[Faith-talk] Good Night Message for Friday, April 26, 2013

[Paul]

Hello and good day to you all, whether it be morning, afternoon or evening when you receive and read this message.  I hope that, by God's matchless grace and His providential care, that your day went well or is going well.

Although the name of Christ or even God or Christianity does not appear in the article selected for today, the principles of Christian living shine out through the actions of the participants.  The article in question is entitled "A Building Up of the Soul" by Andy Lock, rendered as follows:

Over the years, Andy Lock, manager of Lutheran Community Services for Thrivent Financial in Chicago, has served on a number of boards and committees working hard to do his part in his church and community.  Although Andy knew that what he was doing as a volunteer was positive, he often didn't find his experiences meaningful.  At the end of another year, what impact had he really made?

In 2005, Thrivent was piloting a possible new alliance with Habitat for Humanity called Thrivent Builders.  Andy convinced ten of his neighbors in Batavia, Illinois, to work on a house in nearby Aurora.

"In one Saturday, I witnessed what could be accomplished in just eight hours," says Andy.  "One of the reasons I enjoyed the experience is that it was so different than what I do on a daily basis."

Andy loved the experience so much he spent 25 Saturdays volunteering in 2005, and as part of his job, he helped introduce the Thrivent Builders with Habitat for Humanity program that exists today.

"The chance to work together with co-workers, neighbors, friends and church members to build something of significance is incredibly fulfilling," says Andy.  "This program provides a specific way to engage people in the church to live out a life of service."

After being involved in the construction of 10 houses in the Chicago area, Andy, his wife, Jenni, and a few Thrivent co-workers decided to go to Thailand last spring to build houses lost in the tsunami.  In two and one half weeks, (one week was considered service, the other week Andy used from his personal vacation days), the team built three houses.  "Helping someone else helped me focus on why I was doing this in the first place," says Andy.  "This is a long-term process everyone makes a commitment to.  Seeing a project through from the ground breaking to the dedication where the partner is handed a Bible and keys is life-changing.  When we built homes in Thailand, I was reminded that a family of six is thrilled to live in a home the size of a garage."

"Everyone needs to find their own volunteer experience," says Andy.  "I've found mine and I'm looking forward to helping build houses for a long time."

If you've read the previous article carefully, you noticed that the only reference made was the giving of a Bible to the new occupants of that house.  Now what does all this have to do with the Christian life for us blind folks in the here and now? Well, I can see one obvious example, at least to the undersigned.  Consider the title of it, "A Building Up of the Soul." When we affirm another person in his/her actions or perhaps that that individual sent a profound email, whether to a list or privately, we develop in the recipient a sense of self-esteem to keep on keeping on.  If it weren't for a selected few people, these good night messages wouldn't have even gotten off the ground, so to speak, but because of their encouragement, you can see the results.  Do I have a witness here? And all this was done without traveling or spending one's hard-earned money.  If you wish proof of this from the Bible, I would suggest that you turn or find in your preferred version of choice to II Corinthians 1:3-7, and see if you don't agree.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul