I remember when Peggy and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary with a trip to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. The drive from the airport at Montego Bay to the resort in Negril took about an hour. We drove through villages and the countryside. I saw people living in cardboard shacks. I saw cattle that were so thin that their bones were almost sticking through their hides. Everywhere I looked, I saw desperate poverty. I arrived at the resort with some new and very heavy “baggage”, namely a huge feeling of guilt. This feeling lasted a couple of days until it suddenly dawned on me that if I was really concerned about the poor, there were plenty of poverty-stricken people back home that I drove past everyday and never noticed or, if I did notice them, I did not care one wit.
We have just finished the Christmas season. Most of us have experienced excess in some form or fashion, whether it was in eating, drinking or the purchase of consumer goods. We will all pay for this in January in one way or the other! Should I feel guilty about this “conspicuous consumption”? That is an individual decision. The important consideration in all this is, however, is the question of how you and I are dealing with the truly poor in our midst. Do we donate our used underwear to charity and then claim a large deduction on our taxes as one former “first family” did? Or, do we honestly seek out “the lost and the least” to care about and give real, sacrificial assistance. They may be around the world or around the corner. As Mother Theresa said, “You must find your own Calcutta. You don't have to go to India. Calcutta is all around you.”
Scripture is filled with mandates to give assistance to the truly poor:
“
For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shall surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land.”
(Deuteronomy 15:11)
“God blesses those who are kind to the poor. He helps them out of their troubles.”
(Psalm 41:1)
“When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord—and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!” (Proverbs 19:17)
“If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty.” ( Proverbs28:27)
“This is a good time to have Mother Teresa's life in mind, and to remember, perhaps, that all can change, that a life—and a world—can be made better all of a sudden, out of the blue, and unexpectedly. But you have to be listening. You have to be able to hear. Happy 2009.” From Peggy Noonan’s column of December 26, 2008
MINISTRY NEWS:
It was a very good year, ministry-wise. God used Net Work Ministries in a significant way in the lives of many individuals and families. Thank you for making this possible!
We did finish the year with a fairly significant deficit, as I am sure many ministries did this year.
We look forward to trying some innovative new things in the near future. We’ll keep you posted as things develop.
MINISTRY NEEDS:
A good start, financially, to the New Year as some of our annual expenses come due in January, such as insurance premiums and retirement fund payments.
Some men to volunteer to stand with me as advisors and counselors who will keep me accountable in both my ministry and personal life.
May God bless you that you may be a blessing to others in 2009.
Christ - The ReeseSource - The Newsletter of Net Work Ministries, Inc.
Friday, January 9, 2009
CHRIST - THE REESE SOURCE NOVEMBER 2008
At the season of Thanksgiving, it has been a tradition for me to enumerate some of the many things for which I am thankful.
First and foremost, I will be eternally thankful that on Tuesday, April 29, 1975, God revealed Himself to me and adopted me as His child. On that night, I surrendered my life to Christ. What a great adventure it has been since that time!
I am thankful that on May 20, 1967, Peggy Wilkerson became my bride. She is my greatest earthly blessing.
I am so very blessed to have two beautiful daughters, two fantastic sons-in-law, and six amazing grandchildren and one wonderful sister! All of these know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. What more could a man want in life?
I am thankful for great friends, who have been so kind and patient with me over the years. They have taught me so much. They have opened new doors. We have shared great adventures together. We have laughed together and cried together. They have encouraged me and admonished me. They have loved me “in the morning sun and the evening rain” of my life (to paraphrase Brennan Manning, a Christian author)
I am thankful to have work that I love. They say if your love your job you never have to work a day in your life! This is true for me. I cannot wait for the phone to ring, to open the mail or to see who God puts in my path for ministry. Each day is different, with a great adventure awaiting me!
