Lins

There are many tributes and pictures on the blogs to the right. This is a girl who touched so many souls in a gentle and ethereal way. For me she was a pal who helped me lead cell, got me involved in Christian Aid and issues of justice and the poor (her the educated and wise one and me the mouthpiece) and a sister and wife to two amazing friends.

Tonight I'm praying and believing this for them:

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted,
saving those who are crushed in spirit.

Ps 34.18

Please pray

I'm aware that most people that come here already read Al's blog but nothing else seems important to write except to ask you click here and pray for Lindsay, Al and family.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.

Romans 8:26 (The Message)

All over money, money, money, money, money.

Blogging can be a terribly self-indulgent thing. However recently I have found it of great benefit on my journey. The 'rich' thing is not just a conversation of words for me. I'm really trying (and struggling) to work out practically how to live as a follower of Jesus in this area.

Some of the comments on the posts about 'counter-culture' and 'rich Christians' have both inspired me and wrecked my head.

Here are some thoughts/questions.
1. Poverty isn't the alternative to being rich. Just having enough is.
2. As Ivonne said, we need to reach wealthy people as well as the poor. How do we do this if there are no wealthy Christians?
3. Ricky and Brian speak of how God uses affluent Christians to bless others. I know that I and many of our young people would never have been able to go on the mission trips we have without the help of such people.
4. Nina eloquently points out that all of us in the west are rich. The solution is to be FREE (from the constraints of poverty and riches).
5. Gav contrasts Jesus' stories of the 'talents' and the 'sheep and goats'. Does God want us to prosper simply to help the poor?
6. Stefan wrote about the Hebrew understanding of justice, repentance, and redistribution in the Old Testament. This still confuses me somewhat as prosperity does seem to be a gift from God in the OT.

BUT
7. As my younger (wiser) brother Dave said, much of what Jesus says is "you have heard this (in the OT) but i now say this (as a New Testament)":

"How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."
"Do not store up riches on the earth"
"No-one can serve two masters -God & money"



I feel a lot more informed on the issue but still seem to have more questions than answers. I love this verse....

'Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.' (vv 7-9).
Proverbs 30


Any tips on how to make this practical?

Malia

I found this old photo when I was moving house. It's one of my favourites for sentimental reasons. It captures a moment. We were fresh-faced 18 year olds, just finished school, on a coming of age holiday in Crete.

Shortly after this picture was taken we went our separate ways. Gav has been in Glasgow and Ross in Edinburgh and Dublin since then. 8 years later the bonds are still strong. I'm doing best man for Gav this summer and Ross is groomsman.

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."

Bernard Meltzer.