SELFIENESS

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” -Proverbs 31:30 The same could be said of men.

Selfie says it all. Before I start in, it’s important for me to note that I too have taken pictures of myself—alone and with other people. They can capture memorable experiences when there is no one else around or provide an even more intimate appearance as you huddle close with family or friends. However, at the heart of the selfie is often: self. There is a vanity not simply associate

d with self-photography but that actually exists.

A new article from Reuters news service shows an alarming trend: more and more people are opting for plastic surgery because of how they perceive themselves to look in publicly posted photos. Reuters cites a poll by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) in which doctors noted “a 10 percent rise in rhinoplasty in 2013 over 2012, a 7 percent jump in hair transplants and 6 percent increase in eyelid surgery.”

There was a time when we looked in the mirror as we got around in the morning and perhaps once as we brushed our teeth before bed. Now, we’re inundated if not obsessed with our self images from morning to night thanks to the rise of social media. Somehow Instagram and other apps have convinced us that other people just can’t get enough of us. “You’re so vain, you probably think this [blog] is about you, don’t you…”

I work in a business that although we talk about the focus being on good journalism, it’s also very looks-based. If you think Hollywood is harsh, then you should meet some of the bosses and consultants in this business that make no bones about what’s wrong with your clothes, your hair, your make-up, your weight, or your overall image. However, as a man, I must admit that the criticism women in television news receive is far more disproportionate than their counterparts. Although women tend to receive more compliments about their appearance, they are also much more likely to be criticized for it—by both management and the viewing public. Thankfully, I have encountered very little of that in my career. You may have seen the male Australian news anchor who wore the same suits for a year, changing only his shirt and tie, to prove that no one would notice simply because he’s a man and no one cares about his wardrobe. According to a People magazine article, it was his way of protesting the sexism and double standard he sees his female co-anchor as being held to. 

In my experience young women seem to move up more quickly than their male peers in television news. However experienced, accomplished, mature women are often pushed out for appearing older while their aging male counterparts are simply seen as distinguished. If you think the aging process isn’t fair or kind, try doing it in high definition! Every wrinkle, pock mark, and age spot is magnified even more than if you were sitting across from someone in real life. If a man’s hair appears grey (which mine is starting to), it somehow adds to my credibility. God forbid a woman in tv let a single grey hair appear! Break out the bottle of Clairol!   

  

I admit that far too often I care way too much about how I look. I have a daily morning “ready” routine: I have to shower, carefully coordinate my suit, shirt and tie; my clothes must then be meticulously ironed, I always shave (except for my days off), and my hair…oh, the hair...has to have mousse or gel to maintain that perfect “anchorman” look. Sadly, my wife often laments that it takes more time for me to get ready than her! Now, that’s embarrassing but true. If you have seen me out at Walmart on the weekends or late at night, you might dispute those facts. However, even when I’m ‘dressed down’ in public, I’m hoping that I’m not recognized in my ratty ‘Bearcats Hoop It Up!’ t-shirt from my high school (from when I was in high school!) and the pair of wind suit pants that everyone knows is really about comfort and not at all about exercise if I’m wearing them.

Although I haven’t given it much thought, I too critique my selfie shots. Technology allows us to quickly delete, retake, or alter images to our satisfaction. Though I haven’t pondered the question for more than a minute, I don’t know if I would ever go under the knife to improve my selfie image. I’d like to think that I will embrace aging as part of life’s process. While I don’t want to be old and trying to look young, I’d still like to look good “for my age”. Still, it’s likely that my fear of pain will keep me looking my ripe old actual age—and that’s okay. I look at the people I respect most in life, and those laugh lines around their eyes betray the happiness that lies inside. The grey hairs on their head are evidence of a life lived that has grown wisdom within them. And yes, the extra weight around their waist tells of many dinners with family and friends. I want to be them.

Obviously plastic surgery isn’t just about age. People have rhinoplasty to re-shape their noses and lipo to rid themselves of excess fat. I hope that I can simply embrace the body I was born with and motivate myself to re-shape it through diet and exercise. I say hope, because I have yet to have success with the latter part of that.

In the end, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with wanting to feel good about how you look. However, if you look no further than the surface, you will never be satisfied. Just ask anyone who has had plastic surgery countless times. Something more is missing than just what’s on the outside. So, maybe instead of taking so many selfies, you can try turning your attention from yourself and really see others—maybe genuinely for the first time.

