The Thing God NEVER Factors In

God never factors in that we (you or I) would ever (EVER) be DISOBEDIENT. Every single thing in the Bible–every principle, every concept, and every precept only factors in that we completely and totally BUY IN TO what God is saying. God assumes that we know that He (the Living God) knows better than we do about everything in our past, present and future. Considering that God NEVER factors in that we might not completely buy in, it might change up how things in our lives turn out compared to how they could turn out. For instance (and this IS my punch line): When God tells us not to judge but to love, He never EVER considers that we would judge one another. Further God would never consider that we would never ever NOT “love your neighbor as yourself.” Think about it: Everything that happens after the moment we are either obedient or not obedient makes all the difference in the out come. Extend this idea into the whole composite of what God teaches us in the Bible and we can see that when things don’t go our way–it isn’t God’s fault, it is because we messed it up. Yet, even when we do mess up God has a remedy: Confess it, let go of it, and let God run with it. God’s system is pretty simple. There are no trick questions, sabotage, or conspiracies at work with the Living God. Obedience is the key. “Do unto others the way you would have them do unto you”–Jesus actually said this one phrase sums up God’s expectation of us. Further–God never factors in that we might not buy in.

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“And God is Watching”

In my recent visit to Haiti, I was pulled in by the effort and desire of the people of Haiti to do better, but in need of education to do so. They don’t need a hand-out but a hand-up; They don’t need welfare but workfare; They don’t need a bunch of cash, they need simple step by step ways to improve their lives. Sitting across the table from me was a long time Pastor, about my age, whose only desire is to bring more people to the Lord. He lives in a pig shed next to his Church! As we talked through
American Transporter and Haitian national, Marc Dume, it occurred to me there was NO Difference between this Pastor and me. God cares deeply about each of us. I could be him and he could be me. I didn’t do something right and he didn’t do something wrong. When that kind of truth gets deep down into a person, you have to realize that a Pastor in Haiti living in a pig shed may be in charge of all of us in eternity! I realized that we need to help each other, but not in the may American Christians have been traditionally been helping. Building them buildings, giving them money, clothes, and food isn’t truly helping them. Teaching them something isn’t enough IF we are condescending American Christian as we do it. It is a step by step, little bit at a time, simple process of learning from EACH OTHER. A Pastor who lives in a pig shed with 50 people a month coming to the Lord has a lot to teach me! In the North Central region we visited a school in a grass hut. It was leaning almost sideways. There were 173 children inside. There were dozens outside listening and watching through the holes in the hut because they didn’t have the $2 a day (US) to attend and learn. As I watched, listened, observed, experienced, and asked a few questions, I realized Marceil and I have to go back, and probably go back again and again. The teachers need some basic instruction. The Pastors are leaders in their villages. The Pastors needs leadership development. Pastor Tim Fisher from Crossroads Church is leading a vision to build a Church and a School every year for as long as the Church can. (The budget for building a Church that accommodates 300 and a School for 200 is $55,000 US dollars)! The Christian Resource Group (those of you who are reading this) will provide the leadership training. A little at a time–simple–step by step. We are going to start in small villages. Our deepest appreciation to businessman, Marc Dume, who provides the translation, the security team so we can travel safely while on the ground there, and his vision to see the 2,000,000 Haitian children who can’t/don’t go to school to get some education. The people of Haiti are VERY smart, bright people–they just don’t have education. Thanks for your prayers and help as we move forward in this vision! Finally–time and again as I experienced Haiti and the great people there I heard the still small voice speak to me “And God is Watching.” God is watching: Are you going to throw money at it and then feel better about yourself? God is watching: Are you going to “go down there are show them how to do a bunch of stuff you assume they don’t know? God is watching: Are you going to do things to get warm “fuzzies” and “goosebumps”? God is watching: Are you going to realize those great people have as bunch to teach you as you do to teach them? Whatever we do remember: God is always watching! Thanks again for your prayers and help in our Haitian Projects.