Economic Certainty

I hear on the news over and over again about the struggles of our country as we continue to face economic uncertainty.  This is great statement about the mindset of Americans and how capitalism has replaced Christianity as our value system.  Even in the best of times, our economic future is uncertain.  What is the old saying, “the only thing that certain is death and taxes.”

Unfortunately, unlike America, most of the world lives in extremely certain economic times.  Almost half the world lives on less that $2.50 a day.  Eighty percent of the world lives on less than $10 a day.  For these people, there is no economic uncertainty.  They have extreme poverty today and they are quite certain that they will have extreme poverty tomorrow and probably their entire lives.

I can stress about my 401k and all my savings that I no longer have in my future.  However, I’m not too worried about what I am going to eat tomorrow.  I can stress about the economy getting even worse and I can watch it all in my air-conditioned home on my wide-screen TV through cable provided to me for a measly $75 month.

Many people in have lost their jobs recently.  Many fear that they could lose theirs at anytime.  However, even if you lose your job, your home, and your cable TV, will you starve to death?

There is a reason Jesus tells us not to put our faith in wealth.  I like to tell myself that my faith is in God and not my money.  I’m sure most Christians would say the same.  If that’s true, think about the rich young ruler that came to Jesus looking for eternal life.

Luke 18:18-25 (ESV)
¹⁸ And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " ²¹ And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." ²³ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ²⁴ Jesus, looking at him with sadness, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

If ask the average Christian, if they should sell everything they have and follow Jesus, they will probably tell you that this passage is not suggesting that Christians do that.  They will probably tell you that this passage means that you should be willing to do that if called.  They may say that following Jesus should be more valuable to you than all of your possessions but this passage is a principle and not a practical application for all Christians to follow.

Ok, so let’s go with the principle concept.  In principle, if God were to ask you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, would you?  How do you know if you could do it?  Better yet, how do you know if God were to ask you?  Are you assuming that God’s call for your life is to have your current standard of living?  Why would God not want you to give so much away that it dramatically lowered your personal lifestyle?  Why do you think that the eye of the needle is so large for you?

Maybe we should take this time of economic uncertainty and think more about the rest of the world and their economic certainty.  Maybe we should adjust our standard of living so that others can live.  Or I guess you can go to the fridge, get another cold drink, sit back in your lazy boy, and change the channel.

Back from sabbatical

Well, kind of.  I think a sabbatical is where you are supposed to get away from it all and maybe concentrate on learning something new or writing a book.  I haven’t gotten away from anything except blogging.  Work has been busier and family time is all the more precious.  I have, however, been continuing my quest to seek the things above where Christ is seated and I’m starting to fill up again on thoughts about my journey that I need to get out.  Blogging is a great release when things are piling up in your head.

There have been some key influencers on my life the last few months that I hope to brain dump over the next few weeks.

• Getting so close yet still so far from being able to bring our new son home from Ethiopia (see Hipp is My Middle Name for more on this process).
• Two simultaneous discussion groups on the book Don't Waste Your Life (one with my accountability men’s group and one in Sunday morning bible study).
• Getting back to listening to sermons on my IPod rather than talk radio – in particular – Paul Washer, Mark Driscoll, John Piper, and Francis Chan.
• Attending the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference in Dallas.
• The mediocre success of our church goal in sponsoring 57 orphans in Liberia through BrightPoint for Children.
• Watching the video of Rachel Barkey talk about the glory of Jesus as she faces death from cancer in the next six to eighteen months.
• Reading Same Kind Of Different As Me by John HallDenver Moore and Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan (still in progress).
• Completing 12-weeks of Body for Life (still maintaining the healthy lifestyle one month later).
• Loss of 401k, loss of jobs, loss of perspective…

Please visit again or better yet subscribe for updates.  Maybe something that leaks from my head will challenge or encourage you.  Maybe what I write will seem idiotic.  In either case, comment and let me know.  If what I write bores you to tears, don’t worry, I’m not quitting my day job.

Grace and peace.

tc

Finding Joy

(by Mandy) Yesterday, I was reading about how the Israelites were complaining (again) and how God got mad at them for asking for selfish reasons. As I read that, I stopped and prayed God would forgive me for complaining about this delay and asking for this to happen faster for selfish reasons. Yes, I do believe it's best for Gideon to come home sooner, but I also really wanted him home sooner because I had my expectations and they are not being met. I had my plans for this summer and fall, and now this delay is messing with that! After releasing that, I immediately felt a wave of peace come over me and I have felt that peace ever since.

I am still asking God to bring our little guy home this summer because God wants us to share our hearts with Him. But I've stopped whining and begging to God and tried to have a grateful attitude instead of complaining. I'm sure I will start complaining again (because I'm broken like that!), but maybe I will be able to recognize it quickly and hand it over to God. He doesn't want us to have a spirit of complaining about not getting our way.