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” 1 Corinthians 10:24

Mad About Marriage

I love my wife. Even on our darkest of days, I’ve known that I would never walk away. I want her; I need her. La Manda captures my heart so completely. No matter how our life has changed and we have grown individually her heart still beats the same as when we first became friends. I can look past my anger in the moment and still see the woman I fell in love with. (And, eventually, the pea soup-spitting, head-spinning, minion of Satan demon that has temporarily overtaken her body will be cast out and she’ll return to the incredibly beautiful, kind-hearted wife and mother she is on most days.) I’ve learned that no one can make you as angry as your spouse, and no one but God can make you feel more loved. La Manda does that for me.

It is incredibly humbling to know that my wife knows everything about me—and the dark, secret sins that could have separated us from the beginning instead became a bridge of grace that united us. La Manda is incredibly long-suffering and forgiving. She has a way of causing my jaded heart to pause and consider the plight of others who are struggling—whether we know them or not. She loves kids and somehow manages to look past their bad, even troubling behaviors, to see that God has a plan for each one of them. My wife easily earns trust from strangers and valiantly protects it. Her heart is broken for those without food or clothing. I realized early on in our dating relationship that this woman I wanted to be my wife would become the most amazing mom. There will never be a day that our girls feel unloved as long as their mother walks this earth. She laughs at me, she laughs with me; she laughs in spite of me. La Manda is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but it is the most fulfilling feeling that she has chosen to live her life with me. There have been days when we have both wondered if we made a mistake, but if I did, it’s the greatest one I will ever make.

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” -Philippians 4:12b

I would like to think that I have learned to be content in my marriage; content and not lazy. I have found it especially important these past three years to love what God has blessed me with and joyfully live with the choices I have made of my own free will. Although Paul is not specifically speaking about marriage, I think discontentment in a relationship is the seed that leads us to stray. It doesn’t always end with us in another’s bed, but it often means we are no longer wholeheartedly sleeping in our own.

I hate clichés. I find them terribly unoriginal in their attempt to generically explain any given situation. Without a doubt, I can say the claim that “the grass is always greener on the other side” is nothing more than an uninspired illusion. It isn’t green grass that sees livestock through the toughest winters. It is hay; dead grass that sustains them. So, it is with us in our marriages. Happiness and youthful lust are fleeting; feelings fade. However, the vows my wife and I made before God on our wedding day required an unwavering commitment that leads to contentment.

It would be foolish for me to say that I have achieved who I set out to be; I am far from the husband and father I want my wife and children to see. Laziness is easy, and I often find myself confusing contentment with what is reality. Sometimes I excuse my lack of attempts at growth by claiming to be content. The thing is, if I’m content and my wife is not, I must seriously assess myself to see if the problem could be me. In Romans 12:3, Paul writes: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.” The sobering truth is that I need to look no farther than myself to find problems in my marriage and no closer than God to find the solutions.

So, as I lay in our marital bed with a toddler between us on our three-year anniversary I simply want to say: I love my wife, I love our life, and I am striving to be content. I love you, La Manda Broyles. Happy anniversary!

GOODBYE GLORY BABY

“Heaven will hold you before we do…Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…” –from Watermark’s song ‘Glory Baby’

I am torn between a lurking sadness and an abundant joy; pulled between the sorrow of death and the anticipation of life. I have long believed that there are some things in life that will just never be okay this side of heaven; things that no matter how much or often we forgive or try to forget never really leave our heads and certainly not our hearts. This is one of those times in life.

We recently learned that La Manda was pregnant with our second child. We had been hopeful, even prayerful, that God would give us another baby, and He did. It wasn’t long before Lam became very sick once again with hyperemesis gravidarum. Simply put, it’s extreme vomiting during pregnancy. After two emergency room visits and a brief hospital stay we learned why her hyperemsesis was so much more severe than it was with Emmarie. She was pregnant with twins. Was… It’s curious how a careful change in tense can change the entire meaning of a sentence. It can change the entire course of one’s life.

