OK, I have avoided writing on the internet about the David Lubaale case while it was going on. I am now going to break that silence.
A judge in Uganda commercial court has found in favor of ECM in our case against David Lubaale. David was our former National Director who was fired when we discovered he had embezzled funds. David at that point was confronted by our Ugandan Governance Board. He confessed in writing that he had misused funds and forged bank statements to cover his tracks. He agreed to pay back funds misused and we agreed to keep the issue in house.
When he stopped paying back funds after refunding only a small portion of what he owed, our International Board felt we should seek justice through the courts so that Lubaale could not continue to prey on NGO's. Realizing the seriousness of what he had done, we also decided to go back and look at everything he had done, including the purchase of several properties.
We warned other NGO's whom we knew had contact with David. Most of them listened gratefully, but one believed David's story and had ECM made out as the villain out to get David.
Today we received word that ECM won the civil case. (A criminal case is still pending.) What that really means in terms of actually getting anything back remains to be seen, but at least ECM's name has been cleared. It is been a long and grueling experience.
We can only continue to pray that David will yet come to repentance. The man has immense potential if he can develop the character to go along with it.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I Hope the US Can Help Uganda Get Kony
I'm not sure why the US suddenly decided we should help Uganda track down and dispose of Joseph Kony. I fear it's motivated by politics, but it could be that President Obama has some information to which we are not privy which gives good reason to get involved at this time.
Well, better late than never. I hope we give our forces a mandate that will not tie their hands as the UN mandate did during the Rwandan genocide. I pray that our combined efforts will meet with success and that wicked man will be brought to justice.
How dare he blaspheme the name of God by using the name "The Lord's Resistance Army" as if he were under the command of the Lord? The Lord he serves is not my Lord Jesus Christ, that's for sure.
How inhuman and indecent can one become, to force young children to survive by turning them into child soldiers and forcing them to kill their own families, thus doing deep, deep damage to their souls? We are Every Child Ministries are working to bring healing to those deep, searing wounds, possible only through the power of Jesus Christ who rose from the dead.
I find no joy in the death of any sinner, but Africa and the world needs to be relieved of this ugly, devastating cancer called Joseph Kony. Go get him!
Well, better late than never. I hope we give our forces a mandate that will not tie their hands as the UN mandate did during the Rwandan genocide. I pray that our combined efforts will meet with success and that wicked man will be brought to justice.
How dare he blaspheme the name of God by using the name "The Lord's Resistance Army" as if he were under the command of the Lord? The Lord he serves is not my Lord Jesus Christ, that's for sure.
How inhuman and indecent can one become, to force young children to survive by turning them into child soldiers and forcing them to kill their own families, thus doing deep, deep damage to their souls? We are Every Child Ministries are working to bring healing to those deep, searing wounds, possible only through the power of Jesus Christ who rose from the dead.
I find no joy in the death of any sinner, but Africa and the world needs to be relieved of this ugly, devastating cancer called Joseph Kony. Go get him!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Giving Wisely
I just finished "Giving Wisely" by Jonathan Martin, a gift from our daughter Sharon & family. His premise is that Americans are very generous, but often do more harm than good with their unwise giving.
Martin makes several valid points in his book, but I think the situation is vastly more complex than he describes. One case in point is child sponsorship. He feels that most child sponsorship programs create inequities in the community by raising one child over another. He thinks the best programs raise the whole community togeether rather than helping children one by one.
Yet even if sponsorship raised the whole community, wouldn't that create an inequity (and an equal danger of jealousy) with surrounding communities? Can anything be done to help anywhere without creating inquities of one sort or another? I think not.
Of course, I admit I am prejudiced on this point, because Every Child Ministries has child sponsorship programs. Or maybe that actually makes me more qualified to speak. Being intimately connected with the policy decisions made regarding those child sponsorship programs, I am familiar with the difficulties and the dividends of sponsorship.
At Every Child Ministries, we take pains to make sure that the very neediest children in the community are selected. Yes, their level will be raised because of the sponsorship, but if they are at the very bottom of the opportunity ladder, then raising them a few notches will not make them privileged and spoiled, but will put them closer to the norm with other children.
Most sponsorship organizations permit only one child per family, but most of our children are orphans of at least one parent if not both, taken in by relatives or others. We did find that when the outside child got sponsorship but not the children by birth, this did create difficult relationships. We were watching this closely, and made a policy change to allow and even encourage sponsorship of one of the children by birth as well.
Other things we have done to discourage jealousy and inequity are 1. to encourage gifts chosen by the project coordinator rather than by the sponsor, 2. to pool holiday gift funds and purchase the same thing, a needed item, for all the children and also to send gift bags of food items or other needed items home to the families, 3. to help with community projects in the sponsorship areas whenever possible (clean water, school library, etc.) 4. to visit the families by rotation and leave a gift for one of the other children on each visit.
