It seems a bit unlikely that a show like American Idol would make me weep over Africa. But, yes, it's true. Tonight, the folks from American Idol were part of a fundraising campaign to help ease the suffering of children around the world, especially in America and Africa. Their travels took them to places like Kibera, Kenya where people live in unimaginable poverty and suffering. As I looked at the faces of these beautiful people, my heart ached. So many precious people, each made in the image of God. How His heart must break to look upon their brokenness.
Isn't it ironic that a show with the name "American Idol" would feature such stories of pain? In the face of AIDS, malaria, child soldiers and forced prostitution, we in America are still comfortable. We still have our idols of fame and wealth and prosperity, and we're unable to see that the blood of Africa and countless others is dripping from our hands.
James had much to say about such inaction. "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" For, "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 2:15, 16; 1:27).
The Western world is often equated with Christianity. Yet, what kind of faith is this? In the End, will our country of "faith" be counted among the faithful, or will we be among those destined for damnation? "For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.... I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me" (Matthew 25:42, 43, 45).
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Change
It's springtime. A time for change...and lots of things are changing in my life. I'm sitting here munching on chocolate, drinking Propel, and contemplating life. In a few short weeks, I'll be finished with my very first graduate-level class (assuming I actually sit my butt down and write my final paper), heading to Texas to visit my sis and her hubby, and then returning to pack up my abundance of stuff and move in with friends. The aforementioned events may make it appear that I have a clue what's ahead in life...but I don't. Beyond finishing class, vacation, and moving, I have no idea what God has next for me. I have hints and glimpses as to what lies around the corner, but no concrete plans. I have to say, though, that I'm really enjoying life at the moment. Granted, I'd rather be working at a job that's in line with my perceived calling, but I'm grateful for relationships that the Lord has been providing in my life right now. To belong to a community of brothers and sisters in Christ who love me and care about me is absolutely priceless. If life on this earth can have moments of beautiful fellowship, Heaven's gonna be a blast!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Just and True
Today was a tragic day in our country's history. Dozens of innocent lives were taken through a gunman's rampage on a Virginia college campus. I can't help but think back to the events at Columbine High School almost 8 years ago to the day. Those images are still so vivid....
These lives were lost in the public eye. Many more lives were lost today throughout the world...silently. Thousands die daily in the refugee camps of Northern Uganda. This morning, a patient's daughter called in to cancel his appointment...because he passed away suddenly yesterday.
It is sometimes easy to question God's plan when difficult events occur. Yet, I am reminded of the martyrs in the book of Revelation who will proclaim, "Just and true are all Your ways" (emphasis mine). Of all people who could be justified in blaming God for tragic suffering and death, it is the martyrs. And yet to them God's ways are "just and true." We have much to learn....
These lives were lost in the public eye. Many more lives were lost today throughout the world...silently. Thousands die daily in the refugee camps of Northern Uganda. This morning, a patient's daughter called in to cancel his appointment...because he passed away suddenly yesterday.
It is sometimes easy to question God's plan when difficult events occur. Yet, I am reminded of the martyrs in the book of Revelation who will proclaim, "Just and true are all Your ways" (emphasis mine). Of all people who could be justified in blaming God for tragic suffering and death, it is the martyrs. And yet to them God's ways are "just and true." We have much to learn....
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Praise to God
"You are a great God.
Your character is holy.
Your truth is absolute.
Your strength is unending.
Your discipline is fair....
Your provisions are abundant for our needs.
Your light is adequate for our path.
Your grace is sufficient for our sins....
You are never early, never late....
You sent your Son in the fullness of time
and will return at the consummation of time.
Your plan is perfect.
Bewildering. Puzzling. Troubling.
But perfect."
~ Max Lucado
Your character is holy.
Your truth is absolute.
Your strength is unending.
Your discipline is fair....
Your provisions are abundant for our needs.
Your light is adequate for our path.
Your grace is sufficient for our sins....
You are never early, never late....
You sent your Son in the fullness of time
and will return at the consummation of time.
Your plan is perfect.
Bewildering. Puzzling. Troubling.
But perfect."
~ Max Lucado
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wondering
Sometimes I wonder if I'm inadvertently avoiding my calling. On one hand, I seem to be waiting for something - or someone - to happen so life can start. For example, I'd really like to get married before I head out on the mission field. I'd rather not go off to a foreign country all by my lonesome. And, inevitably, God is using this time in my life to prepare me for what He has next.
At the same time, I can't help but thinking that I'm just passing my days doing work that doesn't inspire me simply because it's comfortable. There aren't a lot of risks involved in collecting co-pays, answering telephones, or filing charts. Am I avoiding "the next thing" because it's easier to just stick with what I've got? Am I supposed to be so bold as to drop everything and fly around the world to carry the gospel to a remote jungle tribe? Surely God wouldn't advocate such a haphazard plan, but I find myself wondering if I need to be doing something more (and if so, where the heck do I find the time?).
Ugh. Life is so complicated and God is so abstract sometimes. Now and then, I wish I was 2 again....
At the same time, I can't help but thinking that I'm just passing my days doing work that doesn't inspire me simply because it's comfortable. There aren't a lot of risks involved in collecting co-pays, answering telephones, or filing charts. Am I avoiding "the next thing" because it's easier to just stick with what I've got? Am I supposed to be so bold as to drop everything and fly around the world to carry the gospel to a remote jungle tribe? Surely God wouldn't advocate such a haphazard plan, but I find myself wondering if I need to be doing something more (and if so, where the heck do I find the time?).
Ugh. Life is so complicated and God is so abstract sometimes. Now and then, I wish I was 2 again....
Monday, April 09, 2007
The Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
~Edward Mote and William Bradbury
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
~Edward Mote and William Bradbury
Thursday, April 05, 2007
I Just Had to Laugh
Martha's not as young as she used to be. Martha is my car...my 1991 Buick with nearly 190,000 miles. Yesterday, I did something really dumb. Two things, actually. It was a dreary, rainy day yesterday, so on my lunch break, I turned on the headlights. Now, the nifty feature that alerts me to the fact that my headlights are still on after turning off the car quit working a while ago. Hence...a dead battery. But I'm prepared for such things. I keep jumper cables in the back seat. The problem is that when I got out of the car to get help from a coworker last evening, I also managed to lock my keys in the car. Genius! So there I am, dead battery and no keys. I couldn't help but laugh. (And, thankfully, I had spare keys in my purse...which I managed to not lock in my car!)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)