Adopt Ye, One Another, Even as I Have Adopted You

The Definition of Insanity

2008-04-20T20:06:00.000-04:00

Well, okay. So, you've heard it before. One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing - repeatedly - and expecting NOT the same results.

For AGES we've been focused on personal empire and genetic legacy INSTEAD OF claiming the lost, the last and the least to make of them our own family. AND WE WONDER WHY WE KEEP HAVING ISSUES LIKE POVERTY, RAMPANT DISEASE, GANG VIOLENCE, WAR, EXPLOITATION, people on the GOVERNMENT DOLE and other sad relics of our so called civilization.

HELL--OH? Could it be time for a change? Ya THINK? Look, you'd probably make BEAUTIFUL babies but you could also make an even MORE beautiful family in Christ Jesus by adopting people that NEED YOU and that NEED HIM! (Are any of the rest of you noticing how I keep using all caps to 'shout' more these days?) Besides, there's NEVER gonna be a shortage of people. We need to get busy loving the people that're already HERE! AND, we need to teach THEM how to adopt and love as well!

Too often, in the past, we've thought of adoption as something to fulfill US as opposed to pursuing adoption as did our Lord and Savior. He pursued adopting us because we need Him and not because He 'needs' us. (Well, DUHH! The Living God in Christ Jesus is without ANY need whatever - it's not Him that needs us. It is us that needs HIM. So, get over it.)

It was my privilege to be in Lexington, KY recently and I was thrilled to hear the word of The Living God proclaimed by a young Associate Pastor at The Rock/La Roca UM church on North Limestone. If you're not familiar with this congregation, they're a very missions oriented church with a real heart for those who're 'vulnerable'. Anyway, this precious young man challenged us all to again consider a concept introduced by the Senior Pastor: "Love them as if they are our own".
Hey, y'all! LISTEN TO THIS YOUNG PASTOR, would you please? If you don't believe me, believe him. And if you don't believe him, BELIEVE GOD'S HOLY WORD!! John 13:34 - "YOU WILL", says The Lord Jesus, "LOVE EACH OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU". And my friends, Jesus Christ has loved us as if we belonged to Himself!

No, we DIDN'T belong to Him before He adopted us! We were conceived in ignorance and arrogance, quickened into suffering and disease and given heartbeats of insolence and defeat. We were born into poverty and despair, nurtured in worthlessness and hopelessness and we existed in a COUNTERFEIT of Life until we were claimed (adopted) by the Living God in Christ Jesus!
We were not born into Jesus family; we had to be REBORN to get into Jesus family. Jesus said, "I AM the way, the truth and The LIFE" and sisters and brothers, "we ain't GOT no 'Life' " unless we get it from Christ Jesus. EVERYTHING ELSE IS A POORLY WROUGHT FAKE!! Your precious Momma and Daddy probably would have given you "Life" if they could've but all they could give you was DEATH (and disease). If your Daddy and Momma could've given you "Life", we wouldn't even need Christ Jesus. And I, for one, don't even want to consider a world where Jesus is unavailable (or even unwelcome)!

The young Pastor at The Rock was bringing his message that Sunday with the title "Plundering the Egyptians" and I respond with "AMEN" and I say "adoption is how we do it". (?????) Yes, that's right: "By adopting from among the most vulnerable of people - the aged, the diseased, the disabled, the discarded, the outcast, the halt, the lame, the blind - by adopting INSTEAD OF reproducing, we plunder the very ranks of the enemy, not just possessions but the population of the enemy itself." We're stealing a whole nation - we're stealing a whole civilization - and we're evacuating that dying 'civilization' into the Kingdom of God on Earth, as it is in Heaven. By adopting instead of reproducing, we're saying that reconciling the lost is more important to us than genetic legacy. By adopting instead of reproducing we are acknowledging the truth that we have something FAR more important to do than to pursue genetic descendancy and personal empire. By adopting instead of reproducing, we're imitating Christ Jesus Who did not breed (no matter what Dan Brown says) and Who was a eunuch for the sake of the 'household' of The Father.

Or we could ourselves just continue being slaves (as the young pastor warned) and we could continue in our INSANITY and just keep on doing what we've been doing over and over again. And we could expect different results, THIS time just like we expected different results every time in the past. After all, every thing's going to be alright and we can just put our heads back into the sand, can't we? All that really matters is that I get to have my American Dream, my little empire and my own genetic lineage, isn't it? Isn't it really all about ME?

Sounds to me like about as close to a definition of madness as I've heard.

Can you hear me PLEADING with you? "Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

So, Do We Know Yet What Time It Is?

2007-09-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

No, I don't think we do. Even though we've been reading about it in God's Holy Word for hundreds of years. Our beloved Father God has been telling us and His Only begotten Son has been telling us and we STILL don't know what time it is. Here in the twenty-first century, we have terrorism born of despair, we have dwindling resources, we have famine, war, pestilence, plague, disease and the HEARTBREAK OF PSORIASIS (sorry, I couldn't resist) and we STILL don't know what time it is!

Now, when Jesus said, "The poor, you have with you always", I believe he was at least telling the truth. There will not ever be a shortage of poor people - and therefore, there will not ever be a shortage of people, period. But I also believe Jesus was telling us something about the urgency of our time. Jesus went on to say (John 12) "but with me, it is not so."

The poor, we have with us always: the work of reconciliation is not complete (and likely will not be in the foreseeable future) but "with me" (the Prince of Reconciliation - the very Reconciliation of God) "it is not so". !!! The very Prince of Reconciliation... will not always be with us? !!! Surely, Jesus was talking about His coming crucifixion but was He also warning us? Was He also warning us that unless we harbor, nurture, honor, cherish and strengthen the spirit of reconciliation that is among us in Christ Jesus that the very Spirit that has given us the possibility of reconciliation could be withdrawn? (Withered, weakened, atrophied?)

Think about it! If I don't nourish my relationship with God, will that relationship not wither? If I don't extend reconciliation to my brothers and sisters, will my capability to be reconciled not shrivel? THE PRINCE OF RECONCILIATION IS NOW AMONG US! LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS BEING IN US / WITH US - WHILE WE CAN!!

"Well, um, okay, Tom. So, how do we do that?" We take advantage of the presence of the Spirit of Reconciliation by EXTENDING HIS RECONCILIATION to those who are not privileged to know Him!! We ADOPT THEM into the family of God or, as Matthew 28:19 says "Go ye, into all the world and" (Tom's translation) "ADOPT EVERYBODY INTO MY FAMILY". (Whew!)

Okay, so, all of my ranting is overwrought. No, NO, NOOO!! I don't have anything against reproduction. But at this point in human history, reproduction is fruit out of season. In reproducing, we're celebrating a gift that is not ours to celebrate at this time. We've made of it a counterfeit, an IDOL!! We have something MUCH more important to do!! The time now is to celebrate reconciliation and we are to celebrate (pursue, enact, re-create) the celebration of reconciliation until there are NO MORE UNWANTED, DISCARDED PEOPLE. That means, until ALL of the jails and prisons ALL OVER THE WORLD are empty and rusting; until ALL of the wars have ceased and their weapons are beat into tools for replenishing the Earth; until ALL of the diseased, discarded, aged, unwanted, outcast and misfits are claimed, loved and contributing, it's time for you and me to be pursuing reconciliation whole heartedly, as our TOP priority. Please remember Matthew 6 and remember what Jesus said we must seek first.

If you can remember what Jesus told us to seek first and if you can remember what MUST be our #1 priority, then you KNOW what time it is. Let's get busy.

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

The Worship of Human Fecundity

2007-09-20T18:51:00.000-04:00

What an odd title. People worship human fecundity?

Well, let me ask you. If I'm making sacrifices to an idol, I'm worshiping that idol, aren't I? If I make my idol - which is unnecessary - a higher priority than that which is NECESSARY, then, I'm worshiping that idol, aren't I?

So, then, if there are people that I could adopt - whether they're eight days, eight weeks, eighteen or eighty-eight - and I choose instead to ignore / discard /cast out /blow-off any of those people to my higher priority of reproduction, then, haven't I SACRIFICED those people that are already here to the worship of my fecundity? MY, MY! Isn't that special??

If I use the resources that my Savior God has given to me on behalf of the creation of my own genetic / ethnic / cultural / racial legacy INSTEAD OF using His resources on behalf of claiming - for the family of God - the last, the lost and the least, have I not SACRIFICED those that I might have claimed to my own lust for self-perpetuation?? Is that NOT the worship of human fecundity?

Now, I will readily confess to you that "Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you" is NOT the King James version of Christ's new commandment but I sincerely believe that it is the Word of The Living God. Else, I would not bring this to you here.

You and I do NOT need to reproduce. There will ALWAYS be plenty of people. What is lacking - at this point in human history - is for Seminaries and their graduates AND US LAY PEOPLE to have the courage to stand up and say:

"ENOUGH! ENOUGH OF THE PURSUIT of personal legacy and personal empire. THE TIME IS NOW for me and for all of us to give whole-hearted devotion to the reconciliation of God - claiming for our family (our family is the family of God, right?) those that would otherwise be discarded, excluded, ignored, wasted and sacrificed!!"

