One Million Reasons to Help People in Need

Just kidding, I don't really have a million reasons to help people in need. Really, there's just one reason: because God did the same for us, except times a billion, so we should do the same for others with love and compassion for fellow humans.

Anyway, what's up? Mr. M showed us a clip from the show Secret Millionaire, where this guy went to Skid Row and basically gave away a lot of money. I thought that was pretty cool, just because I saw a definite change in the guy from when he left. He had learned to look at things in a different light, I think.

The most moving thing for me was the guy who just gave the old man the shoes off of his feet. THAT is a picture of how loving we should be--THAT is the Spirit of God working. It just annoys me that us Christians are getting one-upped by these "heathen helpers". Let's up the ante, brethren...I'm thinking along the lines of leaflet-bombing a third-world country. Or maybe a Jesus Mob in New Orleans, where we just stalk the streets at night looking all shady, and when we see anybody on the streets, we just grab 'em and shove 'em up against the wall and say, "Repent, man! Repent today, 'cuz ya might not get the chance again!"

Completely joking, by the way...

Another thing, this one about that show: I don't have any problem with people giving selflessly to those who really need it, in fact, I love that! It makes me feel like there's some good left in the world. But it kind of ruins it when it's televised. I mean, sure, it's good that people watching at home are being given good examples such as the people on Secret Millionaire, but the whole "selfless" part of selfless giving kind of goes flush! when it's on national television. Plus, the guy was worth maybe $250 MILLION. That's MILLION with an M!, folks! That's a lot of money...and he only gave away 1 million dollars.

I like how I said "only", and then I put "1 million dollars" right after that...like that's even possible. I'm surprised the format-checker didn't pick that up, you know, with the error, "Adjective misuse, you moron".

But still...I think he can afford to give more than...than...

crud...hold on....

Thirty Minutes Later...


... 0.4%...

....really? 0.4%??? Dang...brother, let me tell you somethin'--if you were at a Baptist church, you'd be hung from the rafters if that was your tithes.

Now I'm not condemning the guy for not giving all his money--far from it! I'm glad he gave what he did. But it just seems kind of hypocritical. Kind of like the Pharisees in that one Bible story, where they went and gave huge amounts of money in the offering plates, and then the widow came with one coin, and Jesus said she gave more than any of the Pharisees, because she gave everything she had.

The guy who went to Skid Row...not saying his gift ain't kosher or anything, but honestly, one million clams isn't going to hurt this guy at all. I think that if someone really wants to give selflessly, they're going to give everything they have.

Here's a little tip for you--the pastors who are filthy rich and comfortable aren't the ones who have a Sudden-Link connection with God. It's in the ones who have nothing and yet still give everything they've got that you can find the Holy Spirit. There's a hole in your heart, and it's kind of hard to fill that hole with God (like it's supposed to be filled) and be rich. Money isn't the solution to the world's problems, but most of the solutions are kind of costly.

Until next time,

--JesusFreak

Chapter 6/7 Questions

G'day mates! Today I'll be answering some questions posed by Mr. M about the book Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.

1. Would a non-Christian be able to discern a difference between you and the world, and what diference would they see?

Sadly, I can't say that they'd see much of a difference,

 other than the fact that I go to a Christian school and I go to church.

 Outwardly, there's not much about my life that's

 radically different from the standard American teen's life.

2. What is the common theme to these verses? (Mark 10:21, Luke 6:20, 24, Luke 18:25)

If you make money more important than following God,

your heart is not in the right place.

How do these texts apply to you?

I can give more of my time and money to others,

showing them that there's more to life than ourselves.

I can go on mission trips more often.

I can give of my money to those who need it more.

3. What verse means the most to you at this point, and what do you understand from it?

The verse that strikes me the most is Luke 14:33. It basically says,

we worry too much about our earthly possessions,

when in Heaven we will have much greater. To follow God is

to abandon all else we hold dear, or at least make these things second fiddle.

4. Are you more like the Queen Mary in peacetime or wartime? What luxuries do you think of as needs?

Peacetime.

Luxuries that I think of as needs:

• Christian Education
• Christian Parents (family, etc.)
• food (in abundance)
• shelter
• clothing
• music education
• Christian friends

Well, friends, I think that's it. And just because I think you guys are cool, here's a funny video to keep you guys happy:

Titled: The Revenge Song, by Heywood Banks

Ciao, lads!

--JesusFreak