My friend is serving the needy in Belgium (with video)
When you get to know students in college or seminary, you are often saying, “Goodbye.” A few years ago, I remember saying, “Goodbye” to a friend named Josh – actually, we called him by a nickname, but I won’t get into that.
Josh was a roommate of a close friend of mine, and he often came to visit our office at work. He wanted to move to Europe. After graduation, he went through several relational and travel issues. But, he is now in Europe.
Occasionally, Josh will send out an email so friends and family will know what’s going on in his life. In his recent email, he also included a link to a video. In the video, we see Josh and some friends caring for homeless people on the cold streets of a city in Belgium.
Here is the video: (Josh is the young man with a beard and glasses.)
A Cold Day in Belgium from Clay Sandoz on Vimeo.
It is so encouraging and challenging to see Josh serving the homeless! And, I love the end of the video where another young man says that next time they will bring others with them. That’s the way to make disciples of Jesus Christ!
A modern widow’s mite?
Jesus praised a widow who put her last pennies into a collection that would be used to care for the poor.
He praised her. She had no way to care for herself, and he praised her.
He didn’t praise the people who put in hundreds and thousands of dollars. He praised the widow who gave pennies and could no longer care for herself.
Don’t believe me? It’s right here:
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44 ESV)
Notice that Jesus praised the widow because she gave “everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Now, Sol at “Looking for Church” has brought this passage into the present with his post “What did I Give.”
Sol writes:
I know a man who has almost no money, no retirement, no savings account, and no ability to work to gain money. I don’t want to get into how I was able to help this man, but it involved buying him something. As I was leaving his apartment, he wanted to pay back part of the money now, and the rest in two weeks.
As he insisted, I told him to give the money to someone who needs it, and he then told me that he does that. What!?! I thought. You already do?
This man, knowing that he has no money, knowing he is about to part with his savings, and would need to save more to pay the rest in two weeks, was already doing it!?!
He told me that just yesterday, already knowing he needed to pay this money, while he was out getting some food, saw a homeless man and bought him lunch.
Wait… I thought Jesus’ statements (like in the passage above) were hyperbole? You mean we are actually supposed to give to people even when it means we do without?
Going back to Ethiopia?
Friday, Dave Black told me a little more about their Ethiopia planning meeting that they held Thursday evening at his home. (See his blog post on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 11:34 p.m.) From what I understand, he and BeckyLynn are very excited about the directions that the plans are taking. (See the picture to the left of some of the men, women, and children who are part of the planning team.)
I’m not going to write too much about the plans. Instead, I will leave that up to him. He says that he will write more later.
But, for now, I need to begin praying. Should I return to Ethiopia? Does God have another trip to Alaba in my near future?
I can tell you that I’m very concerned about my friends there, especially Nigussie. He is currently being chased (yes, literally chased) by some people who want to harm him physically, perhaps even kill him. I would also like to spend more time with some of the church leaders that I taught last Summer. I think there is more that I can help them with, and I think that I can still learn much from them.
This is a picture of me with Nigussie, who served as my primary translator and who gave up his home for Danny and me while we were in Alaba, Ethiopia last July.
So, will I go back to Ethiopia? I don’t know. But, I’m praying. Please pray with me.
Examiner.com article: Food banks provide more than food
My first Examiner.com article is posted here: Food banks provide more than food.
I’m writing as the “Raleigh Practical Christianity Examiner,” so my goal is to help Jesus’ followers to live out what they say that they believe.
My article begins like this:
Jesus told his disciples that they should be recognized both for their love for one another and for their care for “the least,” that is, for those who are hungry, sick, imprisoned, or homeless. In today’s struggling economy, more and more people find themselves among those needing help.
Since this is a new medium for me, I would appreciate any feedback.
A Day I Saw Jesus
This post is part of the January 2011 synchroblog on the topic “The Manifestation of God.” Now, when I first read about this synchroblog – and the fact that it would fall around the celebration of the Ephiphany – I again thought about not participating.
