burning questions must be answered...

Why go to another country to help people when there is so much need right here?

Everywhere you look, there is need... The recent hail storm left families in need right here in our city. Violence and poverty just across our border leaves people in need constantly. Poor choices made by fathers and mothers leave children in need. Terrorism and war leave many countries in great need. Where there are people living, there will always be need...

So, how do we decide when to help, how to help, where to help, and who to help? Why do we reach out even though our own resources are so greatly limited much of the time? Why do we go to a country on the other side of the world when people in our own country need help right now?

It's easy for us humans to ask questions like these, but seldom do anything ourselves to tangibly help someone else. You wonder why your church won't "do something" about a need you have noticed, when the truth is, your church is constantly doing things to tangibly meet the needs of people. Perhaps you as an individual should take care of those around you instead of waiting for someone else to do it. Perhaps you as an individual should take food or clothing to someone less fortunate than you. Perhaps you as an individual should provide assistance to someone whose car or home needs repairs. Why do we allow ourselves to think "the church" should do this or that instead of realizing WE ARE THE CHURCH. YOU ARE THE CHURCH. Who represents Jesus Christ to this world? YOU. ME. WE, who call ourselves "Christians" -- Christ-followers -- do. When Jesus exhorted us to love our neighbors as ourselves, he wasn't speaking to or of an organization. He was speaking to us as individuals...

Now, when we come together and organize ourselves as a group, we can do things that would never have been possible had we remained simply individuals. We can actually go together to another country and make an impact with what God has given us to share. We can put our monies together and actually meet a much greater need than we alone could have ever met.

As leaders of an organized group of Christ-followers, Monty and I have the responsibility of deciding what tangible needs we can help meet. Besides the many and varied ways in which we tangibly reach out to those in our own city and country, we strongly believe in partnering with leaders in foreign countries who share a similar outlook on outreach and ministry. It is vital that we get to know them and are able to trust that the money we give them will be used in the most effective ways possible, and that they hold themselves to the same high ethical standards in handling donations as we do. In other words, the who, what, when and where are not just random.

We also know that we can't do everything, and we can't help everybody. We have to pick and choose based on our criteria, just as other organizations pick and choose based on their criteria. And, we are certainly not the only organized group of people trying to help other people. We are simply providing another avenue whereby YOU can get involved on a larger scale.

One of the reasons I believe every person mentally and physically able should go on an outreach trip to a foreign country at least once in their lives is because of the life change that will take place within them. Nothing impacts your life in the way a global outreach trip does. You realize how blessed you are, how much you have to give, how small your outlook on life typically is, how you should be less inwardly focused and more outwardly focused, etc., etc., etc.... One thing I know for sure -- if you leave your comfort zone and go on a trip such as this, you will see the world in such a different light that you will become more aware of the needs that surround you every day and more likely to do something about them.

Another reason I believe in involving yourself in a global outreach trip is simply because it is a good thing to do. It is a right thing to do. And, the more right activities we can stack up in our lives, the better!

And, of course, I believe in global outreach trips because they are a tangible, literal, physical way to help someone else. When you are surrounded by people who can't believe you would come from the other side of the world just to meet them, just to help them, just to love them, the look in their eyes is undeniable. There is no greater reward.

Why go? I have all the reasons I need...


c2009 Lorenda Houston

manila city jail...

We are driving through the city, bumper-to-one-inch-away-bumper, as usual...turning to the right, to the left, in what seems to me to be an impossible maze...finally reaching our destination -- the Manila City Jail. As we approach the entryway, which is only wide enough for our vehicle to squeeze into, I am instructed to put away all my valuables, including my camera, as photography is not allowed on the inside. Lyn informs me that the officials don't want anyone in the outside world knowing how bad the living conditions are for the inmates... Thankfully, my battle with claustrophobia has lessened as the days have passed. Still, however, there is a mental struggle as the gate opens before us and we slowly drive through. I just know, though, that this is an experience I want to have before we leave the Philippines.

We drive into an open-air courtyard-type of area where we get out of the van and leave our things locked inside. We proceed into a walkway off to the side where we all receive the official ink stamp on our arms insuring we will be able to leave the prison once we have finished our meeting. Nervous laughter trickles through the group as some get their Bibles stamped as well.

