Thoughts on Restoration, Haiti, and Poverty (not necessarily in that order!)

This week I had a conversation with a friend about restoration. It has been on a lot of minds as we watch tragic events unfold in Haiti. Those events have sparked a lot of conversation as we seek to explain to our children what is going on and why. Many have been called to action to raise money, travel to Haiti, and pray. I am always amazed at how it seems to take a tragedy of this magnitude to get our attention, if only for a little while, and to cause us to reflect, project, and even become diverted from our own struggles to unite for a common cause.

I had a conversation with another friend who is reading The Hole in Our Gospel http://www.theholeinourgospel.com/, a compelling book by Richard Stearns, that disturbed my friend on many levels and challenged her perspective on what God expects of us.

For today, I thought I would share some food for thought that has come my way over the past week, as many ponder the present and the future.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:18-23 NKJ)

"..to restore and to forgive, remain the purest, most powerful forms of love -without them -God and life make no sense at all" Tony Campolo

"If we don't know how to tackle the issues of poverty in our towns, our own cities, and our own nation... how can we dare think we know how to take on the issues of world poverty? Think about how we could be more effective elsewhere if we became masters at solving our own poverty issues here at home."

I would love for those reading to share thoughts on restoration, Haiti, or Poverty.