A New Fire

It has been almost two weeks since my last post, for that I apologize. We have been learning alot, and have had very little time to process anything. But then, today, something hit me....It was like slowly I was filling up with a combustible gas, and all of a sudden, a spark lit and a new fire arose!

I am honestly writhing in my skin right now! I want to fly back to the mainland, and just TALK and COMMUNICATE to all of you how I feel. We are planning on trying to fly back to Michigan either right after our trip to Panama (September-ish) or during our holiday for Christmas. BUT, if this fire in me keeps up any longer, we may be coming home sooner to speak with you!

Jeanette and I would really like to put on a series of mini awareness conferences at churches around the West Michigan area... I have a lot of material I believe the body of believers NEEDS to know. Too often we throw issues to the outside if they are not totally of the spiritual realm...

There are things going on in this world that HAVE to be addressed. These "issues", which are really people (complete with families, dreams, feelings, and fears), are swarming our world. We are in a hyper state of being right now. Materialism, Oppression, Laziness, War....are all in a very heightened state in our era... These issues MUST be addressed! These issues have casualties!

We as believers especially have to step up! Humanity needs to come together on this. Our world is broken. Since Christ came, we are no longer bound to our national ties...they do not represent our salvation or religion. We are a UNIVERSAL church. 

Too often, we send out missionaries with one goal: salvation by numbers. "As long as you bring back numbers...we are good. Meet your quota..."

We focus on what happens when they die, which is great! We SHOULD be focussing on that! But the problem is, WE LEAVE THEM LIVING IN HELL ON EARTH! As westerners, we would never stand for our own church members or townspeople to be treated in the ways that are so rampant. (Sex slavery, trafficking, child prostitution, famine, displaced people, infanticide)

Jesus Christ himself was involved in social work his whole life. Think about his story from the view point of a person who suffered some form of disease or disorder. In the middle east culture of Jesus' day, these people were totally MARGINALIZED, OPPRESSED, SEPARATED.

In Luke chapters 5-9.... The narrative of Jesus' life is SATURATED with hope and social work.

He heals a leper, a paralyzed man, a man's withered hand, raises two children from the dead, heals a bleeding woman, feeds thousands, and casts demons out of people. Raw, unadulterated aid. Through healing and improvements to peoples situations and lives, they saw the kingdom of God, and felt his power. Many, if not all, received him and believed because of the pure power in unselfish service and devotion of these people. Think "Red Cross" times ten. This man was providing for strangers, healing the sick, and giving hope to the blacklisted of Jewish community.

He was a walking revolution, and we should be too.

When we go to the oppressed and fight for their justice, and do it in the name and service of Jesus Christ, they see the strength and truth of God. They see not only the light of the kingdom of God at the end of the tunnel, but they see it in your face. THAT is TRANSFORMING. 

We as a church, have GOT to step up! In a world that sells their daughters into prostitution for spare change...who else will speak up? Should we not be ashamed our voice has not been heard when these things are going on?

For Christians, bringing justice CANNOT be an exception, it is the RULE!

Isaiah 58:6-10 says, "This is the kind of fasting I want: free those who are wrongly IMPRISONED; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that BIND people. Share your food with the HUNGRY, and give shelter to the HOMELESS. Give clothes to those who NEED them, and do not hide from relatives who need your HELP. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. 'Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the HUNGRY, and help those in TROUBLE. 

THEN your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will become as bright as noon'."

AMEN

This speaks volumes to me, and I hope to you as well. I understand that a lot of us did not or do not know these things are going on in the world....but now that we know we HAVE to do something about them! Listen to God's heart for these people!

Proverbs 31:8-9 says, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice."

Our God is a God of justice, and we are called to do HIS work! Read Psalms 10:18 on your own, I won't throw any more Scripture at you right now. 

We need your help. These people need your help. We can not do it alone. We need the support of the Church. Together, we can bring the kingdom of God to these people...we can BE the Church Christ called us to be. By example, you shall follow. I want you all to understand how dear this is to my heart...and it is only dear to me because it is dear to God's heart. We have to be the CHANGE. It takes an action. It takes people to forcefully advance the kingdom of God! Let us be that change! Let us be the generation that tears down the strongholds of oppression! 

We have the power! Will we hoard it....or will we share it. Empower these people. Show them Christ's love. Show them you care. As ambassadors of Christ, show them HE cares. 

i beg you. they beg you. Christ beg's you