Known the World Over

At this time of the year around the globe there is one name that frequently appears in newspapers, on billboards, in TV ads and letters. An immortal man whose story has been told to people in every land throughout the generations. Many believe that we can learn much about the purpose of life by seeing what he did while on this earth. Many look forward to his coming. And many do not. Some believe that he is just a myth fabricated by the church. Some fear him and many adore him. Known by many names, who is this immortal man?

On this eve of Christmas, I share with you this story credited to Max Lucado from The Angels were Silent.
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Some call him Sinterklaas. Others call him Papa Noel. He’s been known as Hoteiosho, Sonnerklaas, Father Christmas, Jelly Belly, and to most English speakers, Santa Claus. His original name was Nicholas, which means victorious. He was born in 280 A.D. in what is now Turkey. He was an orphan at age nine when his parents died of a plague. Though many would think Santa majored in toy-making and minored in marketing, actually the original Nicholas studied Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine.

He was honored by the Roman Catholic church by being named Bishop of Myra in the early fourth century. He held the post until his death on December 6, 343. History recognized him as a saint, but in the third century he was a bit of a troublemaker. He was twice jailed, once by the Emperor Diocletian for religious reasons, the other for slugging a fellow bishop during a fiery debate. (So much for finding out who is naughty and nice.)

Old Nick never married. But that’s not to say he wasn’t a romantic. He was best known for the kindness he showed to a poor neighbor who was unable to support his three daughters or provide the customary dowry so they could attract husbands. Old Saint Nicholas slipped up to the house by night and dropped a handful of gold coins through the window so the eldest daughter could afford to get married. He repeated this act on two other nights for the other two daughters.

This story was the seed which, watered with years, became the Santa legend. It seems that every generation adorned it with another ornament until it sparkled more than a Christmas tree. The gift grew from a handful of coins to bags of coins. Instead of dropping them through the window, he dropped them down the chimney. And rather than land on the floor, the bags of coins landed in the girls’ stockings which were hanging on the hearth to dry. The centuries have been as good to Nicholas’s image as to his deeds. Not only have his acts been embellished, his wardrobe and personality have undergone transformations as well.
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Back then it was just a few coins in a stocking for a poor child. Today, Saint Nick is "responsible" for $50,000 cars with big red bows on the front lawn of American homes. (P.S. Not here! The largest gift I ever gave Wendy was a clothes dryer when we were first married - a mistake not repeated).

Santa Claus has clearly changed throughout the years. Not so with Jesus Christ. He remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Unlike Father Christmas who comes every year, Jesus is coming back only one more time .

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

Jesus is coming back! May He find each of us Worthy and Working when He comes.
Merry Christmas to All

(this video is awesome! From http://www.adventconspiracy.org/ )

Lines on the Left and the Right

The Christmas season is always a great study in human behavior. Lines everywhere. Clerks going back and forth telling people which lines to be in. Many times people ask me if they are in the right line. I have to think for a moment before I answer. You see, someday everything will stop, we will leave our packages behind and new lines will form on the left and on the right of the Christ of Christmas. What we do now, could etermine the line we will be in then.

In the last sermon recorded by the Matthew, Jesus describes the lines on that day, not as a parable (do not miss this point) but with the frankness of our favorite TV reality show. The lines will form before Him one person at a time. On that day, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. Many of us do not like to hear that. After all, aren’t all “Christians”, the sheep? Aren't all "Christians" saved?

On what basis will He make his selection? The answer surprises many “believers” including church pastors. The test that Jesus will use is pretty simple, Jesus said. “I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

How do we get into the right line? What is the sign of the saved? Their deep and profound scholarship? Their willingness to tithe their income? Their elaborate mission strategies? Their role on a church board? Their skillful sermons laced with Hebrew and Greek words? Their attendance at large and growing church churches? Sorry, but the answer is not necessarily.

I love the way that Max Lucado describes the test:
The sign of the saved is their love for the least.

