Taste of perspective.

I recently picked up a book that I have had sitting on my shelf for a few months now waiting to be read. It's called "The Good News About Injustice" by Gary A Haugen. Gary Haugen is the founder of International Justice Mission and also served in the investigation by the UN of the Rwanda Genocide. Now, I am not naive to the fact that there is a great amount of suffering in this world, and I am not naive to the fact that God has given us the tremendous responsibility to do something about it,  but this book is pounding new perspective into me. If you consider yourself a christian, you should read this book. Gary Haugen does an incredible job of reminding us God's call for us to "seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1:17).  A short time ago I was reading the story of Moses and the part the sprung out from the pages and made my heart ache was how the people were commanded by faro to leave their infants exposed so that they would die. I had a vision of tiny babies left out in the streets to die while their parents hear their cries yet can do nothing. I could hear them crying for their mothers, I imagined the horror and helplessness their parents had to have felt. They had no one to stand up for them in that moment, to defend them and stand up for what was right. No one to "rescue the oppressed". As a parent I am haunted by the thought of someone inflicting suffering upon my defenseless child and not being able to do anything about it. That's where this book comes in. Justice is God's idea. The suffering of this world does not go unnoticed. God has charged us with the duty of caring for the least of these. IJM is a wonderful organization, they are the ones speaking for the oppressed and giving us a way to combat injustice in an ever darkening world. I applaud them in their efforts to be the strong arm for the weak of this world and I plan to find out more ways that I can help the ministry. I would expect that in this life of luxury we could all make a little sacrifice so that others don't have to suffer. If you call yourself a christian, you cannot afford to let yourself become desensitized and numb to the suffering of this world.  Christianity is not merely about your salvation after death, it is also very clearly about service to others.  It is so easy to be swept up in the small problems of our days. I am so guilty of ignoring my many blessings. I routinely have major melt downs over things that, honestly, don't matter in the least. I have got to stop worrying about things that are so superficial and worldly, I could donate the money I spend on them and save lives! What could be more important than that? My priorities, like most people in this privileged country, are so very skewed. Now the question is, am I willing to make the sacrifice so that others may have their very basic needs met? I sure hope so, and I sure hope I don't stop feeling burdened for those in need either. I pray that God redirects my focus so that I can see the blessings that I have and show me ways that I may bless others. By the way, if you actually read through my entire, somewhat depressing blurb, and you feel so inclined, please consider donating in my name to Stop Child Trafficking Now. My previous post has all the information you need, any amount of money and prayers will do good, I can promise that!