Look who moved in to the neighborhood...

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29

Growing up our neighbors were like family to us. I remember when my parents would work during the day in the summer time, we would hang out over at the neighbors' house. Being neighbors should mean something. And it did in Jesus' day.

In the story referenced in the text in Luke 10 above a rich young man asks Jesus who was his neighbor. I suspect the reason he did is he wanted to find out all the people that fell under the command to "love your neighbor." He would then love all those people and no one else.

You know it's interesting for all of us, we have to answer that question - who is my neighbor? Who am I required to love, look out for, put myself in their shoes, not just give charity but share life with? Who is my neighbor?

One of the things I'm learning is that the more you seek to live a life of service, to imitate Christ, your neighborhood expands. Your neighbors aren't just your church friends and school friends and people who have things in common with you. Your neighborhood includes everyone you meet.

I think Jesus wants us to break down the artificial dividing walls that keep us comfortable with an "us" and "them" mentality.

Small disclosure story to end this blog - my wife and I just came back from a cruise for our 9th anniversary. It was an exciting, relaxing vacation for us. But in the process, God expanded our neighborhood. We met two individuals who touched our hearts, our room attendant and food server. We listened to their stories about life on the ship.

We were convicted that our fun was supporting a system where people were being exploited. We found some neighbors on that ship and their pain became our pain and we can no longer look at things the same. Our personal conviction (which I'm not throwing on you) is that we will not do a cruise again once those conditions for cruise ship workers are in place.

Here's my challenge to you - expand your neighborhood. Get to know people who you ordinarily don't interact with. Answering the question "who's my neighbor?" the right way, will change your life.

Let's Get Personal

Day 6 - Planned Acts of Kindness (PAK) Challenge and it's getting challenging. Yesterday's challenge was to call a family member or friend you have not talked to in a while and tell them you were thinking of them.

Now family matters are personal stuff. Usually when you try to ask people too many questions about their family they get uncomfortable. You run the risk of getting too personal. Yesterday's challenge made me get personal.

I realized two important things because of yesterday's PAK - 1. It's easier for me to stay in contact with work related associates than some of my relatives and 2. Even though we have more methods of communication (text, email, facebook, twitter), we are losing the personal touch.

So yesterday I called a couple of my aunts and an uncle who I had not spoken to in a while. We had great conversations and instead of just firing off a text or poking them on fb, it allowed us to get personal. We could hear each others laugh, talk about nothing and simply catch up. If you didn't do it, try it. Let's get personal - call (or if it's possible, visit) a family or friend you've not talked to in a while. You'll be glad you did (and maybe they will too).

Thanks for doing your job

I hope by now you have begun doing the daily Planned Act of Kindness (PAK) Challenge that we are encouraging through the 40 Days of Service campaign on wiiserve.org. If not you are missing a blessing. It is true what the Bible says that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

Today's challenge was to write a thank you note to your mail carrier. We expanded it to writing a thank you note to someone who typically serves you. That includes mail carriers, cafeteria workers, cashiers at the local store or restaurant servers.

I had written a note for the mail carrier who delivers to my house while at work. While sitting there I heard the mail man at the office. I quickly went and wrote him a thank you note. It was a pleasure to deliver this envelope without a stamp to him simply to say thanks.

Now do we really have to thank these people? Really they are getting paid to do it. It's their job. And the truth is we don't. But I think it helps us to recognize that they are more than what they do...they are real people with families and lives and instead of treating them like objects, saying thank you affirms them as people.

So this thanksgiving season, beyond saying thanks to God, thank someone who you usually take for granted because of what they do. I challenge you to do it in a written format instead of just verbally. Thank them for what they do and more importantly for who they are.

Let it rain...

Day 4 of our 40 Days of Service and 2nd Day of Planned Acts of Kindness (wiiserve.org). Well today's challenge was to share your umbrella with someone. An umbrella in use would generally accompany rain falling. And rain falling is not something we can control. As much as we have good intentions of performing that task, we can't do it without help.

Today I am glad to report that it rained in Kansas City. Usually I'm not a fan of the ran but today I was glad about it. It allowed me a chance to open up that umbrella and share it with one of my co-workers as she walked to her car.

Helping others requires divine intervention. Rain usually symbolizes blessings. Serving others requires God's blessings to be present for us to share. We can never allow ourselves to be proud about all the service we are doing because if God didn't send His rain, then we wouldn't be able to do the small tasks we do. Remember He controls the rain.

God opened a door for me to open a door

Well today was the first Planned Act of Kindness (PAK) challenge for our wiiserve 40 Days of Service and Sacrifice. (If you want the full calendar go to wiiserve.org and click Calendar).

Today's challenge was to open the door for a stranger. I was on my last stop before heading back home, at the library and I had not had an opportunity to open the door. I whispered a prayer silently to God to give me an opportunity to do so. On my way out, someone walked up to the door and I was able to get the door for them and give them a nice smile.

Now I know this doesn't seem like a biggie - open the door for a stranger. Some of you do it everyday. But what's the big deal for me is that God answers our prayers to provide opportunities for us to serve others for Him.

Over these 40 Days, why not seek God daily for an open door to serve others for Him. Partner with Him to touch lives of those around you. It's so much more awesome serving with God than on our own.

Consistency....the missing ingredient

I'm about to get in shape...again. The tool of choice this time is going to be P90X. If you haven't heard of it, it's a revolutionary workout, diet program that is guaranteed to sculpt your body in just 90 days. So I'm about to try it.

But it hit me that this revolutionary tool has a lot of company in my never ending quest for physical fitness. It lines up behind my exercise bike and Ab cruncher in the basement. I used them for a few weeks faithfully but then stopped due to some reason (a goood one). This journey has also included my pedometer where I was doing my 10,000 plus steps a day. Walking vigorously lasted a few months but then my pedometer broke and I never replaced it.

This exercise quest also included early morning jogging. I bought some running shoes, clothes and an ipod to listen to music. That lasted a few weeks but then my shoes hurt and I never got them fixed. We then started using the Hip Hop abs video exercises (please don't tell anyone I did that). It worked for a few weeks but then I got tired. Then it was off to the gym for some months. Actually enjoyed it. But then it got too cold to go out and so we canceled the membership.