When I think of the changes sponsorship has brought to the children in our programs, I know for sure that our sponsor's giving has been wise. Although not without pitfalls and problems, child sponsorship is still, in my opinion, one of the best ways to help children.
Further, sponsors love the personal connection. Giving to a community project just isn't the same. Helping one child is something to which most people can relate. That's why it's so popular.
I am vitally interested in the topic, "Giving Wisely," but on the subject of child sponsorship, I still say that sponsoring a child is a very wise investment. I still say it's very good stewardship.
Martin makes several valid points in his book, but I think the situation is vastly more complex than he describes. One case in point is child sponsorship. He feels that most child sponsorship programs create inequities in the community by raising one child over another. He thinks the best programs raise the whole community togeether rather than helping children one by one.
Yet even if sponsorship raised the whole community, wouldn't that create an inequity (and an equal danger of jealousy) with surrounding communities? Can anything be done to help anywhere without creating inquities of one sort or another? I think not.
Of course, I admit I am prejudiced on this point, because Every Child Ministries has child sponsorship programs. Or maybe that actually makes me more qualified to speak. Being intimately connected with the policy decisions made regarding those child sponsorship programs, I am familiar with the difficulties and the dividends of sponsorship.
At Every Child Ministries, we take pains to make sure that the very neediest children in the community are selected. Yes, their level will be raised because of the sponsorship, but if they are at the very bottom of the opportunity ladder, then raising them a few notches will not make them privileged and spoiled, but will put them closer to the norm with other children.
Most sponsorship organizations permit only one child per family, but most of our children are orphans of at least one parent if not both, taken in by relatives or others. We did find that when the outside child got sponsorship but not the children by birth, this did create difficult relationships. We were watching this closely, and made a policy change to allow and even encourage sponsorship of one of the children by birth as well.
Other things we have done to discourage jealousy and inequity are 1. to encourage gifts chosen by the project coordinator rather than by the sponsor, 2. to pool holiday gift funds and purchase the same thing, a needed item, for all the children and also to send gift bags of food items or other needed items home to the families, 3. to help with community projects in the sponsorship areas whenever possible (clean water, school library, etc.) 4. to visit the families by rotation and leave a gift for one of the other children on each visit.
When I think of the changes sponsorship has brought to the children in our programs, I know for sure that our sponsor's giving has been wise. Although not without pitfalls and problems, child sponsorship is still, in my opinion, one of the best ways to help children.
Further, sponsors love the personal connection. Giving to a community project just isn't the same. Helping one child is something to which most people can relate. That's why it's so popular.
I am vitally interested in the topic, "Giving Wisely," but on the subject of child sponsorship, I still say that sponsoring a child is a very wise investment. I still say it's very good stewardship.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
AN AFRICAN SISTER ENCOURAGED ME
One of my dear African sisters greatly encouraged me recently. I had a rather difficult and unpleasant time this summer due to problems with a staff member whose every conversation centered on what more he could get. I am not accustomed to servants of God talking or thinking in these terms, and it wore me out both physically and emotionally. When I came home I had a harder than average time readjusting.
Then came an email from Resty, a dear Ugandan sister and one of our faithful workers there. While we were together this summer, we had prayed and brainstormed many times seeking a good solution for a young boy who kept running away from home. Numerous trips were made to the police on his behalf. He had been rejected by his parents, experienced problems wetting himself, had gone to the streets and had become so smelly that taxi drivers and even bodabodas (open motorcycles used like taxis) refused him a ride. Medical tests showed no physical problem. The doctors said he just needed love. Resty has run around and expended so much effort trying to find a place that would take (I'll call him Marvelous). All to no avail. Although we had said we would not start another children's home, Marvelous's case made me think about it again. Yet I knew that even if we did start a home, getting it up and running is a long, expensive, and difficult process. There's no way we could do it in time to help Marvelous. And at other places he was too young, too old, not yet in serious delinquency, not this, not that. It seemed hopeless and we were out of ideas. We tried to show Marvelous all the love we could in our programs, but he needed a home.
Then Resty's email came. In sharing his story for prayer, a family stepped forward to help--a family who has helped other children who were suffering the devastating effects of rejection. They were taking in Marvelous, with the approval of the police and all the other authorities that be. I could only praise God. I was so thankful for this breakthrough.
I realize too how much effort Resty has expended on this child. She truly has shown her love and concern for even the smelliest of these. Truly we made the right decision when we recently promoted her to the position of "Child and Family Advocate." Thank you, Resty, for your faithfulness, your caring heart. Thank you for encouraging me today.
