What Matters Most

Where is Jesus hanging out today?

Jesus is an interesting word/name.  It elicits various degrees of response ranging from extreme excitement to antagonistic anger. 

For the believer, the name of Jesus symbolizes salvation, comfort, trust, and the assumption that if He came back today He would want to be with them.  For those who have not bought into the whole idea of needing a Savior, the name of Jesus often symbolizes the need for a crutch, judgmental attitudes, the feeling of never measuring up, and the assumption that if Jesus came back today He would not want to hang out with them.  Both sides hold to their assumptions and these beliefs perpetuate their image of who Jesus was and is today.

If Jesus were to come back today and hang out who would he spend his time with?  We can get a good idea by going to the journals of one of Jesus' close friends while He was on earth the first time.  Matthew, a Jewish tax collector, was despised and hated by most of his fellows Jews. By the church goers of his day he was considered an outcast.  Matthew records an amazing incident where Jesus was invited to his house.  His journal records this:

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”  When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”  Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’  For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)

From this we can deduce that Jesus enjoyed hanging out with those who society considered outcasts.  In fact, He says that is why He came the first time - to hang out with those who needed him the most.  The Bible often records just the opposite of what we see today.  Jesus spent a great deal of time hanging out with "sinners" and often got into trouble with the "religious church goers".

I have this challenge to all my readers. If you are a non-believer please know this.  If Jesus came back today to hang out, He would want to hang out with you!  He loves you and doesn't judge and actually would prefer your company.  If you are a follower of Jesus understand something.  Jesus loves you deeply but would probably not hang out with you but encourage you to hang out with Him and those who feel disenchanted and disillusioned by the church.

To put it plainly, If Jesus were here today, he would be hanging out with those who think he wouldn't and not hanging out with those who think he would!

HMM.... Your thoughts?

Chuck

Happy New Year?

It is hard to believe that is has been less than 3 weeks since we all ushered in the new year!  For most of us, we anticipated that the new year would be full of good things. 

Not even a month later, as a world, we are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our history - the earthquake in Haiti.  Many are touched by the devastation and we wait with anticipation and dread to hear about the lives of missionaries, friends and the masses of people who are effected by the earthquake.

This horrific event is a stark reminder that we are not in control of our lives.  Each day is a precious gift from God above and we are reminded that life is special and fragile.

I look forward to the partnership we will have this year as we work together to help those in our community receive not just a hand out, but a hand up.  Together we will rescue lives that have been devastated from the ravages of poverty.

It's the most wonderful time of the year - NOT!

You know the words to an old favorite Christmas carol.  The first verse reads:

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap- happiest season of all

I have always sang this song at Christmastime and for the most part is has been true. I had a warm house, family and friends, money to buy presents (or cards to charge them!), and a job.  There was no reason to "not be of good cheer" and it surely is "the hap-happiest season of all.

 
However, working at The Factory Youth Center has opened my eyes and my heart to the despair of this time of year.  For many, the words of the carol could read:

  It's the most wonderful difficult time of the year
With the kids bellies hungry
And no one to help you to "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful difficult time of the year
It's the lone-loneliest season of all
With no holiday presents and gay happy parents
And there is no friends to call
It's the lone-loneliest season of all

Let me explain.  Through our partnership at the Factory we have been aware of so many families who have no income, no way to pay for heat, food, toys, gifts, bills, etc.  There are families who have no resources, no friends, and no support system.  Just this past week I met two families who are going to be evicted from their condemned apartment.  One is a family of 5 kids and one is a a woman, her daughter and boyfriend and their 2 week old baby.  How will it be a wonderful time for them?  They are looking at homelessness.  This apartment was such a relief for the one family because before this they lived in a car.  Another family is battling cancer, disabilities, and other issues.  They have nothing to look forward to this Christmas.  Still, another family is dealing with the loss of a baby, and emotional and financial pain.

And the stories go on and on and on....

The good news is that we are working with these families to help them.  Through our supporters we have provided 90 presents to teens in need and all the presents for 4 needy families.  In addition we are committed to walking beside the two families that will be homeless by the end of this week.  One generous business owner has already agreed to put the family with the baby up in a motel for a month.  We will continue to help them find jobs and walk this part of the journey with them.  The other family with 5 kids still needs an apartment by the end of this week.

While the needs seem overwhelming, it is a great time for you and me to take a look at what is most important and to give to those who have less than us.  If you want to help someone this Christmas, here are some ways you can do so:

• provide a $25 gift item to someone who will not get Christmas presents (If you need a name of someone let me know)
• provide a gas card or grocery card for a needy family
• offer to pay for a months heating bill or utility bill
• have a family over for Christmas dinner.

