dimly lit...

Haiti...

If you are looking for an effective way to make a significant impact for the people in Haiti I would encourage you to consider praying for and supporting the Thede family and Fauche medical clinic.  Cory & Kris are members of my church and I have been to Haiti for a couple weeks with the Thedes and personally attest to their effectiveness and integrity in ministry to the Haitian people. 

The Thedes have been full time missionaries in Haiti for several years now. As such they have unique relationships with the people and are well educated in effective and efficient ministry practices. Cory is a horticuluralist who has been diligently studying and starting plants that suit the growing conditions, are disease resistant and are nutritious. He then distributes seedlings and educates Haitians on the growth and care for the plants. He will have a legacy of caring for the people through his plants and trees long after he is gone. Praise God!

Kristi (TerAvest) is a medical doctor and helps to run the Fauche medical clinic. The Fauche clinic is vital because it is located where there is hardly another clinic within many miles of it with similar capabilities or access to support (us). Kris is currently in Port au Prince to help in recovery efforts. Their Fauche clinic which was already in dire need of support as they were running low on supplies (antibiotics, etc.) in recent weeks will likely see increased demand as people are already fleeing to the area from Port au Prince.

Many Haitians are directly or indirectly affected by the ministry of this family!  Please consider praying for and/or contributing to the Thedes. You may learn more about the Thedes and support them by following these links.

Thede's profile and support page:  HERE

Thede's regularly updated blog:  HERE

Together we can make a point of making sure that the Thedes and the Fauche Clinic are not left in need as they selflessly minister at this most critical time in Haiti.  Please pray and consider your role!

MLK

Agreeing with Vatican...

Avatar is one FUN movie.  And, it has the mushy romance to keep a wife or girlfriend occupied while the men are marveling at the graphics and dreaming of a future video game or watching the NFL with similar effects.  Despite hearing a lot of criticism - I liked it, a lot.  Not because it was profound - but because I merely wanted to put on the goggles and be entertained.  In my opinion the plot was intentionally shallow so as to play it safe on the enormous investment.  Although, I did expect more from the storyline considering the amount of time the producers sat on it - but maybe that time did more to dilute than enhance. 

Others criticized Director James Cameron as though he is brainwashing us all toward his political agendas of anti-war, pro-ecology, etc.  But, I just don't understand what is wrong with a plot that depicts potential evils of man - particularly in these relevant topics.

Have we fooled ourselves into thinking we are above reproach in all efforts of war and the care of our beautiful planet?  War is devastating.  Wars are sometimes started for dishonorable gain.  War, even when necessary, is a serious and sad course of action.  And, our environment is a delicate and precious creation by God that we have failed in caring for on many occasions.  This is the case regardless of what you or I may think on any particular politicized issue on the matter.  

When watching movies it is imperative that we ask ourselves, "what is the creator of this film attempting to validate or devastate in my life?"  I don't believe we can only partake in arts that align perfectly with our world-view and to do so would make us dimmer than a tricycle headlight about the world around us.  But, we have to be careful about what we swallow and what we spit out.  

Now, here is where I agree with the Vatican.  The current Pope (Benedict XVI - I really need to get a name like that), has been called the "Green Pope" for his concern on environmental issues.  But, the Vatican was accurate in pointing out the danger of the subversive validation of worship of our creation versus worship of the Creator.  This misdirected worship was described by the Vatican that today "Nature is no longer a creation to defend, but a divinity to worship." 

Creation worship is on a sharp rise in many demographics (teens and even scientists).  We must be aware of and refuse the validation of such ideas in our own lives and in the lives of our children.  It has worked its way deep into our culture with concepts of "Mother Nature" and Karma.  Likewise we can take the opportunity to acknowledge the beauty and wonder of our 'good' earth (Genesis 1) and point people to the Great One who made it all. 

MLK

Jim on Leno...

My good friend Jim Steffen just called to let me know he will be on Jay Leno on Thursday night on NBC at 10pm. Jim will be doing squats with a barbell on his shoulders while standing on an exercise ball in a segment of the show called "don't try this at home." You can see more of what Jim can do by searching YouTube for 'America's Fun Fitness Coach.' Jim is a Christian and motivational speaker and has been an influence on my life. Not only is Jim physically fit but he used to start his days at 3am every morning by spending time with the Lord before he would open his gym and begin working out at 4am. This guy has character.

MLK  

Christmas Letter...

Merry Christmas!  Follow the link below to our 2009 Kelley Christmas Letter. 

Kelley Christmas Letter - 2009

In All the Wrong Places...

I lose a lot of stuff.  And, well, I'm not very good at finding it.  I start looking and the longer I look the more frustrated I become.  Tonight when I was looking for something I realized that in some strange way I think that what I'm looking for ought to appear just because of the effort I put in - regardless of where I'm looking.  But, the item I'm looking for is only in one place - and that one place is where I must look in order to find it.  Yeah, it's rather simple. 

It's a fact of life, we have to find what we're looking for in the right places.  The same goes for faith.  Truth is only in one place.  Misdirected religious efforts do not bring us salvation or closer to God - it's a matter of looking in the right place.  1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men." 

MLK

Forfeiting the Right to be Right...

God has been working with me about forfeiting my right to be right.  In that spirit I share some of what I've been learning. 

We are obsessed with being right.  We have made an art of appropriate debate in news media and personal conversations.  Our obsession with being right is why it has become impolite to discuss politics because we understand the purpose of politics is - being right.  But being right is not the same as being righteous.  Being right is about reciting facts or correctly predicting an outcome.  Being righteous is about living a life that honors God.  Righteousness has everything to do with how well we love.  Here are a few observations about our obsession with being right.

• When we insist on being right we are making ourselves gods.  The fact of the matter is - we cannot be always right and I believe we are incapable of being completely right on most subjects.  We fail to invite God into the conversation and assume He is in agreement with us - we may go as far as to proof-text our case with some verses thinking we have God cornered. 
• Many of the things we insist on being right about have little to do with righteousness anyhow.  This is why I have a growing distaste for politics and the media which tries to engage me in them. 
• God is in the business of reconciliation.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him."  Notice, it doesn't say for those who are right.  I challenge that we can imperfectly love and it may be honored by God but He may refuse to honor those who are 'right' and unloving. 
• Proclaiming a perfect message of redemption is not the same as being perfectly redeemed. 
• Love and righteousness are always right.  We cannot perfectly execute either while we walk this earth. 
• Forfeiting our right to be right does not mean we fail to pursue truth.  It means that we acknowledge that truth is not always (and never fully) in our possession. 
• Forfeiting our right to be right does not mean we fail to contend for what is right.  But, our motives will be love and our approach redemptive.  "Let your conversations always be full of grace and seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer anyone." 

"Blessed are the meek - for they will inherit the earth."  It is not the proud right who win in the end. 

MLK

Comedian's Serious Side...

Laura and I had the opportunity to see the comedian Anthony Griffith last night at our district pastor's appreciation banquet.  He is hilarious.  You can pull up his humorous videos on YouTube, but this clip about his story is a must see! 

MLK

Disturbed...

Disturb us, Lord, when


We are too well pleased with ourselves,


When our dreams have come true


Because we have dreamed too little,


When we arrived safely


Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when


With the abundance of things we possess


We have lost our thirst


For the waters of life;


Having fallen in love with life,


We have ceased to dream of eternity


And in our efforts to build a new earth,


We have allowed our vision


Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,


To venture on wider seas


Where storms will show your mastery;


Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back


The horizons of our hopes;


And to push into the future


In strength, courage, hope, and love.

-Francis S. Drake, 1577