Max Lucadi says that those on the right hand of God will be those who gave hope to the helpless, food to the hungry, love to the fatherless, drink to the thirsty, warmth to the lonely, clothing to the naked, comfort to the sick, and friendship to the imprisoned, etc. Those "Christians" who did not - are on the left. I tend to agree with him.

Jesus lives in the lives of the forgotten. He has taken up residence in the ignored and the poor. If we want to see Jesus we must go among the lonely, the single mom doing life alone, the child in foster care, the broken and busted people of life and there we will see Him. If you want to see Jesus, then you must be willing to go where He is. And He is very much alive this day here and around the world.

Have you seen Jesus lately? If not, perhaps you are in the wrong line.

To be honest, once you are with the poor and forgotten, especially the children, the Christian life is given new meaning and purpose. Doing church as normal loses its significance. Sadly, many who will attend church this week, are in the wrong line and do not know it. This Christmas as we stop for just a day to recall His birth, remember the “inauguration” speech that Jesus gave in the temple in Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me, the Anointed One, the Messiah, to preach the good news, the Gospel, to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed, those who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity. To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord, the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound.

The sign of the saved is their love for the least. I believe that.

Merry Christmas.

Looking at Eternity Through a Keyhole

I have to admit that there have been many days of late when I am completely unsure of what is next for A Child's Hope International. Oh, I am convinced of the mission for orphans and vulnerable children. No problem there. The doubt comes from within. It is fear of the unknown.

When the fear comes, the mind goes into overdrive. The mind says that ... there is no way to care for the children of the world when you cannot take care of your own. How do we pay the mortgage? Or health insurance? Or get ready for the weddings of the girls in this home (4 left)? Or college? Retirement funds? House repairs? Car repairs? The list goes on.

Our family income has shrunk over 75% since we left Hope Church last May. That is a cold water reality and when you are cold, your knees shake. And when they shake, you are unable to run the race set before you.

Our 401k's have been slashed in 1/2. Our house has shrunk in value. We want to sell but we can’t. Somehow those things become larger than life. The losses can distort reality and blur the vision of what is really before us. As a result, it is easy to see eternity only through the narrow lens of a keyhole.

The reality is something that Dave Wilkinson mentioned in "A Life God Rewards" when he said that everything we do today, matters forever. Everything!

There is a direct link between what we do today and what we will experience after we die. Astoundingly, the majority of spiritual seekers around the world - including millions who follow Jesus Christ - seemed to have missed what He said. At times, I have been one of them because of fear:

• Our eternal destiny is the result of what we believe on earth
• Our eternal reward is the result of how we behave on earth

Amidst all of the losses and the doubts of tomorrow, the reality is that Wendy and I are blessed beyond measure. We still have something in savings for the future and we have a home. Even far more important is that our eternal destination is secure without any doubt!

Eternity is far greater than what I have seen through the keyhole of my own fear. May the Lord forgive me for my doubt, my fear and my hesitation to let go of all of what is on this side of the keyhole.

Today, God used a poignant video about Sam & Esther to refocus our vision on His children and I clearly heard His voice say “The children are waiting - where are you?" After you click the play button, let me know what you think at lebergeron@achildshopeintl.org

Sam and Esther's Story

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.

Sing a Little Louder Please

Good morning friends. Keep this message going across America for the truth must be told. The following ad is verifiably true; his speech at the Planned Parenthood convention was applauded loudly– and then they gave a sizeable gift to his campaign. One of his very first actions as President will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act – remove parental notifications, restore the right to partial birth abortions and on it goes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf0XIRZSTt8

When was the last time our Church leaders stood up and took a bold, clear stand for the Sanctity of Life? Are they saying anything about this concerted attack on the unborn? Are they standing on the watchtowers (their pulpits) and teaching, leading and preparing their people on biblical truth before next Tuesday?

