As you all know by now, Haiti was hit last year on January 12, 2010 by a devastating 7.0 earthquake. It’s been slightly over a year now, but the needs of this country are still great and they are just as much in need today as they were a year ago when the tragedy occurred. Even prior to the earthquake, Haiti ranked as one of the least developed countries in the world, and has an approximate population of 10 million, with most citizens living below $2 per day.  Our Ministry would like to give our community another opportunity to respond in prayer and giving as many of you did so last year.

We partnered with an amazing organization last year called One Days Wages, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be able to join with them again this time as well. What we appreciate most about ODW is their honesty and transparency. 100% of the over $5000 we received (minus c.c. transaction costs) went directly to the relief and rebuilding efforts in Haiti, and we want to extend our sincere gratitude to those who contributed to this need.

We showed a video this past Sunday (January 16th) from Eugene Cho, founder and director of One Days Wages, in which he shared where and how the donated fund were used and about the current state of need in Haiti. There is still much that needs to be done, and we want to ask you again to renew your commitment to Haiti through your prayers and financial support.

If you would like to give online, please visit our Haiti contribution page at www.onedayswages.org/binnerri.

*All donations are tax-deductible.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When I first read Richard Foster’s The Celebration of Discipline, I did not like it. Its twelve chapters are organized around 12 spiritual disciplines. I felt like I was already not reading the Bible and praying enough–now I have ten more activities I have to feel guilty about?

Guilt, while very necessary to convict us (that’s why we’re only taking ’some’ away), is not a good long-term sustainable fuel source.

On the other hand, I don’t just drift into spiritual growth. So how do I know what spiritual practices might be helpful to me?
Here’s one of the most helpful insights I know, courtesy of Dallas Willard.

Sins can be divided into two types:
1. Sins of Omission (lovelessness, joylessness,–things I DON’T do)
2. Sins of Comission (lying, gossiping–things I DO)

Disciplines can be divided into two related types:
1. Disciplines of Engagement (study, worship–things I DO)
2. Discipines of Abstinence (fasting, solitude–things I DON’T DO)

Generally–when I wrestle with a sin of omission, I will be helped by a discipline of engagement. For instance, if I struggle with joylessness I will be helped by the practice of celebration. If I struggle with being miserly I will be helped by the practice of giving.

When I wrestle with a sin of Comission, I will be helped by a practice of Abstinence. If I struggle with gossip I will be helped by practicing silence; if I wrestle with ‘impression management’ I will be helped by solitude.

I personally wrestle with enough sins that I never run out of practices that can be helpful. But I no longer feel guilty about not keeping up with someone else’s devotional list. I have more important things to feel guilty about.

The disciplines are a means to an end. The end is–life!

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

– Sir Francis Drake (1540 – 1596)

Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.

It’s not about squeezing Jesus-moments into the business of our schedules, nor is it about consuming ourselves for His work. It’s allowing the light of Jesus Christ to permeate and penetrate every area of our lives. It’s about aligning our lives with His, and it’s a choice we make every single day. This is what it means to be a full-time follower of Jesus Christ. And I pray that we would make that choice to follow Him today and in the days to come.

My Lord God
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton (1915-1968)