Today’s Purpose Driven Life Devotional

Friday, December 10, 2010

Obeying God Requires You Take a Risk by Tom Holladay

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." Matthew 2:19-20 (NIV) Today's devotional is by Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church. "We may want a life of no fears in this world but that only happens in heaven." As uncomfortable as it was for Joseph to move his family to Egypt, imagine how scary it would be for him to obey God's command to come back to Israel. It was like going back into the jaws of the lion. He was going to take Mary and Jesus back to where his son's life had been in danger. But because Joseph trusted God and what he was saying, Joseph took the risk and went there because he knew that was the right place to be. The Bible says, "Even when I am afraid, I keep trusting you" (Psalm 56:3 CEV). Notice this verse says, "when I am afraid" not "if I am afraid." We may want a life of no fears in this world but that only happens in heaven. In this life, we're all going to face fears of one kind or another. We have some big fears and some little fears. We fear the future, we fear what's going to happen with our jobs, what's going to happen with our family; and we fear little things like whether we said the right thing to someone, whether that presentation went well, even fear of making a phone call. In all of these situations, you have a choice to make. Are you going to let the fear control you or are you going to take a risk of faith because you know you have a God who loves you? That risk of faith could mean going someplace you've never been before or forgiving someone you thought you couldn't forgive. It could mean leaving your job. A risk of faith could also be praying about something or deciding to trust God with a situation or a relationship you've held tight in your hand. What Christ-like risk is God telling you to take in faith?

As Dawn Breaks in the Woods

As the sun began to break through the trees not only did the rays of sun bring light, they also brought rays of warmth as they pierced the crisp frosty air. In the distance I hear the rippling waters of a gentle stream as is makes its way from the meadow into the woods. The birds began their scamper to awaken the forest. The morning songs of the chickadee, morning doves, nuthatches, buntings and finches all blended in chorus to praise the Creator. The rhythm of the downy woodpecker chimes in with perfect sync. The fresh smell from the early decay of the fresh autumn leaves releases a certain sweetness in the air. I can’t help but praise God for the majesty of His creation…and that he allows me to participate in His story….and the beauty of it.

Yesterday morning I had the privilege of going hunting on a beautiful piece of property near our home. For me the mere opportunity to have a few hours alone in the woods is incredible…it’s refreshing. If I am blessed to see some game I count it a success and if I happen to bag some game I have been truly blessed. The three hours in the woods rekindles an excitement in my soul that can’t be explained with words… and one that I had almost forgotten. For some it’s the moments on a rippling stream with the fly rod, listening for the slurping of the elusive trout. Others is the time of rebuilding and restoring that classic car so that one day they can turn the key and hear the purr of an engine begging to be tested.

2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so He rested from all His work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation. (Genesis 2:2-3 NLT)

2 Blessed are all those
who are careful to do this.
Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest
and keep themselves from doing wrong. (Isaiah 56:2 NLT)

Where is your place of rest? Do you even take time to rest? God commands us to rest because He knows just how much we really need it and the refreshment that it brings.

A Question to Consider….

Thanksgiving 2010

Psalm 105

1 Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.

2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

3 Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the Lord.

4 Search for the Lord and for his strength;
continually seek him.

5 Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,

6 you children of his servant Abraham,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the Lord our God.
His justice is seen throughout the land.

8 He always stands by his covenant—
the commitment he made to a thousand generations.

Pause to consider all that you are thankful for.

It’s sad that this seems to be our pause before the most frantic part of the race begins. The next 35 days are the busiest days of the year trying to do everything, get everything, see everybody and be seen by everybody…it’s a non-stop fight to meet the expectations of others. But what about the expectations of God our Father…

Things I am thankful for today:

• My wife and best friend of 20+ years. She is faithful to love and support me even when I am unlovable.
• My first child and oldest daughter who has a heart for missions and helping others.
• My middle child and son who has trusted us to be his “forever family”.
• My youngest child and daughter who has a huge heart and a creative way of expressing it.
• A God who is longsuffering with me and continues to lead me to a life that is bigger than me.
• The opportunity to travel to Haiti to keep life in perspective while watching as God connects the dots of my life.
• A church where I can serve and grow…who cares about making a difference in our community and in our world.
• My brother who is growing to pursue his passions more each day.
• My brother in law who has lived through the most traumatic event in his life to get another chance to pursue the passions which he was called to do.
• For the Training Circle of men that God has surrounded me with to push me into the areas of my life where God wants to work in me.
• Family who love me in spite of who I am.
• Friends who laugh, cry and support me and my family on this journey.
• For those who continue to serve and die to protect our freedoms here in America. Your service is not overlooked.
• Technology which allows us to communicate, grow and learn in ways that we never thought possible.
• …for Jesus who died to make all of this and more possible for me to embrace and enjoy!

