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.

One of the things that just blows my mind about the linked post is that there are 130,000 people who live in the Korah area of Addis Ababa.  That is well over the combined population of Champaign and Urbana (for you locals).  The rest of the city of around 11 million, according to the residents(7 million officially) is pretty alarming, too.  Yet, the people there can help most Americans so much with their outlook and perspective on life, love, and family.

Discouraging.  That is pretty heavy to carry.  No matter how much we would do, it is not enough.  Not sure how to think about it.

In Ephesians(1:18-23) Paul writes, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his imcomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” 

I read this and I think that as a church we have been deceived into thinking that we are not able to do enough to make a difference.  It isn’t about what we as people can do, but about what He who indwells us can do.  Jesus also told us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.  When we surrender it all to Him he shows us what he has for US to do and the rest is not for us to carry.  I can’t possibly know what the state of all of that is for you, and it isn’t for anyone else to judge.  I do know that your heart for giving is tremendous and I know you seek His face in regard to it.  I think all followers of Christ who want to engage in this area have to fight the enemy off in regard to feeling overwhelmed by the part of it that is not ours to carry.  There is no better way to paralyze us.

Love you guys…be encouraged!

Ditto… much of my tone was frustration with false prophets crying wolf in ways that do nothing to call people to God’s heart, but rather serve no purpose but to motivate fear and a self-focus.  My point for us is that the free gift of grace also involve the free gift of a new heart.  Our first thought and motivation when we hear a prophecy (real or not), see the latest news story, hit hard/good times… should be to seek His guidance and His heart for how to respond.  If we do that, the response may very well be to set money aside or pay off debt.  I can’t judge that, and there is nothing wrong with those actions.  In fact, they are biblical concepts.  But our hearts should match God’s heart for the lost and the desperately poor and thus they should always be our first consideration in prayer and seeking what to do with our finances.  That does not mean we can’t save or spend for ourselves.  If we seek Him and His will, He will provide not just wisdom, but The Guide himself.  As we have made our first reaction to spending seeking specifically what and how we should give, we have given more but actually feel more freed and less condemned about what we do spend on ourselves - and we are so much more thankful and joyful with what we have.  It’s all a win-win situation.

Thanks!  That does help.  Imagining myself walking through that garbage dump & meeting those kids is still pretty sobering.  Love your neighbor as yourself versus provide for your own special needs kid(s?)?  And is the need to save for Zach (and maybe Joe) partly an excuse for saving for my own future security?  If we abandoned the idea of saving for those guys, would that allow God to move more in healing them?
“Fun” questions .  Like everything, I guess it is one day at a time & keep seeking God about what he is specifically asking us to do.  We appreciate the encouraging words, as always.

Thanks for what you are saying. I especially loved “Consider your But”. It’s what I think but keep from saying so as not to offend (too much).
I hope you don’t mind, I linked your blog on my blog. lauriesgotochina.blogspot.com

Donna
Director, Eagles Wings
Jiaozuo, Henan, China
http://www.eagleswingschina.org

Thanks, Donna.  Feel free to link and copy text from my many ramblings however you like.  Our purpose on this site is building a community of support for our kids in Swaziland and local people in need.  However, my personal (not so hidden) agenda is to shock the Church out of our “comfortably numb” state of existence.  I think it requires a shock to get us out of our stupor.  Thus my intentional efforts to be somewhat on the edge with my posts.  The more outlets and the more believers get shocked (hopefully for the good), the happier I am.

HI, Donna! Glad you found KnownToMe. I love what you are doing with Eagles Wings in China. I have been following your family’s journey. I cannot wait for your next chapter. 
Barbra

I commented on Talk is Sheep as well, but I just want to reiterate that I am overcome with compassion & disbelief that a place like this is even allowed to exist on our earth while we go about our lives. Nothing Nothing Nothing that we talk about on the news or in debates or around the water cooler is more important than giving hope to these children. So glad you are spreading the word & spreading hope. I will look forward to seeing God bring FREEDOM through Known to Me!!!

Help a child at Korah for just $10.00.  There is a giveaway over at the blog “Embracing the Least of these” for just this week.
http://embracingtheleastofthese.blogspot.com/2010/07/dress-for-cause-sequeland-korah.html#comment-form

THANK YOU for sharing my post-I am humbled to be sure!! We CAN make a difference for this community, and we SHOULD. Prov 24:12

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