Forgotten Children International

"I Can't"

2009-10-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

I personally find it amazing how fortunate we are to live in the United States. So fortunate that there are very few things that we cannot do. I challenge anyone reading this to come up with 5 things (within reason) that you cannot do. Something that in the end you would say "I Can't". Some will say "I cannot go to Hawaii" but is that really true? We have access to more money than anyone in the world no matter what you think your bank account says. Others will say, "I cannot be a doctor" This also is probably not true as we have access to loans and if we study hard enough we could do it.

I think this topic really comes down to ACCESS and WILLINGNESS. Did you know that the West has 90% of the Christian resources available to us? That leaves 10% for the rest of the world! Having access to......you fill in the blank.....gives us power. This power should not be abused but rather used in a way that benefits the less fortunate. Are we willing to make the necessary sacrifices to make things happen? How strongly do we believe that God provides for our every need? Or did God not really mean "all" our needs, just the big ones?

I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to saying that I cannot do something. The other day I was thinking about all that I have. Right now I am sitting in a comfy reclining love seat, typing on a company laptop while online. I have access to all I need to be successful, comfortable and healthy. If I need something, I go get it.

This has been on my mind simply because living where we do and having the things we have gives us a responsibility. The responsibility is to help "the least of these." Those less fortunate than us. We cannot say "I Can't" help people living in filth and poverty striken areas. We cannot say "I Can't" afford to give sacrificially to organizations willing to help. And finally we cannot say "I Can't" to God because He knows better. He gave us these lives not for our own comfort but rather so that we can benefit others. This is what the Gospel's are all about. This is what true sacrifice is all about.

Final thought. Willingness and access. These are two things that make us wealthy above all other nations. These are two things that can be used for both good and evil. We need to examine our lives and motives (including myself) and ask God if what we are doing is pleasing to Him. I think this is step one in the journey of stewardship.

God, make me aware

2009-08-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while at the gym listening to my music which is played through satellite radio, I ran across a song that I had never heard before. It is called "Aware" by Salvador.

My music player has been messing up a lot lately. It skips for no reason, turns the volume down with no assistance, and even makes phone calls without me doing anything (my phone is also my mp3 player). As expected my phone started replaying a song over and over but this time I didn't mind......

The song seems to be a prayer asking God to make us "Aware" of our surroundings and the reason we are here. If you have read my recent posts, this falls right in line with what has been on my brain in recent years.

Did you know that half of the world lives on less than $2 per day? Or that millions of people do not even own a pair of shoes? This is awareness. Awareness in the Christian sense is when we look beyond our walls of comfort. We need to recognize that God did not give us this life with the intent of comfort but rather to love Him and give to those in need.

I am posting the lyrics to this song. Amazon.com is where I purchased it from for $0.99. Let it be your prayer but be prepared for what God could reveal to you!!!! "Make me aware, make me see. Everything I am is not all about me. Take my world, turn it around. So that the obvious can finally be found."

"Aware" Lyrics
by Salvador from the album Aware

Even in the little things
That never seem too big to me
And the things that I thought
Didn’t matter much at all

As simple as my daily bread
To the strength I need to get out of bed
When I fly, when I’m about to Fall

It’s you in me
That I fail to see

Make me aware, make me see
Everything I am is not all about me
Take my world, turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found

Make me aware, make me aware
When my life is hanging from a thread
And I think about the things you said
In this moment seems so far away

Help me see the guarantees
That first brought me to believe
So I can make it through another day

Oh, it’s you in me
That helps me to breathe

Make me aware, make me see
Everything I am is not all about me
Take my world, turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found

Make me aware I have been missing so much
Not recognizing your touch
All acknowledging you’re the reason I’m even here
I have been missing so much
Not recognizing your touch

Make me aware, make me aware
Help me see, Everything I am is not all about me
Take my world, turn it around
So that the obvious can finally be found
Make me aware, make me aware

Contentment

2009-08-04T04:46:00.000-07:00

Waking up this morning, for some reason God put the word "contentment" on my heart. I am not sure if its what I am supposed to be focusing today or if its just because its a personal struggle of mine. So, I proceeded to do what the rest of the world does when something is on your mind.....I posted on Facebook. I simply put "Jeremy is thinking about contentment". To be totally honest I didn't have time to think about it much because my two kids needed to get up and around and to the babysitters. God wasn't going to let me get away with it for long!

So we get in the van, drop baby #1 off and head to take the other to my parents for the day. In the car my son asks "Daddy, why do you work?" I responded immediately by saying "I have to buddy", and as any 3 year old would, he proceeded to ask another question. "Why do you work all day?" Again, my response was swift and answered "People work to make money so we can live in our home, drive cars and buy stuff". I received a few more "why's" after that but wont go into much detail.

After my answer I pondered what I said. Did I just conform to the world? Was my answer the reason why most Americans live like they do? Is that really the reason my wife and I go to work each day? Do I want to work with the final outcome to be having more "stuff"?

Unsatisfied with my previous answer I said to my son "Dalton, God has given your daddy and mommy so much that He expects us to give some of our money to people that don't have much" I continued "We don't work in order to buy stuff but rather so we can give money away to others". Again, a few more "Why's" before the conversation switched topics.

I hope that what I said did not reveal what is truly in my heart. I don't believe it is but was rather an automatic response. Even then, it's scary to think that our brains are working in such a way as to think work as a means to an end. We immediately equate working with the purchase of material possessions. Although this is necessary, it should in no way be a primary focus.