Then came an email from Resty, a dear Ugandan sister and one of our faithful workers there. While we were together this summer, we had prayed and brainstormed many times seeking a good solution for a young boy who kept running away from home. Numerous trips were made to the police on his behalf. He had been rejected by his parents, experienced problems wetting himself, had gone to the streets and had become so smelly that taxi drivers and even bodabodas (open motorcycles used like taxis) refused him a ride. Medical tests showed no physical problem. The doctors said he just needed love. Resty has run around and expended so much effort trying to find a place that would take (I'll call him Marvelous). All to no avail. Although we had said we would not start another children's home, Marvelous's case made me think about it again. Yet I knew that even if we did start a home, getting it up and running is a long, expensive, and difficult process. There's no way we could do it in time to help Marvelous. And at other places he was too young, too old, not yet in serious delinquency, not this, not that. It seemed hopeless and we were out of ideas. We tried to show Marvelous all the love we could in our programs, but he needed a home.
Then Resty's email came. In sharing his story for prayer, a family stepped forward to help--a family who has helped other children who were suffering the devastating effects of rejection. They were taking in Marvelous, with the approval of the police and all the other authorities that be. I could only praise God. I was so thankful for this breakthrough.
I realize too how much effort Resty has expended on this child. She truly has shown her love and concern for even the smelliest of these. Truly we made the right decision when we recently promoted her to the position of "Child and Family Advocate." Thank you, Resty, for your faithfulness, your caring heart. Thank you for encouraging me today.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Beggar Children --What a Life!
While in Uganda I've had an opportunity to visit the Karimojong beggar children and their families living in the slums of Kitwe and Kisenyi, right in the heart of the capital city of Kampala. What a life these kids have! Forced out of their homeland by drought and starvation, they are now forced into tiny makeshift shelters, ten to fifteen families to a room! When it rains, their dirt floors flood and they are forced to stand throughout the night. They are looked down on by the majority Buganda population as well as other ethnic groups in the city. They are not welcome most places they go. I certainly don't condone sending children out on the street to beg, but you have to have some sympathy when you consider the problems they are facing. Even these patched together tents and homes made from pieces of junk picked from the dump are se t up on rented land. One group is about to be expelled because the developer has plans to build there; others have been warned they have only one year left before they will be expelled. This means even more severe overcrowding or simply sleeping on the street "wherever". Even the public toilets, such as they are, require an entry fee! And if the Karimojong return home, they face mass starvation. Conditions are so desperate there that children try to escape by clinging to the underside of trucks!
I am so glad that success does not depend on me and on my good ideas! My ideas are not even a drop in the ocean of need the Karimojong face. We serve a God who is unlimited in ideas and in resources--who designed the universe and keeps it running, who designed the intricacies of the cell and of DNA. We are committed to doing all we can to help these precious people. Please pray that God will show us the way and open up His resources to accomplish the task.
The Karimojong people desperately need a Gospel breakthrough. Please pray for that.
We would like to sponsor more children to school so that they can get jobs and fit into Ugandan society. Please pray for sponsorships.
It must feel to the Karimojong that God does not love them, but I know He does. Please pray for Recho, Merab and our other workers as they seek to demonstrate that love.
I am so glad that success does not depend on me and on my good ideas! My ideas are not even a drop in the ocean of need the Karimojong face. We serve a God who is unlimited in ideas and in resources--who designed the universe and keeps it running, who designed the intricacies of the cell and of DNA. We are committed to doing all we can to help these precious people. Please pray that God will show us the way and open up His resources to accomplish the task.
The Karimojong people desperately need a Gospel breakthrough. Please pray for that.
We would like to sponsor more children to school so that they can get jobs and fit into Ugandan society. Please pray for sponsorships.
It must feel to the Karimojong that God does not love them, but I know He does. Please pray for Recho, Merab and our other workers as they seek to demonstrate that love.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Confused People
Today I start several days of training with Choose to Wait. We want to use the curriculum with many aspects of our ministry. As I look over my introductory packet, I realize that we are going to be asked to journal our personal journey.
My own is quite confused, and when I was growing up, the surrounding culture was not filled with nearly the multitude of confusing and contradictory messages that it is today. I never thought I was lesbian, bisexual or transgender. I was never sexually abused, thank God. Yet my journey was still confused.
Two things stand out. One, my dad tried constantly to teach me to say "No" to boys and all the things he was sure they were going to try to do to me and with me. I have realized since then that it was pretty ridiculous to think I was going to say "No" to boys when I couldn't even say "Hi" to them. I was so vulnerable in those days. It is only the grace of God that protected me.
Second, along the way I have struggled tremendously with my role as a woman in God's world. I've gone to some pretty wild extremes in the past trying to find my place. I think a lot of that goes back to the way my parents related to one another. I deeply resented the way my dad treated my mom, and over the years it has resulted in so much struggle. Gradually I've come to some kind of balance on it, I think, although I don't claim to have resolved all the issues.
Knowing how deeply my experiences have affected me, and realizing how mild they were compared to the confusion proffered in today's world, compounded with the truly terrible, undescribable unthinkable experiences so many kids have had to endure, I feel a real need to get a better handle on these issues.
The training goes beyond just saying no to sex outside of marriage. It goes down to the core of being men and women created AS men and women by God. I'm looking forward to learning more.
