Joseph Kony 2012 Scandal

My wife and I work with adolescents, and have recently joked that, it's become cool to hate nice things.  Though it started as a joke I've been amazed by how much truth there is in that insipid little statement. It is popular, and easy, to dislike things. Whenever I encounter a song, idea, or movement that appears to be above reproach, someone inevitably comes along and explains why they believe that the thing I like is dumb and terrible.

I recently posted about Invisible Children and their Kony 2012 campaign. Within hours of doing so I heard complaints about what a lousy organization Invisible Children is. I've read some articles, and I concede that Invisible Children is not the paragon of virtue I wish they were, but I don't think they're all that bad either.

The criticisms are these: IC doesn't spend enough money on tangible relief work, IC was intentionally foggy the facts of Kony's current whereabouts and actions, and IC fabricated the rumor that US forces planned to leave Uganda. As far as I can tell, all of these criticisms are legitimate ones. If you'd like, you can read about them in detail on foreignpolicy.com, Aljazeera.com and CNN.com.

What I really want to ask of you is this: if you can't stand to align yourself with Invisible Children, please find a humanitarian organization that you can enthusiastically support. I personally recommend World Vision, but no matter what, please do your homework. Charity Navigator and similar sites offer free reviews in order to keep charitable organizations accountable. Please do pray for Uganda and please do contact your representatives about Kony, the LRA, and whatever other issues you care deeply about. Finally, if you have spent energy criticizing Invisible Children, please spend twice as much energy in vocal and generous support of a superior organization. It is not enough to merely expose and discuss problems; we must diligently research and share good solutions as well.

Grandpa Jesus - 1st Sunday in Lent

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

My grandpa is commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. He doesn't think about himself in these terms, in fact he doesn't really think about himself very much. People who are so much like Jesus tend not to. He just lives simply, thanks God for what he has. My grandpa doesn't wrack his brain for ways to change the world; he just lives, is full of the Spirit's fruit and the world changes around him.

When we abide in Christ our hearts become aligned with God's heart, his power flows through us and our everyday acts of love, peace, patience, and kindness become supernaturally empowered.

Challenge:

Read Galatians 5:22-23. The fruit of the Spirit is the most tangible evidence that God is at work in and through you. Take a moment to reflect; do you see these fruits? Do you see bad fruit? Ask forgiveness for the times you've failed to let God's Spirit shine through you. The good news is that God forgives you, the other good news it that the fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of trying harder. On our own we cannot please God and God knows that, ask him to produce good fruit in you. Depend on him to do so, and I promise he will.