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February 10, 2008
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For less than a dollar a day, you can make a powerful
difference in the life of a needy child. Click on the
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
We're Off!, by Phil Ware
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life
for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. If
anyone of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister
in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you?
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with
actions and in truth (1 John 3:16-18 TNIV).
I got up early this morning! Not to go do my usual preaching stint at
two services, but to board a plane that will take me from Abilene,
Texas to Dallas Fort Worth to Chicago O'Hair; then somewhere between
Chicago and Brussels, Belgium, Monday will dawn. From Brussels, we fly
to Nairobi and from Nairobi we fly to Kampala, Uganda, where, Lord
willing, we arrive late Monday evening; but that's tomorrow's business.
(For a graphic view of the trip, take a look at my blog on the Uganda
trip.)
Hopefully by mid-afternoon today, I've met most of the other bloggers
and Internet folks headed out on this important trip. We're going for
one simple reason: there are thousands of children whose lives
and eternal futures can be changed for the better. If we can draw
enough attention to the issue to get folks to sponsor children
monthly through Compassion, the difference can be greater than we can
imagine over several generations. My wife, Donna, and I sponsor a
little boy named Estarlin and a little girl I hope to meet in Uganda,
named Doreen. We believe in this possibility, personally!
Heartlight has long partnered with Compassion because we believe in the
mission and because Compassion has a great track record for doing three
things: 1) they make sure the vast majority of the money contributed
goes directly to help children; 2) they encourage a healthy connection
between the sponsor child without dangerous entanglements; and, 3)
these children are given the opportunity to learn about Jesus.
Is the trip long?
Yes, it is a very arduous journey and we are taking it in a short
amount of time.
Is the trip dangerous?
Yes, to some extent it is. But, we've taken our shots and we're going
to try to be responsible and smart about what we do. Yet any trip like
this carries some inherent dangers. Nonetheless, we believe the need is
crucial and that our going will help hundreds of thousands of people
know of a simple, practical way they can help make a forever-difference
in the life of a child for just a little more than a dollar a day.
Are you guys getting paid to go?
No. Compassion is flying us over and putting us up for the nights we're
there, but we paid for all of our immunizations and will pay our own
expenses above those basic costs. We are going at significant expense
to ourselves because we believe in the mission. We sponsor children
with Compassion because we want to make a difference in their lives!
Do you guys know each other?
A few folks know each other, others of us have read each others' blogs
or articles; but for the most part, we come from different walks of
life, have different skill-sets and are part of different circles of
people. But, we all love Jesus, and in the name of Jesus, we want to
help children in poverty have a future. (Take a look at the varied
characters that make up our band of Compassion travelers!)
Will it really make a difference?
Well, so far, before we took off, we believe something near 100
children will have been sponsored because of the trip. However, we're
hoping to add at least 500 more monthly sponsors as a result of this
trip. In many ways, however, those we reach through our blogs,
articles, teaching, and relationships will determine how beneficial the
trip will be to the children we are so much trying to help.
Is there really that great of a need to sponsor kids?
Please, please, I know there has been a bunch of publicity about a few
Movie and TV stars who have done things with children in Africa. Other
groups are working on water wells and other humanitarian efforts in
parts of Africa. We would in no way detract from these efforts. But
please, if you doubt the need, please follow along with the trip
through the blogs and articles this week. Ask for a packet of
information about a boy or girl and discover how a small investment can
reap such a big reward in the life of a child. (If you need more
information on the needs and standard of living in Uganda, please check
out the info page.)
Is there a way I can help or be a part of this effort?
Yes! Here are several ways you can help, but keep checking the blogs
and I'm sure you can think of others:
* I'll put this first, since it's the goal. Find out what it takes to
sponsor a child, and join with me directly in this effort! (You can
learn specifically about sponsoring a child from Uganda or another
country by following this link: it has all the info and even a
number to call for more!)
Please make this your prayer, too!
* Encourage your friends, Bible class or small group members, church
friends, clubs, to join us on the trip by following along through
Heartlight and the blogs. (You can find out more about the trip on
my blog, by using this link.)
* Pray for us! Please pray the God makes this trip effective and that
we remain healthy and can be a blessing to the people of Uganda. (You
can sign up and be part of the prayer team by going to this page
and leaving a prayer for us in the response area at the bottom of
the page.)
* Pray for world peace, especially peace in Africa! Children suffer
worst in all of the world's disasters and wars. Many countries in
Africa are experiencing unsettling times. The Lord wants us to pray
for peace so that the people will have an opportunity to respond to
the good news about Jesus. So please make this your prayer, too!
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession
and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in
authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all
godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the
truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and human
beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom
for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time (1
Timothy 2:1-6).
---------
(c) 2008 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Bloggers Trip to Uganda
http://www.compassion.com/share/uganda-blog.htm
* Phil's Blog
http://blogs.heartlight.org
* Sponsor a Child
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200802/20080210_weareoff.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
VELVET ELVIS: REPAINTING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, by Rob Bell
In this provocative, hopeful book, Bell asks what the church might look
like if today's believers fully embraced "the way" of love, peace,
sharing possessions, compassion, risk, forgiveness, and harmony.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?254
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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