There is so much to be thankful for today and everyday! This list could go on for hundreds of pages and still never touch the surface of all the blessings which God has give us….and for each one I am thankful…

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

A Radical Faith

The Global Orphan Project…Haiti

Overview

The Global Orphan Project, Inc. (“GO Project” or “GO”) is a global orphan care ministry headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. GO Project mobilizes local churches in some of the poorest areas on earth to care for the neediest orphaned and vulnerable children in their communities; children of last resort with no viable means of care. A vibrant, viral network of global givers fuels the growth of this grassroots movement for orphans.

GO Project was founded in 2003 as C3 Missions International, Inc. (“C3”) by Mike and Beth Fox in Kansas City. In 2010, C3 formally changed its name to The Global Orphan Project. To read more about Mike and Beth’s story, and the inspiring beginnings of GO Project, click here for our Founders’ Story (PDF).

The Global Orphan Project Model

The global orphan pandemic is a horrible blight on our world today, but also presents opportunities for radical life transformation. You won’t see it on the news tonight or read it in the headlines, but consider this:

• If every living human in the world joined hands in a global “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” chain, 1 out of every 2 in the chain would be a child.

• Among these children, approximately 145 million are orphans.

• UNICEF defines “orphan” as a child who’s lost one or both parents. Why? Because in most places in the world, the social impact of losing one parent is the same as both parents dying.

• Of the 145 million orphans, 130 million are in “developing nations.” The most vulnerable orphans on the planet live in the poorest economies, where extreme poverty chokes the life out of them.

• The statistics do not account for the millions of abandoned children or children sold or forced into bondage who are not orphans.

• Approximately 26,000 to 30,000 children under the age of 5 living in extreme poverty die each day. That’s a 9/11 catastrophe with children every 2 ½ hours each day, each month, each year.

GO Project is a viral, grassroots movement of so many of you taking action to address this mess. You’re giving your resources and hearts. And we’re all learning something deeply mysterious along the way: the little ones behind these cold statistics can teach us how to love more radically, vulnerably, and deeply than we ever imagined. GO Project is not a ministry of misery, guilt, or statistics; but of transformation.

Empowering Communities

God’s first line of care for children is the family, including adoptive families. For our target children, family is not an option. Perhaps their parents have died. Or, their parents’ and extended relatives’ lives are crushed beneath the weight of poverty, and little ones suffer without any viable means of care. These children – the kids of last resort – are the apples of our eyes.

For these children, we focus on the local church as the next line of care. Think of it as community based care with the local church as the centering point, where the kids become part of the local church family and community fabric.

There are many people here in the United States – families, churches, businesses, schools, small groups – who want to help these children. And there are established local churches there, where the children live, who are willing to care for these children within the local church family. They just need a little help. So there is a Here side, and a There side in this life giving circuit. The two sides need a connector. That’s us.

“Village” System

We expand local church capacity to care for orphaned and abandoned children in their communities. We do so through a “village” system. Typically, a village includes the following around the local church heart:

• Children’s homes with dedicated mommas;
• School;
• Clinic;
• Support infrastructure (e.g., latrines, kitchen, dining area, well).

If we can rely upon existing support networks nearby (such as medical care or school) rather than building new, we will.

Signature Components of GO Project Model

There are three (3) signature components to our model in the field. We emphasize orphan care that is:

(1) Local Church Owned;

(2) Base Level (culturally relevant); and

(3) Sustainable.

>> Local Church Owned

GO Project does not own the day-to-day care of the children. The local church does. The local church leadership hires and supports the mommas, the cooks, and other local staff to care for the children. GO Project provides assistance with planning, funding, assessment, and communication to help the local church meet base standards. The core of the children’s lives will include a steady assurance through the Gospel of grace in Jesus Christ. Our prayer for these children is that they will be free, utterly transformed from the inside out.

