Would you like fries with your BMW?

A couple of conversations with friends this week had me awake, early on a Saturday morning, thinking. Interestingly enough, the topic of both encounters concerned the level of poverty that exists in the world--a level so low that the overwhelming majority of those living in the US are unable to even comprehend it.

There are Americans who think they are poor because they cannot afford a new car or because they are unable to buy brand-name shoes for their kids. At the same time, there are people in other countries who don't even own a pair of shoes and not owning transportation means they must walk miles to get the family's drinking/cooking water for the day.

While on a missions trip in Mexico, one friend told me how she witnessed a common theme where a mother will guide her own child into the arms of an American then quickly abandon that child in the hopes that the American will take her precious son/daughter back to the United States. This mother has no idea what these people are like. All she knows is that the life they can provide for her young child has to be better than the one she can. I cannot imagine giving up one of my children. Then again, my children never went hungry nor did they do without most of life's comforts, let alone the basics. (Get some facts: http://www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty)

Let's bring it closer to home. We have children in our own city, our own township who go hungry if they aren't eating at school; children who steal extra food while going through the lunch line because once they get dropped off at home, they don't know when they will see their next meal. Sure, we can try to rationalize the numerous reasons why this can happen from low education/wages to laziness to drug addiction. Yet one fact remains, none of these reasons are the fault of the hungry child. (Get some more facts: http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/)

Sometimes, these statistics break my heart so badly that I find it easier to avoid thinking about them altogether. Maybe, you do the same thing. That doesn't solve the problem though. I feel God tugging at me a little more each day so I don't think I can sit back and watch forever. I'm not talking about starting a revolution, but maybe we can start with just one kid or two or even three and see what God does with that. What can I do? What can you do? What can WE do? I have a few ideas. I would love to hear yours.

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." 1John 3:17-18 (ESV)

What is the size of your world?

Originally published in July 2014: republished by mistake. Oops!

Humility is something I strive for every day and generally, I don’t find much success. There have been some problems on my mind lately. By all accounts they are minor. But nonetheless, they have still been occupying far too many of my thoughts. As usual, however, God’s timing is perfect and He always finds a way to put me in my place.

After attending visiting hours at the celebration service for the mother of Mallory’s teammate who passed away last week, (http://bit.ly/1oEBqhd) we decide to stop for lunch at “The Triangle” near the IUPUI campus. As we are eating, I notice, through the restaurant window, a young fellow standing with a homeless sign. I cannot recall ever seeing a homeless person so close to campus before and it strikes me as a bit odd. I automatically assume he is pulling some type of scam. I look away. God starts pulling at my heart so I hurriedly finish my buttered noodles and rush over to talk to him. 
As I approach him, he is a bit older than I originally guessed. He looks to be in his mid to late-twenties. I ask him about his story. He tells me he lost his construction job of flipping houses when his company shut down. He doesn’t say how long ago that was and I don’t want to pry too much so that detail is left unsaid. I then ask him if I can buy him lunch at Taco Bell and he agrees. Still not convinced this guy is on the level, we start walking into the restaurant. He continues to provide details of what he did when he was working and what happened. We walk up to the counter.

I tell him to order what he wants. He hesitates for a second and asks if he can get something for his wife because she is hungry too. I didn't see her and I don’t know where she is, but I tell him that is fine. He orders four tacos. I give him an open-ended invitation and he orders four tacos. I up it to a 12-pack and a large drink. As we are waiting, I ask him if he knows who Jesus is. He said he did and that he prays a lot. I pat him on the shoulder and tell him I will pray for him too. I start to walk away. He stops me and asks if I know of anyone who is hiring for the types of skills he had. I told him I do not, but that I will take down his name and phone number in case I hear of something. That last part convinces me he is on the level and that God is sending me a message. A message to get over myself and my petty problems.

“ Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (ESV)

This passage didn't come to my mind until after I was back to work. Will my reward be monetary? Will it be something that will wait until I get to Heaven? I don’t know, but that really isn't what I want my motivation to be.  I want to love others because He first loved us. The lives of most Americans are so big or so small, depending on how you look at it. Like everyone else, my life becomes so focused around what I have going on in my puny, little world that God has to stop me in my tracks, open my eyes and put me in my place. I hope He does the same for you.