The majority of African kids we work with don't even have a father who is active in their lives. Most are with single mothers (and some on their own in child-headed families), children of prostitution and casual sex, children whose fathers deserted them when the going got tough, children whose fathers were killed in cattle raids and in war, children whose both parents died of AIDS. Most have never lived in and many have never seen a normal family with both parents intact. Of course, this is not the majority of African families, but it is because we work with vulnerable children or children in crisis.
I thank God that gender confusion has not yet become popular in Africa as it is in America, but there are groups that are pushing it. Unless God intervenes, it is probably only a matter of time until gender confusion begins to grow there, too. It is scary to me to think what it would be like for such confusion to grow in a soil fertilized by such family breakdown. The results could be scary indeed.
I don't claim to have it all down, but this I do know. God created us male and female, different but equal in value. His plan is always good.
I am praying that the training I'll be receiving will help to clear some of the confusion for those who call me "Mama".
My own is quite confused, and when I was growing up, the surrounding culture was not filled with nearly the multitude of confusing and contradictory messages that it is today. I never thought I was lesbian, bisexual or transgender. I was never sexually abused, thank God. Yet my journey was still confused.
Two things stand out. One, my dad tried constantly to teach me to say "No" to boys and all the things he was sure they were going to try to do to me and with me. I have realized since then that it was pretty ridiculous to think I was going to say "No" to boys when I couldn't even say "Hi" to them. I was so vulnerable in those days. It is only the grace of God that protected me.
Second, along the way I have struggled tremendously with my role as a woman in God's world. I've gone to some pretty wild extremes in the past trying to find my place. I think a lot of that goes back to the way my parents related to one another. I deeply resented the way my dad treated my mom, and over the years it has resulted in so much struggle. Gradually I've come to some kind of balance on it, I think, although I don't claim to have resolved all the issues.
Knowing how deeply my experiences have affected me, and realizing how mild they were compared to the confusion proffered in today's world, compounded with the truly terrible, undescribable unthinkable experiences so many kids have had to endure, I feel a real need to get a better handle on these issues.
The training goes beyond just saying no to sex outside of marriage. It goes down to the core of being men and women created AS men and women by God. I'm looking forward to learning more.
The majority of African kids we work with don't even have a father who is active in their lives. Most are with single mothers (and some on their own in child-headed families), children of prostitution and casual sex, children whose fathers deserted them when the going got tough, children whose fathers were killed in cattle raids and in war, children whose both parents died of AIDS. Most have never lived in and many have never seen a normal family with both parents intact. Of course, this is not the majority of African families, but it is because we work with vulnerable children or children in crisis.
I thank God that gender confusion has not yet become popular in Africa as it is in America, but there are groups that are pushing it. Unless God intervenes, it is probably only a matter of time until gender confusion begins to grow there, too. It is scary to me to think what it would be like for such confusion to grow in a soil fertilized by such family breakdown. The results could be scary indeed.
I don't claim to have it all down, but this I do know. God created us male and female, different but equal in value. His plan is always good.
I am praying that the training I'll be receiving will help to clear some of the confusion for those who call me "Mama".
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Celebrating 50 years with Jesus
It's my spiritual anniversary. May 12-15, 1961. A shy 15 year old girl whom I hardly recognize struggled over 4 days with her need of a Savior. Fifty years ago I came to faith in Jesus Christ. I am so very eternally glad I did.
I wish I could say that after that, my record was one of unbroken faithfulness to Him. Sadly, that is not the case. If I lied about that I'm sure my sister, brother, husband or kids could quickly step up to correct the record. Yet one thing is VERY sure. He has never been unfaithful to me.
Over fifty years time I suppose you would expect a person to change, but from where I was to where I am? It's a very, very long journey. Fifty years alone could never have done it. Jesus did.
Those who know me now often find it hard to accept when I tell them that until I was 15 I probably said no more than five words to any human being outside my family. I was so shy, so fearful of being rejected. My dream in life was to be popular--me, who spent the whole eighth grade plotting to say "hi" to a fellow classmate, and never did get up the courage to do so. Me, who went to every dance and always sat on the side by myself, never dancing and never speaking to anyone the whole time.
How did Jesus change all that? First, in Him I found acceptance and security. Those powerful feelings began to take deep root in my heart. Then, I began to focus on Him and not myself. It was a lot better focus, believe me. The combination of those two things enabled me to gradually begin to reach out to other people.
Another aspect I think was that Jesus gave me a purpose for living. I quickly forgot about my dreams of being popular (never made it to that, but that's OK). I began to understand that He had good plans for me, and that my life was important in His big plan. As I began to focus on His big plan, my life gained significance.
