water is life

This week, I am going to share some excerpts about water from the book The Hole in our Gospel written by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision.

"Most of you began this morning with a hot, clean shower. You brushed your teeth, filled a glass with water, and took a few vitamins. Perhaps you brewed a cup of coffee or drank a glass of juice with breakfast. And each day you run your washing machines and dishwashers and take your toilets for granted. You probably have one, two, or even three bathrooms in your home. You may also have a sprinkler system to water your lawn and garden. Your refrigerator is filled with cold drinks, bottled water, and maybe even ice-cold water dispensed from its door. If you have children, they probably haven't spent even one hour of their lives fetching water for the family to drink or to bathe with. And I'll wager that neither you nor your children have ever had a sick day due to unclean water- unless you have traveled to another country and picked up one of the many waterborne bacteria or parasites.

...imagine for a moment that when you wake up tomorrow, all the water-related fixtures and appliances have been removed from your home. The sinks, toilets, bathtubs, showers gone. Dishwasher, washing machine, garden hoses, sprinklers-all gone. Let's say, though, that everything else about your house remains the same. Still, how would your life change with just this one difference?" p.136 The Hole in Our Gospel.

Consider shutting off your running water for one day in your family. What did you experience? Maybe you've had to go multiple days without running water due to a problem that affected your ability to run water in your home. What was that like?

why might we pass someone by who is in need?

The title of this post was one of our breakfast questions this morning. Our ten year old son replied, "We're greedy." Our ten year old daughter replied, "People are scared. Not so much about the person who needs help but about what they might have to give up to help them."

My children never cease to challenge me in profound ways. Are you having any conversations in your home? Will you share with us about them?

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caring for the sick

The topic for this Sunday's "Start Becoming a Good Samaritan" class is 'Caring for the Sick.' The class meets in room 109 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Orchard Hill Church. Each week stands alone, so you do not need to have been at last week's class to come this week. The resource we're using is one of the best I've engaged in for a group setting. I highly recommend this series for anyone who wants to be a person "after God's own heart".

ccda institutes

On November 13, Bob Lupton will be with us from Atlanta, GA, to address "Empowerment" and on November 14, Alvin Bibbs from Chicago,IL, will address "Suburban-Urban Partnerships". Both workshops are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Commons at OHC. Lunch is included. Cost is $25 a day or $40 for both days. You can register by going on-line to http://www.ccdaregistration.org/ or contact Heidi Fuchtman with any questions at hfuchtman@gmail.com.

a new way of seeing

Some quotes from author Anthony DeMello:

"Take a look at a rose. Is it possible for the rose to say, ‘I’ll offer my fragrance to good people and withhold it from bad people?’ Or can you imagine a lamp that withholds its rays from a wicked person who seeks to walk in its light? It could do that only by ceasing to be a lamp. And observe how helplessly and indiscriminately a tree gives its shade to everyone, good and bad, young and hold, high and low; to animals and humans and every living creature – even to the one who seeks to cut it down. This is the first quality of compassion – its indiscriminate character."

"When I love with the compassion of Christ and not with a faint copy, judgments about worthiness are left behind. All people qualify for my love simply because they are human and, thus, image bearers of our wondrous God. To love in this way is to plow up the hard ground present within my heart. We are called to love the unlovely, to love those who hurt us, to love even when it costs us everything ... like God loved us."

"To see the image of God in others and to worship him through engagement with others is the culmination of loving Jesus, the purpose of community, and the greatest meaning of earthly life."

Food for the Hungry video

Sponsorship stories

I love the video that will be shown this morning of some of our Orchard Hill friends meeting their sponsored children in Mozambique.

Our family longs to meet Maria, our 9 year old friend in Mozambique.

In one of Maria's latest letters to us, she writes that one of her favorite ways to help the family is to fetch water. I wonder how far Maria must travel for water. I wonder if it's clean water.

Maria's report card stated that she had failed third grade. This brought up really good conversation with our children. Reasons for failing a grade might be different in Maria's situation than in our situation. Maybe she was absent too many days due to fetching water or helping find food. Maybe the walk to school is so long that there are days she cannot travel that distance. Maybe no one in her household is educated and can help Maria with schoolwork. The reasons are unknown, but it reminded me of how complex the web of poverty is, and how we will continue to pray for Maria and family and support her through Food for the Hungry so that she might have a chance to grow and thrive.

How about you? Any sponsorship stories or thoughts to share?