by emma | Nov 23, 2006 | Africa, Faith, Words
I remember hearing about an old comic strip back in the days of St. Ed’s. Two guys are talking to each other, and one of them says he has a question for God. He wants to ask why God allows all of this poverty and war and suffering to exist in the world. And his friend says, “Well, why don’t you ask?” The fellow shakes his head and says he is scared. When his friend asks why, he mutters, “I’m scared God will ask me the same question.” Over and over, when I ask God why all of these injustices are allowed to exist in the world, I can feel the Spirit whisper to me, “You tell me why we allow this to happen. You are my body, my hands, my feet.”
[ The Irresistible Revolution – Shane Claiborne ]
At CU yesterday we were thinking about the issue of pain and suffering, why it exists, what we do with it etc. Then I read this today. This is why we must act. We are called to not only pray against injustice and suffering, but to act to bring about its end. In a wise mans words, ‘It’s not about charity, it’s about justice.’ (Yes, that man was Bono.)
It’s about bringing heaven here.
by emma | Oct 31, 2006 | Africa, Books, Words
“What sets lion chasers apart isn’t the outcome. It’s the courage to chase God-sized dreams. Lion chasers don’t let their fears or doubts keep them from doing what God has called them to do.”
In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day – Mark Batterson
A review is coming soon!
But for now…
I love that quote! “The courage to chase God-sized dreams”. Recently God has been revealing more of what I’m supposed to be doing in relation to my Africa passion. It scares me a little bit to be honest! But maybe it’s supposed to. Mark also comments in the book that maybe God wants to stack the odds against us, so that he can work a miracle and get all the glory. What a superb thought. Today I pray for courage to live my dreams, not for better odds but for greater faith!
by emma | Oct 2, 2006 | Africa, Words
“Let no one be discouraged by the belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills – against misery and ignorance, injustice and violence… Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation…
It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
[Robert Kennedy]
by emma | Aug 21, 2006 | Africa, Everything Else
So today I took the first step in my journey to help fight AIDS and global poverty… I bought a new phone.
I really like this phone, but more than that, I love that every single time I use it, money is donated to the Global Fund to fight AIDS and poverty. Sure, it’s not very much, but it is something… and thats a good place to start in my books. Should be fun to work out what it can do…
by emma | Aug 18, 2006 | Africa, Books, Words
Hey, church, what’s it gonna take?
Does Jesus himself have to make a special guest appearance, point at Africa and shout, “Yo, a little help over here?!” before you realise it’s unquestionably your responsibility to do something significant to stem the tide of the AIDS pandemic there?
I read this from an article in a book I’m currently reading, The aWake Project. That cuts me to the bone. What’s it going to take before we act on this? How long before we understand that it’s us who have to stand up and shout, make a difference on behalf of those who have no voice?
“You speak of signs and wonders
But I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I’m waiting on the crumbs from your table”
by emma | Aug 14, 2006 | Africa, Exodus
Something is happening in me here.
Back at Sycamore now after the conference at Willow, not even going to touch on that until I’m home, so much to process. My passion for Africa has not diminished. God is doing something with it. I don’t know what, and I don’t know how it will play out, but God is so stirring up my heart it’s undeniable.
We leave to fly home today… kinda nervous because of the terror alerts, but we should be fine. Spent last night hanging out with the guys here at Sycamore, gonna miss them so much!
Off for breakfast… see ya when I’m back on Irish soil…
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