My childhood and adolescence was pretty painful, excruciatingly lonely. Yet God has used those experiences to good advantage. Now as I work on behalf of African children, my heart is always drawn to the outcast, to the hurting. I may not have been adducted like some of the children we serve. I have never slept on the street or been forced into prostitution or slavery. But I do understand emotional pain, and I am always deeply touched by it. It has enabled me to serve more effectively, and although in my job I am exposed to more human suffering that I could bear in myself, somehow Jesus uses the pain of my past to help me bring His healing to others. So even my deepest sufferings have been redeemed. I am so thankful.
I have to admit that my Christian life has been up and down. I certainly am no model of a perfect Christian. One thing I do know, though. Jesus has done so much for me I cannot even begin to tell. I have every reason to celebrate 50 years with Him. The good thing is, no matter how long or how short my life on this earth may be, there is plenty more to celebrate!
I wish I could say that after that, my record was one of unbroken faithfulness to Him. Sadly, that is not the case. If I lied about that I'm sure my sister, brother, husband or kids could quickly step up to correct the record. Yet one thing is VERY sure. He has never been unfaithful to me.
Over fifty years time I suppose you would expect a person to change, but from where I was to where I am? It's a very, very long journey. Fifty years alone could never have done it. Jesus did.
Those who know me now often find it hard to accept when I tell them that until I was 15 I probably said no more than five words to any human being outside my family. I was so shy, so fearful of being rejected. My dream in life was to be popular--me, who spent the whole eighth grade plotting to say "hi" to a fellow classmate, and never did get up the courage to do so. Me, who went to every dance and always sat on the side by myself, never dancing and never speaking to anyone the whole time.
How did Jesus change all that? First, in Him I found acceptance and security. Those powerful feelings began to take deep root in my heart. Then, I began to focus on Him and not myself. It was a lot better focus, believe me. The combination of those two things enabled me to gradually begin to reach out to other people.
Another aspect I think was that Jesus gave me a purpose for living. I quickly forgot about my dreams of being popular (never made it to that, but that's OK). I began to understand that He had good plans for me, and that my life was important in His big plan. As I began to focus on His big plan, my life gained significance.
My childhood and adolescence was pretty painful, excruciatingly lonely. Yet God has used those experiences to good advantage. Now as I work on behalf of African children, my heart is always drawn to the outcast, to the hurting. I may not have been adducted like some of the children we serve. I have never slept on the street or been forced into prostitution or slavery. But I do understand emotional pain, and I am always deeply touched by it. It has enabled me to serve more effectively, and although in my job I am exposed to more human suffering that I could bear in myself, somehow Jesus uses the pain of my past to help me bring His healing to others. So even my deepest sufferings have been redeemed. I am so thankful.
I have to admit that my Christian life has been up and down. I certainly am no model of a perfect Christian. One thing I do know, though. Jesus has done so much for me I cannot even begin to tell. I have every reason to celebrate 50 years with Him. The good thing is, no matter how long or how short my life on this earth may be, there is plenty more to celebrate!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Global Giving's New Definition of Discrimination
I had a surprising experience recently when I tried to nominate Every Child Ministries for inclusion on the Global Giving website. I see on their site many projects similar to our own, so I felt we would be a good fit. After completing the standard information, I came to these two questions: 1. Are the same services provided to people of all faiths? And 2. Are people required OR ENCOURAGED (emphasis mine) to learn about your faith? The first question was easy to answer. ECM serves children of all faiths or no faith at all. We know God loves everyone and we want to express that by serving others regardless of their religion. The second question was harder because of the inclusion of the words "Or encouraged". How could someone who has something as good as the Christian faith NOT encourage others to consider it? That would be like having a cure for cancer but not encouraging anybody to look into it. That would be a tremendous crime against humanity. So, I answered "Yes." We don't force anyone to change their faith (as if such a thing were really possible anyway). We encourage and teach our staff not to overly pressure people to become Christians. But we definitely do encourage people to consider the claims of Jesus Christ and His ability to change their lives.
As soon as I clicked "Yes", a box in colored writing popped up saying that they have a non-discrimation policy and we couldn't be approved anyway, so I might as well quit working on the application right there. I went ahead anyway. I know we do not discriminate on the basis of religion, so I couldn't believe we would be turned down just for encouraging people to learn about Christianity and then decide for themselves. No opportunity was given to explain, and as soon as I hit the send button, another box popped up telling me that our application was being rejected because we discriminate. I wanted to respond, "No, I think it is YOU who is discriminating against us." The only recourse was to write an email telling them why I still felt ECM should be considered. I did so, in my most polite English. The email was never even acknowledged, and we never heard from Global Giving again.
Of course, they have the right to set the rules for their own website, but the more I thought about it, the more I was dismayed by their novel use of the word "discriminate." If we had denied help to someone based on their religion, that would be discrimination. But is it now to be considered discrimination to encourage people to learn about the faith that motivates and sustains us in offering help to them? What a strange definition of discrimination!
Well, I never considered it a virtue to discriminate before, but if encouraging people to learn about the One who made them and loves them is discrimination, I guess we are discriminators. Sounds like a better term all the time.