I don't have to be married to tutor a young person. I don't have to be married to visit the elderly - just to make sure that they're not deserted. I don't have to be wealthy to visit someone in prison. I don't have to be especially bright or attractive or even especially capable to "adopt" people into God's family. I just have to LOVE THEM the way that He loves me. This "adoption" is something that EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD can do! HE POURED OUT HIS BLOOD to give me a new bloodline. HE HAS BORNE WITH ME PATIENTLY to teach me how to behave in His clan. I have been claimed for His household and He COMMANDS that I do the same for others. God have mercy on me if I don't.

The arrogance of the worshipers of human fecundity wears me down. God is patient. I'm only human. I would love to hear some preacher, somewhere, say "You know, the people that are already here are good enough for us to invest in. They're good enough for us to love, 'as if they are our own', the way that Jesus has loved us; the way that He commands us to love". His adoptive Love is how our transformation began. Our adoptive love - from Him - is the only hope for transformation of this broken and dying world. May God have mercy on us all.

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

We Have Something More Important to Do

2007-08-21T21:26:00.000-04:00

And so the pattern continues. We're focused on the new and exciting and that which we think gives us personal fulfillment while that which is already here (that we now take for granted) becomes neglected and even pushed away. Hmm, this shiny new fruit will make you even more fulfilled than you are now. Surely, God wants you to have it, right?

Have we learned nothing?

The levees that failed in the hurricane, the bridge that collapsed without warning. Were these and other failures the result of the redirection of resources away from the stewardship to which we're called? Were these failures the result of our lusting after personal fulfillment through doing that which makes US feel important? (I mean, after all, who needs God anyway? He's SO old fashioned!)

We have something more important to do!

And with that, I could hardly agree more. They're all around us: the "bridges" and "levees" that're being neglected because we want to spend resources on something to make us PROUD of ourselves. There are several people in my faith community who actually are each a kind of "bridge" to parts of the community outside 0ur church that I might never contact. But how have I invested in these "bridges"? More than one or two people in my faith community are guides for the flow of The Holy Spirit. It's not that they prevent God's precious presence from spilling out. Quite the contrary. They guide all of us into His Light and His Person and they help keep ME from spilling out of the flow of His Love. How am I investing in these "levees"?

And how am I investing in the people who need to be reconciled to the family of God? They're already here. I don't need to go looking for genetic legacy. I need to invest in the people that I can ADOPT into God's family (and of course, it'll be Him that does the adopting, I just help).

God is already here and doesn't need to be replaced. I have a commandment to invest in my relationship with Him.

My neighbors are already here and will be continually replaced (so, I don't need to replace them). I have a commandment to invest in my relationship with them.

So, once again I try to make clear to you that while I have nothing against reproduction (God doesn't, why should I?) I'm trying to emphasize that we ALL have something more important to do. This, our seminaries must teach and our Pastors must preach. Adopting the unwanted people into the family of God MUST come first. Reconciliation MUST be prioritized over growth. The growth will come (if we seed and water) and there'll ALWAYS be plenty of people.

They're already here.

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

Relationships of Reconciliation

2007-06-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

"Love The Lord Thy God", "Love your neighbor as yourself", "Love ye, one another. Even as I have loved you, so love ye one another".

To me, all of these love commandments represent the pursuit of the original state of reconciliation. This "state of reconciliation" is, I believe, what Moses was trying to describe to us in the ancient story of God's creating. Now, maybe you don't believe in a literal garden of "Eden". Well, I'm not here to argue with you but could you believe that the ancient writer was trying to describe the very real possibility of a status of "reconciliation"? A status of creation in which all living things and all of creation exist in harmony and balance? Is that too far fetched for you to accept?

Okay. So, when I write about "relationships of reconciliation", what I'm trying to describe is a state of relating - between you and me, or, between you and someone else, or between your ethnic, cultural, racial, genetic group and someone else's group or a state of relating, even, between political entities. That very state of relating I'm trying to describe also amounts - I believe - to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, right here among us.

Now, let me try to describe what I mean by a "relationship of reconciliation". There will be numerous updates to this post and probably many posts following it that are closely related.

A relationship of reconciliation is (at least) -

A circumspect relationship (if you're at all like me, you have to make a real effort to keep sex from unduly influencing the relationship). Starting with this ground rule, the relationship has a chance - perhaps - of being something that can deepen and grow, spiritually. Keeping sex out of the way (Darn!) we're allowed to view the relationship for what it is and to recognize the real needs of those party to the relationship.
A mutually respectful relationship (and this is STILL one of the things I'm learning and that I expect you are learning as well). But do we even know how to respect ourselves? And do we really know how to respect the other in the relationship?
A mutually assertive relationship (and if you aren't familiar with assertive relating, I highly recommend that you become familiar with this practice, A.S.A.P.) Both parties in the relationship take responsibility for their own feelings and self-actualization. Now, there's nothing wrong with one member of the relationship coaching the other, if this enables the other to become stronger in the practices of assertive relating. However, the best option is for us (the church) to teach assertive relating to the last, the least and the lost, to the youngest and to the most vulnerable so that we all have this relating tool on which we can call.
A God centered relationship (sharing discussion about the One Eternal, His Holy Word, His purpose of reconciliation, His Christ, His people and all that other "God stuff", sharing service to His vulnerable ones, sharing the extension of His reconciliation to those who don't yet have the privilege of a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus). It's just hard to beat God as the center for a relationship. He really does rock! (Ummm, and He's a solid foundation - ouch!)
An 'other oriented' relationship (each of the parties to the relationship continually seeking the good of the other). Believe it or not, this can work between men and men or between women and women or between women and men! An other oriented relationship can always reach out to the other in offering, in forgiveness and in lifting the other closer to God.
A sustainable relationship (neither of the parties demands of the other that which would disable or diminish the other). This, the better to enable the relationship to be long lasting and mutually beneficial.
A Holy relationship (wholesome, reconciled, mutually uplifting, spiritually deepening). Holy habits, Holy relationships, Holy communion (as in community).
A bridge of safe passage between persons (yes, well, any good relationship should be a bridge of trust but a relationship of reconciliation MUST be a bridge of safe passage and trust to qualify).
A precursor relationship to all other types of relationships. This is part of what I want the church to teach. We must learn and practice relationships of reconciliation to inform and precede all other aspects of relating.

Now, what do relationships of reconciliation have to do with adoption? In answer, I say 'try to realize that Jesus of Nazareth - who adopted you and me into the family of God - lives in relationship of reconciliation with The Heavenly Father and lives in relationship of reconciliation with those who were /are called to Him. And, He lives in a reconciling relationship with you and me' if we have any sort of relationship to Him at all.

As you already know, it is in relationship that we will reach the lost. All the preaching and do-gooding in the world won't make a bit of difference if you and I are unwilling to live in relationship with those who don't have a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. The One Eternal will do the 'saving' and we can leave that up to Him. Our job is to love honestly and to relate sincerely and I sincerely believe that our relationships MUST be relationships of reconciliation. On those kinds of relationships, I believe He can build His Kingdom.

And there's more to come! Stay tuned!

Choose Today: Growth or Reconciliation?

2007-06-12T18:42:00.000-04:00

So, what'll it be? Let me give you a little tip: choosing reconciliation does not necessarily exclude the likelihood of growth. However, choosing fiscal, physical or imperial growth to the point that reconciliation is discounted is a serious mistake. But you knew I was going to say that.

You see, choosing "growth", as opposed to reconciliation, has been the choice of the powers that be (including most of the world faiths) for generations. This misdirected choice is what led us into colonialism and the nightmares that have developed from that era. But go even further back in your "History of Civilization" memories and recognize that there were VERY few times when Queens or Kings or Rulers of any sort chose to pursue reconciliation as opposed to some form of imperialism ('Mammon-mongering', I like to call it). So, the nightmares started a long time ago.

Is there something that can be done about it? Well, yes, that's the whole point of this blog. You see, adoption is a form of reconciliation. We adopt / claim / include those persons who are vulnerable, relative to us, to help ensure that they're reconciled to the family of God. This is how Christians expend God's resources and this is how Christians expend themselves. We INVEST in those who are vulnerable, relative to ourselves (Isaiah 58). And that, very simply, is what I want the Church (and all faiths, for that matter) to teach: Adoption / reconciliation / inclusion / reclamation of the vulnerable MUST come first. (Visit Matthew 6 for more about prioritizing such pursuits as these). And do NOT come to me claiming that you believe the Bible literally until your household is FILLED to overflowing with those who've been included in God's family through His adoptive love, living in YOU.

"But Tom", you plead, "aren't our children important enough that we should invest in them? THEY'RE vulnerable, relative to us!!" And I respond, 'yes, they certainly are'. 'But which of your children are you referencing? Those that you so selfishly begat or those you're required to adopt but didn't?' I'll ask you again, "Are you really even a Christian?"

The Apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 3 that (generally speaking) while Paul seeds and Apollos waters, it is God Who Gives the increase. (An example of reconciliation leading to growth!) I believe that here, Paul is teaching about tending the "garden" of the lives of the converts. Appropriate stewardship is manifested in the reconciliation of those in the "garden". Remember that in the earliest Biblical example of a garden, the people who were placed into that garden were put there to tend it: to "seed and water", to build on and continue the reconciliation that existed - at least for that time. (And the trouble all started when they ignored their relationship with The One Eternal and their purpose of reconciliation.)

Building on and continuing (extending) God's reconciliation is why you and I are allowed to breathe (if we're Christians) and we are NOT here to create our own empires! We are NOT here to discard or sacrifice or ignore the people that're already here nor are we here to discard / sacrifice any other portion of God's creation.

