The Global Advocacy Forum 2015

Like I've said so many times before, I'm humbled to be a tiny part of Compassion International - a ministry that's actually enabling God's people to change the world in real and significant ways.  1.5 million children are today being delivered (and I mean truly delivered) from extreme poverty because Compassion connects you, the sponsor, with the heart and circumstances of your sponsored children.  So it's my pleasure to serve our sponsors and all those children by bringing what I've learned about technology to the multitude of tasks involved in running this ministry.

This June, I traveled with Compassion's Global Advocacy team to Cape Town, South Africa to unveil some revolutionary technology - technology designed to help deliver children from poverty in Jesus' name.

What's Global Advocacy?  Well, in a nutshell it's Compassion's way of giving a part of itself to other ministries and other means of delivering children from poverty.  It's Compassion giving away whatever we can to other ministry partners so that together we might do what no single ministry could do alone.

So with the thought of sharing in mind, we've created a technology space to gather and share mounds of really relevant information critical to the care of children in the difficult environments in which they live.  And right inside that space we can collaborate with the multitudes of caregivers that so desperately need that information - all in real time.  In fact, we expect this technology and the humans that use it to enable more than 20,000 churches around the world (churches that are not tied in any way to Compassion) to care for multiplied millions of children.

I'll demonstrate all this here in the near future, but for now, I'd just like to express my gratitude to the Father for calling us into his service no matter what ministry we may work for, and my thankfulness to Compassion International for being such a bright light around the world.

"Thank you, Father, for the love you're sharing through the church to millions of children in poverty around the world.  We know that one day, Messiah will return and deliver us all from whatever poverty we may experience.  But between now and then, please give us the strength to push ever forward and ever more intelligently into this your Great Project.  In Jesus' name, amen!"

Eyes to See

"Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters; They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep."   - Psalm 107:23-24

My son seems like a wholly different person than some years ago when I caught him unawares, gazing at the power and enormity of the sea.

I can still see the awe in his eyes as he later remarked, "The ocean's angry today, Dad.".  Josh had gotten a glimpse of His power.

Images like this mean more and more to me as I get older - for all the usual sentimental reasons.

But I think I'm drawn to this particular picture because - regardless of all the opportunities and experiences I've been blessed to have - I think I still feel like Josh did at the moment I took that picture.

It's as if I'm continually standing on the edge of something much larger and more mysterious than I can quite comprehend.  The feeling is oppressive and foreboding and crisp and exhilarating - all at the same time.   That's just how Adventure feels.

Life is truly an adventure for those who have eyes to see.

Father, give me eyes to see.

Noon on Christmas

It's noon on Christmas here in the suburban midwest.  You know how that feels, right?

The kids have hours ago shredded the last vestiges of wrapping paper.  They're now buried in piles of plastic or immersed in vast video games - quietly pursuing mastery over their newfound treasures.

Of course that leaves us parents padding softly through the house, packing trash and wandering amid the opened boxes and half-assembled amusements.

It's over way too soon, isn't it?  I mean, for all the fuss and for all the energy spent procuring piles of plastic so adamantly petitioned and pined for by our petite progeny - it ends so abruptly as to be absurd.

I overheard one mom say to her impatient and unruly child, "Just sit still and imagine what you've got under the tree.  Focus on that, Johnny, an' git yer mind offa yer problems." 

Of course that mother's words came back to me a moment ago as the silence crept back into the house.  All that hustle and energy and focus and wind and fire and attention - now spent, now over, now done.

I think we model the abridged version of Christmas for our kids - a truncated, frail, materialistic and emotional skeleton now abbreviated "Xmas".  

But then just a moment ago, as I installed a wireless network card in Josh's new computer - I remembered something.

I remembered (and then thought to remind you) that Christmas is really all about something so revolutionary, so radical, so subversive - so long lasting - that it couldn't be further from what the plastic amusement industry, and we their willing accomplices, have made it into.

Truth is, endings have no part of Christmas.  Christmas is all about beginnings.  In fact, it's all about The Beginning.

In theology, we call it "inaugurated eschatology".  In everyday life, we call it "the coolest thing ever."

Messiah Jesus came a few millenia ago to kick off a New Kingdom that would grow and touch every nook and cranny of the planet - a Kingdom that will one day make everything (and I mean Everything) brand-spankin' New.

Yep, it's been a few thousand years.  The human race is somewhere in the middle now - perhaps one might say it's noontime.  But unlike today's Christmas Noon at my house - not all the presents have yet been opened.

Like I did today - Messiah's saved the best for last.  He's got the good stuff comin' for those that are looking for it.

Christmas is just the Beginning.

No Substitute For Intelligence

I need to take a break from our regularly-scheduled programming to vent some pent-up frustration. For those of you without the stomach for such a thing - feel free to skip this post.

