Voice Box

bono on the adventure of compassion

Watch Bono accept an award from the NAACP. When you are 'parched for a vision,' Bono 'climbs into the pulpit for just one moment.' Watch this short video and hear a kind of poetry and preaching that shouts the message, 'God has a special place for the poor. The poor are where God lives.... God, my friends, is with the poor. And God is with us if we are with them.' Sounds a lot like what Jesus said in Matthew 25. On this eve of World AIDS Day, let's not forget the poor among us. Let's not forget to love our neighbor as ourselves, whether or not they're sick. Remember, Jesus never cared how someone got sick. Rather, he loved them with a compassion that heals and renews. As of 2005, there were 40 million people living with AIDS on our planet and another 15 million children orphaned by AIDS. You can live with a compassion that is more contagious than this disease. Go to 5 for 50 to find out how to be with the poor.

the 12 days of Christmas

be part of a global Christmas party for orphaned children for just $12 through 5 for 50. if you're wondering what you can do to make a difference in a child's life this year, here is your answer. be the hands and feet of Jesus this Christmas.

the angels' song

Listen to the angels’ song.

“Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

“Glory to God in the highest heaven
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

Luke 2:10-12, 14 (NRSV)

Messengers and Ministers.

Angels, angelos in the Greek, are active participants in the story of Jesus. Sounds appetizing, doesn’t it? Isn’t that what we’re after? To be active participants in the story of Jesus? Then let’s look closer at what or who angels are. They are messengers and ministers. They proclaim and protect. They proclaim the realm God’s glory and presence. And they protect God’s children who are in danger and in need. The basic purpose of these spiritual beings is rendering service to God, whether in praising God or in ministering on God’s behalf in the realm of human affairs. This realm of human affairs is empty of God’s glory and peace. Despair and hopelessness put children on the endangered species list. This should not be. So angels roll in shouting of God’s goodness and showing God’s mercy. As we are invited into the story, as we become active participants in the story of Jesus, we also become in a way, angelos. We shout and show. And the evil scatters.

What message of God’s glory do you need to share today, this week, this season? To whom do you need to minister as a representative of God’s mercy?

Terrified.

Fear is often the first response when we humans are confronted with God’s glory and goodness. We’re afraid that we’ll simply implode or explode because we just can’t stand it. Our fragile frames can’t handle the strength and our fragmented minds can’t handle the perfection. So these rough, blue-collar sheepherders are scared out of their minds. The angel’s first response is to calm them. Fear of God is close to wisdom. But God doesn’t want to just scare us. But much of what’s going on in the world is scary. Famine, disease, war, poverty, hatred. These things scare us out of our minds. Imagine, however, if it was God who frightened us. And with the strength God then breathes into us, we could chase after the horrors of our planet with courage and faith. It’s scary to minister to orphaned children around the world. There are risks in travel. The conditions are often uncomfortable and unhealthy. There are financial risks when our priorities change from paying our bills and just getting by to giving to those in need.

So how will we respond when God’s glory lands right beside us right in the middle of an ordinary day and an ordinary life? What about international ministry to orphaned children scares you? What follows the initial fear? Apathy or courage?

For Everybody. Everywhere.

All the people. This is a much more important phrase than we at first realize. It’s easy to read over it, letting our eyes glide past the enormous grace in these three words. This Greek word for all, pas, means each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything. What a message! The whole is affected by the arrival of Jesus Christ. That means those on the fringes are being gathered. Those underneath are being lifted up. Those on the outside are now in. Those alone are in community. Those broken and battered are healed. Those afraid are encouraged. Those hungry are fed. This is a decree that leaves the political announcements of Roman rulers scraping for attention and influence. This is the decree that we remember. All people, everybody everywhere is getting this Christmas gift of good news and great joy.

Who gets left out when you think of God’s good and joyful message? Is it orphaned children? The poor? Members of your own family? How can you rethink God’s message so that it is bigger and stronger and better news than you originally realized?

The Cosmic Drama.

