The Hole in Our Gospel
Last week, I spent the week with Lynn celebrating our 25th anniversary. It was a week filled with blessings. It started with some friends basically giving us the trip — condo and airfare. I’m always humbled and grateful when I am on the receiving end of generosity. Then there was the beauty of the Caribbean water. I’ve never been there before and was awed by shades of blue that I didn’t know existed. Then on our actual anniversary — we spent part of the day on a somewhat deserted stretch of white sand beach. We followed that by an anniversary meal overlooking a marina. Lynn had fillet Mignon and I had grouper and we left room for dessert. One blessing after another — all wrapped up in the blessing of 25 years with Lynn and our family. I have been so blessed.
So then I read a book by the president of World Vision — “The Hole in Our Gospel.” It’s all about the opportunities to be a blessing to people in need, around the world. As I read I alternated between conviction and consecration, between tears of sorrow and tears of inspiration. It’s filled with facts, scripture, stories, and Richard Stern’s journey from success to significance and servanthood.
It’s a good book. I will give away a copy to anyone who promises to listen to the Spirit of God and do something after reading it. We have been blessed to be a blessing.
Thank you for commenting on Rich Stearns’ new book, The Hole in Our Gospel. What a generous thing to decide to give away copies for those who would like one. This book has already had a tremendous impact on many Christians. Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Church, just bought 10,000 copies of the book to give to his congregation. Hybels told his church, “This is one of the finest books I have ever read. It is my goal to get every member of Willow Creek Church to read it.” To find out more information about the book and Stearns, you can visit http://www.theholeinourgospel.com. You’ll find on this site a lot of great resources and supplemental material to the book. You can also read Rich’s blog and engage in a forum discussion there. It’s a fantastic site – I encourage you to check it out!
I just want to say that I am seeing many Christians in various churches and movements, including myself, waking up to the truth that Rich Stearns is communicating in his book. I am in the Vineyard and there is a new interest in social justice and caring for people in distress. We had Wes Stafford, the head of Compassion International speak at our national conference. Also a man who is trying to bring peace to Palestine and Israel through non-violence. And IHOP is putting together a team to help people in the aftermath of a crisis. My neighbor, who is a nurse, just went to Kansas City for training. Then there is Bill Hybels mentioned above and Rick Warren is on the same page wanting churches to provide medical and social services along with the good news of Jesus.
What amazes me is how blind I have been to the gapping hole in my own understanding of the gospel. That I limited the kingdom of God to “spiritual things” and did not extend to comprehend all of life as it actually does. I am grateful to God for opening my eyes and the eyes of so many others. I love what He is doing in His Church.