Juliet Is The SUN: Foreign Assistance, Malnutrition, and Hope

Hope can be found in unexpected places. A few months ago I walked into a place of hope. At first glance the urgent care ward for severely malnourished children in a hospital in Zambia may not seem as a hope-filled place. Looks can be deceiving.

Quite honestly, when I first entered the ward I was filled with despair and sadness. The eyes of over 60 beautiful children who suffered from severe malnutrition gave me a sense of hopelessness. I was wrong. There was no denying that I came face to face with a crisis. Still, crisis is not hopelessness. One encounter, one conversation, one look awakened me to other possibilities.

The ward was filled with mothers and babies from all over Zambia. Mothers sit bedside for days with their children until their nourished past the point of crisis. Despite the discomfort the mothers persisted. Love often persists. They persist because they believed that the crisis of undernutrition, stunting, and wasting can be overcome. In Zambia, where malnutrition has led to 45% of children being stunted hope is not gone.

As I walked through the ward I noticed one father sitting with a beautiful little girl with big brown eyes. Their eyes told a story I wanted to hear. I sat with them to listen and learn. The father said, "My name is Hector." Hector is my father's name, I listened with my heart not just my ears. He said, "My baby's name is Juliet." After hearing them for some time I learned Hector was there because his wife was at home with their two other children. The tone of concern in Hector's voice was unmistakeable. I held back tears as I thought of my sons who had abundance of nourishment back home. But just before I left came the glimmer of hope from Hector, "Juliet will be fine if we get the food." There, in that moment, with those words a "stone of hope was hewn out of a mountain of despair."

My trip with Bread for the World was listening to a cry of hope. We are focusing on listening to the voices on the ground for the African nations that are part of the SUN (Scale Up Nutrition) movement in Africa. All the Juliet's of the world need a collective Christian Voice to call for foreign assistance of those programs that empower nations to feed themselves nutritiously. The SUN (pun intended) can rise against incredible odds of maternal and child malnutrition. In the words of Shakespeare, "Juliet is the sun."

POWER MANTLES POOR SPIRITS- A Pastoral Reflection for the Lamb's

    After much prayer and my own spiritual journey the last few weeks I have decided to share this with the Lamb's leadership family. The call on each of your lives and the corporate call on the Lamb's congregation implore us to ask, "How is it that while we have such a powerful call on our lives we at times wrestle with such poor spirits." A pastor friend of mine aptly called this, "Powerful Mantles but Poor Spirits." My prayer for you today is that you find ways to refresh your spirit and deal with the things that deplete your spiritual health. I will share some of the things God  and life have been teaching me.
   You might recall that mighty general who was highly regarded by both King and country. His claim to fame was that he had saved the nation. His was a mighty mantle and calling. Still, he wrestled with one major challenge. He was a leper. Too often this is our living paradox, we have wonderful giftings and     talents but are hampered by some internal challenges. We, like General Naaman, must learn to depend on God in both strength and weakness.
   John Wesley would often ask in his weekly small group fellowship, "How is it with your soul?" This is the query we must ask ourselves anew as we journey with God in both life and ministry.  Are we living with joy or resentment? Are we filled with gratitude or bitterness?  Do we try to control people and things but don't yield to God's control? If so, how can we better tend to our souls? How can we nourish our lives? We once again are called to the Jordan to be refreshed, renewed, and restored.
    Take this time to focus again to re-imagine your walk.  A focus on intimacy and devotion. Let God take the lead again.  Let's remove the idols of self-sufficiency. Where there is unforgiveness find grace for yourself and others. Much of this is dependent on our view of God. Remember, God is for you and wants to work in you to heal and restore you...

More to come...

Leadership & Authority

2011

                  LEADERSHIP & BEING UNDER AUTHORITY

I. Biblical Passages for Reflection ( Matthew 8: 5-13; Luke 7:1-7)
    A) The centurion's understanding of authority in the kingdom:
            1. To be in legitimate authority one must be under authority
            2. Authority delegates but does not micro-manage
            3. Authority without humility is unhealthy and faithless
    B) Jesus' response to this kingdom principle:
            1. Equates humble authority with great faith; the alternative is insecurity
            2. Compares this with truly belonging to the kingdom; insecure and
                Machiavellian leadership is outside the kingdom.
            3. Cautions against exerting authority like the  nations of the earth:
                   a. DO NOT LORD OVER  (Matthew 20: 25-26, Luke 22:23,                         
                       Mark10:42)
 
II.  Quotes for further reflection:
     A) "Civilization is always in danger when those who have never learned to obey 
           are given the right to command" -  Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
     B)"Nothing so conclusively prove's a man's (person's) ability to lead others, as 
         what he (she) does from day to day to lead himself (herself)"
                                                       -- Thomas J. Watson

III. Things to Think and Pray About: (cf John Maxwell)
     A)Learn :
           1.Listen & take good advice
           2. Seek and ask for mentors
           3. Practice patience
     B) Discern yourself before sizing-up others:
           1. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses before trying to lead others
           2. Lead yourself in some areas of challenge in the next year
           3. Don't be too hard con yourself; learn to grow in grace


Pastor Gabriel
Ascension Friday 2011