The Gift that keeps on Giving

I learned an amusing new German phrase the other day. The 'Deutsch' love their complicated compound words, and this new expression I heard basically means, 'everything.'

When a product promises a lot or when you refer to someone as a 'jack of all trades', you call it an 'eierlegende-wollmilchsau.'

That's right...an egg-laying-wool-milk-pig.

It's the perfect animal! Good for food, drink, clothing. 

In other words, impossible. 

The all-giving animal doesn't exist. And neither does the all-giving person. You need to know if you're made for milk or meat!

As a mom, it's easy to feel like I am in constant demand. Nursing, changing diapers, rocking to sleep, as well as cooking and cleaning and taking care of the hubby and, and, and...it is rewarding but definitely tiring. Though everything might be expected of me, I cannot give everything. I need to set boundaries so that I have the strength (and sanity!) to give what I can. Sometimes that means letting my baby cry for 10 minutes so I can actually take a shower and get ready for the day. Sometimes it means saying no to an invitation and instead planning an evening off for my husband and I to spend together. Somtimes it means asking for help from others who can do what I can't.

There's a reason that chickens lay eggs and that cows produce milk. When you know who you are and what you're made for, it's easier to say no to things that distract you from your real calling. If you are secure in your identity, you're not tempted to be an 'eierlegende-wollmilchsau' for people, because you know that your worth isn't based on what you do.

As Christians, we often talk about being 'on fire' for Jesus. That's nice, but we have to be careful that we don't 'burn out' for Him! Saying no IS an option.

Sure, in the Bible Paul writes that he made himself a slave to everyone and became all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9), but by that he didn't mean that he gave to an extent where it was unhealthy. Instead, he simply wanted to reach people where they were at. He, like many of us, wore many hats. Paul understood what it was like to be in demand.

And yet this same Paul shares an amazing promise: ^''God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work...You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion'' (2 Corinthians 9:8,11).

Blessed:

...in ALL things
...at ALL times
...having ALL you need

...for EVERY good work
...in EVERY way
...on EVERY occasion

Sounds like a lot of grace to me!

We're not called to give everything, but we're called to give something. And God promises to enable us to do the giving.

We need to be able to say no, but also be confident in what we say yes to, knowing our Heavenly Father is able to equip us and help us do it with excellence. God's resources are rich, His mercies manifold, and His supply ceaseless.

Since being a Mama, I've learned something interesting about the way God designed us women. The more I nurse my baby, the more milk my body produces. Genius, isn't it? The more I give, the more I receive and am able to give. If I were to stop giving, the resources would dwindle.

I believe the spiritual principle of giving is the same. When we're generous, God enriches us. When we give (of our time, talents, resources), we also receive.

''A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.''

Proverbs 11:25

Giving of ourselves can be a hard thing to do. People require things from us physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, spiritually. But WE are the gift that can keep on giving, because we give out of overflow, not out of lack. We are blessed to be a blessing.

''Freely you have received; freely give.'' 

Matthew 10:8

Let's not try to do it all, but whether we're called to lay eggs or produce wool, let's do it with joy, giving freely.

 ''Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.''

Luke 6:38

This is Judah...

Not all early deaths are preventable, but some are...

Giving Tree

A story about a boy and a tree...

...and about you and me?

  

And about our heavenly Father, who 'did not spare His own Son' and graciously gives us all things.

What is our relationship to the Tree? To the God who became man and died on a tree to show the extent of His love? 

'You can either enjoy God, or simply use Him...'

Dear Friend

Dear Friend in the Philippines,

To brothers, sisters, parents; to teachers, to police officers, to rescue workers.

To Lorraine, a friend I've never met personally but written letters to since I was young; and to Audrey, our precious 9-year old sponsor child.  

I cannot imagine how your life has been turned upside down in the last week.
I'm not sure how to express my sorrow for you and your lost homes, family members, and resources.
I feel guilty sitting here, safely indoors with a blanket and cup of tea, unable to comprehend the depth of pain and chaos that your country is going through right now.

I would like to hug you, invite you into my home, cook you a warm meal, and pray for you.

Image Credit: CNN News

I don't understand how or why such catastrophes happen.

But I want you to know that you're not alone.

I want you to know that though we've never met, I'm praying for you. And though I can't personally comfort you, I know that our Father in heaven has promised the greatest Comforter of all time - the Holy Spirit, to be with you forever. 