Now, could either Paul or Apollos have chosen to pursue "growth" for growth's sake? (maybe by claiming some miraculous superiority or by exploiting some form of sensationalism? maybe by pushing each other out of the way?) Yes, most certainly but instead, they both chose to engage in reconciliation (neither of them had any inkling of becoming famous televangelists), "tending the garden", seeding and watering. And the early church grew.

When you or I choose reproduction as opposed to adoption, we've chosen a miniature form of imperialism. We've chosen to ignore / discard / sacrifice someone who's already here and we've chosen to prioritize our own genetic legacy over the needs of someone who needs us. This is pretty much what the colonialists and other Mammon-Mongerers are doing: discarding the people and creatures and creation that's already here in favor of replacing it with their own design. Hmmm, have we really made any progress since the Sixteenth Century?

From the left and from the right, from the secular and from the supposedly faithful I meet people almost everyday who choose to reproduce as opposed to adopting. Yet they insist on claiming the Name that is above every name. Did HE insist on His own genetic legacy and choose to discard us? You know the answer. Yet we claim to be crucified with Him. We claim to be His followers. (Aren't we violating the ninth Commandment or something?) Nevertheless, I WANT you to claim that Name in sincerity and I WANT you to adopt, whether you breed or not!

So, this is what I want you to know and this is what I want ALL faiths to teach. We must prioritize reconciliation over growth. God Who Gives will give us growth if we prioritize His purposes. His purpose, I believe, is reconciliation. CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE. (Pssst! Choose Reconciliation! Choose HIM!)

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

When Canaries Fall

2007-06-04T19:33:00.000-04:00

No, I'm not a miner of any sort nor have I even been into any mines. However, I'm referencing the idea that the miners in the old days knew to leave the mine when the canary stopped singing or when the canary died. No, I don't even know if such a legend has any basis in fact but it just makes sense to me.

The problem for you and for me, however, is that we cannot leave the mine except by one of two exits. You and I are required to fix the problems before more canaries fall. That's part of the responsibility we bear because we've been adopted into The Father's household. There is no leaving for us - except to death or to the Kingdom of God - and we're responsible for what happens here. We will answer - I believe - for that which we could have done and refused to do (and future generations will most certainly pay the price for both our sins of commission as well as our sins of omission). If we don't fix the problems, the "mine" becomes less and still less like the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. However, if in the Power of The Holy Spirit, we pursue the reconciliation of the problems in the mine (and the rescue of the canaries), the mine can become the Kingdom of God (in His Righteousness). Do you not see the canaries falling? It appears to me that every day, while there are always more and still more, fewer and fewer are healthy and singing.

Now, where are the canaries that I'm referencing? I see them being abused at home as little children; I see them hopelessly hiding in the back of school classrooms; I see them hanging out on street corners, waiting for someone to give some sort of meaning to their presence here on Earth. Believe me when I say that the drug dealers or gang leaders or terror cell psychopaths will certainly be delighted to give something like meaning - however brief - to their existences. I see them being locked away in juvenile corrections, placed conveniently out of the way, until they can become "someone else's" problem. I see them being lost to the adult corrections system, from which too many times, there is no coming back. I see them deserted in "nursing care" facilities (not that they don't need full time care... but who said they had to be deserted?) and I see them existing in cardboard boxes and in slums too filthy to imagine.

These are just a few of the "canaries" that I see falling. Do you really not see them? How in the name of Heaven's Grace can you POSSIBLY believe that any genetic legacy you might produce or any American Dream that you might pursue can be more important than rescuing those who are perishing? Are you really even a Christian?

Our beloved Senior Pastor and his pastoral staff (and lil' ole me) are all agreed on the concept that we believers MUST love the vulnerable ones (the canaries) as if they are our own. In my terms, that means that we MUST adopt them. We must aggressively CLAIM them as members of our family (cuz' you can believe the enemy is aggressively recruiting them for his evil purposes) . Awww, you don't like the way they smell and speak? (tsk, tsk) You don't like their values or the places they go or the places they live? You don't like their habits or the way they dress? WELLLLllllll, then! Guess who else was pretty smelly and lost and worthless and misdirected when Jesus came to get (adopt) you and me? That would be ME.... and YOU!!

Not all of the government programs or NGO programs or even all of the church programs can substitute for you and me building relationships with the vulnerable. It was through relationship with YOU (and with me) that the Christ of God claimed us! It will be through personal relationships with the last, the lost and the least that you and I will adopt the "canaries" into the family of God! Sure, passing laws is a fine thing to do (if you're willing to pay to have the laws enforced) but it is only in RELATIONSHIPS that we can bring about the reconciliation that MUST happen. No amount of legislation can get us in to the Kingdom of Heaven.

They really are all around us. And sometimes you're a canary and sometimes I'm a canary and sometimes ALL of us just need Jesus with skin on to come and get us and take us home. That's part of the reason why He's willing to share Himself with us, so that we can be enabled to love like He has loved us.

Now, I've said all of that so that I can say this: one of the "canaries" that I don't hear singing is the "song voice" that represents our sincere desire to claim the vulnerable. Get it? The very spirit of willingness to care for the vulnerable is one of the canaries that's NOT singing right now. Remember, we can't leave the mine. We HAVE to transform the mine to the point that that canary (that precious, Holy Spirit) can freely sing and fly among us. Again, WE CAN'T LEAVE THE MINE, except to death. And we cannot go into the Kingdom of Heaven unless we're taking the vulnerable persons with us. In other words, we have to deal with the situation HERE, we have to make straight the highways for The King and we have to pull down the obstacles and fill in the rough places. We have to make the "mine" a safe place for ALL of the vulnerable aspects of God's creation because in a way, those vulnerable aspects of God's creation represent the Holy Spirit among us. No safety for the vulnerable, no presence of The Holy Spirit. No presence of The Holy Spirit, no safety for anyone.

So, we seek His wisdom regarding fixing the problems in the mine (and we REALLY need to get busy). And we seek His power regarding rescuing the falling canaries (there are SO many) but I sincerely believe that as we invest His resources in those who are vulnerable now, they can be enabled to be rescuers as well. We have each other, we have our adopted "children" and we can have canaries singing while we work the mine. The choices are ours.

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

Seek Ye First The Garden of Eden

2007-02-17T20:40:00.000-05:00

Of course, you and I both know that there will be no re-entry into the Garden of Eden. That way is closed to us forever. (Genesis 3:23-24) However, my understanding of the Kingdom of God is that it's a close parallel to the Garden of Eden, only better. Furthermore, regarding inhabiting the Kingdom of God, we've been invited in. So, my question of you (and of myself) is: "Do you want to go?" (No, do you REALLY want to go?)

Think with me about some of the parallels between the Garden of Eden and the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the Garden, God provided everything needed by the inhabitants. (Doesn't Jesus promise us that God will provide everything we need if we make the Kingdom of Heaven our first priority?)

In the Garden, there were no neglected or discarded people. In the Kingdom of Heaven, don't you expect that the inhabitants will refuse to allow others to be discarded or neglected?

In the Garden of Eden, the world was clean and whole - there was no disease and no war. In the Garden, there was also no domestic violence or abuse of any sort. There were no toxic cities. There were no toxic personalities. The Garden was the PERFECT context for all aspects of existence and it was in that context that God gave us the permissive blessing (not a commandment) to reproduce. Can you honestly say that you're living in the same context within which that precious permissive blessing was given? Do you not think - until we're filled with and surrounded by the Kingdom of God - that we're abusing God's blessing by reproducing when there are SO MANY people who are currently being neglected and discarded? How can we ignore them? What kind of selfish, self-centered creeps are we, anyway?

In the Garden, before their expulsion, the people who lived there lived in a relationship of reconciliation with the One Living God. Don't you expect that we'll only enter into the Kingdom of Heaven by living in relationship of reconciliation with our beloved Heavenly Father AND with each other? (Matthew 5:23-24)

Now, of course, this wouldn't be one of my posts if there weren't some emphasis on adoption, right? Well, if you and I are living in the Kingdom of God it's because we've been 'adopted' into God's family - reconciled, by the Blood of The Lamb. Only one person was ever 'born' into God's family and all of the rest of us had to be 'reborn' or - in other words - 'adopted' to become a part of God's family (Kingdom). By the Blood of the Lamb, we've been given a new bloodline.

Okay. Let's get to the meat of this post. Why are our seminaries still teaching and our preachers STILL preaching that it's acceptable to reproduce when there are people ALL AROUND US who need the investment of our love and our investment of God's resources? You invest in your children because they have potential. But do the "vulnerable" people around you not have potential? You love your children because you think they're "like" you (and you probably have NO idea just how much like you they really are) but are not the broken, the halt, the lame, the blind, the lost and the downfallen really VERY MUCH like you and me? (I think we're living in De Nile when we say they're not.) They ARE our children and we MUST NOT deny them! (Reference: Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol" Ghost of Christmas Present, speaking of "Ignorance and Want")

And you still want to encourage people to breed as opposed to adopting? What ARE you?

I confess astonishment when people still believe that adoption is only for situations when reproduction is unavailable. These are CHRISTIANS? Did Jesus choose reproduction instead of adopting you and me? Did the Christ of God choose His own genetic legacy as opposed to shedding His blood to give you and me a new bloodline?