I’m often reminded at Christmastime that this story of God that we celebrate with meals and gifts and carols and a decorated tree is a cosmic and galaxy-changing story. The angels play such an important role in this, as well. Angels in Scripture are divided into two opposing forces – the good angels of God and the demonic hosts under the leadership of Satan. And here are the good angels appearing in the wide night sky lit up by one bright star announcing a victory in the form of a poor Jewish child born to unsuspecting teenage parents in a barn. What a story! This story is in a way unbelievable. This is why it is so beautiful! It is as unbelievable as an orphaned child in Russia graduating from university to become a social worker to care for other children growing up as he or she did. It is as unbelievable as a child in a nation ravished by HIV/AIDS having the confidence and security to stay healthy. It is these children alone and despairing becoming adults with an active faith, healthy relationships, a vocation that gives them provision and meaning. These are the characters in this cosmic drama. And the lead character is a poor peace child.

What distracts you from the breadth and depth of the story of Christmas? What distracts you from caring for the orphaned and the poor? What new Christmas traditions can you begin to defeat those distractions and embrace the peaceful and compassionate drama that we celebrate this time of year?

Glory, Peace, and Favor.

Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors! This turns the world around. This reverses a history of injustice and conflict. Glory and peace will now take shape and grow and shine, shine, shine. This is good news. This is the Christmas mission. What breaks my heart is that God’s glory has been stolen and perverted into the glory of humans who would steal, kill, and destroy from vulnerable people. What breaks my heart is that peace is extinct and wars rage on every continent. But the Christmas mission proclaims with the angels, sings with Mary and Zechariah, that God is breaking in. Glory and peace are here.

Who or what gets the glory at Christmas? Is there peace at Christmas? How can you be an ambassador of God’s glory and an agent of God’s peace this Christmas? In your own home, your own community, and around the world for the orphaned children and poor scattered over our planet?

Let’s listen again to the angels’ song. This time from The Message.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

“Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”

after thanksgiving...

welcome back from the thanksgiving break.

julie, judah, and i had a great visit from julie's parents. john and carmine, known to judah as ganny and gacah, live near buffalo, ny and came to visit for six days. besides all of us fighting off the flu in turn, we did have a good time. it was good to get some rest with family. we are just weeks (or days) away from the next little clark. she's on her way. the due date is december 18, but babies come early at this altitude. please keep us in prayer in these final days. pray that julie would be as comfortable as possible in her final weeks of pregnancy. pray that julie and baby would be healthy and strong for labor and deliver. and pray that i and big brother judah would be a great help and support to our girls.

you can look for another edition of the 'songs' blogs tomorrow, the angels' song from luke 2:14. after that we'll keep going on the episodes of reflection from my most recent trip to russia.

happy christmas!

zechariah's song

Read Zechariah’s song Luke 1:68-79.

What will this child become?

Parents without children and children without parents: this grieves the heart of God. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth lived righteous and blameless lives, though Elizabeth was unable to have children. Zechariah was a priest and while serving in the sanctuary an angel appeared to him. Fear paralyzed him. The message: he would have a son! His son would be great in the sight of the Lord, turn the hearts of parents to their children, turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and make people ready for the Lord. He didn’t believe at first. So he was struck mute until all this would happen. When Elizabeth gave birth to John and the people around began to put things together – the vision, the muteness, the name – they asked, ‘what then will this child become?’ The relationship between parents and children is paramount in the birth narrative of John the Baptist. First, our characters are childless. This does put Elizabeth in good company: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah. But it is also a source of grief and shame. Yet she and her husband continued to live faithfully… until the announcement came from Gabriel that they would have a son. Part of this announcement was the compelling and provocative statement that this child would ‘turn the hearts of parents to their children.’ Broken families grieves the heart of God. The family of God is characterized by unconditional love, forgiveness, safety, and mutual submission.

What will orphaned children become? Will they become a statistic? Or will they be someone who reverses the unhealthy and unholy things in our world? To whom do you need to turn your heart? Does the gospel message of reconciliation speak to any difficult relationships in your life?

Waiting and Expectation

One of the reasons that I love Advent and Christmas – this is really my favorite time of year! – is that it is characterized by waiting and expectation. We are looking ahead with hope and imagination and excitement. We know that though the days are short and the nights are long that soon new light will break. Elizabeth and Zechariah had a similar posture as they waited for their son to arrive. Elizabeth spent months in seclusion and Zechariah spent the time in silence. This time was not characterized by activity but by waiting and watching for God’s activity. There is of course a time for action, but there is also a time for waiting. We must be patient in our relationships and in our mission. It takes time to see God’s hope and practical help bring life transformation to a child in need.

What is your posture as we approach Christmas? Is it characterized by chaos and activity, or by waiting and expectation? What are you looking for? What are you moving toward? In the next five weeks? In your ministry to children in need?

