Nogbedji’s Sewing School

Tim Neufeld writes about how Nogbedji (a Togolese Brother) impacts orphans in a holistic way.  Holistic seems like an over-used word, but Nogbedji truly impacts these orphans in simple yet profound ways – loving them, caring for them, teaching them a trade, and being and proclaiming the message of Jesus.  If you read the update, you will be encouraged to see how Nogbedji has thought through his sewing school ministry.

Why you need to get out of bed on Sunday.

If I can download a sermon (better than my pastor can preach) why go to church?

If I can connect on facebook with brothers and sisters, why go to church?

If I can sing with my ipod (live worship) why go to church?

Zach Nielsen encourages us to get out of bed and go to church on Sunday morning instead of opting for a technological  church experience (Yes, I know:  We are the church, we don’t go to church).  You can read it all here and if you’re too technologically fatigued to click, here are his main points:

1.  Church is not about simply consuming information.

2.  Submission to authority is a big deal (Heb. 13:17).

3.  The mission of the church to make disciples was never meant to be done in isolation.

Theology and the SB Follow-Up

After I published this post, Time did this article on concussions and brain injuries in football.  They document a little of the research that is occurring on the subject, as well as spell out some of the links between football players and long-term health issues.  If you are interested in the subject, it’s worth a read.

We Are the World Do Over

There’s a rumor that We Are the World is going to be re done for Haiti. . . but it will never be as good as the first.  The Boss is classic.  Come on now – turn it up – sing along!

Theology and the Super Bowl

 Will you be watching the Super Bowl next week?  I will be, and am looking forward to it.  I love the NFL, and I love college football, and I love college basketball, and I love hockey…  I love just about any sport where you keep score or have a finish line (which rules out figure skating).

 Sports are such a part of our culture that we often don’t think about their role in our lives, or their role in God’s creation.  Christianity Today has posted a very thoughtful article about the role of sports in our culture, and I strongly encourage you to read it.  It may make you think twice about the Super Bowl.  Below are a few thoughts to whet your appetite.

Six Good Rules for Facebook IM and Email

Facebook operates in the sound-bite and has inherent weaknesses.

IM,  Texting, and email fall into the Facebook category as well.  Without visual and audio feedback and expression, almost nothing in these delivery systems can be interpreted with any reliability.  I try to use these guidelines when using Facebook (they are good for real relationships as well):

• Always assume the best when people write something.
• Always stay positive and encouraging (Prov. 12:25).
• Always reply with a soft answer when it sounds like someone is upset (Prov. 15:1).
• Always go the extra mile to apologize when something is misunderstood.
• Stay out of other peoples quarrels or you may get bit (Prov. 26:17).
• Follow up in person if there are any misunderstandings.

Seems like Proverb 30:33 is a good one to think about:

For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Do you have any guardrails that keep you out of the Facebook road ditch?

Humans at Work

Wonderful pictures of humans at work here at the Big Picture.

We’ve had our hands to the plow or at the computer since the beginning of creation – we were created to work.  Starting on Feb. 7th, we will seek to understand God’s view of our work as revealed in Scripture and how that plays out in a fallen world.  Hope you can be there (if it’s your day off).

How to Wreck a Church in Three Weeks.

I found these words from Ray Ortlund a sobering reminder of how fast a church can be destroyed through those who exalt personal dissatisfaction over the cause of the Gospel.

How to wreck your church in three weeks

Is Kiva a game changer for global missions?

Have you ever heard of Kiva?

From their website:  Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe.

Kiva is in the game to alleviate poverty, but I’m wondering how the concept changes the game for churches and missions agencies as they seek to proclaim Christ, establish churches and alleviate poverty. I do think what Kiva is doing is a good way for us to put our money where our mouth is. Micro-financing (when done well) is effective and very helpful to families and communities.

It seems as though Kiva might change the way we think about how churches partner with churches (or communities without a church) in far away places.  Maybe we need a similar organization with this vision:  (insert name) is the worlds first church to church website empowering churches to invest lives, time, and money in communities and infant churches around the globe.

Maybe the way we impact a community is to lead with micro-financing (or whatever their greatest need) with the goal of developing long term relationships, while be Christ and proclaiming Christ – One church invests in one community.

What do ya think?

Critical in Haiti

The following extended segment (originating here) is from Ron Pierre, board President for Baptist Haiti Mission.  Make sure you pray as you read, and find a way to give.  There are many credible places to give listed here.