As most of my readers know, I did not grow up in a liturgical tradition. I mean, obviously, we had our “liturgy,” but it didn’t follow the traditional Christian calendar.
Then, I thought more about the description of this synchroblog topic:
This month’s synchroblog’s theme is inspired by the season of Epiphany which begins on January 6 and ends the day before Ash Wednesday. The word “epiphany” is rich in meaning. Epiphany is derived from the Greek epiphaneia and means manifestation, shining forth, revelation, or appearance. In a religious context, the term describes the appearance of an invisible divine being in a visible form. It can also indicate a sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. An “epiphany” might refer to those times in life when something becomes manifest, a deep realization, a sudden recognition that changes one’s view of themselves or their social condition and often sparks a reversal or change of heart. In the spirit of Epiphany we invite you to share stories, experiences and/or thoughts about “The Manifestation of God.”
I realized that while I did not celebrate “the season of Ephiphany” annually, the idea of epiphany is central to my understanding of who I am in Jesus Christ.
In fact, it all goes back to Jesus’ statement to Peter upon Peter’s confession that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17 ESV)
I believe that all who are God’s children have such an “epiphany” – that is, such a revelation from God that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that we have salvation, a place in God’s kingdom, and a restored relationship with God through him.
So, I began to ask myself, when have I seen Jesus Christ revealed? Immediately, so many examples popped into my mind. But one episode stood out clearest. So, I decided to share about this one particular day that I saw Jesus revealed.
Rhonna was a friend of ours. We had met her several months before in “the Neighborhood” – a government assisted housing project in our city. She was a single mother with four children who was both working and going to school to try to make a better life for herself and her family. Over those months, Rhonna had begun to share part of her story with my wife, Margaret. She had had a rough past.
Once, when we were out of town, Rhonna called us. She had gotten into some legal trouble when she tried to break up a fight. Now, because of the legal trouble, she was being kicked out of her duplex.
After several weeks of trying to get the decision reversed, the government organization gave Rhonna and her family an eviction notice. She had to move out; there was not further recourse available.
We told some of our friends about Rhonna and her situation. She had to move out of her duplex, and she had to move right away. Could anyone help?
Several of our friends showed up at Rhonna’s duplex with a couple of trucks and willing hearts. Together, we loaded the family’s belongings into the trucks and a few cars and made several trips to a local storage facility. Rhonna had decided to store her belongings and move in with her mother in a nearby city.
That night, I saw Jesus several times. I saw Jesus in the humility of a single mother who was willing to ask for and accept help – even from strangers. I saw Jesus when Rhonna began to weep and share with my wife about her struggles and her past experiences with domestic abuse. I saw Jesus in the faces of my friends who were willing to give up their evening for a complete stranger who could never repay their kindness.
I saw Jesus that night so many times and in so many ways. As our lives intertwined with his, I knew that our Father in heaven was revealing something special to us. That night, the kingdom of heaven was close.
You see, it’s very possible for God to reveal himself to us in the form of dreams or visions. But, God is present with his children every moment of every day. We should look for and expect to see “revelations” from God when his children are following him.
——————————————————
Here is a list of other posts that are part of the January 2011 synchroblog “The Manifestation of God“:
Beth Patterson – A Robust Universe Includes The Botched and Bungled
Jeff Goins – The Manifestation Of God
Jeremy Myers – Pagan Prophecies Of Christ
Mark Smith – Manifestation Of God
Ellen Haroutunian – Stories of Epiphany
Liz Dyer – God Breaking Through Moments
Josh Morgan – The Manifestation Of God
Steve Hayes – Theophany: the manifestation of God
Sarah Bessey – In which Annie opens the door of her heart
Christine Sine – Eve of Epiphany – We Have Come, We Have Seen, Now We Must Follow
Tammy Carter – Paralysis In His Presence
Peter Walker – Epiphany Outside Theophany (Outside Christianity)
Pick a need
Do you see a need in Ethiopia? Then work towards meeting that need.