I could be wrong but it seems that many within the Church do not believe that the Sanctity of Life is important at all and that this candidate will be the best thing for our country as he will bring jobs, prosperity, peace, etc. What is even more tragic is that this candidate knows that black children are being disproportionally wiped out by abortion in our cities and that Planned Parenthood was founded (by Margaret Sanger) on the goal of wiping out the black race! That was the mission of Margaret Sanger – read it.

What saddens me is that the Church is silent and remains silent for the most part.

In the German holocaust when the trains packed with Jews passed by the church on the way to the prison camps, the people in the church were instructed to sing a little louder so that they would not hear the cries from the train.

This is the last Sunday before the election – will we hear anything or see anything in the pulpit that leads the Church on this matter of grave, biblical importance? Or will the Church just sing a little louder and say what a wonderful service that was?

Treasures Hidden in Secret Places

We have a short time to go before our national elections and the pundits have already claimed the victor. Their projections may be accurate. There are many serious issues within our country at the moment and all of the candidates are doing their best to “scratch the itch” that will get them elected (the economy, taxes, healthcare, jobs, etc). There is a greater issue though than any of those listed. It is an issue of profound and eternal implication. It is the Sanctity of Life – and one candidate – the popular media candidate – the projected winner – the one many believe is so charismatic - will likely change the playing field as he appoints liberal Supreme Court justices in his term. And here is where some of you reading this will vehemently disagree with me – his election will be a mistake. A huge mistake. And the Church is disturbingly silent. As a result, many Christians are no different than non-Christians in their worldviews and their actions.

There is no greater value than human life and that life from womb to tomb should be treasured and protected. Our family heard a church pastor say this from his pulpit very clearly last Sunday. Thank God for his courage. Many pastors and church leaders do not say anything for they fear the opinion of their people, the backlash from their community and even the dip in the offering plate.

The divine value of human life transcends anyone’s right to chose whether an infant lives or dies or for the government to legislate the “appropriate” end of life. We need men and women who will defend life at all costs and not give in to the politically correct media or their partisan base of donors. When life is destroyed at our discretion, we are destroying the treasures that the Lord has provided to bless us. We are denying God His sovereignty and taking our place on His throne.

I will give you treasures hidden in dark and secret places. Then you will know that I, the Lord God of Israel, have called you by name (Isaiah 45:3)

Our culture has shifted (sunk) so much that we are willing to destroy the “treasures hidden in dark and secret places” for reasons that may be personal, financial, convenient, political or otherwise. And that is both tragic and wrong. In our “enlightenment”, we believe that we are the author of life. Wrong.

We are not the creator of life, we are only instruments used for the reproduction of human life. Ask any couple who agonizingly waits for the child they do not have, and you will know that we have no real control over when life begins. The Lord does. He alone is the creator of the “treasures hidden in dark and secret places”. He alone determines when the treasures are hidden in the secret places of a woman’s body. Life begins and the treasure is formed long before the woman even knows of it!

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:15-16)

To acknowledge this truth about the value of life takes courage in the face of mocking crowds, laughter and ridicule. The leader who takes this stand to protect the treasures hidden in secret places will be recognized by the Lord. The leader who does not will be judged. As a democratic country, we the people decide who leads. We alone have a choice for what our future will be. Dark and dreary or full of life.

The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain
(2 Samuel 23:3-4)

The opposite of 2 Samuel is equally true if our leaders deny God His throne and permit destruction of His treasures hidden in secret places. The American people will decide their fate soon.

FDIC Insurance

The ground underneath everyone is shaking. Housing values and sales are plummeting. Retirement funds are shrinking fast. Jobs are disappearing. Confidence in our government to make wise decisions is evaporating daily. Every day, a new financial crisis arises. Major corporations have their hands out for help. And, to be honest, the national elections hold little promise for real change. Our nation is leaning towards one candidate who is unprepared for the magnitude of these problems placing their unfounded confidence in his non-experience. Many Americans are thankful however, that the U.S. established the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) to protect our savings in U.S. banks. How secure is the FDIC?