I read about how God works in people's lives in amazing ways when they are faithful to Him. I always think it's so cool to read that about other people. But, God wants us to be faithful so He can work amazing things in our lives, too! He doesn't want a few Christians in the game while the rest sit on the bench. This is our chance to grow in our faith and allow God to make us stronger.  I need to embrace this time, knowing that God is using it to change me.   And boy, do I need to be changed!

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I know God has worked on my heart during this wait.  I think if everything was going perfectly smooth, I would have been consumed in my preparations for bringing a baby into our home.  I’ve still been getting ready, but it’s been more in a practical way.  I’ve been more consumed with seeing God in this.  There have been moments He has revealed things in my heart that, believe me…aren’t pretty.  But, I guess that’s the first step to changing me – making me see where I need to change.

Hopefully, we will see some movement in the courts this week for abandonment cases.  I know the Ethiopian government is trying to do what is best for these kids.  I am praying this will happen quickly so these kids can get home to their families that are waiting for them.

We have court on Monday and our paper chain is quickly shrinking.  I’m supposed to be excited as I watch it get smaller and smaller, but I get sad sometimes thinking it could be counting down to the day we won’t pass court.  I’m confused – do I get excited as court gets closer, or do I not???  I am looking forward to seeing families pass court again so I can hope we will pass, too.  Maybe this is the week!

40 Days for Life

Tomball-Cypress believers sign-up here to participate: 40 Days for Life sign-up sheet.  Please submit a contact form for access.

You are invited to participate in "40 Days for Life" with other families in the Tomball-Cypress community as we ask the Lord to save lives from abortion and close the Planned Parenthood in Houston.  Planned Parenthood of Houston is currently being remodeled to house the largest abortion clinic in the Western Hemisphere including a partial-birth abortion facility.

Families in the Tomball-Cypress area have been led by the Lord to pull together families from our communities with convictions regarding the state of abortion in our nation and city. To take a moment in our lives and recognize the devastation of abortion on our land and with repentant hearts ask the Lord to bring life where death has been rampant.

40 Days for Life is a nationwide prayer and fasting movement RELYING ON THE LORD to end abortion and close abortion centers in our nation.  Please read the testimonies of clinics closing and innocent lives being saved on the "40 Days" website. You will be very encouraged!

We are gathering families (children are welcome at your parental digression) who want to participate on Friday February 27th and/or Monday March 2nd with fasting and prayer at the Planned Parenthood building in Houston. We will be praying in 2-4 hour blocks through out the 7am-5pm open hours of the building. The "40 day" event will be from February 25th- April 5th. We have chosen those days in February/March, but you are more than welcome to participate ANY day of the prayer vigil.

40 Days for Life is a peaceful and prayerful campaign to ask God to intervene.  This is not rally or picketing campaign.  In fact anyone interested in participating must sign a statement of peace that includes the following:

• I will only pursue peaceful solutions to the violence of abortion when volunteering with the 40 Days of Life campaign


• I will show compassion and reflect Christ’s love to all (abortion facility or Planned Parenthood) employees, volunteers, and customers


• I understand that acting in a violent or harmful manner immediately and completely disassociates me from the 40 Days of Life campaign


• I am in no way associated with Planned Parenthood or its affiliates by way of employment, informant, volunteer, client, or otherwise

While standing in the city right of way in front of (abortion facility or Planned Parenthood location):

• I will not obstruct the driveways or sidewalk while standing in the public right of way


• I will not litter on the public right of way


• I will closely attend to any children I bring to the prayer vigil


• I will not threaten, physically contact, or verbally abuse (abortion facility or Planned Parenthood) employees, volunteers, or customers


• I will not vandalize private property


• I will cooperate with local city authorities

If you are interested or have questions, please use the contact form on this blog.

Please feel free to pass this on to those who you know have a desire to stand for the innocent and who's hearts desire is to show compassion through prayer and fasting, relying on the Lord to move this mountain called abortion.

Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV)

¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Additional Resources:

Official 40 Days for Life website

Campaign Overview Report

Inspiring Case Study Video

Endorsements for 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life News Coverage

A Time to Pray

This is quite a year in front of us.  We’re in the midst of a financial mess in our country.  We’re still fighting a war on two front in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Our new president is telling us we can make it through, if we all do our share.  I’m skeptical about what he means by that.

In any case, what our country needs is God but we’re a country that more and more does not want God involved in our business.  Separation of church and state has become much more than freedom of religion for individuals.  It has become, keep God out of government at all cost.

If you’re a believer in God, what is your hope if your country turns its back on Him?

I’d love to blame the ACLU and other liberal political factions for pushing God out of our country.  However, I think the blame belongs with me.  Of course non-believing individuals and organizations will strive to eliminate any dependence on God.  It’s all foolishness to them (1 Cor 1:18-31).