>> Base Level Care

We help the local church give the children a “bump up” into a humble, base level of care within the church family. We want the homes and standards of care to blend into the community, not jump over the top of it. Americanized models of orphan care rich in material trappings often cause area families to abandon their children, in hopes that the “orphanage” will take them to a better life. That is wrong. There is nothing fancy or particularly attractive about our model of orphan care. And that is by design.

>> Sustainable

In the GO Project vocabulary, “sustainable” means that the target country’s own people and economy will support the care of their own children. We believe this is a vital goal to hit over time, village by village. Complete dependency upon foreign aid and leadership in perpetuity has created a systemic current driving against intra-community, intra-country orphan care. Fighting this trend through empowerment of locals, as well as economic and agricultural development, is core to our model.

 

Compassion International ~ Haiti

November 4th, 2010

Today we spent with Compassion International here in Haiti. It was an incredibly encouraging day as we saw the work they are doing…but as we visited one of the Compassion Projects we also found it to be one of the hardest days we have encountered yet. Once again we were up front and with the people of the project. The faces of the children and families who have hope is in stark contrast to the families and faces which keep distance from the people of the project. No matter where we go we are quick to draw attention because not many white Americans venture into these communities. The great thing with a few of the organizations we have been with is they empower the local people and local church to do the ministry in their own community. This allows for the most effective and sustainable ministry. The volunteers and aid organizations come along side and support the project work.

One of the places we went today was to visit a school which has over 200 sponsored children in it. We were greeted by over half of these students who came in on their day off to meet us. School has been cancelled both today and tomorrow for Hurricane Tomas which is to make landfall early tomorrow morning (Friday). While visiting this community project we also visited two micro-financed businesses which are foundational in the community. One is a fresh-purified water store and the other is a small retail street vendor. This family has seven children, 3 of which are in the program.

Today we saw more of the evidence of the utter devastation which occurred January 12th, 2010. But today in seeing these things it became evident that there are many many places which still have not been searched for bodies. The pancaking which happened to so many buildings during those minutes the earth shook here…a picture just can’t manifest itself in enough words to describe the site. Looking at a few of these buildings there is no way anyone could search the rubble for bodies, without heavy equipment and there is no evidence that the site has been disturbed since the day it happened. This home/business actually looks as if there may have been an initial search done.

From the children of this project….they say Thank You for your sponsorship of so many of them.

The Epicenter and Starting Over

Wednesday November 3rd, 2010

Today we spent with Baptist Global Response which is part of International Mission Board. They have a small compound very near where the epicenter of the quake was. They are focusing on building homes in the surrounding communities and have built a few hundred since April. After spending some time getting to know the team onsite we ventured out to visit one of the communities in which they are working. The homes for the most part are 12’x16’, with cinder block walls and a tin roof. They do have a concrete floor as well. No indoor plumbing and no indoor kitchen, simply a safe room in which to sleep and gather together. Here is a picture of the tent community which is left in the area..

Here is a picture of what the new homes being built look like….

While wandering through the “streets” and “alleys” we came to a small yellow home where Jimmy and his wife live. They have converted their little home into one of the cleanest orphanages we have seen this trip. Inside this home are 16 orphan children from about age 2-3 up to a set of 14 year old twins. The smiles were genuine and each child was clean and polite. It is clear that Jimmy and his wife poor everything they have into caring for the children..yet they have only one church who helps them…sometimes. What they have been able to accomplish so far is incredible yet what they could accomplish with support is amazing to think of.   

James 1:27 (New International Version)

²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Mission of Hope - Haiti

Tuesday November 2, 2010

Today we spent the day with Mission of Hope here in Haiti.They have a pretty incredible work going which was started 11 years ago. They have a big vision for today and for the future. The facilities they are building are well made and have a purpose. At they core of what they do is to provide the best education in the country of Haiti…and they are achieving that. Through a great set of teachers and a solid curriculum they have just achieved a 100% pass rate for their students. They are giving hope to not just the orphans on their campus but also to the children in the community.

While driving to and from the mission, we passed hundreds or thousands of tent homes which still house hundreds of thousands of people from the earthquake. Some of the tent villages were sponsored by Samaritans Purse and yet others were just tarps.

Yet one of the most striking things we saw today is the smiles of the children in the missions. They have love and they have hope. They are safe and get to eat. When we as strangers entered the area we were quickly welcomed and word spread quickly among the children that there were visitors.

