True Orphans

Serving children in distress I've learned an entirely new language filled with adjectives and identifiers used to define the state of a child at any given time in their heart break. "True Orphans" is the toughest spot for any child to be in: no one left, no family that claims them, sometimes- everyone dead, more often- completely abandoned. The infants in this little video are True Orphans: no first name, no last name, just weeks old... now in our care. Holding them today- again I realized what a miracle, a gift from God, their presence with us at Siempre is and how thankful I am to share in this incredible work.

You're invited... to "come and see" what The Lord is doing at Siempre. If we don't, who will love these children? They need care for a lifetime- they need immediate attention today- without your support... who will protect and keep them?

join us...

Happy Mother's Day!

Siempre's newest resident- a two week old nameless little girl

Thanks Mom's for all you do.

New Property... New Promise

This little video shows our new property at Siempre Para Los Ninos, our children's home in Tijuana, Mexico. New property holds so much hope and promise. The building we'll put there- Lord willing, (and I'm pretty sure He's always willing for us to help those who are hurting), will be a home to 36 children- 18 infants from birth to 18 months and 18 from 19 months to age 3. Hopefully they'll all find homes with "forever" families... those who remain will join our Siempre family.

This year is the 5th anniversary of Siempre. We've had several babies... they're still with us... big kids now. The complete focus of our new work will be to rescue babies- they're the most vulnerable in society when life falls apart. We can't rescue them all, but this is our start. You're invited. When you're ready for change the best way to achieve it is to make and keep a big promise. We're promising a new home. God is too good.

blessings,

Eric

We're Not Alone

>"Our destiny, in my opinion, and we might as well get started with it, is [to] become a part of the planetary community. ... We should be ready to reach out beyond our planet and beyond our solar system to find out what is really going on out there."<
Edgar Mitchell, retired US Astronaut, member of 1971 Apollo 14 moon mission

I'm all for space travel. I was one of those kids who always imagined traveling to other worlds... never crossed my mind that it might not happen in our life times. As an adult, it would be no problem to come up with a quick list of folks who either a) act like they're from another planet or b) might be better off living in a distant galaxy!

Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Matthew 4:17

I believe in His Kingdom... very near... all around us, within us... I believe in Jesus. Don't know what's "out there." Do know that today, April 20, 2009 is the anniversary of the Columbine killings. Know that life is hard for people in the community we live in... probably in your community as well. I'm certain that as exciting a call Ed Mitchell makes to "reach out beyond our planet," I'm thankful God saw fit to reach out to us with His Son, Jesus Christ and plant His Kingdom within our hearts to prevent the anger, violence and killing that springs up in the heart of people. I think we've got a load of work to do right here on planet earth, in love, right now.

Words like repent don't seem relevant any longer- they repel us -but if we're looking for change, why look to the skies? God's given us His Kingdom- not "pie in the sky" but the opportunity to love, serve and share right now, right here, today.

Space exploration and serving in love aren't mutually exclusive- I'm all for both -just want to make sure that before we start exporting values to other galaxies we make sure we've got love covered, or are at least giving it our best effort, here and now. But if the opportunity should avail itself- take an alien to lunch -one more opportunity to break bread and make friends in His Name.

blessings,

Eric

Sunday Afternoon... mowing the lawn...

There has to be a metaphor in it somewhere: preach two services, meet and greet the fellowship, anoint a friend for healing... then I come home and mow the front and back lawn-91 degrees out -peak of the afternoon... I'll be out past midnight working with the homeless on skidrow- should have been napping but I mowed the lawn and loved every minute of it.

Life gets full of things that shouldn't play a part and then so much that should be there in abundance... slips away. You fill in the blanks for your life- I'm holding my cards close today. But if it all feels just a tad overwhelming- go mow the lawn, sweep the porch, wash the car: you'll be better for it. I promise.

Simple strides- one end of the yard to the next -even added the cross cut, on diagonal... doesn't look bad... it'll look better in two or three weeks. But my mind found order, my spirit, peace. I was only doing one thing in one place- mowing the lawn -and when I was done... I stood back, examined my work- and said, "Not bad."

