4 Ways to Donate to Haiti!

I’m working on a new post as I’ve started reading another N.T. Wright book titled The Contemporary Quest for Jesus. But before I write any further on that post I want to make sure that those who read this blog or stumble upon it have taken time to donate some money to relief efforts for Haiti.

As a Christian it is hard to believe that God’s beautiful creation could contain such pain and suffering, but until we are reconciled into a new creation we need to stand up and support those that are suffering around us.

Here are a few ways to donate money:

1. Donate to World Vision.

2. Text “Haiti” to 90999. This will donate $10 to the Red Cross’ relief efforts. It will show up on your next cell phone bill.

3. Text “Yele” to 501501. This will donate $5 to Yele Haiti. This foundation is run by artist Wyclef Jean.

4. Donate to Doctors Without Borders. They lost their buildings in Haiti and need money to continue to give aid.

Along with financial donations, continue to pray for those affected by this disaster and those trying to help bring relief to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

The Authority of Scripture

Lately I’ve tried to define the phrase “The Authority of Scripture.” I’ve wrestled with it, fought with myself and asked most people I knew what they thought it meant. As I’ve read (and finished) Wright’s book The Last Word, I’ve started to (better) understand what the phrase means. The time line of my search looks something like this.

After reading several books by young hip pastors I started to wonder if what they were saying about Scripture was true. Most of them seemed to regard the Holy Bible as some old book from a different culture, which in turn has no place in our modern world other than to teach us to be nice to people. I disagreed, but I didn’t know why. Knowing that I wasn’t going to find my answer by reading more of the same I turned to the Bible and tried to figure it all out. While doing so I wondered if there was some short book that could kick-start my journey… I stumbled upon Wright’s book at Borders one day. I bought it.

After reading through what this man has had to say, I have to say that I mostly disagree with the post-modern Western Church. I’m not church bashing and I’m not saying that any of these pastors or teachers aren’t Christian or that they aren’t saved.

I’m going to end this post with a quote from the last chapter of Wright’s book:

“‘The authority of scripture’ refers not least to God’s work through scripture to reveal Jesus, to speak in life-changing power to the hearts and minds of individuals, and to transform them by the Spirit’s healing love.”

This isn’t the end of my struggle toward faith. It’s only the beginning. God has already started to work through the scriptures and Jesus has become real to me in a way that only scripture can make Him. The true power and authority of scripture has been revealed to me and I know that as I move forward that God will be able to transform me in a way that fluffy emotional stories can’t. Without the basis of scripture we are building a Christ for ourselves. A false idol that is self-serving. A fake Christ that I’ve held onto for far too long, because the only Christ is the one who pours Himself out through His word.

What I Believe

I’ve been working on a new post and wanted to go ahead and put up a short post about what I believe. That way everyone who reads this knows where I stand.

And what I believe is this.

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended into hell.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.