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Giving to Those in Need
- 04/28/08
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Over the weekend I read an advanced reading copy of Crazy Love by Francis Chan (a book that is due for publication in May). You may not know the name, but you may well have seen his “Just Stop and Think” movie where he walks along a beach with a surfboard while sharing the gospel. This is Chan’s first book and I really enjoyed reading it. I’ll post a review in the near future, but for now, here is a short quote that jumped out at me, perhaps because I’ve been thinking along the same lines lately.
A while back I had a free evening, so I decided to go to the store and buy some items to give away to those who needed them more than I do. It was a good idea, something I want my life to be characterized by more and more.
But it was embarrassing.
I realized that everyone I knew had enough, that I didn’t know many people who were truly in need, and that I need to change that. I needed to go and intentionally meet people who don’t live like I do or think like I do, people who could never repay me. For their sake but for my own as well.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (11)
Hey Challies. Have you ever read any of Mark Cahill’s books? For example, “One thing you can’t do in heaven”? Or “One heartbeat away?” In both books he takes you on a journey with him as he shares the biblical gospel with more people in one day that many share with in a year (convicting enough as that is). It is very encouraging and filled with great anecdotes and illustrations that he uses when sharing the biblical gospel. I highly encourage you to read any of the two. I would love to hear your thoughts. God bless you brother!
Hey Challies. Have you ever read any of Mark Cahill’s books? For example, “One thing you can’t do in heaven”? Or “One heartbeat away?”
I have not. I’ll take a look at them…
I will give you one quick example of something from one of his books…
In “One heartbeat away” he talks about the opportunity that God gave him to witness to the former rapper Vanilla Ice. Apparently Vanilla Ice once considered himself a Christian but said that now he was a Scientologist. Cahill asked him what turned him to Scientology. Vanilla Ice’s response? John Travolta! Apparently John Travolta pulled him aside a couple of times to share his faith with him! Mark Cahill’s line was classic and I am paraphrasing because I read this about a year ago: “If John Travolta is not afraid to step out and share his faith in a lie, why are we so afraid to step out and share the truth of the living God? Brothers may it never be that we are out-witnessed by John Travolta!” (Again I am paraphrasing)
Tim,
If you email me your address I’ll send you a copy of each..”One Heartbeat Away” (written to a lost person)and”One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven”
I’ll even send you the audio books to boot.
Tim -
Thanks for sharing this story. I find that I’m in the same boat as you. I don’t really know any needy people, and I’m pretty comfortable in my Christian bubble.
I pray that God stretches me…
Went to Master’s with Francis…hope the book goes well for a guy who really loves the Lord.
You can hear his sermons and the other guys from his church here. They are all Master’s guys…….http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/
i like Francis Chan a lot. he has a lot of lofty, ‘crazy’, uncomfortable, good ideas like this. he reminds me that when i feel the conviction to do something “big” for God, i don’t always need to put it on hold or toy with it until it subsides. sometimes (maybe more than sometimes), i need to consider actually doing it, alarming as that is.
I don’t know Mr. Chan at all nor have I read his book or seen his movie. On the topic of giving, though, I think anyone would be wise to consult Robert Lupton’s “Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor”.
I have struggled with the current model of “benevolence” in our churches. Clothes closets, angel trees, etc, while helpful in meeting immediate needs have often turned people who receive the gifts into objects…objects of charity.
I realize the quote in your post is bigger than a clothes closet, but I had to take the opportunity to plug the book (also, Metzger’s “Consuming Jesus” is fantastic).
I cannot wait to get this book, have it pre-ordered on Amazon.Thanks for posting this quote Tim, a challenging taster as I fall into the exact same catagory. Need to find some people who aren’t in my bubble.
I interviewed Francis a while back on my blog if anyone wants a bit of an introduction to him.http://garyboalnireland.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-francis-chan.html
Tim,RE: knowing those with real needsDon’t your church deacons get inquiries from the community, by folks looking for help? Our church gets a few every month, and we sort through their troubles and try to arrange for some help. I would LOVE to have a couple of men in the church “on standby” to call, do step in and, say, drop off some groceries or arrange for a car repair, etc. We are currently looking into improving our “mercy ministries” in our community, for the sake of the gospel, and being more like Christ. (See also a mercy ministry article by P.Ryken on the REF 21 site recently). So… let your deacons know what you might be willing to do (anonymously or otherwise), and let them connect you. Take care. djb