Thursday, August 31, 2006

the Katrina Poor

Newsweek has run a follow-up story to it's Hurricane Katrina cover girl - Taphina Jefferson from a year ago. Interesting insight into the life of one of New Orlean's many poor people.

The first question you ask is - how on earth can a single woman have seven babies, and pray tell, how many dads are involved? Unfortunately, that's where we so-called Christians usually end it - with a flippant, judgemental question and nothing more. The bigger question we should ask is - how, why and where did Taphina's life get off-track and what can we do to help?

Let me first confess I did not drive to New Orleans to help, nor did I drive to the Astrodome and bring Taphina and her kids home with me. But, someone should have. This was a truly golden opportunity to help someone that needed food, clothing and shelter - but so much more.

I applaud the Mosaic Center here in Lufkin and so many other groups that have started a local division of the Christian Women's Job Corp. We need to do so much more.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Giving to the Poor Again

"Those who oppress the poor reproach You, our Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors You" (Proverbs 14:31)

"Those who are kind to the poor lend to You, Lord, and You will reward them for what they have done". (Proverbs 19:17)

We probably don't think of the wisdom of giving to the poor, but clearly that's what the book of Proverbs is pointing out. I ask again - what percentage of your church's budget goes to the poor? I'm wondering if there's any research on this topic, from Barna or another top church researcher? There should be.

There's a great opportunity for giving to the poor. Central Dallas Ministries, CDM, has been awarded grant funding for re-developing an old Dallas downtown building into an apartment for the truly poor of Dallas. I believe every church in Texas should give to this cause. Why? Simply because it's a ground-breaking endeavor and opportunity for churches to step up in a big way and do something for the poor. Here's the link for giving through Larry's blog:

Central Dallas Ministries - Larry James, CEO

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Weak Men

I agree with blogger and theologian Ben Witherington that it takes a really weak man to be concerned about a woman doing the Lord's work in His kingdom. The recent news of a Southern Baptist church in Watertown, NY, dumping a woman Bible class teacher after 54 years for "scriptural reasons" is indeed disturbing on numerous levels.

The fact that Pastor LeBouf commented a woman can carry on any job "outside the church" shows just how compartmentalized some people erroneously lead their lives. As Ben pointed out - what if this woman were teaching Christian adults in, say, college? To me, it just highlights again how rampantly Satan is working in our churches today - dividing and conquering, puffing male leaders up with ego, pride and haughtiness. God help us - here's the link:

Church dumps Sunday school teacher

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

My Rain Stinks

It's raining in southeast Texas. A cool, soaking August rain that comes so rarely. My apologies if it's not raining there in your world as the southern U.S. is still in a drought.

My attempt at creating rain on my own is beyond stinking, or sucky, or any other adjective - it just really doesn't work. Limited water pressure, evaporation, kinked garden hoses and lack of time are just a few of the problems in keeping a lawn and vegetation alive in a hot drought. I suppose I could spend $300/month on water and do a little better job, but it would still be a weak attempt to replace God's moisture - it would never work long term.

We just can't do it - we can't replace God and His blessings here on Earth. Our attempts will always be limited, temporal and just generally weak.

So, why do we try so hard to create our own rain?

Thursday, August 17, 2006

The Pay Gap

My blogging friend Larry James has a good post today on unequal pay in the U.S. I've been ticked off about CEO pay for years now - and it has gotten so much worse in the past 5 years it's amazing more haven't questioned this ridiculousness. The CEO of Exxon steps down and gets hundreds upon hundreds of millions (if memory serves me his payout exceeded $500M, but I don't recall exactly), and the only thing he really did was watch gas prices rise and smile about it. Meanwhile the poor gal working the midnight shift at the c-store selling gas gets shot at and makes minimum wage.

Understand I have employees, and paying a worker a really good wage is not easy in the service sector. I will concur with anyone on that issue. But, the fact of the matter is, the gap is widening between entry level hourly pay and upper level executive pay at an incredible rate.

I highly recommend Larry's article - here's the link:

http://larryjamesurbandaily.blogspot.com

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Jesus (Hay-zeus) Part 8

About a week ago I dropped by Jesus' house to see about taking Jackie shopping. Jackie, Jesus' 14 year old daughter, just started high school this week. Jackie is a cute, shy girl living with a single dad who has struggled financially all of her life, and two brothers. I dropped by and caught Jesus just getting off work, tired and hot, but in a warm mood. I had talked to Jesus the previous day about this possible shopping trip. I asked him again about scheduling the Saturday shopping trip and we agreed 4 pm would be a good pick-up time. As we were chatting alone, I asked Jesus what Jackie thought of the shopping trip and he said she wasn't too excited about it. I can understand that - a teenager is going to be more sensitive to poverty than a 6 year old. She was just generally nervous about people she really didn't know making too much over her not having plenty of school clothes.

