RICH...perspective.

On Tuesday, our son goes to Texas Children's Hospital for a little
surgical procedure (it's a minor procedure). The week prior to the
surgery is when you settle up with the anesthesiologist, the doctor
and the hospital. In the middle of wondering how we are going to pay
for all of this, I got a refresher course on perspective and trying to
locate new job possibilities to supplement my church plant salary. I
watched a short film called "Rich" yesterday - it's in the NOOMA
series of films. Here is a little of what I heard that made me think...

- As Americans, we make up about 6% of the total population of the
world, but we consume over 40% of its resources.
- Only 8% of the people in the world have a car.
- Around 1 billion people in the world don't have access to clean
drinking water.
- 800 million people won't eat today - 300 million of those are kids
- Around 1 billion people in the world live on less than one dollar a
day.
- Experts tell us that in order to provide water, basic health and
nutrition for every person in the world is about $20 billion - which
is less that what Americans spend per year on...ice cream.

Oh man, what's that about? Today, I woke up in a great bed nestled in
a heated home, brushed my teeth in clean drinking water, picked
clothes from a closet full, chose one pair of shoes from several,
grabbed my coat and skull-cap and went out to my car, where I turned
on the heat and drove to a hotel lobby, stopping by and picking up
something small to eat for $4. When I got to the hotel, I pulled out
my computer and began to work. I am RICH...I have been given so
much. I've been blessed. Who am I going to bless? How do I step
into my divine responsibility to give?

Everything I am or own belongs to God. I am simply a steward of gifts
and I want to engage in the bigness of God's generosity.

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant
nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put
their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our
enjoyment." - 1 Timothy 6:17