The doctor quickly reassured us that one baby was healthy and on track. However, the twin had “failed to develop”. The tech heard one heartbeat, not two. She saw a fetal pole on one embryo, but the other appeared to be an underdeveloped yolk sac. I heard little after that. I tried to keep up with the topic of conversation, to understand what had happened and what that would mean for La Manda and our baby still alive and growing inside of her. It was difficult for me to focus. I remember asking the doctor, “So, does this mean that the other yolk sac will not continue to grow?” I appreciated her candid honesty and the shred of hope she offered: “I never say never. Strange things can happen.” That was just what I needed at that moment; an opportunity to believe. It was an opportunity to believe in a God who is greater than me, greater than the doctor, greater than what science says should be—not matter what will happen. So, my prayer became that God would spare the life of our second little baby.

Although I hope for the best, I cannot help but be aware of the worst. I struggle to know how I’m supposed to feel; and so most days I don’t. When I think about the little one we may have lost, I am sad. There are those who will say a yolk sac isn’t a baby. They cannot understand how I feel. Yet, Jeremiah 1:5 makes it clear that God knows us even before he forms us in our mother’s womb! I want to celebrate the surviving twin, but I feel as though I need to mourn his or her’s brother or sister before I can fully embrace joy once again. I am saddened that we will not meet our little one this side of heaven. I am saddened that our children will never all play together on this earth. I do not like to engage in “what ifs” or what might have been . “What would this child have been like?” “What would they have grown up to become?” Clearly, this is how God intended it to be. I can’t imagine why, but neither have those who have experienced this loss countless times before me. Yet, “I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home…And it’s all you’ll ever know…” –from Watermark’s song ‘Glory Baby’

I do not know what the doctor believes. I don’t know if she believes in God or doesn’t. I don’t know if she believes that life begins at conception or not. However, I am very thankful that she did not try to lessen the impact of the news by belittling our baby’s existence. She referred to him or her as a twin. That one word that means two broke my heart and gave me peace at the same time. Not only did we finally have a reason for Lam’s extreme illness, but our doctor also recognized and honored the personhood of our babies.

I don’t know how men are supposed to react to a miscarriage. I don’t know if we are supposed to be indifferent or withdrawn. I don’t know if we are expected to focus solely on our wife’s emotions and ignore our own. I haven’t read up on it or Googled it, nor do I plan to. I only know how I feel. And that is this: I am saddened at the loss of our unborn baby’s life. I am reminded that the only difference between our little one and the millions who are aborted every year is this: our baby was loved and wanted. So, I will grieve the loss of our twin. I am a father separated from his child only by this life, not eternity. I believe with great certainty that one day I will be united with him or her again. So, until then…“Baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘till mom and dad can hold you…You’ll just have heaven before we do…” –from Watermark’s song ‘Glory Baby’

CLICK HERE to watch the video of Watermark's song "Glory Baby".

You Can Have It All

At least that’s what they want us to believe. It’s the American dream, right? You can have it all; whatever you want as long as you work hard and believe to achieve. The thing is we can’t. There is too high of a price to pay. Just ask Jesus. Do you recall how in Matthew 4, Jesus was led away by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil? That’s what it says. He was led there by the Spirit. I never noticed that before. God intended for Him to be tested.

Three times the devil tempted Jesus; each time more intense than the last. The final time …the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” [Matt. 4:8-9] The whole scene has always seemed ridiculous to me. Here Satan was offering Jesus everything He had created and already owned—as God. Yet, as the Son of Man he had nothing; not even a place to lay His head. The temptation was very real on a human level. In fact, later in Hebrews we read that “…we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. [Hebrews 4:15]

Just think: had Christ given into temptation there would have been no salvation. God’s perfect plan to save man would have been ruined. Jesus held out and in the end when He returned to God’s right hand He had everything Satan had once promised Him back again. Too often we take the temporal things that the devil offers us--the fast fortunes and miss out on God’s lasting blessings.  

The temptation is to want what everyone else has. We want the perfect wife, the perfect life. We dream of white picket fences, bright green lawns, and a big house for our flawless family. We work hard to pay for it all, but in the end, who really wins? We have sinned by coveting to keep up with the Joneses and completely lost focus. Pastor and author John Piper has said that God created us for His glory; essentially, we are here to tell His story. He has made history; now we are to act it out. Instead, we are more focused on our own thumbnail images instead of the big picture.

