What if all Christians lived like this?

No more Blogger's Block!

I haven't blogged since December 10th for one simple reason. Amy and I took a part time job working for a Big 3 auto maker auditing area dealerships. With the economy being what it is, it soon became necessary for us to spend more and more time with certain dealerships. I warned Amy when we started that any job title that has the word "auditor" in it always finishes dead last in the "Congeniality Contest". Let's face it...no one likes the auditors at first. Eventually we were asked to carry out some very tough orders and our popularity plummeted into the negatives bigtime! One day when I asked a sales manager for keys to get into a building one day, he tossed me his car and home keys and said "here, just take everything I've got...you've taken everything else!" He wasn't smiling then but we have since become friends which is a really good thing because he is a pretty big dude.

Long story short, we are still auditing and as time has passed, people have seen "the real" Amy and Richard. Actually what they see is Christ shining through an ordinary couple. In the midst of carrying out some pretty unpleasant tasks, we have treated people with dignity and respect. We have shown that we cared and we were willing to take the time to listen.

I have had many opportunities to share my faith of lots of different ways. Most of the opportunities came with little or no warning. Good thing I memorized 1 Peter 3:15 ("But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. ALWAYS be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.")

The people God put us in contact with come from all walks of life. Some are believers and some are not. They all share one thing in common...a very uncertain future. The crazy economy, the uncertainty of the job market, the consequences of living over one's head have all been topics of discussion that have seamlessly ended up in opportunities to share our faith. Every day people let us into their lives just a little more. Walls are going down and real questions are being asked about real dilemnas these people face. I don't know the "when's or how's" of the outcome but I sure do look forward to what God does next.

Today was a classic example. As Amy and I have traded places in this shared ministry...I mean job...no, it's really a ministry...our giggling girls have graced the hallways of this establishment. It's pretty easy to tell they are adopted unless you are totally blind. I never cease to be amazed at how people keep asking how Faith, Grace, and Joi came to be part of our family. Seriously, I get called into people's offices all the time and my first thought is always, "Oh, no...who is ticked at whatever auditor decision I had to make today?" Then they smile and ask me to sit and tell me the whole story of how the girls came to live with us. Today was no exception. The owner dropped by and I got to tell him our story and how it reflects the ultimate Adoption story of God adopting us into His family through the precious sacrifice of His son Jesus. What a great opportunity! Funny thing is that he had intertwined two conversations and thought we were adopting another child over the week end! Amy and I have been pretty busy lately...maybe we should have a talk when I get home just to make sure we're all on the same page:)

Beware of what you buy your wife this Christmas!!

This entry is really a public service announcement for all husbands who are "gift challenged" or suffer from "gift practicality" at Christmas time. I am offering this FREE service to help you have a Merry Christmas and a healthier marriage. You can thank me later!


http://bewareofthedoghouse.com/videoPage.aspx

Living Water

So the Brook is doing this thing called Advent Conspiracy in December. I’ve been blogging like a mad man on this topic because I’m passionate about it. Why? Just read the email string below from a friend of mine who lives in Sierra Leone. He and I met in the D.C. area. Our church sent some mailers out to promote a series and Ayodele showed up at church. The next night Amy and I sat down with him and heard his story. When he left I looked at Amy and said, “now there is a man who has truly walked by faith”. Read his notes below and I think you will draw the same conclusion…


--- On Wed, 11/19/08, Richard G. Buckley wrote:
From: Richard G. Buckley
Subject: Greetings from your former pastor!
To: "Ayodele Warburton"
Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 3:51 PM
Hello Ayodele,

I hope this is still a good address for you. How are you doing my friend?

I thought of you this week because our church is going to be taking up a special offering for people in Africa who live in places where the drinking water is very bad. This Christmas season we are challenging our church to step up and give above and beyond to help people have safe, clean drinking water.

We are working with an organization called Living Water International. You can read all about the project at
www.adventconspiracy.org

I noticed on the website that one of the countries LWI was focusing was Sierra Leone! Our church will be adopting this country to help. Since you are from there I was wondering if we could talk or get a short video of you telling our church what life is like in Sierra Leone. Let me know if you are interested in working with me on this project.

Where are you working now? Have you passed the BAR exam? I hope to hear from you soon!

Your friend,


Richard Buckley

Hi Pastor,
I am presently in Sierra Leone as i lost my only brother. He was buried yesterday. I am very much interested in doing the video or talk to you about the condition in Sierra Leone. I can be reached at 011 232 33 31 10 46.

I have not yet taken the bar exams as in February i had to bring my dad back to Sierra Leone as he was serious sick and my younger and only brother was the one taking care of him. But Pastor, it is well.


LIFE IS A JOURNEY

In the end, each of us will be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living;
by our measure of giving, not by our measure of wealth; by our simple goodness, not by
our seeming greatness.


Good day Pastor:

I want to thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I will try to get a short video from a camcorder and send it to you but let me but first let me answer the questions.

1. To God be the glory, my family went unscratched throughout the 10 years civil war. On the other hand, i lost some friends from college especially during the student demonstration when members of the military regime in collaboration with the rebels fired gun shots at students from close range.

There was also the economic hardship, when the rebels took over the city in January 1997 together with the military, there was hardly anything to eat, no form of transportation and no electricity at all.

2. The quality of drinking water is abysmal. There is water shortage in the capital city let alone the provincial areas and villages. In the area that my mum lives, water does not come to the house at all. Around midnight, my cousins will have to get up and to the public tap and queue for water. When the water is brought back to the house they have to fill out containers and barrels which they will use for the rest of the day. This is in the capital Freetown. The water that they will have to drink, will be put in a strainer to get rid of any dirt. I have been drinking bottled water since i arrived.

3. The people of Sierra Leone will welcome access to clean water. If wells are drilled and clean access to cleaning water is made available, it will go a long way to prevent diseases and sickness due to lack of clean water.

4. Please pray for those in power to have the fear of the Lord, as corruption is the order of the day. It is only when you have leaders that fear the Lord that they will be afraid to do certain things.

May God bless you.

What if this were your family?

This video is not for the faint of heart...in fact it will break your heart. The good news is that thousands of Christians are conspiring to celebrate Christmas this year in a different way...by giving clean drinking water to physically help those who also need the Living Water.

Join the Advent Conspiracy and watch what God does through your simple act of obedience.


Advent Conspiracy from Gary Evans on Vimeo.

How will you worship more fully this Christmas?

Check out this link Jan Owen set up to help The Brook church family share how they will be celebrating Christmas this year by embracing the four aspects of "The Advent Conspiracy". Feel free to add your story. We'd love to hear about how you will honor Christ this Christmas!

http://aworshipfulheart.typepad.com/the_brook_advent_conspira/2008/11/share-your-ideas-and-stories.html?cid=138539562#comments

What if...

This video will challenge you to the core. Advent Conspiracy...are you in?



[AC] Advent Conspiracy from Jon Collins on Vimeo.