Benedictus

Now we’ve set the stage. Let’s get to the lyrics in Zechariah’s song. Just as Mary’s song is traditionally referred to as the Magnificat, Zechariah’s song is traditionally referred to as the Benedictus. This is the first word in Latin, blessing. Mary magnified God – gave God more space, more attention. Zechariah is praising God – bringing God blessing and glory and honor – for God’s mighty and merciful activity in his life and throughout the history of his people. This benediction is in response to God’s activity. This reminds us that our relationship with God doesn’t begin and end with us, rather God is the source and the goal of history and mission and all of life. Blessing God will displace us from the center and put God where God belongs.

What do you consider to be the source and goal of your ministry to the poor and orphaned children? What attitudes and actions need adjusted in order to place God in the center of the mission?

Might and Mercy. Promise and Memory.

These themes return. We encountered them in Mary’s song and now they show up again in Zechariah’s song. They must be important. The balance between the might of God and the mercy of God is in itself a message of hope and salvation. To err to one side or the other could result in disaster. Too much might results in domination, violence, and oppression. Too much mercy results in passivity, victimization, and anarchy. But our God does not err. Our God is full of might and mercy. And just like in Mary’s song, Zechariah praises God for God’s promises. God remembers promises. I am so forgetful. I need lists and reminders and still I forget important things. But God needs no reminder to keep promises, to act in might and mercy.

Is their balance in your ministry, in your prayer? To whom do you show mercy? Against what do you need to stand up and fight with might? What promises to you need to make? What promises do you need to keep? What promises do you need to praise and thank God for?

The Call of the Rescued

The mood and power of this song rises through the first six verses until the call to action… that we, being rescued…! There is a life and calling in response to the might and mercy, promise and memory of God. This call is to serve with courage, holiness, righteousness, and endurance. We don’t receive mercy so that we can get fat on it. We don’t benefit from the might of God so that we can build bigger walls to keep the misfits out. We receive so that we can give. We, the rescued, are called to be ambassadors and advocates, conduits of compassion. My prayer and my mission is that we, being rescued, would rescue those in need around the world. Many are drowning at ‘the hands of enemies.’ And it is our outstretched hands that God is using to rescue them into full life – salvation, forgiveness, mercy, peace.

Does the gospel compel you to action? What is the relationship of faith and works, salvation and ministry in your life? As you have been rescued by God, who are you reaching out to rescue?

Light will break upon us.

Zechariah’s song reaches its climax, in my opinion, when he says, ‘And you, child…!’ This blessed story of God’s might and mercy has a couple new characters. Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John have been invited into the story. You and I have been invited into the story. And you will live the blessed life of God! The longest night and the shortest day of our year is the winter solstice, December 22nd. The sun is at its lowest and furthest point for us in the Northern Hemisphere. But it is at this moment that things begin to change, a new character enters the story. More sun, more light, more warmth (eventually!). The image of light is used again and again throughout Scripture to tell of God’s presence over and against the enemies that seek to steal, kill, and destroy from vulnerable people: widows, orphans, and strangers. But this light will come. It will rescue. It will heal. It will guide. It will warm. The light of God will break upon us.

Do you recognize that God is inviting you into a light-filled story of hope and help, rescue and redemption? Do you realize that there are poor and orphaned children that need you to respond to God’s call on your life? Are you living in the light?

Episode 3: Reflections on a Vision Trip (Nov 2)

We woke in Soligalich hotel and drove back toward the city of Kostroma. Today we were headed to Nikolskoye. Nikolskoye is a Type VII boarding school which means that children with mental and emotional challenges are housed there. Many of them have been rejected and abandoned by their parents. Others still maintain a relationship with their parents, but still they are living an orphaned life away from the unconditional love and support found in a healthy home.

The kids at Nikolskoye are close to my heart. For three weeks this summer I was their family group leader at summer camp. Roma, my translator and comrade-in-arms, and I chose to work with this group because we were told by the camp director, Nikolai, that they were the most difficult group. He was right. The first days were characterized by absent care takers and moody and disrespectful children walking out in the middle of our planned activities. Smoking behind the broken down amphitheater, sneaking out after dark, and talking back to adults in authority - this was the norm. But we kept loving them. And another thing we did... we expected more from them. One of the tragedies for an orphaned child is that people only expect them to fail. They are only expected to be a burden to society. For someone to lovingly expect that they can succeed and be healthy and whole is one of the most profound ways to minister to a child in this situation. Things began to change and strong bonds were formed. We had conversations about prayer, addiction, marriage and parenting, life goals and lifestyles.