So, the question remains…can you have it all? The answer is no. We can have everything the world holds or we can have Jesus. We can’t have both. Matthew 6:24 reveals that we cannot love both God and money: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Obviously that does not mean that we cannot have anything. David rose from a shepherd boy with nothing to a king who had everything. Still, he was called a man after God’s own heart. The answer lies in what we want to perfect. What do you desire more? The pursuit of God or what the world holds? Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [Matt. 6:19-21] Where is your heart? You can have it all in this life; or you can have it all in the next.  

LOVE MUSHROOM

“All you need is love”, so sang the Beatles. And a study of1 John chapter 4 appears to give confirmation to that pop culture call forpeace. A quick read finds this simple line hidden inside verse 16: God is love.Groundbreaking thought, isn’t it? Especially for those of us who have heard ita million times in church. It’s the underlying theme of almost every messageever preached in Christendom. God loves us; we are to love one another. Amen,Hallelujah, pass the plate and lets pray. But what if we really stop toconsider the meaning behind that simple sentence?

God is love. The arrangement of those few words issignificant. God IS love. Now, I hate to invoke a former president’s paper-thinargument about what the definition of is IS, but I have to say: it IS veryimportant here. The Word says that God IS love. It doesn’t say that God loves,although we read that elsewhere. Love is WHO God is. It is His very existence.Love is what makes Him up. I venture to say that true love does not exist apartfrom Him. After all, if God is love itself, mustn’t he be the source of thatlove which is pure and undefiled?

Early on in verse 16 I am challenged by the truth that “…weknow and rely on the love God has for us.” There is so much there. First andforemost, as Christians we KNOW that God has love for us. It is inescapable. Itis undeniable. A crucified and risen Savior is all the evidence I need. Butthen comes the word RELY. Wow. Do I really? Do I rely on the love that God hasfor me? Not always. Truthfully, rarely. What does that even mean? Carefulthought leads me to the conclusion that my life would be radically altered. Ino longer rely on myself—my talents and abilities. I am no longer responsiblefor the outcome of situations but my participation in the process. Myself-reliance becomes complete dependence on He who is Love.

And what do we know about love? According to the apostlePaul, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, itis not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is noteasily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil butrejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,always perseveres.” Wow. Love is who God is. He ispatient and kind. He takes pleasure in us. The Lord of all Creation is humble.God honors those He created, is selfless, patient, and forgiving. He is theway, the Truth, and the life. He protects us, trusts us, hopes for us, and perseveresin His pursuit of us. Love is so much more than what He does; it IS who He is.

Early in the 4^th chapter of 1 John, verse 12 reads:“…if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”I love that! God’s love requires our participation to be “made complete”. This reminds of a song lyric by MichaelW. Smith in which he sings: “Love isn’t love/Until you give it away”. For God’slove to exist in the way He intended it, we must spend it on one another. Inthat we experience love in its totality. It is not lacking in any way. We getthe full effect. Love Himself is inviting us to let love explode from withinus, leaving no one surrounding us untouched by who He is. It’s kind of like amushroom cloud from a volcano (like the one pictured) or an atomic bomb. Here is how it works according toWikipedia: “Themass of gas rises rapidly, resulting in turbulent vortices curling downwardaround its edges, forming a vortex ring and drawing up a column of additional smoke and debris in the center to formits "stem". The mass of gas eventually reaches an altitude where itis no longer of lower density than the surrounding air and disperses, thedebris drawn upward from the ground scattering and drifting back down.”In short, the fallout is widespread. That’s how our love is to be madecomplete. Be the blast that lasts!

“Let love explode and bring the dead to life/A love sobold/To see a revolution some how” [from ‘Like a Lion/My God’s Not Dead’]

Anti-Slacktivists Unite: Answer The CALL

The #stopkony and #kony2012 campaign took the world-wide-web by storm recently. People posted, re-posted, tweeted, shared, linked, forwarded and every other internet-related verb possible to rally millions of people around a worthy cause. After all, who wouldn’t want to stop evil? Especially an evil that destroys children. The problem is that once the emotional high of the compelling half-hour documentary wore off, few people did more than make a simple click of their mouse, a fleeting touch of their iPhone, or have a brief albeit serious chat around the water cooler or with their co-worker in the adjacent cubicle. Many have labeled (perhaps unfairly) those impacted by the Kony campaign “slacktivists”. So what is a slacktivist?

