Another Man's Treasure

Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a cornstalk hut with a dirt floor in an area where the temperature gets down to the 40s during the winter and upper 90s in the summer? No bed, no heat, no air conditioning. Just a dirt floor with some blankets and walls that you can actually see through. During the rainy season, not only do you get wet but the floor turns to mud.

Now think of a young child that you know and love. Maybe your own child, a sibling, niece or nephew or a grandchild. Can you imagine what it would be like to live in these conditions with that beautiful child by your side? How would you cope? What would your conversations with God be like? Could you bring yourself to believe that God is good even if you had little hope of change, outside of a miracle?

It's hard to imagine what that would be like. Most of us will never experience such struggle and pain personally, so when we see pictures or hear stories it is difficult to grasp the reality of it. It is so far removed from the way we live that we cannot understand the gravity of the situation.

So you can only imagine the rush of emotions I felt as I stood in the center of this very primitive structure that a beautiful family of four once called home. Words cannot do the experience justice. I can only say that it caused me to rethink almost every aspect of my life.

Thanks to the generosity of some God loving people, this family now lives in a modest block home that keeps them sheltered from the elements. Although the parents and children share the same room, they actually now have a floor to stand on and beds to sleep in. By our standards this would still be considered "extreme poverty", but they are not only content, they are extremely grateful. They would even call this a miracle.

Try to wrap your mind around that for a moment. We have all heard the expression "one man's junk is another man's treasure". These people look at this new home as an incredible blessing from God, while many of us would feel abandoned by God if we were reduced to such living. To give some perspective here, most of us park our cars in nicer structures than the new home this family enjoys.

Yet God loves us all just the same. God loves the people of Guatemala as much as He loves Americans. God loves Rosa and Luterio and their two beautiful sons, Manuel and Oscar, as much as He loves you and your family.

So why are some so blessed while others struggle desperately to survive? Why do some of us get to choose from a variety of colors of paint, carpet and tile while others don't even have walls around them or a floor to stand on?

Maybe we have some responsibility in the matter. Maybe the fact that we sometimes spend more on one meal in a restaurant than some families earn in two months time says something. Maybe it actually has something to do with obedience. Consider the words of John the Apostle who said:

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:16-18

My hope and prayer is that this makes you as uncomfortable as I was when I stood in the middle of that cornstalk home less than a week ago. I can only pray that the people of God, including myself, would come to a deeper understanding of what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Someone once said "there is too much need, we can't do it all". I would agree and simply say that God never intended for us to do it all, He just wants us to do our part. The big question is this; how will we respond to what God puts before us? Will we be obedient and help or will we be selfish and hoard?

The way I see it, God is inviting us to join Him as He answers the prayers of those in need...what an awesome oppotunity...how can we pass that by?

Merry Christmas

Although my postings have been sporadic at best lately, I thought it was time to at least write something as we are approaching Christmas. It really is the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? There is nothing better than spending time with family, singing Christmas carols and watching the face of loved ones as they open their gifts on Christmas morning. It is a joyful time for most.

However we should never forget that there are many people who don't have the privilege of experiencing such things. There are a lot of people out there who either don't have family to spend the holidays with or would rather experience a root canal with no Novocaine than spend time with the family they do have. Then there are those with family that they know and love but because of a slowed economy, they will forgo gift giving in lieu of just trying to keep their heads above water and simply pay the bills.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Do hard times, broken relationships and trials erase the good news of great joy that is announced by the angel? A closer look at the New Testament would indicate that hard times and struggle are to be expected in this life. The good news of great joy is not deliverance from all pain, heartache and struggle in this world. The good news is that the Savior is born. He is the One who has overcome the world. This good news involves a reality beyond this world. It's a reality that can bring peace in the midst of even the greatest struggle.

Does the truth mentioned above absolve us from any obligation to those who are experiencing these difficult times? Absolutely not, it actually puts more weight on those who would call themselves Christ followers. We would all do well to remember that this good news of great joy is often made known through those who know the Savior.

