The Perfect Christmas Gift

This Christmas season, please consider saving the life of a child with a very special gift - life saving food.

Instead of a present that you have to shop for when the person probably already has everything that they need, send them a card instead (with one of our very special replicas of a Kids Against Hunger box).

In the card, share with them you provided Kids Against Hunger food for 216 children in their name! Ask them to do the same for you and pass the blessing around. You can check out the details at http://www.nomorehunger.us/

Kids Learn Quick

I was watching Patch Adams the other day (do you remember that movie from 10 years ago?). His antics in the children’s hospital ward with the bedpans (they became shoes and hats) reminded me of this picture from young boys in Swaziland last January. They had never received Jockeys before and were unsure what to do with these new “gifts” that were brought in just for them. They literally had no idea. Seizing the moment, I modeled one of them as a hat. They understood, smiled and all did the same. Not sure if the women of the village ever got those boys to use them properly.

Kids learn quick. They learn the good and the bad. They learn who loves them and who they need to avoid. Who to trust and who will hurt them. Who is their champion and who cares less about whether they live or die. The greatest of all champions of children was none other than Jesus Himself. Matthew 19:14 is a familiar story to most of you, worth reading again sometime. The children in the scene of this story realized that the Man who was clearly angry with the disciples was defending and protecting them, scolding the adults on their behalf. You really have to study this story carefully (see Mark 10:14). You see, Jesus was indignant (angry) at the attitude of the disciples towards these kids. The disciples wanted the kids out of the way so that the “bible study” could proceed without interruption. And Jesus pulled them up short on how they were treating His children. Right there in this story, captured for all time, is the huge heart of God for children. The disciples were not hurting those children, they just wanted them out of the way as there were far more important issues at hand than the needs of the children (so they thought).

Those kids learned quick that day who God was. After the verbal blast at the disciples, Jesus picked the children up, held them, prayed for them and clearly loved them. How did that event shape their lives? Why did God leave that story in the Bible? How has that event shaped our lives?

Within a short time, a 40’ container loaded with Kids Against Hunger food will be ocean bound for the children in Swaziland (southeast Africa). Lord willing, those 300,000 meals will arrive quickly and without difficulty. Our goal in Swaziland (as with the great team of Northwest Christian Haiti Mission) is to support the local mission teams (Adventure in Missions and Children's Hopechest) who are not only telling children about Jesus but being Jesus to children. They are making disciples of the least of these so that they can change the course of history for them and for their children.

Please consider partnering with us at this time of the year. A $54 gift will purchase the ingredients we need to produce one box of Kids Against Hunger food that will supply 216 life saving meals. Buy a box as a Christmas gift for someone on your shopping list. You can send them a beautiful Christmas card stating that, in their name, a gift was given to A Child's Hope International so that 216 children will have food to eat for one day.

And remember, kids learn quick. Share this lesson of giving with your own kids, your grandkids, and others. You may be warmly surprised in how they respond. Our website has the information you need to donate easily at http://www.achildshopeintl.org/DonateKAH.html

The Conclusion of the Matter

What a beautiful day for an election - absolutely stunning weather. It was great day to see so many at the polls with the democratic process on display for the world to see. Standing there in line I was proud of my country, for our hard fought freedom is an ordained blessing that many in the world do not enjoy.

Over the past 2 years we have all heard more than we can remember about who said what, when and where. Much of what has been said is now reduced to short, sound bytes. However, something I heard yesterday by one of the Presidential candidates has really stuck with me. He said to his supporters that “we have the righteous wind at our back”. Was that a statement of confidence or arrogance? Either way it does not really matter.

You see, after all the counts have been tallied and the winner is announced, there is only one thing that really matters. The bottom line:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Did our votes reflect the fear of the Lord or our righteous wind? Something to ponder as we await the celebration speeches.