As soon as I clicked "Yes", a box in colored writing popped up saying that they have a non-discrimation policy and we couldn't be approved anyway, so I might as well quit working on the application right there. I went ahead anyway. I know we do not discriminate on the basis of religion, so I couldn't believe we would be turned down just for encouraging people to learn about Christianity and then decide for themselves. No opportunity was given to explain, and as soon as I hit the send button, another box popped up telling me that our application was being rejected because we discriminate. I wanted to respond, "No, I think it is YOU who is discriminating against us." The only recourse was to write an email telling them why I still felt ECM should be considered. I did so, in my most polite English. The email was never even acknowledged, and we never heard from Global Giving again.
Of course, they have the right to set the rules for their own website, but the more I thought about it, the more I was dismayed by their novel use of the word "discriminate." If we had denied help to someone based on their religion, that would be discrimination. But is it now to be considered discrimination to encourage people to learn about the faith that motivates and sustains us in offering help to them? What a strange definition of discrimination!
Well, I never considered it a virtue to discriminate before, but if encouraging people to learn about the One who made them and loves them is discrimination, I guess we are discriminators. Sounds like a better term all the time.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Human Potential the Easiest Resource to Waste
Those who know me realize I am very conservative in use of resources. I am always going through my house and asking over every item, "What is the highest use to which I could put this?" I'm concerned about stewardship, and I want to use what God entrusts to me well.
Recently I've been thinking a lot about the waste of human potential amongst my beloved African children. It started when we printed out a batch of report cards scanned from our Uganda office of Every Child Ministries. They were the long anticipated FIRST report cards representing the first academic efforts of former Karimojong beggar children. Was it really possible to take kids who had never been to school off the street, kids who were just learning their first words of English other than "Give me," have them begin in third grade, and really expect that they could do well? We were not at all sure. Sometimes in similar cases we have seen children struggle for years. Some never can catch up. Yet the first report cards from the beggar kids shows that they must be very brilliant children. Brilliant, yet on the very bottom social level. Brilliant, yet despised and ridiculed by the majority. Brilliant, but just now getting their very first break in life, their very first opportunity.
I know they are loved and valued by God whether they are brilliant or not. We all are. Yet I am also utterly amazed that these kids have within them such immense human potential, potential that no one might have ever discovered. It seems like human potential is the easiest resource of all to waste. How I pray that we will find more people interested in child sponsorship, more people willing to invest in unmined human potential.
Recently I've been thinking a lot about the waste of human potential amongst my beloved African children. It started when we printed out a batch of report cards scanned from our Uganda office of Every Child Ministries. They were the long anticipated FIRST report cards representing the first academic efforts of former Karimojong beggar children. Was it really possible to take kids who had never been to school off the street, kids who were just learning their first words of English other than "Give me," have them begin in third grade, and really expect that they could do well? We were not at all sure. Sometimes in similar cases we have seen children struggle for years. Some never can catch up. Yet the first report cards from the beggar kids shows that they must be very brilliant children. Brilliant, yet on the very bottom social level. Brilliant, yet despised and ridiculed by the majority. Brilliant, but just now getting their very first break in life, their very first opportunity.
I know they are loved and valued by God whether they are brilliant or not. We all are. Yet I am also utterly amazed that these kids have within them such immense human potential, potential that no one might have ever discovered. It seems like human potential is the easiest resource of all to waste. How I pray that we will find more people interested in child sponsorship, more people willing to invest in unmined human potential.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Seeing God Provide Our Daily Needs
Did you ever think much about that phrase in the Lord's prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread?" For myself, I've been so blessed that I've never had to pray for my next meal. I can remember a few times in Africa when funds were very sparse and I had to plan very carefully to get through. I've never had to pray this way for my own needs, though.
The needs of my Big African family are another thing altogether. It seems we've had to continuously pray that God would provide enough to go around for those needs. Recently we became aware that the budget we could supply for Haven of Hope for one month met their food needs for only about one week. Of course we discussed with them every conservation method we could think of to stretch the food & the budget. We increased their budget the little bit that we could. We instructed our leaders there to make the need known to local churches in Ghana. And we began to pray and ask others to do the same.
We've received some very generous responses from American friends. We've learned of children planning to give their Vacation Bible School offerings this year toward food. We've had several Ghanaians also make generous donations. Today I learned that a local chicken farmer there donated significant quantities of eggs and promised to continue doing so on a regular basis. We are so very thankful to everyone, and especially to our great God who lays it on the hearts of His people to give. Thank you all.
Maybe God lets us experience need so that we will look to Him and depend on Him more fully. If so, it's working! So, Lord, give our Haven of Hope family their daily bread. And don't forget our faithful staff and volunteers and all the other children we are helping in every country. You know their daily needs. Please show Yourself faithful so that we may praise You together. In Jesus' name. Amen.