According to the Urban Dictionary, slacktivism is defined as “the search for the ultimate feel-good that derives from having come to society's rescue without having had to actually gets one's hands dirty or open one's wallet.” Basically, you cry at the Sara McLachlan SPCA End Animal Cruelty PSA but do nothing to stop animal abuse. There’s something about those black and white photos of animals set to the “Arms of an Angel” song. It gets you every time. The problem is it doesn’t actually get you to do anything.

We want to help you avoid the same fate. You see the need in foster care here in Arkansas. You are moved in your spirit to do something. The problem may be that you don’t know how you can help. The good news is we can help you with that! At The CALL we are passionate about connecting you with where you can best serve. We encourage volunteers to find your place in this fight! The James 1:27 mission doesn’t call us all to foster; however it does command us all to care. Here’s how you can best do that: (Please read through the entire list to find your perfect fit.)

CHURCH REP – Believe it or not, one of The CALL’s greatest obstacles is getting into new churches. We need people who are passionate about the James 1:27 mission to be our champions at their churches and with their pastors and leaders. We need you to volunteer to be the liaison between your church and The CALL. It’s a simple job that opens the doors for us to come in and reach potential foster parents. (This person serves in support of The CALL)

FOSTER FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM (FFSS) – These married couples and singles are qualified to care for children in foster care for up to 72 hours in their home. Often times they support a foster family in their church. While you may be able to drop your biological children off at Grandma and Grandpa’s, children in care must be in a DCFS approved home. That means many families need the support of others so they can enjoy date night, take care of an emergency, or just get a much-needed break. (These volunteers serve in support of DCFS)

TRANSPORTER – The Division of Children and Family Services is in need of volunteers who can transport children in foster care. Basically, you let them know when you are available and you drive kids to their dr.’s appointments, family visits, or wherever DCFS needs them to go. It requires filling out a transporter packet that includes a background check. The packets are available through The CALL. (These volunteers serve in support of DCFS)

MENTOR – So many of the children who come into care age-out without every being adopted into a “forever family”. These young adults are essentially out on their own when they turn 18 with some supervision and assistance from DCFS. However, there are many things they may not have learned to do. Mentoring a young adult means that you not only help them learn to handle their money, you also invite them to church with you, visit their home and invite them to yours. You build a relationship with them. (These volunteers serve in support of DCFS)

FUNDRAISER – Until now, The CALL has been able to operate on a relatively shoe-string budget. While we continue to be as conservative as possible, we have added a part-time paid staff member. It is imperative that we have operating funds to continue recruiting, training, and supporting foster families. We are looking for a volunteer with either a background in fundraising or who is good with money and passionate about caring for children in foster care. This person will lead a team of volunteers to create a plan for the year and implement it. (This person/team serves in support of The CALL)

SOCIAL WORKERS (MSW OR LCSW) Could you donate your time to conduct one or more home studies per month for CALL families? This is a crucial way to help families become certified more quickly so they can be ready to take in children. (This person serves in support of The CALL)

Questions? We thought so! Learn more by calling our county coordinator, Jared Broyles at (479) 274-9505 or emailing us at sebastiancounty@thecallinarkansas.org or crawfordcounty@thecallinarkansas.org

At The Very Least

I don’t know a whole lot about kids; I don’t have any of my own. I know about as much as any single, 30-year-old man does which is not a lot. Everything I know about children I’ve learned from working with them at church. I’ve spent many Sundays with 2, 3, and 4-year-olds. I’ve come to the conclusion that kids are pretty cool little creatures. And as we all know, they say the darndest things.

Not long ago, I was by myself in the 2’s. Usually the kids are pretty good about playing on their own, and I can give one-on-one time. But that morning, everybody needed something from me. I was sitting at the table trying to help one kid with a puzzle and talking to somebody else. I thought I heard little Elizabeth say something to me, but I asked her to repeat it. She looked at me with her adorable face and said, ‘You be the queen, I’ll be the princess.’ I had to try really hard not to laugh, and I just said, ‘Okay.’

Throughout the Bible we see God’s great love for children. Time and again we read that we are to care for the orphans and widows. In Deuteronomy and Psalms He executes justice on their behalf. In Psalm 68 David sings that God is the father of the fatherless, the protector of widows. He proclaims that God sets the lonely in families. Isaiah insists that it is our responsibility to ensure justice for orphans and to plead the widow’s cause. Proverbs 31 declares that we are to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. James says that real religion is lived by those who look after orphans and widows. Do you see the common theme? The repetition must mean something; perhaps that we are to pay attention.

