• April 26th 2013

Go. Do. Now.

We’ve reached the end of our Stamp Out Bible Illiteracy Gently (SOBIG) festivities here on GUWG.

To review …

Last week, we kicked things off with our official Bible Quiz-o-rama to help us assess our Bible literacy. Then we analyzed the Bible’s overall plot, boiled it down to one noun (JESUS) and then one verb (LOVE). Then we discussed the Christian’s job description (BELIEVE) and the only thing that matters (FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE).

This week, we took a deeeeep dive into what the Bible says about the Bible and then what Jesus says about the Bible.

Today, we end with a call to action. Here it is in one little word:

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  • March 21st 2013

The End

We continue our 40-day journey with Jesus to the Cross and beyond.

Today, we reach the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Here’s how Jesus began his concluding remarks:

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matthew 7:24-25)

If we listen to Jesus’ words AND put them into practice, he promises us a foundation that can’t be shaken. What happens if we don’t do what he says?

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  • June 23rd 2011

One Billion Starving: Help!

I tell you the truth, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers of mine,
you did for me.
(Matthew 25:40)

According to the latest statistics from stopthehunger.com, more than one billion people are starving right now. Some other sobering stats:

  • more than 25,000 people will die from hunger today
  • nearly 1 in 6 of the world’s population is undernourished
  • the amount spent in the U.S. on obesity-related diseases is nearly 50 times more than the global amount spent on food aid
  • Americans will waste more than 100,000 tons of food today — more than enough to feed every single hungry person in the world and still have plenty left over

Do something. Now. Seriously.

  • Pray.
  • Sell some of your stuff and give the money away.
  • Get involved in your community by helping out in a local homeless shelter or food pantry.
  • Instead of ignoring beggars on the street, take ‘em to Subway and buy ‘em a meal.
  • Visit foodforthepoor.org, where for $36 you can feed a hungry child for a year.
  • Go to worldvision.org, where you can donate goats, chickens and cows to starving families.
  • Share food, clean water and the Gospel by sponsoring a child through Compassion International.
  • Check out bloodwatermission.com, where you can help build sustainable wells in Africa.
  • Play trivia games at freerice.com where each correct answer triggers a food donation.

If anyone has material possessions
and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him,
how can the love of God be in him?
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth.
(1 John 3:17-18)

  • May 7th 2009

The Least of These

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:37-40)

Want some perspective?

According to real-time statistics provided by worldometers.info:

  • 22,205 people have already died from hunger today
  • 1,731,072 people have died from water-related diseases this year
  • 1,357,496,468 people have no access to safe drinking water

Want to help? 

Ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you.

  • Sell some of your stuff and give the money away.
  • Get involved in your community by helping out in a local homeless shelter or food pantry.
  • Instead of ignoring beggars on the street, take ‘em to Subway and buy ‘em a meal.
  • Visit worldvision.org, where you can buy goats, chickens and cows to help starving families.
  • Check out blood:watermission.org, where you can help build sustainable wells in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Go to Food for the Poor, where you can build a home for a destitute family.

Since I started writing this, another 841 people have died from starvation. Help NOW!

FEED THE POOR

  • April 23rd 2009

Lift

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

Look around you today.

See anyone who needs help? Pitch in.

See anyone who’s down? Lift ‘em up.

See anyone who’s tired, stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated and/or maxed out (in other words, 98.6% of the people in the world)? Love ‘em.

God gives us opportunities every day to show love in action. Don’t let a single one pass you by today.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER
RIGHT NOW

  • January 18th 2009

Action! (Part 2)

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go I wish you well; keep warn and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:14-17

Faith is all we need to be saved by God.  But our actions will demonstrate whether we truly believe or not.

True faith goes deeper than merely thinking the right things — we should DO the right things.  True faith produces a LIFE OF LOVE.

FAITH WITHOUT ACTION IS DEAD

  • January 17th 2009

Action!

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  1 John 3:17-18

Look around you.  Got any stuff?

Look out at the world?  See any need?

What do you feel when you pass a homeless guy on the street?  Annoyance?  Fear?  Anger?  Nothing?

Or do you feel pity?  Compassion?  Maybe even love?

God is imploring us to actually DO something about the needs all around us.  Take ACTION.  In LOVE.

What does love in action look like?

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 our brothers.  1 John 3:16

Want to show someone real love?  Lay down your life for them.

LOVE IN ACTION