Dear Reader, I mean you no harm. However, I grow weary of the insolence of members of my faith who believe they can at the same time pursue their own personal empires and also give first priority to the Kingdom of Heaven. God's Kingdom and His work of reconciliation (adoption, reclamation) WILL be first for us or we will NOT go in. THERE IS NO ENTRY into the Kingdom of God for those who refuse to have EVERY aspect of their existences surrendered on their own crosses with Christ Jesus - every aspect including our lust for self-perpetuation.

They're already here, your children and mine. It's far passed time for you and me to claim them and bring them reconciled into our family: God's family. Without bringing them with us, we cannot go in. And, no, we won't be going back into the Garden of Eden. But if we're REALLY wanting to see change, we'll do what ever it takes to go into the Kingdom of God and to have His Kingdom living in us. We'll go as far as Jesus did. We'll adopt broken, dirty, worthless, hopeless, sinful people who would otherwise be neglected and discarded. And we'll take them with us.

Do you and I really even want change? Do we really even want to go into The Kingdom of God?

SAY YES!!!

Amen.

Memorial to a Hero

2006-10-30T21:41:00.000-05:00

Out of respect for his family and friends, I will only tell you that his name was 'Cecil'. Cecil lived in the U.S.A in the Carolinas and worked in IT as a manager, a mentor, a guide, a guardian and a friend to many, many people. He was also active in his church and in his community as a volunteer and coach who's focus was more on people than on winning.

Cecil was very happily married and had a loving family at home and a loving family at work. I am a peripheral part of Cecil's work family and I feel very grateful to have been 'adopted' by him and the larger group of which his work group was part. No, I wasn't close to him but he was one of my heroes. He never talked down to me or influenced me to feel 'less than' even though both he and I knew that I could never be on the same level of competence that he brought to the work of our larger group. It just wasn't important to him to look down his nose at people or to belittle people in any way. Cecil was one of those folks who focused on bringing out the best in people and he was good at doing this.

The folks with whom I work are very much like a family. Cecil was foundational to our privilege to have a sense of family in the place where I work. Cecil always had a ready smile and some silly story to share, just as
a way to interact and nourish relationship. Laughter and uplifting people was very important to Cecil. All of us who knew him benefitted from his priorities. All of us who knew him are aleady missing him terribly.

In a sense, Cecil was one of the 'songs' of our work family. He was also a 'singer' of our work family's songs. I know that's a strange way to describe social interaction and relationships but that's just what I feel. There's a kind of music in our work family's relationships. Cecil would never attempt to really sing except to make people laugh but he definitely carried the 'tunes' to our work family's 'songs'. He was a conductor and a leader as well as being a 'harmonizer' and back-up 'singer'. He played many roles and the roles that I think that were most important to him were the roles in which he could give someone else the credit and help someone else look good in their performance. He was a behind the scenes trooper and benefactor to us all.

To this world, Cecil was never important. To his families (at home and at work) he was one of the most important people in history. Cecil was never famous to this world but to all of us who were blessed by him, he was truly a celebrity. We all knew that we loved him but it just never occurred to me that any of us would ever have to be speaking of him in the passed tense. It just seems all so very, very wrong. I allowed myself the indulgence of thinking that he would just always be here.

I won't try to hide it from you. My at work family has been badly wounded. I'm angry and hurt and none of this makes any sense. Yes, I know that we'll get through this. I work with incredible people and as I have told you, we really are like a family. However, an important voice for our 'song' is missing. You might say, one of the 'canaries' has stopped singing. In the mines, they used to know that something was wrong when the birds stopped singing. That's what I'm trying to say. Even in all with which we have been blessed, even though Cecil left us with many, many great memories and friendships I just am having a hard time getting over the fact that something is terribly, terribly wrong.

But the song will continue and we will pick up Cecil's part and train someone else to 'sing' to fill-in for him. We know we won't be able to replace him so some of the rest of us will try to take on some of his roles. It's strange. He helped to provide plans for us for just this sort of situation, so that we could go on when one or more of us is missing or unable to join the song. Even though he's gone, his work, his planning and his provision is still blessing us all.

We all gathered in a memorial service for him last Thursday. We could not all fit into the available space. Cecil would have been embarrassed, I think, that so many people came to say 'We love you' on that day. Even though he's gone, he still was bringing people together in ways that all of us could be uplifted. He would have liked the music, I think and if he had been there in the flesh, he might have made faces while 'singing' to get some of us to laugh.

Cecil and his at home family worshipped God and many of us at work worship God and we know where Cecil is and we look forward to seeing him when we're all living in glorified bodies. In this world, we would not be able to forget him, even if we wanted to and none of us want to.

So, the songs of Cecil's families will continue. From now on, I think that when we get to some of the 'parts' that Cecil used to 'sing', the song will take on some of the attributes of a hymn to the One who blessed us with the privilege of knowing Cecil and Who received him when Cecil's broken body could no longer sustain his precious, beautiful life.

Please pray for Cecil's families and for his good friend, Chris, who was also badly hurt in the accident that took Cecil's life. I think Cecil would want us all to surround his and Chris's family and Chris with prayer. Chris has much recovery to do and while we would love to have him back at work, we all just want Chris safe and well.

Thank you, precious Lord, for giving us Cecil to know and love while he was passing through your world and for giving us families in which to live, love and serve in Jesus Name.

Amen.

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

On NOT Being Discarded

2006-10-17T21:43:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Jesus, you and I were not discarded

You and I have not been abandoned by God. We are not spiritual 'orphans'. Why not? Because - by His blood - the Lamb of God has transformed our wretched existences into Life. By His Blood, He has given us a new bloodline. By His blood, we have been adopted from out of our vulnerability into His wholeness family and we have NOT been discarded as we deserved.

Our precious Senior Pastor is relatively new to our church but we fell in love with him pretty quickly. He's doing his best to lead us into Holy habits and Holy living. My sense is that his intention in our living Holy lives and Holy relationships is that we may be more empowered to undertake the monumental tasks before us.

Now, our church is a 'restart' church and so far the restart is working very well. Also, our church is in a unique position in our city. We are surrounded by a residential neighborhood that could go either very well or very sour. What we do in releasing the very real power of The Holy Spirit will very much impact the future of our end of town. The monumental tasks before us include (from my point of view) 'adopting' the entire neighborhood into the family of God - and (again, from my point of view) our church wants to believe that we are God's family, ready to love eveyone that is willing to be loved.

The neighborhood around our church has become very vulnerable and is in danger of being discarded. You know and I know that some massive infusions of cash would help tremendously but what the neighborhood REALLY needs is for the breath of The Holy Spirit to blow through, persistently, for the forseeable future. Part of the issue is that not many of us from the church live in the neigborhood. We're mostly 'outsiders' who come into town for worship and hang around occasionally during the week and then we're gone. Meanwhile, while that whole neighborhood has our prayers, for the most of the week, it is up to the police to try to keep a lid on the situation. They can't be everywhere.

And I'm not talking about just legal problems. There is real spiritual sickness there. The neighborhood is diseased, like a person is diseased who should be adopted by a Christian family.

There is a real need for us to be focused on the situation. However, most of us in the church are trying to live 'normal' lives that are not informed by the concept of adopting vulnerable persons. Not many of us 'get it' just yet. However, I believe that our Senior Pastor and his wonderful pastoral staff are leading us in a direction that will be more informed by 'The Kingdom of God' and less influenced by 'The American Dream'. Holy habits, Holy relationships and Holy living can contribute to Holy communion. I sincerely believe that in Holy communion as the Family of God, we can receive power to break the bondage of fear, ignorance and disease and have the strength - together - to adopt those who are willing to be received into our family.

What's happening here is far larger than just our being a 'restarted' church. This is more that just a congregation that found a new path. Indeed, I believe we have been called out - as a family of God - to surrender all that we are on behalf of all that He wants to give us. God wants to give us the neighborhood around us. God wants us to have our church in the promised land, right there where we are. God wants us to grow our family in Him by adopting the broken, the diseased, the outcast and the vulnerable for His Kingdom, His Wholeness, His Reconciliation and His Reclamation. In communion with Him, anything is possible.

Prepare Your Heart Now, to Love Forever

2006-10-16T18:12:00.000-04:00

Very recently I've been asked by a friend if I believe in an afterlife. My response came almost unbidden from deep within me. "When we step out onto God's bright day, we either will or will not know Him". My prayer is that now, during this part of my forever existence, I am learning to know Him. I pray also that I am helping others to know Him for who He is: Love Eternal.

Perhaps He can only receive into Himself that part of me that is Love. I want the part that He can receive to be ALL of me. I want to learn to love the way He loves. I want to learn to see myself and others the way He sees us. I want to let go of my prejudice and my pride. I want to let go of my false hopes. I want to be fully surrendered to His Love and to channel that Love through me to others. I want to become His Love: Alive in this world and bringing the incomparable Love that He has poured out on me to bear on the needs 0f myself and others.

Unlike me, He is not manipulative or judgemental. Unlike me, He does not shrink from people that I find obnoxious. Unlike me, He does not share only a little of Himself. He is perfect and I want to be like Him. All power is His and He is always using that power on behalf of wretches like me. I want to learn how to use all the powers that I have on behalf of other wretches who are ... just like me. He loves them, just as He loves me.

When my heart is so close to despair, He says "You are mine! I am thy God and will STILL give thee aid!" When my rage flares, He helps me to remember to Whom it is that I am bonded... forever. He has never dished out to me the punishment I deserve. Oh, PLEASE let me learn to stop punishing others.... and instead to give them His Love.