Let's not forget those around us who are struggling during the holidays. We should all look for opportunities to reach out to those in need. Maybe you could invite someone in your home who would otherwise be alone this Christmas. Give a gift to someone who is struggling or volunteer time at one of the many local organizations that are serving those in need.

In doing so we just might have the opportunity to bring good news of great joy to those who desperately need it right now

Nothing to Say

I haven't blogged in a while because I really haven't had anything to say. I'm not one who just writes to just put something out there. If I am going to write something, I want to say something that matters, even if it only matters to me... :)

With that said I will simply pass on a portion of a recent email I received from my friend and brother Brock Johnson in Guatemala. We are helping a family that he is currently reaching out to.

"This has been an exciting and emotional project. They are such a sweet family and genuinely thankful. Their family members (parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews) all gather around frequently to watch the construction.

The family has many needs. They frequently go without water. They get very cold at night and the boys are currently sick. We've given them lots of blankets... 3 days ago, manuel emelio went into convulsions and had to go to the hospital. It was a combination of the cold, and the constant breathing in of the coal fire in their house that they cook from. Yesterday i asked them what medicine he was on and they said "nothing, we have no money for it." So, i am going into the city today to get his prescription filled. this project has been a combination of joy and heartbreak.

love to all! pass along our thanks to the journey family!

That reminds me... every time i see him, luterio (dad) says repeatedly "gracias hermano brock, gracias a Dios, y gracias yurney" (thank you brother brock, thanks to God, and thank you Journey). awesome...

crazy love-
brock

I am speechless as I sit in my comfortable home watching Monday Night Football and posting this as my children sleep in their warm, comfortable beds.

Why was I born here in a land of plenty while these precious people struggle to survive? Could it be that I have a responsibility to help them? Could this have something to do with why the Bible has so much to say about loving my neighbor, not storing up treasure here on earth and loving the least of these? I don't know, but it is scary thing to think that Jesus said "whatever you did not do for the least of these you did not do for me" and then to wonder if it is "Jesus" who needs water, a blanket and medicine in Guatemala...

God, Poker and the Poor.

Recently I have been amazed by how a simple act of faith can affect so many people. In our spiritual community we have recently been faced with the problem of needing a new place to meet in. We currently occupy a small but nice facility that God miraculously blessed us with. Over the last few months it has become evident that we need to find something a little bit larger to meet our current and future needs.

For some, the solution might be easy. Just do a capital campaign, raise some cash and rock and roll. Unfortunately I have this thing where I really don't think that God needs pastors to be fund raisers. Not to say it's wrong or that someone else shouldn't do that, I'm just suggesting that God can provide other ways. Call me idealistic, stupid or whatever, that's fine it's just my conviction and for now our Leadership Team is in agreement.

Anyhow, we are still waiting and praying and honestly watching some people come and go in the process. Who knows if it's because of the facility being full or simply the fact that the I don't wear a tie and our worship leader has tattoos. Regardless, it's our reality.

In the midst of this we have recently connected with some missionaries in Guatemala. As a result we have learned about how some of our brothers and sisters in Christ are living in extreme poverty. We also learned that for $3000 we can build a house for someone in desperate need. So we said, "what if we decided to build a house a month for the next 12 months for some people who need it much more than we need a facility?"

The next Sunday we introduced the idea to the church and people seemed genuinely excited. Until you see that kind of poverty put on display and have some kind of connection with it, it's easy to act like it doesn't exist. Our people were genuinely moved.

Over the last three weeks we have seen God do some incredible things. Right off the bat we had a member of our leadership team commit to funding a house. Then the day after we made the announcement, I got an email from a friend that I haven't seen or spoken to in over a year. Among other things he said, "We want to support what you are doing and I have a check here at my office for $2500, when can you come by?". He has never been to our church and had no idea about the project. When I told him that we would put the money toward a house for a family in need he responded "That's great and count me in for two more."