The FDIC has a watch list for an additional 117 "at risk" banks that are in danger of collapse. A recent article stated that by the end of 2009, about 100 U.S. banks with collective assets of more than $800 billion will fail. In the event of a large-scale banking emergency, the FDIC will be unable to cover all the accounts covered, which would require tapping additional Treasury funds, all at taxpayers' expense and amounting to trillions of dollars.

When the FDIC runs dry, instead of millions of dollars or even billions of dollars, the US will need trillions of dollars to help keep our financial system from total collapse. How much is a trillion?
A million seconds is 12 days.
A billion seconds is 31 years.
A trillion seconds is 31,688 years.

We are talking about trillions as if we have a good understanding of what a trillion of anything really is. We don’t. A billion minutes ago was just after the time of Christ. It boggles my mind what a trillion of anything, never mind dollars, must be.

In case you haven’t noticed, we are in serious trouble and we are very vulnerable. Nothing that we have on deposit is safe from this “perfect storm” brought on by unprecedented corporate greed, fraud, morally bankrupt politicians, and flagrant consumerism. Nothing that is but one thing.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come
(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

What an incredible promise! The Holy Spirit lives within us as a deposit for what is to come – the glory of heaven, peace and unfathomable joy. This is the ultimate FDIC Insurance – the Finest Deposit Insured by Christ – given to us when Jesus Christ paid all of the debt of our sins. Who needs the U.S. FDIC when we have His FDIC? He guaranteed what is to come and nothing can take that deposit away when we are right with Christ. Are you?

Friends, in these days of incredible uncertainty, of unparalleled hopelessness seen in so many, we need to smile and be ready to share the reason for hope that we have.

Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope (1 Peter 3:15)

In times of economic hardship, there is a large, vulnerable segment of the world population that suffers greatly – the children. As people struggle without hope, more children become abused and at risk. Some go hungry, some starve and others suffer physically and emotionally. Foster care placements increase as more children are in peril. We can dwell on our own problems or we can become a channel of hope for these children. After all, we have incredible, eternal and glorified FDIC Insurance!

I invite you to view a short video on A Child's Hope International at this web address http://www.achildshopeintl.org/HomePage.html Click on the play button and then let us know what you think. A Child's Hope International exists because the children are waiting. Will you join us in this mission?

The Day After

The door on the loading dock closed late Sunday afternoon at the vacant Kroger Store in Liberty Township. As the last of the volunteers left, we locked the front door and then headed home. To be honest, it was hard to believe what happened these past few days. The Kids Against Hunger team started loading and preparing the “move in” on Thursday and did not stop until the “move out” on Sunday. No pay. No wonderful dinners served while working. No crowds cheering them on. No pictures on the front page of the Cincinnati Enquirer. But they understand the Treasure Principle well – their rest and rewards will come later. Here is what this team accomplished after many long hours of personal sacrifice:

Well over 1000 people of all ages came and packed Kids Against Hunger packets for the orphans and starving children of Haiti
14 tons of rice, 7 tons of soy, 1 ton of vitamins/minerals and over 50,000 cups of dried vegetables were used
There was nothing left to pack as of 7:30 PM Saturday night – the supplies were exhausted
Nearly 49 pallets of food were jammed into the shipping container – the goal was 40 pallets
As a result, the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission will receive 348,000 meals (the goal was 285,000)

As we planned the Haiti Pack-A-Thon, many people took me aside at various times, and remarked (well intentioned) Are we to go and spend that much? Their questions were valid as the expense for the supplies alone to feed the children of Haiti were great. And now the day after, our financing challenge has moved quite a bit higher than budgeted (at 25¢ a meal, do the math and see what I mean). And with that, this story comes to mind:

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages. Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" (Mark 6:35-37)

I believe that the words of Jesus to His disciples are just as valid today as they were then when they faced a hungry crowd of people (about 20,000 men, women and children). You give them something to eat. The disciples must have looked at one another with eyes of disbelief at what He said. Back then, I would have reacted the same way I suppose. Are we to go and spend that much? They must have been thinking: We have plans for the money we do have and this project of yours was not one of those plans.