And I also know that you need more than prayer. Your country is devastated and your countrymen are in need of basic supplies. That's why I've donated to organizations such as Compassion, who are helping provide urgent aid to affected children and families (click here to donate, too). And there are dozens of other groups, ministries, churches, and people who are stepping up. You aren't alone. 

In the middle of such enormous loss, I am encouraged to hear reports about how God WAS there, and how He IS there still. 

In the picture below, you can see a what looks like a piece of cake (upper left corner) that was spared from the typhoon. 

Image Credit: Five Doves

This is the area of Bacolod, Philippines, where there are numerous prayer houses situated. A personal testimony from a Christian brother in this area reports, "The weatherman explained that a 'miracle' happened because the eye of the storm SKIPPED US, and we were affected only by the tail or sidewinds.  THE FURIOUS WINDS AND RAINS COULD NOT ENTER OUR [AREA]. We literally cried in thanks to God for his answer to prayer..."

The Lord is your Defender, your Healer, your Strong Deliverer. 

He  "upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,

   the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
    the Lord loves the righteous. 

 The Lord watches over the foreigner
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow..." (Psalm 146:7-9)

 May you know that sustaining love today; that peace, comfort, protection and freedom. 

And may you be well-fed, warm, taken care of, and loved...knowing that you're not alone.  

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A nurse. 

Can't quite believe I answered with that when I was younger; today I can't imagine working in the medical field! I'm very thankful for the people who do, but I know I'm definitely not cut out for it. Uh-uh. No way.

A teacher.

Now that's more like it. I remember playing with a friend when we were younger, setting up all of our stuffed teddy bears, stuffed monkeys, stuffed penguins and stuffed-everything-else on her bed, and teaching our "class" together (also disciplining when the big stuffed moose caused trouble!). My heart is still for teaching, and although I've never exactly studied it, I thoroughly enjoyed my semester internship as Teacher's Assistant at Prairie Bible College, and love the opportunities that I have now to preach the odd time, teach English, etc. If I were to get into the working world, I think I'd go in the direction of teaching.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

How did you respond to that question when you were little?

I think I can assume some of the answers you didn't give.

Stressed.

Uneducated.  

Discriminated against.  

Dependent on social systems for financial support.

Without access to health care.

Poor.

How is it that we can so easily end up where we never wanted to be? But what if you were never aware of another option?

The theme of social justice remains on my heart, and I'm becoming more and more convinced that poverty isn't just a physical state of need; it starts in the mind. It's easy for us (rich? educated? advanced?) people to look at beggars or homeless people and think, "Oh, just get a job." Or to hear stories of plight, awful stories of children sold into sex trafficking, and wonder what is so wrong with the family that they didn't see that danger coming, and believed their daughter would really have a better life with that stranger who offered to marry them.

But if poverty was all you'd ever known, all that your parents grew up with, and what their parents before them struggled with as well, wouldn't you also begin to believe that poverty was simply your lot in life?

Image from Atlantic Cities

I read a super interesting article the other day about how "poverty taxes the brain." This website discusses some new, groundbreaking findings which conclude that "poverty imposes such a massive cognitive load on the poor that they have little bandwidth left over to do many of the things that might lift them out of poverty – like go to night school, or search for a new job, or even remember to pay bills on time." Even something like struggling to be a good parent can be connected to not handling finances well. "Poor people live in a constant state of scarcity (in this case, scarce mental bandwidth)." Poverty, as well as everything that accompanies it (discrimination, dependency, stress), puts such a burden on the minds of those caught up in it that it's like a loaded mental bandwidth, where "in the case of the poor...you’re just more likely to not notice things, you’re more likely to not resist things you ought to resist, you’re more likely to forget things, you’re going to have less patience, less attention to devote to your children when they come back from school.”

Our dear brothers and sisters living in Third World countries, living in slums, sleeping in shelters, or even living across the street from us...they can't always help themselves.

And I was convicted again when I read from Provers 14 this morning: "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God" (v. 31). 

I know that decisions have consequences and that you reap what you sow, but I also know that probably none of the people whom we find easy to judge set out as a child to be "poor" when they grew up. Or to be a bad parent. Or to be an addict. Or to not be able to provide for their family.

They had dreams...and they still do.

This online article concludes with some good news:

"Conversely, going forward, this also means that anti-poverty programs could have a huge benefit that we've never recognized before: Help people become more financially stable, and you also free up their cognitive resources to succeed in all kinds of other ways as well."

