If We All Do Something....My Something

A couple of months ago I preached a series on issues of social justice and working for equality and justice to the most vulnerable around the world.  Our motto was, "I can't do everything, but I can do something.  If we all do something, we can do everything."  I challenged our members to find their "something" - a way they could give/serve/lead that would connect with their passions.  Throughout and during that time, I prayed and considered what was my something.  I thought I knew what it was, but I didn't know how to get involved.

I first learned about micro-financing while I was in seminary.  Basically, there are people all around the world who work really hard and have great ideas for how to make life better, but they have no capital to invest in their ideas because they need every dime they earn to buy food.  Moreover, they are unable to get loans to start their businesses because either the loan amounts are too low and banks don't want the hassle, or their economies are so bad that the banking system is non-existent.  That is where micro-financing comes in.  Various ministries and other non-profits help these budding entrepreneurs by providing small loans, business coaching and accountability, and other help as needed.

The raging capitalist that is me loves this- truly a hand-up to those who are very poor and are willing to work hard and help themselves.  This is no entitlement program that traps individuals in a cycle of dependency!

But how could I help?  We live on a very tight budget that doesn't leave room for much extra.  We faithfully give a full tithe to our church.  Plus, I wanted to really make a difference- maybe even fully fund a loan and not just give $25 to ease my conscience.  Then I read The Hole In Our Gospel and God spoke clearly and convincingly.  A couple of years ago I sold my old flying-V guitar for $200 (ironically, for the same amount I paid for it twenty years ago).  I kept that $200 safe- hoping that someday I could add to it and buy the guitar that I really want - a Fender American Standard Stratocaster.  But I have 3 other guitars and rarely play any of them.  God said, "Give it away - loan it to some entrepreneur somewhere in the world.  That is your something."  Initially I resisted- but God really worked on my heart. 

So, with that money and some other birthday money I had been saving to spend on something I don't really need, Erica and I jumped onto Kiva.org and looked for someone who could use a loan.  Why Kiva, when there are lots of organizations who offer micro-loans?  With Kiva, when the loan has been re-paid, I get to loan that money to someone else- it helps me to stay personally engaged- which I need.  It might be a little selfish, but I need to stay connected to this.

Dionesia

I now have two new friends in the Philippines. Dionesia has a food production business, making baked goods and selling them to support her family.  She requested a loan of $250 to buy sugar, mayonnaise and other ingredients to make the food that she sells.  Someone else funded $100, and I was able to complete the funding with the last $150.  I imagine that Dionesia is working hard today to support her family and to grow her small business- and I have the privilege to be a part of that.  In February she will make her first payment of $35.  I will pray that she will be ready and able to repay her loan.

Cecelia

Cecelia is a farmer in the Philippines who has been growing and harvesting corn for 5 years.  Her farming operation produces $125 every month.  She requested a loan of $250 to purchase fertilizer and to pay for weeding services.  She is planning for a better harvest and for the ability to expand her fields and capacity.  Again, someone else funded $100, so I funded the last $150.  I can log onto my account and watch her progress and look for updates! I will be praying for Cecelia, that God will bless her farm and her crops, and that she will thank him and worship him!

By the way - if you want to check it out for yourself- go to Kiva.org. Or, you can help me by clicking on http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/jason9666 Apparently another donor set up this referral system, and if you decide to get involved (you can start with as little as $25), then that donor will give me another $25 that I can loan out to someone!  (And no, this is not the reason for posting all of this!  And no, this is not some network-marketing scheme.  I promise you I won't be calling you, wanting to talk about a great "opportunity.")


In the long run, I imagine I will never miss the money I was saving.  I may never buy another guitar- but that is really okay with me- I probably wouldn't play it all that much anyways.  Given the choice, I would much rather help these two ladies- and the others I get to help in the future after they repay their loans.  It kind of makes me want to look around for some other junk to sell.  In fact, does anybody need a guitar?  I have one I would like to sell!

My Day As A WatchD.O.G.

Today I spent the day at Olivia's school as a WatchD.O.G.  This program encourages dads to be involved in the education of their children by spending an entire day at school. Today was my day.  Olivia was so excited! Since last week She has been counting down the days.

I began my day in the gym as the students waited for their teachers to take them to class.  Olivia proudly stood next to me as they introduced her dad as the WatchDog for the day.  The computer teacher took our picture to be placed on the WatchDog wall of fame.  Then the work began.  The first Kindergarten recess was crazy. After I zipped up a few jackets, a student asked me to push her on the swing.  Soon the swing set was filled with kids all needing pushes.