Admittedly, I could be wrong and I should not have planned the Haiti Pack-A-Thon until all of the funds were in hand. It may have been safer that way. But what is a child worth? For me and the Kids Against Hunger team, knowing that 1 child dies from hunger every 6 seconds creates a sense of urgency. Children are the image bearers of Christ for the next generation. There is only one entity that wants them to perish. Can you guess who that is?

I believe by faith that the Lord will provide what is needed – just in time – as He stirs the hearts of people and His church to give. Back then, the miracle was a small boy’s lunch providing food for 20,000 people. Today, it is just money that is needed. He has already provided the food!

348,000 life saving meals will leave today for Haiti – the day after He demonstrated another incredible miracle of multiplication – countless volunteers filling small bags with 22 tons of life saving food. If you were there, thank you. If you gave, thank you. If you prayed, thank you. If you sent a word of encouragement to the team, thank you. You were part of the miracle.

And thank you Lord for what you have done and will do over these next few days as we wait upon You.

Reality Check

A small team of us just returned from the northwest area of Haiti in preparation for the Haiti Pack-A-Thon this weekend. It is hard to describe the sheer magnitude of the poverty and brokenness of the people there. As a result of this trip, I am even more appreciative of the efforts of mission groups like the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission (and others) that are standing in the gap for these people. To be honest, their sacrifices humble me.

There are far too few relief groups on the ground and their challenges are greater than we can imagine because the needs are so great. How great? The attached story gives you a glimpse into the life a Haitian child. It is something we need to understand and grapple with. Children given away because their parents love them enough to suffer the pain of not seeing them again so that their children may live. The story is a reality check about what love means. Amy Carmichael once said that you can give without loving BUT you cannot love without giving.


As I read the Miami Herald article and held the children in Haiti, I wondered what the Lord must be thinking about the poverty, the magnitude of the suffering and the injustice. And I remembered that Isaiah 59 has a lot to say about justice. Worth reading and as you do, remember this. God the Father could not love without giving ~ and He did ~ He gave His Son away for us so that we may live.

God looked and saw evil looming on the horizon, so much evil and no sign of Justice. He couldn't believe what he saw: not a soul around to correct this awful situation. So he did it himself, took on the work of Salvation, fueled by his own Righteousness. He dressed in Righteousness, put it on like a suit of armor, with Salvation on his head like a helmet, Put on Judgment like an overcoat , and threw a cloak of Passion across his shoulders. Isaiah 59:15-16

The Haiti Pack-A-Thon starts this Friday. Saturday sessions are full but you can fill a session on Friday and help us achieve the goal of nearly 300,000 Kids Against Hunger meals for the children of Haiti. We are also very short of the needed funds to pay for these supplies and ask that you prayerfully consider what you or your church can do to help.

If you do not have the time to come or the funds to donate, please consider a word of encouragement. I will share your thoughts with the Kids Against Hunger team in Cincinnati and the missionaries on the field. They are an awesome group of servants giving of themselves for the children.

The Light Switch

Many of you know that I was not always a follower of Christ. Oh, I knew of Him from a young age but only from a distance. That changed back in 1990. Since then, my desire to follow Him has not changed although my sense of what that means surely has. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ can be very easy. Being a follower of Jesus Christ is not so easy.

• When you follow Him, you go to places that are hard and challenging
• When you follow Him, you give away things of value
• When you follow Him, you end up trusting in Him although you can’t see Him
• When you follow Him, you join a special forces unit like the Navy Seals, engaged in a battle for the hearts, minds and souls of the lost
• When you follow Him, your heart hurts more than you want it to - often
  

There is a big difference between being a disciple of Christ and a fully devoted, sold out follower of Christ. The former is easy and the latter is not.

