Thursday, August 11, 2011

a little raw

 Tomorrow is the rehearsal for my dear roommate Shannon's wedding. I'm staying in a hotel room in Eastern Washington tonight. Because I have cable TV, I'm watching Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN.

They just showed images from Dadaab. The thousands of people showing up at the refugee camp hoping for aid. "These are not numbers. These are people. They have faces. They have names."

There was a soundbyte from a press conference with our Secretary of State. Regardless of your opinion on her politics or character, she said, "While droughts may be an act of God, famines are caused by man." Some villages in Kenya and Somalia have experienced 100% crop failure because of this drought. However, world hunger is a problem of distribution.

The UN announced that it would need $2.5 billion to feed everyone effected by the drought and subsequent famine. World Food Programme (a credible organization that is providing the largest portion of the aid) announced that they only have enough food to continue supplying the refugee camp for another 3 weeks. Famines last longer than a few weeks.

This week I've been reading the book of Genesis. I just got to the part about Israel's sons. Through a series of God-ordained events, Joseph ends up in charge of the Pharaoh's grain supplies. During a 7-year season of plenty, Joseph interprets a dream that prophesies an upcoming 7-year drought. With Heavenly wisdom, Joseph is able to allocate resources so that Egypt is prepared for the impending famine. His brothers in Canaan did not receive the same prophecy and consequently experience famine. Ultimately, this drives the brothers to travel to Egypt and reunite with Jospeh, restoring family relationships.

What if the Universal church played the role of Joseph in this time of crisis? Those of us who have resources are in a place to share bounty with our brothers and sisters in need. What if God orchestrated these events, thousands of years after Jospeh & his brothers in Egypt, to similarly unite brothers?

Those starving because of the drought in East Africa are not starving because of choice. Rather, they are starving because of consequence. What is our response?

My heart is too close to this issue to speak with grace. Thousands of Somali children are dying. They have names. They are souls. Many have never had a chance to hear the Truth about Jesus.

Pray, friends. Always pray. But act, too. Here are some links of organizations that are ACTING:
http://www.wfp.org/stories/horn-africa-10-ways-you-can-help
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/07/20/iyw.howtohelp.somalia.famine/index.html
http://www2.worldvision.org/news/world-vision-east-africa-response


Closing with some words from Jesus:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21





No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

hey guys