So many of you are inquiring regarding the situation in Haiti and particularly at the mission. I’ve just now been able to make telephone contact with one of our missionaries, Chris Lieb at Baptist Haiti Mission. Thankfully, the connection was clear and intact long enough for me to inquire as to the current situation. I honestly do not know where to start, the conditions in Haiti are desperate and deteriorating by the moment in spite of all that we hear relative to the aid that is “pouring in” from the US and other countries. I am simply going to list some of the things he was able to relate to me without regard to sequence. Those of you who have been there and/or are familiar with the compound in Fermathe will better understand the conditions, however, all of you will gain a sense of the severity of what our people face.

* Our hospital is filled with people 250-300 people lying in the halls, many, many with serious injuries that need immediate attention, more people outside and surrounding areas with a constant flow coming in.

* Our doctors are exhausted, most all of our staff are assigned to the hospital.

* Thousands of people sleeping in the park just below in Petion-Ville, afraid to return to their homes.

* At least 10 to 15 thousand people are sleeping in the park near the airport with roving gangs of hoodlums attempting to steal whatever “aid” arrives before it gets to the helpless people.

* People all along the roads with serious injuries, multiple fractures and puncture wounds; bleeding and unattended.

* Chris passed women grasping their dying children in their arms, after a while it becomes overwhelming because there is not a thing that you can do about it..

* Countless small children wandering about without any parents or adult oversight.

* The initial stunned calm that was over the population is rapidly turning to despair and in many cases anger. There is a real danger of things turning very ugly, potentially for those who are beginning to arrive to help.

* For most of the “search and rescue” people that have arrived or will arrive, it will be far, far too late to save lives. The stench of death everywhere and is overwhelming. Many places have seen no help whatsoever.

* There are piles of bodies in many roads and some have become “roadblocks” in and of themselves. [Haiti]

* Many people are simply in shock, most have lost at least one or more family members.

* Vehicles are abandon, roads are blocked or down to one tight lane as large chucks of the mountain have fallen.

* Chris gave out about 100 very large heavy duty tarps today to be used as temporary shelters and it got very ugly as the last ones were dispersed. The actual process of giving out aid is going to be quite dangerous the longer it takes to reach the people.

* There appears to be no oversight of the “teams” arriving. They are equipped but do not know where to go or how to get there. It may improve but it is going to continue to be a big problem.

* Medical supplies are running low at our hospital; I asked for a list of the supplies that they need we can be a bit more specific in our requests when aid does arrive.

* We have a need for anesthesiologists and orthopedic surgeons. Any medical personnel would be a blessing.

* Chris commented that he has seen things over the past several days that he hoped he would never see and would chose never to see again.

* Many people are simply walking around in what is really clinical shock.

* Everything is closed down; no stores, no markets, water is in tight supply and is running out fast.

* People walk up and down the mountain just looking for their families; there is no transportation.

* The Samaritans Purse people were supposed to arrive today with Greta Van Susteren of FOXNews.com. The plane circled for about an hour but could not land. They returned to Miami.

* The same was true for several other planes caring supplies and aid for the mission. We desperately need a pump and water filters that are coming in.

* All in all, there are no words to describe what is taking place, the TV news gives inadequate for those of you who know Haiti, the conditions, the culture, the people.

* Two of our churches in PAP have been completely destroyed, we do not have reports on the many churches in outlying rural areas yet.

* Most every school in PAP is destroyed, personnel killed. It will be a long, long time before there will be any schools in PAP.

* Our chaplains have been ministering to every single person who comes to the hospital; scripture is read and they pray with each and every one. We do have some very dedicated people.

* Our mission families are all accounted for and remain uninjured; we need to uphold them in prayer during these times. God certainly gives the strength and grace when needed. They recognize that the tasks before them are humanly impossible; They also recognize that prayer is the greatest asset they have in this trial.

* We are trying to keep the website current with pictures, video, and various other feeds . . . . go to www.bhm.org. It may be a bit slow due to traffic but it does function. [Haiti] Our thanks to all of you who have inquired, emailed, called, and written and otherwise displayed your love and concern, this has been equally overwhelming! It is now almost 2:00 am Friday morning EST and time ready ourselves for a new day. Again, I close with Psalm 20, verses 1 and 2: “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!” –R.A.Pierre