxuries that are our birthright.  I’m kind of a history buff, but even if you’re not, common sense will tell you that kings (and their children) throughout nearly all history (certainly in biblical times) lived without myriad luxuries that we take for granted every day in this country.  How many kings ever imagined the existence of, let alone ever tasted ice cream? (I like ice cream… a lot, so it’s in my typical hypotheticals about luxuries in case you haven’t noticed).  How many dreamed of pushing a button on a wall and adjusting the temperature of their living space to whatever they wanted?  How many had music, drama, sports, any entertainment of any genre - available at any moment they desired it?  How many had our level of medical care, running water (hot or cold) from a spigot in their home, showers, flushing toilets, ease and speed of travel, communication with loved ones away from home… the list could go on and on.  My point is that we already live with more luxuries than 99% of the kings that ever lived on this planet.  In fact, I challenge anyone to come up with a practical physical luxury kings throughout history had that we do not have.  We should not demand more.  We should be thankful for what we have.  He will do His part in providing what we need and more.

My second thought on the original assertion is that there are two stereotypes for children of kings.  Stereotypes that history proves to be reasonably accurate.  Children of kings were (are) faced with enormous privilege and enormous responsibility.  There is very little middle ground in their response to their weighty circumstances.  They either responded by living lives of selfishness, grasping gluttony, ignoring the plight of their subjects or even oppressing them for the increase of their own luxury; or they filled the role of a servant to their people, living their entire lives for the benefit of their subjects, lives of duty and honor, sacrificing even their lives for their people.  Think about it.  Are you aware of any story, fairy tale, or true historical or biblical account where a child of the king did not fill one or the other of these two roles?  I am convinced that we, as children of the king, face the same choice in our lives, and that we will fill one or the other of these two roles.  Jesus fell squarely into one of these two roles.  Which one should we aspire to?

Finally, and most importantly - this is not a message for “vows of poverty” or living a downtrodden life.  On the contrary, this is a message of true joy, hope, and thanksgiving.  The message that we are “due” more luxuries as children of The King is one that robs us of our days.  It is NOT a message of prosperity; it is a lie that robs us of the prosperity that is already ours in Christ.  Our days ARE full of blessing and luxury as we live in the greatest, wealthiest, most Godly nation (even today) that the world has ever known.  Days that should be filled by the joy of a relationship with God and the support of His Spirit.  Days of thanksgiving for the incredible, unimaginable (for most of the world’s inhabitants) physical luxuries and blessing that we already have.  As Blaise Pacal said, “as long as we are planning to be happy, it is inevitable that we shall never be so”.  Let’s live today!  The present is the only time that belongs to us, the only time in which we live.  Live it in joy, thanksgiving, and sacrifice.  That is real freedom!  That is real joy!

For those of you that have missed me, I’m back… for those of you who have been happy I’ve been gone, oh well… I’m back anyway,still the same old unusual and mildly aggressive me.  Winter and early spring just happens to be very busy for me in my day job, but that’s behind me for one more year.  I don’t know why this topic has been eating at me lately, but it has.  It’s the concept of intellectual honesty.  Meaning, simply… let’s not be stupid.  We can disagree on theology, the purpose of our walk, whether Jesus’ commands were intended to be taken literally, even if Jesus was who He said He was or not.  That’s all fine by me.  I LOVE discussions with thinkers who disagree with me.  Not only are they fun, but they challenge me to strenthen my own beliefs.  Since my faith is solid, I love it when someone finds a hole in my logic, because it points out errors in my thinking that I can go back to the Word and improve upon.  You don’t get that by talking to people who believe the same way you do.

But intellectual dishonesty is calling a cat a dog, insisting that 1+1=96, etc… I see it all the time in all walks of life.  I’ve always been baffled by it, so I think about it.  And I think I’m starting to see what drives it.  It’s typically a defense system.  Nothing threatens us more than a forced admission that we are wrong, especially when our error requires a significant sacrifice to correct.  Our minds reject that admission, and are much more ready to accept that 1+1=96 than to accept our own error.

