So this is what I’ve been chewing on today…
Today more than 26,500 children will die of preventable causes related to their poverty. And guess what? It will happen again tomorrow… and the next day… and the next. Around 10 million children will be dead in the course of a year.
How do we live with this? How does this not dominate our minds?
Because for the most part it happens on “the ends of the earth.” Let’s be honest. We simply have less empathy for people who live faraway. Richard Stearns said, “Our compassion for others seems to be directly correlated to whether people are close to us socially emotionally, culturally, ethnically, economically, and geographically.”
This makes total sense. It’s why if you hear a child was killed in a car accident you might find it sad, however if the child was one that lives in your neighborhood…one you saw on a regular basis…one who you knew the name of…it would stop you dead in your tracks.
We’re numb toward “the ends of the earth” and yet God has clearly called us to go there. And not JUST go there, but go there with His light.
Check out Pete’s entire post today, and the rest of the Compassion Bloggers in India.
Filed under: Family, God, Quotes | Tags: Abbie Gordon, Church Planting, kids
So far, one of the most interesting things (on a personal note) in our church planting journey has been to watch our kids through this entire process. Our church planting journey has been unique in the fact that we are planting a church in the same community that we have been ministering for the past 3 years. That fact has proven to be confusing at times for the kids. But, we have had the opportunity to have GREAT conversations with them about why we are doing what we’re doing.
When we partnered with Connexion, we were still meeting on Sundays at our Linnwood campus (which is being used for administrative offices, our Hispanic service and some outreach events). When we launced at our Downtown Campus, the kids were getting a little confused–where we going to work at another church? It opened the door to talk about why we are worshipping in a non-traditional venue. It really has opened their eyes…that not everyone “goes to church” or knows who God is or that He loves them.
On the way to Connexion on Sunday, Abbie says, “Mom do all kids go to church and learn about who God is?”
Me- No Abbie, they don’t. That’s why God wants us to share that with the people we know.
Abbie- Well, I think Macy goes to church. She has a cross on her good luck charm bracelet.
Me- Maybe she does Abbie, but there are a lot of people that like to wear crosses on their jewelry. That doesn’t mean that they know God or how much He loves them.
Abbie- (Very seriously) Oh… Well maybe I’ll ask her.
Peyton- You should ask her to come to our church Abbie. Then she’ll know about God…
Abbie- Peyton, she’s only in 1st Grade…she can’t drive there herself!
Filed under: Family, God, Thoughts | Tags: church plant, Jason Gordon, Lafayette, moving
On many occasions I’ve been asked what it’s like being a minister’s wife…the ways people have approached the subject have been as creative as they are varied. From asking if we feel like we live in a fishbowl to questions like “do people just come up and tell you everything about their life?”. My husband has been in ministry for 10 years, and I LOVE being married to someone who has the opportunity to live out his life passion every day!
Possibly the one “downside” is that when God is working on you and your spouse about where he is leading you…it’s not always possible to talk to those around you about it. That has been the case over the past few months, and I apologize for the random…few-and-far-between posts. When the things that are the center of your conversations at home, and with God…and the things you are so excited about are things that can’t be shared publicly…it makes blogging difficult!
Throughout this past year, Jason and I have been challenged about what God’s calling is for us right now. We have been praying, reading, talking to others in ministry, and praying some more about how God wants to use us in His plan. It has been an amazing process of growth and revelation. I never cease to be amazed at how God reveals Himself to those who are seeking him!
So–since Jason has shared the big announcement on his blog, I will share it here. Beginning September 23rd, Jason will come on staff at Connexion Christian Ministries, a new church plant right here in Lafayette! We will be focused on reaching people who are unreached and connecting those who are unconnected. I can’t tell you how excited I am! We are both so passionate about seeing people come to know Christ and enter into an authentic relationship with Him and those who love Him. And the reality is…there are people right here in our community who will never step foot into a church building because of past hurt or simply the unknown…but God still longs for them to know Him! And as Craig Groeschel said so well…If we want to reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing. So we will be joining others who have the same passion and calling to do that very thing right here in our community.
Feel free to head over to Jason’s blog to read more details…and I will share a little more about our journey here as the weeks unfold. Please keep us in your prayers…we are closing on our new home on Tuesday and will be working on the house this week in preparation for our move on Saturday. We are also in the process of raising support for the first two months of Jason’s salary. It’s going to be an exciting new adventure…sometimes a little scary…but I love knowing that we are exactly where God wants us to be!!!
Filed under: God, Thoughts | Tags: bible, bluefish, God, leslie parrott, small group, study, summer, women
Just wanted to share my excitement with you! In two weeks, we’ll be launching several short-term summer life groups at Brady Lane. I’m going to be leading two women’s groups…same study, two different times: one on Wednesday evenings, and one on Thursday mornings- with child care provided at both.
I know several of you have been talking about getting a women’s group together…here’s your opportunity! We will be walking through a study on finding your significance as a woman of God. I’m sure it will be a springboard for a lot of conversation as we all bring our life experiences to the table…and I’m really excited to see what God will do through it!!! You can sign up online, or at church on Sunday!
Sometimes I wonder what God is thinking when he looks down at us all. This morning, I was reading in Genesis and in John…
When God instructed Noah to build an ark, it was because he was so fed up with the evil in the world that he was going wipe out everything and start over again with one family that loved Him. Wiping out every living thing on earth? Drastic action.
When Jesus walked into the temple and saw it filled with loan sharks and people selling livestock, he stormed in, knocked their tables over, yelled at them, chased them out. Why…because of what they had turned God’s house into. Drastic action. And it made people look and question.
So…I wonder what God thinks when he looks down on us. And not just “us” meaning the world, but “us” meaning His church. We can see evil at every turn in this world…violence, injustice, hurt. What does He see when he looks at His church? Jesus walked into temple and said–Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall! What would he say if he walked into your church…our church? Stop turning my Father’s house into a (fill-in-the-blank)…a shopping mall? a social club? an elite group? a checkbox on your weekly to-do list?
I don’t think many people would argue that evil has permeated the world…but after the flood, God promised that never again would he wipe out every living thing and start over…even though He knew that the world would become a sinful, evil place. Instead he sent Jesus. He developed a community of people who walked with Him, and who reached out to those who did not know Him no matter what the cost.
So what are we doing with the charge Jesus left us with? When God looks at “us” what does He think? It is my prayer that He would say–keep up the good work, my good and faithful servant…because we are living with Him and following His call in our life. But if that wouldn’t be his response, what is he calling us to? Drastic action?
Most of us shy away from drastic action, don’t we? We don’t like confrontation…we don’t want to ‘rock the boat’…we don’t like change…it’s easier to be comfortable. I know I certainly have fit into that mold a time or two! But what is God’s answer to the evil of this world? HIM…And how is the world supposed to know who He is and what He can do in their lives…US. He uses us, but we have to be willing to be used by Him.
What drastic action could God be calling you to?
