Stop And Look Around, Someone's In Need

I don't know about you but my life is speeding by at warp speed. I have what seems to be million things on my to do list and only 24 hours in each day to get them done. Somehow, I think if I had 72 hours in my day I would somehow manage to need a few hours more. Lets face it, most of us live very busy lives. We've got work to do, a mortgage to pay, housework to do, yard work to do, children to take care of, shopping to get done, baseball or ballet practice to get our kids to, phone calls to make, people to text, emails to send, and on and on the list goes. And just when we think we've got a handle on it all, little Johnny decides he wants to play football this year, or little Jennie wants to join the swim team.

Life at warp speed! That's what it often feels like. And, sitting down and taking a breath only happens when we manage to put it on the calendar. I'm not sure if its good or bad, but its definitely become the way so many of us do life. Last week, I had a lot going on. My schedule was crazy and I was busy trying to get everything done that I needed to get done. Somewhere in the middle of all that was going on, my wife asks me if I had seen what had happened in Alabama and some other states in the south. I told her that all I knew was that some tornadoes had hit the area. Several times that week she mentioned to me that she wanted us to do something to help. "Maybe we can load up our car full of supplies and drive there," she said. "If all we do is load up our car with bottled water, that's the least we can do."

As I listened to her, I thought to myself there's a lot on my plate right now and I can't just stop and take a trip to Alabama. Of course, I still had no idea as to the severity of the destruction having not watched the news coverage. Then, finally on Saturday I sat down for a few minutes and began watching some news coverage of areas hit by the tornadoes. I remember being brought to tears as I watched one story after another. As I sat there, I couldn't help but think how unimportant my to-do list was compared to the devastation that had hammered that region of our country. I couldn't help but think how sad it was that I had been so caught up in my world that I hadn't even given these people a thought.

How many times do we do that? We have this mind set that tornadoes hit places all the time. And if its not tornadoes then its hurricanes or floods or earthquakes. We hear all the disasters that hit around the world and I think we often get to a place where we are just thankful its not us. Of course, we feel sorry for those having to deal with it, but how often are we moved to action? Perhaps we say a little prayer and talk about it with our friends and family but how often are we so moved by the hurt and hopelessness of others that we jump up to the plate to do something?

Certainly there is something each one of us can do. Several years ago there was a house near us that was being built. The foundation was poured and the frame was up. Apparently there was an issue with the foundation and the framing had to be taken down. The lumber sat there for months. My then 4 year old son who had on his own sent money to help to a ministry to build water wells and homes in third world countries had a great idea. "Dad, why don't we give that wood to the mailman to take to Mr. James on TV. That way he can build more homes for those kids who don't have a home."

Ok, so maybe we can't give lumber to the mailman, but certainly there is something that each of us can do. Maybe all we can do is spare $10. That'll buy a couple cases of water. Maybe all we can do is go through our closet and fill up a box or two of clothes to give to those whose closets were blown into the next county. Maybe all we can do is fill up a couple of ziploc bags with toothpaste, tooth brushes, soap, etc. Perhaps, you can afford to buy some towels or bedding and send to those who need them. Maybe you can give a weeks vacation to go and spend time there helping that community clean up the wreckage and rebuild.

My 8-year-old and 5 year-old went through their closet a couple of days ago and picked out clothes and toys that they want to give to children who have lost everything. Needless to say, we are way passed loading up our car as we now have moved to filling up a trailer. I'm just thinking each one of us, regardless of where we find ourselves in life can do something.

Saturday as I sat there watching that news coverage, I repented of being so self-consumed as to not hear the cries of those in need. I grabbed my computer and determined to connect with a local church there who is already engaged in ministering to that community. Through my communication with them I've discovered a snapshot of the need there. That snapshot alone is overwhelming. Both individually and as a church we have determined to do whatever we can to bring help and hope to people who desperately need it.

Yes, part of that means interrupting our calendars momentarily. It means giving of ourselves and giving of our stuff. I've just come to the realization that if my calendar and my to-do list is so important as to render me deaf to the cries of those in need, perhaps my calendar needs an overhaul. And if my bank account can't cough up a few bucks to help then my spending habits need an overhaul.

As I'm writing this today, the words to a song I've recently heard keep playing in my head. "Cause I don't want to live like I don't care, I don't want to say another empty prayer. Oh, I refuse, to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself. Oh, I could choose not to move, but I refuse" The truth is we often see tragedies like this and figure someone else will help, and they do. I'm just not ok with living life like that. Trust me, if all of us engaged in helping somehow and someway, there is plenty of need to go around. If you want to know how you can help, give me shout.