In the context of care for the poor, Jesus’ admonition that we love our neighbors as ourselves, our role a part of the body of Christ… debate and discussion over the interpretation, the historical context, balance with other scripture, how to fit that into living in western society; all of that is good stuff, things we can legitimately disagree on.  But there are other objections I face on these topics that indiciate either complete intelectual dishonesty or total ignorance of the condition of so many of our neighbors around the world.  I’ll give one example I’ve been faced with:

“Don’t tell me I don’t love my neighbor as myself - you have no ability to judge my love for others.”  OK, I’ll respond to that by using myself as an example.  First, hypothetical:  I have 10 gallons of clean water, in the middle of 20 kids so weak with thirst that all are suffering horribly and some will not survive the day.  I don’t share it with them because, well, I may need that water tomorrow, or next week.  Am I loving them as myself?  Second example: same scenario, but this time I give one of my ten gallons, knowing that some will get nothing and some will not survive the day.  Am I loving them as myself?  Final example (NOT hypothetical): I have money in the bank that could, combined with that of others, provide a well to sustain an entire village where children die every week due to inadequate and dirty water.  I pay for satellite TV, ice cream when I want it, pet food, (occasional) vacations, jiu jitsu training, music downloads, the list could go on much longer… and every time I do I give clear evidence to the incontrovertible fact that I love myself infintely… INFINITELY more than I love my neighbors.

So if I tell you I love my neighbor as myself; I am a liar, a fool, or completely ignorant of the condition of the world around me.  I know I’m preaching to the choir with most of you here, but as you try to live out Jesus’ instructions, you will hear these kinds of 1+1=96 statements.  Let’s work to change the discussion.  We will face legitimate discussion and debate on many fronts, and we may find we are wrong on many.  But don’t tell me 1+1=96.  Don’t tell me you love your neighbor as yourself.  That’s ludicrous.  Now… do you really have an obligation to love your neighbor as yourself?  Is it even possible? If not, what can we do, where does grace fit in?  Those are real and legitimate questions.  Just don’t try to tell me that you or I already love others as much as ouselves. 

Josh Mikeworth attended a Voice of Martyrs (VOM) conference held at First Christian Church in Champaign, IL. on April 10th, 2010, and he documented the effect the speakers had on him in his personal blog/journal:  http://joshua-asforme.blogspot.com/2010/04/bound-with-them.html
Josh is a member of KnownToMe, and we appreciate his participation and perspective.  He willingly shared his post with us here:

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Bound with Them
by Josh Mikeworth

This entry is a heavy one, I’ll warn from the start.  I imagine I’ll read and reread it many times in the future to reconnect, re-anchor because the content and message is so fundamentally important to my obedience to my Lord that it will shape my very Christian walk from this day hence.

It starts by my having attended a conference.  We’ve all done it - particularly as youth/teens, maybe even went to some as adults.  Remember the exhilaration?  Coming home fired up for God.  Gonna make those changes, gonna read that Word daily, pray an hour daily, be that light at school/work/etc.  No fear.  Bold.  Joy and courage flooding the heart.  Truly the epitome of the mountain top experience.  Did you stay there?  Hopefully some alteration in your path did actually occur.  Hopefully some change in the way you were living did truly happen.  I have lost track of the number of times that for me, it did not.  I cannot recall how many of those experiences I’ve encountered God only years later to look back on with vague remembrance.  Memories of “wow, I was really on fire for God back then”, wondering what happened.  Wondering how I grew “lukewarm” or even cold.

Yesterday was not a “mountaintop”.  It was more like staring into the chasm of my own inaction, one that afforded me a poor night’s sleep and kept me tossing and turning and prompted my early awakening to pray.  I attended the Voice of Martyrs Conference and left repentant and challenged.  Repentant to have been complacently sluggish for so many years, inactive in the body of Christ, coasting.  Challenged to become a viable and alive member of this body, this faith, this church that exceeds the building I weekly attend but rather is comprised of people around this globe, many of them risking abuses and injury willfully to gather together to simply praise our Savior, to spread word of his love to their neighbor, the very ones who seek to harm them.