I'm ready to get back to work- thanks to time in the yard. It's good to be simple minded ;-)

blessings,

Eric

getting involved

Yvon Chouinard (left) founder of the outdoor clothing company Patagonia, and Wayne Lynch, pictured with their surfboards at Santa Cruz Island, Mar Meada. Picture by Tim Davies.

cool photo. It's from an article you can read here, in the Brisbane Times... ain't the internet great? The article briefly covers Patagonia's ability to survive the downturn in the world economy, Choinard's business model and background and their forward thinking outlook on saving our planet's resources. All pretty good stuff.

I confess, it was the photo of the guy Choinard's walking with Wayne Lynch- a 58 year old former cult status surfer that drew my attention to any of it -he's my generation and he was always cutting edge in the water... and apparently he's still alive! But the final words of Patagonia's owner got me writing. He said:

>"I'm a doom bat," he insists. "But, you know what? I'm a happy doom bat. Because as long as I feel I'm part of the process of doing something, I'm not part of the problem. I'm part of the solution, and I feel fine about it."<

"As long as I feel I'm part of the process..." I like to feel that way too. Nothing worse than feeling like we're not making an impact or working towards the greater good. If our efforts only enhance our own well being... they also take away from the greater good. When we invest ourselves in work that lifts up everyone- we lift up ourselves as well.

It's what I love about the church... about God's Kingdom... about my small part serving in it... making a difference and confidently reaching out our hands to others letting them know that they're invited to join the greatest cause on the planet- to save all of creation, in love, through service in His Name.

You're Invited. What are you doing with your life? What images will you hold dear some day? I'm guessing both the guy from Patagonia and Wayne Lynch kind of like this photo... out of the water, after a surf, working together with a common goal- far later in life than they'd ever imagined when they were in their 20's... both probably wondering why they didn't get started any sooner... why they let so many days slide by...

We don't have to let another day slip away. Get involved in the process. Until you do... you're only part of the problem. And that's not a photo anyone wants to keep in their "golden years."

blessings,

Eric

God... and medical miracles

A friend of mine has survived pancreatic cancer for over 8 years... he's now in the hospital fighting renal failure. While in the hospital he's contracted two really horrible infections. He's fighting for his life... again.

Another friend recently discovered a growth that's turned out to be possible ovarian cancer- she's waiting for surgery... anxiously waiting... as her husband, children, family and friends lift her up for healing.

The little movie at the top of this blog is a representation of a surgery another good friend had just a few weeks ago. She's a long time running partner, a marathoner, an Ironman... who had to cut almost every kind of work from her life as they've done one surgery after the other hoping to address the multiple problems she's faced in her spine.

Reading over this, it occurs to me- stinks to be my friend! Look what these really good people are having to endure... and so I pray. I pray for healing. That Christ, our Great Physician, would move in the areas they need it most, that He gives all the care givers concerned: wisdom, compassion and insight beyond their own abilities, and that He comfort the hearts and fears of my friends and their families.

God's in charge of the miracles that surround us. Sometimes, He uses doctors who refuse to quit until they find a way to ease the pain. Never ceases to amaze me how they handle the human body. Sometimes He uses family who come along side us in love. He always moves with His Spirit- sending strength we never thought we had -to help us make it through the challenging seasons we confront.

What season's of healing are you, your friends and family facing today? You don't need to know the inner workings of all that's happened to help them or to be healed. You only need to know The Father- He knows our name... He knows our deepest need... He's God and He's ready to move with miracles that will amaze us all. Our part is to ask, to trust, to love... and to never give up.

Today I'm praying for a friend recovering from back surgery, another who waits for surgery- uncertain of her future and one more who's fighting for his life in a hospital bed... so very sick. Join me in praying for their healing.

If you have someone you'd like me to pray for- email me, or better yet, put the request in as a comment and we'll build a fellowship of healing prayer that invites Jesus to move in us all.

May He richly bless those we love today. He's too Good.

blessings,

Eric