Lastly I bought the Nintendo wii fit. That had to work because I didn't have to go out and it was fun. Except I only lasted two sessions.

Well here we are - P90X. The truth is I just need some consistency. So here's what I'm trying. I'm coming clean and asking you to help keep me accountable. When you see me ask me how the exercise program is going. Hit me up on fb and make sure I'm off the couch and working out.

I don't think I'm the only one that struggles with consistency in exercising,work, time with my kids, even devotional habits. Let's become a community where we help keep each other accountable. We're not always strong on our own. Let's lean on each other. That will help our consistency.

Why Are You Afraid?

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he (Jesus) got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26

I grew up in a family with three rambunctious boys of which I'm the oldest.We competed and fought all the time. In order to get the upper hand I have to shamefully admit I exploited my brothers' fears. Now don't let them know I said this but one was afraid of the mop. To get him in check you just had to grab the mop and the scraggly strands would scare him straight. My other brother (who can probably break me in two with his bare hands now) had an even more irrational fear. He was afraid of cotton. All I needed to do to get him in line was to threaten to bring cotton to him. He would be shaking.

My parents would sometimes intercept and ask them "Why are you afraid?" It's the same question Jesus asks the disciples in Matthew 8:26 when they frantically awoke Him during the storm. And I believe it's the same thing He asks us when we get all scared during the stress of life.

I'm sure the disciples thought they were justified in being afraid. And we usually come up with good reasons for our fear. But if we're honest we let fear paralyze us and take it to an irrational point.

Don't let fear stop you for moving forward, stepping up, serving, doing something great, pursuing your dreams, making a change in life. Instead have faith in God and His ability to calm not just the storms outside us but the storms inside us like fear, anxiety and despair.

Why are you afraid? And what can you be doing if you exchanged your fear for faith?

Wireless connection with Jesus...Served Up!

Every Friday evening at 10 pm Central, there is an online rap session hosted on the wiiserve.org website. Our regular host is Pastor Donald Rolle and the title of this interactive bible study, discussion time is Servin It Up.

Each week those who log on to the show are blessed. On one of the past shows Pastor Rolle discussed having a connection with God. Here are some of the responses listed below for features that people wanted in their "wireless connection" with Jesus.
Great stuff! Check it out.

I want in my wireless connection (prayer life) with God...

RIREZY: it should look good! no one wants a phone to look like a land line!

discomookie: its cool to have it

wiiserve: Unlimited Minutes= prayer without ceasing

RIREZY: Sturdy and long lasting= to PRAY FAithfully not matter what!

lpayne7: Strong connectionI want a prayer life were I doesn't lose a connection.

KYKY23: txt to God

discomookie: unlimited text messages = staying in the word

icemanrolle: a personalied phone = because god understands and knows me...

wiiserve: No drop calls= God hears me and doesn't ignore me

DarrienLinwood: STRONG connection and unlimmited everything= praying life better plus when i say Fatha hears me

Dbedward011: Wifi+ 3G= A connection with speed always

Stigmeister: My phone has to be international. We have to commucinate no mater where I am.

PCPhD: Face to Face video conferencing

discomookie: preach collins

discomookie: that is coming

discomookie: its in the next upgrade

Dbedward011: Not international Universal

drewpy_boo: unliminted talk-= no matter what time of day it is, you will always be able to speak with him

wiiserve: How about a network that can "hear me now"

DarrienLinwood: i hope so

PCPhD: Fave All

RIREZY: warranty= i cant get back to praying when i fall in the water and get a few scratches and mess up the screen of my life

ZoZo963: aww shoot that was dope

icemanrolle: lol

PCPhD: No Faves

DarrienLinwood: 4G

discomookie: rirezy that is nice

DarrienLinwood: the new connection

Dbedward011: Noise Canceling= Clear understanding and can recives signs easily Tmobile= Get more God

RIREZY: Ringtones=So catchy that when god calls i cant help but answer

discomookie: custom ringtones = you know who it is

KYKY23: international locations for traveling to you

PCPhD: SYNC

lpayne7: iphone= a prayer life that is worry free

DarrienLinwood: Ringtones= so when God calls i knw who it is

PCPhD: Text to Speech

Dbedward011: Touch One Dialing= NUMBER 1 777-777-7777 (GODS NUMBER)

KYKY23: call me

discomookie: that's deep collins

DarrienLinwood: "call him up, tell him what want"

wiiserve: Prayer Bible text: Luke 11:1-13

PCPhD: pray shows up 365 tims on Biblegateway

DarrienLinwood: thanx cause i have a friend whos needs help

RIREZY: prasie him!!!

ZoZo963: Proverbs 5

DarrienLinwood: Psalms 23

wiiserve: Nehemiah is the Book of the Week

discomookie: 1st Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

wiiserve: Challenge to pray at least 15mins per day

PCPhD: Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his submission

PCPhD: Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

KYKY23: psalm 143:1 hear my prayer o lord; listen to my plea!


For an even greater blessing come online this Friday and every other one at 10 pm Central to Serve it Up...

It is a Good Thing to Say Thanks

The two simple words "thank you" can be used as a tool for ministry. I found that out this week through two simple examples.

The school my children attend, V Lindsay SDA Elementary School, hosted Pastors' Appreciation Day. They brought the local pastors in (including me) and through word and gifts said "thank you." It is amazing the simple things that these little ones and their teachers said thank you for. However it is the fact that someone notices those little things that is encouraging. Let's be honest we don't work for the appreciation but it certainly makes the load a little bit lighter. One of my pastoral colleagues remarked that it was one of his best ministry experiences. All because these teachers and children said thank you.

The second experience occurred when my own children made a thank you card for my Administrative Assistant. She loves baking and sent home a sweet potato pie for our family. They were moved by her kindness and wanted to do something in return. So they made a thank you card with drawings and sentiments of gratitude and love. It was so pure, innocent and at the same time powerful.

Children notice and want to give thanks for the simple things. The things you do that a lot of times go unnoticed. Maybe you can minister to someone today by noticing the simple things they do and telling them thank you. It will make a difference.