There are other stories of generosity that are just blowing me away. We recently had a first time visitor who is a professional poker player commit to raise money among other players to build a house. In fact one of the guys he contacted expressed interest in going on one of our trips to Guatemala.

As I see all of this progress, I wouldn't be surprised if God provides in such a way that we don't end up spending any money from our regular budget on this project. It also wouldn't surprise me a bit if we see God provide a new facility for us in the right place at the right price, sometime in the near future.

I will keep you posted on how everything plays out and if you are interested in knowing more about the 12x12 Love Project click here

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." - Jesus

Where Is God When The Chips Are Down?

It's so easy to believe that God is with us when things are going well. We readily acknowledge that he loves us and always has our best interest at heart. We say things like "He has all the hairs on our head numbered" and "if God is for us, who can be against us".

Then when things get a little tough our tendency is to be like "Oh God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!" That's right, we even get religious enough to pray in King James.

Why do we do this? And where is God when the chips are down?

Maybe the answer actually has a lot to do with the chips. Not Lays or buffalo. In case you were wondering, "When the chips are down" is a reference to betting. What do we do when the chips get low and we are losing? How do we respond and react?

Well that depends what kind of hand you have. If you have a royal flush, which is the best poker hand possible, then you bet it all and don't sweat it because you can't lose. If you are holding a pair of Kings you might have some confidence but most people would still sweat it, especially when the chips are down.

Well as of today, the chips are officially down. The Blue Chips that is. While our economy has been shaky to say the least, today we saw the largest single drop in the Dow in history. As a result, there are many people who are struggling and some that are surely asking the question "God where are you?"

So what do we do when the chips are down? Well to go back to the earlier illustration, it depends on what you are holding. What is it that you are trusting in? Do you have a sure thing? If our trust is in anything other than Christ, it's time to sweat.

If our hope and trust is in Christ alone then we simply cannot lose. Now this might sound like the trite, idealistic answer but I don't think so. I think it is actually very realistic and it is times like these that show us where our treasure truly is.

I mean what is the worst case scenario in a situation like this? You might think "well our economy collapses and we see times equal to the great depression." That could be a realistic concern I guess, but again, where is our trust? I can't help but think about the fact that even if I were to lose my house and what little savings I have, I would still be better off than how some brothers and sisters live on a regular basis.

At our church, we are currently in the process of helping to build a home for a family in Guatemala. They are followers of Christ, in fact the father is a pastor, and they currently live in a shanty that you can only imagine if you were to see it. They rarely are able to eat meat with their meals and often have only one meal a day. This is everyday life for the Mundo family, who believe in and serve the same Jesus as I do.

So, where is God when the chips are down? He is still on the throne, in complete and total control, reminding us daily that this world is not our home. Our hope and trust should be in Him and if that is the case we simply cannot lose.

Don't get me wrong, like everyone else I enjoy the luxuries that we experience in the good old U.S. of A, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, when our hope and joy in life are tied to that, then we are in trouble.

Like Christ himself, believers throughout history have struggled and faced trying times. In fact, I think there are no better words in times like these than that of the Apostle Paul who wrote in his letter to the Philippians:

Philippians 4:4-7
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.

This command is not circumstantial and neither is the promise found at the end. May Christ alone be our hope and as we fully trust in Him, may he be our peace. Even when the chips are down...

Church In Your Skivies

So I was thinkng about going to this conference that is kind of noted for being on the cutting edge of where things are going in the church. It has a reputation for being the conference to go to if you are a part of the next generation of leaders among Christians.

So I go to the website and couple of things catch my eye. First off, they have this promotion where you can sign up once a day to win a free plane ticket anywhere in the U.S. and they pick a winner like once a week up until the time of the conference. Although I went ahead and signed up, because I am a sucker for free stuff, I have to admit this raised some questions in my mind.

Why give away plane tickets to get people to come to your conference?

I wonder what you could do with the amount of cash spent on 5 plane tickets anywhere in the U.S.? ($2,500?)

