That is what we need sometimes…a little bit of perspective. As I read the paper this morning I read an article about Art Briles. He was the coach of the University of Houston’s football team where he made 900k coaching a mediocre team in a sub-standard conference. He just took a position as the head coach of Baylor’s football team for 1.8 million. Baylor hasn’t had a winning season since 1994. I then began to think about the A-Rods, the Kobe’s, the Tiger’s, and the Brady’s of the sport’s world. Each making ungodly amounts of money to play a sport.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a HUGE sports fan but really…How do we justify paying them these huge salaries when there are people living in poverty all over the place. I couldn’t help but think of the faces we see on Wed. nights in downtown Houston at Montrose Street Reach. Then I thought of our boy we sponsor in Uganda through Compassion International. I thought of those in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Then tonight we were invited to a benefit concert in The Woodlands by our new friends the Marlers. It was a beautiful night. The weather was perfect. The music was great. There was free Starbucks and desserts. But most importantly there was a cause. Clean water. Sounds simple enough. We all have it; they all need it. People all over Africa are dying all the time by diseases and stuff caused by dirty and unclean water. We walked around and looked at the different posters all around. One in particular struck me hard. In this certain part of Africa they don’t give their children names until they are 5 yrs old because of the high mortality rate due to unclean water.

We later found out that $20 could provide clean water for someone for 15 years. $20…what’s up with that? How many times have we seen $20 disappear without even realizing it? Then we turn around and pay some guy 1.8 million to coach a football team. Say he turns the program around and they go undefeated…what does that really accomplish? What difference does that really make?

As Americans we get things screwed up sometimes…a lot of times. Tonight we bought a T-shirt and some raffle tickets but so much more needs to be done.

Things like tonight. Friends like the Marlers, the Iveys, the Bushes, Jimmie, etc. Learning more about those in need (both here and in other countries). They make me think about things. We may not be able to change everyone else but we can change ourselves.  What am I doing to make a difference? What are you doing to make a difference? What CAN we do to make a difference?

“As much as you do to the least of these you do it unto Me” -Jesus

idk…just some thoughts.

On Wed. night we returned to Montrose Street Reach in Houston, a service for the homeless and less-fortunate in the area (you can read about it here) to help out with their Thanksgiving feast. The plans were to set up tables, decorate them, and have the people sit at them while we all ministered and served (literally) them. There was Turkey, ham, dressing, gravy, macaroni and cheese, and deserts just to name some of the food. The tables were set, the candles were lit, the people were seated, and the rain came. Not just a drizzle or sprinkle; it poured. Thunder clashed while lightening danced across the sky. We scrambled to cover the food and save the equipment and figure out what to do. Out of over seven years of doing this they said it was the first time they have been rained on.

You may be thinking “disaster”, “end of the night”, etc. but that was not the case. What happened? Music played, people danced, people praised, people laughed, and people sang. Right there in the middle of Houston in a parking lot with a monsoon coming through their was joy and worship. It was a sight to behold. My kids joined in as I watched them do the same. My son danced like he has never danced before. My fatherly instinct was to cover them up, run for shelter, and keep them as far away from the elements as possible but I didn’t. Maybe any normal parent would but I never claimed to be normal (normal is boring anyway). I held back and watched and thanked God for what I was taking in.

The rain, thunder, and lightning came and went bringing with it a 20 degree drop in temperature but it was dry once again so we had the feast. With it now cold we did end up giving in to rational and my wife took the kids, dried them off, and kept them in the car with the heater while I stayed and helped. I carried plates, got some refills for people, picked up trash, gave lonely people a listening ear, it was great. I had the time of my life.

As I was just standing there watching everyone eat to they couldn’t eat anymore I noticed I was smiling. It wasn’t intentional or forced, it was just there. I then began to pay attention to what I was feeling and there was a warmth, a love, a joy, and a peace inside that you don’t experience (at least I don’t) everyday.

God is doing something in my heart and in my wife’s heart. Not only ours but in the hearts of some others we have had the privilege of encountering in one way or another. It’s a stirring inside to be different, to be a part of something different, to make a difference! My wife and I were talking about it yesterday…We don’t want to be something or someone big for God, we want to be a part of something big for God; something bigger than ourselves.

I truly think God is going to oblige. I say “Bring the rain, God, I am ready to dance!”

I read this quote by Theodore Roosevelt today and wanted to share it with you.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

There you go my dear friends and co-laborers. Press on and keep striving to make a difference. Others will have plenty to say; (some good, some bad) but it will be you experiencing life and making the difference. Remember, difference makers are different!

Let’s be different.