HELPING PEOPLE...that's the key. And that is good news!

~~~~~~~~

Friends, I'm currently working on a little design project, and would like your ideas. I want to make bookmarks to give away, with a list of things people can do to "practically engage in the fight against injustice." Sometimes the need seems so great and we don't know where to start so we just do nothing at all.

What resources, what causes, what links or ideas could you add to my list below?

1. Pray!
2. Donate to organizations (such as?) who are already "on the ground," running with a vision.
3. Buy Fair Trade (lots of items, such as chocolate and coffee, can be found in normal grocery stores. I was excited when I recently found a small shop in our city that sells directly imported, hand-made products such as stationary, jewelry, and bags!)
4. Sponsor a child, and help them escape the cycle of poverty and fulfill their dreams.

Your suggestions?

What does Prosperity have to do with the Gospel?

An online Google search of the term "prosperity gospel" brings up mega-church pastors’ names such as Joel Osteen, teachings such as "believe and receive," and issues like money and self-improvement.

Depending on what you've heard about this topic, or what your experiences are, this will exert either an "Amen!" from you at this point, or rolling eyes, a groan, or a big question mark. Or, if you’re like me, maybe all of the above.

I’ve heard the discussions (and been part of them); I’ve seen quotes and read blogs and flipped through books. And of course this is a huge topic and there are many facets to it, but I would like to dedicate this post to addressing it from one perspective that is important to me.

First of all, what exactly is the “Prosperity Gospel” and what do those who adhere to this stream of teaching believe and promote? A few of the "theological pillars" associated with this movement include Healing, Wealth, Faith and the Power of Words. A common theme heard in this type of preaching is that if you “sow” financially (by donating to the ministry, mainly), God will “give back” multiple times and you’ll reap a blessed monetary harvest. It’s also believed that God’s will is to bless you with good things - therefore, “prosperity.” And this blessing can be taken ahold of through prayer, through speaking positive hopeful thinking aloud in faith, whether it be related to health, financial need, jobs, relationships, etc.

I haven’t concerned myself too much with the details, but that’s my general understanding of the direction it goes. And what are the biggest objections to this stream of teaching? Here is a quote from someone who opposes the movement, and it summarizes alot of what I’ve heard spoken against the prosperity gospel:

A columnist for the Washington Post wrote an article in which she stated,
   

        "Few theological ideas ring more dissonant with the harmony of orthodox Christianity than a      focus on storing up treasures on Earth as a primary goal of faithful living. The gospel of prosperity turns Christianity into a vapid bless-me club, with a doctrine that amounts to little more than spiritual magical thinking: If you pray the right way, God will make you rich." 

In my understanding, a lot of opposition has to do with people thinking that prosperity shouldn’t be the goal of a Christian. Followers of Christ shouldn't have big houses (Jesus didn’t even have “a place to lay his head”); and nice furniture, expensive cars, big successes, etc. are unnecessary and maybe even sinful, because "there is so much need in this world." How can it be "God's will" for us to live in luxury when so many are barely surviving? How can you say God wants to grant us health when there are innumerable instances of people (Christians, for that matter) dying of cancer, being persecuted, dealing with depression, etc.? And, how can you be sure that God blesses financially when the Bible even says that “money is the root of all evil” (or wait...isn’t it something about the “love of money”?)

So what in the world does Prosperity have to do with the Gospel?

When Jesus came to earth, when Holiness and Love Himself took the form of a human baby and grew up under the parenthood of an earthly father and mother, He made His mission as the Son of God and the Son of Man clear:

Explaining His purpose to the Pharisees who were accusing Him and to the Jews who doubted His miracles, Jesus stated that the reason He came to earth was to bring life in abundance (John 10:10).

And in Luke 4:18 He applies an Old Testament prophecy to Himself which fills in the blanks about what this abundant life looks like:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.” (Jesus quoting from Isaiah 61)

And the writer of one of the gospel books asserts: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Salvation. Life. Eternal Life. Abundant Life.

THIS is the Gospel. The Good News. The reason why Jesus came.

Is this a “prosperity gospel?” Well, by all means yes!

The reason I believe that prosperity does have something to do with the Gospel is this:

Prosperity is about so much more than money.

If we want to get into what prosperity is, we first have to consider what prosperity is NOT. What is the opposite of the Good News that Jesus was sent to preach, the reason we need the freedom He proclaims and the favor and comfort that He provides?

The reason is that we are poor.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines poverty as: "the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possession; scarcity; debility." Or from the Oxford dictionary, "the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount." Dictionary.com adds "the state of...having no means of support."

