Sponsor a Child

This subject has been on my to-blog-about list from the beginning.  Just haven't gotten around to it yet.  I was reminded today as I wrote a letter to our Compassion child and sent some money for a Christmas gift.

We have only been involved with Compassion for a few months now.  We've known about these organizations for years and have felt some guilt about not helping out, but never felt like we could afford it.  Our daughter has been sponsoring a child for around a year now.  That was certainly a reason to consider it.  I think the turning point was when I read Randy Alcorn's book, Money, Possessions and Eternity, and especially when I taught a Sunday School class from that material.  A main point of that teaching was, God blesses us so we can bless others!

We made the decision to get involved and then went to Compassion Canada online to see how to go about it.  Once you see those faces and the need, the tough part is trying to decide which child to sponsor.  Some children are labeled as Priority Children, meaning they have already been waiting several months for a sponsor.  We decided to go that route.  The other criteria we used made it much more personal to us.  We decided that we wanted a little girl who was born the same year as our first grandchild, Kadence.

Kadence went to be with Jesus when she was just four and a half months old.  We barely got to know her.  We barely got to spend any time loving her, encouraging her, or buying anything for her.  We decided to honour her memory by finding someone  the age Kadence would be now.  We do not see this in any sense as replacing Kadence.  We have five other grandchildren to love, encourage and buy things for.  But we thought it would be fitting to send some love and help to someone in need, in her honour.  

So we chose Silvia.  Silvia is a nine-year-old from El Salvador.  Even though Silvia is from another country, culture and language, for us, she is  a sweet reminder of Kadence and something of what Kadence might be like now.  It is a privilege and a joy to get to know this little girl and have a small part in her life.  We have received one letter with hand-drawn pictures from her.  We look forward to getting to know her better over the coming years.

Such is the privilege of being involved with a needy child through Compassion.  I recommend it to you.  There is great joy in knowing that God can use us greatly for so little effort.  We have found Compassion to be well-organized, reputable and committed to Christian teaching as well as material aid.  

However you look at it, this is an investment in eternity--for the child and for yourself as you lay up treasure in Heaven.  Especially with the way the economy is going, this is a far better investment than you will find on the financial markets.    

God's Power in the Weakness of the Stauffer Family

I just want to take a minute to point you in the direction of God's power and the Gospel at work in a real family in an extremely painful time.  Most of you know of the murder of Emily Stauffer, daughter of Pastor Terry and his wife Juanita.  In the midst of this severe trial Terry has blogged a few times to update those who are praying.  He  talks about their weaknesses and pain, but also the great hope they have in Christ and how God has used a variety of resources to help them.  I have been touched and encouraged by his honesty and faith.  That combination is a powerful testimony and ministry to others who may be or will experience pain.  I highly recommend that you bookmark his blog and go there regularly to remind yourself to pray and to learn from this godly family.

  Dave

God's Perspective?

I took this picture of mountains from the plane somewhere between the Okanagan and Calgary.  This was the first time I've seen mountains from above.  I LOVE the mountains from the ground--the height and size and majesty that dwarfs me and leaves me in awe.  I love how they point to God the Creator.  While I enjoyed this view of them too, they appeared less awesome.  I could take in several at once and rather than huge and majestic they looked a little flat. Looking down on them and taking them all in at once, it seems to me, is much more God's perspective.  He holds the whole world in the palm of His hand and He deserves this view of His creation.  He is far above and greater than it all.  I am not.  I'm perfectly happy with the ground view. 

I think next time I fly across the mountains I'll let my daughter have the window seat! 

Keeping Things in Perspective

It has been some time since I've posted.  In fact I noticed that I had fewer posts in September than any month since I started blogging and this is the first one this month.  Much of that has to do with having had a tough month at which point blogging takes a back seat--way in the back of the bus.  

We finished our vacation time for this year the end of the first week of September.  We had a great time on Vancouver Island with our son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons who we hadn't seen in  a year.  So it was tough saying goodbye, coming back home and getting back into the routine.  And being September also meant life was busy at church--the  Fall start up of AWANA, Sunday School, Small Group study, as well as other things that happen this time of year.  All things that add to my work load.  I was starting to feel some pressure.

But that was just the beginning.  Before long I was neck deep in dealing with issues of various sorts that caused me a fair bit of stress.  I guess the honeymoon of being the new pastor is over and I started feeling those old familiar stirrings of reluctancy in pastoring.  And I started arguing with God about why He keeps putting me back into pastoral ministry when I can't handle it. 

So I've tried to take a step back and look at things from a different perspective--hopefully a more godly one.  I've tried to see some good in all this.  One thing I was reminded of is something I have reminded others of in the past: we should expect problems and conflict in the church.  The church is made up of sinners saved by grace and in the process of being sanctified, but certainly not there yet.  The New Testament church had problems; so will we.  In fact I suspect that God uses these things to grow us.  The key is to act rightly when the problems and issues come.  All of that to say, problems should not surprise me/us.