I recently wrote a post called “Outside The Walls: Taking God’s House To The Streets”. Well last night we decided to go beyond being intrigued and we sought to experience. Shane Claiborne in his book, Irresistible Revolution, talked about a time when He spoke with Mother Theresa about her work in Calcutta India and she told him to come see for himself.

After reading the article in the Houston Chronicle (mentioned in the original post and linked for you to view) we were intrigued and interested about what actually went on at these services for the homeless in downtown Houston so I called Martin and Kim Dale of YWAM Houston. We had a great conversation where we talked about God, ministry, our hearts for others, etc. It ended with an invitation, “Come and see for yourself.” So last night we did (actually we tried last week but I wrote down the wrong street name and we never found it…shhhh…don’t tell anyone). We even took our 2 kids with us. It is our desire for them to experience ministry too and to see what it means to Love God, Love People (even those deemed unlovable).

So what did we see? We saw cross-dressers, addicts, prostitutes, homeless, gang members, and more. Most importantly, we saw God’s love.  There were games for the crowd to get involved in and even have a chance to win some essentials, there was singing, worship, an illusionist, a message, and after the services food.  There was clothes for them to take. There was free toothpaste and soap. There were opportunities for help getting rehab and getting off of the streets. There were opportunities for help in getting a job.

When the people there were looked at it wasn’t with eyes of disgust or condemnation, it wasn’t with eyes that looked down upon them or despised them, it was eyes full of love and compassion. When Jesus looked out upon the multitudes He was moved with compassion. Shouldn’t we be moved as well?

Anyway, next Wed. (November 21) at 6pm you will find us in downtown Houston helping set up tables and chairs getting ready for a Thanksgiving dinner prepared just for them. Most of these people have never experienced real genuine love before. They can at this service where the “unlovable” are loved.

If you are ever in the Houston area on a Wed. night I suggest you go check it out.

Why does God allow evil? 

If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world? 

Why do we have war and murder, violence after violence, famine after famine? 

Why do innocent children die at the hands of cruel men? 

Why do things like pornography, alcohol, and drugs tear families apart? 

Why this?  Why that?  Why do we suffer needlessly?  Why? 

How many of you have ever asked that question? 

I have been asked this question numerous times.  And while I don’t pretend to know everything there is to know about this, I will at least attempt to give us some direction in our thinking about this issue.

My hope is that we will have a clearer perspective not only about the problem of evil and suffering, but more importantly, a clearer perspective of the sovereignty or power of God. 

So, Why does God allow evil?

There is a line of reasoning that goes something like this:

• A good God would destroy evil.
• An all-powerful God could destroy evil.
• Evil is not destroyed.
• Therefore, there cannot possibly be such a good and powerful God.

On the surface, to someone not grounded in Scripture who has experienced some form of tragedy, this would seem logical.  After all, if God were good and all-powerful, wouldn’t it stand to reason that He would destroy the evil that plagues our world? 

Then why doesn’t He?  Could it be that He is really not a good God?  Look at Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. 

Could it be that He is not all-powerful?  I don’t think so.  Look at Isaiah 40: 25-26

“To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal?”  says the Holy One.  Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all of these?  He brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

I would definitely have to say that the Creator of the Universe is plenty powerful! 

But, there are some things He cannot do! 

1^st, God cannot lie – Numbers 23:19

2^nd, James tells us that God cannot be tempted, nor can He tempt people to sin. 

In other words, God cannot do anything out of His character.  The reason God cannot lie is because He is truth.  He cannot tempt to sin because He is pure and holy. 

He also can’t undo the past, create a square triangle, or make what is false true. 

So what do we make of this?  God is good and He is all-powerful to perform any and all things within His character, and yet we have evil. 

I want you to listen closely.  This is a little theological so hang with me… 

God could not eliminate evil without eliminating the possibility of accomplishing other goals that are important to Him. God created humans in His own image, capable of having and sustaining a personal relationship with Him.  But to really be in His image, they have to be capable of freely loving Him and following His will without being forced. 

And, creatures who are free to love God must also be free to hate or ignore Him.  And when people act in ways outside the will of God, great evil and suffering is the ultimate result. God is capable of destroying evil – but not without destroying human freedom. 

A professor by the name of Norman Geisler says this about it.  “The free choice of humans is the source of evil.”  He used the analogy of rust.  “Rust does not exist on its own; it’s a part of the metal.  The same is true with evil.  It does not exist on its own; it is part of our make-up as a result of the fall.”

The reason God doesn’t destroy evil is because He would have to destroy us as well.

I know this only scratches the surface but there is only so much you can put in a blog. This is the basics as to why a loving and all-powerful God would allow evil. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them…