Tag Archives: the Kingdom

Giving Highlight: New Life International

30 Sep

To give is both a privilege and a duty, and it is downright fun to point attention to people who are doing great things and then play a role.

This month we decided to give to New Life International, an organization that is spreading the Gospel while and by providing the basic necessity of clean water. 

The rationale for giving here is easy: About a sixth of our neighbors in the world do not have access to clean water. 

You should know that Jesus says this in Matthew 25:

4″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

 41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

 44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

 45“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

 46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

If you are looking for a trustworthy place to do things for the “least of these”, New Life International is a solid choice.

May the Lord’s will be done,

CWillZ

How Kingdom People Do Politics

22 Sep

Heaven help us!!– its almost time to pick a president.

A friend recently posted on the politics of Jesus. It was so good that I want to respond.  Earlier this year I posted about how humbling ourselves to the will of God is the way that Jesus would vote.   A few more thoughts:

Jesus’ purpose did not fit the political structures. A major part of Jesus’ ministry was that people tried to push him into being the political Messiah of Israel.  They expected to be re-established as a nation and out of Rome’s hand.  Judas may have thought he was advancing the Kingdom by forcing Jesus into the political system.  Oops!

Didn’t Judas know that Jesus had a different purpose for being on the earth? He could have had all of the Kingdoms in the world during His lifetime, but he turned it down in obedience to the Father.

OK, so Jesus was not a politician. Is the Kingdom he brought/declared/taught/will bring a political Kingdom? How do those of us who are a part this Kingdom do this politics thing?

There have been times of intense emphasis on different principles from the Kingdom that have missed the mark of the purposes of God, both to the left and to the right.  I firmly believe that Kingdom people are to be involved in politics, but only as an expression of their allegiance to the will of God.  A good example of this is the life of Daniel.

Righteous and Justice, both personal and social are all part of the Good News for the Kingdom.  Living them out will result in a more correct world.  We will do well to search the scriptures for God’s heart.  We get to cast one vote.  The questions we should be asking are: who is God? If God wrote laws what would He be concerned about? What is righteousness/justice?

Once we take a long look at that, we can choose the people who will represent that heart the best.

Further reading by better thinkers:

The Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder

Jesus for President by Shane Claibourne

The Great Awakening by Jim Wallis

May the Lord’s will be done,

CWillZ

Giving Highlight: International Justice Mission

4 Sep

Recently I posted asking for input on where to give money.  I then featured Kiva as where I decided to give and gave a brief intro to micro financing.  I want to start featuring at least one place each month that I am going to give money or have given money to.  My hope is to highlight some of the light that is being cast into this dismal world and to encourage both the organizations and those who may chose to give, pray, or join with them.

And the August giving highlight goes to … The International Justice Mission.  Here is a  blurb stolen from their website:

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems.

IJM’s justice professionals work in their communities in 12 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to secure tangible and sustainable protection of national laws through local court systems.

It is obvious to see why this is a great org. to support.  Seek justice, protect the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17).  This is all part of the love affair we enjoy in the Kingdom.

May the Lord’s will be done,

CWillZ

Quick Thought

2 May

Haven’t writen much recently due to my senior paper and the return of my beautiful fiance, Carol, from a semester abroad. We are in love.

One quick thought:

Wednesday’s chapel speaker asked us when the last time we had our hearts broken for the world.

For me it was when I wrote “Bed Sheets“.

Leave yours.

A Christian Celebrity Sighting

15 Apr


Today I got a call from a friend telling me that Shane Claiborne was at Ivanhoe’s, which is our local ice cream eatery.

I hopped in my new car- a 1988 VW Cabrio, and went to see if it was true.
Sure enough he was there with some Taylor people and a couple of local ministers.  We all sat outside enjoying the sunshine and milkshakes.
Shane is a man who is doing his best to follow Christ.  Today he was soft-spoken and when he talked he had a think southern accent.
He joked about how they kept themselves entertained between speaking engagements by listening to “comedy” stations, which were political shows on satellite radio from both the far-right and far-left wings, with liquid-metal in between to keep it lively.  
I didn’t gain any new transcendent spiritual concept or new illumination.  It was nice to know that there is a real person behind the “Irresistible Revolution“, a book that challenged me, informed me, stretched me, made me laugh and cry uncontrollably, frustrated me, and gave me great great hope for the Kingdom of God.
May the Lord continue to prepare our sails to catch his wind/spirit.

Hip Hop Church Hits Home

13 Jan

Tonight we went to “The House” Hip Hop Church in Lawndale (Chicago).  For two hours the church communicated Christ through hip hop, drama, talking, and by facts on the slides.  Rap artist LeCrae finished up the evening, telling the gathered people that Hip Hop is only the bridge by which the Lord uses to reach the world.

One artist prophetically asked during the service “is this Church thing a movement or just a building to fill?”  Amen.  
The theme for the evening was dating violence, and the whole service concentrated on how the Lord can end dating violence by the Spirit’s renewing of the mind.
Gloria a Dios

Bed Sheets

12 Nov

As I got into bed tonight, I thanked God for my comforter. It seems like a small thing, but I love being wrapped up like burrito in it. Then I remembered to pray for those don’t have bedding and need it.

Over the summer I read something that said something to the effect of, “As long as there are empty mouths in the Body of Christ, the eucharist is incomplete.” While I think that Christ’s death was enough to buy me into being able to be in God’s family, I see the point.

As I write, I can see the faces of Christians that I have taken communion with that did without basic necessities today. I am compelled to write that I am ashamed that my truest brothers and sisters do not have enough.

I have two comforters on my bed. Most of the time the smaller of the two is pushed to the side against the wall.

The Lord is clear that nothing I have I have because I have earned it, or by some way am entitled to it. Job’s cry for mercy was met with a threatening truth. “I made you from dust, you will be dust again” and “Where were you when I hung the stars?”

How about this for haunting: “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?.”

I have pity, but I know how quickly it will be gone by the time I finish my breakfast tomorrow and am worried with not being late to class (again).

I understand why it seems no one does anything. We have never thought seriously about our own survival. Gross, Sick, Untrue.

May God grant us the mercy of being moved to care for our fellow believers. OUR FLESH AND BLOOD IN CHRIST.
Come quickly Lord.

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