Is there a need for shut-ins to receive meals? Then deliver meals to them.
Do you recognize a need among orphans in Haiti? Then start helping the orphans.
Are there needs in a local food pantry? Then spend your time helping them.
Are there elderly people in your area who need help? Then help them.
If you see a need, then work towards meeting that need. Invite others to work with you, but don’t wait for them before you start obeying God.
If God is not calling you or gifting you to meet that need, then he will make that clear. Often, though, he reveals your calling and gifting in the midst of you serving others.
I cannot tell you exactly how God is calling you or how God has gifted you. I can tell you one thing that I know with complete certainty. God is NOT calling you or gifting you to do nothing or to only do for those who can love and serve you in return. God is NOT calling you or gifting you only to care for your friends or other believers.
Look around you. Do you see a need? If yes, then start working towards meeting that need. If no, then look again, because you are deceiving yourself. If you still can’t find a need, then join one of the people linked to above in serving others.
Community or Mission?
There is a natural assumption that building community decreases missional activity or that increasing missional activity decreases the prospects of community.
In Christ, our fellowship with one another must include both community with one another and common acts of service, love, and mercy toward others. Without both mission to others and fellowship with one another, we do not actually have community in Christ.
Fellowship with one another in Christ leads to mission. Missional activities with one another in Christ builds community. The two (community and mission) go together.
The church is both gathered by God (into community) and sent by God (into the world). We can’t have one without the other and still be God’s people in Christ.
So, what should a group of believers do if they realize that they are focusing all (or most) of their energies, resources, and times on themselves and are not reaching out to others? What should a group of Jesus’ disciples do if they realize that they are reaching out to others, but they are not building community among themselves?
I didn’t know something was missing
A few years ago, some friends introduced us to crab rangoon at a local Chinese restaurants. The crab rangoon that we were served was fried dumplings with some cream cheese on the inside served with the standard orange sweet and sour sauce. They were okay, but they were not as great as most people made them out to be.
Then, a few weeks ago, we tried crab rangoon at a new Japanese sushi restaurant in town. This time, the crab rangoon was completely different. Yes, it was still fried dumplings. But instead of cream cheese, this time there was some type of delicious crab salad on the inside. And, the sweet and sour sauce was not the typical orange sticky mess. It was a wonderful sauce with a combination of sweet and chips of peppers for the “sour” part.
We fell in love with this type of crab rangoon, and we realized that we had never truly had crab rangoon before.
Our experience with crab rangoon illustrates something that I’ve learned about Christians and the church, especially when it comes to fellowship, discipleship, edification, community, service, etc.
Often, it turns out, Christians have never really experienced these things before. But, they don’t realized that they’re missing something until they begin experiencing it for the first time.
For too long now, the illustrations, principles, and commands of Scripture have been placed under the hermeneutical (interpretive) pattern of the traditional local church organization, hierarchical leadership, and “worship service.”
As I’ve met more and more people who begin to understand how the patterns and descriptions and instructions of Scripture can and should apply to their entire life and to all of their relationships and time spent with other believers, they also begin to realize that something was missing all along. But, of course, they didn’t realize that something was missing, because they had always been told that everything was great.
When people move away from “fellowship” as a covered dish meal, and their eyes are opened to how they can experience the community of the Holy Spirit with one another, they begin to see what they’ve been missing. When those who are following Jesus Christ step away from “discipleship classes” and truly begin to share life with one another, they also start to understand what they’ve been missing.
And, I have to add, these things that are missing from the lives of many Christians (and were missing from my life for a long time) are much more important than crab salad and good sweet and sour sauce in a crab rangoon.
Jesus Christ has a full, exciting, interesting life awaiting those of his children who leave their old life behind and begin to follow him. It is much, much more than singing a few songs, putting money in an offering plate, and listening to a sermon. It is much, much more than attending a few classes and taking part in some programs.
Don’t misunderstanding me… this full, exciting, interesting life is always packed with struggles, troubles, trials, hard work, sweat, tears, pain, etc. But, you’ll find your life also stuffed with Jesus along with the struggles.
