I have just spent the last 2 days reading stories about pigs, cows, goats, scooters and real life on this web site. Is it not amazing that we have become so numb as to no longer even see the fact that our lives are absurd, our desires weak and our future bleak. To even take a moment to acknowlede the actual state of the world, of the need of our own depravity.
To be hungry at least makes one relaize hunger-
To be cold makes one realize lack of clothing-
To be homeless as one realize they are not covered-
To be cut and sick makes one ealize they are not in control-
I wonder if one can even realize the joy of Christ if they cannot or will not experience pain. Western church goers realize nothing short of spiritual masturabation, as long as we feel something we might well except it as the real thing.

I am abundantly blessed by the words of this site and would love to find out more about supporting the work you are invovled in.

I was listening to John's gospel this morning, and the extent to which God's incarnation was unrecognisable to the religious establishment is a warning to us.

My suspicion is, however, that embodying Jesus' mission as you do, taking him as an example in all his exlusion and poverty, will inevitably draw you closer to his person, the revealed logos of God.

Thanks for all you do - and a West Brom fan as well!

My thoughts? You and your friend are exactly right. Westerners are spoiled, spoiled. The Western-centric, spoiled view is glarily obvious when middle class Christians return from overseas (short-term mission trips in many cases) and give the the same worn-out bottom-line assessment: "It just makes you appreciate how good we have it hear in America." Every time I hear those words (and it's been many many times), I just want to cry.

Yep...its the same continuing question for me. I don't swallow the evangelical pill, and the journey for me is outside the structured church while I ask these sorts of questions. And yes, I dofeel an uncomforatble tension when people make all sorts of declarations about what I would see as trivial provision. I know that sounds a bit rough, but the same people also live bloody selfish Christian lives so 'provision' is all about them.

I have definitly mulled over this before. I've recently realized that the typical things that we call blessings-like food, water, clothing, a parking space, etc.-are not really blessings. Jesus says, "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already. Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep." Obviously, to some extent, having our needs met is a blessing but the over abundance is definitly not. This is also in line with proverbs 30 when the speaker says, "Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die: Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread, lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God." I think that our wealth and isolation is a disease that is corrupting the church.

My husband has put together a slide show that you might appreciate. You can view it on his site at: http://joel.mawhorter.org/priorities/priorities-intro.html

I appreciate your thoughts. I've never been to the developing world and so I know that I'm still in a bit of bubble but I'm trying to break my way out. Thanks again.

Maybe we are being spoken to in our hearts daily to be the one to help and reach out to those in need..Just maybe we all can reach out and help just one need and maybe all the needs would get met one by one....

Keith
I have been mulling this over since I read it yesterday. I think you are right about Western Christianity and it's poor concept of the real world and its dilemmas - but I think the key comes in how we respond? Thank GOD I live here - or asking for GOD to move there? I prefer teh latter - but I am aware from my own thoughts that I am too westernised in how I view things. Key too is not to be too condemnatory about either view but to try and build a balance that reflects more of father heart into our world. Thansk again for putting this on you excellent blog.

I know this is way out there, well at least for a fat American like me. I am contimplating mimicking the average dietary intake for developing countries (Excluding Beer). I have no idea if I could do this but it would give me numerous opportunites to share the need that is out there when I dine out or have people over.

Just as an aside, I am part of a refugee re-settlement group and I marvel at the restraint of our first family from Ethiopia. We went grocery shopping shopping and they really know how to make food last. tins of baked beans and pita bread, a bit of milk and not much more. While they were handed a healthy monetary installment from the Govt. support arm, they just purchased supplies similar to what they had known for many, many, years.

Hear am I waiting to see them 'go the steak' but no. I think there were about 23 isles in that shop but they only went to 2 of them. Later that week I ran out of tea bags and tempered my frustration with this new perspective that I have been blessed with. Thing is, I am still more selfish and blessed than my culture allows me to believe!

Thanks everyone for your responses and thoughts - some real food for thought.

I think that one important thing here is not to come up with simplistic answers, but to be disturbed enough by the question to grapple with it and be willing to accept the consequences of stepping out on that journey. And your responses are inspiring as you pursue that journey in different ways.

I will try and put together a few of my own thoughts here over the coming weeks. I do suspect though, that we also need some voices from Africa to speak prophetically into our situation here in the west.

I look forward to your thoughts, Keith. And you're right... we need (I need) to hear from those outside the western paradigm.

I was thinking about this post today, as I listened to news stories about western NGO and aid workers coercing girls as young as eight into sex in exchange for food in Liberia. I just don't know how we can continue to hurt the most broken. How do I help these girls? Who is there left to trust?

I've just returned from a small village in Southern Sudan after spending a week with the Dinka people. I haven't seen worship so pure as when I was with them. It was shere beauty seeing people who had faced war for the past 21 years and another 20 before that, sing about a God that is good...

As I sat around the kitchen fires talking to the women about their view of God, it struck me how differently we view Him indeed. Mary explained that she worshiped God "because He's good." I asked questions about the war. Is God still good when all your people have died? "Yes! Even if your people have died, even if your land had been destroyed, God is good!" she said empatically.

When rains loomed in the east, Steven said, "God is good. It will not rain. It can rain after you have left..." Yet the heavens poured down on us in a storm unlike anything I've seen in Kenya. Afterwards, Steven simply said, "God is good. The rain was good."

We Westerners would look at the Dinka and conclude that they are poor. Many eat sorghum and milk every day of their lives. Their land has no infrastructure. They have no source of income. Yet they don't see themselves as poor. And, somehow, they have hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 isn't just a "nice thought" to them, something they put on bumper stickers and graduation cards. They can identify with the Babylonians. Verses 10-14 is a reality they've been living, the hope they are holding on to.

Before going to Sudan, I wondered what I really could do or share. I went in order to take photos, to share the story of the Dinka people with others who care. And that meant the world to them: the fact that we came--sat with them, ate with them, worshiped with them--reminded them that they worship a God who cares.

The medicines we gave will soon be out of their systems. Worms will return. Malaria will show up again. But the hope they have is what will carry them through. Even if there were to be another war.

I have a friend who talks about her ministry being helping people to allow Jesus to disjoint the reality around them and enable them to see through the holes to heaven whilst living in this packaged world that we in the west thrive in... she talks about how going on missions to places where 'reality is in a completely different shape' enables us to see and experience God in new ways......

To me this makes so much sense and echoes what you are saying Keith... the profound challenge for each of us is to live out lives in this prepackaged world keeping the view clear to what she calls the 'holes in heaven' ... reflecting glory ... and living a life that is distinct.... speaking into the lives of those around us...

Another thought provoker Keith i look forward to reading more of your thoughts...