A variety of smells waft through the air, some pungent enough to make me work to maintain a pleasant facial expression. We pass food being cooked, even flowers and vines growing up and around the concrete walls. I don't see any locked cells...everything is open to the sky. Men are staring wide-eyed as we begin to walk toward the living quarters, some smiling and saying hello, others simply looking. Up ahead is what appears to be some sort of concrete structure, open on both ends, but enclosed on the sides and roof. As we walk through, we see both sides are filled with men lying down in small square openings in the concrete. They seem to me to be no more than 3 or 4 feet wide, but many contain 4 men lying side by side in what looks like concrete coffins stacked ten high... Apparently this is where the prisoners sleep.

As we walk back into the open, more and more men are gathering to watch us pass. Slowly, I become aware of noise somewhere up ahead. With each footstep, it grows. Men have been joining us in our walk along the way, until we all finally reach a flight of narrow, steep concrete stairs. I realize the noise is men singing... One by one, we carefully begin climbing the stairs. The singing gets louder and louder. Finally, I reach out and grasp Monty's hand, and he pulls me up the last stair. I lift my head and look out onto a sea of faces -- men smiling, clapping, dancing, and singing at the tops of their lungs!

The room is open on all sides, with a metal roof, still almost stiflingly hot, but I know in an instant that I am with brothers in Christ...and that right here, in the Manila City Jail, men have found a place of freedom in Jesus that many who call themselves "Christian" never know. Monty and I are both immediately overwhelmed with emotion and can't stop the tears from flowing. Never in my life have I seen men so filled with exuberant expressions of heartfelt praise to God. This is what these men are living for. This is what brings them hope. This is what brings them peace. They have nothing to hide, for they have already lost everything, but their souls have found true freedom. One small old man moves out from the crowd into the opening at the front and begins to -- how can I put this? -- dance a jig! He dances in his own unique fashion, with a smile on his toothless face, expressing the joy he feels in his heart in the most palpable way, slowly fading back into the crowd as the song dies down.

As the team leading the music -- all prisoners who have risen to a place of spiritual leadership under Lyn's tutelage -- begins to lead another song, I look across the room and see a man I noticed when we first walked into the prison. He was a tough, hard-looking younger man, quite muscular in build, with a sharp look in his eye and very little clothing on his body. Frankly, he had frightened me a little... He was one who had walked with us toward the gathering-place, and now, as I noticed him again, I saw his arms raised toward the sky and his mouth opened wide in song. His eyes had a look of utter adoration as he lifted them toward the heavens. I knew I had nothing to fear from this man, my brother...

The first song had been in Tagalog, the native Filipino tongue, but this one was in English, and as they began, I felt a fresh wave of emotion... "This is my desire...to honor you...Lord, with all my heart, I worship you..." Then, as the voices crescendoed to the chorus, I felt my heart beat hard as tears coursed unfettered down my cheeks -- "Lord, I give you my heart, I give you my soul...I live for you alone...every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake...Lord, have your way in me..." Never before or after have I heard anything that rocked me to the core of my being like that did. Maybe that's not how a heavenly, angelic choir sounds, but it sure defines for me what a choir of lost souls who have been found sounds like! I will never forget it...

The church could only meet for about 45 minutes, so as much as I would have enjoyed several more songs, we had to move on quickly. Lyn greeted the men and gave them some words of encouragement, then introduced me. As I rose to sing, I felt my heart in my throat. What did I have to give to these men, captives in a miserable jail, so far from the riches and freedoms we take for granted in America...? Then I felt it -- "Give them your best..." And I began to tell them that we are family; they are my brothers in Jesus, and they have family at a place called LIFEchurch in El Paso, Texas. They are not alone. As I opened my mouth to sing, I suddenly knew -- "This is the greatest audience you will ever have the privilege of singing for!" The looks on the faces of my brothers in that prison as I began singing, "Don't let go... Don't give up...", is a treasure I will hold close to my heart forever. You could have heard a pin drop in that room crowded with men. It was quite a change after all the raucous singing. The gentle, quiet presence of God filled the place and brought peace to weary souls... As soon as the song ended, however, the place erupted with cheers and clapping. Then they stood, and I had the grand privilege of teaching them, "Thank You For Life"!