What are you doing to make a difference in the life of others? There are millions of opportunities to make a difference…and they are waiting for you.

We don’t have consistent power or water so my posts will be short when I can get a connection.

WinShape International

In 1984, Truett and Jeannette Cathy, founders of Chick-fil-A® established the WinShape Foundation. They had a vision to create an organization that would cultivate relationships and transform lives. That vision exists and thrives as the WinShape Foundation.

WinShape International

WinShape International, started in 2005, equips motivated young adults to become Christian leaders within their own culture.

WinShape International provides opportunities for Chick-fil-A Operators and corporate staff to have meaningful overseas experiences. WinShape International pursues projects that are sustainable, reproducible, measurable and beneficial over a long period of time. WSI staff works alongside the project leaders and assists each participant during the application process.

Our commitment is to identify young adults who will be the leaders of tomorrow, and give them the training that will equip them to reach their long term potential..

At WinShape International our mission is to mobilize leaders to transform young adults and communities around the world. We do this by connecting Chick-fil-A Operators and corporate personnel with opportunities to serve. We work diligently to involve anyone in the Chick-fil-A family who feels God's calling, and it has been a blessing to see how God has used these incredible people to impact the nations.

Our projects include:

* SERVE Leadership Model
Based on the book, "The Secret," written by Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller, the model bases great leadership in service. To be more successful SERVE teaches a leader to:

-See and shape the future
-Engage and develop others
-Reinvent continuously
-Value results and relationships
-Embody the values

Connecting the Dots

I have a friend who has an incredible network of contacts. He thrives on the privilege of introducing people. As he calls it…it’s just “connecting the dots”.

A few months ago, this friend introduced me to another of his friends who is from WinShape International. After our introduction I was invited to go to WinShape and spend the afternoon with him. It was through this meeting that I had the opportunity to share our family’s journey of adoption. Throughout this journey God has moved in pretty incredible ways and has been working to mold the hearts of each one of us for both missions and orphans. How this all fits together is a pretty big vision. After a few hours together of sharing, My new friend looked at me and asked if I would like to go to Haiti with him….”sure, if God will open the doors.” A pretty non committal answer. Haiti? Haiti is one of three places that I have NEVER wanted to visit. The black magic, voodoo and dark spirits which are common place in that country is simply something that I really want no part of…yet there was something deep inside of me that said I need to go. As the days past after that meeting my heart was being pulled to make this trip. I feel like it’s the next step in “connecting the dots” of where God is leading me and our family.

Our original travel dates were postponed which opened up the door for me to actually make the trip…again…”circumstances” were aligning and opening the opportunity.

Tomorrow morning at 10:10am we board the plane to start our journey to Haiti. I will be accompanying a leadership team from WinShape International as they assess projects in Haiti to determine who they will be partnering with in the future to make a difference in the lives of other people. If everything goes well I will be blogging each day while there and sharing the journey.

We appreciate your prayers…

9/11….I Remember

"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower

September 7th…

It’s been nearly 2 months since I have posted anything on this blog…(WAY TOO LONG) and not a day goes by that I don’t wish I had an extra hour or two for myself to just read and write.

Today is September 7th. It was 15 years ago that our first daughter came into the world and forever changed us. Yes, she was our first child, our first daughter. The one who we learned on….and she learned with us. Thank you Father for trusting us enough to give us Kristen…and thank you Kristen for the privilege of being your dad.

Kristen’s heart is unique and beautiful. Her tender compassion for others is leading her to a life of missions and ministry. She loves serving others…especially when the others are children. She will dance and sing with them and just connect with them at a heart level. Her eyes tell others that she cares…unless someone has hurt or wronged another, then the anger and disappointment is quite easy to read. Her heart is authentic and genuine. She doesn’t want to disappoint you, but she will not go against her principles for you either. Yes, she is a rule follower and for that I am thankful. Leadership is something that intimidates her at times, but when she steps into the role she does a great job. Kristen was my first princess daughter and as my grandmother always said…she is also the one that I have loved the longest.

Father, thank You for Kristen, for all that she is to me and to our family. I ask Your blessings on her as she continues to grow and mature. Help her to make wise choices. Give her the confidence to chase after the passions and dreams that You have planted in her heart. Help her to live her life out loud…and may her anthem be Your love. I ask you to work in the heart of the man you have prepared for her. May he always fight for her princess heart and empower her for the journey of life which You have called her to.