As we get closer to the Haiti Pack-A-Thon, the magnitude of what must be done for the children of Haiti takes my breath away. Many that I approach for help are busy that weekend, some are not interested, others shrug their shoulders, some say that the poor are not their mission field. Some comment that the children need to learn to feed themselves (duh). So I go to the next door, the next contact and the next church asking for volunteers and donations. I confess that after the doors close, I wonder why I am doing this? Why am I asking our Kids Against Hunger leaders to keep giving and working so hard? Deep inside I know the answer. The light that we carry shines on the One we are following so others will see where to go.

The Lord reminded me why we started A Child's Hope International and why Kids Against Hunger exists in what Isaiah wrote long ago:

“…if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10)

There we go again. The difference between a casual disciple and a fully devoted follower. It costs something to be sold out for Jesus Christ. Add that one to the list

Many years after Isaiah, Jesus spoke these words:

You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lamp stand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven
(Matthew 5:14-16)

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with more than 50% of her population surviving on less than $1 a day and almost 45% of her people under 18 years of age. One child out of twelve dies before the age of five, from starvation, preventable diseases, and water-related illnesses.

Isaiah said that if we spend ourselves for the hungry our light will shine. Jesus said make your light shine. So here is the important question?

How is your light doing?

The Haiti Pack-A-Thon is Sept 26-27 http://www.achildshopeintl.org/Haiti.html Could this be the light switch you have been looking for?

Learn to do good

When leaders lead well, others are lifted up. When leaders lead poorly, others are held down.

One difference between good and bad leaders is this: bad leaders lack conviction, courage and concern for others. They are more concerned about protecting their ground (like position, power, and prestige) than in helping others get to higher ground. Know of any leaders like that?

This is a not a political message but there was something said last night by John McCain that stayed with me. Near the close of his speech he said:

Feed a hungry child…Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier, because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.

I see parallels from Isaiah 1:17

… Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans…

Humble leaders lead by example and personal sacrifice– they have conviction, courage and concern for others – getting others to higher ground. Prideful leaders are more interested in what keeps them in power on their ground. The Lord had a lot to say about prideful, Pharisaical leaders (Isaiah 1:15-17 from the Message Paraphrase)

Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings - meetings, meetings, meetings- I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out! I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I'll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I'll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you've been tearing people to pieces… Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don't have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Isaiah 1:15-17

Look at that short phrase “learn to do good” carefully. To learn something requires repetition, practice. You don’t just read about doing good – you do good. Good leaders and those that follow them have conviction, courage and concern for others. As a result, others are lifted up. Isaiah’s message is profoundly simple.

The children in Haiti are malnourished and starving to death. You can help. Volunteer just 2 hours of your time to pack Kids Against Hunger meals at the Haiti Pack-A-Thon on Sept 26-27. You can register at http://achildshopeintl.org/Haiti.html . If you have funds, spend them. Each Kids Against Hunger meal is produced for 25¢ and the 285,000 we have planned for Haiti will need funds.

Learn to do good. Makes sense to me.

Too Soon To Quit

Have you had times in your life (perhaps recently) when the idea of packing it in and quitting seemed like a good thing? There have been some interesting political candidates who perhaps felt that way at one time or another. Hopefully Sarah Palin will not. Dan Quayle did. Do you remember Ross Perot? Although I thought him to be somewhat strange, he did say something rather profound: "Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot away from a winning touchdown."

A Child's Hope International has a clear mission (you can read it on our web site). Although it is clear, the mission is hard and it takes work. Especially when we try and focus the time, talents and treasures of others on helping children who cannot help themselves. Seems like it is a lot easier to do nothing than to do something good.

On this subject, the Apostle Paul encouraged us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)
I like how Steve May reflects upon this. The "proper time" sometimes takes a little longer to arrive than we like. And sometimes it feels like the proper time will never arrive. This is when we need to engage our faith. It's when we need to determine to dig in and stick around a little longer. It's never a good time to quit.

The Christian life -- and more specifically, the ministry -- consists of overcoming one defeat after another. That's because we're in a spiritual battle and everyday we confront the enemy. We may lose a little ground from time to time, but we will not lose the war. We have been promised victory -- a harvest of righteousness -- if we do not give up. It's always too soon to quit even when others we know and have trusted, have quit on us. The excuses they offer can be real sources of discouragement but only if we let that happen.