My heart must experience a GREAT DEAL of growth to be able to love forever. There is so much to put down... so many idols that I simply don't need. I need no righteousness of my own. I want His righteousness and His faithfulness and His graciousness and I want Him to live in me and through me. Is this surrender?

How long is forever? How do I prepare to live in Eternal Love? No, I have no sense of impending death but I do now, more than ever, want to fully LIVE in His Love for what ever remains of this part of my forever existence. His Love can heal so much and until the wounds are truly healed, there is no truth in a cry of 'Peace'! His Love is the balm for this dying world. Only His Love can heal the people rightly.

So then, prepare now to live in Love forever. Learn to be His Love! Learn to anoint with His Love. Learn to laugh in His Love! Learn to serve in His love! His Love is His very essence, His core, His character, His personality. His Love is His very Name.

Even so, Lord Jesus, Come Quickly

What is it with these "vulnerable" people?

2006-08-21T19:34:00.000-04:00

By now you're worn out with me telling you that Christians "adopt"
those who are "vulnerable, relative to ourselves" (And by golly, we
Christians make ad0pting vulnerable people an even higher priority
than reproduction! Right?) But just who are they? What's so
significant about 'vulnerability' and why should Christians care
about 'vulnerable' people?

Well, duh! Compare yourself to The Eternal Living God in Christ.
Are you 'vulnerable', relative to Him? So, what does HE do on
behalf of those who are 'vulnerable' relative to God? (C'mon,
c'mon, you read the Bible. What's it say?) Well, beginning
WAAAAAAY back at the start of the Bible, God shows up with
this 'adoption thing' for just about anybody that's vulnerable.

Take the old "Mistake with the Snake" story, with guest
appearances by Adam and Eve. When they made themselves
unwelcomed in the Garden, who shows up with "garments of
skin for Adam and his wife'? (Ge 3:1-24) And even though Adam
and Eve had blown their first job assignment, who was it that made
it possible for them to have a lower tier (though not all together
unmeaningful) position to work out a modest living on some of God's
other property (though they had NO prior experience and while they
still paid NO taxes)? That 'who' would be The Almighty God, Himself.
And they were no longer what He had created! They belonged to NO
ONE! But, whether we like it or not, God 'adopted' them!

Okay, now, flash forward to the time of the ancient Israelites.
(Exodus 4:22 and reference Hosea 11:1) Those folks were NO
people but the Living God made them HIS people. Accept it! He
ADOPTED them!
They were vulnerable, they were oppressed and NO, they didn't
deserve God's favor (Do you? Do I?) But HE claimed them with
all of their diseases, all of their whining, all of their blindness (and
their pitiful flat bread, to). Do you get the picture? He ADOPTED
a WHOLE NATION! (Though I probably would have encouraged
Him to include a clause limiting His liabilities.)

Now, it seems these days that bunches of so-called 'Christians'
want there to be an 'Old Testament' without there being a 'New
Testament'. Sorry, if you're really a Christian, it doesn't work
that way. (Back in my day, we were trying to have a New
Testament without having an Old Testament. It doesn't work that
way either!) So, the Old Testament necessarily points to the New
Testament and the New Testament is ALL ABOUT the Cross.
There's no way around it. And the Cross (and the resurrection of
Jesus) is all about the end of the world as you and I and everyone
else has known it! The Cross is all about The Eternal Living God
making a way for you and me to be 'adopted' (reconciled) into the
family of God. By the blood of The Lamb, you and I have been given
a new bloodline and a new family! That's the END of the old way and
the old world! (Did you guys notice?)

We who were NO people are now - by rebirth and by Grace through
faith - HIS people. (Now, just what part of God's adoption of you
and me do you not understand?)

You didn't deserve it and neither did I. It's, umm, what those
theological people call "unmerited Grace" (hey, it works for
me). We're now a part of God's family!

Now, do we HAVE to adopt, just because we've been adopted?
Let me put it this way: my interpretation of John 13:34 is
Jesus saying "YOU WILL adopt others, just as I have adopted
you". Now, God's commandments are all also promises when
they're empowered by The Holy Spirit. So, to me it's a pretty
clear sign that I've been REALLY adopted by God when I'm
motivated to adopt other people into His family. In other
words, The Holy Spirit enables me to live out that commandment
as a promise!
So, if I'm not interested in adopting vulnerable people into the
Family of my Heavenly Father, I have to wonder about my own
'adoption'. Can I even really be a Christian if I am not adoptive?
Hmmmm.

"Gee, what happened to my rejoicing at being claimed by The
One God Eternal? Where's my power to claim the 'vulnerable'
people as family?" (Maybe I need another dose of 'adoption',
or maybe I need a BUNCH more of the Holy Spirit's indwelling,
ya think?)
"Wasn't I blessed to be a blessing? Wasn't I rescued to be a
rescuer?" Then, on the other hand I'm asking God, "Lord,
why can't all these icky 'vulnerable' people be more like me?"
And of course, the point is, those 'icky' vulnerable people are
EXACTLY like me and they need to be shown some of the same
unmerited Grace that "works" for me.

So, that's what "IT" is with these 'vulnerable' people. They ARE
my sisters and brothers. They ARE my sons and daughters and
if you are a Christian, they are YOUR family as well. Our calling
is to claim them, to ADOPT them. Anything that hinders my
doing exactly that is an idol. Yes, I have to work. God provides
resources to me through my work. I am to use those resources
on behalf of adopting vulnerable people, just as I have been
adopted. To a cynic, the 'vulnerable people' are the "low hanging
fruit". We should be able to get them into God's family easily! Are
they gonna be resource intensive? You betcha. But many of them
will be willing to be adopted into the Kingdom of God and will be
willing to adopt others, as well. Besides, vulnerable people are
LOOKING for mercy. The 'well-off' unchurched are not looking
for a Savior. Reaching the 'successful' people for the Kingdom of
Heaven is iffy ("why should they change?")

Nope, I can't tell you exactly how your adopting vulnerable people
will work out in your walk of faith. I will tell you very flatly that
adopting vulnerable people is REQUIRED of us while reproduction
is only a privilege. We Christians demonstrate our love for Christ
Jesus by obeying His commandments and by prioritizing His
commandments above our privileges. To behave otherwise is
idolatry.
"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

Well, Did You Get Crucified or Somethin'?

2006-08-19T11:10:00.000-04:00

It seems that every day, someone else claiming to be a
'B.A.B.B.F.E.C.C.' * wants to get up in my face about how they want
this country to be a 'Christian' nation. Most of them go away REAL
mad when I ask them if they have been crucified today with Christ
Jesus. The others go away trying to think of something to say back
to me. Let them stew.

While I know I that I am STOOPIDly ignorant about what it means
to be a Christian, I do at least understand that it means daily
crucifixion with Him. That means that my plans go away to be
replaced by HIS plans. That means that I become a servant (washing
feet and stuff). ALL of my purpose is then focused on HIS Kingdom
and HIS reconciliation. When I am crucified with Him, I am no
longer in pursuit of 'The American Dream' ("A house and a spouse
and kids and pets and toys!"), nor am I any longer pursuing personal
genetic legacy, nor my personal empire.

So, are you ready to be a reconciler? Are you ready to wash the
feet of your enemies? Are you ready for this nation to be crucified -
EVERY DAY - with Christ Jesus? Are you prepared that EVERY
resource available to you and to me would be expended on behalf
of reconciliation of the outcast, the diseased and the discarded?
That is EXACTLY what Jesus did for us and that is EXACTLY what
this nation will do for Him if we are to be a 'Christian' nation.

There is in our church, a much beloved lady who to me represents
what it means to be a real 'B.A.B.B.F.E.C.C.'. Her time and her
resources are expended on behalf of the special needs young people
who have become a part of our church because of her. Jesus
expended ALL resources to make it possible for special needs
persons - like you and like me - to become a part of His family. He
has adopted us - by His blood - and if we want to be 'real' Christians,
we will adopt others into His family, OUR family, just as He did and
we will teach those we adopt to adopt others, still!

Is this fair? No, of course not. Is it the only way? Yes, it is unless we
want our nation and this whole world to continue its spiral down and
down into dissolution, violence, despair and madness.

Choose, TODAY.

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

* Born Again Bible Believing Fundamentalist Evangelical
Conservative Christian

Who Will Have Dominion?

2006-08-08T20:49:00.000-04:00

So, what do you think is God's top priority? Is it 'being Godly'? Is it
'being Sovereign'? Is it being 'right'? Whaddya think, really? Well,
of course I'm gonna tell you what I think. I think that among God's
top priorities is 'reconciliation of all creation'. I think that's why He
gave us Jesus of Nazareth (You remember, God's only Son. Yeah,
that Jewish carpenter guy.) So, I'm saying that the fact of Jesus of
Nazareth makes it real OBVIOUS that reconciliation is one of God's
top priorities. God gave Jesus as THE sacrifice to enable
'reconciliation'. He did that!

So, I'm saying that as important as God's ONLY Son is to God, for
God to give Jesus as the sacrifice for reconciliation makes me think
that reconciliation must be REALLY important to God. (Ya think?)

Now, on top of that, God is ultimately in control of everything. Get
it? He DEFINITELY has street cred with this 'dominion' thing. And if
reconciliation of all of creation is among His top priorities, do you
think His emphasis on reconciliation is totally disconnected from His
Dominion over EVERYTHING? (Time's up!) Well, NO!!