I trust you, I believe in you and I know you have what it takes to accomplish all that God has called you to do.

Kristen…I Love You…and Happy Birthday!

Plan Now to Make a Difference

Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Today’s Message to me….

Community is God's answer to defeat by Rick Warren

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.Philippians 2:4 (NIV) "You need a community of people who are saying to you: 'We'll be with you when you're going through the tough times. We're not going to let you get discouraged or depressed.'" Each one of us needs other people to watch out for us - to defend us, protect us, and help us stay on track. In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul tells us that we should look out for each other's interests, not just our own.What a counterculture verse! In America today, it's all about me - my needs, my interests, my wants, and my ambitions. But Paul teaches us to look out for others too. Did you know you have an enemy far more destructive than any terrorists? You have a personal enemy who wants to defeat you. His name is Satan. He wants to bring problems into your life, to ruin your relationships, and to hurt you as badly as he can. Why does he want to hurt you? Because he wants to hurt God, but he can't - so he goes after God's children. On your own, you will never win against Satan. But when you have other people to watch out for you and help you, you can be victorious. Here's good advice from Ecclesiastes 4:12: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves" (NIV). Does anyone have your back? Is anyone defending you - watching out for your spiritual welfare? You need a community of people who are saying to you: "We'll be with you when you're going through the tough times. We're not going to let you get discouraged or depressed." Community is God's answer to defeat. Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him" (NIV). Remember: You can try, but you can't live life well on your own. We all need other people - to walk with us, to work with us, and to watch out for us.

A Great Reminder Today….

Friday, June 11, 2010

You cannot grow without a teachable attitude by Rick Warren

Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. 1 Timothy 4:15 (GW) "There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them—and that takes time. " While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced. We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves. I have already pointed out that the truth will set us free but it often makes us miserable first. The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Yet, we often build our identities around our defects. We say, "It's just like me to be ..." and "It's just the way I am." The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my hang-up, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down your growth. Only as God is allowed to shine the light of his truth on our faults, failures, and hang-ups can we begin to work on them. This is why you cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude. Godly habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. You can't claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind—you show kindness without even thinking about it. You can't claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character. There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them—and that takes time! There are no instant habits. Paul urged Timothy, "Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress." (1 Timothy 4:15, GW) If you practice something overtime, you get good at it. Repetition is the mother of character and skill. These character-building habits are often called "spiritual disciplines," and they include such things as meditation, prayer, fasting, Bible study, simplicity, stewardship, solitude, submission, service and evangelism.

Dream Big!

God builds your faith by giving you a dream by Rick Warren

"Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes." Ephesians 3:20 (LB) "If a dream comes from God, it will be so big in your life that you can't do it on your own. If you could do it on your own, you wouldn't need faith." Faith is like a muscle: it can be strengthened. It can be weak or it can be strong, depending on how much you use it. How does God build your faith? He uses a very predictable pattern that we will look at this week; and, if you understand it, you can cooperate with him in developing greater faith. It's like when the father, seeking help from Jesus for his son, said, "Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!" (Mark 9:22 TEV) Jesus replied, "What do you mean, 'If I can'? . . . Anything is possible if a person believes." (Mark 9:23 NLT) The first thing God does to build your faith is give you a dream. When God wants to work in your life, he'll always gives you a dream—about yourself, about what he wants you to do, about how he's going to use your life to impact the world.  There are many examples in the Bible of this. God gave Noah the dream of building an ark. God gave Abraham the dream of being the father of a great nation. God gave Joseph the dream of being a leader that would save his people. God gave Nehemiah the dream of building the wall around Jerusalem. How do you know when a dream is from God or when it's just something you've thought up yourself? The Bible tells us that God, "by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes." (Ephesians 3:20 LB) In other words, if a dream comes from God, it will be so big in your life that you can't do it on your own. If you could do it on your own, you wouldn't need faith. And if you don't have faith you're not pleasing God, because the Bible says whatever is not of faith is sin. (Roman 14:23) God starts to build your faith by giving you a dream. He may be speaking to you now, but you just don't recognize it for what it is. That dream you have—the idea, the concept —that thing you've been thinking about doing that would be of real benefit to other people, where do you think that idea came from? God will never tell you to do something that contradicts his truth. In other words, he won't give you a dream of leaving your family and kids and moving to Hollywood to be a movie star. If you've got that dream, then you can know it is not from God. God starts with a dream as he works within your life to build faith.