I am truly thankful for these tough times we are going through right now. As my friend and Christian humorist, John Riley, says in his Abbeville, Alabama style, “This is where the fork meets the grits.” He says this concerning the testing of our faith in God and His provision. It is easy to trust God in the good times. When contributions and what little investments you have are down thirty percent,
do you really trust God to care for you and provide for you?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1: 1-4)
Finally, I am thankful for so many of you who have faithfully stood with us and partnered with us in ministry. Without you, so many lives over the years would not have been changed by the love of Christ through Net Work Ministries. You made it possible with your prayers, encouragement and support. May God shower you with His richest blessings this holiday season.
MINISTRY NEWS:
Participated in a weekend retreat with 12 young African-American men from Atlanta area high schools to discuss the idea of where they came from, where are they going and how they plan to get there. This retreat was jointly led by Dr. Bob Mitchell and Shawn Lee of Young Life.
Facilitated Friday Morning Men’s Group.
Met individually each day with men for counsel and encouragement over the breakfast or lunch table.
Assisted disabled man in the transition from a nursing home environment to his own apartment. Helped to arrange finances and logistics of setting up a new place to live.
MINISTRY NEEDS:
Our needs are the same as all the other worthwhile organizations from whom you have been getting urgent requests. I pray that God would direct your heart in this matter, whether it is to some of the agencies I have mentioned in a previous newsletter or Net Work Ministries.
MAY YOUR HEART BE FILLED WITH THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR THE ENUMERABLE BLESSINGS WE ALL SHARE.
First and foremost, I will be eternally thankful that on Tuesday, April 29, 1975, God revealed Himself to me and adopted me as His child. On that night, I surrendered my life to Christ. What a great adventure it has been since that time!
I am thankful that on May 20, 1967, Peggy Wilkerson became my bride. She is my greatest earthly blessing.
I am so very blessed to have two beautiful daughters, two fantastic sons-in-law, and six amazing grandchildren and one wonderful sister! All of these know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. What more could a man want in life?
I am thankful for great friends, who have been so kind and patient with me over the years. They have taught me so much. They have opened new doors. We have shared great adventures together. We have laughed together and cried together. They have encouraged me and admonished me. They have loved me “in the morning sun and the evening rain” of my life (to paraphrase Brennan Manning, a Christian author)
I am thankful to have work that I love. They say if your love your job you never have to work a day in your life! This is true for me. I cannot wait for the phone to ring, to open the mail or to see who God puts in my path for ministry. Each day is different, with a great adventure awaiting me!
I am truly thankful for these tough times we are going through right now. As my friend and Christian humorist, John Riley, says in his Abbeville, Alabama style, “This is where the fork meets the grits.” He says this concerning the testing of our faith in God and His provision. It is easy to trust God in the good times. When contributions and what little investments you have are down thirty percent,
do you really trust God to care for you and provide for you?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1: 1-4)
Finally, I am thankful for so many of you who have faithfully stood with us and partnered with us in ministry. Without you, so many lives over the years would not have been changed by the love of Christ through Net Work Ministries. You made it possible with your prayers, encouragement and support. May God shower you with His richest blessings this holiday season.
MINISTRY NEWS:
Participated in a weekend retreat with 12 young African-American men from Atlanta area high schools to discuss the idea of where they came from, where are they going and how they plan to get there. This retreat was jointly led by Dr. Bob Mitchell and Shawn Lee of Young Life.
Facilitated Friday Morning Men’s Group.
Met individually each day with men for counsel and encouragement over the breakfast or lunch table.
Assisted disabled man in the transition from a nursing home environment to his own apartment. Helped to arrange finances and logistics of setting up a new place to live.
MINISTRY NEEDS:
Our needs are the same as all the other worthwhile organizations from whom you have been getting urgent requests. I pray that God would direct your heart in this matter, whether it is to some of the agencies I have mentioned in a previous newsletter or Net Work Ministries.
MAY YOUR HEART BE FILLED WITH THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR THE ENUMERABLE BLESSINGS WE ALL SHARE.