For a long time, I thought 'being poor' meant having no money. I now believe that financial means might be one part of poverty, but it's definitely not the whole picture. A broader description might include aspects such as lack of resources, lack of opportunity, lack of hope.

In fact, when Jesus said He was sent to proclaim good news to the “poor”, the Greek word translated there in Isaiah 61 is ptochos, and means “one who is destitute, afflicted, and lacking.” Basically...helpless. Strong's Concordance defines this use of ptochos as meaning: "of one who crouches; beggarly" or, in a broader sense, "destitute of wealth, influence, position, honors; lowly, afflicted."

The whole gospel is about God’s answer to our human poverty. We were helpless in our sinful state, and “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). In fact, Jesus Christ “for our sake became poor, that we might share in His riches” (2 Cor. 8:9). We lacked the means of salvation; God provided a Savior.


The bottom line? Poverty is about LACK. Not having enough money (but who defines what "enough" is anyways?); not being given enough opportunity (to study, to provide for yourself, etc.); not having the support of friends, community, government; lacking means, lacking hope.

And what is the opposite of Lack? Abundance, Provision, Enough, Plenty, Surplus.

Prosperity.

Prosperity is defined as "a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition." Sounds like abundant life to me!

But don’t get me wrong.

I have been to Africa. I have seen mud huts that large families live in, without sanitation, without light, without access to clean water or food, and I’ve wondered how a culture can be so without abundance. I have been to Mexico and seen a put-together-shanty from leftover aluminum pieces and scrap pieces of wood, where children rejoice at the simple concept of a balloon because they have nothing else to play with, and I’ve felt guilty for my prosperity. And I have been to Vancouver and walked along East Hastings Street, shocked at the rawness of a life caught up in addiction and abuse, wishing I could do more to provide hope.

And, I have returned home from these places, wondering why on earth there are a billion choices of cereal in the grocery aisle, why anyone would waste money on another piece of clothing just to keep up with fashion, and not wanting to let the water run while brushing my teeth because I've seen people without access to something so basic according to my prosperous lifestyle.

I've wrestled with theological questions (and still do), such as the definition of "abundant" and what is “enough.” And at the same time I’ve wondered who sets the standard of “rich.” (By the way, did you know that in Switzerland, if you earn less than 5,000 Swiss Francs a month you’re considered “under the poverty line”?).

And how often have I thought, "Oh, I shouldn't waste this food; there are starving children in Africa..." But how much will MY eating one plate of food really help the millions of people dying of starvation? It requires more than a bad conscience to make a change. It begins with worldview, with a renewal of our thinking, and with lifestyle choices.

Jesus proclaimed, in His mission statement, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and had anointed Him to preach to the poor and bring freedom, healing, comfort, provision. And guess what? His mission hasn’t changed. Now, He wants to accomplish that purpose through us.
It's been our call since the beginning - God told Abraham, "I will bless you, and through you, all nations on earth will be blessed" (Gal 3:8). Since we are Abraham's descendants (Rom 4:16), that is God’s will for us as well.

Blessed to be a blessing.

The Bible is full of examples of abundance, stories of Jesus blessing people more than He needed to, more than they perhaps expected Him to.

• Jesus' first miracle was turning water into 600 liters of wine (the best wine!) at a wedding where people had already had enough to drink after partying for a week
• When Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 men, there were 12 baskets of bread leftover!
• "Toss your nets to the other side" Jesus commanded His discouraged disciples who had been fishing all night without catching anything. And, because of their OBEDIENCE, they brought in so many fish that the boat almost sunk!
• Moved with emotion regarding His good friend Lazarus, Jesus didn't just comfort the sisters, grieve with them, or pass on "spiritual sounding" answers - "This must have been part of my Father's will…." No, He called on the Name of His Father and raised Lazarus from the dead!
• And there are innumerable instances where Jesus healed people - sometimes because they asked and sought, and other times because He just chose to.
• Jesus also received abundantly. When a sinful, looked-down-upon woman came to pour perfume on Jesus' feet, Christ’s disciples were uncomfortable and tried to sound spiritual - "shouldn't that have been sold and the money given to the pour?" Jesus answered by saying she had done a blessed thing.
• And, as I mentioned earlier, the greatest example of all is that "He did not spare His own Son” and is still today willing to “give us all things” (Rom 8:32).

What is the purpose of Him giving us all things? What is the point of prosperity?

“You will be made rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

We know the Bible verse - "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matt 10:8).  How can we give if we have nothing to start with? How can we be generous if we ourselves are lacking?

The answer to the desperation of this world is NOT Christians becoming poorer!

Please allow me to clarify:

I do NOT believe that Christians are called to an easy life, and I am definitely not saying that our brothers and sisters in third-world nations or persecuted countries are doing something wrong because they don’t have material wealth.

I am AGAINST leaders using manipulation or anything else in order to get money, Aad my heart BREAKS when I see how many people, especially "Christian" leaders in influential positions, are misrepresenting God and leading people astray. Oh Father, help us! No wonder the World has a skewed perspective of the God/Christianity!

I think it is WRONG to try to manipulate God, or think of Him as a "heavenly vending machine" where we just get what we want out of Him (money, blessings, health, relationships, bigger houses, bigger cars, promotions, etc.) It has always been, and will always be, about relationship.

But about that relationship, the Bible says: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, will not your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?” (Matt 7:11).

God does give, and He gives generously - Wisdom (James 1), Peace (John 14), Love (1 John), His Spirit (John 3:34), Hope (Rom. 5:5), Finances (Philippians 4:19), Healing from diseases (Psalm 103), Forgiveness (1 John 1:9), Gifts and Talents (1 Cor. 12:11) and many other things.

What would it look like for the Church, the Bride of Christ, to be known for her generosity? We are created “in the image of God,” meaning with the potential to give. What if we were so touched with compassion for the broken, the down and out, those facing lack, that we were moved to action and believed that God wants to use OUR hands and feet to bring about change?

And remember, generosity is not defined by numbers, and giving is about more than finances and posessions. A person with $3,000 may be living a more disobedient lifestyle than someone with $3,000,000 if they are not sharing and investing into the Kingdom of God. And remember the story of the Widow’s Mite? Jesus said the lady who put one penny in the offering plate gave more than all the others, since she gave what she had; it was a sacrifice for her. No matter what our social status is or what our bank account looks like, we are called to give. For some that means giving of time, resources, and listening ear, a helping hand. But I believe our faith needs to reach our chequebooks as well. It’s not our money anyway! The God who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” has generosly entrusted His resources to us, and asks us to be faithful.

So what does prosperity have to do with the Gospel? The Good News is the story about God meeting our need and equipping us “with everything needed for life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3) in order that we may serve others with that same generous spirit.

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Thoughts? Questions? Please feel free to comment and share your own struggles, experiences, perspective!

Enslaved.

"Today has been declared Shine A Light On Slavery Day by the folks at the End It Movement."

Did you know that:

• there are 27 million men, women and children, just like you, living in the shadows. In brothels. In factories. In Quarries. Working as slaves. In 161 countries. Including our own.
• YOU can do something against it

The Lord has been stirring mine and my husband's hearts lately about the whole theme of social justice. Sometimes the need seems so great - what can we do? And when, if ever, are we doing enough? The "seashell story" is a huge encouragement, a reminder to never underestimate the impact we can make in one person's life, therefore changing the world.

My parents taught me that "the need is not the call." It's been a helpful guideline in my life as I've learned to say no to certain things and not let myself be pulled in all directions. Obedience is all that matters, not people-pleasing or doing good works to feel good about myself. But, as my husband added, "Although the need is not the call, sometimes we miss the call because we aren't willing to see the need."


If we would just open our eyes and let God "break our hearts for what breaks His," we would see need all around us! And more importantly, opportunities to meet that need. And if we would just obey the Holy Spirit - each of us doing his part - the world around us would be transformed.

I don't necessarily need to invent the wheel, so I want to recommend this article from Shaun Grove's blog: "4 Ways You Can Help End Slavery." It's moving, but not just in the emotional sense; it motivates to action.

And what are we doing to "End It"? A couple thoughts:

• Being informed is a great start. Letting our eyes be opened. I came across a trailer recently for a movie being released this Friday in America....My friends in the USA, could you go for me? I have no idea when it will come out in Germany, but I would love to see it! It is called "Not Today" and focuses on the issue of human trafficking in India. More information here: http://www.nottodaythemovie.com/ "Your ticket in is their ticket out..."

 

• I've written about it before, but one simple yet practical way my husband and I believe we are making a difference is by making informed shopping choices. The "Fair Trade" label is of huge value - ensuring that the people who work to produce our clothing, our chocolate, our coffee, or harvest our fruit were all paid fair wages, treated well, and were not abused at the hands of the slavery spiral.  

• And thirdly, as I've also written about before, another step could be child sponsorship. I am now officially an Advocate on behalf of Compassion Deutschland, and would love to give you resources or help connect you if you're interested in finding out more. Did you know that their method s are scientifically proven to work? Check out this research project: http://www.compassion.com/poverty-facts.htm?referer=128018. Investing into one child's life could protect them from becoming enslaved! Help "Release a Child from Poverty in Jesus' Name!"

