Camels and Needle’s Eyes

I preached this past weekend at the church from James 1:9-11 and during the sermon I made reference to Jesus’ story about the Rich Ruler in Luke 18. If you weren’t there or just fell asleep during that portion of the sermon (who could blame you?!), the story is about a rich guy who comes to Jesus and wants to know how he can obtain eternal life. Jesus gives him some pointers about keeping the Mosaic Law and the rich guy happily responds, “I have done all of that since I was a kid.” Knowing that the guy’s wealth had become his real God, Jesus asked him to sell everything, give the money to the poor, and come follow him. At this, the rich guy was crushed and he went away. Then Luke writes these words…

Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (ESV)

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Are You Multi-Lingual?

I can remember taking French class back in high school and asking the question most students across North America ask, “What good is this going to do for me 10 years from now?“ French, Spanish, Greek class…it doesn’t matter; and in fact if we were honest, most of us really were not all that interested in “broadening” our linguistic horizons.

Nineteen years removed from high school and I’ve re-thought my stance that a working knowledge of a second language could have come in handy!  It amazes me how people can learn to communicate in 2, 3, even 4 different languages…and do so fluently.  It certainly opens up a wide range of possibilities in life. Now if you’re anything like me (and one of me is enough!), you probably have learned a lesson or two in how to communicate in a relationship.  Whether you’re married, single or have children, we’re all ingrained with distinct and natural ways of receiving and initiating communication. 

I’ve come to learn a harsh reality in life that, in most situations, unhappiness in marriages and families often has a simple root cause: we speak different love languages!  We all have the need to love and to be loved, and we all express and communicate that in distinct means.  What if we could learn how to be multi-lingual in our love and expression languages?  Could that possibly make relationships, and life, a little more sensible?

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Does Justice Matter?

A couple of nights ago, I attended a regional briefing of the ministry, International Justice Mission (ijm.org).  Once again, I was exposed to the realities of our world and how injustice prevails in so many places.  5 year old little girls being trafficked for sex? More slaves in the world now than at any other time in history? 

Women/girls being raped and “courts” finding the women guilty?  Widows being kicked off their land because their husbands have died?  Are you kidding?  Sadly, this is all true.  Then today on the news, I heard about the campaign to educate sex workers in Vancouver as they prepare for the world to visit for the 2010 Olympics.  Women in Vancouver will be taken advantage of, and sex workers from all over the world will come here to provide their “services”.  Some of those women will not be doing it because they want to.  Many are forced whether by pimps or circumstances where they feel they have no other choice. 

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Mother’s Day Part II

On Mothers’ Day I got to thinking about all the different types of mothers there are in the world. Please join me in praying for them. Ask God to bring a name to mind for each category so you can pray for them specifically.

Moms with preschoolers – Lord please give them energy.
Moms for the first time – Lord please put someone in their world who can encourage them, that God will give them wisdom for all the unknowns.

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Mother’s Day

Dear Friends,

You might be in the middle of thinking up a Mother’s Day gift for your mom like we are. This year marks the fourth year my mom has been in Heaven. But my mom-in-law is still very much a part of our lives. She is not always the easiest to buy for with her many allergies – no jewelry, no indoor plants or flowers. She doesn’t really like décor items or china, and clothing never seems to fit. What can we give that will portray our deep appreciation for her?

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