Two stories of my time with the kids from Nikolskoye over the summer stand out to me. I share these because they made me so excited to return there just a few weeks ago.

Roma and I would spend about 45 minutes or an hour with them every evening having some down time, saying good night. We told stories and jokes, watched clips from Narnia, sang songs, and talked about our days together. The first night I simply wished them 'good night and sweet dreams' and left. A couple nights later I went for a handshake with the boys. Then a couple days later, a touch on the shoulder. Then finally, I gave some boys hugs as I left them for the night. In my first meeting, you would have thought that they would never want a hug, though it is obvious that they desperately needed one. The first night I gave them hugs good night, I noticed that some boys circled back to have another hug good night. They were so hungry for healthy affection, attention, and affirmation. This is what an orphaned child needs to survive and thrive!

One night, Roma and I went - as we often did - to catch some kids smoking behind the amphitheater (a sometimes entertaining activity for this former youth pastor and a way to catalyze conversations about good choices). As we came around the corner one night with Natasha, our son's nanny who herself grew up in an orphanage, we found two of our girls, Nadya and Ira, with 7 teenage boys from a neighboring village. The boys were up to no good. As I came around the corner, I said, 'Nadya, Ira, we've come to say good night.' They instantly left the boys they were embracing and ran to our side. We said good night and they immediately went to their dorms and to bed. Then we had a short conversation with the boys to make sure they knew that our camp wasn't their dating service. (Those are fun conversations!) On the walk back, Natasha said something that moved me emotionally and humbled me very much. She said, 'they treated you like a papa. They've never had a papa and they treated you like a papa.' Children's HopeChest exists to take the blessing of family to orphaned children living without.

It was so good to see my kids from Nikosloye... Lena, Nastya, Nadya, Andre, Sergei, Maxim, and others. They were doing well. Warm hugs and wide smiles greeted us. What a difference from when I first met them in June! Three of the girls are soon to graduate and desire to go to a tech school to learn the trade of a seamstress and tailor. However, they have no place to live upon graduation. Please pray with me that we could provide them with a safe and healthy living arrangement. If you're interested in learning more about the different ways that HopeChest supports orphan graduates, please email me.

After our too-brief visit to Nikoslkoye, we went to the Kostroma Ministry Center. We toured the apartment of some girls in our Independent Living Program, as well as enjoyed a tour of the Ministry Center. The Ministry Center is a place of holistic support and connection for orphan grads charting a course toward adult life in their teens and twenties. A pizza party and games followed. We met a young lady named Olya and her 4 month old son, Daniil (that's my name in Russian!). They seemed happy and healthy though I am certain that life as an orphan grad and single mom must be overwhelming. I pray that she has the courage to endure. Alexie and Natalia, the 'parents' leading our Young Mothers program, are taking good care of Olya and her baby boy.

Later that night, I took advantage of the opportunity to see some good friends. I get to Kostroma a couple times of year and my days and nights are often so full - so I had to squeeze in some social time. Jerry, Jim, and Greg joined me for some pizza at Druzhba (Friendship) with my dear friends Nastya, Kyrill, Dema, and Dasha. On the way we saw two young ladies who had worked with us at camp over the summer, Luda and Nadya. It was good to be with old friends and new friends alike.

Episode 2: Reflections on a Vision Trip (Nov 1)

We woke at the Volga Hotel - many of us earlier than we wanted because of jet lag. The night before we heard that the electronic gate that allows buses in and out of the transportation company's lot was broken. We were unsure when the bus would come to get us for the 3 and 1/2 hour drive north to Soligalich. Welcome to the world of international mission. 'Flexibility is your friend, expectation is your enemy.' The bus arrived around 9:30AM and we started the drive.

We had orientation on the drive up. Remember that we had just met 2 days before and had been totally engaged in travel for the last 32 hours. Now our feet were on the ground in Russia and we could spend some time getting to know each other and getting to know the context and culture of orphan care in Russia with Children's HopeChest.