• I read Isaiah 61 this morning and the words hit me again: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon ME..." How does God want to use ME to make a difference? To promote justice? He has "anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captive and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor...to comfort all who mourn...and provide for those who grieve..." Who in my life today needs good news? Needs binding up? Needs freedom, needs light, needs favor, needs comfort? God wants to use my hands and feet, and tangibly display His glory through me in the details of this day. 

From James 2:

"Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"

A Man Called Wesley

What we meant to do was simply pick up a document that his wife was translating for us, necessary for us to register our marriage here in Germany.

What we ended up doing was staying for almost an hour and a half, listening to him tell stories of fleeing the Communists in Czechoslovakia, ending up as part of the Army in the United States, and somehow landing in Berlin.

Meet Wesley.

He's probably 70-something, and one of those cute old men where there was no way we could refuse his offer to "stay for just a bit" and allow him to serve us something to drink while his wife was finishing up the official stuff. We were on our way home from a wedding, were tired, and had a to-do-list waiting at home, so the offer wasn't exactly tempting, but we ended up staying anyways. It seemed to mean a lot to Wesley for him to be able to share with us memories of important times in his life, even if his dramatic Czech-mixed-with-Schwäbisch-German-accent prevented us from understanding everything. He even pulled up his pant legs to show us war wounds. What a history! What a personality!

So after an hour and a half of us listening to his stories, he must of assumed we were really interested, so he ended up handing us this folder before we walked out the door. Inside were photocopies of most of his documents, certificates, and awards from his army days! Letters from the CIA and President, a picture of his uniform and badge, etc. What exactly we're going to do with all these pages now, we're not quite sure; but we felt honored that he would share with us and know it was encouraging for him to be given listening ears too.

He walked us to our car, leaning in the window of the driver's door as we buckled our seat belts and started the engine. He made us promise to come back sometime in the summer when we could have a picnic outside together, and "plan on staying for longer." Then he stood under the street light, waving goodbye in the fog until we were out of the driveway and had rounded the corner.

Oh, Wesley...

I'm reminded of the story in Mark 5, about a dead girl and a sick woman...

Jesus was asked by a synagogue ruler to come pray for his daughter, who was sick and dying. So Jesus went with him, and many people followed them. Along the way, a woman who had dealt with a bleeding problem for 12 years and had had no success with doctors came up behind Jesus in the crowd, and "touched his cloak,  because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed'" (v. 28). And what happened? "Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering."

It is interesting that the Bible records that "Jesus felt power go out from him," and turned around to ask, "Who touched me?" The woman was embarrassed but eventually identified herself, and Jesus tenderly said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 

Just after that, though, a messenger from the ruler's house came with the news that Jesus need not hurry; the girl had died. But "ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don’t be afraid; just believe'" (v. 36). He continued on his way, to find the house filled with people mourning. But he went into the girl's room, took her by the hand, and said, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!” Immediately she stood up and walked around, of course to everyone's astonishment! 

In this story, I picture myself as Jesus, with "important business to take care of." I have things to do, people waiting for me, expecting things from me, and I want to do good. My plans are not wrong. But along the way, a sick woman appears, or maybe a man called Wesley. And the question is: do I let them touch me? Someone needs a hug, a prayer, a listening ear, encouragement, help. Do I continue on my way, or do I stop and turn around, looking the person in the eye and gently caring for them? The good news is, according to God's schedule, there's time for both. The rest of the crowd must have thought Jesus was crazy to continue on to the ruler's house when the girl was already dead. But Jesus knew he still had a mission.

In this season of Advent, the weeks of preparation before Christmas, let it not just be a time of preparing decorations, food, gifts, and programs. Instead let it be a season of preparing our hearts, making room for Jesus...and others. Let people take priority over things. Allow yourself to be touched by others so that God's healing, love, and joy can flow through you.

Grocery Shopping Isn't So Simple!

Clothes.
Chocolate.
Tea.
Coffee.
Spices.
Fruit.
Sugar.

And all the while, trying to look for this label on products:

The topic of justice simply hasn't left my mind (or my heart) lately. I decided to try doing a bit of research online to see what I can do. I've been through phases where I've thought through all the atrocity going on in the world, and all the huge needs there are, and been overwhelmed to the point of not doing anything. {Where does one even begin?} But I've been on mission trips to Africa and Mexico, and I know the power of making a difference in just one person's life. (Not that I've only seen that principle played out in foreign countries, either.) My husband and I sponsor a little girl in the Philippines through Compassion, and it is at least one step in the right direction.

I recently read an article on CNN's website about child slavery and chocolate. In some countries, children as young as 7 years old are forced to work in cocoa fields for the chocolate industry. And the majority of these children have never tasted chocolate; most of them don't even know what cocoa is used for!

There's something wrong with this picture!

I figured one practical step we can take, at least in our family, is to be conscious of how the items we consume are produced, and to choose to only buy items that we know are not supporting child labor or other forms of injustice.

So we get to the grocery store, and the first aisle we walk into is full of chocolate. We notice that the chocolate we normally buy doesn't have a Fair Trade label, but we find lots of other options that are variations of the Fair Trade principle. They're a bit more expensive, but worth it. In the next aisle I reach for a package of tea. "Wait!" my husband says. "Do you know how this was produced?" No, actually I didn't know if this was a fair trade product or not. And I couldn't find any other kinds that seemed like better options. Maybe the one marked "Bio"? But what does that even mean? (It's becoming a popular thing in Germany, but no one knows if these special products actually have anything special about them or not!)

So began a not-so-simple grocery shopping trip. HELP! This is something I really want to be aware of and become involved in, but I'm blogging about it today because I realize I have no idea where to start.

Is anyone else passionate about this? Do any of you readers have experience in buying Fair Trade products (or making it a lifestyle?) We opted for the package of Bio noodles instead of the general brand, because we knew it was produced in Germany (it was obvious since it was 1.5 times more expensive). We bought yogurt and milk from a local farm. But it got really tricky when we were trying to decide on buying chicken and tea and spices and fruit and on and on and on and on...

Suggestions? Is looking into Fair Trade products actually the best way to go about trying to be intentional about social justice? We hear a lot about donating money to various causes, but it finally clicked in my mind that we can also help by not spending money on other things. I'm confused with all the labels and terminology that is out there - Bio, Organic, Fair Trade, Local, etc. And I never paid that much attention before when I was in Canada. Does Europe have different standards or "movements"?

We're attempting to re-orient our lifestyle––living (and especially eating) healthier, and being more aware. We want to take small steps to do what we are able to. But this is proving to not be such a small step, and I think we'll have to transition slowly.

So please, if you are passionate about this, or if you have some knowledge or experience of practical ways to be involved, please let us know! I would love if you left a comment (even if it was to join the conversation of the whole area of social justice), or shared a website or a blog or a book or an organization that you've found helpful. Or share with your friends and we'll discuss this together! Maybe if there are others who are also willing to look into this, we can help each other out and hold each other accountable.

No more bananas...

Birthdays are a funny thing. They seem to provide some type of reasonable opportunity to be completely selfish all day.

This past Saturday we were preparing for my birthday celebration, and I was quite looking forward to being pampered and spoiled and showered with attention all the next day, on my birthday. We were planning on having some friends over for a chocolate fondue, so we went shopping for the supplies:

Fondue pot - check. (Thanks to my sister, who gave one to us for our wedding last year!)

Chocolate - check. (Mmm...German chocolate!)

Pretzels - check. (I like the whole sweet and salty thing)

Fruit - no check? My favorite is pineapple, but none of the pineapples were ripe. Oh well, I guess we missed the season for good pineapples. No big deal. Next, we searched for bananas - the second best option. But we couldn't find any. We didn't see any left on the stand except for special mini bio bananas that were three times the normal price. We called over a sales guy...he went and checked the back room, but came back and said there were no more bananas. No more bananas?! This could ruin the whole fondue idea! But what to do? It was already late and the store was closing, and the next day was Sunday, when hardly anything in Germany is open. No bananas! Since when has a big supermarket ever run out of bananas? Trying to quickly make up our minds, we settled for 6 bags of the mini ones and some grapes. That would have to do.

Mogi and I shook our heads on the way home. What do we know about not having enough food? It wasn't even a need of ours - only a desire. We had the money to get the other kind. We could have even gone to another grocery store. We could have decided on a cake or different dessert instead. Why were we complaining about having no more bananas?

Almost exactly one year ago, Mogi and I were confronted again with the reality that the majority of the world's population have no more bananas. In fact, they don't have access to much food at all. They don't even have water to bathe in or drink from. This is their reality.

