Pabama - Weekly, with the family ideas!

Brothers, I have been starting to realize how self-centered I am.  It's actually scary how deep this 'self-centeredness' is (more on this later).  But, with so much going on in life (an interesting statement), I don't have the time to 'organize' something.  So, if you are like me (and no, you don't have to admit to that), and struggle with time, here are some quick ideas you can do with your family, tying into your grocery shopping, etc!  (P.S.  Kids enjoy knocking on a door and running back to the car too!  Although there are some additional issues like added time to buckle up, and explaining how knocking and running really isn't mean in this scenario.)  Let's be the hands and feet!
I will try to post some note cards, etc. later that you can print to provide with these if you like.
(For details - See the Pabama Action Team page, scroll down to the red heading: Pabama - Weekly, with the family ideas!)
- Mom, 3yr. old and 2yr. old just moved here from CO with the shirts on their backs.
- Love Inc. - Office supplies
- Love Inc. - Groceries!

Preach it brother Stearns!

Reflections on the Horn of Africa Drought: Jesus, Stalin and Casey Anthony

Richard Stearns


Posted: 7/26/11 08:00 AM ET

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink ..." --Matthew 25:35-36

Jesus' words are a powerful and inspiring reminder as I sit in my office browsing on news websites the stories and images of the staggering tragedy unfolding in the Horn of Africa.

Nearly 10 million people are "critically short of food," according to the United Nations, due to what UN officials say is the region's worst drought since I was born 60 years ago. Those 10 million people live in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti and war-ravaged Somalia.

For some, the stories and images will be reminders of the Ethiopian famine. Twenty-five years ago, the images of bloated, dying children, images unlike any others seen before by millions of Americans, prompted a massive outpouring of donations and offers to help. That outpouring culminated in the "Live Aid," concerts in Philadelphia and London, the latter of which brought a group I had never heard of before to the world's attention -- U2.

For others, the name "Somalia" brings back the events of 1991-1994 when hundreds of thousands of Somalis were starving, prompting a U.S.-led peacekeeping force to intervene. That effort led to a military operation against Somali warlords and, regrettably, the deaths of 42 American soldiers.

I am reminded of two things.

First, the faces, the voices and the stories of people I've met in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. Kenya was the first nation I visited after joining World Vision in 1998, and where I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: Poverty is not an image, or a statistic; poverty has a face, a name and a story.

Second, I am reminded of the powerful and provocative quote from Josef Stalin: "A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic."

I fear that for many Americans -- Christians and people of other faiths or no faith -- will devote little time or attention, let alone resources, to the people suffering in the Horn of Africa. Rather they are preoccupied with "First World problems":

• How fluctuations in the stock market are affecting my 401(k) investments;
• Where to go on my next vacation;
• Whether to buy "name brand" or "store brand" items in the supermarket;
• Which diet and workout regimen will enable me to lose 10 pounds in a month; or
• The struggle over my next computer -- a notebook, a laptop, or the new iPad2?

Or worse, they are obsessed with finding out where Casey Anthony might be living, now that she's been released from jail after being acquitted of charges that she murdered her daughter, Caylee. Thousands of Americans followed Ms. Anthony's trial closely, and expressed outrange when she was found not guilty. They wanted justice for Caylee's death. Where's their outrage or sense of justice for the millions of children at-risk of dying in the Horn of Africa? Their lack of attention proves the late Soviet premier's admonition.

Many "First World" Americans have never met a person with "Third World problems":

• Whose income is $2 a day and who has never heard of a 401 (K);
• Whose only travel plans are traipsing by foot from Somalia into Kenya to a refugee camp;
• Whose primary source of drinking water is infested with animal feces, and has never been inside a supermarket;
• Who lost 10 pounds in the last week because of too little or even no food, and who has no use for a health club membership; or
• Who has no access to electricity, and does not need -- and maybe has not ever seen -- a computer.

I have the privilege of knowing people facing both First World and Third World problems. It is a privilege because, I believe, Jesus would consider it a privilege. He met with, ate meals alongside and learned from those His society considered its lowest and its outcasts -- prostitutes, tax-collectors, the poor and victims of injustice.