Out of the Spotlight, Following the Light

It's been a while since I've blogged. Between readjusting to a 7 hour time zone difference and catching up on all the work left behind after two weeks away, it's been hard getting time to write. But I'm back now. I will be sharing a little bit about my experiences in Lesotho next blog.

I'm here at Oakwood University, a Historically Black Christian University. I was talking with a student from East St Louis, Karyle Barnes Jr, who has worked with me before. He is presently studying to be a minister. Karyle is a deeply spiritual young man but one who has a good grasp of contemporary culture and is able to reach his peers.

We were talking about ministerial experience and preaching opportunities here at Oakwood and the fact that all theology students don't get an opportunity to preach on campus at some of the "spotlight" occasions like chapel and student worship services. That's where everyone on campus gets to know who you are and your renown is established.

But Karyle related to me a ministry that he is involved with called Stand Ministries. In his low key manner he spoke about going to a local juvenile detention center every Friday to speak to the young men about life and making good choices. After speaking to the entire group of teens, these collegiates sit down in smaller groups with the detainees and dialog with them. Some weeks they just play games with the boys and have fun.

Now that is ministry! It's not in the spotlight but it's following the light. And there are so many others who are doing sacrificial service that do not appear in the limelight or get recognition but I am confident that God is smiling down on it.

If you are one of those persons, whether it's helping a neighbor, or contributing to someone's well-being anonymously, know that you are following the light - Jesus Christ. "For as much as you've done it to the least of these, You've done it to me (Jesus)."

Proud to Serve

Well it's evident I was not very successful in my goal of blogging daily. We have had challenges with internet connection. However my experience has been rich enough to fill out a few blogs. I will be dedicating a few more of my blogs even after I return to the blessings we have received while here in Southern Africa.

This past week has been spent doing quite a bit of traveling. We moved from Hazy View to Johannesburg (a 6 hour bus ride) on Monday. On Tuesday we traveled from Jo'burg to Ficksburg (another 6 hour ride) right on the border of South Africa.

Wednesday and Thursday we crossed over into the Kingdom of Lesotho, a country that is completely surrounded by the country of South Africa. There we visited the Maluti Hospital and the Maluti Adventist Christian School. I'll be writing about the wonderful ministry being done here later. For this blog allow me to recap something from last week.

Last Thursday I wrote about our visit to the Khomelela Community Services Project. We had a wonderful opportunity to see the dream of Pastor Paul Mawela and his wife Martha, come to reality. Pastor Mawela had retired from official church work and decided to move to Dwarsaloop to start a church among his people. He was met with resistance and all his efforts were thwarted. The Lord led him to begin ministering to the community through addressing the needs that arose due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

At the Khomelela Community Service Project we saw some great ministries taking place. The community asked them to start a preschool program. One of the reasons for to provide a place for teenage mothers to drop their children off so that they can go to school and complete their education.

I was particularly impressed with the care giver ministry that is operated out of Khomelela (it means "Hold On"). They go out and assist refugees from neighboring Mozambique and the elderly who need food and other services. Without them these people would be forgotten. We traveled with two care givers - Yvonne and Tinswello.

These ladies blew us away when they told us the sacrifices they were making for this ministry. Tinswello travels 2.5 hours one way by foot to come to the center arriving each day at 8 am. She then goes out to see her clients and ends her work at 4 pm. She does not arrive home until 6:30 pm or 7. In addition she is presently doing this work voluntarily. There's more. She was not complaining about her work or travel or lack of pay. She was excited and smiling. Here are her words. "I'm proud to serve others." She takes pride in knowing that she helps others. She was recruited because they were looking for people who wanted to help others. It is a badge of honor and a source of pride that she can minister to the needs of others.

How wonderful it is that the motivation for service is service itself? If we could all realize that being able to help others is not a burden but an honor.

We have been blessed to meet such wonderful agents of the love of Christ here. I pray that I would be able to say like her, I'm proud to serve others.

Becoming Like Little Children

On Thursday we visited Khomelela, which is an Adventist Community Service project, operated by the church. The church was started by Papa and Mama Mawela, the couple that started the Nhlengelo project we talked about yesterday. The Khomelela project focuses on educating pre-school children and providing basic necessities for refugees who do not receive government support. The The common thread running through the ministry of the Mawelas is they remember the people that are easily forgotten.

Visiting that project produced similar feelings in terms of my admiration for the caregivers. They give of themselves (a lot of them for no money, the rest for a small stipend) and serve with such joy. I felt proud to be a Seventh-day Adventist today.

But I want to talk a bit about the orphans of Nhlengelo. We first met them on Wednesday when they came over to the center after school had let out. Some were older in high school, and they went all the way down in age to about six years old. They waited patiently in the yard while the preparations were made. It must be noted that this is the only meal they receive each day. Then when they were called to eat, without any prompting they organized themselves with the girls first and going from the youngest to the oldest.

They had developed the trust to know that the food was coming and didn't allow their obvious hunger to cause them to fight one another for food.

After they were finished eating, the demonstrated some of the lessons they had learned at Nhlengelo. They sang beautifully and performed a poignant skit on us welcoming Jesus when we serve the poor.

The highlight for me was when we were able to go out into the dusty yard and simply play with them. It's interesting how play can be a universal language. No one explained rules. We just started throwing a ball around and laughing with each other as a big group. At that point the most powerful thing that happened is there was no us and them. It was we. We played together.

Later on we all went in and danced. We taught each other dances and we laughed. I believe we brought them joy but I know they brought us joy. You see these children who have endured some of the most difficult circumstances, didn't let it cripple them. They talked about their dreams, and they have big dreams. Some wanted to be doctors, lawyers, pastors, social workers, accountants, engineers. And they are working toward it.

These children taught me that dancing is alright even when death has attacked and laughter is still the best medicine. Dwelling on problems won't fix them. Breathe, play, laugh, dance....become as little children.

An Inexhaustible Supply

Wednesday we were able to witness God at work through human angels. We moved out to interact with the people of Dwarsaloop, South Africa. We finally moved from preparation to interaction phase.

