When I need a good dose of reality, I like to listen to anything that I can find from Rolland Baker. He and his wife are the founders of Iris Ministries, whom I had the privilege of spending my first four foreign missions experiences with. There is such simplicity in what Rolland says, and his words are hard to shrug off because of that. It's easy to not feel conviction when we listen to preachers who give us theology but not experience. It's not so easy to shrug off missionaries, who bring the poor with them wherever they go. It's easy to select podcasts with sermons that please us and confirm what we want to hide away from. The Baker's force you to see things on other terms; things (if I may so boldly say) on God's terms. It's easy to shut ourselves away from the poor, especially when our responsibility to them is so dire. The Head still issues the command, but the Body still fails to react.

Yesterday I had the honor of sharing about the poor and foreign missions at Community Worship Centre in Stratford, Prince Edward Island. It was an awesome time ( in my opinion) and I tried to present an overview balanced with cool stories and hard sayings.
We tend to forget about foreign missions when missionaries don't come and speak. The poor are convenient to forget about because they make us feel incredibly uncomfortable. As Christians though, we have a great responsibility to the poor and ones without a witness of Jesus in the world. I hope I made the small crowd a little more accountable to themselves (and their possessions) during my time with them.
You can view video of the message -->HERE<--

I'll be the first to admit that since I returned home I have been somewhat lackadaisical in my thought life regarding the poor. That was shattered in the last few days, since I was asked by a pastor here to speak at his Church on Father's Day. He asked me to share on missions and our last trip to Cambodia. Since then I have been focusing in on what I believe God would have me say, and 'the poor' overwhelmingly consume my thoughts.
I was on a website which listed many, many statistics stating how blessed we are here in the West and how steeped in poverty most of the world is and it has really re-opened my eyes, and I thank God I have been lead here. I find myself abhorring the materialism that creeps in ever so innocently living here in Canada. It's disgusting, and we find so many excuses to justify it. James (the half-brother of Jesus) wrote that "The treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment." (James5:3 NLT)
How much garbage have I accumulated (or even worse, outright wasted) instead of using my resources to help the needy. There are over 300 Scriptures relating to the poor. The Bible puts much emphasis on 'them', but we seem to put much emphasis on 'us'. I can hardly stand it anymore. Our selfishness is shocking.
We may not all be called to a life of foreign missions, but we are all called to lay our lives down for Him who laid His down for us (2Cor5:15). Jesus stated that many are called (or invited), but few are chosen (or selected). Those who are chosen are the ones who say "Yes". We all receive invites to many things (birthday parties, Facebook groups, eternal life, etc) but only the ones who value the invitation enough to respond will be chosen (or selected). The consequences of complacency are unbearable, but often go unnoticed as we fill our lives with things other than that which will bring glory to the Kingdom. Tis too much for me, "shall not the Lamb who was slain receive the full reward of His suffering?"
We are not free from sin to live as we wish, we are free from sin to follow Jesus. (Rom6:18)

I have started a new job as of yesterday. I have been hired on (full-time, day shifts!) at the Cornwall Child-care Centre. This week I am working with 1yr olds, and the next few weeks I'll likely be working with 2-3 yr olds. When school gets out I will be working with a couple of girls doing the after school program for the summer. It should be an interesting time; I have worked with PLENTY of children, but never in a daycare setting. I am so grateful for the fulltime, day shifts though. That works out great.
Jenny & I have split our Bible studies up and the first Men's Bible Study was last night. We are tackling the book of 1John, and are realizing just how practical and current the Bible really is. All these people who claim the Bible is outdated and irrelevant don't know their history, or what the current trends of thought are. Solomon surely was right when he said there was nothing new under the sun.
And Duffins have started reappearing again. Those bestest tasting things on the planet, which are 'better than grace' btw.
If any of you have any insight into 1John that you would care to pass on, let me know.

This is one of the most convicting messages I have heard in quite a while. Sometimes we unknowingly get into a habit of complacency and God sends a man like Leonard Ravenhill to shatter that box we had been in. Thank God for men like this, and I pray that He sends many, many more to speak into His Church.