tumaini...it's all about hope

It's 2:30 a.m. and I'm awake.  Preparing for our early morning flight that will take us (eventually) to Kenya.  That's where we'll spend the next couple of weeks working with Tumaini International Ministries.  Tumaini, founded by Stanley and Rose Mutunga, is a Kiswahili word that means hope.  Their focus is to come alongside AIDS orphans, through sponsorship, education and encouragement, and walk with them in their journeys toward adulthood.  These kids have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and usually live with grandparents, other relatives or friends.  Life is hard at best, and sponsorship ($35 monthly) makes the difference between failure and success for hundreds of children, both young and old.

We'll leave LAX at 8:00 today and touch down in Nairobi about 7:30 Wednesday night (11 hours ahead of LA time).  All Thursday and Friday morning will be in this capital city of 4+ million, as we will visit different ministry sites in one of the largest slums in Africa.  Then Friday we'll travel 2-3 hours south and east, to the small community of Masii, where Tumaini has its offices.  Doctor Ron Jurgensen (my favorite dentist!) is with us again and we'll pull teeth for a week for those who'll walk for hours just to sit in his chair and find the relief his skills can bring.  We'll also visit some of the children that our church sponsors, as well as meet with the new church there as they are designing strategies for planting a church in the nearby city of Machakos.  It promises to be a great couple of weeks.

Our team of seven includes KACC and Parkcrest Christian Church (7th St. campus, Long Beach), and our desire is to continue to partner with Parkcrest in this ministry of compassion and church planting.  Please pray for us as we travel, adjust, connect and serve.  Pray for divine appointments with those who need to hear good news, and for boldness to share.  Pray for unity within our team a life-changing experience...for Kenyans and Americans alike.

I recently read some words in Psalms that spoke to me in a fresh way about Tumaini:

He [God] raises the poor out of the dust,

And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

That He may seat them with princes-

With the princes of His people.

                                          Psalm 113:7,8

Tumaini's work has lifted hundreds of children and adults alike from the dust, from life's ash heap, and is even now preparing a new generation to sit with leaders and movers of their land.  Because they're giving an opportunity to those who needed it.  Because they're giving compassion and care to many for whom no one else cares. Because they're giving a vision to many who had lost sight of their futures.

Because they're giving hope.

bush league (reggie and the heisman)

It's been a tough ride recently for those of us who count ourselves as University of Southern California football fans. The team has been penalized because of rules infractions dating back to the 2005 season, the firestorm centering around star running back Reggie Bush. Reggie won the Heisman Trophy that year, given to the outstanding college player of the season, but was recently found guilty of rules infractions, namely accepting money and gifts from potential agents during that season. These violations not only meant he'd been ineligible, but cost the team victories in which he played, their '05 national championship title and now, scholarships and the ability to play in post-season games the next two years. As I watched, read and reflected on the debacle this week, I found perspective that I hadn't initially considered.

What Reggie did was wrong. Flat out. But he chose to participate anyway. Maybe he justified it, thought he deserved it. Maybe he figured that no one would be the wiser, or be hurt by it. Maybe he was overwhelmed with the amounts being flashed before him. Maybe he became so consumed with what was right in front of him that he lost perspective of the bigger picture. No excuses, just maybes.

And as much as this riles me, I realize that my attitudes with sin usually run parallel. When I sin, I typically know that it's wrong but I choose to participate anyway. I can justify my actions, thinking I may even deserve whatever it is before me. Usually I figure no will know or be hurt by what I do. And I usually lose sight of the bigger picture and cost at stake. No excuses, just realizations.

But Reggie is discovering some deeper truths. Choices always have consequences. Always. They may come immediately, they may take awhile, but they will come. And it doesn't matter how you spin it to yourself, how you may convince yourself that it's OK. Wrong will still be wrong. Always. And there really is a bigger picture, along with collateral damage- those (often innocent) who will be impacted by what you choose. Always.