"But wait!" you blurt. "Didn't God give us dominion of His creation
back in the ancient scriptures?"

Uh, yeah(duh!) good of you to notice! He did that, BEFORE we
polluted everything with SIN! With our SIN, we made it necessary
for the Lord of all Creation to be sacrificed for reconciliation. So
NOW, if we're gonna have dominion with God, guess what we're
going to have to have as our primary priority? (Time's up!)

REC-ON-CIL-I-A-TION (Can you hear 'Retha singin' that?)

So, I've said all of that to say this: as I write this, there are
nightmarish wars raging all over this world. Also, any number of
'captains of industry' are exploiting God's creation for their very
short-sighted pursuit of wealth and power. Are the wars and
exploitation and empire building giving anyone anything other
than a temporary illusion of dominion? (Time's up!) Well, NO!!

It seems so obvious, doesn't it? I shouldn't even write it down
but YOU KNOW I'm gonna write it anyway:

"If we want dominion with Him over (any part of) His creation,
we will serve in His reconciliation of His creation. And that service
in reconciliation will be among our TOP priorities - just as it is with
HIM!"

Who's Da MAN? The Reconciler, of course. He alone is King, Christ
and God. You want power? You want dominion? Follow the Leader.

Be crucified with Him!

No one does it better. Everything else is just so much futility.
You might use guns, you might use bombs, you might use terror,
or you might use hatred but your dominion by any other method
is temporary! You've got NOTHIN'!! You won't LAST!! Believe it!
There will BE no domination without reconciliation. Get used to it.

It "ain't" about you. It "ain't" about me. It's about HIM!

2006-07-29T22:21:00.000-04:00

My Beloved Aunt and Uncle,

Thanks for taking the time to contact me! Truly, it is a delight to get
to speak with you. The two of you may be among the few people who
can grasp (whether or not you agree) what Heaven has been trying to
say to me and through me.

As I understand it, we have strayed FAR from the intentions that
Jesus was communicating when He commanded us to "Love as I have
loved you..." and so - witness now - as the church goes, so goes the
world. We have allowed the church to be the handmaiden of the
state (and of various other empire builders) for far too long. As I told
you recently, I believe I have been given this teaching because our
Father is calling us back to His purposes. This "ain't" about me. It's
about Him, it's about His Kingdom and it's about His reconciliation
of our wretched, broken, dying world.

No Other Hope
Acts 4:8-12 is pretty explicit - as far as I'm concerned - that in no
other 'name' (attitude, spirit, character, personality, personal
essence, blood) other than Jesus Christ of Nazareth is there any
hope for reconciliation with our Heavenly Father. And I will add,
that in no other name is there any hope among human kind for our
reconciliation with each other. We have no other hope! (Look
around you. Am I wrong?) Now, here's my point: the name of
Jesus - the very essence of Jesus' love - is His adoption of us. Jesus'
name means, "God Saves" and it is His very character - His very
name - to adopt those who are vulnerable - relative to Him.
The ancient people believed that a person's name exposed much
about their character. In the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
nothing could be more true. Glory to God!

Our Birth Family
Humans are not born into the family of God. We are born into
suffering and poverty, disease and wretchedness, wrath, death and
sin. We have 'existence' by being born into this world. We can only
have 'life' through Jesus Christ. We can become a part of God's
family by being 'reborn'.
Oh, yes, plenty of people do 'quite well' in this world without ever
being spiritually reborn but they may not ever become a member of
the family of God unless their souls are renewed by the Holy Spirit.
This 'renewal' is - to me - a part of recognizing that we have been
'adopted'.
So, when did this 'adoption' happen? When we 'got saved and born
again'? I will leave that discussion to another letter. For now, I will
only say that God's time is not our time. His ways are not our ways.
His mercies and His renewal of us, are new every morning.

Describing God's Love
Now, there are many descriptions of God's love for us. His love
is agape love. His love is redeeming love. God's love is renewing,
sustaining, reconciling and reclaiming love. One of the descriptions
of God's love that is not often discussed, however, is that His Love
is 'adoptive' love (Eph 1:4-8, 11-14; Rom 8:14-17 and elsewhere).
Plus, people don't talk about the fact that Jesus sacrificed His
privilege to reproduce in laying down His life to adopt all of us - by
His blood. By His blood, we are given a new bloodline. This doesn't
negate the fact that we have a genetically related family. However,
when we are 'adopted' into the family of God, we can be re-born into
a much LARGER family. We now also have a family that is not
bounded by walls of genetics, race, ethnicity or culture. We now are
also a part of HIS family. And all of the other people that He
adopts - whether or not we are comfortable with them - are our
family as well.
If I am a Christian - in GOD'S legacy- I have children and family
all over the world.

Christ's Commandment
Now, remember that I quoted John 13:34 as Christ Jesus
commanding us to love as He has loved us. Does this mean that
we have to sacrifice our privilege to reproduce? Certainly not!
That privilege was granted to us in the earliest passages of God's
Word and ALL of His promises are "Yea!" and "Amen!" However,
because of our own sin, Christ Jesus has given to us something
MUCH more important to do than child-bearing. That something
that is more important than child-bearing is adoption and
child-raising. Reproduction can wait.
No matter who brought those children into the world, if I am a
Christian, they are my children: no matter their age, their race,
their background, their need, their loveliness or their lack of it.
Adopting the vulnerable in priority before reproduction is also a
matter of being focused on what we have as opposed to being
focused on what we don't have or might have (See the story of
Adam and Eve for an example of people who lost focus on what
they did have and became focused on what they didn't have).

Whether you or I have a genetic legacy is insignificant. What
matters is that - in community with other servants of God - you
and I will adopt vulnerable people (God's children), people of
varying ages, backgrounds and situations. They, with us, become
JESUS' legacy! Is this what a church should be doing, anyway?
Of Course! But what you and I were never told is that this
'adoption business' is COMMANDED!! While reproduction and
genetic legacy is a great privilege, reproduction is only that: a
privilege, an option. Adopting the vulnerable people is
REQUIRED!! We may NOT prioritize the optional before the
required!

How Then Shall We Live?
We are to utilize the resources that God makes available to us
on behalf of the vulnerable. Just as the Father has used priceless
resources to claim us - who were not born into His family - so are
we to utilize the resources given to us to claim those who were not
born into 'our' family. AND, as we adopt them, we teach them to
adopt still others - just the way adoption was taught to us.
Remember: reproduction is only a privilege. Adoption is required!

A Slightly Different Way of Thinking
As you might imagine, other people who have been told about
this teaching are not immediately accepting of it. (To say the least!)
Some have already accused me of having something 'against'
motherhood or fatherhood or against little children. Nothing could
be further from the truth. My sense is that there will be PLENTY of
time for reproduction when all of the vulnerable people have been
adopted. (And what are little children if they are not one type of
'vulnerable people'?) Claiming the lost for the Kingdom of Heaven
is our mission (Matt 28:19). We are to be 'aggressively engaged' in
God's reconciling of this world unto Himself! You and I do not exist
to pursue genetic legacy, personal empire and 'the American Dream'.
We exist to pursue God's reconciliation of all of His creation. We are
not allowed to rest until there remain NO unclaimed people in our
communities! This world-wide emphasis on adopting the vulnerable
could start with US! Western Christians could show the world how
to live out Christ's New Commandment!

Recruited by The Enemy
Please consider how silly it would be for me to be upset - after I
leave some person neglected and 'un-adopted', discarded and
ignored - when the enemy comes along and recruits them for his
purposes!
I can just hear me now: "Why, that poor so-and-so should have
pulled himself up by his own bootstraps and made his own way".
Pretty short-sighted, right? This is exactly what is happening, all
over the world, in a very literal sense. Nations are leaving out the
poorest of the poor and then whining when the terrorist groups
come along and recruit the outcasts for their monstrous, suicidal
pursuits.

Plug Your Ears! I'm Gonna Get LOUD!
WE CANNOT EXPECT THAT DISCARDED PERSONS ARE GOING
TO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS
WE 'AGRESSIVELY' RECRUIT THEM!! (Adopt them)
OUR WORLD IS DYING IN SIN!! WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO
PURSUE 'THE AMERICAN DREAM', PERSONAL EMPIRE AND
GENETIC LEGACY!! (Whew!) THE 'NUMBER ONE TERRORIST' ( old
scratch himself ) IS LOOSED AND HE IS ROARING! He is devouring
whom he will!
Okay. Enough shouting. I hope you get my point.

Now, there are plenty of people who will have nothing to do with us.
They don't want to be 'adopted' or they don't want to pursue the
Kingdom of God or they are hostile to the idea of adopting other
people. Okay. We'll just have to let them go. But there are MORE than
plenty of vulnerable people - young and not so young - who would be
willing to be included in God's family if we would only make their
inclusion - their 'adoption' - as important to ourselves as if they were
to be our genetically related progeny. If we will just prioritize
adoption, we will have as large a family (and church) as we can stand.

Who Can Predict The Outcome? YOU CAN!!
Imagine a world where Christians everywhere make claiming the
vulnerable a higher priority than their pursuit of genetic legacy or
their pursuit of The America Dream. Imagine a world where all
Christians are taught that 'adoption MUST be first' and that we can
bond together in community in Christ Jesus to make our adoptive
family strong enough to handle the needs of those we adopt.
Imagine a world where Christians everywhere REFUSE to allow
people to be discarded to the juvenile corrections system or to
drugs or to gangs or to the adult corrections system or to disease or
to disability or to age and dementia. Imagine a world where
Christians imitate Christ Jesus by going ALL OUT to claim the
vulnerable as their own instead of creating personal empires and
legacies. Imagine a world where the young and the not so young are
taught that they have the privilege of being like God - of imitating
Him - by adopting people, just the way He has adopted us!