If you are reading this then most likely you have the resources to make the holidays the most wonderful time of the year.  Will you make a decision to give to someone this year so that they too can wake up Christmas morning with joy?  Will you provide for them so they have have hope and good will?

This is the season to be jolly.  Let's work together to bring a smile to someone who is in a seemingly hopeless situation.  Maybe their despondent letter to Santa will arrive in your mailbox today and you will act in a manner that will give them help and hope.

Chuck Holt

The gas gauge

I have been reading Wayne Cordeiro's book, Leading on Empty.  While his book comes from a Christian perspective, its principles are for anyone regardless of their faith. In his book, Wayne discusses how we spend our time. He states that 85% of what we can anyone can do with no education.  10% of what we do anyone can do with the proper education.  Only 5% of what we do is really what only we can do. 

Some thoughts I have on this.

Why do we often overlook the 5% and spend all our time on the 95% - stuff that others can do?  Here are three reasons I think this is so.

1. Tyranny of the urgent.  We spend our time on what is perceived as the most pressing. 
2. It is how we are judged.  The 95% is how those around us judge our success.  It is more noticeable and brings about the results we have been accustomed to be measured on.  
3. It is easier.  The 95% is stuff that anyone else can do. It takes the most time but is easiest for us to accomplish.  The 5% really takes hard work.  It is harder to measure and is not often something we come by naturally.

What is your 5%?  I am still working out that for myself.  I know it includes my wife, my kids, my health, my faith - to name a few.  The question I am asking and challenge you to ask is this:

What is it that only you, and no one else, can do?

Then, how can we realign our priorities and educate those around us to understand and embrace this?

One final thought... When people are near the end of their life they will never have regrets on the 95%. They will regret not spending more time on the 5%.

To order the book on Amazon, click here.  Stay tuned for my list of my 5%.

Chuck

The Valley of Disappointment

The Bible states that the three greatest virtues one can pursue are faith, hope and love.  I do not think any of us would doubt the immense value of these three great virtues.  We are all looking for something to have faith in, something to give us hope and someone to love.

Unfortunately for so many forging ahead with faith, holding tight to hope and leaning hard on love feels like a waste of time. It just does not exist and they get bitter at those who offer these meaningless cliches out to them.

Weekly I am confronted with those who feel isolated and alone and no where to turn.  My heart breaks for them.  These are real people with read needs.  They:

• are dealing with loss of a loved one
• have just received an eviction notice
• have had their utilities turned off and will have to flush their toilets with buckets of water
• have just been beaten by a spouse or parent
• are depressed and having anxiety attacks
• cannot find a job
• are calling a trailer home
• are addicted to the emptiness of their only friend - a bottle or a hug

They do not need another religious pat or trite answer.  They need substance. They find themselves in the valley of disappointment and depression and have given up on the idea of faith, hope, and love.

What good are we if all we do is look at ourselves and take care of our needs?  When will those who have faith show their deeds? When will those who have hope share it with those who need it? When will those who have love show love to someone who is alone?

If you want to help those in need then respond to this or let me know.  There are so many who are waiting for faith, hope and love.

What will I do today?  What will you do today?

Who will help them?

Recently I have been flooded with needs from people in our community - my friends and fellow citizens who struggle with the pain of poverty.  The needs range from dental care, help with rent, electricity about to be shut off, car repairs, the need for shoes, baby clothes... and the list goes on.  Each time I hear about another need, i get overwhelmed.  What do we do to help our neighbors and friends?

Today, I drove around and handed out fruits and vegetables from a local market.  Its not much but its a little help.  My heart was broken as I delivered to one family.  They are a family who has 6 kids.  Both parents lost their jobs.  Years ago when things were going well they had bought a camper to get away to campgrounds and relax.  Today they live in that camper.  No work, no income, no hope.  I just do not know how they do it.

My heart is broken for them.  My heart is broken for all my friends who struggle with poverty.  

What am I willing to sacrifice to help? What are you willing to sacrifice to lend a helping hand?

The Golden Rule is selfish?

This past weekend I heard someone say that The Golden Rule was extremely selfish.  He went on to say "Who wants to follow a rule that is all about us?  We need to treat others the way they want to be treated not the way we want to be treated".  This comment has haunted me all weekend.  Jesus and many religious leaders used the Golden Rule as the standard for living.  Do we want to treat others as we would want to be treated or treat others as they want to be treated?  Is there a difference or is it just semantics? 