Scripture validates these truths. There's a story in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings about the servant of Elisha named Gehazi. Following the healing of Naaman, a man with leprosy, Gehazi set out to claim material goods that his master had turned down as a thank-you for the healing. Gehazi justified his actions to himself, lied to Naaman, and allowed the bling to distort his perspective. It was all about the moment. He hid his new-found spoil, assuming no one would be the wiser. He even lied to Elisha, who knew what he'd just done (c'mon, man, he was a prophet of God, after all). And when Elisha confronted him, Gehazi's punishment was to be Naaman's leprosy upon him for the rest of his life...and upon the lives of his descendants! Talk about your least-favorite relative at a family reunion!

Reggie has said that he made mistakes and that he returned the trophy because it was the right thing to do. That's good start. But he's not admitting guilt, not saying that he did wrong. Not apologizing to those he hurt by his actions. Without that kind of admission there is no repentance, no change of heart. And I'm afraid he'll continue to deny, justify and hide. I know, because I know the difference between a mistake and a sin in my own life. Between "oops" and violating a rule of God. And I know the difference in dealing with them...and what happens when I don't.

I want to be mad at Reggie, and I probably am a little, because what he did tainted a program and damaged possibilities of others. But my anger is tempered when I recognize the same tendencies within myself, and my struggle to do what's right. So for now, I'll keep my throwing stones tucked away until I'm sure I've got it all together. And I'll hope for Reggie, that he'll listen to the right voices, recognize the bigger picture and do, not just what's expected, and not just what's good, but what's best. Who knows? Maybe there will be an award waiting for him...given by the only Judge who's going to matter.

Fight on.

burn notice

Some more thoughts from this whole Qur'an-burning fiasco...

I noticed an article in today's news about a rally in Amarillo, in which a leader of a group called Repent Amarillo had announced that he was going to burn a copy of the Qur'an. A large group turned out to protest, a mixture of all stripes and spiritual tenets. They found unity in their protest of destroying anyone's sacred literature, but it fell on deaf ears of Repent's leadership. The man soaked the book in kerosene and was preparing to ignite it. But as something distracted him from his mission, a young man with a skateboard stepped up, snatched the intended kindling and ran off shouting, "Dude, you have NO Qur'an!" He then returned the book to an imam there in the park while the burner reportedly wandered off.

Now it's enough to know that there are more fire-starters out there besides that Floridian pastor. What's worse (to me, at least) is to see the way this group, Repent Amarillo, is characterized. The NY Daily News describes them as a group that crusades against promiscuity, homosexuality and non-Christians. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of those first two practices (although being against non-Christians escapes me), but as someone who wears the name of Christ, I'm so frustrated seeing others who claim the same name being known for what they're they're against, rather than what they're for. Isn't this how the world has categorized us for far too long? People too often stereotype Christians as spoil-sport, lemon-puckered, hypocritical downers, who live almost exclusively by the mantra, thou shalt not. While we know that's not the case (it's not the case, is it?) for most of us, there's just enough evidence of such thinking to reinforce the perception. And, believe me, in something like this, perceived reality IS reality.

When I read the Gospels, I don't see Jesus as a "thou shalt not" kind of guy...except, maybe, when he engaged self-sufficient, smug religious leaders. Otherwise, Jesus was inclusive- he welcomed people from different backgrounds, activities, philosophies, and castes. He never condoned sin, but opened his arms to sinners; never compromised a principle, but always made room for those trying to figure out the bigger picture. He understood the value of showing people what he wanted them to be and how he wanted them to live, and didn't simply scold them about what they shouldn't do or be.

Oh, that people would see us as those who bring good news, whose lives are like salt, and not pepper in our influence and impact in this world. Those who may take stands unpopular with culture, but who are engaging and inviting toward those who need to understand why such stands are made. It's not enough for me to want to be disassociated with people like Terry Jones or Repent Amarillo; it's my challenge to interact with my culture in such a way that people will see something- and Someone- different in me.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

-Mahatma Ghandi

burn, baby, burn

One of the mantras I remember from the '60s (besides the title of this blog) was the encouragement to "do what comes naturally." That advice seemed to fit the counter-culture revolution of its day. But it also appears to follow us today.Take the situation in Florida, in which a church pastor planned to have a Qur'an-burning day on 9/11. By now we've all heard the story, the debate, the outrage and the ridicule surrounding the event. At this point, the bonfire has been called off. That's good...but I'm bothered by the attitudes connected with the whole thing, especially among those who claim to be Christ-followers.