Yesterday I gained a true sense of this “body of Christ” like I’ve never had before, and it is hurting.  There is so much hurt in the body and we cannot sit idly by, content to engage only our own families and work weeks and home church activities.  We are called to more than a passing gift to the missionary who speaks in our churches once every few months.  Hebrews 13:3 says “Remember those in prison as if you were there yourself.  Remember also those being mistreated as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.”  This obviously speaks of the persecuted church in Paul’s day and I’m sure many of us are aware that somewhere out there, around the world in distant nations, someone is imprisoned for their faith, for handing out biblical literature, for witnessing.  But that’s the problem, in our minds, it’s out there - away from us - half a globe away.

This scripture is telling us to remember these saints as if it were US!  If you were beaten by a metal cable such that your back was bloodied and bruised, would you pray once or twice a month or even a year for deliverance?  If your spouse and children were murdered by locals while you were away because you witnessed to a family who’s father did not approve, would you be content to accept a one time prayer of support or would you ache for daily strength through the uplifting of others?  We don’t seem to get it here in the U.S. that we are ONE BODY with those who are suffering these things.  We have tremendous freedoms that everyone around this globe can only dream of but we do nothing with them except enjoy them.  We have at our fingertips tremendous technologies and resources and we are/will be held accountable for our use of those gifts.

This is obviously a very condemning statement and I believe there are a very good number of precious people who God is rising up to make a difference, who are answering the call to make the difference, to stand in the gap and to meet the needs through prayer, support, finance, and getting the Word into the hands of the people.  I am so grateful for organizations such as Voice of Martyrs, Children’s HopeChest and locally the work of Known to Me as those who have orchestrated these projects/efforts have answered the call to do more, to stand in the gap, to bring awareness, to call the wake-up alarm.  There are brothers and sisters in the Lord in these and a few other organizations that I am just starting to know that I feel so blessed to have come across because they have heard this call and they are broken by it.  Broken enough to to be moved to action and to work to bring others to this awareness.

For me, however, I find myself having not done enough.  I certainly have not lived out Hebrews 13:3.  To be honest, I’ve ignored my brothers and sisters in prison.  You can’t change the whole world, right?  You can’t take on all of the problems.  I subscribed to VOM email alerts about a year ago and I am ashamed to say that when they have come, some of them I’ve given a cursory scan with good intent to further study, good intent to further pursue, further write to encourage but never gotten around to it.  Sometimes, two or three will come a week and I simply have too much email the way it is so “sorry, I don’t have time for this now”....delete.  That was person being beaten who needed encouragement…delete….or a family in which the father/pastor was just killed for his faith…delete…

We don’t like to think of a persecuted church because we don’t like to think about persecution period.  But persecution is on our doorstep.  We have no concept of it here and I think if we all honestly thought about this we’d agree.  If we’d spend time with these men and women who have been shot at, had their churches bombed, been hauled off to unknown darkened locations in the night and beaten, watched their own newly converted, newly baptized congregations slaughtered while praising the whole time…we’d all agree we don’t even know what persecution is.  To us, persecution is worrying if someone will “not like us” or if we will be “uncomfortable”.  But persecution is coming to America.  This nation is becoming increasingly God-less in its leadership, laws, and direction and furthermore - here’s the big one - JESUS PROMISED IT!

We don’t like this but we cannot ignore what Jesus said in John 15:20 “if they persecuted me they will also persecute you”.  Paul in 2 Timothy 3:12 states that everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted.  Again - it is promised to each of us.  I don’t think he was referring to the rude “snicker” behind your back because that’s not where it stopped for him.  This does not mean that I need to go out and foolishly seek martyrdom, but neither should I be surprised when as my walk and my witness become more fervent and outspoken, so too will resistance to the light within me.  This is such a foreign concept to the American believer because we have never suffered for our faith, truly suffered.  And why is suffering for our faith desirable?  Because it purifies our intents and desires for God.  It causes tremendous growth and brings tremendous reward to our lives.  Jesus also said in Matthew 5 that those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, theirs is the kingdom, great is their reward.