“You Cannot Out Dream God”

 

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 Venturing Forth It's better to stay in the safety of the camp than venture forth on a wing and a prayer. Who knows what dangers lie ahead? This was the counsel of the ten faithless spies sent in to have a look at the Promised Land when the Jews came out of Egypt. Only two of the twelve, Joshua and Caleb, saw things differently. Their hearts were captured by a vision of what might be and they urged the people to press on. But their voices were drowned by the fears of the other ten spies and Israel wandered for another forty years. Without the anticipation of better things ahead, we will have no heart for the journey. One of the most poisonous of all Satan's whispers is simply, "Things will never change." That lie kills expectation, trapping our heart forever in the present. To keep desire alive and flourishing, we must renew our vision for what lies ahead. Things will not always be like this. Jesus has promised to "make all things new." Eye has not seen, ear has not heard all that God has in store for his lovers, which does not mean "we have no clue so don't even try to imagine," but rather, you cannot out dream God. Desire is kept alive by imagination, the antidote to resignation. We will need imagination, which is to say, we will need hope. Julia Gatta describes impatience, discouragement, and despair as the "noonday demons" most apt to beset the seasoned traveler. As the road grows long we grow weary; impatience and discouragement tempt us to forsake the way for some easier path. These shortcuts never work, and the guilt we feel for having chosen them only compounds our feelings of despair. (The Sacred Romance , 156-57)

He is not here…He has Risen as He said!

Project One Forty Three

Most everyone reading this is familiar with how our world was rocked over the past year through our adoption of Aleks. If you have followed our story you also know that Aleks Tuttle is the result of our good friends Chris and Jamie Crutchley being faithful to Gods leading and hosting Aleks during Christmas of 2008. Through this journey Chris has launched Project One Forty Three which has become his mission in life.

Please take a few minutes to visit www.ProjectOneFortyThree.com

Around the world, there are an overwhelming 143 million children in orphanages and foster care waiting for the love of a forever family. Amazingly, this is more than the population of Russia. It is a staggering number and an issue that few people realize, or could even begin to comprehend.  Most of these children have never had loving parents with which to share a warm embrace, a game of catch or even a family vacation.  Most importantly, these children never realize the feeling of belonging and self worth that come with being part of a nurturing family.

Unfortunately, many of the children are older than six years old, and with each passing year, they are less likely to be adopted. Thus, they will eventually “age out” of the system and never experience the life giving, life changing love that family provides.

It is our belief that there are millions of families around the world who would welcome these children into their homes if given the opportunity to meet and spend time with them.  Further limiting the opportunities for older orphans, many families are not able to pursue adoption because of financial limitations or lack of know how.

Together we can change that!

Project One Forty Three endeavors to show you how ONE person, ONE idea, ONE donation, etc., can create CHAIN REACTIONS that ultimately saves the life of a child.

Having experienced firsthand the awesome power of CHAIN REACTIONS, we are guided by the knowledge that when any one of these children are given their voice, when they are no longer just a statistic, but become a face with a name…miracles happen! 

We exist to shine a light on these kids, to bring them out of the shadows, bring them to life, to give them names and help unite them with forever families. 