To begin with, I sense an overblown confusion among many between nationalism and faith. Added to that is a "natural" feeling of fairness, justice and rightness. I hear many (including voices within me) proclaim that Muslims have no compunction over burning our holy book, mistreating our people, or disrespecting our beliefs. Therefore, it's right (natural) to return the same attitude and action to them. I read a story about Bibles belonging to servicemen meant for distribution in Iraq that were confiscated and burned by the US military last year. A representative from a Christian defense organization was quoted as saying that to be fair and just, we should count up the number of Bibles destroyed, collect that many Qur'ans and burn them. Then we'd be even.

Now, that's a normal response. That's doing what comes naturally. Problem is, those of us who claim to walk in the steps of Jesus are NOT called to walk naturally. If we burn Qur'ans for Bibles, we' re living eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Not only would we all end up blind and toothless, but Jesus told us that we're expected to respond differently (Matt. 5:39). Not naturally. And if we refuse to love Muslims because we see them as the enemy (here's where being American and being Christian becomes conflicted for some), then we're no different than anyone else acting naturally. Jesus told us that we must love those opposed to us, and pray for them (Matt. 5:44-49).

It's easy (it's natural) to stand against anyone we see as a threat. I understand that. To resist them, to resent them, to oppose them. I get that. But how many Muslims (or anyone else, for that matter) are we praying for? How many have we made the effort to share with, to get to know, to serve...to love? If that idea grates against you, that's OK- it's natural. To be able to embrace such a concept is something far beyond natural. It's supernatural. And it takes to power of One within us to make it happen.

I don't expect those not following Christ to walk such a path. It's far too unnatural for most. But those of us who say that our allegiance is beyond this world are bound to back it up by our example. Are we to be concerned for our people? Sure. Stand up for injustice? Absolutely. Protect freedom? In a heartbeat. Love those who don't love us?

Only if you want to do what comes supernaturally.

a time to pray

A couple of months ago, we launched an experiment. We set up a place for people to stop and pray with us, in front of the church's property along the busy thoroughfare. One of our men had seen this at another church and he thought it would be worth trying. We set up a tent of sorts, signs, a table and chairs and a few volunteers...and waited. It didn't take long for some to stop to find out what was going on. One woman asked about the cost for the prayers. Another made an illegal u-turn in the middle of the street in order to pull in and talk to us. A gangbanger came down the street to request prayer for the upcoming birth of his son. By the end of that first afternoon, five people sat, shared and prayed with us.

Since that day, each Wednesday afternoon the tent has gone up, signs set in place, and people wait to pray. Some days one or two arrive, some days more. Today, as Robert (my assistant and cohort in mischief) was preparing, we wondered if there was enough value in this experiment to keep it going. Early on, there had been excitement, and several indicated interest in helping. A couple months later, that expression of involvement had been supplanted with the busyness of life and schedule for many. Was this activity worth the time it took to prepare and operate?

Before today's session was complete, Robert had shared with a man who had been walking down the sidewalk when he saw the signs. He sat and talked about the pain of his current broken marriage, about infidelity and poor choices, and he asked for direction, wisdom and prayer. Robert told him that there were no magic words to change the situation, but that regardless of the outcome he needed to make his relationship with Christ. They prayed and he went on, thankful that someone had taken time to listen to his story and pray with him about it.

Robert came in to relate this encounter, and as we looked at each other we agreed that even without a lot of helpers, this kind of ministry needs to continue. There are far too many around us crying out for someone to care for them, someone to listen to them, someone to share guidance, wisdom and love with them. But they usually don't break down our doors asking for it, do they? That man, in all likelihood, was not going to walk into the church and request counsel and prayer. But having someone within his reach made such a connection easier and possible. And we each need to make ourselves available in as many ways as we can so people can make that connection with those who care...and with God Himself.

So the Prayer Tent will continue to stand on Wednesdays (for now, at least), and people will be able to find someone who cares in a more direct, more accessible way. And why not? Isn't that what God did in sending His Son to connect with us?