Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Book Recommendation - Behind the Beautiful Forevers

By Anthony:

I want to recommend - "Behind the Beautiful Forevers" by Katherine Boo.  I don't know much about the author, but a friend wanted me to read this book with him and we both enjoyed it a lot.  It's a moving story about people living in an Indian slum.  Some of the characters are extremely poor and hungry while others are more well-to-do comparatively.  I would guess that books like this are not very common in that we do not often read stories where all of the characters are very poor. While I found the book extremely depressing, it was also enjoyable to read because it was so interesting.  If you want some real life images to help you imagine the places talked about in the book, see this article for stunning pictures of Indian slums.


Even though I doubt it was the author's intention, the book brought to a vivid light all of the things that When Helping Hurts talks about.  The stories of those living in the slum made painfully clear that their problem was not just that they lacked money.  There were many other contributing factors which led to their living in poverty.  To begin with, like everyone else, they are sinful so some of their poverty may have come from sinful choices.  But it was clear to me that poverty of community (broken relationships with other people) was one of the biggest things keeping people in poverty in this story.  No one could trust each other or help each other, and corruption was rampant from the top officials down to the neighboring poor families.  With no trust and no cooperation of course people will remain trapped in poverty.  The book also illustrated well poverty of being (a broken view of self), in which many of the characters felt so frustrated and hopeless about changing their situations, and felt so worthless.  Poverty of spiritual intimacy (broken relationship with God), was obviously clear as well.  I won't give anything away, but the author did a good job showing the characters wrestle with morality and meaning of life.  The book was also depressing in showing the broken systems of India, especially, but not limited to, corruption.  The book even brought to light what might make us uncomfortable: that is, the broken system of international aid (she even mentioned World Vision, an organization I like by the way).

So this book was really helpful in painting a clear picture of the principles about poverty I have learned so much about.  It makes it vividly clear that if we are going to fight poverty, it cannot be only about giving money.  That will never work.  We have to address these other types of poverty, and we have to bring in the Gospel.

I also took away that unless we can help people resist and fight corruption, starting at the lowest levels, perhaps through the Church and community groups, then no real change can happen.

Last, this book was also a wake-up call to how easy my life really is. I'm spoiled beyond belief. How could I ever complain about not having enough?

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Texas Revisited

By Sara:

While Anthony spent a couple weekends preaching and teaching in Michigan and Wisconsin, I took a working vacation to visit a friend in Waco, TX.  I say working because I worked on my own projects while my friend did office work and also had the opportunity to share about what we do in Uganda with a supporting church in Stephenville and at the World Hunger Relief Farm (with the help of wonderful friends who drove me around since I didn't have a car there).  I actually have photographic proof that I did this and didn't just play with baby goats:


But I did also get some vacation rest and I did see baby goats too - one of the goats at the farm gave birth while I was there and I got to bottle feed one of the babies the next day!  (I've been going through goat withdrawal since being in the US, so this was very excellent).


Along with the goats were some very dear friends, not all of whom were photographed, but it was very special to see all of them.




I got to see my favorite goat Ramona (I think she remembered me) as well as a few that were born while I was at the Farm.



Below are two pictures to compare.  Same people, same goat, just about 2 1/2 years apart.  Luna, the goat has grown; we're mostly the same.



All in all, I am very grateful for these friends who love me and for the experiences we had together while working and learning at the World Hunger Relief farm.  I'm really glad I had the opportunity to visit them during my time in the US.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Christian Music Recommendations Part 1

By Anthony:

I thought it might be fun to share with you some of my favorite Christian songs from all time. These are songs I like to listen to, rather than the songs I love to sing during corporate worship.  I'm only going to share one song at most from each artist, even if I like all of their songs.  They are in alphabetical order and I've included links to the songs on Youtube so you can immediately listen.

I decided there are enough songs I wanted to share that I'd put them in three posts, part 1, part 2, and part 3.  So stay tuned for more songs sometime in the future (possibly distant future).
  • The Apostle Soundtrack - I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord.  By Lyle Lovett.
      
  • Audio Adrenaline - Rejoice.  This is a pretty simple song but it stirs my heart concerning missions and evangelism.
     
  • Broken Walls - We Dance Before You.  First Nations Christian song.  I like this group because they use their traditional cultural style of music, but use it to worship Christ.
       
  • O Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack - I'll Fly Away.  I know some of my Reformed brethren aren't a big fan of this song because it seems to be Gnostic, saying that this world is an evil prison, and the spiritual realm is good.  I disagree.  There is a strong biblical theme of us being pilgrims in this world.  Paul was certainly eager to die and be with Jesus intimately in Heaven, so he said "to die is gain."  Yes this world is still good, but it is also a broken fallen place full of suffering, and we long to be with Jesus face to face.  When we die, we do leave this world, and go to be with Jesus.  That is a temporary state, and we excitedly then wait for the resurrection and the New Creation, the redeeming even of this world.  But it's not bad to look forward to being in Heaven with our Lord!
      
  • Burlap to Cashmere - Mansions.   I always used to listen to this one in bed, during high school, as I would drift off to sleep.  I used it as a prayer,  "Love me, light me, give me, guide me."
      
  • Chris Rice - Life Means so Much.  Very convicting song about using our time for good things, things that matter in God's Kingdom.  Powerful words.
      
  • Chris Tomlin - Whom Shall I fear?
      
  • Curtis Allen - Heidelberg Catechism.  Just because it's fun to have a rap song about the Heidelberg Catechism (one of my tradition's theological/devotional treasures).  Actually I really like the song.
       
  • Darlene Zschech - Hear our Praises.
      
  • David Crowder Band - I Saw the Light.
     
  • DC Talk - In the Light.  Classic song.  Only recently have I discovered how rich the lyrics are, very much about our battle with sin with a Romans 7 type theme.
     
  • Derek Webb - Crooked Deep Down.  This song is super upbeat and yet the whole thing is about our sinful depraved natures.  I find it uplifting and fitting that it is upbeat because it tears down walls of hypocrisy and the fronts that we all put up.  It reminds me that everyone is just as messed up and in need of God's grace as I am.   And we can rejoice and sing this song happily because God gives us that grace.
     
  • Fernando Ortega - Our Great God.
      
  • FFH - One of These Days.  I love songs that are about seeing Jesus face to face, anticipating eternal life with him in a new transformed creation when he returns.
     
  • Geoff Moore - In Christ Alone.  Everyone knows this song by the Gettys, but I really like this version in particular.  I want this song at my funeral because it proclaims the good news of the Gospel in a very rich theological and emotional way.
      
  • Ginny Owens - Be Thou My Vision.  All the more poignant of a song when you consider that she herself is blind.
      
  • Gungor - This is Not the End.  Perhaps my current favorite at the moment.  Powerful song.  While the lyrics are vague and simple, with our rich theology and promises of God in our minds, we can sing this one with gusto.