Those that support The Platinum Rule state that it accommodates the feelings of others better.  Instead of giving you what I want, I will seek to understand you and give you what you want.  It seems to me that if I treat someone with the dignity and specialness that I would want then I am putting them and their needs ahead of my own.  I would assume that is the same as treating them the way they want to be treated - with dignity and specialness.

I am trying to figure out why that statement bothered me.  The Golden Rule states that I am to put others first in how I treat them.  The question I must ask is "What can I do for others before I do for myself?"  The Platinum Rule states that I treat others as they want to be treated.  The question I must ask is "What do they want out of me or what would make them feel better?"  It seems to me that The Platinum Rule could lead to giving others just what they want but what might not be good for them. Whereas The Golden Rule requires me to put my agenda aside and treat others first.

What do others think or does anyone care?

Chuck

United Way Day of Caring

This past Saturday was the United Way Day of Caring.  The Factory participated in order to get some work done on the Factory House.  What a blessing to have two groups, Lancaster County Housing Authority and the Manheim Township School District be a part of that day with us.  25 volunteers joined our board to get a great deal of work done.

To enjoy some of the pictures of our day, go to our website and click on Day of Caring.

The Factory House hopes to open in January 2010 and will become a hub of hope in our community by connecting needs and resources to offer help and hope for those dealing with pain and poverty.

Jesus the Condemner?

I find it intriguing that God gave us John 3:17 right after John 3:16.  I mean, John 3:16 says it all doesn't it?  The most popular verse in the Bible reads "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not die but live forever."  What else is needed?  

But for some reason God also gave us verse 17 which completes his thought.  Not that I claim to know what God thinks but it is as if he was thinking "They are going to get it backwards so I better remind them that I came to save (rescue from danger) and not to condemn (to judge unfit for something)."  Perhaps God knew that some 2000 years later we would be so much better at condemning and not saving.

How about you?  Do you find it easier to look at people and make a judgment call rather than see and love people as Jesus does?  Why are some people rejected by the church but loved by the world.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Who can you begin to love today instead of condemning?  Do this and you will understand what matters most!

Easter Reflections

For most of my life I have celebrated Easter by getting all dressed up, attending church, saying "he is risen indeed" after the leader said "He is risen".  It has been about me and my church and my faith, and my fellow Christians.

This year, my wife and I celebrated Easter differently.  We will got dressed up (a little), went to church, sang Easter songs, etc...  But for us this year it wasn't about going to church or singing songs, or claiming that Jesus is risen.  This year, we decided to invite a family in our community who lost their jobs because of the economy and now live in a motel room.

Here is their story.  Read it in its entirety.  They represent so many who are hit hard by this economy.

Luis and Lubja lived in NYC where both of them had excellent jobs. Luis actually held the same job for 25 years as a doorman/porter for a very wealthy community. Lubja has excellent skills and worked as a billing clerk/receptionist.  They decided at the end of 2007 to sell everything and move to the Poconos where they wanted a better environment to raise their three kids.  They quickly got jobs at local resorts in the Poconos.  Luis has worked 25 years and was able to retire and would receive his pension when we was 65.  He thought it would be great to start over and work at another job for 25 years and get another pension, while living in a better place to raise their children.

Things were going well until both of them lost their jobs due to the economy.  After not being able to secure a new job in the area, they moved to Lancaster and came to the motel where they often stayed at on vacations.  They were told Lancaster had jobs.  Their unemployment money ran out in February 2009 and they still have not found a job.  They have signed up for every temp agency, have gone on job fairs, and have applied to every place I could think of.  The only money they get now is $500 in food stamps.  Lubja has family in Florida who have helped a bit.  Luis's family is in central America.

Recently, they had to send their 2 older kids to a friends to stay in NYC since the one room/one bed motel room is not big enough for 4 of them.  They are there now with their 2 year old.  Their motel room is smaller than my dining room.  We had a delightful afternoon with them and spent time encouraging them.  They are not losing hope and know that things have to turn around sooner or later.

This year, we enjoyed sharing the victory that is ours because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.  However, we also enjoyed living out that life and helping another family find held and hope.

They need employment.  They need a place to live.  They need hope that things will be better.  For me and my family, our faith in action causes us to walk this journey together.

Perhaps you want to help this family?  You can call me at 610-223-2008.  Perhaps there is a family in your community you can reach out to.

Changing lives together!

Chuck Holt