He would have been honored to meet and serve people like Hawo, a woman believed to be about 75-years-old who lives in Kalabeyr, a remote town in northern Somalia. Thanks to my World Vision colleagues working in the region, I know more about Hawo, than I ever will know -- or even want to know -- about Casey Anthony.

After the drought killed the more than 500 goats and sheep Hawo and her eight children lived on, they were forced to abandon their pastoral way of life and move to Kalabeyr. The nine of them live in a makeshift tukul, a small room within the compound of one of the town residents.

With no more livestock to provide for her family, and no money to buy water for drinking and cooking, she walks to a local market to beg for five or 10 liters of water.

She would love to buy 20 liters, but the price is beyond her reach: 40 cents. That's less than half the change I leave in the jar for tips at my local Starbucks.

It is Hawo whom Mark Bowden, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, might have been thinking of when he said recently: "Resources are woefully inadequate. We have an appeal that is at the moment only 40 per cent met. ... (W)e find ourselves as the humanitarian community in a position that we want and are able to do more, but just don't have the resources with which to do it."

Jesus' words about hunger and thirst, as quoted in Matthew, led me a few years ago to create an NIT version (New Irreverent Translation), one that Americans obsessed with "First World problems" might relate to:

"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water."

We did not create the desperate conditions of drought and famine threatening the lives of 10 million people in the Horn of Africa. But, as Christians, it is our responsibility to do something about it. It is our moral duty to help our neighbors in need -- here in the U.S. and elsewhere, and God commands us to help those we have the means to help. We cannot look at their situation -- on television, in newspapers or magazines, or on the Internet -- shrug our shoulders, and say, "Not my problem."

Comment

Tried to comment under Mitchem's Go Fish post ("Looking forward to Kickin it Old School!") but couldn't figure out how to!  NOT a fan of the comment.

It is Stupid!

GO FISH in Holland !!

Go Fish in Concert, August 9, 6PM

Central Wesleyan Church, Holland

Kid Central is excited to announce that we are having the awesome Go Fish Guys in concert on Tuesday, Aug 9 at 6PM. This is a fabulous, fun-filled concert for the whole family and typically sells out. Tickets are available online only at www.gofishguys.com !!!

"We (parents) play a huge role in the adults that our children become."

Today's post from epicparent.tv which is listed at right of this PABAMA blog for consistent reference. This one hits home like a brick. We have kids (many of us several) who are right smack in the middle of these age groups and I know I need the reminders of my impact! Read on...

As many of you know, Amy Winehouse passed away on Saturday, July 23rd. On Saturday, officers checked her apartment after reports of woman found deceased. On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene. Later it was confirmed that the young lady was Amy Winehouse.

Although no autopsy has been performed the rumors are flying that it had to be drug or alcohol related. A few believe that it could be due to her struggle with emphysema.

So why am I writing this post today?

I believe that Amy Winehouse’s death could be linked to drugs and alcohol but the reality is that her struggle with addictions is merely a symptom of a greater problem, which could be parenting.

Some scholars believe that a child’s character could be formed by the age of 3. Some believe that at a young age it is possible to predict the adult that he or she will become.

Here are several stages of character development parents should consider…

0 to 2: This can be called the stage of aggression. This is the stage when kids learn to hit, bite and kick and parents have a responsibility to shape this at a young age.

2 to 3: This stage can be called the stage of control. Kids began to feel a sense of entitlement and want to control their own decisions.

3 to 4: This stage can be called the stage of separation. Kids began to feel more comfortable separating from mom and dad.

4 to 5: This stage can be called the stage of opinions. Kids start to form their own opinions and the arguing begins. This is the stage when kids begin to complain as well as please their parents. This is a very important stage for parents to parent well. We don’t want to create a generation of argumentative kids nor do we want to raise people pleasers.

5 plus: This stage can be called the stage of self esteem. Five years plus are very tough years of kids developing a strong sense of self and a health self esteem.

Again, I believe that Amy’s death could be linked to drugs and alcohol but parenting could have also played a role.

I read a recent interview with Amy’s Father where he stated that he believed his extra-marital affair ruined his daughter’s childhood.