Let's See Will It Be 8-Track or Cassette

Do you remember 8-track tapes? Ok, so I'm dating myself, but yes I remember them. I even remember the 8-track tapes that I had. I won't bore you with that bit of data, but I'm pretty sure I could list them all. I remember popping them in a listening to the songs. I remember getting to the end of a track and if the song wasn't over there would be that little pause as the 8-track player would switch tracks and then the song would continue. It was a bit odd, but it was the best technology we had. Afterall, it would have been really difficult to drive down the road trying to play an LP or a 45 in the car. You think the early CD players in cars skip a lot!

Anyway, I remember working one summer mowing lawns in order to save up money to buy a new stereo. I had the perfect one picked out. It would be one with an 8-track player, turn-table, AM/FM radio, and the biggest speakers I could find. It was going to be awesome. I gave my money to my Dad who was going to pick it up on his way home. I couldn't wait. I was going to rock the house. Then, when he got home, the stereo looked a little different. I didn't see a place to play my 8-track tapes. For some reason the 8-track tape player had been replaced by this little bitty thing called a cassette player. I was devastated. Ok, maybe not devastated but definitely angry. Never mind, that this was a dual cassette player and this new technology could actually record. Its not what I wanted. I wanted an 8-track player.

I'm sure my Dad was taken back by my reaction. Afterall, he had just purchased something far superior to 8-track tape technology. This was cutting edge stuff. He had even thrown in a few bucks for the upgrade. It was the best thing on the market. And unlike me, he knew 8-tracks were about to be history. Sure, it wasn't what I wanted but it was better. It was the best. And that's the way my Dad always was. He always attempted to do what was best for us, even though it might not be what we wanted.

It kind of reminds me of our Heavenly Father a bit. He's really good at giving us what He knows is best for us, rather than just always giving us what we want. Years ago, Garth Brooks recorded a song that had the line in it, "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayer." It's a song about those crazy prayers we pray when we want something but God in his infinite wisdom knows all too well, that the thing we are praying for will not benefit us. Have you ever prayed those kind of prayers? Let's face it, there are a great deal of things we long for and even pray for, that its better for us never to have them. Those desires for things that are birthed as a result of our selfish lusts that in the end they prove to be so empty and unsatisfying when we get them.

I know Scripture tells us that God will give us the desires of our heart, and that's the way some of us quote that scripture. We totally forget the part that says, "If we will delight ourselves in the Lord." I actually think we often misunderstand the whole scripture to be completely honest. I think the context of the scripture indicates that He'll place new desires, His desires in our heart. After all, Scripture also tells us that he'll take out our heart of stone and give us a new one.

The truth is, God longs to bless His children. Sometimes that blessing is not always exactly what we want. But He sees the big picture. He knows what lies up the road for us. He knows what we need which always trumps what we want. Sure, there are times when He lays something in our lap that leaves us scratching our heads and wondering what He's up too, but we can rest assured He knows what He's doing.

As the pastor of a small church, my wife Lori and I are on the adventure of a life time. It's the biggest leap of faith I've ever experienced. There are literally times we have to believe God for our needs to be met. That's not a complaint, its actually an incredible place to be. It is a time in our life that I wouldn't give for anything in the world. The growth in both of us has been incredible. It's not been easy, but man, its been great. Naturally there are things we would love to have. Things we both desire. However, when we are blessed, I'm talking over and above what we need, I have to admit, what I want often takes a back seat. There is constantly an inner struggle inside of me when I know that literally every minute of every day there is a child somewhere in the world that dies because of the lack of food. Or, that every day somewhere in the world there are hundreds of children, not all that different than my two, that are sold into a life a sex trafficking. Or, that somewhere out there hundreds of children are orphaned every singe day. I struggle with appeasing my wants at the expense of just one of these little ones.

I'm not a saint. I often spring for the 8-track tape player because that's what I want. Thank God though there are those shining moments when His desires win out in me and I'm ok with the cassette player, the better thing. I'm not writing this to be judgmental or critical, I'm just sharing my heart this week and what I often struggle with. It is true that God is constantly at work in my heart trying to remove the desires of my heart so that He can give me the desires of His heart. I just long for the day when its no longer a struggle to opt for God's desires rather than mine. Perhaps, that'll take place the day I leave this planet, but hopefully along the journey the struggle gets easier and easier.

My Dad's decision turned out to be the right one in the long run. It wasn't long and 8-track tapes were gone. That stereo lasted me well into the CD era. My Dad wasn't perfect but that day He was spot on. Our heavenly Father on the other hand is perfect and is always spot on. I can only pray that when He's offering me His best I am willing to run with that rather than insist on the stuff I want.