Giving money

Today, I was considering whether or not to give money to a ministry which has been there for me many times. This ministry was obviously in some desperate need. I asked my wife what she thought, and she suggested we pray about it. I agreed. As I was walking back into the kitchen, I was thinking to myself that the ministry has some flaws.

And then God responded with the kicker:

"And your ministry is perfect?"

Ouch.

Of course, there are times when legitimate objections should keep us from giving to a ministry. But, I have to seriously ask myself, is this one of those times? Am I objecting partly because of some personal taste issues? Am I asking for a standard of perfection that I would never want someone to apply to me?

Of course no ministry is perfect. We all have flaws, and we all imperfectly follow God, no matter how hard we try. We all need a little grace from each other, and a lot of grace from God.

And I need to give as I hope someone would give to me.

Vacation

For anyone who doesn't know, I have a wonderful, beautiful wife.

I had the privelege last week of rediscovering anew our love while on vacation together.

There are times when I feel that vacation and other such luxuries can be wasteful, especially in a world where so many starve daily. However, I also know that God sometimes has called his followers to rest. In the second chapter of Genesis, God set the example for resting from the daily routine, and in the New Testament, Jesus set the example of making getting away a part of life's routine.

For the past three years, a generous person has helped make it financially possible for Melissa and I to take time off and get away. This has been valuable to our marriage, and indeed our sanity.

This person (who shall remane nameless) deserves our thanks. God deserves our thanks most of all. He has faithfully provided the opportunities for us to rest, recharge, and rediscover each other. As I've mentioned before in these pages, this summer has had its share of challenges. We were perhaps a bit overdue for some time away.

If you're married, or if you're not, don't let life go too long without stepping back. Spend some time with God and with the people you love without the daily whirlwind around you. The rat race will still be there when you get back, but--and I can tell you this from experience--you will be better equipped to decide just how important the various parts of that rat race really are. Any motivated man can earn a lot of money. A wise man makes it more important to give a lot of love.

And by the way, a cruise can make a great vacation!

The vastness of the sea, the color of it, the beauty of it...these things are awe-inspiring. God has designed us such a beautiful world. The sea also gives ample reminder of just how vast and amazing this universe is. We are barely specks compared with the ocean, and if the ocean is hardly even a cosmic speck, how vast a universe this must be! And God designed it all, made it beautiful. How deserving of our worship he is.

I've heard it said that everyone will worship something.

What will you worship?

Money?

Fame?

Another person?

A philosophy?

Goals?

Accolades?

Titles?

Objects?

After seeing so much of such a small corner of the world's oceans, I am reminded again that there is only one true God who deserves our life's passion.