The blame belongs on me because all too often I sit back, watch, and shake my head in disbelief and disgust.  What can I do but watch our country spiral down a godless path?

I can pray.  I can pray like never before.  I can pray like I really believe God can and will do something about it.  And most importantly, I can pray for my own heart before I begin to worry about my country’s heart.

Psalms 19:12-14 (ESV)
¹² Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. ¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Pray for revival in our country, but pray prayers of praise as well.

God rules our land.

Regardless of what those who do not know him plan.

Psalms 47:6-8 (ESV)
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! ⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! ⁸ God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Please take a number

We heard from All God’s Children today.  They’ve reviewed our dossier and all of our paperwork is in order.  Amazing!  Well, actually I’m not all that surprised.  My wife has been spearheading the documentation phase of our adoption process and she is amazing.

When you look at the requirements list for an adoption dossier it is overwhelming.  Background checks, reference letters, letters of good health from doctors, and on and on.  Ethiopia will have more information on us that we ever knew existed.  The odds of getting all of the paperwork collected and getting it all collected right are pretty much stacked against you.  However, Mandy handled it all like a pro and we got it done – right.

We’ve been at this since October when we heard the call to adopt.  Most of the process has been extremely smooth except for trying to get records from Panama that state I have a clean record from 27 years ago when I lived there.  See Waiting for a Message.  That message finally arrived and here we are, waiting again.

We’ve had other trials along the way.  Right before Christmas we learned that Mandy had a miscarriage.  We did not even know she was pregnant.  That was just the beginning.  Three trips to the emergency room later, we discovered that it was not just a miscarriage but an ectopic pregnancy.

Apparently Mandy became pregnant in late November and had been suffering through an ectopic pregnancy for about a month.  The doctor tells us we are extremely fortunate that her tube never ruptured which could have been life threatening.  Mandy is still recovering.

I don’t understand God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8). Two years ago God convicted us that we never should have made the decision for me to get a vasectomy.  We made the decision out of fear and without much prayer.  So after much prayer, I had a reversal.  We did not make this decision for a desire to have another child.  We made it to be obedient.

Then this summer, God started working on our hearts to adopt.  It started when Moses came to live with us for a couple of months.  Then it grew until we knew what God wanted us to do and our hearts fell in love with the orphans in Ethiopia.

So if God wanted us to adopt, why did I have to have to have the reversal?  I’m not sure.  Did I do it out of guilt?  No.  I actually cried tears of joy on the operating table.  Doctor Leverett prayed over us before he started the surgery.  His ministry is to provide affordable reversals for Christian couples.  It felt like worship (until he actually started…).

Why did God allow Mandy to get pregnant only to have the pregnancy become ectopic.  If she had a successful pregnancy we would have been ineligible for our adoption and would of had to forfeit our money and dreams for our child in Ethiopia.  We did lose a child in the process that we had not even had a chance to dream about yet.  I’m not sure if I should feel relief or sorrow.  I think I feel both, how’s that?

What’s the plan God?

Psalms 25:4-5 (ESV)
⁴ Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
⁵ Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

So what’s with the number 18?  That’s what number we are in line to get referred to our little boy in Ethiopia.  Whoop!

Homestudy complete?

(by Mandy)

I haven’t posted an update on the adoption in a while because it has been at a standstill while we waited for our letter from Panama.

We waited one month!

The letter finally came in and our social worker said she has everything ready.  Now we wait to see if our agency is happy with it.  I’m a little nervous because our “letter” from Panama was more like an incomplete form – they filled in his name only and stamped and signed the bottom that his criminal record was clear.  I would feel much better if it looked more like our letter from Texas – written on state letterhead and stamped with the state seal.  It was very pretty.  I think I covered all of our bases though because while we were waiting for the “letter”, I also requested a letter from the Freedom of Information Act and the National Archives – both stating they have searched the records from Panama and Tony is not a criminal.  I had some time on my hands.

Now we just wait.

Patiently.

Fortunately, I have lots of catching up to do after the Christmas festivities and lots of New Year’s resolutions to make – and break.  That should keep my mind off the waiting.

It really hasn’t been that bad.  On one hand, it seems like we started this process a long time ago; but, on the other, I haven’t been thinking about it too much.  I think it’s been good.  So far.  I’m sure it will be much harder once we see our little boy’s face and we want to bring him home.  Okay – thinking about bringing him home makes me want to squeal!  That’s a pretty good sign it’s going to be much harder to be patient!

On those same lines – Tate was asking us questions the other night about what else we need to do before we can bring our little man home.  When he started talking about getting to meet him for the first time, he got teary eyed!  As his mom, I was very touched to see him so moved at just the thought of meeting his little brother.  Sweet!

Hopefully, it will not be long before I have another update about more progress.