We visited the Nhelengo project. The name of the project means “Standing together against a common enemy.” The first sound that greeted us when we disembarked from the bus was the melodious singing of about 45 women. They are called Caregivers.

We had an opportunity to talk with them, travel with them, see them work and hear their story. I am convinced that these ladies are doing the ministry of Jesus here on earth.

They told us how they walk for hours from their homes to visit individuals in the village stricken with HIV/Aids, TB and malaria. They work from 8 am till past 6 pm. The people that they work with have almost been abandoned by their families, their community, by the world. These caregivers step in and provide the care they need.

If I were to share everything we learned from them, this blog could go on for days but I'll share just a few lessons.

1. The people they serve have become more than clients to them. They are family to them. Sometimes their clients ask them for food and even in their poverty (they are given a small stipend for their services) they give what they can. Children who are orphaned in the community come to them for clothes and other necessities at times and they do all they can to help them. Kyrinda Richardson, one of our group, witnessed an interaction with one of our caregivers named Ruth and a resident who lived next to one of her clients.

The person was hungry and asked her for food. She replied that she was suffering too. Then she said the most amazing thing. Ruth told our group that she doesn't have much but she gives them love. She said she prayers everyday that God would give her love.

2. The caregivers live a life of prayer and dependence on God. We asked a group of caregivers how they keep going. How they gain the energy to walk long distances? Audrey, a dear lady, replied "We pray, always. We pray when we wake up, we pray as we go throughout the day." In fact they sing a song about that called NJalo (pronounced - Jah-lo). It means always. In it they say we pray, we give, we praise always.

I thought to myself, these ladies don't have much but they are all the people in that village have.

When we got back to the center which is led out by Papa and Mama Mawela, we enjoyed the singing and dancing from the caregivers. Their joy was so abounding. It just flowed out. Stephen Williams remarked, "how is it that those with so little are thankful for so much and those with so much are thankful for so little."

We then had a chance to meet the orphans of Nhlengelo. I have to comment on them on another blog. I want the ministry of the caregivers to be the focus of this blog.

Ray Tetz, says that the thing they carry in their bag is love. They don't have much of what is needed by those they serve but they have love. They have joy. And that's what they give away so freely. You see they have learned to connect to the source. So they can give love and joy away because they pray always. NJalo!

Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. - 2 Corinthians 8:1-4

Learning how to see again

Today we found out we came all the way to South Africa and we are not on a mission trip. What? Well just to clarify we are not on vacation either. The correct designation of what the group of 20 from all over the US is on is a Mission Discovery Trip.

We woke in Johannesburg this morning and had a brief meeting before heading out on a six or seven hour drive to Hazy View. Along the way (when I wasn't sleeping which was most of the way) we saw the transition from the bustling city of Jo'burg to the more rural areas. I took a few pictures which I'll post soon.

But the most impactful part of the day happened during worship this morning and training this evening. We as a group were ready to go out and do something but our trip leader Maitland DiPinto took some time to teach us how to see again. In the evening, Ray Tetz reinforced the class on how to see.

Let me explain. Many times when we come on mission projects, they explained we bring a mindset of negative examination. We try to figure out all the things that are wrong with the area we go to and we seek to be the heroes in fixing them. This produces results but is limited in it's continuity.

What we were challenged to do is to Appreciative Inquiry. That simply means, find out what's working where we are and try to increase capacity for that. We figure out what ministries are working and we seek to resource them and help them to do more of it.

It may not be revolutionary to some but it was to me. Too many times we seek to find what's wrong with a situation instead of asking what's right with this situation and celebrating that. We were taught to ask questions that found out what the people we are going to meet like, what makes them happy, what are their hopes and dreams. They are not problems to be solved or things to be repaired but human beings to be embraced.

Tomorrow we head out to Nhlengelo. You can read up on that at hope4.com/wiiserve. I'm not going tomorrow to be a hero. I'm going to find the heroes, celebrate them and then making sure they have what they need to continue doing the works they are doing.

I'm going there with new eyes because I learned to see again.

There's no place like home

What a journey? After a journey of three airports, two flights, a mad dash to the airport and over 18 hours of flying, we finally arrived...home.

Now I know this seems weird to say. But these travels have taken me the furthest away from home and also brought me closest to home at the same time. Huh? Let me explain.

I left the four most precious people to me behind - my wife and three kids. It was tough knowing I would not see them for 2 weeks. Phone calls and video conferencing are just not the same as face to face contact.

However when our plane landed in Johannesburg, South Africa, a part of me felt quite at home. But my real welcome home happened when I went up to the Customs Agent. After the customary greeting and routine check, she remarked to me, "You look like one of us. You look like you belong here." And she was right. I feel at home in South Africa.

When we arrived it was already dark so we could not see a lot of the natural beauty of the country. From what we've seen in Johannesburg, it is a very modern and developed city. We head out to more remote areas tomorrow to see the work being done there.

I'm not sure everything that will transpire over these next two weeks. But I rejoice so far that God has allowed this long lost son of African descent to set foot on the motherland.

There's no place like home.

Not at fault but still responsible

One of the challenges of human life is taking responsibilty when we are at fault. Too many times we want to excuse, rationalize and avoid owning up to what we have done wrong. Other times we find someone else to blame...(wonder where we got that from - see Genesis 3)

However I think beyond the need for us to own up and take responsibility when we are at fault (which is our duty) the call of God causes us to take responsibility even when we are not at fault.

We have been taught to overlook needs just because it's not my fault so it should not be my responsibility. And around the human table we play the game of pass the buck because many times we can't figure out who's at fault.

What a difference we would make in this world if we lived by the adage, "not my fault, but still my responsibility."

Jesus did...see the disciples all with dirty feet sitting before the basin and towel thinking "the dirt on the other disciples feet is not my fault so not my responsibility." Watch the Master kneel down and gently watch all their crusty feet. Not His fault but He made it His responsibility.

Then watch Him go to the cross and die for our sins - not His fault but He made it His responsibility.

What is God calling you to take responsibility for now? Remember it doesn't have to be your fault.

