First Baptist Church in Dallas is building a new building.

The plans for the church campus include a high-tech, 3,000-seat worship center, which will double the church’s current worship capacity. There will also be an education center and 500-space parking garage.

What would YOU do with $130 million? Click here and comment!

We all have them.
Sometimes they’re in the back of the closet.
Sometimes they’re in a container of some kind, stuffed away.
Forgotten about.
Until you’re looking for something else, something of value, and you happen upon them.
And even then, you typically push aside the less valuable to obtain the more valuable.
Shove the old shoes to the back of the closet.
And forget about them again.

Welcome to the world of the boys of Eliza Martinez.
They are, truly, the least of “the least of these.”
Just like old shoes, they are shoved in a box and put away, hoping they’ll stay out of the way, quiet.

Which is why I simply can’t get them off my mind.
They are the unlovable, unloved detritus of Guatemalan society.
Boys with mental issues, emotional issues, physical issues, and everything else you can think of.

While we were visiting Eliza Martinez, Horaldo became unnerved to the point that he began to cry and wield a rock like a weapon.
Horaldo has some problems with his mind.
But I also saw his episode as Guatemala’s leftovers rising up to be heard.
Believe me, when I saw the rock in his hand, he had my full attention.
And it made me ask the question..
When’s the last time we stood up with a rock in our hand to tell the world about places like Eliza Martinez?
Because I’m quite confident that, if Jesus were flesh and blood today, He would be standing with a rock in his hand, saying…
”What you are not doing for them, you’re not doing for me.”
And I just can’t sit idly by knowing the forgotten have no voice.
Because, you see, even if we don’t do something…
the rocks will cry out.

Today we’re highlighting Felahadin from Ethiopia.

Felahadin needs you. Your $38 a month will literally change not only his life right now, but the landscape of her future. You can click here to sponsor Felahadin or click here to view other children in need of sponsorship.

If you choose to sponsor a child today, please email me and let me know!

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace
–1 Peter 4:10

I don’t think this stops at gifts of leadership, encouragement, administration, etc.

I think this includes all the gifts you have.

Your MacBook.
Your iPhone.
Your house.
Your checking account.
Your car.
Your everything.

It’s all His anyway. You have it because of His varied grace.

Are you using your phone to help organize service projects to assist those in need in your community?
Are you using your computer to email volunteers to help prep and serve on Sunday?
Are you a Brother Franklin with your check book?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a long way to go.

Let’s get there together.

How’s God challenging you to use your gifts for HIs glory?

John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey. –Mark 1:6

How welcome would John be in your church today?
’Cause you know he’d be stinkin’, wearing camel hair for clothes.
He was probably a bit gaunt.
I can’t imagine locusts being very filling.
(I should probably try the John the Baptist diet; might be good for me.)

The man in the image above is wearing today’s equivalent of camel hair.
When’s the last time you slept using a cardboard pillow?
How welcome would he be in your church?
Do you have anybody wearing “camel hair” in your church already?

Maybe instead of being all comfy and cozy at church on Sunday, we should go to the park. Or the mission.
Find someone wearing camel hair.
Discover who they are by talking to them.
Learn what they love.
Learn what they need.
Love on ‘em.
Pray for ‘em.

See past the camel hair right through to the person.

‘Cause they’re just like you and me.