Children In China

Dr. Albert Mohler's recent blog on abortion in China sparked a memory for me. Here is the link to the article. When Abortion Collides with Totalitarianism You should read this.

When I was in China for work the topic of children came up in casual conversation with just about everybody I had a meal with. They would ask me about my family and kids, and I would proudly talk about my children, a five year old boy and a new born daughter. As I talked I could usually see the face of my acquaintance become downcast. When I returned the questions the answer was always the same. "We have one son." Not much more was said, but not much more was required. I could tell my new friends were sad about not having more children and it was disheartening to me.

I was taken by the kindness and hospitality of the Chinese people. They are a very deferential people, and I was embarrassed by their attentions to me. My experience with them made me grateful for my freedom and made me sad for their lack thereof.

I want to encourage you to pray for the people of China. They are God's children and have the same capacity for love, joy, sorrow and regret that I have. My heart has more to say about them, but my mind can't articulate it right now.

Read Dr. Mohler's article, understand that there are individual people just like you and me being deeply impacted by these cultural and governmental pressures, and pray for them.

Drawing Near to God

Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please him (God), for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

I am still chewing on this text in my heart and have been for a few days, but I wanted to comment that I find it edifying to know that God will let me walk with him (that is how the Old Testestament understood someone who pleased God - they walked with him) if I trust him.

Faith is so much more that just believing that God exists. It is also inclusive of a requirement that I believe that he rewards those who seek him. The reward seems to be that God will let us be close to him. I can't think of anything more fulfilling in life than being close to God.

My prayer today is that I would grow in my trust in God, becoming ever more confident that he is able, willing, and bound to keep his promises. As a result of this growing faith I also pray that God will help me to seek him in faith knowing that my responsibility is not find him, he will reveal himself to me, but my responsbility is to seek him in and with faith that believes he will reward me with his presence.

May he be praised today and may his glory be made visible in his Church, Amen

5 Attributes of Inspiration Leaders

I thought this article by John C. Maxwell was worth the read. It reminded me that in order to lead others I need to serve them, affirm them, be attentive toward them, be available to them and be authentic before them.

Take a look.