I read the other day that if you make $50,000 a year, you are in the top 2% of the world's wealthiest people. If you make $40,000 a year, it's the top 4%. $30,000 puts you in the top 7%.


Through the ministry of Compassion (click here for the link to Compassion Canada's website), just over a year ago we became the sponsor parents of a sweet little 6-year old girl named Audrey Anne, whose family lives in the Philippines. Over the last year we have written and received letters, photos, and drawings. We have been blessed to participate in giving her hope.

Sometimes the world's problems seem too big to change. I often wonder, "where do I start?" And because it takes effort to think about, it is usually easier instead to just do nothing at all. But I've found that sponsoring a child is a simple but practical way to take the first step and get involved. Maybe I can't solve all world hunger, heal all those with AIDS, rescue all the children in the sex trade, or ensure that third-world families have clean drinking water, but I can make the difference in one person's life.

And so can you.

I want to encourage you to think about sponsoring a child. Actually, don't just think about it. Do it! Check out Compassion's website to find children who need you today.

I also recently ran into this blog online and think you should check it out: http://shaungroves.com/ It is the website of Christian songwriter and speaker, Shaun Groves. God has given him a huge passion for social justice and he currently travels, speaking and leading music, on behalf on Compassion, telling the story of children who are in need. His writings are funny, inspiring, challenging, and come from the depths of his soul.

The topic of social justice is one of the main themes of the Bible. If it's not something that concerns us, we are not truly Christ's followers. James 1:27 says, "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." 

I admit I have a lot more growing to do in this area. I've sung the song many times - "break my heart for what breaks yours" - but I'm still learning what that means. But I know I'm not going to learn more by sitting back and observing. Growth happens only by doing.

Please consider what you can do to help. And please feel free to add to the discussion below, and share your own thoughts or experiences about justice. If you have questions, let me know. Oh, and you're welcome to pass on this blog if there are others you think would be interested - hit one of the buttons below to share on Facebook, Twitter, or via email.

My Cup Overflows!

Wow, God is amazing! His love is extravagant and he has truly lavished it on us.

To start with, after making travel arrangements for over Christmas, we wondered a bit at our financial situation and acknowledged that we may have to be more cautious in the future. As we were discussing it the next day, Mogi said that he knows God will provide, because he always has. We agreed that he is completely trustworthy, and that he can provide in ways we don't expect or aren't aware of. Then...literally seconds after finishing this conversation, Mogi checks his computer and finds out that he'd received a donation to his German bank account. The amount was just over what paid for tickets! We were amazed and humbled. God is GOOD!

Then, the other night friends of ours in our apartment, who are moving, came down and said they were clearing out their fridge and asked if we needed anything. That led to them bringing down boxes and boxes of food from their pantry that we ended up disbursing to everyone else in the complex. There were items that I had planned on grocery shopping for the next day, as well as specialty foods that we'd never buy for ourselves. God is Jehovah Jireh - our Provider!

The blessings haven't stopped all week...a gift certificate to a restaurant, amazing fellowship with friends, challenging reminders at church.

In a discussion last night, one of our friends made an interesting comment. "Why do we talk so much about giving, and so little about receiving? Why do we emphasize, for instance, the 10% we're supposed to tithe, and not discuss the 90% that we get to keep?" It's a good question. Giving is good...necessary...important. But our culture at large, and I know I personally, seems to feel uncomfortable in a place of receiving.

We talk about Christmas as being a "time for giving," but is it really? One of the most famous Bible verses would suggest otherwise: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." (John 3:16). God is the one who gave the ultimate gift, and Christmas is the celebration of the opportunity to receive this gift of Christ our Savior. All our gifts pale in comparison to this ultimate gift. 


This is not to suggest that we shouldn't be giving; that's not the point. The question is, have we learned how to receive well? It's humbling to be the recipient of other people's generosity, but it's also a blessing. And there's no way we can give to others unless we've first received. 2 Corinthians 9 gives us principles for generosity:

 "⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work...¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

"Blessed to be a blessing" - that's the bottom line. God has been revealing himself to us this week as the Giver - the generous, lavish giver. And I know his purpose is so that we can pass it on. 

So I ask you...have you learned to receive? Have you received the ultimate gift of God's son and his offer of eternal life? It is only through him that we can be blessed so abundantly that we can abound in good works and be generous to others on every occasion.