“Mitch Winehouse admits he made his daughter’s early life difficult by cheating on her mother Janis for eight years, before leaving the family home to live with his mistress Jane in 1993. He said: ‘The affair was in the open and the children used to call Jane ‘Daddy’s work wife’. I did not leave home until Amy was ten so the situation occurred for eight or nine years before I left home. It was difficult.’” (This was taken from an interview on Boston.com.)

I do not know Amy Winehouse, her father or what their relationship was like. And I don’t think that her father Mitch is directly responsible for her death but I am sure that he is broken and paralyzed during this tragedy. But I do believe that parents shape the good and bad in their kids’ lives and we play a huge role in the adults they become.

My prayer is that parents would take this post seriously and realize that their every action, words and lifestyle directly influence the man and woman your kids become. Parents, examine the good, bad and the ugly of what you are passing down to the next generation.

WWJD and Derek VanMeurs

Yesterdays My Utmost for his Highest talked about Sanctification.  That's a word I don't really think about often, and I guess I really don't know what it means.  Here's some of what Oswald says:
'Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life.  The most wonderful secret to living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. ...  It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul.  Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy - it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him ... not an imitation.'

So, I guess, it's more HWJB (How Would Jesus Be) instead of WWJD?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Derek VanMeurs - For those of you that did not hear, Derek lost his father this last week.  He lost his mother about 5 months before this.  Derek is also the one who found his father, who had been dead for a couple of days.  So, HWJB?  From the list above, 'love' jumps out at me.  Let's show Derek some love.  This is not an easy time for him and his family.  Pray for them, reach out and contact him (let me know if you need phone or email).  Fellow Knights, one of our brothers has been wounded!

Man Down - Prayer Needed!

(This is written late at night, in an emotional state, and thus contains a challenge.  Don't read it if that would offend you.)
We have a man down, I know that sounds dramatic, sorry.  I think this phrase is borrowed most often from the Army Rangers.  A portion of their creed reads:  'I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy'. This leads me to 2 thoughts:
     1.  We need a creed.  (It probably should include 'King of the Coals' somewhere ...)
     2.  A group of people, fighting for some politicians objectives, have a creed that makes Christians, fighting for the eternity of souls, look foolish and way less committed.  Read <here> if you are interested.


Where were we?  Ah yes, a man down.  David Pennington.  He's down.  He has struggled with alcohol in his life, had a period of government assisted abstinence, but is struggling again.  He's drinking and he's depressed.  (He's very open about this, and I don't think he would mind if I share this with you.)  He has fallen back into his old circle of friends, but doesn't want to be there.  However, he's addicted, and he cannot escape.  The only things I can come up for him are:  prayer and unconditional love.  His phone # is 616-834-1351.  We need to reach out to him.  Why?  To feel good about ourselves?  Well, it doesn't feel good to see someone with so much potential deep in the clutches of the enemy.  Why?  Because God has agape love for him.  One definition of agape states that it is to find something infinitely precious in its object.  God finds something infinitely precious in David Pennington, despite any action he takes, good or bad.


Someday, I will stand in front of that God (think grace), and someday I think, I will learn to really understand what that agape love means.  I will hopefully be able to experience the deep love God has for each and every person.  When I do, phrases like 'I am busy', 'I don't know what to say', 'It's uncomfortable', are going to be painful memories.  (I have failed to act, due to all these phrases.)  Man, will I feel like a 'Toe Dipper'.

I hesitate to write this (and maybe I will pull it, it could be the 44oz. soda talking), because I don't challenge you just because I am doing (very few) things.  God has laid these challenges on me, and I am simply sharing.  This may challenge you, God may have other challenges for you.  Get with him on that one.  (Be careful, I prayed the same prayer that Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision prayed:  'Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.'  It appears it is starting to be answered.)

Who is doing the measuring?

^{Ezekial 17-20 - 17} “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. ¹⁸ If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. ¹⁹ And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. ²⁰ Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”

When trying to figure out the mysteries of God, I often measure God by my moral yardstick.  I think the phrases 'Well, a just God wouldn't do this', or 'a just God wouldn't do that,' and 'Surely grace covers this.'  But who defines this justice?  Me or God?