So is it possible to be totally content with what we have? I will leave that up to the individual to decide. What I do know for a fact is that God calls His people to live a life set apart from everyone else. We are to look "different" than the world. Galatians 5:16-26 is an excellent passage of scripture to help us with understanding this rather complicated subject. I am not sure what else God has in store for me today regarding contentment but I do know that it's something He wants me to reflect on.

Galatians 5:16-26 NIV
Life by the Spirit

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Africa "Bob" is now Africa "Joe"

2009-07-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my previous post, one of our goals was to find and create some sort of partnership with the focus on assiting orphans and vulnerable children. After much prayer, we feel a definite tug to East Africa where the current pandemic is taking place. Through a serious of God-ordained meetings we were invited to attend a conference consisting of about 30 pastors from all over Africa. This was our opportunity to ask some hard questions and as my good friend Matt Hartsell would say "get educated" on what the needs specifically are and how to assist. Each pastor got an opportunity to share what their ministry is doing and has done in the past. The 8 people in our group evaluated each to see who fit our specific criteria.

Pastor Matt Hartsell presented to the group our idea's of a concept called "Refuge of Hope" which included a land purchase with the intent on creating a community-like environment that would care for hurting and lost children. Because of our previous contacts with other ministries that already are having success with this model, we felt it would be the best route.

The meeting would take us on a different path. There was great diversity of opinions on the best method to assist children but the one commonality in all of it was "Community". What I mean by that is family and community is everything to their culture. If a child were to leave his/her area, he may lose out on his inheritance, which again in their culture is big. So the concensus was to do whatever possible to place orphans in a home around the community whether it be with a relative, friend or neighbor.

We did discover that families were willing to take more children into their homes but just couldnt due to lack of resources. These children will end up on the streets on drugs or worse the girls would become prostitutes if nothing is done.

The meeting continued and what happened next was nothing short of a miracle. The team met and created a "short list" of pastors who we thought would fit the mission and vision set forth by Forgotten Children International's leadership team. God seems to have a way of forming these things as He sees fit and our agenda, for the most part doesnt sway Him one way or another :) The choice was clear.....Uganda. 3 men with a passion for children and a desire to bring the Good News of Jesus to the lost were what we found. These men currently have ministries that FCI would come along side and assist with orphan care. We have asked these men to provide the leadership of FCI a proposal on their current needs, specifically having to do with orphan care. We coined the term "Africa Bob" to describe a particular person to partner with but we didnt find him, we found Joeseph or "Africa Joe"!! The other two names are Richard and Fred.

As it seems right now, God is taking us in a direction that was not in "our" original plan. Personally, my faith strengthens in times like this as we see God working out His plan for a ministry that we get to be a part of. I am excited to be a part of a truely Spirit led organization one that allows God to do His work and in His time. Prayer has been at the center of this project from the beginning which is why I believe we are seeing God move.

Its wonderful to know and be certain that you are moving in the direction as mapped out by God and not by man. Too often we try to set a plan in motion assuming that God would want this. Only by faith and prayer can we truely know His plan whether it be for our own lives or the ministries we are involved in.

Stay tuned to what happen's next. Continue to pray for God to do amazing things. Pray that He blesses this ministry and we continue to seek His guidence.

My Easy Life

2009-07-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Well, where do I start.....A group of 8 of us just returned from Kenya and are getting adjusted back to the typical American way of life. We were on a mission's type trip to accomplish many things, one of which was to partner with other organizations with the goal to reach the Orphan. God brought to us 3 men which I will speak about in another post.

What I want to ponder today is my personal struggle with how the typical Westerner lives out their life. Now I know I will step on people's toes with this but I think if nothing else it will open some eyes.

We (Westerners) wake up each morning from a nice/safe night of sleep in our comfy beds. We get out of bed and step on to plush carpet that is clean. We then proceed to the bathroom without a worry that water will not be there to brush our teeth. We flush the toilet and it is filled back up with crystal clear water. Then, as we go to our closets we ponder which of the 50 outfits (clean) we want to wear. After getting dressed, we go to the kitchen and open the cupboard up to an plethora of food to choose from for breakfast. We pour a cold glass of milk or juice and sit down to relax at the table while reading one of five Bibles sitting on our shelves. After finishing we head to the the climate controlled garage and step into one of two cars. If we need gas, no big deal, we just go fill up the tank. We make it to another city in less than 30 minutes to work. If its Friday we pick up our paychecks, put them in a safe place like the bank and head home. Its dinner time and we sit down at the table once again to an enormous selection of food which we could never eat it all. We give our children a nice clean bath and put on pajamas and then proceed to put each in their own rooms and beds. Ahhh life is good.

Now I know this is not typical for everyone but it does represent our sometimes seemingly robotic lives. We go through each day not thinking of all the blessings that are given to us. It is these "little" things that set our country apart from everyone else. I wonder how many people can identify the blessings above. Can you count them?

I am just as guilty as the next person. So what do we do? Do we just say "well, since I am like everyone else then its ok"?? I believe that each of us would say "No, we do something about it!!" but what we also are thinking is "when I get time" or "when its convienent".

We are a blessed nation but also spoiled. Most of us will never experience poverty (not defined by us but rather the rest of the world), deadly disease, homelessness, or hunger.

My experience in another culture taught me many things. I still live my comfortable American life but I try each day to thank God for all these things and ask that I not forget about those suffering. If God mentions the poor, hungry, fatherless, orphaned, etc.. 2000+ times in His Book, dont you think we should make it a priority in our lives?

Jeremy Rodgers
Forgotten Children International
www.forgottenchildren.org