When the disciples came to Jesus to ask who is the greatest in Heaven, Christ called a little child over and had him stand among them. He told them that anyone who welcomes a little child in His name…welcomes Him. Have you ever asked yourself how you would treat someone if you were talking to Jesus? Here He says you are. When we respond to a child, we are responding to Christ. He goes on in Matthew 18 to warn them that anyone who causes a child who believes in Him to sin will wish they had been drowned in the sea. That tells me we have a responsibility to teach our kids about Christ.

In Arkansas there are more than 4,100 children in foster care. Sadly, there are fewer than 1,000 families to care for them. Nearly 520 of those kids have had their parental rights terminat--meaning they will not ever be going home. Now, they are left to hope that someone will adopt them. As they age that hope begins to fade. Most people want the cute, innocent babies, not an older kid with behavioral problems from their previous life and years in the state’s system. Other children have physical or developmental disabilities that many people don’t want to take on. Then, there are siblings who are desperate to stay together, and that makes it more difficult to find them a home.

There is much more to the problem. Recent numbers show that Arkansas has the highest number of hungry children of any state. Many of these kids don’t know where their next meal will come from. One social worker told me that she’s had kids who will eat until they are sick when they are first placed in foster care. They are afraid that there won’t be anything left later. Many of them are hoarders. They will hide food in their clothes at the table so they can stash it somewhere safe.

Ironically, Arkansas also has the highest number of obese people in the union. Clearly, most of us are not doing without. How much food do you throw away each day? We have plenty and yet are failing to give it away. I think we will answer for that one day.

Worldwide more than 5 million children die of hunger-related causes each year according to World Vision. That’s a child every seven seconds. Add to that the fact that 145 million children are malnourished. The number of global orphans is more difficult to define. Many children live on the streets and go unaccounted for. Others come and go from the orphanages. Some countries simply don’t have a system to record the numbers. What we do know is that is in the millions. Estimates range anywhere from 143 to 210 million. While those numbers aren’t even close, we do know this: while the need is great, our God is greater. Those numbers may seem overwhelming and it’s tempting to do nothing. So focus on this: ONE child is waiting for you to do SOMETHING.

What will happen when we begin to see people with the eyes’ of Christ? He doesn’t see them as less than Himself. He simply sees the need. A friend of mine once told me, if you see a need and can meet it, then you are supposed to because someone else may not. We must stop turning a blind eye to the blind. We must stop pretending that we are deaf and do not hear. The need is here. It is impossible to ignore, yet somehow we manage to clear our conscience of conviction.

The word religion is used less than a half dozen times in the entire New Testament. Its translation is the outward practice of serving a god. In James 1:27 it is used to mean worship. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Caring for those in need is considered worship. Here we learn that pure religion is practicing God’s word. Later, in Chapter two James declares that a man’s faith is useless without works. We can’t just SPEAK the love of Christ…we must SERVE others. We have to do something.

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

In Matthew 25 we find God readying Himself to judge the Gentiles who have lived through the tribulation. He separates them as sheep from goats according to how they treated the brethren: the Jews.

³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' ³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

One of the things I love most about this section of Scripture is the response from the righteous. It’s as though they have no idea what He’s talking about. They did what they did because they loved Him. It was a natural, spontaneous response to the needs that they could see. They loved Christ, and therefore they loved people. Their acts of kindness were not out of guilt; nor were they forced. The comparison that the King makes is astounding! “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me…” Jesus is saying, they are Me! That’s pretty powerful.

The question to me is who are the least of these today? I can’t help but believe that they are the children of Arkansas…the children of the United States…the children of the world. They are the ones too weak to defend themselves. Justice must be won on their behalf. They must have someone to speak for them for their voice alone is not enough. We must feed and clothe them; we must take them into our homes as our own.