We have updated the web site (http://www.achildshopeintl.org/) with information about the Haiti Pack-A-Thon on Sept 26-27. Take a look and let me know what you think. Through the incredible devotion of the Kids Against Hunger team, Kroger Stores have loaned their vacant store in Liberty Township to us for the Pack-A-Thon . The Apostle Paul was right, let us not become weary in doing good . I believe that we will pack nearly 300,000 meals that weekend for the children of Haiti. Many of the Coalition of Care churches will be there along with others from the community. We will reap a harvest if we do not give up. I like that.

Safe Keeping

Friends, we have updated the web site with a brief video on the ministry. Please let me know your thoughts and if the audio is clear.

http://www.achildshopeintl.org/HomePage.html

A few of us are making a short visit to the mission in Haiti, 10 days before the Sept Pack-A-Thon. We heard tonight that the local missionary met with some of the people in the community earlier this year and promised them food. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get 1 ½ containers of food (420,000 meals) per year for them. We will be shipping (Lord willing) 1 full container of Kids Against Hunger food at the end of Sept to them (280,000 meals). We all recognize that the Lord answered his prayer – and the work of evangelism, church planting and disciple making will go forth in the slums and poverty stricken areas of Haiti because of what that missionary is doing.

Remember, we are to be found both worthy and working when He comes. So be sure that what God has entrusted you with is not in the ground (or the bank, or in your hand, or in your mind, etc) for safe keeping. Some keep what they have, safe for an unknown greater cause. If it is the “ground” when He returns, what will you say? If it is in your mind but you never got around to being involved, what will you say? If it is in your hand and you could not let go because you were not sure if there were a better investment, what will you say? Principles, polices and practices can be good tools but they can become unwieldy and deadly tools when they act as shovels as we hide the “talents” in the ground waiting for the perfect time to release them. The Bible speaks clearly this way:

The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.' "The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. "'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.' (Matthew 25:24-30)

The One who spoke still speaks, the One who came still comes.

Great and Mighty Things

One of my favorite teachers is Charles Stanley who once said that the Spirit-controlled life begins with an overwhelming realization that we are absolutely helpless and hopeless apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Until that one simple truth grips us at the core of our being, we will never experience the power of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because we will always be out there doing things for God in our strength.

In recent weeks, I have struggled with the magnitude of what A Child's Hope International is trying to do for children. I have labored in the dark with these thoughts some days:
the problem is larger than I thought, we are too small, the donations are a trickle, the criticisms are loud, the doubts are daily, some friends have left, what I don’t know exceeds what I do know, this was a mistake, I am not making enough to provide for this family, etc.

But then I have to admit that God has been very faithful:
that good things are happening, problems are being solved, there are volunteers every week at the Kids Against Hunger Factory, that Berean Christian Stores provided a place, the funds have come in to buy tons of food, that Wendy and I have been blessed by the support of gracious people, that I am working for a few hours as a hospice chaplain

I can do absolutely nothing – I must be reminded each day of that truth! But the Lord can AND He will because He cares more for the orphan, the poor and hungry than I do

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

Last Thursday, Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and their group called Orphans Promise committed to covering the expense and transport of a 40’ container to Haiti to feed the hurting children there. They will come to the Kids Against Hunger Factory in West Chester for the story. That container will hold 280,000 meals; the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission group will be the recipients. Besides 40 pallets of Kids Against Hunger food, we will include additional humanitarian relief supplies (shoes, sneakers, simple clothes, meds). There are dentists we know that want to take their first missions trip and Haitian children need them.

A Sept Pack-A-Thon (24 hour event) is being planned to pack these 280,000 meals with the hands of hundreds of volunteers working in shifts. You will be invited to participate in this great and mighty thing for the glory of God. Will you help?