I had the privilege to speak to a pastor from Ethiopia and another from Pakistan, both speakers at the conference.  On the stage they were amazing speakers and captivating to behold.  Certainly their testimonies were enthralling and many around were drawn to tears as they recounted not only the horrors they had witnessed but the profound joys of serving our Lord in the midst of such unspeakable hatred against His Name.  When face to face with them however, I felt their spirits, I felt their radiance, their peace, their joy.  Truly, fear had no hold on these men and they could rejoice in the face of whatever the devil threw at them.  Their lives could be taken the next minute and they walked in the knowledge of a God so loving they would willingly and gladly give everything they had, their lives, their children’s lives, if just one more person could come to know him.

I think many people left the conference staring at the same “chasm” I was - the chasm of shame.  Shame at our own inaction, but also repentant for that inaction and thankful for the Word they had received and motivated by it.  For it is the Word that lays our path and we cannot afford to ignore any part of it.  We cannot afford to fail to share any part of it.  Our next breath may be our last.  So many around the world are purposefully placing themselves in harm’s way to spread this Word, this life, knowing that their next breath may be their last, may actually be taken from them in hatred against what they are trying to do in love.  Hebrews 13:3 cannot be forgotten, it is the very least we can do for we are one body, one church and we are bound with them.

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If you are inspired by God’s Word and the report above to actively remember and support our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer persecution and even lose their lives to gain Christ, you can visit Voice of Martyrs website for a lot of opportunities to get involved:  http://www.persecution.com/

Read about Asia Bibi currently in prison for her Christian faith in the predominantly Muslim nation of Pakistan:  http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_197_profile.html

The title of this blog post is borrowed from the title of a letter we received from TALKS Mentoring. Kent Hollis is a brother and friend in Christ who is the Mentor Coordinator in this organization. They recruit adults to volunteer 60 min a week, and each person meets with three children for 30 min in school to teach some basic communication skills and provide much needed encouragement and critical guidance to children. Without this loving input, many “at-risk” children in our society wind up like Adam in the story below.  This is a powerful example how God uses an individual with a heart for a young man in trouble to bring hope and love one person at a time.  The name of the young man is changed to protect his identity.

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Who Cares?

I’ve been working with a young man named Adam for about 2 months now. I met Adam when he was locked up at the Juvenile Detention Center. He had been arrested for skipping school, drinking a beer, and stealing a $5 item from a store. It was not his first time he had been in trouble. The judge made him stay in jail for an extra week because he had a bad attitude while locked up. Adam cried when he heard that.

I meet with Adam about three times a week now. He is actually a nice kid and seems to be teachable. I can tell he likes me and appreciates our relationship.

As I’ve gotten to know Adam I’ve learned that his dad died from cancer about five years ago. Since that time he has sort of existed on his own. For the past few years he has constantly been in trouble for doing stupid things like drinking, skipping school, and hanging out with the wrong crowd. The problem I see is that Adam doesn’t have anyone in his life who cares about him. There is not a single adult who is looking out for him. He lives with his mother, but she is barely existing as well. There are no men in his life giving him any sort of guidance, discipline, or encouragement.

Can you imagine being Adam? It breaks my heart to think of living the way he does. He is supposed to have healthy caring adults in his life providing him the stability, discipline and support every kid needs in order to mature in to a healthy adult young man.

The TALKS Mentoring Thesis Statement says “Every boy needs a man in his face challenging him with wisdom regarding critical issues and decisions in his life.” We believe that every boy needs a man who will firmly, unflinchingly and lovingly correct him with wisdom when he has made a bad decision. Our prisons are full of young men who had no one to get in their face and tell them that they were wrong and then provide them with a solution.