Getting rid of the middle man

On my last blog entitled "Giving Challenge" I described how my daughter, Janiah gave up her favorite toy for us to give to a child without toys. Well here's the rest of the story...and it's so much better.

We decided instead of having her give us the toy and then we go drop it off at a local agency that it would mean so much more if she could meet and interact with the child she was giving it to. I volunteer at this awesome ministry called Hillcrest Transitional housing from time to time and they enable people who were homeless to get back on their feet.

While I was teaching a class today, Janiah was in another room playing with the children of the residents. For her and them, there was nothing different between them. And the truth is there is nothing different between them.

At the end, Janiah gave her favorite toy, a Stephanie doll (from Lazy Town), to a girl she was playing with. What followed next amazed me! The girl promised my daughter that she would come back the next time and give her a potholder she's working on. But that wasn't enough for her. The girl didn't have anything else to give, so she ripped off her name tag and stuck it on my daughter's shirt.

You should have seen the excitement on both girl's faces: the girl was happy to get the doll and Janiah was thrilled with her sticker. You see we had cut out the middle man and learned a few things:

1. We are all equal no matter where we live or what our bank accounts say.

2. Everyone has something to give no matter how little they have.

3. Everyone is in need of something from someone else no matter how much they have.

I think it would do us a lot of good if instead of throwing money and stuff at issues, we actually gave of ourselves and met people. Instead of simply supporting agencies who help people, let's go beyond and meet people and help them.

Get rid of the middle man. We would all be richer at the end.

Giving Challenge

We are learning as a family the value of setting up traditions. One tradition we just launched is if one receives a gift for his birthday he has to give something like it away to someone in need.

Our youngest celebrated her birthday and we decided to implement this. Instead of doing it for her only when she received the gift we made all the children sacrifice a toy. What my middle child did blew me away. My son and our younger daughter brought toys that they really did not care for. But my older girl brought her favorite toy out and told us to give that away to a child in need!

One of the challenges that the mainstream media and popular culture present us is how much can we accumulate, store and hoard to ourselves. It seems like the rules of the game are who has the most toys wins the game. So we figure out how to store more clothes into our closets and more things into our garages and attics.

What a novel idea my daughter has? What about giving something that we even like away whenever we receive something new? (Maybe it will eliminate our need to pay for storage for things we don't use:-)

So this post is a challenge to all of us this week to give something we like away. It will help us to understand that the thing isn't more important than the person we give it to and if nothing else it will reduce the clutter - in our homes and in our hearts.

Cooperation

What you see in this picture is a group of youth from the Ebenezer church in Minneapolis, MN praying over 127 boxes containing 27,432 meals that will feed 75 other youth for 1 year! This was all packaged in less than 2 hours. What great things can be done when we work together.

This youth group joined with other groups very different from them to package food with an organization called Feed My Starving Children. (www.fmsc.org) It's interesting that hunger and pain know no color. But cooperation and relief are color blind as well. When we work together we realize that we have more in common than we ever knew. Let's seek ways to work and serve together.

You win therefore I win

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:3 NLT

A few young adult men have started a basketball camp at our conference center in Kansas City. It takes place at 10 am on Sunday mornings - a time that is usually earlier than most Adventists like to be up and about. It's been a real blessing seeing the interaction of the young boys and these dedicated men.

Now truth be told most of our boys are just learning the fundamentals of the game. The coaches are doing great just by keeping them from running into each other sometimes. But they are learning and getting better.

My son is 6 and he is in a group where the ages range between 5 and 8. Today I saw a really awesome sight. In my son's group they were practicing shooting. Imagine these boys using all their strength to get the ball up to the 8 foot basket. They each had a turn and I would say they were hitting on about 50% of the tries at first.

But the best part happened later on when they began to encourage each other. They began cheering each other's name as they got ready to shoot. They would congratulate one another whether they scored or missed. But when one scored the celebrations looked like the pandemonium over a game winning shot at the NBA finals. I sat in awe. Each boy got more excited for someone else's success than their own.

What if we lived like that as adults. I celebrate with such abandon when you were blessed with a job, your children did well, or you got a spiritual victory. Even if I wasn't experiencing my best day (even when I lost my job and my kids weren't acting right). I suspect we would all be winners because when you win, I win and when I win, you win.

You see those boys taught me that we are all connected. We are on the same team. Your victory is my victory and vice versa. Let's try celebrating someone else's success as if it were ours and watch us all become winners.

Learn the Game!

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[d] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:31-33

Yesterday I took my family to a baseball game. It's becoming a bit of an annual tradition to go to one game each summer. I'm an unapologetic Yankee fan and we live in Kansas City. I support the Royals because I have no choice.

I go to the games to see the athletic skill, to hopefully see a few home runs and some Sports Center highlight reel plays. My family on the other hand enjoys another part of the experience. They have fun, not watching the game, admiring the fielding, being blown away by the velocity of the pitching nor the power of the hitting. They enjoy what happens between innings and during stoppages in play. They love to do the claps, to get up and dance and to see if Ketchup will defeat Mustard and Relish.

They don't enjoy the game, they enjoy what goes on as bonus features. The reason for this is they really don't understand the game. In the game yesterday Ichiro Suzuki hit a home run and made an amazing catch to end the game. Neither of these things fazed them because they don't know who he is (perennial All-Star and future Hall of famer) and didn't really pay attention to either feat. I guess we get caught up in the bonus stuff when we don't understand the game.

That is like the folk who watch the Superbowl only for the commercials. It's entertainment value isn't based on what the two titans of the gridiron do on the field but what Budweiser, GoDaddy and Monster.com come up with during their 30 seconds and what happens during half time. They don't understand the game so they are wrapped up in the bonus features as if they were the main attraction.

I realize it's like that with us and life. If life were a game, then many of us would be living for and getting excited about the bonus features: the weekend, getting a new car, finding the dress we like in our size, climbing the career ladder, catching the eye of that person we've had our eye on. We live our lives with an almost single-minded pursuit after these things.

