Where do you start?

I spent the last 2 hours of my day at the church today in a meeting about disaster relief. I think that even after all that talking, in some way we are still asking "where do we start?". I know there is tremendous need both locally (evacuees) and distant (gulf states) -- sometimes it is simply hard to figure out what are the most pressing needs that we can best fill. Human tendency is to want to fulfill any and every need as you hear about it - but as a leader for a group of people, you have to narrow the focus a good deal, even if it means saying no to certain things -- and if you know me at all, you know that's not easy!

Nonetheless, there are many good options that we are trying to work with. The key is that we are doing work and making plans in occordance to what the community needs - not just what will make us feel good and stuff. That's a tricky - and common - trap that people in the church (universal) tend to fall into. Doing missions and other things because it makes us feel good. Anybody can do that -- but we're called - as Christians - to something more -- that's the whole Gospel message thing. Being a follower of Jesus should make us unique - different - out of the ordinary - and that should radiate through all that we do. Not just in mission work or volunteering here and there - but in our friendships, workplaces, and even our relationship with ourselves. (a relationship with ourselves? yes -- you have a relationship with yourself ... just accept it and go with it, ok?)

Anyway, all of that to say that I have come to realize there will be many many many conversations to come -- I just pray that I can be used to facilitate sharing the Kingdom through that all.