I well remember standing in the gallery of the Arkansas House of Representatives as Governor Mike Beebe gave his state of the state address last year. The governor told legislators that he wanted to see additional funding for the Department of Children and family services, and then he denounced the voters’ decision to prevent unwed foster parents from living together. Many have called it the gay adoption ban. I remember being offended by what he had to say, yet that was quickly replaced by conviction. Here is the challenge that Governor Beebe issued to the people of our state:

“I was disappointed when voters passed an initiated act last November limiting the number of Arkansans who may qualify to become foster and adoptive parents. Before Act 1, we already had three times more foster children than we had qualified homes available. Now our ability to place these children is further impeded. It is imperative for those who supported shrinking the pool of potential foster parents to realize that the number of young and vulnerable Arkansans needing foster care will only continue to grow, and action must now follow their words. More than ever, we need Arkansas families to open their hearts and their homes to give these children the chance to grow up in safety and security, with devoted families who can raise them with care and compassion.”

I was stunned. What I realized is that he was right. If we as Christians are going to prevent others from caring for these children, then we must step up and do it. It is our responsibility as the church. We cannot tell others that they cannot provide for these kids, yet fail to do so ourselves.

Showing up to church is no longer enough. It never was. Christ charged us in the Great Commission to go into the world and make disciples of all nations…not to come and simply sit in the safe, comfortable walls of the church. What better way for us to share the love of Christ than to first meet people’s physical needs? Time after time we see Jesus tending to the hurting which then led to belief. What better opportunity for us to share the gospel than by caring for children who have been abandoned? Not only are we showing them the love of Christ, the world is seeing our witness.

These children need to be fed, clothed, and have a place to call home. They need moms and dads who will love them and teach them about Jesus. We can start right here at home. Some of you have the love, time, and financial resources to adopt. Many people already have children and choose to add to their family. Some have already raised their kids. The thing is, you don’t have to start over with those 2 AM feedings. There are many teens who are waiting. Hundreds “age out” of foster care each year without permanent parents. Maybe, you can’t commit to adoption but you still feel called to minister to these kids. As I’ve said, there are fewer than a thousand foster parents for more than four thousand children in the state. You get to choose what child or children are placed in your home. You have the say in their age, challenges, and gender. Financially, the state pays foster parents a stipend each month for the children’s care. They also pay day care costs. Money should not keep you from opening up your home if that is what God is calling you to do.

International adoption is also another option. Steven Curtis Chapman may best be known as a pioneer in contemporary Christian music. But he and his wife Mary Beth have become adoption advocates. The have now adopted three little girls from China and formed a non-profit called Shaohannah’s Hope to help other families. As you may know, China has a strict one child per family policy. Many want a boy to carry on the family name and little girls are discarded like trash. The continent of Asia has the greatest number of orphans. Africa’s aids crisis has left many children to fend for themselves.

Backpacks For Kids is a phenomenal program for hungry children here in our area. Many children rely on the two meals they get at school. Those may be the only times they know they will eat. Unfortunately, that only covers five days of the week. The program provides the kids with food for the weekend. Every Friday, teachers make sure the kids’ bags are packed.

One story goes that a counselor had finished her usual Friday distribution when she realized she had one bag left over. The woman thought back through all of the backpack kids and was certain that all of them had been at school that day. Then she realized it was Amy who was missing. She thought maybe the girl had gone home sick and she just didn’t know it. On her way to her car she heard a child crying. It was Amy. When she asked what was wrong Amy told her that she had forgotten her backpack that day and didn’t have anything for her to put the food in for the weekend. The little girl thought she was going to have to do without. The counselor took her by the hand and found her a loaner backpack.

Other organizations like World Vision and Compassion International are feeding children on a global scale. Sponsoring a child through them provides food, clothing, and education. They are able to do what we cannot. Not only do they meet the children’s physical needs, they also teach them about Jesus. How amazing is that we can love kids from a world away?

Our initial reaction is to write a check. Here in America we like to throw money at the problem. It keeps us from having to get dirty. It requires very little from us. For some of you, that is all you can do, and it may be a financial sacrifice. For others, maybe that is all that is asked of you. Yet, I think for the majority of us God requires much more. We need to get to work.

If this blog sounds like my own personal agenda, it probably is. But I also believe that it is God's. Caring for orphans and widows is not a calling; it is a command. Whether we are able to adopt a child, serve as foster parents, sponsor a child through a Christian organization, give to local charities, or volunteer, we need to respond now. Find your place. Remember, if you see a need and you can meet it, then you are called to do it. Don’t wait.

These children have seen the worst that humanity has to offer. You and I have the best that God can give. It is not our responsibility to save the world. Christ has already done that. However, we are commanded to care for the least of these.