Well the one who invented the game and mastered it, Jesus, says that all that stuff is just bonus (it get's added on). He says the real deal is seeking first God's Kingdom. Put His agenda first. Run after that. Chase after things like lifting up humanity, worshiping and serving God and dying daily to ourselves. Keep your eyes on that. Don't miss that in your pursuit of the bonus stuff. In fact take your mind off the bonus stuff....He'll throw it in for free.

I need to teach my kids and wife the game of baseball so that they'll want to sit and watch during the game and get up during the breaks rather than the other way around. Jesus wants to teach us the way to win the game of life...Let Him do it.

I had fun...and I don't feel bad about it!

Let me start off this post with a confession:

I had fun at summer camp and I don't feel guilty about it. I know some of you are questioning my Christianity since there's a commandment in there somewhere that says "Thou shalt not have fun."

Alright, this is tongue in cheek, but sometimes we act like that at church. I've heard the comment too many times, "all the kids are doing is having fun." In the past I would defend the program and try to point out deep theological and spiritual lessons that were being taught. Now I simply say, "so what?"

I've changed my mind. Having fun at church, in a church program, does not need to be defended. It needs to be applauded.

These past summers while I worked at camp, I've realized that children and youth today have experienced too much brokenness and sadness for an adult life time. The loss of parents, the breaking up of homes, terrible home situations and more. Their childhoods have almost been taken away. I've seen some who are uncomfortable smiling, laughing or even playing.

As we've played silly games like "who sold out", "walk around", "feed the baby", "bullfrog", I've seen faces crack a smile. I've seen some fall into the sweet release of laughter. I've seen some even learn how to play and for those moments the innocence of youth returns.

What if church were a place where a kid can be a kid? What if we were the people who taught children that they can lay down their burdens and have fun with us?
What if like Jesus we bid them come: find hope, find joy, find laughter, find fun?

What if we didn't apologize for having fun but we celebrated having fun?

Access Granted!

A few months ago I found a new short cut to our house by accident. I was so excited about it and with things I'm excited about I can't wait to share them with my wife. The next time we were in the car driving together, I proceeded to drive that route. All of a sudden we ran into a road block. That road was closed and access was denied to us.

I've been recently reading a book about justice and the need for us as Christians to move beyond just providing service but moving toward being agents of justice in this world. Micah 6:8 tells us that God expects us to do justly and love mercy.

Briefly the difference is service is providing meals to those who are hungry, justice is removing the barriers so that they have access to get their own food and empowering them. We shouldn't do either or but both and.

Well I began wondering did Jesus go beyond service and do anything that can be characterized as doing justice. Sure He fed the five thousand but did He remove barriers that allowed them to feed themselves?

Then I read Matthew 21:12-14 for my devotion this morning. Jesus gets upset and turns things over. This isn't the gentle Jesus, meek and mild here. He is angry.

I often wondered what made Jesus get angry and throw things over. Here is what the Lord showed me today. In the system of the day, if you didn't have anything to sacrifice you couldn't enter the temple. And in order to get a sacrifice you had to buy it. These money changers were charging prices that the poor could not pay. No sacrifice meant access denied. So here it is a place that was to be a house of prayer for all people is turning people away because they didn't have enough money.

But Jesus turns these tables over and allows the blind and lame to come to Him in the temple. The thing that was blocking their access to worship of God and to His house had been removed and now these overlooked people had "Access Granted."

This looks like justice to me: Jesus did not want people being denied access to something as important as the worship of God so much so that He gets violent in His pursuit of justice.

All should be given access to food, clean water, education, housing and more importantly all should be given access to God! Let's be agents to tell people "Access Granted!"

That was nasty!

Let's get something out the way upfront...I'm not a good cook. I think I could be a good cook but I am just too lazy to do it enough to get better. There are times when I have to cook (meaning my wife is out of town, money is low, restaurants are closed because of national holiday etc) and it takes me all day to have food ready because I follow my recipe book to the letter (how much is a dash of salt by the way).

Anyway there is one thing I make that my kids and wife acknowledge that I am not only good at but great at. They say I make it even better than my dear wife. It's tuna fish (now I know for some of you reading this it does not count as cooking but hey it's the best I can do). I make a mean tuna melt etc.

Well this morning while getting ready to "cook up" some tuna fish I made a huge blunder. I got out the can, cracked it open and poured it out into a bowl. Then I opened the refrigerator for the main ingredient beside the tuna fish - mayonnaise. Why didn't anyone tell me we were out of mayo?

What do you do with tuna fish in a bowl and no mayo? If you are like me you improvise. I got out some butter (or better yet "I Can't Believe it's not butter") and added it to the tuna. Then I added some salt and pepper and seasoned it up.

It looked different but not that much. Then I tasted it....ewwww. That was nasty!

I can't eat that stuff...maybe I'll give it to the kids when they are really hungry (especially my son - he'll eat anything). But it taught me a lesson. Sometimes in life we try to replace the right thing with a substitute that seems just as good. Maybe you haven't tried it so let me talk about myself.

I realized a couple weeks ago I was replacing spending time praying earnestly and reading my Bible with doing work for God and helping others. Don't get me wrong those things are important. But they are not substitutes for spending time with God. I picture God looking at our lives when we replace the things He asked us to with substitutes, bad (worldly entertainment, illicit sex, drugs etc) or good (friends, church work, school work) as looking at us and saying "That was nasty!"

In fact He says so in the Bible - "So because you are neither cold nor hot - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Rev 3:16. Powerful stuff.

I don't want God to say that about me. I'm going to get the right ingredients in my life....and my tuna fish as well!

Normal is overrated!

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble - Jesus, Matthew 5:10-12

I think one of the things we seek for is a normal life - as defined by popular culture and those around us. When many of us go through tough times we start crying out, "why can't I have a normal home, church life, neighborhood, relationship etc." This is understandable. No one craves trials, pressures, stress and strain.

But the life and message of Jesus challenges us to pursue a life that's not normal. It calls us to run away from the comfortable, safe and calm. It invites us to embrace trouble, rejoice in rejection, and find joy in pain.