Again, I warn you - this post is what's commonly called a "rant". It's neither nice, nor subtle nor poetic.

My detractors have pushed it - and I have been aggressed - and this is our therapy. If you can deal with that - read on. If not, skip it. There's plenty of other nice or subtle reading material around here. You might even find something poetic!

Rant Mode: On

OK - the issue is Christian private school. I've sent my boys to such schools since kindergarten. I wholeheartedly and passionately believe in the significantly better overall experience afforded by the Christian school environment, and have put my money where my mouth is to the tune of approximately $8000 per year.

Now if you don't hold to the Christian worldview - if you think we evolved from lightning-wrought protein molecules, or that the resurrection I talk about so often is just so much wishful thinking - then I understand completely why you'd look down on Christian education. In fact, I'd agree with you. Why on earth, from your perspective, would I spend $8000 per year when I've already paid for public school via our lovely confiscatory tax policy? Christian school is of course ludicrous to you - that's as it should be.

But if, on the other hand, you hold the Christian worldview - if you believe that we were created for a purpose, and that we must strive to complete the mission given us from our Master, and that we have a glorious resurrection in our future - then how on earth can you oppose Christian education?

I know, I know. I really should resist being condescending. Hmmm, uhhhh, awwww - phooey! My detractors are nothing but condescending - so here it comes right back at 'em...

I've been discussing this with friends, acquaintances, coworkers and family members for the last 10 years. This post is not directed at those who were young or those who didn't have children or those without any understanding of child rearing. Those folks get a pass - they're just inexperienced.

However, some of these people were parents of many years, some were "leaders", some held advanced educational degrees. Some even held multiple masters and doctoral degrees. These are the ones that should know better, or at least just keep their mouths shut.

But like an ultra-successful mentor of mine once told me - a degree is no substitute for intelligence (he's a PhD teaching at the University of Illinois, BTW). Bottom line: these people flat need to think a little harder before they open their ignorant mouths.

But since I'm such a nice guy, I'll lay it out for them - sparing them the effort of thinking strategically (which is obviously not their core competency).

The first step in my detractors' child-rearing plan is to slam their kids into public school with the rest of the hellions behaving like they're raised by wolves. Alcohol, drugs, sex, blatant disregard for parental authority, anti-Kingdom educational bias and an overall worldview that is somewhere between hedonism and nihlism. Great choice there, Sweet Pea!

Oh yes, I know - it's not that way at your public school. Keep your head in the sand there, Hoss - it's worked for you so well thus far.

And while you're at it, ask a 15 year old in public school what a "hook up" is. If they answer honestly, you'll be in for a shock.

Now the next great step in my detractors' weak, emaciated plan is to delegate the job of purging all that crap from their kids' hearts and minds to the poor youth pastor at their struggling little church. The last youth pastor I spoke to on this complained that he couldn't get the young people in the church to come to youth meeting "because they didn't want to play the games he'd planned". Yep, Whizbang, that's gonna make some real headway!

But that's what you're paying the tithe for, right? 10% of your income goes to the church "with the best youth program". I've heard that one a thousand times.

"I've gotta go to a church", you exclaim, "with a great youth program!"

OF COURSE YOU DO! You're on a mission to cleanse your kids from the toxic environment you've been shipping them off to every weekday morning.

Yep, 40 hours a week at public school being crammed full of who knows what, and then the youth pastor's gonna fix that in an hour on Wednesday night. Good luck with that, Sunshine!

Here's a tip - why don't we put our money into that which has the best chance of actually building the Kingdom?

And so I just choose to think more strategically. Why would I send my precious sons into the lions den for 12 years when I can send them to a place where the teachers share my values and worldview. Where they love my kids and pray both for and with them. Where they hold my sons to the same high standards I do.

They get the same or better academic education. They get to play all the same sports. They've got great computer and chemistry labs.

What was that you said? Did I hear the word "socialization"? You're suggesting that my boys aren't getting the socialization they need?

I wonder, did your mother have any children that lived?

My boys are getting positive, Kingdom-building socialization - thank you very much.

Now am I suggesting that there are no problems with Christian school? Nope. Of course there are problems. Of course I must still invest personal time and effort into my kids. Of course there's a bad apple here or there in Christian school. Of course just because the label says "Christian" - it doesn't guarantee Christian.

Of course I must still choose the right Christian school and then monitor both it and my kids. But at the end of the day - it's soooo much better than the alternative. Even the poor youth pastor's workload is just that much lighter.

Again, the only reason I post this is that my decisions in this regard have repeatedly been questioned by those who should know better. So like my mom used to say, "If you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all."

In fact, if my detractors would stop detracting - I wouldn't feel the need to write posts like this nor call their intelligence into question. Life would be better for everyone!

Rant Mode: Off

We now return to our regularly-scheduled programming.