(From the heart of Chris Crutchley) If you are reading this, I consider you to be someone who has impacted my life. With that being said, I would like to share with you what God has been doing the past year of my life and how you can be apart of it.  You may or may not know; 14 months ago Jamie (my wife) and I had the privilege of hosting an 11-year-old orphan from Latvia named Aleks.  Throughout Aleks’ time here in America God began to open my eyes to a world that I never knew.  He began to change my heart for orphaned children around the world.
When Jamie and I decided to host Aleks we knew that it was going to take the help of others to make it possible.  The cost to host Aleks was $2,500; money we did not have just lying around.  So we reached out to a few close family and friends asking for help.  Looking back, we continue to be amazed at the remarkable Chain Reaction that occurred--as if each person that contributed became ONE domino in Aleks life.  When all the dominos were lined up in exactly the right order, the chain reaction led to Aleks finding his forever family.  This was only possible because a few people decided to play a part in changing his life.
Now I am asking you to play a part as well and help change the life of an orphan.  Except this time it’s not just one life.  It’s 143,000,000 lives!  That’s right; 143 million orphans still exist in the world today.  The time has come to save more lives.  And, we need your help!
  It’s called Project One Forty Three (Project 143).  Project 143 strives to raise global awareness of older orphans and the many ways people can help these children find forever families.  It is our belief that there is a loving family for every child on Earth.  This belief can only become a reality if we join together and focus our efforts on saving these children.
How? You might ask...
Together, with you, Project 143 will focus on two objectives.   First, raising awareness of the orphan crisis. This means telling everyone you know (your friends, family, co-workers, church family etc).   Spreading the word about how others can help save the lives of orphans around the world.  Second, breaking down the financial barriers so that more people can experience the joy of hosting or adopting one of these amazing children.  By placing grants in the hands of those who wish to host or adopt, but can’t due to financial constraints, we remove the number one reason people say ‘No”, and unite an orphan with his/her forever family.
For Project 143 to be effective, we need financial contributions. Lets face it; without financial resources to help others, Project 143 is helpless.  I am asking you to help us save more of these children by supporting Project 143 in the following ways:

• Provide financial support to Project One Forty Three through a personal donation
• Forward this information to everyone you know, encouraging them to help save more kids like Aleks. °
• If you are a blogger…take a day and feature Project One Forty Three on your blog.

We all have a part to play.  Please help us start more chain reactions that change the lives of these forgotten children by visiting us at www.projectonefortythree.org. 

We can do it...One child at a time!

Spring Thoughts

As spring begins to take over our thoughts we begin to look around us with anticipation. New beautiful flowers. The changing of the grass from brown to green. The tree branches are swelling with new leaves ready to burst out at any time. The sunshine takes on a new intensity and brings warmth to the day. New life…new hope. A time to reflect on the past year and plan with anticipation for this new year.

This year there are also new relationships, new hopes and new dreams. I have no idea where all of this will ultimately lead but I am excited to see God moving in new and fresh ways.

But just as spring comes and new life emerges to awaken the world around us…there is still evidence of the past gone by. What we see coming to life around us is simply a byproduct of the past…the beautiful and the ugly. As our lives continue to grow and produce new fruit…it is influenced by our past but not controlled by it. We were created to be so much more than that which entangles us. The whispers of the past are just that…the past! What lies ahead of us brings life and offers us freedom! Things are new and fresh, last year is behind us. If you stop to stare at the past, you will stop moving ahead on the path of life. “It’s a journey”, my wife has told me a million times. Its true, and I need to embrace it, to run after it.

There is something that lies ahead of each of us which excites us. There is adventure. There is opportunity. There is hope. There is risk…. Don’t let the RISK cripple us.

We have a choice to make. I have a choice to make. The choice is to stay in the familiar zone of comfort…or to step out in faith and pursue the adventure and passion we have carried so long in our heart.

Adventure…

Freedom….

LIFE….

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (New International Version)

Communicating Hope

This is a great post I read today by Jeremie Kubicek. Do you know who you are an what God created you to do?

Communicating Hope

On a recent trip to Washington D.C. I had the privilege of meeting a great driver named Harvey. He picked me up at midnight to drive me 45 minutes to my hotel. We had an amazing conversation.

Now I realize that some of you are not into conversations with strangers at midnight while trying to get to a hotel. On this night I was in the mood to talk.

I simply started to connect with Harvey and to my appreciation he worked to connect back. What happened was amazing. We spent 20 minutes or so talking about why Georgetown basketball was amazing and if Shaq should retire or not. While I am not a basketball scout I do know enough to have a conversation, which is why it is important for influencers to be well-versed.

That said, we spent another 10 minutes getting into his world. He then asked me a great question, “How did you know what you wanted to do?” The final 15 minutes shifted to building a plan to help Harvey figure this question out.

Harvey, if you are reading this I wanted to finish the conversation to help you further. I hope you go for what we discussed.

Here is how I answered the question…

To know what you want to do you must first understand who you be. I know that is not proper grammar, but it works. It means that you must know who you are before you know what you want to do. So the obvious question came from Harvey: “How do you find out who you are?”

Here are 3 ways to find out who you are:

1. Listen to What Others Say - What do your parents, teachers, siblings, mentors, co-workers, etc. say about you. If you asked them “Who am I?” what would they say?

