Exodus 22:21 - Do not mistreat or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in Egypt.
Living in a foreign country is an exciting thing. It is a wonderful chance to learn about the culture, religious beliefs, and traditions of a different people group. Often we find that some things we thought to be distinctly North American are common to people all over the world. Other things that we assumed would be universal or not. There is always much to learn; one must be careful not to judge. What is considered rude or vulgar in the home country may not be rude elsewhere and vice versa.
When living in a different culture, one never knows how he will be accepted. There were always the questions of "what are you doing here?" These were usually from curious people who meant no harm. One day a lady stopped me at a street side grocery store and asked, "Excuse me, of what nationality are you?" When I told here I was from the states and doing mission work she was overjoyed. It proved to be a pleasant conversation. Other times were not so pleasant. I was asked by one man, why I didn't have to pay income tax in his country. He had been told that we were allowed to live there without paying taxes and he was angry about it. Where he got his information, I don't know. I wasn't earning any money in the country and paid dearly every month for my visa. Another time a man mistook me for a Mormon. He followed my roommate and me throwing rocks and cursing us in Spanish. In his defense, I'm sure he had been drinking. He may have been a nice guy without the awful bondage to alcohol. And there was the lady who told me that all of the problems in her country where because the "North Americans" came down and took over, thinking they didn't have to obey the rules. Sound familiar?
Since my time abroad I have not been able to look at a "stranger" the same. I understand first hand the effort it takes to live in a foreign country. I understand the desperation that drives people to come here, whether legally or not, in hopes of a better life. I understand the challenges they will face once they are here. Many come thinking they will be "as rich as the rest of us." They are soon disappointed when they see that life has its ups and downs no matter where one is.
I understand that there are increasing challenges and disagreements in our own country over immigration issues.The purpose of this writing is not to be political. One thing that I learned while living in Central America is that these issues are not unique to the United States. Other countries, even third-world countries, have some of the same issues and there are no easy answers.
I would just like to remind all of us of one of the first commandments God ever gave to his people, that of treating a "stranger" with respect. In the end we are all fellow human beings on this planet. We must all share it until our time here is done. As a Christian, I believe that my first priority is to love someone, whether I agree with them or not. As a minister I have strong views about what is right and what is wrong. But in the end I must remember the words of Jesus; we will be known as his disciples because of our love to one another.
I realize that we all have our preconceived ideas. We are most comfortable among people who look, speak, act and think as we do. This in itself is not wrong. It is wrong, however, to think that someone else is less than I am because they are different than me. The definition of prejudice is to see things based on my own experiences in life; literally it means to prejudge a situation without having all the facts. To be prejudiced is human; to look beyond my preconceived ideas and see a real person is divine.
I am just as human as anyone else, prejudice and all. I know, however, that this is not like God. My daily prayer has become this: Lord, help me to treat everyone I meet as a brother or a sister. Help me to see past the skin color or the language barrier. I may just find a kindred spirit. Help me to see all of humanity as you do, Lord. Teach me to love!
Thoughtfully Yours,
Sullivan Jones
4/11/13
4/10/13
It Made a Difference
Ezekiel 11:19 - I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh.
The story is told of a little boy who was walking along the beach at low tide, picking up every starfish he came to, and throwing it back into the ocean. A man approached him and asked, "young man, why are you wasting time with those starfish? There are so many stranded on the beach that you can not possibly make a difference with the few you save." The boy reached down, grabbed another starfish, and flung it back out into the ocean. Then he looked at the man and said, "It made a difference to that one."
When you work with people, whether it be in social services, church work, or otherwise, there are times when you ask yourself, "Am I really making a difference?" I'm sure we've all spent time, money, and energy trying to help someone who would not let us help them. For whatever reason, they just can't seem to make the changes that we know they need to make. There is so much suffering in the world and much of it is brought on by bad choices that people make. If we are not careful, these situations can make us indifferent to the suffering of others. We might be tempted to think that there is nothing we can do so why bothering trying. But there are always people out there who will let us help them. It is usually when we think that we are not making a difference, that we are doing the greatest good.
Lord Jesus, help us to not get hardened to the problems of humanity. Let us see everyone we meet as a soul for whom you died on the cross of Calvary. Help me to remember not to judge a situation before its time. As a wise man once said, If I err, let me err on the side of love.
Prayerfully Yours,
Sullivan Jones
The story is told of a little boy who was walking along the beach at low tide, picking up every starfish he came to, and throwing it back into the ocean. A man approached him and asked, "young man, why are you wasting time with those starfish? There are so many stranded on the beach that you can not possibly make a difference with the few you save." The boy reached down, grabbed another starfish, and flung it back out into the ocean. Then he looked at the man and said, "It made a difference to that one."