After recess, it was time to help a few teachers.  I read a book with three third-graders and discussed its content to help them with comprehension.  Then it was lunchtime.  For two hours I opened yogurt containers, retrieved silverware, and joked around with students.  I purchased a lunch on Olivia's student account and sat with her and her class. Do you know how difficult it is to eat a mixed green salad with a spork? After lunch,  I helped with the afternoon Kindergarten recess.  More swing-pushing.  Before I could get inside to help another teacher, Olivia and the first graders came out for recess.  Guess what?  More swinging.  And some tag.  Finally, near end of the day, I helped a teacher by reading a test to a student and helping another student with a math worksheet.  It was nice to provide some needed individualized attention so that the teacher might tend to the entire class.

My time at Raymore Elementary served much more than to just provide an extra hand to teachers and staff. It also helped me to better understand  my daughter's days at school.  After watching teachers work so patiently with difficult students, I appreciate all the more just how great all of those teachers are.

I really like the WatchD.O.G. Program.  I could tell that the students are used to having dads in their school to help the teachers and to have fun.  All day I heard, "hey, WatchDog can you help me?"  Several times throughout the day I thought about my colleague and friend, Donnie Miller.  After several years in pastoral ministry he sensed that God was leading him in a new direction and took a job teaching in an elementary school in the urban core of Kansas City. It was a terrible experience.  You can read of his experiences in this  blog post.  Given Donnie's description of the environment of his school, I am guessing that they do not have an active WatchDog program.  But I can't help but to imagine that it would radically improve the school if the fathers of the students would invest one or two days per year in their children's education.

Dads, it is time for us to get involved in all aspects of our kids' lives.  If your child's school has a WatchD.O.G. program, sign up for a day.  No program? Talk to your principle or PTA President. I signed up for another day next February.  I am looking forward to it already.  Olivia is probably already counting down the days.

My Thoughts on Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now

I just finished reading Joel Osteen's bestseller Your Best Life Now: 7 steps to living at your full potential.  I have to admit that at the outset I was skeptical.  After all, I was taught to be suspicious of faith teachers who have no formal theological education and yet amass widespread popularity.  (Sometimes I wonder if that skepticism isn't fueled by a bit of jealousy (of a Christian kind, of course)).  Having read the entire book (a feat that I doubt many of its harshest critics have accomplished) I can say that I was encouraged, inspired and challenged.  Hopefully I am smiling more.  I won't however, attempt to grow a cool mullet; only Joel can pull that off in 2012.

My first assumption that needed some correction concerned the title of the book.  The whole notion of being able to live our best lives right now seems a bit heretical for a classic evangelical like myself.  I firmly believe that our best life is still to come, in the perfection of the future fullness of the kingdom and presence of God (also called heaven).  However, it is clear from reading the book that Joel is not downplaying heaven, but merely attempting to teach how to live the best life that is possible during this life, here and now, pre-heaven.


Many of Joel Osteen's critics label him as a "faith teacher," argue against the classic teachings of this movement, highlight the abuses, heresy, or outright sins of other similar teachers, and then declare them all guilty by association.

You may wonder what is a "faith teacher."  So-called faith teachers focus their teaching on biblical themes and stories of blessings, healings, abundance, and prosperity.  They regularly quote, and over-quote, Jesus' teaching on mustard-sized-faith that can move mountains.  The key to the God-blessed life (the good life) is to develop faith, by which a person can ask God for anything and get it.  God is then viewed as a genie, with faith as the golden lamp.  The hypocrisy of such teaching is evidenced in the self-indulgent lifestyles of its preachers, including their private jets, sprawling mansions and air-conditioned dog houses.

Part of the problem is that by constantly teaching on these topics, preachers ignore other important issues and these topics are abused by over-use.  This is true of any tradition, and the reality is that focusing on one aspect of theology, whether it is blessing, the sacraments, or even holiness, leads to misuse of other important aspects of the Christian faith.

This forms the basis of my thoughts:  if Your Best Life Now is presented (by Rev. Osteen) or received (by his readers) as merely one aspect of Christian living, and not as an encyclopedic tome of all that is true, then there is tremendous value.  For the person who claims to be a Christian, the book is a good kick-starter to living out what we claim to believe.  Osteen encourages readers to expand their vision of God's power in their lives, to learn to see themselves as God sees them, to harness their thoughts and words and use them for good, to forgive others, to persevere, to give generously, live compassionately, and to always do what is right.  He does not portray God as a mere distributor of blessings.  He does not advocate living the good life while neglecting the poor.  If we need to use formal theological terms, we could say that he encourages an emphasis on the nature and character of God, a godly self-consciousness, forgiveness, reconciliation, social justice, and holiness!  Most theologians would agree that those might be pretty good themes to encourage a person to live in their daily lives!

Throughout the book I enjoyed Joel's honest use of personal stories.  He regularly shares his own struggles and faults.  He shares stories of personal victory and successes, including some of his giving, but there is never a hint of arrogance.  He regularly honors both his mother and father and their influence in his life.  He regularly refers to his own times of prayer and devotion, and the insights, guidance, and rebuke that he receives from God.  He does not advocate a mere power-of-positive-thinking that excludes God.