2. Experience Through Practice - I knew I was a pioneering encourager for years but it took me going through trial and errors to get to a confidence of who I was.

3. Get to Know Your Father - I am referring to our Heavenly father here. When we know God as our father and view ourselves as sons and daughters we will begin to ask him who we are and He tells us.

Think of it this way…

Adam knew he was God’s special creation. Out of that came his vocation - tending the garden. The problems started with that tempting apple. When Adam was cast out of the garden he had to work three times as hard to get food, so he shifted his focus on what he had to do in order to survive. Thus, Adam forgot who he was and focused more on what he had to do.

The same thing has happened in our culture. We always talk about what we do, but rarely spend time talking about who we are.

Harvey, ask your friends and family to tell you who you are. Then look back at your experience and ask God for clarity. After that you can start building a plan around the best vocation possible.

From my perspective you were amazing at connecting with me and, thus, I assume you can do that with many people. You have a high Emotional Intelligence so start looking for a vocation (whether you start a company or work for some one). Do the hard part of finding out who you are and then work on what to do. 

Wishing you the best!

Posted on March 04, 2010 in Personal Growth

The Spirit of the Age

If I were to ask you what the “Spirit of the Age” is….what would you say? Maybe you would give me a funny look and say…”I don’t have time for stuff like that.”

EXACTLY!

As I try to find a moment to just stop…or slow down enough to evaluate my life, I quickly realize I am consumed by a busy life. I have read about this. Family, a business, a wife, two daughters, a son, adoption stuff, my list could go on and on if I really shared my calendar. I have heard others talk about this. I have been moved and convicted previously by this…yet here I stand again. Consumed with busyness. What is the most effective way to render us ineffective for the things that really matter in life….Busyness! This has got to be one of Satan’s sharpest blades…it cuts so deep and yet we don’t even feel it till its too late. It renders us as effective as warm butter.

Its so easy to justify this wound, after all, the things I am doing are good…right? I am doing it for my family. I am doing it for my church. I am doing it for my kids. I am doing it for our future. Really…I can justify most anything…and I would venture to guess, so can you. If we are not careful we can get so consumed with arranging the piles of papers on our desk of life that we don’t ever get to the real work contained in those piles. I am reminded that the most efficient time at work is right before vacation since that is when I go through the piles with a different perspective. I am much less tolerant of the busywork and non-essentials…honestly, this is when I trash the most stuff from my office. If I worked this efficiently every day just what could I accomplish? How much more time would this free up for the things that really matter?

Lord, help me to stop and honestly evaluate what I am doing in this life…and do what really matters most. Show me today, and tomorrow, what is most important to You. What can I do for You that will make a difference in the lives of others? Are You pleased with this life I am living…..? Give me the guts to focus on and pursue the things that matter most. Show me what You really think of me.

Have you lost heart?

I want to share a quick thought from the Ransomed Heart Daily Reading for today…

January 12, 2010 In the End In the end, it doesn’t matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished—a life without heart is not worth living. For out of this wellspring of our soul flow all true caring and all meaningful work, all real worship and all sacrifice. Our faith, hope, and love issue from this fount, as well. Because it is in our heart that we first hear the voice of God and it is in the heart that we come to know him and learn to live in his love. So you can see that to lose heart is to lose everything. And a “loss of heart” best describes most men and women in our day. It isn’t just the addictions and affairs and depression and heartaches, though, God knows, there are enough of these to cause even the best of us to lose heart. But there is the busyness, the drivenness, the fact that most of us are living merely to survive. Beneath it we feel restless, weary, and vulnerable. Indeed, the many forces driving modern life have not only assaulted the life of our heart, they have also dismantled the heart’s habitat—that geography of mystery and transcendence we knew so well as children. All of us have had that experience at one time or another, whether it be as we walked away from our teachers, our parents, a church service, or sexual intimacy; the sense that something important, perhaps the only thing important, had been explained away or tarnished and lost to us forever. Sometimes little by little, sometimes in large chunks, life has appropriated the terrain meant to sustain and nourish the wilder life of the heart, forcing it to retreat as an endangered species into smaller, more secluded, and often darker geographies for its survival. As this has happened, something has been lost, something vital. (The Sacred Romance, 3-5)