2/19/17 Update

Trump and Truth

A lengthy but well-thought out piece from a mostly libertarian leaning (I think) friend. Lots of quotes to chew on here.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b-RMrhYS2kCuj_VImXgBcPcsV1PTB1-vInTXXPKwUkM/edit


Education/Mentoring Sites

Thanks to Karen Andrews for some excellent referrals.

http://rochesterareavolunteeradministrators.webs.com/


But I Didn't Mean to Be Racist

Excellent commentary here, especially for when we can be oblivious to the real impact of our words and deeds.

"To be honest, it doesn’t really matter whether you think you are racist. What matters is whether your words or actions caused harm."

https://www.fathommag.com/stories/but-i-didnt-mean-to-be-racist?utm_content=buffer2b72c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer


More on Compassion, Poverty and Homelessness

www.bruderhof.com/en/voices-blog/following-jesus/sidewalk-samaritan-learning-compassion

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2017/february/when-coffee-isnt-enough-reflecting-on-relationships-gospel-.html

"The fallacy in this is that we assume the other person likes what we like. What Heather needed most was someone to listen to her and to hear her story. She needed someone to acknowledge her and offer her hope that the future, despite what appears at present, can be bright. On the practical level, she needed money for a down payment. But how often are we so eager to do a good deed in a way that doesn’t infringe on our daily life that we do more harm than good?"

Most importantly, 
"... the gospel is only truly given when we stop long enough to see the person in front of us.

Who is he/she?

What is his/her story?

What does he/she long for?

Where does he/she hurt?

And of course, what is God calling me to do?

Evangelicals Getting More Involved in Their Communities

This one resonates with me. In many local responses to issues like affordable housing, public schools, etc., I see too few evangelicals represented in activities that have powerful effects on our communities, even though I know they are "out there" working at ways to alleviate hunger, bring compassion and care, etc. Their lack of involvement in many of these efforts just seems to reinforce the incorrect stereotype that all "conservative Christians" are not living out the love of Christ.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/karl-vaters/2017/march/8-reasons-churches-partner-secular-community-groups.html?paging=off

Seeing, Feeling, Doing

A devotional in Our Daily Bread this week focuses on Matthew 9:35-38.

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (ESV)

There was a sidebar to the devotional that pointed to a pattern Jesus exhibited throughout his life on earth. He saw, he felt, and he did. 

What an example for us as we go about our daily lives. Many times, Christians feel the need to get out there and do God's work, without stopping first to see what it is that God is presenting to us as opportunities. Even worse, sometimes we see some kind of need and then rush off to do something, anything, without really feeling, without pausing to feel the compassion that God has for those on whom we may be about to foist our do-gooder-ness. 

To pause, to pray, to really start looking at the world around us and then to feel compassion for both the physical and spiritual needs of others...those are things God calls us to do before we rush off willy-nilly to try to somehow solve the world's problems on our own.