Lyn introduced Monty, and he began to share a powerful message from the passage about the prodigal son, emphasizing again that we are all connected in God's family, and that he loves us all the same. Our time ended quickly, but the moments we shared were life-changing... Just before we left, several of the men gathered around me to learn "Thank You For Life" -- trying the catch the rhythms and playing the chords on the only guitar they had -- old and out-of-tune! I think it was even missing a string!

A part of my heart will always be there with those men -- held captive physically, but spiritually, flying free. As we left that day, I felt none of the fear and apprehension I had felt when I entered. Instead, I left knowing I had a bunch of new brothers in Jesus that I will see again...if not on this earth, definitely in heaven. And, there will be no end to the singing and dancing then!



c2009 Lorenda Houston

backward bragging rights?

"My child has perfect attendance at (fill-in-the-blank) School"

I find myself surprised every time I see that bumper sticker. I can't believe someone is actually bragging about that. Don't get me wrong, I understand why it's important for kids to attend class regularly... But, some of my favorite memories as a kid are when my dad would come pick up my sisters and me early from school, and we would go to the park or somewhere fun like that and just hang out together as a family. Somewhere along the line, it feels like we've gotten things a little twisted up. It seems like school attendance has become the be-all, end-all...the best thing you can do for your child...the unpardonable sin if not adhered to. I believe in education for sure, but I'm not sure I believe school attendance is the miraculous wonder many people seem to believe it is... I actually believe the family unit is where the best things can happen in a child's life. And, I resent the way many school officials make it seem that a parent's role is secondary to the school's role in a child's life. Now, I know full well there are exceptions to that, but in my experience as a parent, I've seen far fewer exceptions than I care to admit. There is this subtle, yet pervasive, philosophy in our world that education is god, and while I believe education is vital, I also believe the scales have tilted far too heavily in that direction. My kids have been in every kind of school environment -- public and private -- but ultimately that's one reason we went the home-schooling route. I am the first to admit home-schooling can be greatly abused, just as any other form of schooling can be, but at least for us, for now, it's the best choice. I also have to laugh when someone voices concern about the "lack of socialization" for kids in home-schooling. Any sane individual would have to acknowledge that much of the "socialization" that goes on at school -- public or private -- is challenging at best, downright dangerous at worst! So, the obvious question is, do I think every child should be home-schooled? Absolutely not. I simply believe we, as parents, should be in the driver's seat when it comes to our children's educations. We should evaluate constantly what is best for our child and be willing to make changes if necessary. Sadly, much of the issue is with us as parents. We give up control too easily. Let's face it -- parenting is hard, and it's nice to have "a break" for several hours each day; not to mention, in most households both parents work. In the end, though, our kids are our responsibility, and the sooner we face that and jump into the driver's seat, the better off our society will be.

Today, when I saw the bumper sticker again, it was my least favorite of all: "My child has perfect attendance at such-and-such Pre-K". Pre-K?!?!?! All I could think was, "Poor kid...".


c2009 Lorenda Houston

Worry: Wasted Energy

What are you worried about?

List your worries on paper...

Now, sit back, close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that you have no worries...everything is calm, peaceful, serene...

Look back at your list and think about what it would take to get you there -- to that place of serenity, peacefulness, calm...

What about the worries you can actually do something about? What steps could you begin taking right now to change some things that need to be changed?...some wrongs you could make right...some rifts you could mend...some bitterness you could let go of...

What about the things you can do nothing about? Imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen concerning these worries... Now, imagine nothing bad happening... What if you spend way too much time worrying and nothing bad ever happens? If something bad does come about, you will deal with it in that moment...until then, why worry?

The first step in dealing with worry is daily surrender to the lordship of Jesus in your life. When you live a surrendered life, he will be there with you through even the most difficult situations. He will never leave you alone. After taking the first, most important step, don't allow yourself to give in to a habit of worry, a lifestyle of worry...

I love the passage in Matthew 6, verses 25 through 34. Jesus had just talked about how we should view and deal with money when he begins to bring clarity concerning worry. Read through those verses as you sit and think about the part worry plays in your life, and as you read, allow God's peace to warm your heart and soul... Resolve to daily lay down your worries and live in the peace of a surrendered life...


c2009 Lorenda Houston