Tag: Volunteers

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In Times of Tragedy, You Can’t Hide What’s Inside

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It’s been a tough week. West, Texas, the Boston Marathon, and countless lesser-recognized crises that didn’t even make the news. Honestly, it’s been a tough recent past. It seems that we are stringing together a series of really ugly tragedies. So much pain.

When everything is great, hypocrisy comes easy. But please notice how bad times have a way of bringing out whatever is inside us. This week, first responders in Boston are being heralded because they ran toward exploding bombs. Volunteer firefighters in Texas rushed to the scene only to lose their lives. Although there are only a few of these heroes, all over the country, whatever was inside of us came out.  Fear, anger, hatred; all of these are legitimate responses to the tragedies. Some run for cover while others run into the fire. Some get even more political and blame the “other” party. Some take advantage of the crisis and loot nearby stores. Whatever is inside comes out in times of crisis. You can’t hide it.

While you can’t hide what’s inside, I do believe you can change what is inside:

If your first response to bad news is giving up, pray for strength from God.

If your first response is revenge, pray for justice.

If your response is to cower in the corner or to panic or to lose control, pray for courage.

The problem with these responses? They offer no hope. No one is helped.

If your response is in any way anything other than hope-filled, God can help you.

The heroes of today are analogous to Christ. When humankind was in serious trouble, He came running, bringing hope. He was the First first responder.

Here is the bad news: another tragedy is on the way. Tomorrow or next week or next month something bad will happen. Make no mistake, the strong will rise to the occasion and make a positive difference. The weak will be controlled by the tragedy.

We need to be strong. God help us be strong in Your strength.

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from Guatemala this morning

A team of 28 people from three different churches are serving the children of Guatemala this week. I am privileged to be able to serve as leader of this team. Folks from Twin Rivers Worship Center in St. Louis, Missouri, Ridge Community Church in Dundee, Florida and Cross Community Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida make up this team. Member’s ages are from 15 to 50 something.

We are visiting and serving the children of Casa Shalom orphanage in San Lucas, El Amor de Patricia Orphanage in San Lucas as well as a nearby Hospice for children with HIV/AIDS.  We will be pouring concrete, painting walls, installing sofit and anything else we are physically capable of doing. We are loaded with several hundred pounds of new clothing, shoes, blankets and toys. The most important thing we are doing is loving the children. In each of the three locations, kids come from unimaginable conditions. They are now in a safe place and our job is two fold: share the love of Jesus with the children who are there and create conditions that are conducive for more children to be saved from deplorable conditions around the country.

This trip is being coordinated with the assistance of International Orphan Support. If you haven’t heard of or taken a look at what this organization does, please do so at iorphan.cc.

We would appreciate some prayer for the children we are serving, our hosts who work with the children full time and for our team members.

Thank you, everyone.