The needs of my Big African family are another thing altogether. It seems we've had to continuously pray that God would provide enough to go around for those needs. Recently we became aware that the budget we could supply for Haven of Hope for one month met their food needs for only about one week. Of course we discussed with them every conservation method we could think of to stretch the food & the budget. We increased their budget the little bit that we could. We instructed our leaders there to make the need known to local churches in Ghana. And we began to pray and ask others to do the same.
We've received some very generous responses from American friends. We've learned of children planning to give their Vacation Bible School offerings this year toward food. We've had several Ghanaians also make generous donations. Today I learned that a local chicken farmer there donated significant quantities of eggs and promised to continue doing so on a regular basis. We are so very thankful to everyone, and especially to our great God who lays it on the hearts of His people to give. Thank you all.
Maybe God lets us experience need so that we will look to Him and depend on Him more fully. If so, it's working! So, Lord, give our Haven of Hope family their daily bread. And don't forget our faithful staff and volunteers and all the other children we are helping in every country. You know their daily needs. Please show Yourself faithful so that we may praise You together. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Transgender people problem in public bathrooms
This morning I received a notice about a transgender person the article called a "woman" who was pulled from a public restroom at a restaurant & beaten. They wanted me to blame the restaurant employees who stood by.
Hmm. Well, I would never condone the beating of a person. I know that however confused that poor person was, he/she was created in the image of God. Of course, that image did not include gender confusion. The Bible clearly states that "male and female created He them." We do live in a fallen world where our human tendency to choose our own way and to think we are smarter than our Creator has marred us all, myself included as well as that poor person who was confused about what gender he/she was and what bathroom he/she could use. I do not hate that person or wish that person evil. I would not wish to see that person harmed.
But the employees must have been just as confused. What were they to do? Were they to let a person use the women's bathroom whom others obviously recognized as not a woman? If so, how were they to protect the privacy of their other customers who entered that bathroom not expecting to find what they recognized as a man? The other customers did not attack the person in question when that person sought service at the counter. They only attacked that person when that person invaded the privacy of the women's bathroom. They were wrong in attacking her, but I can understand their outrage in finding no privacy in the bathroom of their own gender.
I would not want to say or do anything that would encourage attacking people who conceive of themselves as transgender. Probably I would have cleared my family members out of the bathroom and waited for the offending person to exit. That would have meant giving up our rights to use the bathroom freely, but it would have been preferable to the action that was taken. This incident, however, clearly shows the problems we face as a society when we decide to label ourselves as something other than what God created us to be. We all need the use of public bathrooms, so there is no way we can relabel ourselves without infringing on the rights of others. Yes, I do sympathize with the poor person who was beaten. I also sympathize with the customers who were offended to find what they perceived as a man invading the privacy of the women's bathroom. I also sympathize with the employees who in a split second had to decide whether or not to defend the person who was being beaten. When we leave God's ways behind, we always create confusion, not only for ourselves, but for all those around us.
Hmm. Well, I would never condone the beating of a person. I know that however confused that poor person was, he/she was created in the image of God. Of course, that image did not include gender confusion. The Bible clearly states that "male and female created He them." We do live in a fallen world where our human tendency to choose our own way and to think we are smarter than our Creator has marred us all, myself included as well as that poor person who was confused about what gender he/she was and what bathroom he/she could use. I do not hate that person or wish that person evil. I would not wish to see that person harmed.
But the employees must have been just as confused. What were they to do? Were they to let a person use the women's bathroom whom others obviously recognized as not a woman? If so, how were they to protect the privacy of their other customers who entered that bathroom not expecting to find what they recognized as a man? The other customers did not attack the person in question when that person sought service at the counter. They only attacked that person when that person invaded the privacy of the women's bathroom. They were wrong in attacking her, but I can understand their outrage in finding no privacy in the bathroom of their own gender.
I would not want to say or do anything that would encourage attacking people who conceive of themselves as transgender. Probably I would have cleared my family members out of the bathroom and waited for the offending person to exit. That would have meant giving up our rights to use the bathroom freely, but it would have been preferable to the action that was taken. This incident, however, clearly shows the problems we face as a society when we decide to label ourselves as something other than what God created us to be. We all need the use of public bathrooms, so there is no way we can relabel ourselves without infringing on the rights of others. Yes, I do sympathize with the poor person who was beaten. I also sympathize with the customers who were offended to find what they perceived as a man invading the privacy of the women's bathroom. I also sympathize with the employees who in a split second had to decide whether or not to defend the person who was being beaten. When we leave God's ways behind, we always create confusion, not only for ourselves, but for all those around us.
Monday, April 18, 2011
How & Why We Celebrate Earth Day
When I first noticed that earth day fell on Good Friday this year, it seemed almost sacreligious to consider it. How could Earth Day possibly compare to the remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made for me, His death on the cross that we celebrate in a special way on Good Friday? As one of our supporters recently wrote to us, when were we going to declare a “Celebrate Jesus the Lord of Creation” Day?