Imagine for a minute that the glorious day finally comes.  We didn't deserve it at all, but there we are, sitting down with God.  He tells us that he has some time for us, to talk with us, to walk with us.  Time to explain some mysteries to us, and to answer our questions.

We are in the presence of the creator of the universe ... his presence alone is almost too much to handle.  If we were still on earth, we wouldn't be able to handle it.  The word humble is taking on a whole new meaning.  He starts by showing us all creation.  Imagine being able to view ALL the beauty of the earth, every amazing picture you have ever seen.  He then shows us the entire universe!  Everything is breathtaking.  We get to see all of humanity, some 'good', some 'bad'. 

As God gives us this tour, he is filling in the gaps.  He is giving us the 'big picture'.  He is explaining everything we could not see on earth, things we could never have understood.  The big picture is coming into focus.  It's like nothing our former brain could ever have comprehended.  You try to think in your old thoughts, but then the whole picture doesn't even make sense.  You are starting to get a picture of God, and who he truly is.  He is incredible.  He is amazing.  You finally begin to understand grace, and how 'lucky' you are to be there right now.  God is so much bigger, so much more 'pure' than you could ever have imagined down on earth.  You acted so poorly, and so against his purity, the fact that he walks with you today is astounding.

The tour is wrapping up, and God slows down a little.  'You said you had some questions for me?' he asks you.  You stop.  You had a ton of questions when you first arrived.  'How could <this> happen?'  'Why was <this> allowed to happen?'  But now, that you have been allowed to understand the big picture . . . you quietly respond, 

'No sir, I just wanted to say Thank You.'


Douglas Y. Knoll

Where did you see God today?

One knight's tale (sorry, this is a little long):

Last week, I spent some time in Nashville, TN with 27 high school students and 6 other leaders.  Each day was spent doing different jobs, but by far, the experiences that impacted me the most were in discussions with the local flood victims (remember, the "big" flood was in the spring of 2010, while another smaller one happened this past spring).  There are some people who are still not in their homes, 1 1/2 years later.  We're talking complete devastation, with houses literally under water.

Each day, we wrapped up with a small group time, and the question that started it off was "Where did you see God today?"  Almost EVERY reply to this question for the week was in the form of a person/people.  "I saw God when so and so helped with such and such.  Etc.  This reminded me daily that we are supposed to be God to others.  We need to demonstrate His unconditional love.  The world is watching.

But probably the most spine-tingling time I saw God (I did actually get chills) was on our trip downtown for our first work day.  On the way out, we would have quiet time.  Time for devotionals, journaling, prayer, etc.  On the first day, after thinking about how a flood would impact lives, I decided to read the assigned Psalm.  Covenant Life Church is doing "A Summer in the Psalms" and has an assigned Psalm for every day.  This day "just happened" to be Psalm 29. 

My Bible has a theme listed: "God reveals great power in nature.  We can trust God to give us both the peace and the strength to weather the storms of life."  Seriously God?  A message for my first day of helping flood victims.  Wow.  The passage has many references to God being in control during storms, etc.  But then it goes on and says,
          "the voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.  He makes Lebanon's mountains skip like a calf....." (v. 4-5)

And there is the amazing tingling connection - we actually stayed just outside of Nashville......in a town called.......Lebanon!  And of course it is near the mountains.  And of course, the state park sign we passed within minutes of me reading this text, read "Cedars of Lebanon State Park".

Psalm 29 ends, "The Lord rules over the floodwaters.  The Lord reigns as king forever.  The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace." (v. 10-11).

HE SURE DOES!

A letter of blessing from Dad

My kids love to receive "letters of blessing" from their dad. We've talked about this in the past and some of you have it on your "radar". I encourage you to take the next step. It's worth it!! Check it out:

www.lettersfromdad.com

This picture is of Sara and I last night as she reads a letter from me.

Francis Chan - Erasing Hell

Francis Chan came out with a new book yesterday. If you have not read him, his book 'Crazy Love' is a great read. The new book, 'Erasing Hell', sure looks like a response to Rob Bell and 'Love Wins'. So, if that discussion interests you, you may be interested in this book. What really interested me was a short video by Chan. He has some really interesting things to say about God, and how we approach & think of him. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnrJVTSYLr8