Making good on my words

I mentioned in my previous article that one my spiritual goals for this year is to place a higher priority on God's kingdom and let other things take their place behind that. I have done a lot of writing about compassion and poverty in the past, but as James says "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17b).

Well, finally, after being inspired and challenged by my time at the National Christian Youth Convention, I am trying to make good on my words. I am blessed to be part of an amazing church that provides so many opportunites to change the world. One of these is Levi House. I have volunteered to help serve meals to the homeless. Tonight was my first night. It was an interesting experience and I really felt like I was following in the steps of Jesus.

I tell this story, not to try to draw attention to myself, but to show what I have learned; that to really call yourself a disciple of Jesus you must do what Jesus did. For me, some form of loving and serving those more disadvantaged than myself is becoming an essential ingredient.

My wonderful wife is also embarking on a new adventure to be the hands and feet of Jesus. She is studying to be a nurse and I am very proud of her.

Poverty - Blog Action Day

The guys at High Calling Blogs have drawn my attention to Blog Action Day which is bringing people all over the world this year to write about poverty. While in Australia, I am already a day late, by American timing I think I can just squeeze myself in.

Poverty is certainly something I think about at times. It's hard not to when you belong to a church like Door of Hope. In our current vision, our church is placing a large emphasis on dealing with poverty and bringing hope to people's lives, locally, nationally and internationally. The church aims t obe "Jesus Centered and Others Focussed"

I would like to talk about something my wife and I are participating in at the moment. Our church is taking part in a program called Kingdom Assignment 2. It didn't start with us, the concept originated in America and has been sweeping across the globe. We were challenged to sell something to raise money for a project that is dear to our hearts, the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission (GSAM). This is an orphanage in India run by a family who left the comfort of Australia to live out their faith in a very real and practical way. The GSAM are planning to build a school which will have a long-term impact on many lives, helping give children a future free of poverty. The funds from Kingdom Assignment 2 are going to pay for stage one of this school.

It's one project among thousands that must be going on in the world at the moment, and my contribution will be small in the grand scheme of things - but that's how it works. Lots of people doing small things together. God doesn't ask us to change the world single-handedly, he just wants us to be obedient and offer ourselves.

Starting Now

My church has a dream. It is called Levi House. It was started by a group of people with a heart for the homeless. The aim of Levi House is to "Provide a safe & effective refuge for Launceston's homeless".

This is a large long-term dream. The facility is yet to be constructed. The finance does not yet exist to make this dream a reality. The thing that impresses me about the people behind this ministry is that they have already started.

Many of us have dreams. This is good. I believe it is important for us to dream big and allow God to grow our faith by placing lofty goals in our hearts. This gives us something to strive for, something to work toward. Dreams like this give us reason to get up in the morning.

Sometimes however, we can fall into the trap of thinking that because the goal of making that dream a reality is so far off in the distance that we fail to take any action now. The team behind Levi House are doing more than talking. They are not just waiting for the opportunity to present itself. Seeing the need that exists in our community, they could not sit by and do nothing. They have not yet made the dream a complete reality, but they are doing what they can; right now. Homeless people are put up in motels or caravans (our church is situated next door to a caravan park) and now, people are volunteering their time to care for homeless people of an evening, giving them a place to stay within our church facility.

Often when we have these dreams we can make a start straight away. It may just be a small thing, but it is a first step and it will lead to greater things. It's like Jesus said in Luke 16:10. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." The Levi House team are certainly being faithful with what they have, and I have no doubt that God will make their complete dream a reality in His time.

Another couple in my church took a step of faith and become involved in a short mission trip to Africa. That has now led to them running an organisation called Villages of Hope; which provides housing for widows and orphans in Burundi, which could be described as the poorest country in the world.

These people have not allows the grand dream to cripple them into inaction, they have allowed it to inspire them to begin, one step at a time, and amazing things have grown as a result.

People like these inspire me. It is through their example that God has challenged me today with this message. I hope it challenges you too.

References
Scripture taken from The HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright (C) 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers

http://www.levihouse.org.au/

http://www.villagesoflife.org/

Making Poverty History

We have just completed a two-week series at church entitled "Making Poverty History." It was a challenging series. A lot preaching was done from the first chapter of Isaiah. Reading this chapter reveals such passages as:

"The multitude of your sacrifices — what are they to me?" says the LORD. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing neaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations — I cannot bear your evil assemblies." (Isaiah 1:11-13)

and

"wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. " (Isaiah 1:16-17)

It is clear that God is not interested in empty worship. If our words and actions do not match up then our worship is hypocritical. God dealt harshly with his people in the Old Testament. He sent Isaiah to warn Israel that a great judgement was coming because of their failure to practice justice and care for those in need. Throughout the history of the church there have been many times when we have not been much better. I sometimes wonder if the only thing keeping God from treating us the same way is the fact that we are living in a period of grace.

Last week, our guest speaker said something which I thought was quite proufound. He said that our concern for others should not come out of guilt, but out of gratitude. I am glad that my children have enough to eat, and shelter to keep them safe. I needn't feel guilty about this, it is okay to be greateful that my kids are well off. It is that gratitude that should inspire us to help bring that same justice to those who lack it.

My church is certainly on a big journey at the moment, and it is not over yet. The next step for me is to seek God on what specifically He is calling me to do.

Life is never boring when you follow Jesus!