I do have one big critique, though.  I really wished Joel would have spent more time, or at least some time, describing the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ revealed to us in his death and resurrection, and the sin that necessitates it.  I know that Joel believes in the gospel and shares it at his church in Houston, so he is not heretical nor ignorant.  I just didn't see it in the book.  That makes me wonder who he believed his audience to be?  Maybe he assumes that his readers know the gospel and believe they have accepted the gospel. (He does minister in Texas, after all.)  I was really hoping that he would conclude with a telling of the centrality and necessity of the gospel.  That didn't happen.  I am not sure why, and I assume he had a good reason.  It probably would have been helpful for that reader who once again needs to be confronted with the reality of Jesus.

In the end, though, the book is one helpful ingredient in growing as a follower of Jesus.  I have purposefully chosen the word ingredient for what it implies.  Recipes have multiple ingredients.  A lifelong pursuit of following Jesus has multiple influences as well.  For the person whose only exposure to the Christian life is Joel's book, they shouldn't expect a rich, lasting, growing faith.  But when viewed as one helpful ingredient among many, this volume is helpful and encouraging!

Quiet - Introverts Everywhere are Applauding

Do you hear it?  One third of the population is standing, applauding this monumental work by Susan Cain.  You probably can't hear it.  The applause is subdued, but heart-felt.  Most of the applauders are standing alone in their living room, a fire crackling in the fireplace, and the television is off.  They like it that way - the alone part, the fireplace part, and non-television part.  They are the introverts of the world, and they just finished reading the first book dedicated to explaining their sensitive, reflective selves.   The book is entitled,Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking



At 268 pages of text, 271 End Notes, and a full index, the book covers a lot of material, and much of it in depth.  The book is no dry textbook, though.  Susan Cain shares much of her own story, including her discovery of her strengths and weaknesses as an introverted attorney. She shares her journey to understand those similar to her, the introverts in the world.  Throughout much of the book she shares her firsthand accounts of meeting the researchers who have spent their careers understanding introversion and extroversion.

I was hooked in the introduction.  A quick self-assesment concluded that I, indeed, fit the bill for introversion.  I couldn't agree more with statements like,"I dislike small talk, but I enjoy talking in depth about topics that matter to me, " and "I prefer not to show or discuss my work with others until it's finished."

In the first part of the book, Cain attempts to illustrate what she calls the "American Extrovert Ideal," by highlighting the work of Dale Carnegie ("How to Win Friends and Influence People"), business models that force employees to work in teams, and business schools that coerce the "quiet kids" into constant collaboration.  Cain even visited an evangelical mega-church and concluded that much of American Christianity doesn't work for introverts.  She almost lost me in this first section.  The tone was humorous, but still a bit reactionary.  I realize that she was building her case, but in doing so, her conclusions were much too broad.  For instance, in the area where I have the most experience, the Church, I think she got it wrong!  In fact, in reflection on her mega-church visit, she quotes her host - a fellow introvert and pastor (who does not attend the church they visited) who says, "There was no emphasis on quiet, liturgy, ritual, things that give you space for contemplation."  Hence, their discomfort in a public worship service.  Were they to dig deeper, they would find that this church teaches those contemplative practices to their members as they grow in their faith.  And while I am a raging introvert, I have to say that I do not prefer to worship publicly in a quiet setting featuring formal liturgy.  To suggest that introverts prefer a certain style of worship is to push general conclusions too far.  And if this was the case in an area where I have a bit of knowledge, I wonder where else this was the case.  However, she makes a strong case for the struggle of most introverts to find their place in American culture.

In part two, Cain shares some of the relevant research on introversion.  I especially connected with the research of Jerome Kagan.  Kagan discovered that introverts tend to be very sensitive to external stimuli- almost over-stimulated - in that we observe everything around us, and then, having reached stimuli-capacity quicker than the extroverts around us, we need to retreat to a non-stimulating place in order to reflect, rest, and re-charge our ability to be stimulated.  Kagan noted especially that introverts are very alert, very sensitive, and experience complex emotions. That is so me!

Cain's book is not just stories and theory.  In part four, she suggests strategies and practices that introverts can adopt to thrive and succeed in a world that is often uncomfortable for them.  She shares the secret to public speaking (and no, it has nothing to do with imagining the audience's clothing, or lack thereof).  She shares networking strategies for introverts who really want to "work a room."  Finally, she shares strategies for parenting an introvert.  (I think I have one - I better re-read this chapter)  I would suggest that the reader only read the chapters in this section that directly interest them.  Honestly, the book feels a little too long at this point.

I heartily recommend this to any introvert who wants to better understand themselves and learn to succeed in a world filled with extroverted success.  I would also recommend it to the spouse of an introvert.  This work will remain a standard for years!

Required FTC Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  That means they gave me a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion about it.