Grateful for her. 22.5 years and counting. Above all, I appreciate how she keeps compelling me to look to Christ for, in, and through all circumstances, trials, storms, victories, and seasons.
She's also much nicer after I buy her some coffee. Lol.
Thanks for your support for @OneDaysWages. We sent off another matching grant. This time, to help prevent early marriage and empower girls with education in Afghanistan.
I'll be honest. With so much pain and brokenness in our world, does this even move the needle? It feels so little. So inconsequential. I have to remind myself that it's impossible to change the entire world. That's ridiculous. It's arrogant and reeks of savior complex. Simply, a marketing slogan. We can't change the entire world but we can impact the world of some. And in the process...be changed ourselves. We need to be reminded that every act of love and justice matters.
In the end, may we remind ourselves that Jesus never calls us to change the world...but simply to be faithful and obedient to Him.
If you want to help in a practical way, please consider becoming a monthly donor at http://onedayswages.org or become a sponsor at our upcoming 10th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 21. DM if you, your church, or company are interested.
Portraits of Courage
Portraits of Vulnerability.
Portraits of Humanity.
Portraits of Forgiveness and Grace.
I’m still processing what I’ve experienced and learned in Rwanda and I suspect that it’ll be an ongoing process. But having said that, I’m reminded of the human capacity - for both good and evil. Such beauty and such evil. Yet, one doesn’t have to go to a distant country to be reminded of this truth. All we have to do is to simply look...within. Each of us. You, me, us, and them.
I’m grateful that our ultimate identity isn’t rooted in our best behavior and especially our worst. We’re not defined by our sin. By God’s grace, there’s hope, mercy, and grace to confess, repent, forgive, and pursue reconciliation - certain with our Creator and also with one another. This is the good news we desperately need. This is the good news we always needed.
This week, I had the somber opportunity to slowly walk through the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda - particularly poignant in light of the 25 year mark of the Genocide in 1994 that killed about 1 million people (mostly Tutsis). These are a sample of the images from the memorial (please carefully review them). One of the things that I recall in going through this memorial and also studying the history of violence and genocide around the world is that at the root, one group begins to dehumanize another group. For example, Hutus called Tutsis cockroaches, Nazis called Jews, slaveowners called African human beings animals, and the list goes on.
Despite what some may say, words matter. They matter a lot. For example, one historian writes that “the Holocaust didn’t begin in the gas chamber. It began with words.” Words can uplift and dignify. They can also isolate, dehumanize, otherize, and demonize. Yes, words matter.
It’s ironic that as I’ve traveled to Rwanda along with other pastors this past week to learn about truthtelling, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation...insulting and dehumanizing words have been spewed and justified by those in political authority and crowds of people.
Words can uplift or words can dehumanize. May our words be the former. May our words speak life. May our words speak truth. May our words pursue justice. May our words embrace hope and speak love. May our words bring honor to Christ.
At last year's @One Day's Wages Gala, our staff convinced me to offer a "Fishing With Eugene" for our auction. I was reticent if but folks were so generous to even bid a few bucks but it got a little crazy. In fact two groups bid $1600 each. They didn't have to but we're so grateful nevertheless because everything that we raise at our gala goes to support our work.
Well, I finally took the two groups fishing and unfortunately, they didn't catch anything and I feel horrible about it. But we had so much fun, enjoyed the sun, chatted, and bonded.
I felt even worse that while.others didn't catch anything, I got some monsters. And...I didn't feel too bad. 😁
Don't forget this year's gala on Saturday, September 21. Visit http://onedayswages.org/gala to join and bid for that fishing trip with me. #GuaranteedFish
And shout out to @cascades1989 for hosting us on their incredible camp. Best camp in the Northwest!