How is that? Well Jesus says be happy when you are rejected for my sake. When you identify with Christ by lifestyle you automatically renounce the normal life and step into another kind of life. We step into a life of self-denial (not doing what we want to do but what He wants us to do) and a life of self-sacrifice (pouring out our lives in service to God and man). Will we get high fives and accolades for it - sometimes. But Jesus tells us more times than not we'll be called weird, corny or abnormal.

Well I guess if the life of following Christ is abnormal, I want that. I think normal is overrated. I choose Christ's abnormal life - let's just call it an abundant life! Worshiping God, enjoying His forgiveness and grace, using our talents to serve others, growing daily into being like Him and even giving it all up for the one who gave it all up for us...sounds great to me!

Normal is overrated. I'll take abundant any day. How about you?

What Do I Get For This?

Living the servant life isn't very popular. Think about it when you ask little kids what they want to be when they grow up how many say, "I want a career where I'm considered last and I keep giving of myself to others." If they do it's because they've been well-coached by their parents.

But our world doesn't value ideals like reaching out selflessly to meet the needs of others and not hitting back when you are attacked or surrendering your rights for the good of others.

I began thinking that because of this wiiserve movement we are creating a culture where youth are affirmed for service. Some were given awards for being outstanding servants at our Youth Congress. But even doing that can have it's drawbacks. It can tempt us into thinking that everyone will accept our service with admiration and accolades. We may begin to believe that when we step aside and allow someone to have what we should, they will acknowledge it and be grateful. We may even think that people won't take advantage of our kindness and walk over us anymore.

Well if we're ever tempted to think that way, I'm sure reality will take that thought out of our minds. But more than that, if we look at the life of the ultimate servant, Jesus, we see that His service was rewarded with rejection. His kindness was repaid with crucifixion. His giving was met with ungratefulness. And honestly that's what we encounter when we serve like Him at times.

So what do we get for this - for serving, for stepping back, for doing the WWJD thing? We get the chance to be like Jesus. To serve like Him, live like Him, even suffer like Him. Doesn't seem appealing yet? How about this - we'll get to live in a place with Him and be with Him. I'll take it. Seems like a great deal for me. How about you?

So What's Next?

So What's Next? That's the question we ask after we come from an exhilarating, exciting experience. Maybe that's what you ask after you come off the roller coaster that everyone talked about at the amusement park. "That was great; so what's next?" Maybe it's what you ask after a great family party. "It was great hanging together like this; so what's next?"

I think that was the question the disciples asked after seeing Jesus' glory up on the mountain as recorded in Matthew 17. Imagine they saw him revealed as God; what could be more perfect. Peter says, "Lord I wish we could just stay here." But Jesus says no. We have to go down. And I'm sure those three disciples thought, "So What's Next?"

Wouldn't it be great if our Christian life were filled with awesome worship gatherings every day where Jesus muzik is played, other people who are trying to live right are around us and we are having fun. That would be, that would be...heaven.

But for right now God has called us to live like ambassadors here on earth. What's next...the disciples found out when they encountered a man and his crazy son. The truth is after a great spiritual experience we will encounter some craziness! Some crazy situations and crazy people.

Here's the cool part about what's next: whatever we face in the crazy situations of life, God has downloaded the strength unto us to be able to face it. Jesus healed that crazy boy.

So after Youth Congress 2009, what's next is wii continue to serve. It may mean reaching out to someone at school who doesn't understand Jesus like we do and repping Christ for them. It may mean we react differently when the devil brings craziness our way. What's next is life and not just life as before but a new life of service to God and others. That's what's next!

Finishing Strong

I grew up loving sports of all kinds. I really loved track and field and got real excited during the Olympics. One year I watched as a runner from my home country was in line to win a medal in the Men's 400 meter final. He was right there at the finish line with a bronze medal all but guaranteed but then he decided to look around for the other runners. Just as he did another runner leaned with all his might and sneaked pass him at the line. Bummer.

Well my countryman started well, ran well but didn't finish well. You know finishing well is hard (ask all Seniors who have a cause of Senioritis!). But as we've been on this journey for 40 Days of Service and Sacrifice I want to encourage us all to finish well. What does that mean?

Well we've seen great pictures and heard wonderful stories of group service. Finishing well means we do our very best to do those Individual Random Acts of Kindness for these next two weeks. Let's try stuff like helping a neighbor, or a teacher or just a random stranger and give them the wiiserve cards. Let's finish well.

Finishing well also means that we really make some sacrifice to help the Children of Nhengelo. I know no one thinks they've got an abundance of money now. But we each can make some small (or big) sacrifice over the next couple weeks to save money for the worthy cause. Maybe we can sacrifice our movie money, not buy a new outfit, save some eating out money and bring it with you to Congress or send it in for the cause.

If you're not aware of the cause checkout www.hope4.com/wiiserve

So I'm planning to lean in with all my might as we get close to the finish line of Youth Congress. How about you?

Are you scared or what?

Not many of us like to challenged. I remember the time I did the most push ups in my life at one time. Another guy challenged me to see who could do the most (by the way a bunch of girls were standing around). I wanted to back out but if I did someone would ask "Are you scared or what?"

Well this past week I have been around a few friends who were apprehensive to try out this random acts of kindness idea. Come on, let's be real suppose you try to do something for someone and it comes out all wrong and the person misunderstands you - that could be embarrassing. If you do something nice and can't figure out how to give them the card or what to say when you do - that can be embarrassing.

I know I don't want to make a fool of myself. But in this whole thing we've got to realize that it's not about us...it's about Him. It's not about how I look but about showing off the kindness of Christ to others. And the good news is He'll tell you what to say (He's promised it in his word).

Anyways, my two friends after hesitating for a minute actually tried it. We cleaned up tables (some that we ate on, some that we didn't). It surprised the people serving at the restaurant that we served them. I almost embarrassed myself by cleaning some people's table who didn't leave but just stepped away (that was a close one).

But you know what, even if I did, so what. Jesus did things that made others look at Him like He was crazy - including dying to save me. So I can step up, step out and serve. So can you, unless you scared?

Putting legs to your faith

Don't miss the fun!