Along the same line, a step back helped me realize that the devil is at work because God is at work.  Things have gone quite well in my first year in the church.  God has been moving in a couple salvations, some baptisms, some growth in individuals and the church.  It is inevitable that Satan is going to try to undo that.  I find it frustrating that we let him trick us and use us to do his dirty work, but I need to keep in mind that this is a battle and we have an enemy.  That enemy is not one another, but the evil one.

Another thing I've realized is that all of this pressure has affected my walk with God for good.  I have felt a greater weakness, a greater need and gone to the right place to find strength and God has shown Himself faithful.  He has listened to my doubts and complaints and cries for help and has not only given help and wisdom in some situations, but inner strength and peace in the midst of stress and fatigue.  

And finally, I have realized that my struggles are a walk on the beach compared to what others have gone through and are going through.  This hit me particularly hard this past week with the news of the death of Pastor Terry Stauffer's 14-year-old daughter in Alberta.  Pastor Terry is an acquaintance and my heart goes out to them as my prayers go to Heaven on their behalf.  My struggles are real enough, but not on the same scale as the pain this family and many others are facing.  It reminds me how much I have to be thankful for. 

Dave

The Christian Thing To Do?- Update 2

In case you're wondering if there has been any more news on my gas station episode, the answer is no.  I have not heard from the store manager.  A bit of an update from another place though: When I shared this at a men's breakfast recently one young guy suggested I pay forward the money I saved on the gas.  Actually John K. suggested something similar when he said I could give that money to the church.  So if the manger doesn't call in the next while that's my plan, to pay it forward to some deserving cause.

Dave

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

I was saddened last week to read that Christian music artist, Ray Boltz has let it be known that he is a homosexual.  If the name doesn't ring a bell for you, he was well-known for his songs "Thank You,"  and "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb."

Apparently he has been struggling with this sin since his youth.  He came to Christ and hoped that would cure him, but he says although he married and had children the feelings have never gone away.  He broke the news to his family over 4 years ago, but has not gone public with it until a couple weeks ago.  He is now divorced from his wife and living a homosexual lifestyle. 

Especially discouraging is that this is not just something that he continues to struggle with.  He has apparently completely embraced it and deceived himself into believing it's okay.  In a recent interview he said,

If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.

There are a number of different ways we can respond to this and things to think about, but I have one particular thought I want to address.  It seems too many Christians, as they get older, fall headlong into some sin or another, or simply fall away from the Lord(can't think of any other specific cases offhand).  It's another clear reminder of how weak we really are and how much we need to keep clinging to our Saviour and to one another as believers.  We need to be constantly aware that the possibility is there for all of us to become deceived and fall away.  I cringe when I hear people say that it won't happen to them.  Being aware that it can happen is half the battle.

Eugene Petersen titled one of his books, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  He borrowed the phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche.  The Bible uses words like steadfastness, perseverance, faithfulness.  May we do our part and trust God to do His so that we can stay true for a lifetime.

Dave

The Christian Thing To Do?- Update

Well I've been back from vacation for a week now and this is my first post.  Not so much a time issue(although it has been busy), but more because I wasn't ready to update you on my gas station episode.  Finally I am.  I want to thank all of you who posted responses on my blog and on John K's, and also others I talked to face to face.

When it happened my immediate response to myself and to the attendant was, "What do we do now?"  She immediately replied that she didn't know what happened, but it was okay, not to worry about it.  I accepted that and gave her the $20.  

It wasn't until later when I had more time to process it that I started to wonder if I had done the right thing.  My greatest concerns were: 1. Did she have the authority to say it was okay?  2. Would she have to pay it herself?  3. What would Jesus do?  I likely should have gone back that day to check it out, but (excuses) we were busy getting ready to go away and I didn't think I'd have much chance of finding the store manager(this was a Safeway gas bar).  

Anyway I finally got back to the store today and talked to a manager.  I told him what had happened, and that I am a Christian and the pastor of the Baptist church and for that reason I wanted to be sure that this was looked after properly.  I told him that I was willing to pay.

The manager told me he had not heard anything about it(sounded like he thought he should have) and that he wanted to check into it with the gas bar manager.  Then he wondered aloud why he hadn't heard anything and if there might have been some cover up.  Now I'm feeling bad that I may have gotten someone in trouble by not dealing with it right away if that's the case. He thanked me, took my name and phone number and said he'd let me know.  

Perhaps I should have done something different to begin with but it is usual that I need some time to think things through.  I'm not great at spur-of-the-moment decisions.  Regardless, I can't change that now.  I believe I've done what I can now.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

I do want to address some of the comments you made before I sign off.  I disagree with the use of the verses from Romans 13.  I don't believe I legally owed the money or that it was stealing as I didn't try to get away with it.  I was told it was okay.  When I turn the situation around to look at it from the other end I ask, If you were the business owner that made a mistake would you expect your customer to pay for it?  I wouldn't and I don't think most people would.

On the other hand, I like what John K said about this being a great opportunity to be a witness for Jesus.  In the end I decided I would rather be on the side of grace rather than law.  I guess a verse that makes sense to me here would be to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Praying that God will somehow use this in my life, yours and the others involved.

Comments welcome!

Dave