The Impact of Books

Has anyone "A Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns? It has made a huge impact on me and I'm trying find ways to be more conscious of the world around me. Thus the 40 Day Water Project which has already raised over $6000 in 2 days to help people in Uganda have fresh water. And then there is Nelson, pictured above, who we will be sponsoring. Don't you think he looks a bit like Isaac?

Yesterday while I was in my meetings Tony was in Barnes and Noble and he found the book Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks. He's been talking about it ever since.

Having a larger perspective is something I want to work on with the kids, but I realize that my world is pretty selfish. I woke this morning to check Facebook on my phone and saw the news about the earthquake in Japan and the pending Tsunami and realized that while there is a sense of concern and a need for my prayers, it won't affect me much today.

It's as though the rest of the world is out there -- needing us to be God's hands and feet -- and we simply sit comfortably, with an occasional nod to them. And when we know someone in those places then we are more alarmed. And when it is possible that our country might be affected, even more alarm.

But the reality of it all is that there is a whole world out there full of desperate people every day ... but for some reason we can ignore them most of the time.

The best quote in the book is anonymous and it says,

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, suffering and injustice when he can do something about it."

"Why don't you ask Him"

"Because I'm afraid he would ask me the same question."