When I was growing up and even now, I would dislike arriving to a fun event after it started. My parents had a bad habit of spinning around and leaving late when we had to go to something exciting like a party or game (I think my wife has that habit now :-) )

My reason is I don't want to miss the fun. I don't want to hear about what I missed and how good it was so I wanted to be right there when the action started.

Maybe you are like me and you don't like missing out on exciting things. Let me give you the scope on something then. I've been looking at the pictures on the www.wiiserve.org website (go to the media tab and then click photo gallery). It shows youth all over the Midwest serving others doing different things.

Some are cleaning up a building so families can move in, others are visiting and caring for senior citizens, others are delivering care packages to nurses, doctors and firefighters and some are out in the snow feeding the homeless.

There was one thing I noticed in common with them all - they are all smiling, laughing and having a good time. I mean this is stuff connected with church and they are having fun! Some of it is uncomfortable (try standing out in the snow delivering food and tell me how you feel). Some is even a bit gross (like the youth who had to toss the old toilet in the dumpster). But no matter what it is, they had fun doing it.

I think God wired us that way. When we are helping others there is something in us that feels good and makes us fulfilled. I've got youth all over who are witnesses that this is true.

So if you have not tried it yet, it's not too late. We still have 29 more days left for this Campaign and a lifetime of service ahead. Join in the fun and serve someone individually or through your church youth group.

You don't want to miss all this fun. Trust me it's worth it.

Remembering a Servant

I had planned to talk about the great things I had seen over the course of this week of service and the first week of the Crazy Campaign. But something else is on my heart and mind right now.

You know we all are called to live lives of service and many times it's not recognized, acknowledge or applauded. You servants don't seek the spotlight, the cameras, the attention - they just serve.

Well this morning one of the most giving and selfless servants I have met passed away. His name was Pastor Jack Morris. I thought I would share with everyone some of the lessons on service he taught me.

1. Servants are in touch with the needs of others

Pastor Morris had a knack for knowing when you were going through something even when you didn't tell him. He would invite me out to lunch or offer a word in time without me telling him anything. I look back now and wonder how he knew but maybe it's because servants are in tune with others and are able to figure out when things are different with them. Let's strive to tune in to others around us.

2. Servants regard people as more important than things

I can't count the number of gifts Pastor Morris gave away to me and others that I have personally witnessed. It may not have been recognized at the time, but he actually spent his money to get those things. They were his. But he was not one to hold on to things but would rather give to others. There are many young people in churches all over who were able to attend church schools, youth congresses, camporees and other events because of his gifts. Let's not look at our stuff and our money as more important than people.

3. Servants take time to show those close to them they love them

Maybe the most important lesson Pastor Morris showed me was how important it is to show love to your family and loved ones by giving them your time. He adored his wife and you could see it in their interaction. He loved each of his children and was so proud of them and he would tell stories of having a day for each of them growing up.

It's important that we serve those overseas and in our neighborhoods. God has called us to reach out beyond our family. But more than that He's called us to show love to our family by giving them our time and ourselves. It would be a shame if everyone else can testify that I'm a servant but my own family not see it. Let's make an effort to show our family our love by serving them by letting them know it and investing time with them. Let's show our parents we love them as well as our siblings. I know it seems cool to be at odd with our parents but real servants show love to their parents.

I'm going to deeply miss Pastor Jack Morris. I plan to use these lessons to be a better servant. I hope you do to. Please keep his family in prayer. I look forward to seeing him when Jesus comes back.

This is getting dangerous

I am pretty focused usually when I go to do something. If I go to the store, my plan is to get in, get it, and get out. My make up doesn't allow me to wander around the store.

Well since I've started this Crazy Campaign it's been throwing me off my usual routine. I can no longer just go take care of what I want or what I need. With those "You've Been Served..." cards in my pocket, I have a new perspective on things.

Instead on get in, get it, get out, I'm looking around for people in need, people I can serve, just a way to cheer someone up. Just yesterday for example on a family outing to the local indoor amusement center (aka McDonald's Indoor Playground) I spotted another gentleman's tray of finished items as I was throwing away mine. I had to ask him to serve him by getting his tray and disposing of it as well. You know I gave him a card.

At the local Walmart, I was looking around for people I could help. I couldn't find anything big enough to give a card away but I certainly was able to be nice to the cashier who was having a hard day. I figured I was serving her by being nice even if it didn't warrant a card being given.

You see I'm not locked in to me and now I'm relentlessly looking for people to help. I guess you can say I'm dangerous with these cards in my pocket. If you have a need or look like I can help you, I'm going to approach you and try to serve.

I'm walking up to complete strangers offering to take their trays, give them a hand coming out the car, anything. If you're in need and come in my way, I'm dangerous because I'm going to help.

And guess what, I'm not alone. I'm part of a movement of youth all over who are out to help. Don't fall in front of us because we'll pick you pick. Don't drop something, we'll pick it up. Don't make a mess, because we'll clean it up.

We are positively, radioactively dangerous servants of the King out to help others.....You better watch out!

I did something crazy last week

Alright I have a confession to make. I did something I don't normally do and it felt weird doing it. Here's what happened.

We've been living in this neighborhood for the last three years and I only knew the name of the older gentleman who lives in the house right next door (we've bumped into each other mowing our lawns quite a bit). For the most part we as a family keep to ourselves.

Well as I started thinking about this Crazy Campaign and the part about doing Random Acts of Kindness something told me to reach out and meet my neighbors. So here's what we did - My kids and I put some oranges that we bought from the school in bags and headed out down the block.

Here I was with three toddlers, each carrying a bag of oranges, and we went ringing the door bells of our neighbors, introducing ourselves, giving away the fruit and then a "You've Been Served..." card.

Some folks looked surprised. Some said no thank you. But one neighbor and I had a great conversation and here's the crazy part - we're planning an Easter egg hunt for all the kids in the community. I think we will be meeting a lot more of our neighbors in the future.

Well I did something crazy for me by reaching out to meet my neighbors. It was weird but I plan to keep on doing it. I also plan to more crazy things to touch others for the next 40 days. I'm looking for people to meet, help, serve. It's going to be crazy but good.

What have you done as a random act of kindness for this Crazy Campaign? How did it make you feel? What reactions did you get? Share it here!