GLENN'S PODCASTS!

PROJECT 12 IN NEW ORLEANS- AND THREE PLACES IN AMERICA

Tonight as we waited for the crawdads to boil at a good friend's house in the New Orleans after a long but great day helping Desire Street Ministries by our somewhat meager carpentry skills, I found myself in conversation with a godly social worker who told me about the situation here post-Katrina.

The sad problem is that even some of our fellow believers who had been helping destitute folks out for some years now have bunkered back into a mentality of "let 'em pull themselves up by their own bootstraps... we're done helping 'these kind of people'". I understand the weariness of it, but that attitude in a word, stinks. And I think God would agree it does.

I was about to tell her that one of the things I like about Obama is his rap that his government would help people out with student loans, etc., but then would require them to do a couple years of public service, i.e., the Peace Core and such.

She said that folks don't even have to leave the country, just visit JPUSA in Chicago and serve in order to have an international and multi-cultural missions experience. I responded that such is true, but I've long thought two people groups and recently, a third have been largely overlooked.

1. What Americans did to the Native American people and the continued devastation on a great many reservations still haunts me. From all I know and have studied, there are issues of addiction, the "white man's God" and white culture forced on the people plus a lot of other problems involved with seeking to -serve- Native Americans- many of us just don't even think much less care about such things. This disturbs me deeply.

2. Appalachia still holds a great many poverty-stricken people, towns that are out of sight and out of the mind of most Americans. Folks there are mostly white, but not even that seems to help with regard to waking us up to do something about their needs.

3. The general economy, big business lobbies and their general control of politicians as well as the "leaving for greener pastures" in other countries, gas prices, home foreclosures and the blight of villiage businesses much less long-lived corporations laying people off and folding have devastated countless small towns all over the U.S., certainly in every state I've traveled- and I've traveled them all. There is so much that needs to be done for rural areas and small, once prosperous towns.

I'm not saying God does not or has not called us to large cities or even other countries to share the Good News of Jesus and serve the poor in such places. He indeed does and has. BUT- if I'm correct in my thinking, consider the ramifications in the lives of individuals, families and even among our fellow believers stuck in such situations, then consider those who do not yet know the Lord in these... and I ask you what any of us are ready to do about it?

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

Thought I'd share with you my mesage, nearly verbatim, from last Sunday here at JPUSA in Chicago.
Love and Hugs, -Glenn

There are 3 (yep!) titles: "WHAT'S THE MATTER?" / "AS A MATTER OF FACT" / "THE FACT OF THE MATTER"
(A Reflection on "The Day of The Lord")

Heb. 10.24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.

1Thes. 5.2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3 For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. 4 But you, brothers, aren`t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

Mt. 24.42 Watch therefore, for you don`t know in what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don`t expect, the Son of Man will come. 45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.

Lk. 21.33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. 34 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36 Therefore be watchful all the time, asking that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

2 Pet. 3.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore since all these things are thus to be destroyed, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness. 14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight.

"WHAT'S THE MATTER?"
glenn kaiser

So many voices inside us, it gets confusing listening to them y'all- but boil it all down, what really matters? will it really matter at all?

We couldn't find it at the thrift store, an' it was sold out at the mall- really, stop and think about it- does this really matter at all?

We try to impress our friends, we play a role, stumble and fall- but sum it all up- does this matter- does it really matter at all?

Somebody hurt our feelings, we choose to dribble around resentment like a ball- on the Day when it's really gonna matter... is this really gonna matter at all?

What if our body's laced with sickness, we're praying... but the illness doesn't stall- on the Day things are really gonna matter will this really matter at all?

Maybe we have lots of ambition... to leave a legacy a thousand feet tall- but on the one Day it's really gonna matter- is this really gonna matter at all?

Did we trust in the sacrifice of Jesus? Did we hear His voice and live out our call? Did we receive His love and forgiveness? Did we share these or just maintain a wall? Did we love God: heart, soul, mind and strength? Did we truly love our neighbor down the hall?

On the Day when it's really going to matter- nothing else will matter at all.

BENEDICTION:
May God the Holy Spirit remind you (Rom. 13.11,12) that now is high time to awake out of sleep for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed! The night is far spent, the day is at hand... Amen.