entitlement...

I read an article today on techticker about the 18.4 Billion dollars that were spent on Wall Street bonuses this last year. Bob O'Brian comments that, "The sense of entitlement that's been engendered in this group of people has clearly not been beaten out of them by the brutal performance of the financial sector over the course of the last year,"... truly amazing. Taking what is the 6th highest level of bonuses that have ever been recorded in one of the most financially shattered years America has ever had... and potentially FROM the very money the government had given to them to help get the economic gears moving again. Entitlement indeed.

As I read, I couldn't help but think of the spiritual metaphore this situation represents. How often do I move with this same sense of entitlement with the grace given me? It's mine to do with what I want... but instead of passing it on to those around me I horde it. And, in the midst of a omnipotent eternal "TARP" plan, I protect my assets instead of sharing the wealth. Entitlement indeed.

Forgive us Lord and move us forward...

holding the ropes...

After hearing an account of the spiritual needs of India, the secretary of the meeting remarked: "There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the center of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?" "I will venture to go down," said (William) Carey, "but remember that you must hold the ropes."

I have to confess that I wasn't intending to write in my BLOG during our transition from Glasgow to San Diego BUT I have woke up thinking about this so many times I think I need to get it "out of my head" and on to "paper".

I have amazing supporters.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G... amazing!

Family, friends, acquaintance's... churches and companies. They are all such gift's to Britany, the kids and I. I am not sure if anyone who is not a missionary understands exactly how incredible it is to place yourself and your family in the hands of God and His people... and then to see them show up! Thank you Lord. Thank you friends. You have held the rope with courage and faith... with compassion and love. May our Father in heaven bless you for your faithfulness and extend your blessings around the globe.

For the sake of our King.

simpler

Mark 10:21

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

It is AMAZING how much stuff we have.

I mean, I consider us a pretty simple family (especially in light of having 4 kids) AND STILL we have given away, thrown away and donated trucks full of stuff. It is remarkable. We moved to Scotland with very little and have bought almost nothing since we have lived here these past 5 years BUT we have accumulated so much stuff... and not all of it is junk! We have given away some really great things that have served us very well for these past 1847 days. And we have recycled and donated loads of toys, dishes, toys, electronics, toys, linens, toys, decorations, toys, clothes and, oh yeah, toys! Till... all we are left with is a single mound (which is currently sitting in our kids room). It's the most precious stuff. Britany's tea set. A couple antique dressers. My bike (which I will definitely start riding when I get to San Diego). Our emac. Pictures, papers, cards and cloth. And, of course, some toys. All of which fits into a 11x5x7 space... still feels like a lot though. And, depending on which of my friends is reading this right now (those in India or those in North America) it may seem like a lot or a little. BUT, one thing I WILL say is that it feels freeing.

I love giving stuff away.

Every time a little more space is created in our household I feel a little more space in our life. Everything just seems simpler. I wonder how often we read verses like the one above and ask oursleves why it is that Jesus puts so many limitations on following Him. I mean, come on... sell everything?!? Surely He is exagerating for effect. Surely He must know how much I need this stuff... Or maybe He knows how much we don't... hmm... makes you wonder.

Generosity in the moment... and for a lifetime.

Acts 20:35

...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

Yesterday was a very cool day.

Two very significant things happened.

First, after our Sunday am gathering at RE:hope, about 12-15 of us went out in groups of 2 & 3 and (as a community) gave Christmas cards away with £20 notes in side. It was a simple experience... "Merry Christmas, what's your name... my name is... This is a gift from Jesus. God bless." Now, this wasn't the first time that we had done this but it was the first time I had done it with my boys. My group of three was made up of Duncan, Celtin and myself. But, what made this time so significant was... THEY prayed over who should receive it, THEY picked the people who we were going to approach and THEY did all the talking (well, most of the talking)! It was awesome... in an unpredictable 6 & 7 year old sort of way. As we were chatting with one of the homeless magazine salesmen (check out Big Issue), Duncan mentioned that the gift inside was from Jesus... the guy looked me in the eyes. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. In the past I have met some great guys... and some not so great (they have had a rough life)... but this guys eyes were moist. A Christmas gift from my little boy. All of a sudden Celtin piped in at the top of his voice, "it's got £20's in it!" He just smiled and said, "I think that was supposed to be a surprise." And the three of them had a conversation about whether they had been good this year for Santa... my kids are great missionaries.

The second thing that happened actually preceded this time of wandering when my son Duncan gave his first gift out of "his own" money to RE:hope. He has recently started receiving a meager chore allowance of £2 a week. After I handed him his hard earned money I asked him how much he wanted to give back to Jesus as an offering... a thank you. Without even a flinch or a second thought he said £1! 50%! I can't tell you how proud I am of him. It got me thinking... imagine if he decided at this moment to give 50% of all that he received for as long as God gave him breath... imagine the lives touched... imagine the impact of a life lived simply and generously in this materialistic world.

God, bless his generosity... his "widows mite". Multiply it. Make in him and his brother and sisters hearts that believe in radical giving... proving with their lives that You can be trusted to provide for all things. Make us all living examples of Your radical and ridiculous generosity. We believe Lord... help us in our unbelief. Amen.

Generosity... who am I?

1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

Matthew 7:7-12

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

So, this Friday, while everyone was out of the house, Hallie and I stole away and bought the family Christmas tree. We made the ritual trek down to Byres Road with the pram and, with Hallie sitting in the front seat, crammed the tree in to the second seat - yes, it was quite a spectacle. 2 foot toddler in front... 6 foot tree in back. With out too much effort we were able to walk the tree home. Not too big. Not too small. Perfectly green... a little of the outdoors in our living room. Though I sometimes whine (due mostly to needle clean up), it really is one of my favorite family traditions. Come Saturday we began the process of decorating the tree with our 12 year collection of strange and wonderful Christmas decorations and 12 able bodied hands. Though tremendously chaotic, it reminded me of all that I hold dear and I found my mind wandering over king Davids words so many centuries ago... who am I Lord that you should have blessed me so?

This morning as I was reading in Matthew I was struck with a "SO" that I had never seen before. It fell in between two passages that I was very familiar with but had never seen as connected. Jesus tells us that if we ask, our Father knows how to give good gifts REALLY well (7:7-11). Jesus also tells us that to love our neighbor (and obey Him) is as simple as doing for others what you wish they would do for you (7:12). Both of these amazing truths are powerful in there own rights. There is this amazing God who is so free with His love and free with His blessing... desiring to show His glory by meeting the needs of His people and providing for the salvation and redemption of all creation. And, there is His people, commanded and inspired to pour out love and mercy on those with whom they share this globe. But, what is so amazing is the power that comes when you connect the verses together with the "so".

God gives generously SO live generously.

Put another way; God gives generously because of who He is and we live (including giving) generously because we cannot out give Him and are simply streams of His generosity for the entire world.

On our tree there is a simple ornament of a muted Mary and Joesph holding in their arms baby Jesus... THE Christmas gift... Hosanna... the God who saves us. Who knows how to give us good gifts. A God who will not be out given! Who dares us to live our lives with radical generosity that we would lay down our stuff... our lives... as He did... to love those around us as they are crying out to be loved... because He loved us that way first.

Who am I Lord, and who are my people, that we should be able to give out of such blessings as these? Everything we have has come from you, and we are only giving you what has come from your hand. Do Your mighty work Lord in our hearts. May we live as streams of Your generosity in this world that all would know that you are... and that You are the reward of those who come to You. Grant us the courage to live this way. We love you Lord, Amen.