Irony: Part 1

I spent a week in Washington DC with my family after Christmas. We got to see some of the monuments, museums, and government agency buildings. On our way back to our hotel one evening, we walked past the Environmental Protection Agency building. In front of the building was a trash can brimming with trash. I don't know why the sight struck me as funny, but I thought it was a little ironic. I laughed a little about it for the next block until I got to the next building and saw an equally ironic but far less comedic sight. I had just gotten through making a statement to my mom about how cold I was and how glad I was that I had brought my coat when I saw the sign for the Internal Revenue Service. My gaze immediately shifted to the bench in front of the sign which held a sleeping homeless man. My words burned into my mind as I walked past. I was on my way back to a warm hotel room with a warm comfortable bed and I wondered what it would be like to be cold without any place to go or what it would be like to wonder where I'd get my next meal.

Read through the following quote from Isaiah 58:1-8. It's a little long but I think makes my point better than I could say.

1 "Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Unfortunately we live in a world filled with the poor, the oppressed, and the hungry. Sin has infected our world and brought about all of these things and more. As I wandered the streets of Washington DC, I saw people and buildings that represent immense wealth and power. But there even in the midst of the city symbolic of wealth and power are the hungry, the poor, the naked. Will we "…turn away from [our] own flesh and blood?"

The Heart of Giving

As some of you know, I've been teaming up with various people to raise money to purchase a guitar for a worship leader in my home town. If you have not yet heard the full story, let me know and I'll fill you in. Otherwise, read below for the letter I received today. I sincerely hope all of you are inspired to open your hearts to the many needs around the world and the gospel commission that God has entrusted each of us with. Thankyou.



Dear Jeff, Michael, and All Who Gave,

After beginning, then deleting this letter about three or four different times, it is clear that words will never capture my heart of gratitude to God and to all who gave. Although difficult, I will convey my heart to you if I have to hire a billboard in the middle of campus at Southern! I'm truly overwhelmed at the faithfulness and provision of God. I'm in awe, nearly a mess, over the fact that my friends, along with many people I don't even know, would selflessly give at the direction of the Lord. From the bottom of my heart, a wish to convey the deepest sincerity of the phrase "thank you." With tears, I was speechless for quite sometime when Jeff, Michael, and their parents presented me with a brand new Taylor Acoustic Guitar. A 214ce with a hard shell case, to be exact. It is beautiful and plays better than my old Taylor that I sold several weeks ago. I've been playing it a lot, trying to keep my composure while play this beautiful guitar. It sounds wonderful when played through our PA system at church as well. My heart continues to melt at the thought of all of the generosity and compassion that everyone showed me by giving this awesome gift.

I'm sure you know the story concerning the fundraising for the mission trip to Armenia. In essence, you gave to this mission trip as well. Pastors and leaders from Armenia, Turkey, Iran, and others were trained to take the gospel into countries that persecute Christians. This money provided them with conference materials, lodging, and food during the training. This is huge as God is mandating an advance into these radical countries such as Turkey and Iran. The reports that we keep hearing from the training are amazing. I'm sending a DVD of the trip of the mission trip for you to look at. In one instance, there is an Iranian women who is reading her brand new paperback Bible for the first time. She is overwhelmed and brought to tears, stating "It's like looking at my child." She continues to cry, attempting to read the passage from Revelation. They cherish the word so much. Notice the excitement on the faces of the Iranians when the delivery truck arrives with the Bibles. It's very moving to say the least.

The scripture is clear that you cannot out give the Lord. Malachi 3:10 and Luke 6:38 are evident to the faithfulness of our Father. I pray an abundant blessing from God for each one of You. Expect the Lord to move on your behalf. One thing is clear. Take God at his word and wait for your miracle. But in the mean time, a most elaborate "thank you" to our God and to you for being a part of my miracle. I cherish this gift as it will be a constant reminder of the provision of God and your generosity each time that I bring praise to the Lord with it. May you have an awesome Holiday season and be blessed. Always know that your gift will never be forgot. I love you all.

Your Friend,
Ray Hagen
Manchester, KY