Fellow FHU grad Madison Chandler...

One step at a time

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."

- Mother Teresa

Many times we get overwhelmed by the amount of injustice and wrong in the world.  We are constantly bombarded by 24-hour news channels, fundraising letters, plights of friends and family broadcast through e-mail and on Facebook.  We perhaps begin to think that the little bit that I could do wouldn't really make much difference at all, so why bother?

It is true we cannot do everything to solve the problems of the world.  We may not even be able to do much to fix the problems that our closest friends and family experience.  Despite the fact we cannot do it all, that does not excuse us from doing what we can.  Hunger will be solved by feeding one person at a time.  Destroying poverty will be accomplished by offering one person a job to better his or her family.  Reaching the world for Christ will occur when every Christian talks to just one other person about Jesus.

Friend, don't become overwhelmed that you can't do it all.  Just do what you can, where you are, and allow God to work through you.  The people you influence will go on to influence others and so will begin a chain reaction that can indeed change the world.

Shoeshine Pastor

Previous posting was missing the sound for some readers...here it is with sound!

"...I would gladly die ten times over."

Opportunities to help

Each trip to my mailbox these days has brought more letters and requests for help on various projects.  It seems the phrase "one-time donation" did not convince these faithful organizations that I was, in fact, only going to help out one time. 

I am thankful for all the great organizations I have been able to be a part of over the last few years.  I am even thankful that they send me requests for more funds.  This allows me to know that they are serious about whatever cause they represent.  We have so much in the world that needs doing and we are the ones to do it.

One organization that I am particularly proud to partner with is Compassion International (see banner in sidebar).  For only $38 a month, I am able to help Compassion raise a child out of poverty.  I enjoy receiving letters from Oswaldo, my 11-year-old sponsored child from Ecuador.  I am able to send him notes, cards and letters and we talk about many things (with the help of translators).  In his last letter he asked me, "Did Jesus have children?"  His innocence and sense of wonder is astounding.  I am so glad I get to be a part of his life.

Whatever way you choose to help others know that people do appreciate your efforts.  From putting change in a jar at the checkout line to writing a large check to volunteering your time, we all need to find ways to make a difference.

Have a blessed day helping others!

today was...

Good music.  Good friends.  Out of Crockett for awhile. 

Less drama.  Two good meetings today.  Talked with good friends. 

Made a few new ones.  Was rebuked by a true friend I didn't know. 

Scolded by a busybody.  Had unity without Unity. 

Just for Today. 

Just for Today. 

Just for Today.

"'Not called!' Did you say?"

'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.'

"Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world."

 — William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

"Please Don't See"

"Please Don't See"
-by Michael Towers

The headlights blinding, the noise so clear,
Clinging to the blades, grass scratches my face,
Hiding from the shame, of being myself,
Sink into the ground, please don’t see.

The lights now blind, sounds move past,
A heartbeat races, danger so immediate,
Another car comes, Illuminating failure,
Sink into the ground, please don’t see.

Sleep not an option, fear too close,
Beneath the branches, harbouring a child,
People scream, they walk the street,
Sink into the ground, please don’t see.

Heart skips beats, tears abandon ducts,
Trickling down, clinging to the blades,
Laughter is sounded, masses rush by,
Sink into the ground, please don’t see.

Morning coming through, safety so near,
Never believing, the other side of night,
They will come, and surely judge,
Sink into the ground, please don’t see.

Walking on, as if I’m non-existent,
Never acknowledged, truly abandoned,
Trapped in my shell, to be ignored,
Sink into the ground, please don’t see.

I cry today, for a different moment,
Praying for a life, more than this,
Knowing there’s something, elsewhere to be,
Reasons I’m here, questions not asked.

This feels like forever, an endless dream,
But all dreams end, a chance again,
One day I promise, there’ll be a way,
I’ll rise off the ground, for people to see.

"You gave me back my faith..."

A young man said this to me last night as I stood with him in a parking lot in Jackson, TN. I had helped he and his girlfriend with some physical needs a few weeks ago and last night during Bible class, I received a frantic text from him. The couple was without food and had no ability to get any at the present time.

Don't we live in America? Why is it that a great portion of our population go to bed hungry each night? It is certainly not because we lack resources or supplies. It is, perhaps, because people have lost faith. People have lost faith in the generosity of others. People have lost faith in the ability to trust others. People are living, day to day, without hope.

Remember to always take advantage of every opportunity to restore faith. Not just in the LORD, but in the goodness of His people.

blessings,
-Will