Look for West Timor in the Bible

Dear friends, I spoke with our contact today at Kids Against Hunger in New Hope, MN regarding supplies for our Cincinnati operation. Another few tons are on the way for us. He mentioned that the U.S. Navy is arranging for a 40’ sea born container to be picked up from the Detroit satellite of Kids Against Hunger for delivery to Nicaragua in Central America. That is 40 pallets of food – over 280,000 meals. That container will not satisfy the need for Nicaragua. Nor will it for Haiti, Ethiopia, Bukina Faso, Swaziland, Malawi, Honduras, or West Timor. Have you read of West Timor in the Bible?

The situation in West Timor is this:

• West Timor in Indonesia faces a human crisis


• Severe drought brought on by repeated drought has destroyed crops


• Aid groups say they're seeking international help to address the issue


• More than 50 percent of children under 5 in West Timor are suffering from malnutrition. In some areas it's as high as 70 percent -- a higher percentage than areas of Africa.
  (More of the story can be found at

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/06/westtimor.children/ )

One could argue that there is no need for a Kids Against Hunger Cincinnati operation. I asked that of myself over one year ago now. Yet, if you look at the facts, there has to be a Cincinnati operation – there are believers here. Over 4 million people are added each year to the “roster” of those that are starving and malnourished. Despite the giants of the compassion industry being involved, the problem of mass starvation is not going away. Perhaps there is a global solution downstream at some point but for now, hunger hurts. And children suffer the worse as a result.

These verses have been a source of conviction. Wendy showed me the first and I have not forgotten this one:

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

(Proverbs 3:27-28)

If you have any doubt about how to interpret “neighbor”, see Luke 10:25

And this one is often forgotten in favor of the “famous” one of John 3:16 - it is 1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18)

It is my hope that as we continue that others will find West Timor in the Bible and be blessed beyond measure as they respond.

Hunger Pains

Dear friends, as some of you know, May 16 was my last day at Hope Church which closes this chapter of the book Wendy, the family and me have been working on. The chapter ended differently that the way that I saw the story unfolding – working as a pastor until whenever. But that happens as well we know. God writes the chapters without asking permission many times! While I was “writing”, He took the pen and scribed the last words – they said GO.

We are working on completing the 501c3 non-profit status so that we can receive funds (tax deductible) and operate as a non-profit, under a new para-church ministry called, A Child's Hope International (www.achildshopeintl.org). It is all about providing compassion and care for the children of the world. A huge mission field – in many cases an un-reached people group.

A Child's Hope International addresses four channels of care: adoption, orphan care, foster care and humanitarian relief. There are 143 million orphans in the world today, nearly 600,000 in the US. Over 30,000 children around the world die each day from basic food and water. These are crazy numbers. The problems are so immense some ask us what can we, as a new, tiny and unknown ministry do? We look like a mime you see on TV acting out a pantomime "feeling" our way along an invisible wall trying to find a way to go. Can you visualize that? But God said GO.

Everywhere we look in the news these days, starvation and rampant hunger is everywhere. Children are suffering and we all know that – the media is doing a good job of keeping it before us all the time. The attached photo is of a little orphan girl that I met in Swaziland just 3 months ago - her eyes were so large and yet filled with loneliness. Her kinky black hair was turning blond near her scalp because of malnutrition. These kids look healthy in some ways but they are all malnourished. Very little protein or vitamins. Mostly starch and "belly fillers" made up of corn maize. While there, we cooked the Kids Against Hunger food in the fields in black kettle pots and fed many children each day. Each child also got a cup of warm water – in some cases walked in many km away. The missionaries there and the people we worked with were so excited about getting Kids Against Hunger shipped in from Hope Church. And now it is greatly disappointing to tell them that our church would not to be involved as there are other priorities at the moment of concern to them. But I am eager to tell them that A Child's Hope International will be there, Lord willing and soon. And God said GO.

I have been to China, to Russia, to Swaziland and the children look the same – perhaps wrapped in a different garment – but beautiful and with a soul that the Lord breathed life into. I cannot do church as normal anymore.

For the children. For His glory.