It’s been a long year this past couple of weeks (at least it seems like that long).
Our best friends are having an extremely difficult time with one of their children. A grandniece is putting her parents and siblings through the wringer with her behavior. A nephew is trying to keep his father-sister-nephew on an even keel after losing his mother to cancer. It appears that a gas pipe-line will be going through our neighboring towns–including right through our church property. My town is completely broke financially and is trying to get by with less than minimal services. The world news is even worse, with a new Ebola outbreak in Africa. Israel is striking back at the Palestinians who seem to think it’s okay to explode bombs that kill Jewish civilians, but then cry bloody murder if Israeli bombs kill Palestinian non-combatants. Civilian planes are blown out of the sky simply because some terrorist has figured out a way to do it. The darkness is falling and it’s getting darker and darker…
…Then I heard this song on a KLOVE radio station.
“Do Something” by Matthew West
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you”If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do somethingI’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine, shine, shine, shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
I could stop right here and say ’nuff said. But God doesn’t just wait until we say like Isaiah, Lord, send me and then do nothing. Once we do make that choice to be the one to do, say, or change something, God shows up! He showed up for the Hebrews in Egypt, He showed up for Moses even before the flood, He showed up for Joseph while he was still in prison, He showed up for David and Solomon. He showed up for Ruth and Esther in the Old Testament and Peter and Paul in the New Testament. The list is endless. God always shows up, but only when his people do. He’s always there, waiting. Step up and see the power of God!
Ken's Fireside Chat 