How To Do Good

One act at a time. One of the themes that runs through my mind and I think this blog is trying to overcome obstacles that keep us from moving forward whether it be spiritually, physically, or relationally etc.

Obviously a big piece of my life is my day job at Speroway, the children's charity I work for. One of my daily challenges is trying inspire, awake, educate, and advocate for and on behalf of children who can't speak for themselves.

But how can you or I make a difference? How can we make a start? It really is one act at a time. No matter what you are trying to do in life, find a very small way to make a start and do it. A $10 online donation to a charity of repute, volunteering somewhere close by your house, dropping a meal off to an out of work neighbour, you get the idea. Pick one thing and do it. It will lead to another, it just will.

Racing for Kids

I was able to set up a race day with a friend of mine who races cars, Kenny Wilden, to promote what FTC is doing in Canada and around the world to take care of kids. The day was sponsored by Maritz Automotive Research and the car is sponsored by another fellow I know, and fellow driver Jeremy Willard. He is promoting a shampoo called "Pure". Below is a picture of me with Jeremy and a pic of the car.

Le car

Jeremy Willard and me.


Chris from Maritz and Kenny.

At the track I had the opportunity to get interviewed over the loud speakers and talk about FTC Canada, and then got the surpirse of being taken for a hot lap in the pace car. Too cool. The car is below. An incredible experience to feel and see the track that way.

The Stewardship Dance

It has been a year since I left being a "professional Pastor" at a church. I am now an attender at a church. It is an interesting transition which is not complete.

North America (Canada) is a strange and critical place, and implementing the vision Jesus set before us in the great commission is complicated. Jesus never required a building or programs (it would seem) to implement His vision through his work. Of course, he did use the infrastructure in place quite a lot, so he did not seem to reject the notion that the places were useful.

The ongoing conversation (and one that I think needs to continue) is whether or not it is wise to spend millions of dollars on buildings, land, sound equipment etc., when the money could be spent to feed the poor in Canada and around the world.

Here is where the disconnect is for me. Remembering I work daily to feed children in Canada and around the world. Our mission as Christians is primarily to teach and live the teachings of Jesus. Literally, creating atmospheres and opportunities for more people to just hear about Jesus and what he taught. An outcome from living what he taught should be both extravagant worship of Jesus and God (think of the women who poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet with His approval) AND taking care of the poor (think Jesus asking in heaven why we did not give water and food to those in need).

So for me the answer is an ongoing tension. To build a building that can communicate in the vernacular of our time musically and through teaching makes sense, even if it costs some money. What doesn't make sense is the Pastor or people in the congregation living high on the hog. That too, of course, is a sliding scale worthy of much debate, but at some point we must sacrifice things to live more simply and give more away.

Like I said, ongoing tension, but sometimes the tension can be created because the vision is not being viewed holistically.

Taking Care of Business!

As life evolves so does this blog. Ultimately I have tried to use this blog for promoting and informing people about what I am doing musically. Thing is, I am not full-time in music, so often there are dry spells. How often do people really want to hear that I am still working on my second CD? (I am by the way)

For the last five years I was a Pastor and that definitely effected some of the content here, and now I am working for FTC Canada which works to save children from all kinds of wrong.

Alas, to try and keep my life a little separated I will reserve this blog for music and meanderings of the mind and point you to my FTC blog for things related to work. Fair warning, my FTC blog will be about giving opportunities for you, things or projects I am working on to try and push the cause of helping children forward. Please check in there from time to time if you would like to know what I am doing and might be able to give to help. There are some exciting ways to see your money radically effect one or more children's lives. Check out this week's post now!

If you are looking to get the same kind of thing that this blog has always had, it will still be that, have no fear.

Child Hunger

Jesus said "You will always have the poor among you." (John 12:8) Deuteronomy 15:7-8 says "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs."

I think maybe there maybe hope for those of us trying to do good in the world. You see, sometimes it is overwhelming when you think of trying to change the world for good. Certainly you can't end child hunger or poverty. Sometimes Christians cite Jesus' words as proof we will never win the war. Maybe that is just too pessimistic. True, we may always have the poor amongst us, but there is a long way from poor to starvation and poverty. If we embraced the Deuteronomy passage, maybe, just maybe we could end poverty and child hunger.

We have a ways to go, but if Coke can have a vision to have every person in the world drink a Coke, certainly we can have a vision to end hunger...for good.

Articles of interest:

Herald Tribune

Reuters

The Louisiana Weekly

The Toronto Star