When it matters most

As we are all facing an economy that is quickly approaching disaster status we need to keep in mind the bigger picture. Yes, many of us have lost jobs, or houses, or investments. As are we living in fear of where this ride down stops and just how bad it will get, we need to remember that we are not in this alone. We are all facing it together, every person on this planet, because as goes our economy, so goes the rest of the world. The good news is that what is really threatened is only our material society. I know that for some that may feel like everything, but it truly is not.

In the United States, even our poorest are among the wealthiest from a world prospective. A homeless man on the street of Denver can walk into an ER if he is having a heart attack and get immediate care from some of the finest doctors in the world, no questions asked. In a country like Sudan a man with 2,000 cow, (cows are a measure of wealth there) may not even be able to get to a hospital before dying, as the nearest one may be a couple days of travel away. Even if he were to make it there, who knows the quality of care he could get. Every child in our country has the ability to go to school and learn to read and write, and get a meal while there. This is not true across the globe.

Why the rant, because statistics tell us that 30,00 kids will starve to death today. They are not just statistics, but they have names and faces and parents. As our economy collapses we as Americans are giving less to charities, non-profits, and other NGO's (non-governmental organizations) that help the needy around the world. Now our government wants to cut some of the tax advantages to giving, I don't suppose that this will make us as a society more generous. Not only is the third world losing our support, but as we quit shopping, the sweat shops that make our fineries will slow proportionately. So more of the world poorest will have less opportunity to be self sufficient.

Pastor Rob Bell sites a statistic that the worlds poor can be fed clothed and housed for $20 billion, the amount we in the US spend on ice cream every year! Compassion Ministries can feed a child for $156 per year, how much do you spend at Starbucks a month? The bible says that we are to tithe 10 % of our FIRST FRUITS, 10 % right off the top. If you make less you certainly would therefor be tithing less, but how many of us do it every time? I wish I could say that I have. The torah call Jews to do the same, as do most major religions. So if we all just did as we were supposed to, I contend giving would go way up.

Set aside religion for a moment, if you had to sit face to face with a child dying of starvation, while you struggled with all of your bills and budget, could you find $13 to feed him or her for a month? I bet each of us could. When I started this today I did not realize that KLOVE, a christian radio network, was doing an all day telethon with Compassion to bring this same issue to light. If anything that compels me that it is even more important to get the message out.

Now is the time to share what you have. As a Christian, the bible says that what you do for the poor, you do for Christ. But I am speaking to everyone right now regardless of your faith, as a human, your fellow humans need you right now. If you truly have no money then give your time, it matters as well. Do what you can and do it in what ever way you feel led, but do it, because it matter most, RIGHT NOW!

Yhea God!

Get in the Game!

I know we all get hit up all the time to give to this, support that, or help out with the upcoming... If you are like me, my first reaction is the definition of schizophrenia. Part of me wants to do everything, fund everything and save the world, and the other part of me cringes, as it shouts that you have no more time, talent or treasure available. As I write this, both seem correct and justified. But the truth is, none of the three T's (time, talent, and treasure) are mine to begin with, all that I have are the gifts that God has loaned me for this life.

But it is hard to truly justify that we have no money, or time or talent if you take an objective look at our society. What we are really saying is that we choose to spend out dollars elsewhere, and likewise , our time. I am not passing judgement on that, but asking that we be honest about our choices. God blesses us each with what he wants us to have, (not necessarily what we want to have), but it seems to me that with that comes an expectation that we need to intern bless others.

I struggle with wanting to fix everything, solve every problem, and do it all. I am not sure that is the point either. We are designed and called to be communal. I believe that God would rather have 10 people give $50 to a project needing $500, than a single benefactor underwriting the whole thing. It makes sense that then there are 10 hearts, minds and souls involved, not just the will of one. (Note to friends: you can write big checks to my projects because I will just make the projects proportionally bigger) It is not always what you give, but that you give. If you have other choices taxing your financial resources, find other ways to be involved. Sometime the contribution is as simple as a smile, hug or words of encouragement. Like everything in a journey of faith, it is not about a destination, but the journey leading there. I am fairly sure He just wants us in the game.

So my challenge to you is to examine your priorities and make you and you resources available to God. I have found that the more I give the more blessings I receive and I am not talking about money. The call is to get in the game, find the position that is the right fit for you and participate. So to quote a famous shoe slogan, "just do it!"

Yhea God!