Soligalich is, as Greg Arthur said in his blog, Holiness Reeducation, a village that time forgot. It does feel like you're walking back in time 100 years when you roll into town. 80 orphaned children with special needs live in a boarding school here that has been sponsored by a church through HopeChest for 7 years. Conditions leave much to be desired (including the local hotel), but the hearts of the children are warm in large part due to Nastya's visits. She's the discipler that goes to Soligalich weekly as part of the church sponsorship program with Capo Beach Calvary in Orange County, CA.

I have friends in Soligalich. It was the first orphanage my wife and I visited on our first trip to Russia with HopeChest in May 2004. My wife and I became good friends at that time with an 8 year old boy named Arsen. He's always smiled a lot, but he hasn't grown much in the last 4 years. He doesn't eat well. He asked me several times to return for his 12th birthday in January. Another boy in Arsen's class, Kolya, also holds a special place in our hearts. He loves to sing and he's very well-behaved. This summer we went on a walk with him at camp. He told us about the alcoholism and abuse that was part of his family. We didn't even ask. We asked him if he has any brothers and sisters and how long he had lived at Soligalich. Then he held our hands as we walked and told us stories that horrified us. On this most recent trip I met a 14 year old girl named Lena. She caught my attention because anytime I saw her during the day, she was humming or singing a song under her breath. I can relate. Bob and I spent some time with her and one of her friends, Alla. We ended the day singing songs and exchanging letters. As we did so, I noticed the scars up and down her arms where she had repeatedly cut herself.

Choice and control. These are the characteristics of wealth, opportunity, and security. Orphaned children have neither. This is why eating disorders and self-mutilation are so common among them. It is something in their life that they can actually control. But in doing so, beautiful children like Lena and Arsen are destroying themselves.

As difficult as these circumstances were, the day at the orphanage ended sweetly with songs, hugs and kisses.

I ended the night with my roommates, Jerry, Greg, and David, talking late into the night about anything and everything: theology, ministry, marriage, children, Russia, cheese, and chocolate.

happy birthday julie!

today is my wife's birthday. today i am celebrating the color and flavor that she brings to my life. Jesus told his followers that they were to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, the flavor and the color. julie lives this as well as anyone i know. there's a million things i love her for. i love her for being an incredible mama to jude and the little girl on the way. i love her for loving laughter and parties and music and reading. i love her for caring for those in need and for her devotion to bible study and worship. i love her for being an incredible cook. i love her for helping me to be a healthy and whole person and live the life God called me to. but all this can be summarized by saying that i love the color and flavor she brings into my life. and it's not just yellow and garlic, though that's her favorite color and she is italian. she brings the color and flavor of life in God's kingdom into my everyday life. for that i am thankful. this is what i'm celebraing today.

Episode 1: Reflections on a Vision Trip (October 30 and 31)

Over the next week or so, I'll share with you about what we saw and experienced on our recent trip to Russia. This is Episode 1.

One of my favorite moments in leading these trips is that first introduction at the gate in the Atlanta airport. Ten people have come together and are meeting for the first time. Our reasons for being there vary. The decisions and direction that brought us there varies.

Here are my friends for our 12 day adventure...

Pastor Bob from First Congregational Church in St. Joseph, MI. Pastor Jim for H2O in Orlando, FL. Pastor Robert and Ernie from St. Mark United Methodist Church in Birmingham, AL. Pastor Greg and David, Carol, and Michele from Christ United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC. And Jerry Kaufman from Orlando, FL.

The reason this first meeting is one of my favorite moments is that I have some kind of idea of what to expect for the next 12 days. These strangers will be life-long friends when we next pass through this airport. God will build community among us through our shared experiences and shared vision to live an adventurous life of compassion.

So we get comfortable on our 10 hour TransAtlantic flight. Sleeping, stretching, and good movies are not always guaranteed. But nonetheless, when we arrive in Moscow, we make it unscathed through the intimidating Passport control lines, gather our bags, pass through the Customs Green Line and meet three smiling staffmembers of Fund Nadezhda, HopeChest's Russian partner. Masha, Katya, and Yana welcome us. 'We greet you to Moscow.' We have lunch and begin the 5 hour drive north through the suburbs of Moscow, rolling fields and birch forests, small villages, and wide open sky to the city of Kostroma.

After dinner at The Yellow Submarine and checking in at the Volga Hotel, we bed down. The next day will be our first in an orphanage together.

a series of reflections on the vision trip

greg arthur, a pastor at christ united methodist church in chapel hill, nc is blogging about his experiences with children's hopechest and the vision trip i've just returned from. follow along at his blog, holiness reeducation.