Our celebration of Earth Day is limited. It’s a time when we can reaffirm our desire to be good stewards of the earth God has made, and which He has entrusted to us. It’s a time when we can remember that we are creatures, and God is our Almighty Creator.
I know many people go far beyond that. I know that in some schools they sing songs of worship to the earth, using the names of ancient Greek goddesses. I know that some people consider the earth almost like their god. I know that to some, people are no more special than striped toads or slugs or centipedes. I know that to some, everything that lives is considered divine. As Christians, we at ECM stop long short of any of that. The earth is not our mother, our divine goddess; it is an object which God created to provide a home and to give a proper environment for sustaining all the various forms of life He created. We do not care for it because we think the soil is as valuable our eternal souls; we care for it because God gave us the responsibility to do so and in doing so we honor Him. We do not care for other forms of life—rare or not, protected or not, vanishing or multiplying—because we think we are a part of them or they are of as much value as we. We care for animal and plant life because it is part of God’s creation for which He gave us responsibility.
I think we care for the earth and all its inhabitants best when we see God as our loving Creator and us as His creatures. God has no beginning and no end, no antecedent and no equal.
The one correlation between Earth Day and Good Friday is that God the Almighty Creator came down to this earth to become our Saviour. On Good Friday, we remember the day the Son of God paid the most awful price for our sins, so that we could go free.
So this Friday I will remember the earth that God gave us, and I will remember that Jesus left His eternal home with the Father to come down here and become our Saviour. Because of sin, the whole creation groans, the Scripture says. When Jesus comes again, He will fully restore creation as God intended it to be and as He originally made it. The effects of our sin will be put in reverse and the earth will once again, even more fully than now, show the glory of the Lord.
Our celebration of Earth Day is limited. It’s a time when we can reaffirm our desire to be good stewards of the earth God has made, and which He has entrusted to us. It’s a time when we can remember that we are creatures, and God is our Almighty Creator.
I know many people go far beyond that. I know that in some schools they sing songs of worship to the earth, using the names of ancient Greek goddesses. I know that some people consider the earth almost like their god. I know that to some, people are no more special than striped toads or slugs or centipedes. I know that to some, everything that lives is considered divine. As Christians, we at ECM stop long short of any of that. The earth is not our mother, our divine goddess; it is an object which God created to provide a home and to give a proper environment for sustaining all the various forms of life He created. We do not care for it because we think the soil is as valuable our eternal souls; we care for it because God gave us the responsibility to do so and in doing so we honor Him. We do not care for other forms of life—rare or not, protected or not, vanishing or multiplying—because we think we are a part of them or they are of as much value as we. We care for animal and plant life because it is part of God’s creation for which He gave us responsibility.
I think we care for the earth and all its inhabitants best when we see God as our loving Creator and us as His creatures. God has no beginning and no end, no antecedent and no equal.
The one correlation between Earth Day and Good Friday is that God the Almighty Creator came down to this earth to become our Saviour. On Good Friday, we remember the day the Son of God paid the most awful price for our sins, so that we could go free.
So this Friday I will remember the earth that God gave us, and I will remember that Jesus left His eternal home with the Father to come down here and become our Saviour. Because of sin, the whole creation groans, the Scripture says. When Jesus comes again, He will fully restore creation as God intended it to be and as He originally made it. The effects of our sin will be put in reverse and the earth will once again, even more fully than now, show the glory of the Lord.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
New Missionaries for Uganda--Yea God!
It takes a big team to do a big job, they say. That's why I was so thrilled with the decision of our Board Friday evening to accept Mark and Stacy Luckey and family as missionaries to Uganda. Yea, God! They will be working alongside Russ and Marcia Baugh who are there now getting started with a project called "The Way Home". It's an effort to help orphans find "forever families", preferably through in-country adoption. Encouraging foster parenting and helping grandmothers who are raising orphans will also be a part of their job. The Baughs and the Luckeys hope to help raise awareness in African churches regarding the responsibility of the church toward orphans, hope to arouse in African Christians a desire to help orphans, hope to help guide those efforts.
Uganda's orphans come from the ravages of AIDS and from the devastation left behind by LRA's long guerilla war in the north. Like us, both the Baughs and the Luckey's have adopted African orphans into their own homes, and now God has laid on their hearts the wider need of millions. Thank you, God, for adding missionaries to the team. Send us more long term, career or lifetime missions oriented people, we pray in Jesus' name. And take care of the orphans today, You who called Yourself Father of the Fatherless. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Uganda's orphans come from the ravages of AIDS and from the devastation left behind by LRA's long guerilla war in the north. Like us, both the Baughs and the Luckey's have adopted African orphans into their own homes, and now God has laid on their hearts the wider need of millions. Thank you, God, for adding missionaries to the team. Send us more long term, career or lifetime missions oriented people, we pray in Jesus' name. And take care of the orphans today, You who called Yourself Father of the Fatherless. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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