Please pray for Adam. You and I might be the only people who have ever mentioned Adam’s name before God. I believe God has great plans for Adam, and that He can redeem all that Adam is dealing with. Pray for me as well as I strive to help Adam grow and mature.

I believe Adam is slowly discovering that someone else really cares about him. That’s a big deal!

Thanks for caring as well!

Kent Hollis

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Thanks for sharing this with us Kent.

As an added comment, I believe God is utilizing Kent to reach many “at-risk” children in the Champaign County community.  Kent is one of the few in our community working to break down the walls around marginalized kids in our society.  Please pray about taking action to join Kent, and give 60 min a week and/or financial support to the TALKS Mentoring organization. You can read more about their excellent program at this “About Us” link to their webpage.

Home page for TALKS Mentoring of Champaign County
Champaign, IL
351-5889

Remember the miraculous multiplication of the bread and fish Jesus performed to feed thousands of people?  We have experienced a multiplication of our financial gifts to Ludlati for the building of a kitchen and fence that will be used to feed Ludlati!  I received word from Childrens HopeChest that the government of Swaziland donated enough money to build two Carepoint kitchens.  Ludlati is selected to receive one of these kitchens!  The financial gifts we sent for the kitchen will be diverted toward installation of a well!  We are so thankful and excited about this news.  I thank God for everyone who gave out of the resources given to them.  Thank You God for the compassionate gift from the government of Swaziland to Ludlati.  Thank You God for the multiplied blessing on our Neighbor Kids at Ludlati Carepoint!  Thank You God for letting us share in the joy of You and Your kingdom work!  Sometime this summer the committed and compassionate Ludlati Gogos will have the facilities they need to efficiently feed the children.  I look forward to seeing pictures of the new kitchen after it is built.  I also look forward to our team of eight people planning to visit Ludlati in September to get a group picture with the Gogos and kids by the new kitchen.

Jesus disciples saw Him break the twelve loaves of bread and two fish to feed five thousand people.  They saw Him break seven loaves to feed four thousand.  Later that night the disciples saw Him walking on the water, and they freaked out.  The disciples were baffled by the miracles and His words, and they struggled to figure out the meaning.  Jesus stopped their discussion, and asked in Mark 8:21, “Do you still not understand?”.  A few verses later in Mark 8:31 Jesus plainly explains to the disciples that he was going to suffer, be put to death and rise back to life again.  Peter did not like this plan, and he tried to rebuke Jesus for saying such things.  But Jesus wound up rebuking Peter as if he was Satan for trying to get in the way of God’s plan.  Jesus knew they would not understand.  They would not understand until they received the gift of Holy Spirit.

Fortunately for us, we have the Bible and Holy Spirit to give us insight and the opportunity to understand.  Jesus helps us understand the deeper meaning behind the miracle feedings with the broken loaves of bread.  In John 6:47-48 He tells us:  “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.”  Read the whole chapter, and we learn Jesus is the bread given to us from Heaven by God.  He was broken for our sins, once for all, and He came back to life.  Yesterday, Easter, is an annual reminder that after Christ died for our sins as full payment, He was resurrected to life to bring us life.  Mark 8:34-35:  34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Do I understand?  If I may include us all…Do we understand?  I believe the gifts multiplied to Ludlati are His exciting miracle.  He gets all the glory, and we are blessed to receive joy from life given through Him.  Our Ludlati Gogos and Neighbor Kids are blessed with the same joy and with physical nourishment.  Thank You Lord for teaching and giving all of us life both physical and eternal through fishes and loaves and kitchens and wells.

Champaign-Urbana Area- Are you ready???
On Saturday, April 24th and Sunday, April 25th C-U area residents can join together to pack meals for Haiti.

Workers will work assembly line style to pack meals with the Salvation Army and Numana.
Read all about it and sign up for your shift via this article in the local newspaper:
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/living/2010-04-02/thousands-volunteers-needed-pack-million-meals-haiti.html

Let’s help Champaign-Urbana meat the Million Meal Challenge!