hope lives

We just finished reading a book together entitled Hope Lives by Amber Schooneveld.  This was an unbelievable and life-transforming read for us (as we believe it would be for anyone who reads it).  It’s always refreshing to be challenged in our faith to become more like Christ and, boy, did this book sure do that! 

The main idea is focused around the fact that our God is a God of hope.  He’s calling each of us on a journey to restoration with Him.  Hope lives, and God is on the move.  It challenges the reader to dig deep down inside to find out why we’re still sitting on the couch (or even in a church), overwhelmed and paralyzed by the enormity of the problems of this world instead of being Christ and taking action…going out and being the church to the world in which we’re living.  It is written with the perspective of restoring hope in the world and being Christ to people on the margins of society.      

The book is broken down in to a 5-week journey and each week challenges the reader in a different area.  Here are some quotes/excerpts to get your head spinning:

*The only thing on this earth that’s eternal is people – the only treasure that doesn’t end when the world does.  People matter.  People are the only treasure worth investing in.

*True Christ-like generosity goes beyond just requirement.  And giving isn’t just about money.  Jesus didn’t have wealth when he walked this earth.  What he gave was attention, dignity, love and respect to people as individual images of God.  When I treat people like that, I’m giving them the greatest gift I have to give.

*”Busy” is our banner.  And I think we’re proud of it.  Think of how Jesus lived.  He had many demands pressing on him from every direction, but he wasn’t busy in the same way we are.  What mattered to Jesus was people – listening to them, loving them and helping them.  He was busy with the slow work of taking time to care for people.  He was never too busy to stop and help someone.

*You are rich.  I’m not speaking metaphorically or spiritually, I mean it: You’re rich.  If you’re reading this book right now [and especially if you’re reading it on a computer] you are most likely among the most financially elite in the work and in history.  If you have clean water, a pair shoes, food, and a safe, dry place to sleep – you are rich.  Richer than billions of others.

*I am simply a human, given a different responsibility and role to play on this earth.  God placed me where I am, and he placed others where they are.  The goal isn’t for others to become like me, a wealthy American.  The goal is simply for everyone to have ENOUGH.  What’s your “enough”? 

*God could certainly run this world without my prayers for those in need, but for some reason, he has given me, given each of us, the great honor of affecting change in this world through prayer.   God doesn’t have to work through prayers to restore this world, but He’s chosen to honor me as his masterpiece created to do good works – how could I not pray?

*If I attach the “good things” I’m supposed to be doing as a Christian as external features, like an additional arm stuck in the side of a Mr. Potato Head, I know it won’t be an authentic, lasting change.  Sure, I might persevere for a short time under the motivation of guilt or obligation or routine…Christ is inviting me instead to be transformed by his love. 

*Not only does God work through prayer to change this world, God works through prayer to change me.  When prayer is an organic part of my life, it will change my heart and spark my actions. Sincere prayer will change my heart.  The Holy Spirit will steadily transform and trade my thoughts for God’s.

*It seems that God’s great agenda for my life isn’t that I take this or that particular action.  It is that I am journeying closer to Christ and becoming more like him.  It’s not about doing something; it’s about being something.  As I become more like Christ and begin to know him more, his love and services are an organic outflow of my life. 

Okay, gotta stop there.  We could go on forever about how great this book is.  If you’re looking for a “good read”, be careful, you’ll get much more than that if you pick this one up – you’ll be transformed into having a whole new understanding of what it means to live like Christ.  Hopefully you’ll consider taking the “journey”.