So, that's the beginning of it, dear Uncle. And there is so much
more, beloved Aunt, that I cannot fit it all into the words of a
hundred letters. But God's Bible has already said - much more
beautifully - what I am trying to say in my own feeble way. You
may just not have heard it quite this way before.

There are centuries of bad behavior that must be unlearned. There
are layers upon layers of prejudice and self-interest that must be
sacrificed like the idols they are. Then, there are also real enemies
of Christ's teaching that will have to be circumvented. How will He
do this? I can't say a whole lot about it. This will be done in His time
and in His way. I have a very tiny little part to play by writing - out
on the world wide web - and by sharing what I can with those who
will listen. It may even be that some day I will get to attend seminary
but my part is very small.

Thank you, VERY much for being willing to read this. I have more
that I can send if you have the occasion to read it.

Your Nephew in Christ Jesus,

Tom

"Adopt ye, one another, even as I have adopted you..."

FAQs
Q: Didn't the Shakers try something like this a long time ago?
A: Well, no, not exactly. The Shakers believed there was something
inherently wrong with sex and reproduction. Obviously, the Bible
says these are both privileges of God's good creation. However, one
of the points of this teaching is that while there is nothing wrong with
reproduction in the appropriate context, we still have something
FAR more important to do than self-replication. That more
important something is adoption of vulnerable persons. That
adoptive behavior - because it is commanded - must take priority
over reproduction, even though reproduction is a wonderful
privilege and gift from God.
We make an idol of the privilege of reproduction if we make it a
priority before obedience to Christ's new commandment!

Q: God commands us to adopt?
A: Yes! Throughout God's Holy Word, we are told to use such
power and resources as we have on behalf of those who are
vulnerable, relative to us. Christ's new commandment, in John
13:34 is just one example of God very explicitly telling us that we
are to adopt. When we love as Jesus has loved us, we will pursue
adoptive behavior on behalf of those who are vulnerable - relative
to us - just as Christ Jesus has adopted us who are
vulnerable - relative to Him!
Wanna play God? Adopt some vulnerable person! (But do this
VERY prayerfully and in concert with a loving and supportive
community of faith in Christ Jesus!)

Q: Won't your teaching lead to a population shortage?
A: First of all, this is not 'my' teaching. This is right straight out
of God's Holy Word. You may have to read the Bible in prayer to
be able to understand what I'm saying. This teaching is nothing
new. It just hasn't had much exposure for a very long time. I think
the writers of the ancient scriptures and then the Apostle Paul and
the writers of the Gospels assumed that we would "get it". As a
matter of fact, to me, it now seems obvious and it seems very
reasonable that they would make the assumption that we would
pursue adoptive love! But since long ago (since the time of
Emperor Constantine?) there really hasn't been anyone in the
mainstream of Christianity teaching this. But I'm saying, "this IS
mainstream Christianity: Adoption is what Christians do".
Now regarding a 'population shortage'. There will never again be
any such occurrence. There has only been a human
'population shortage' on planet Earth for a total of 5 days (if you
believe your Bible). On the sixth day, God ended the human
population shortage by creating two people. Very obviously, He
could have created billions and billions of people if He had
wanted them all just then. But two is the minimum number of
human beings that our Heavenly Father requires to be in
community with Him on planet Earth at any one time.
Then, in both the Old Testament and in the New, we are told - very
plainly - "The poor, you have with you always" (Deuteronomy
15:11, Matt 26:11, Mark 14:7, John 12:8). So unless you think
that poor people are not 'people' then you know that there will
never again be a 'population shortage'.

Q: So, how are you practicing what you teach?
A: At this point in my walk of faith, all I know to do is to adopt
the elderly people from our church. They seem to be willing for
me to adopt them and they don't seem to mind having me around.
So, when one of the members of our congregation becomes a
shut-in, I am one of the people who 'adopts' them. I am part of a
community of people who 'comes along-side' them, just as the
Holy Spirit comes along-side us. God has exampled for us how
to do this. Try it yourself!

Q: Who gave you permission to reveal this teaching?
A: Again, this is no 'revelation' so far as I am concerned. This
is basic, Bible literacy. Any child can tell you that we are a part
of God's family only because of His Love for us. Also, it should
be obvious to you that you were not born into God's household.
However, you can be 'reborn' and become a part of God's family.
God loved you and chose you to be a part of His household. So,
you were 'adopted' - through the blood of the Lamb - as was I. Your
acceptance of your adoption, in repentance and in faith, is a part
of your being 'reborn'. Not because of any merit or worth of our
own but simply because He Loves. That's it.
Who needs permission to tell of the love of God?

The Necessity of Community

2006-07-08T15:59:00.000-04:00

One of the factors that influences me to believe that God is right when
He commands us to adopt vulnerable persons - as the priority much
higher than reproducing - is that adoption of vulnerable people
requires us to be in cooperation with a very real community of faith.
To successfully care for vulnerable persons, we must have people
around us who are at least as powerful in prayer as ourselves. We
must have people around us who have talents, skills and graces that
we do not possess. We must be engaged in a community of care and
commitment who can support us and to whom we can lend support
so that those vulnerable persons for whom we all care can be enabled
to be adoptive in imitation of God.

Find God's commandment that we must adopt each other and then
adopt other vulnerable people - in imitation of Christ Jesus - in
John 13:34

Through communal adoption of vulnerable persons and through
mutual support and forgiveness of each other, through commitment
and accountability to each other, we are granted a glimpse of the
Kingdom of Heaven and we are given a means to imitate God.

Elsewhere, I will write about why I believe that living in communities
of reconciliation is a means of living out the image of God in us. And
while I very much appreciate individual initiative, I am convinced
that communities of reconciliation are part of the only hope for the
human race. You cannot and I cannot do this by ourselves.

The idea of an individual 'Superman' to solve human problems is a
delightful fantasy. However, history's only REAL superman - the very
human but divine Jesus of Nazareth - lived and served in community
and imparted to us His 'super-powers': submission to and relationship
with the One God Eternal through the Holy Spirit. History might be
entirely unaware of Jesus of Nazareth had He not lived and served in
community with those who were willing to claim each other - and
claim still other vulnerable persons - in a community of faith.

To God be all praise, honor and glory, forever and forever.

The Use of Power

2006-06-20T20:44:00.000-04:00

The model we humans pursue throughout our so-called 'civilization'
is that power is used to exploit, coerce and enslave. Yet, we call
ourselves lovers of God. There are even people with whom I am
acquainted who call themselves 'Christians' and 'born-again' who
insist that power exists for their purposes and their agenda.

However, if we believe The Bible - either the Old or New Testament,
or both, we have to admit that the model demonstrated throughout
the scripture by The One we know as Yahweh-God (or Jehovah, if
you prefer) is of power being used for healing, building of
community and (at least) for reconciliation. Among Christians, I
believe there can be no debate regarding God's use of power
exclusively for the benefit of those who are less powerful than
Himself - even for the benefit of His enemies.

If we are believers in the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth as God's
Christ, then we must confess that He is our reconciliation with
God. Further, if we are believers in the resurrected Jesus of
Nazareth, then we must acknowledge that "all power" has
been given to Him (Matthew28: 18 - KJV). Here's the point I am
trying to make: All Power, in Heaven and in Earth is to be used
for God's reconciliation and for no other purpose if we truly are
God's people.

Any other use of power is abuse of power and idolatry. Power
is to be used on behalf of those less powerful than ourselves for
reconciliation.

Education, financial well-being, business acumen, personal
assets, drive for success, talents, skills, dreams, vision, ALL
power shared with us is to be used - not to pursue our own
empires and legacies - but for His reconciliation, for His
restoration, for His wholeness, for His Kingdom and for His
righteousness. Our American Dreams just don't matter. We
have something far more important to do.

Indicative of Our Sickness

2006-06-12T18:50:00.000-04:00

As I write this, there has recently been a story in the news about
government officials in Japan who are concerned that their nation
has a 'low birth rate': Japan story. Certainly, this story from Japan
is not the only publication I have read describing a knee-jerk
reaction from the public officials of some nation and from those
who supposedly are 'business leaders', intent on convincing
people to breed more. Of course, there was no mention of
encouraging increased efforts to adopt. There was no mention
of creating mutually supportive communities for the care of
each other and for the adoption of the frail. And god-forbid that
they would encourage immigration. (Perish the thought!)

Obviously, these 'leaders' do not read the Bible nor do they trust
God.

Jesus told us - very plainly - that there would never again be a
shortage of people and He was quoting the Old Testament when
He said it.

Read Jesus's quote from Deuteronomy 15:11 in Matthew 26,
Mark 14 and John 12. Realize that there was MUCH more going
on here than just Jesus making social commentary. But even
given all that Jesus was saying, He was at least telling the truth.
The man does not lie. There will not ever again be a shortage of
people - so long as the Bible is true ... unless you think that poor
people (and the vulnerable and the unwanted) are not "people".

