The following movie clip is taken from the movie "Schindler's List", which tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than 1000 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. But upon being honored for the saving all those lives, he begins to consider how much more he could have done, how many more lives he could have saved, how much more he could have given in order to make a greater impact.

Go all out. Keep giving more, loving more, serving more. Never stop striving.


[I've never seen the full movie and don't plan on it, due to some vivid and graphic images that the movie shows, but I find the story line very inspiring.]

We were sitting in her kitchen, talking about what this world is coming too, about all the evil that's out there, and about the scary things that go on these days. And when we got to that point in the conversation where most people would blame the government, talk about the end times, talk about the "good old days", or just complain, this dear old lady from my church simply said:

"They need the Lord."

To be honest, I had never thought of it so simply before. When I think of all the problems the world has, I try to dream up a cure. I like to think I can conquer the world if I work hard enough, love deep enough, and dream big enough. I think physical, practical, visual.

While, yes, we've been called and commanded to feed the hungry, rescue the orphans, and care for the widows, something's missing if we're just feeding them for hunger's sake or giving them a home for shelter's sake.
Jesus didn't just tell the lame man to get up and walk. First, He forgave the man's sins.

This woman's theory was simple. and true: The reason things are messed up is because they're missing something. We have that something. In a sense, we have the solution. Why then aren't we sharing it?

"I tell you--and I'm old...you need the Lord."

"What's your definition of a Christian? Is it broad enough to encompass the drug dealers, pimps, prostitutes, and broken people of the world? Jesus said that he came to heal the sick. Drug addicts are messed up just the same as liars are messed up, just the same as all humans are messed up. We all need Jesus.

What's worse? To not do dope or to not love your brother? Why do we kick drug users out of church while quietly ignoring those who aren't dealing with other, equally destructive sins? Why do we reject the loving, self-sacrificing, giving, encouraging, Jesus-pursuing drug addict but recruit the clean, self-interested, gossiping, loveless churchgoer?"

Who do you suppose Jesus would hang out with?

- Excerpt from Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski.

I was sitting through the second session at our church's Middle school retreat, where the speaker was talking about doing things that aren't always the most fun in order to reach the best destination. He gave the following wake up call of how we spend our money that I haven't been able to get off my mind.

"I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but when I do decide to get something to drink it's a decked up, $4 drink from Starbucks. And it occurred to me...If, over time, I were to buy 3 or 4 of those drinks, I would have spent enough money on trying to satisfy me and make me happy to have supported a hungry kid in Africa for a whole month."

I had never thought of it that way. Do you realize what we American Christians have done? We have lulled ourselves into thinking that we're giving a large amount of our income to the church and to missions when we continue to spend even more of our money on our Sunday morning Dutch bros. coffee or on a new outfit (even though we have plenty of perfectly good clothes in our closet already) or on a cellphone upgrade (even though our current phone does its job just fine). Why not give that money away too?

People say it's crazy. But isn't that the way we're supposed to live? Francis Chan (pastor and author) said, "Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers."

I recently finished Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" and was great challenged by was he said in one of his chapters, titled "Profile of the Obsessed". Basically, what does the life of a person, who is obsessed with Jesus, look like? One of his characteristics is this: Crazy Ones.

"When I returned from my first trip to Africa, I felt very strongly that we were to sell our house and move into something smaller, in order to give more away. The feedback I got was along the lines of "It's not fair to your kids," "It's not a prudent financial choice," and "You are doing it just for show." I do not remember a single person who encouraged me to explore it or supported the decision at the time.
We ended up moving into a house half the size of our previous home, and we haven't regretted it. My response to the cynics, in the context of eternity, was, am I the crazy one for selling my house? Or are you for not giving more, serving more, being with your Creator more?"

People thought that was crazy. After all, that's quite contrary to the American dream. Our whole culture is striving to upgrade. They work towards a bigger house, nicer car, newest technology. But why? Why should we?

We have a different calling.
We have a different hope.
When we let go of those unnecessary worldly possessions, we show where our true citizenship is.

Do you really believe that when you give, of your time, money, and other resources, you are actually storing up treasure in heaven? Because if you did...wouldn't that completely throw your financial priorities for a spin. No longer would it be a question of, "how much giving is required of me?" "how much, or rather little, can I put it the offering plate and still be considering a generous, giving, good Christian?"
Wouldn't we be looking for opportunities to give more? Looking for places in the budget that can be trimmed so that more could be given to those who don't even have the little blessings we so often take for granted?

As C.S. Lewis, in his book "Mere Christianity", put it:

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words,' if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small."

This is what God has been challenging me with lately. And I don't want you to feel like I'm pointing my finger at you. I just want to challenge you with what I've been challenged with. To give like crazy.

For the last few months, our web designer, Matthew, has been working with members from his church to start up H2O in Zion Crossroads, Virginia. Just this afternoon, 25 of them filled 200 H2O bags after their morning services. Generous donations were given to the congregation from stores in the city. And members of the church cheerfully gave as well, allowing the bags to be given out for free to drivers. God is already blessing the obedience of Life at Zion church.








For more information on Life at Zion, visit their website www.lifeatzion.com