Public Finance

For lack of a better topic to talk about, I want to discuss something interesting I learned in my Public Finance class this semester. We were learning about poverty and there was a line in my textbook that basically went:

The general public is fairly willing to back support for the poor. This is because we have a tendency to think that if we were in their position, we would want the help and support as well.

As much as I hate to admit it, to an extent, I think like this as well. When I see someone in a position of need, a part of me thinks of what would happen if I switched places with them. I have a tendency to think about how hard it must be to be in their position and as a result, I feel pity for them. I think about how I would deal with being homeless, of having no family to turn to, of having no friends to support me in my dark times. I think about how hard it must be to be in their position but all I can do is feel pity for them.

So, I never thought about it before, but seriously, this is a pretty selfish thought. To pity people because when I put myself in their position, I am discouraged. That's not right. I should be serving people because it's an act of worship to God. To love my brothers and sisters because I truly love them as brothers and sisters. Not because I pity them, but because I truly love them.

I suppose we just need to remember:

"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." - 1 John 4: 19-21

Fix our eyes on God

Hi guys,

Today we got to speak to 5 people who were all believers of Christ. They were grateful for the smallest things they had and they were so amazingly joyful that the verse "the joy of the Lord is your strength" just rang in my head over and over again.

There seemed to be a recurring theme throughout the night in all our conversations - how God could use bad times to train us and discipline us. A brother, Warren, actually encouraged us and told us that if we fall down along the way, we just need to get back up on our feet and move on.

Muffin, one of the women we talked to, showed us how God used believers in her situation to bless others and take care of other people. She shared with us how she looked after this 17-year-old teenager who ran away from home and kept other people from hurting or taking advantage of her.

What was really humbling to me was the realization once again that if we focus on our own problems/sorrows, it is easy to let circumstances determine our emotions and actions. In doing so we lose sight of God and the other people who we can help.

Just a random side note, during summer I volunteered at a homeless organization in HK. I only went there once with my church and I casually told my parents about my experience there. My dad told me the next day that he wanted to help out some of those people so we found a lady though the organization and she has been working for my dad for a couple of months. Just 2 hours ago, my dad emailed me and he told me he wanted to employ another guy from the same organization and help them get back on track :) :) :) Yayayayay Praise the Lord!!!!!

Consider others better than yourself.

Hey guys so sorry I haven't been posting! I promise I have a heart that isn't neglecting it on purpose! I'm so glad this is revving up again. Good job Albert.

So I guess it was the clothing drive for us last week but I forgot the name of the guy but I remember this one tall guy who was selecting clothes and without us even having to tell him to pick a maximum of two items he himself put it out there that he will only select one or two because according to what I think he said, "I have feelings too." He had empathy and compassion for others like him who would come after him and who would need clothes too. And then I thought to myself whether I would do that in the same situation, and whether many others who work in the upper echelon of society would too. It reminded me once again how homeless people are in many ways "better" than people who aren't. It also reminded me that according to God's command, we ought to consider everyone else better than ourselves. This isn't to deny reality by saying that a Kindergartener is better than us at math or reading but rather that there is something to look up to and respect in anyone however bad or messed-up they may be in other aspects. I know this sounds like Confucianism but it's true nonetheless.

more than conquerors

This week at Diakonos, I had the chance to speak with a brother named Paul for a long time. He was sharing about how he's been addicted to drugs for the past twenty years and this has led him in and out of rehab centers, the streets, and his home during that time. One of the things that kept ringing in my head throughout the whole conversation was, "Albert, don't you dare have pity on him, we are all sinners in DESPERATE NEED of God's grace." I had the chance to share some of the things I am struggling with and in the end we lifted a prayer up to the only One who can heal our wretched hearts.

During the conversation, he told me how he doesn't want to be shackled to drugs any more. He knows the harm it does to his life but he can't stay away from the next high. When I heard him say that, I couldn't help but acknowledge the helplessness we so often have toward our sin. We know we shouldn't do it, but our bodies are so weak. This is true for Paul and all other Christians who want to purify our hearts for God.

Church, let's encourage one another to overcome sin through the grace of God. We are so weak and lacking in strength, but are more than conquerors with Him on our side.

encouraged

Hey guys,

Just wanted to blog about a couple of Mondays ago and how God used the three people I talked to that day to encourage me:

The first guy I met was Michael. He's 57 and been homeless for four years. He's gonna start getting checks in March that should help him get a place to stay. He told me how he's having a good attitude and hanging in there. Not just because looking forward to better days in March, but because each day God is w/ him. He was very thankful for the food and for us and his good attitude was contagious.

I talked to Grady next for a short time. He grabbed a bag and was heading somewhere but he said several times, "Thank you for coming out here and doing the will of God." Even last week when I talked to him again, he kept urging us to be in the Word and digesting it and to keep coming out to do God's will.

Finally, I talked to Fonzie for a while at the end. He has a place to stay in Philly. Most of our conversation was about him saying that we are doing a very good thing. He kept saying, "It makes a big difference. God uses young people powerfully" and, "It's all about the heart. Make sure you fight for your heart to serve. Don't give up." He also talked about how he once let a bunch of people who didn't have a place to stay sleep over at his small home. It was frustrating, but giving is a lot better than receiving.

I don't remember another time where all the people I talked to were so directly encouraging me with what they said. God was ministering to me through those three people I talked to. It was great and reassuring knowing that God uses His children to bless one another. God has made His redeemed so spiritually rich and uses us, through His grace, to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Looking forward to tomorrow =)

A way to love.

Sometimes I need to take these moments, half days, full days to just sit and fully be entrenched in G-d and then who G-d calls me out to be. And then it causes me to question whether I am on the track, on the path that G-d has called me too. I recently got involved in Diakonos because it seemed like a good idea, and it seemed like it was on that path G-d has called me too.

But I wasn't sure why I got involved. I just knew I should.

In the Bible several times we see this question of success being posed to Jesus. Mostly by his disciples, i.e., Sons of Zebedee. How do they wind up at the right and left hand of Christ himself? Matt. 20: 21-23
It seems that the message Christ had shared earlier in the passage had been quickly forgotten because in verse 16, Jesus very clearly states what it takes to be first in the Kingdom of Heaven is the road less traveled here on Earth... it's taking last place at everything.

The core of discipleship as I understand Jesus to have taught it- is humility. Not just humility because that's what Jesus said, so we should DO it, but a humility that characterize us.
We see the people we serve as being those who are just like ourselves, maybe better than us. The point of service is not because it's the popular thing to do, because its the right thing to do, because it seems like a good Christian practice... but because we truly see all people the same way G-d sees all of us. And when our vision is transformed this way - we realize, that if we could see one person as we see ourselves, we can start to see everyone that way. Sister Lisa, Brother William, Brother Bruce, etc. they're just like our friends, maybe a little older, but just like them. And the way we serve them is the same way we can serve our friends, serve our parents, our church. It's not just an act but a lifestyle. Our entire life becomes a life of service. It's the attitude of humility that creates a heart of service, a heart of love, devoted to everyone, and that's what can make us a little bit more like Jesus.

Now I get why I was inclined to get involved with Diakonos... my life is in need of a little transformation. This ministry in and of itself can't do that, but it gives me an opportunity to start changing the way I see my world, the way I see people and the way I love.