How pitiful we are that we have no more effective imagination
to plan for the future than to pressure people to breed! How
terribly ineffectual must be our relationships with Heaven!
Are there yet any Christians on Planet Earth? Are there even
any real businesspersons? REAL Christians know that as we
invest in those who are vulnerable GOD WILL GIVE THE
INCREASE. REAL businesspersons know how to make an
enconomy vital whether or not the population is expanding!

The nightmarish truth is that we have all too willingly allowed
ourselves to be used as breeding stock, to fuel the expansionism
of various empire builders. We of the church have even
encouraged this idolatry while ignoring the needs of those who
are already here. History is littered with the consequences of
colonialism / empirialism. Until we change our attitude about
the value of the people who are already here, the madness will
continue and we CANNOT go into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Read just one of the the New Testament promises of God's
provision of 'growth' in 1 Corinthians 3:6. 'Growth' is the LAST
concern of people who trust and serve God! He WILL provide!

What under Heaven's Grace has convinced us that the offspring
we might bring into this sordid world could be somehow more
important than the people who are already here? What justifies
our refusal to invest God's resources, God's time and God's love
in the people who may have questionable potential but who are
ALREADY HERE??
When we choose reproduction as opposed to adoption, are we
not denying that there are people here with potential that you and
I might help to unlock? Do we not know God? Are we unwilling
to be used by Him? Is our own fecundity and legacy all that
matters to us? NO! Reproduction is NOT evil but we have
something far, FAR more important to do.

So, again, I ask you: "Do you want to see it? Do you want to
see the Kingdom of His Christ?" Can we make His
Kingdom, His Restoration, His Reconciliation, His Wholeness,
His RIGHTEOUSNESS more important than our urge to
self-perpetuate? Can we put His Kingdom First, even before
our lust to breed?

Too obviously, we have allowed our own biological urges and the
subtlety of the enemy to lead us into idolatrous self-perpetuation
at the expense of our entry into The Kingdom Of Heaven. You
KNOW that you want to learn to love as Jesus loves you. You
KNOW that you want to learn to love with the Adoptive Love
of The Father. The fondest longing of your heart is His Reign
and His Renewal. You want to see it. Say "Yes".

Blessed to be a Blessing

2006-05-23T21:23:00.000-04:00

So stop cursing the darkness and adopt someone today!

Doing what is required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven may be the
hardest thing you have ever done or, it may be as natural to you as
surrendering to a loved one. Entering into His Kingdom means (at
least) surrendering to His way of doing things. A part of His way of
doing things is to adopt those who are in need while teaching them
to adopt as well!

The concept of adopting people is something that we in the church
have not often, openly spoken about. When we think about adoption,
we think only of adopting children and even then, we only consider
those children who can contribute to OUR fulfillment. Rarely does
anyone think of adopting someone that no one else wants!! Almost
NEVER does anyone consider adopting someone because of
their needs. However, if you and I are a members of the family of God,
it is because we have been adopted- adopted primarily because of
OUR needs, and His Love. And before we were adopted by Him, we
were WORTHLESS to anyone BUT Him! And, as God has loved us, so
are we to love others.

We must adopt!

You and I were not born into God's family. But everyone has the
opportunity to be 're-born' into His family. That rebirth can certainly
be thought of as an 'adoption' (at least, the Apostle Paul thought
so - Ephesians 1:4-6 and elsewhere). So, by the Blood of the Lamb,
our old family heritage is transformed. By the Blood of the Lamb, we
are given a new 'bloodline'. We now are part of a new family! We are
claimed by The Lord Almighty God!! WE'VE BEEN ADOPTED!!

Now, before we were 'adopted' into the family of God, we were lost and
vulnerable, even "enemies" of God. Do you know anyone who is lost
and vulnerable? Some aged person? Some special needs person? Some
homeless person or family? Someone with diseases, deformities or
disabilities? Someone with personal or emotional issues or someone who
is vulnerable to substance abuse? Of COURSE you do! Well, think of
yourself as being as diseased and 'vulnerable' as that person (only
infinitely worse) when compared with God. Yet God choose you. He
ADOPTED you into His family to give to you all of the rights and
privileges of those who belong to Him. And, a part of your 'birthright'
from being re-born (adopted) into God's family is that you will imitate
Him (like a little child). YOU will adopt others into the family of God!
YOUR family! God rescued us from that into which we were born. You and
I will rescue others into His household. We were rescued to be rescuers.
We are blessed, to be a blessing!

Find a significant perspective on being 'born again' in the Gospel of John,
chapter 3, verses 1-8

Now, here's where things may become difficult for some. God has not
adopted us so that we can create our own genetic, racial, cultural or
ethnic legacy and empire. God has adopted us so that we can further
HIS spiritual legacy and Kingdom. We do not further His spiritual
legacy by focusing upon our own genetic legacy and/or upon the
American dream. No, there's nothing wrong with reproduction in a
God centered, mutually respectful and Kingdom oriented
marriage - so long as we do not let reproduction substitute for or
hinder adoption.

You see, reproduction is an allowed behavior, for those who love God.
But also, for those who love God, adoption is a required behavior ("This
is my commandment: Love as I have loved you..." John 13:34) and
adoption MUST take first priority. Those who love God keep His
commandments! When there are no more people to adopt (and there's
a whole lot of people that need to be adopted) there will be plenty of
time for reproduction. Don't worry. If you don't have a genetic legacy,
it doesn't matter. But if you and I don't further our Heavenly Father's
spiritual legacy, that's a pretty serious omission. (Matthew 7:15-23)

Find God's permissive blessing for reproduction in Genesis 1:28 and
Genesis 9:7. Note: this is NOT a commandment, as some worshippers of
growth would have us believe. While medical science may help with
reproduction, only God can grant permission to reproduce! And remember,
reproduction is allowed; adoption is required!

So, to whom does this teaching apply? Well, the Bible applies to people all
over the world and this emphasis on adoption is right out of the Bible. Why
is there terrorism? In part because people who 'say' they love God have left
people 'un-adopted' while insisting upon reproduction. Why is there
hunger? In part because people who 'say' they love God have insisted upon
a mindset of "family" that only includes those who are genetically related
to them. We fail to acknowledge that our 'family' MUST include all those
who can be 'adopted' into the family of God. When we refuse to adopt but
insist upon reproduction, we have made an 'idol' out of one of God's most
precious gifts! As people who love God, we're not allowed to have ANY
idols and we certainly cannot take any idols into the Kingdom of Heaven!!

Since we have left so many people un-adopted, do you wonder why our
world is in such a mess?

Okay, so, maybe you're like me and you don't have the resources to have
someone else into the space where you're sheltered. But 'adoption' doesn't
necessarily mean trying to shelter someone else. How did the Holy Spirit
adopt you? He "came alongside you, as the helper-meet" and He did not
take you out of the context in which you live. I don't believe that you and
I are required - except in rare cases - to take anyone out of the context in
which they are living but I DO believe that we are to live alongside them
as a part of God's transformation of their existence into life. Now, there
are worlds of people who volunteer as Big Brothers or Big Sisters, or as
church visitation volunteers. There are plenty of people who give of
themselves through wonderful organizations. The difference that I'm
trying to teach you here is that this 'claiming' of vulnerable persons
is to be our primary parenting focus!

This means several things (at least).

Anyone, married or single, can 'adopt' and 'parent' in this way.
Reproduction is unnecessary for those who wish to 'adopt' and parent in this way.
Reproduction is of a low priority, period, for people who love God. There will ALWAYS be plenty of people to adopt, so long as we focus on the last, the lost and the least! (Deuteronomy 15:11, Matthew 28:11, Mark 14:7, John 12:8)
This 'adoptive love' could mean a very different way of thinking for all of us who love God.
When God adopted you through Christ Jesus, it was the end of the world as you have known it!

How will this help Him change the world? Well, think about it. What if
people everywhere see those of us who love God determined to make
sure that no one is left un-adopted? Isn't it just possible that witnessing
God's adoptive love could influence some other folks to want to follow
His example? "Yes but...." Will we get a lot of really bad cases dumped
on us? You bet. But just as God is transforming you and me (ourselves
being pretty bad cases), so also can He transform the existence of those
we adopt. We have to trust Him and we have to develop communities of
trust and reconciliation to support each other in our efforts to adopt.
You don't have the resources to go this alone... and neither do I.
So, then, we must develop relationships of reconciliation and
interdependence to be able to take care of each other.

It's our family. It's GOD'S family. More about communities of
reconciliation in a future posting!

The fondest longing of your heart

2006-02-23T20:58:00.000-05:00

You are a product of your's and your parent's choices and the creative processes of The Eternal God. You cannot help that what you want most in this world is to see His Kingdom realized. You may not yet know that the American Dream is not the equivalent of God's Kingdom but in your heart of hearts, what you really want is His Wholeness, His Justice, His Peace and His Reconciliation - for ALL of His creation. You long for this. You may not know, however, that His Kingdom cannot be purchased with silver and gold. You may not realize that His Kingdom cannot be taken with the sword nor can His Reign be made real by the laws of men.

But down inside you, your unspoken hope is for the dawning of His Presence and the world-wide manifestation of His Grace, His Justice, His Healing and His Peace. You and I have this in common.

You are worn out with wars, famine, disease and suffering. You could do with a great deal more of joy and hope. You don't like it that people live in poverty and hopelessness but you probably believe you can't do anything about it.

You're right, you can't.

But Him living through you and you living in Him CAN! Isn't it time that you actually do something? Wouldn't you want to at least light a candle instead of just cursing the darkness? Read on.