Another thing that I noticed is that the conference was a little bit pricey by my standard. Now I am admittedly cheap when it comes to these things but 3 bills for a conference plus gas and hotel for a couple days adds up quick. If you take a couple people you are dropping $1500 fast. But I guess if this is the conference to be at and if you really want to be on the cutting edge then maybe it's worth it.

So I decided to check out the speakers. To my surprise the conference that has been noted for being a forerunner among next generation christian thinkers and leaders, had a lineup that was more like a typical Willow Creek leadership conference. Can you say sell out?

For starters I see Jim Collins (author of Good to Great) among the main speakers. Now that's fine I guess, but I didn't start a business, I planted a church. Not to mention I have already heard him speak at a Willow Conference, which left me asking the same question. And listen, I know that all truth is God's truth and blah blah blah so save it. I'm just saying this doesn't seem like anything new to me.

So all that to say I decided to save God's money. But as I said earlier, I did sign up for the free plane ticket. Well, apparently I didn't win that, but I got the consolation prize...a personal phone call from some confernce pusher trying to get me to buy their stuff.

After some hey bro's and small talk, I told him that I wasn't planning on going and he asked me why. I went on to explain my disappointment with what was being offered and that I would be saving God's money this year. He was real quick to let me know that they had a real hot up and coming leader who was going to be speaking and he was a name that I was going to be hearing a lot from in the near future. So he asked me if I had heard of this guy. "He pastors a church that has grown to over 3,000 in two years!" like that is everyone's goal and this guy should be my super hero or something. I felt like saying...well I probably shouldn't write what I felt like saying, let's just say I overcame the temptation.

What in the world is going on with the church today? Is it all about who is the biggest and how to grow the fastest? Adding video venues seems to be what's "hot" now so let's all jump on that band wagon or better yet why not stay home in your pajamas and just watch it on the TV or internet. Honestly that is what I would rather do. Why get up on Sunday morning and go somewhere to watch TV when you can do it at home in your skivies while eating donuts and checking in on Sportscenter during the boring parts?

Really, what's next? Holographic virtual pastors? Drive through communion windows? ATMs in the church, oops too late that one's already been done!

Ok, now I am rambling or maybe venting, so I guess I should stop. There just comes a point where you say enough is enough, will someone stop the madness? And just as soon as it seems like you find someone who will take up the mantle, they either sell out for the cash or start believing crazy stuff like Bin Laden is going to be in heaven or that Oprah is actually a prophet of God!

Deep breath.

Alright I better pray, God keep me humble and help me to simply do all that you have called me to do in the midst of the madness. May we never think we are better than anyone or that we have all the answers. May we respond to wolves, critics, frauds and fanatics with the same love that you showed those that you encountered. And may we represent you well as we just try to figure this all out. Thank you for your love and grace which we all desperately need.

Trusting God

Our culture has set us up to be people who work our whole lives in order to get to a place where we do not have to trust or depend on anyone. In fact for most of us (myself included) simply living in America has kept us from understanding what it really means to trust God. Don't get me wrong I think it is great that we get to experience the blessing of the prosperity of our country.

The problem is that as a result we have become spoiled (again, myself included). Therefore when we experience a small trial or the need to step out by faith into the realm of the unknown, we struggle. It's as if we are stretched to the limit and we wonder how we will ever make it.

Now in no way do I want to minimize our struggles, but rather help us put them in perspective. We tend to forget that there are people in this world who genuinely don't know if they will have food to eat the next day. There are those who have seen friends and loved ones maimed and even killed for the same faith that we have the freedom to enjoy publicly day in and day out. Some of these people treasure mere pages of the Bible because it is nearly impossible to own a Bible in their countries.

Do we really know what it means to trust God?

I dare you to do the following:

Go to this link and try this simple one question test:
www.globalrichlist.com/index.php

Then pray this prayer found in Proverbs...

Proverbs 30:7-9
"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Surprised by your ranking? Scared to pray the prayer?

Me too...

God help us to trust you more as we learn what it means to give ourselves away just as you did for each of us.