Well, the set-up could not have been better. Susan and I would pick up Jackie, go back to our house and let her pick out a new school pride t-shirt and then Susan, Jackie, our daughter Macey and a friend, would head out. We arrived at Jesus' house a little before 4, and... no one was home. We knocked, walked around the house, and waited several minutes - and then finally left. I was beyond disappointed, just really bummed out. Susan and I both agreed this is typical, unfortunately - people's plans change - or they changed their mind on the whole thing. My guess is Jesus' mother came up from Beaumont and took Jackie, Joel and Josh back to Beaumont to shop - I hope that is the case. I haven't called back - and I'm still bummed about it.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Greed in the Church

I read an interesting, but sad AP wire story in the paper a couple of days ago
regarding scams going on in churches. The reason, at least in part I believe, that scams like these are on the rise is because greed is on the rise in churches, particularly the mega-churches where wealth, idolatry and the church being seen merely as the "vendor of religious goods and services" is so pronounced.

The article is sad in that the scammers are so successful in the church environment is because the wealth with ease (i.e. no effort) is the next logical step on the road to earthly success. In other words, church-goers in 2006 have worked very hard and accumulated some wealth, so isn't the next logical step to put some or all of this money in an investment vehicle that will double in the next 30 days? After all, look at the good I could do with the money.

Now, there is certainly no harm in earthly success in and of itself, but, unfortunately, so many churches are becoming nothing more than places to find more personal fulfillment on the journey to success. The whole "missional church" theme and idea is really nothing more than the lastest catch phrase to most, if it means anything at all.

Jesus did not preach against money or wealth, but he did have a lot to say about money and wealth, which leads to greed and idolatry. Such as this lesson:


The Parable of the Rich Fool
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Monday, August 14, 2006

Giving to the Poor

I found this hidden gem in Luke reading this morning, from Luke 11:

37When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.
39Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41But give what is inside the dish [j] to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.



I think the foremost point of disillusion with me and "the church" right now is we pay little more than lip service to the poor. Jesus was about ministering to the poor, and we really aren't. What percentage of our/your church budget goes directly to the poor? What percentage should it be?

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Jesus (Hay-zeus) Part 7

I've been unbearably busy at work and have not contacted Jesus in a couple of weeks unfortunately. I tried him once about 10 days ago and he wasn't home. However, I am very happy he's got a phone now. I reached him yesterday and was a bit nervous to get an update...but Jesus told me he has landed a job! Wow, that news made my day, week and month. He had a couple of good leads working at two big companies as I've noted before, but he needed work. The Workforce center was made aware of a Dallas construction company in need of "mudders" - guys that tape, float and texture sheetrock - at a large project at one of the local hospitals.

Jesus hired on this past Monday and is working about 50 hours a week at a good wage. He really pushed for more money and the company baulked, but they observed his experienced, hard work for a day and agreed to a solid wage. Jesus is happy, but he still struggles with attitude issues I think. He's still bummed he needs subsidized housing and food stamps to make it work here, and I think he really wanted to get out of the construction business. But, he needed work desperately - and he has it - praise God!

Susan and our girls will take Jesus' daughter Jackie shopping on Saturday. I'm kind of nervous about it. And, I'm wondering how we'll get his kids in school supplies - but it will work out - just not sure how at this moment. I wish we had unlimited personal funds, but we don't and won't for several years as we have one going off to college and one a few years from college. But, it will all work out in time.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Layin' it on the Line - 1960 and 2006

I've read two incredibly compelling tales of "walkin' the walk" in the past few days. First, Mike Exum on his blog gives a riveting account of taking the message of Jesus to the inner-city of Lubbock. If someone called me and said "hey, let's go have a communion service tomorrow night at midnight on Gang-bangers Drive" - I'd probably think the person was crazy - yet, that, in a nutshell, is what Mike is up to right now in his radical ministry. As I stated in a previous post - I seem to be wondering more frequently these days if Jesus' ministry and the actions of the 2006 church jive. Clearly Mike is about what Jesus was about 2,000 years ago.

And, I was incredibly moved by a story today in the Lufkin Daily News by contributing writer Jim Moore. I would love to meet Jim, a Houston lawyer who grew up in Lufkin, after reading this gripping story. As a young boy Jim's father, a local preacher, would get him up on Sundays and they would walk from a white part of Lufkin to one of Lufkin's inner-city black churches -Lubbock Street church of Christ, where Mr. Moore would preach. Almost incomprehensible to me that a white East Texas preacher from 1960 would have such a compassion for African Americans and the racial scourge going on at that time. I was very moved by Jim's article and would love to speak with him about it. The story, which is a short, but moving piece, is located here.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

What was Jesus' Ministry?

Jesus announces his ministry in Luke through scripture - specifically from the prophet Isaiah. I find it interesting that we don't dwell too much on what the ministry of Jesus was about. We seem more concerned with "how" Jesus established his church. But Jesus clearly showcases what he was going to be about through the fulfillment of Isaiah. I'm wondering if we should be more interested in being like Jesus in ministry, or if we should continue to try to precisely duplicate what we think the church was about after Jesus left - as we perceive it.

Luke 4:14 and following:

14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."[e]

20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."