When you work with people, whether it be in social services, church work, or otherwise, there are times when you ask yourself, "Am I really making a difference?" I'm sure we've all spent time, money, and energy trying to help someone who would not let us help them. For whatever reason, they just can't seem to make the changes that we know they need to make. There is so much suffering in the world and much of it is brought on by bad choices that people make. If we are not careful, these situations can make us indifferent to the suffering of others. We might be tempted to think that there is nothing we can do so why bothering trying. But there are always people out there who will let us help them. It is usually when we think that we are not making a difference, that we are doing the greatest good.
Lord Jesus, help us to not get hardened to the problems of humanity. Let us see everyone we meet as a soul for whom you died on the cross of Calvary. Help me to remember not to judge a situation before its time. As a wise man once said, If I err, let me err on the side of love.
Prayerfully Yours,
Sullivan Jones
4/7/13
Libraries - Our greatest Resource
I don't know about you but I like to read. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother taking us to the library. Even today there is little I enjoy more than to sit down with a good book. Through books I have been able to see the Sahara and the windslept slopes of Pantagonia, South America. I have seen the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the horrors of the Holocaust: all of this without ever leaving my armchair. In some older books there is still a book card indicating that the book belongs to the public library. I always enjoy a book with a book card because it makes a handy page marker. At the top of one of the book cards I recently saw the words, "libraries - your greatest bargain." How true it is; one can learn almost anything from a book.
There is one book, however, that is more important than all others and, at the same time, it is the most neglected. Almost all of us have several copies in the home. It is still the most purchased book in the English language. It is especially popular to give as a graduation or wedding present. It is called the Bible. What makes this books so important? Let's take a look.
The Bible is actually a collection of books, 66 to be exact. It was written over a period of more than 1600 years, by more than 40 people, on three different continents and in three different languages. Yet is is amazingly uniform. There is not one discrepancy that can not be quickly rectified by looking at the original languages. It has proven to be scientifically, historically, and archaeologically correct time and time again. It can be trusted.
The Bible is not only historically accurate, but it speaks to us personally as well. It gives sound advice on everything from finances to romance to familial relationships. It teaches us how we should care for our bodies and what to do when we have been wronged. It does not hide anything from us. Its pages contain stories of people at their best and at their worst. It tells of grand adventures and of deadly betrayals. Indeed it is so real to life that almost no subject is taboo within its pages. God's word tells it all.
The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is easily accessible by almost anyone. If the words of the King James Version are too antiquated for one to understand, there are a variety of other versions available and they all tell the same story. It is the story of a king who lost his bride and went to great depths to get her back again. It is the story of God's unending love for humanity. It is the greatest story ever told and yet every word of it is true.
If you like to travel, open the Bible. If you like mysteries and scandals, open the Bible. If you like Romance novels, open the Bible. There is something in its pages for everyone. But beware! Once you read it, you will will never be the same.
Travel the universe - Read the Bible!
There is one book, however, that is more important than all others and, at the same time, it is the most neglected. Almost all of us have several copies in the home. It is still the most purchased book in the English language. It is especially popular to give as a graduation or wedding present. It is called the Bible. What makes this books so important? Let's take a look.
The Bible is actually a collection of books, 66 to be exact. It was written over a period of more than 1600 years, by more than 40 people, on three different continents and in three different languages. Yet is is amazingly uniform. There is not one discrepancy that can not be quickly rectified by looking at the original languages. It has proven to be scientifically, historically, and archaeologically correct time and time again. It can be trusted.
The Bible is not only historically accurate, but it speaks to us personally as well. It gives sound advice on everything from finances to romance to familial relationships. It teaches us how we should care for our bodies and what to do when we have been wronged. It does not hide anything from us. Its pages contain stories of people at their best and at their worst. It tells of grand adventures and of deadly betrayals. Indeed it is so real to life that almost no subject is taboo within its pages. God's word tells it all.
The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is easily accessible by almost anyone. If the words of the King James Version are too antiquated for one to understand, there are a variety of other versions available and they all tell the same story. It is the story of a king who lost his bride and went to great depths to get her back again. It is the story of God's unending love for humanity. It is the greatest story ever told and yet every word of it is true.
If you like to travel, open the Bible. If you like mysteries and scandals, open the Bible. If you like Romance novels, open the Bible. There is something in its pages for everyone. But beware! Once you read it, you will will never be the same.
Travel the universe - Read the Bible!
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