Not just about Killing … Children and Darfur

A couple of quick errands this morning gave me pause to stop by Starbucks. While waiting on my Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha I perused today’s edition of the New York Times on the stand in the coffee shop. This piece caught my eye as we continue to hope the situation in Darfur gets more international traction and the killing ends sooner than later. Now it seems the consequences of the fighting not only leaves many children orphaned, others displaced in refugee camps but now it appears what aid is reaching children is woefully inadequate as malnutrition is on the rise.

Read - Despite Aid, Malnutrition in Darfur Rises

Genocide takes many forms … some kill long before death

We still get questions about Darfur. Recently I wore my “Darfur” T-shirt out and received quite an interesting response. Once the significance for wearing such a shirt was explained the response was, “I did not know anything about that.” Our local paper, The Daily Oklahoman, carried a piece by Michael Gerson (though I had to find it online elsewhere) titled, A different kind of genocide. The short article is very hard to read, and not for the style but the content. The quotes that may compel you to read, then act -

“The idea is to destroy the entire community, so they can’t procreate anymore, for the race to disappear.” “If they were shot by a gun, you would call it genocide,” Mukwege says. “This is a different kind of genocide, which destroys women physically, emotionally over the years.”

Be a Kinder …

Recently Scot McKnight posted a letter from a reader and asked how others might respond by doing so in the comment thread. For a variety of reasons I moved beyond the debates over Calvinism, Reformed Theology and who is “Truly Reformed.” It is not that I do not think we Southern Baptists have not been influenced by the Doctrines of Grace, it is simply that many inter-nicene squabbles do very little for the sake of the Gospel. This is especially so when it spills over into a wider culture who is not asking the question, “Are you TR?” (TR is blogospheric shorthand for Truly Reformed. It is generally a pejorative reference to those unwilling to have conversation outside the sphere of Reformed Theology. I guess it may be used from time to time in derision as if to say, “You are not Truly Reformed therefore we need not listen to you.”)

I cannot recall the referrer, to some this is rude in the world of blog, but I happened on to a post by Abraham Piper. He wrote a response to the letter McKnight posted. Abraham did a fine job of drawing out some stellar points for anyone bent on the kind of immovable certainty with regard to his or her theological position when engaging another person. Here is a section of the post with a minor edit, or major depending on your perspective:

In my marriage, it doesn’t matter whether I’m thankful if I don’t seem like it. And in the church, it doesn’t matter whether we have the fruits of the Spirit if no one can tell.

It won’t be easy to change the pejorative stereotype that clings to _______, but we can start by admitting that it is accurate far too often. Then we can make sure we are manifestly not self-righteous, condescending, arrogant, unfriendly, or argumentative. Also, you can count on us to buy dinner or coffee sometimes.

Paying attention to those who disagree with us and taking them seriously, even if we’re pretty sure we’ll still disagree, is part of what it means to be in the body of Christ. It’s humbling; it sanctifies. It will make us better husbands and wives. It will make us better Christians, and maybe even better ________.

The entire piece is worth a read. Kinder Christians to one another may move us to being Kinder Christians toward others. Now that would be a “setting to rights” worth shouting “Good News” over!

Petition and Conserve

Over the last few years we experienced drought conditions. Ponds dried up. Crops longed for water. We prayed. We hoped. This year we have set records in Oklahoma for rain. The Raleigh News & Observer carried an article on a move by several churches in North Carolina to not just call for prayer but also the need to conserve water.

Many issues we face today demand action. We are good at calling on people to pray. We must do better calling people to action.

(HT: The Daily Oklahoman)

Free Burma

Free Burma 

Wounded in Darfur

Kimberly sent me the link to this update. U.N. calls it ‘horrifying and brutal attack.’

Sad, Classic, So Much for Communication

Online couple cheated with each other

From the article,

 Adnan, 32, said: “I still find it hard to believe that Sweetie, who wrote such wonderful things, is actually the same woman I married and who has not said a nice word to me for years”.

Keep your eyes on the children

In May I posted on the “Not for Sale Campaign.” Yesterday morning a brief AP story notes to be wary of adoptions in Guatemala. We know of a couple of children adopted from Guatemala who are blessings to their families and to our church. Despite these successful adoptions it appears now Guatemalan women are targets for child trafficking rings. Another story tells of the rescue of these 46 children. It is happening again.

Remaining Diligent … Flip-Flop goes the Dictator

Keeping an eye on children is a full-time job. Take your eyes off an exploring child and soon he will test the limits of the rope you give. On August 1 the AP ran the story, “U.N. seeks misery’s end in Darfur.” (The article may be found here under the title, “Sudan Hails Peacekeepers.”) Many who have followed the tragedy in the Sudan held their collective breath as hints at a breakthrough raised hopes before only to be dashed. Some may have even gone so far as to suggest we could now focus on another world issue.

I wear a green wristband which carries the reminder, “Not On Our Watch.” Just when you let down your guard a leader may change his stance. It appears President Omar al-Bashir would prefer to pick the composition of the force to help end the bloodshed.  Now when you are charged with aiding and possibly funding the janjaweek militias, who would not question the commitment to peace when we now interject the need to “choose” our forces. This in no way questions the commitments being received from other African nations. Instead it appears the child may be looking for a way to move just out of sight so he may continue to stretch the limites. In this case it is not child’s play. It is a matter of life and death.

Great piece on Darfur … What would you be willing to do?

I met Ken sevveral years ago. We reconnected in Norman a couple of years ago while he was in town on business. He owns a business in the Washington D.C. area, works on his master’s degree in philosophy and occasionally writes entries no one should miss. I received an e-mail with this line, “

I’ve struggled with the relation between politics and spiritual growth for awhile, because in my experience political engagement seems to shift our focus from our own growth to others’ failings. However, the existential crisis of my generation that is Darfur forced me to clarify this quite a bit. This blog post is the result.

If there is only one thing you ever read from me, I hope it is this.

Take a moment go over and read Ken’s post. Think not about what you cannot do, but what you will do.

Next Page »