Tuesday, May 06, 2008

"While it is Day" (Are you in the Battle? - Part 2)

[Update: I rewrote this blog as an article and it got published with Assist News here.]

A friend recently signed an email to me "While it is day." Then, this morning, my dad sent me an email containing the following verse: "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day: The night cometh when no man can work." I had forgotten about that verse. It's John 9:4, and it is troubling and inspiring at the same time.

Earlier this week I got an email from George Verwer. In it he refers to the huge needs of the world, how much work needs to be done, and how many choose unreality when it comes to the finances needed. Here's an excerpt of his email: "what a huge frustration where there is such a lack of funds. People have simple, nice spiritual answers, but I don't buy them any more. I keep praying and dreaming and hoping."

Friends, we are in a battle; and we need to have a sense of urgency. People are getting slaughtered in Sudan and Congo. Over 20,000 people died in the cyclone in Myanmar this past weekend. Christians' homes are getting burned down at the hands of extremists in Orissa, India. Children are dying in gutters in 'Garbage City,' Cairo. And, most significantly, millions desperately need Jesus Christ--"the way, the truth, and the life." Many have never heard his name.

How can one be happy about doing little when such needs exist? Should we not have a war-effort mentality in such times?

Or perhaps we find it difficult to connect with the needs in the first place. Let's be honest if so and ask God to help us care more. I for one am guilty of forgetting, and of being tempted to give a "nice, simple spiritual answer," and of getting discouraged - on an hourly basis.

But we are in a battle. And how much God uses us depends on how much we surrender ourselves to Him.

Love is our weapon.
ar TORONTO, CANADA | 2023+

APRIL


MAY

27 Sat (1) 11am Commencement speaker at R. University, (2) ~3pm+ time w/ V/AR+
29 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer, (2) 3pm mtg DerCh - Mississauga
30 Tue (1) 10am ph call (AA), (2) 5:30pm video mtg (IsTan), (3) 8pm neighbourhood prayer mtg

JUNE
1 Thu (1) 11:30am Zoom mtg (LM), (2) 4pm mtg (VS,KBr)
2 Fri (1) 10:30am ph call (PVDW; SL w/ boys; ~J working)
3 Sat SL w/ boys and MG
5 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer mtg, (2) 2pm Europe call, (3) 5pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue (1) 11:30am lunch (GD) - St. Jacobs, (2) 4pm mtg (AF) - Cambridge, (3) 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue 11am mtg (DAy) (~J school trip w/ ~Co | text BD)
14 Wed 9:30am time w/ BD
15 Thu 4:30pm video mtg (Paul T.)
16 Fri (1) 9am video med appt, (2) 15-km run (Prayer Journey "warm-up")
17 Sat Prayer Journey (my own: 50km GTA bike-ride; Jessie's: 5KM) and speaking at GTA after-party
23-25 Fri-Sat poss. SL
26 Mon 2pm Europe monthly call
29 ... July 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas

JULY
... 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas
~8-17 SA+ in Toronto; P/H Bell likely visiting too
15 Sat aft+ baptism (Saj; NaB may be coming)
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 11am video mtg (SM), (2) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (3) 7pm ~J speaking at Greenhouse/Zoe - UofT downtown
27 Thu 10am video MVT board mtg
31 Mon 3:05pm med. appt
July/Aug CCWM board mtg / AGM

AUGUST
2 Wed 11am video mtg (SM+)
6-12 Sun-Fri Cottage w/ O/DN+ and UB/AC - Windermere; plus Muskoka
19 Sat poss. ~J fam beach day - Brighton area
25-29 Fri-Tue MoveIn staff retreat - southern Ontario

2023+
Sep 21 Thu - MVT board mtg
Sep 23 Sat poss. date of GV memorial
Sep 24 Sun ~Ch's b'day
Sep ~26-28 Poss. time in Lushnjë, Albania
Sep 29 - Oct 6 MoveIn Europe Conference+ - Durrës, Albania
Oct 21 Sat poss./unlikely date of GV memorial
Oct 21-27 Dollar-a-Day week
Early Nov Poss. fundraising event - Niagara
Nov-Jan Poss. time in India - Goa; Philippines - Manila+; Indonesia - Jakarta/Bali; LA/San Diego