Many of my readers know exactly what I’m talking about, because they’ve tasted the difference. Some of you may not understand what I mean. But, I hope that soon God will allow you to live the life of fellowship, service, love, discipleship, etc. that he has for you, and that you will be able to say, “I didn’t know something was missing.”
Another Example of Serving
As you know, I often write about how I (or my family or friends) serve others. For the latest example, see my previous post “More Than Meals.”
I’ve taken some heat for this before. Occasionally, someone will point out that Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1 ESV) First of all, I think that Jesus was talking about serving with a motivation of being seen by others. In other words, I’ll do this so that other people will see me serving and then they’ll think better of me (or whatever).
We must remember that Jesus also said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ESV) So, while we must always check our motivation, we should also be willing to serve openly in a way that will urge others to glorify God.
I think we need to see more and more examples of serving. We need to see these as examples to follow and examples that will encourage, challenge, even admonish us toward demonstrating love and good works.
For this reason, I’m glad that Lionel at “A View of the Woods” has shared an example of how he has been serving the elderly in his community for the past year in a post called “What You Do To The Least of These: Lend A Helping Hand.” (Apparently Lionel likes long post titles, too.)
I hope you read Lionel’s post and look at the pictures that he has posted. If you are not involved in serving “the least” (particularly those who cannot serve or love you back), then I hope that Lionel’s example is an encouragement and admonishment for you. Why? Because if you are following Jesus then you will be caring for “the least.”
If you are involved in serving the least, then use Lionel’s example as an opportunity to praise God for working through another one of his children to show his love to the world!
More Than Meals
My wife, Margaret, and one of our close friends helps the local chapter of an organization that delivers meals to senior citizens and other shut-ins. In fact, our friend is the volunteer coordinator for our area.
Each week, they pick up meals for a county agency that helps senior citizens. Then, they deliver the meals to several houses around our city.
I’m very excited about what they’re doing, because they do not see delivering meals as the goal of their service. It would be easy to hand over the meals and walk away, feeling that they’ve done something good for people. But, they see delivering meals as the beginning of their service. What do I mean?
Well, when they deliver meals, they also talk to and get to know the shut-ins. They’re learning about each person’s family and medical problems and background, etc. They pray with them, and give the senior citizens a way to contact them if necessary. Plus, they are looking for more opportunities to serve these people, and they are looking for opportunities to include others in this service.
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post about one such opportunity. When Margaret and our friend learned that the organization did not provide meals around the Thanksgiving holiday, they decided to cook and deliver the meals themselves. Then, they invited some of our friends to help. (See my post “More Meals” for more information.)
They also take our children along when delivering meals, and they invite other people to go with them as well. Our children are learning the names of the shut-in elderly people, and they are often asking for prayer and help. In fact, it was our friend’s daughter who suggested that we all leave our church gathering one Sunday afternoon in order to rake leaves for one of the shut-in couples. (See my post “Taking the Next Step.”)
Recently, one of the elderly ladies called my wife. She needed someone to stay with her husband – who is bed-ridden – while she went to the store. Margaret and our friend took care of this lady’s husband for several hours.
Later, when the lady was talking with Margaret, she said that she had joined one of the larger churches in our area. (They recently moved into this area.) Sometimes, when she needs help, she calls the church office. But, no one ever returns her calls, and no one ever comes to help her.
Then, she told my wife, “But, when I call you, someone always comes to help me. There’s something different about you two. You not only talk the talk; you walk the walk.”
Yes, my wife and our friend talk to these elderly people about God – about his love and mercy and grace. But, they also demonstrate the love and mercy and grace of God by their lives.
And, more importantly to this post, they don’t stop at delivering meals. Instead, they use this service as an opportunity for even more service in Jesus’ name. And, they work to include others in these opportunities of service as a way to disciple others.
Have you ever had an opportunity to serve that you’ve turned into even more opportunities to serve and as opportunities to disciple others?