Kyle Nelson - Assistant Program Director
Richly Blessed
March, 29, 2012, 12:45 PM
A representative from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City visited us yesterday to promote a financial literacy class that our middle school students will be a part of. Their program will be focusing on helping our students understand the importance of saving money and the value that it has for their future. It is a great program and we are excited that we can help to engage our students in this way.
During the presentation a question was asked to the students, “Who would like to be a millionaire one day?” Only a few hands reached upward. “What would you do with a million dollars?” the presenter asked one of the students with their hand in the air. “I would buy a bigger house,” he answered. Again, the presenter asked, “Who would like to be a millionaire one day?” Still only a few hands remained in the air. The presenter said, “I can’t believe that no one wants to be a millionaire...” Then, the most profound statement that I have heard in a long came from a wise beyond her years seventh grader, she shared, “I don’t want to be rich. People with a lot of money can be rude.”
We can see that this is a blanket statement and know that not all of those with money are rude. We also realize that rude people are not limited to a particular socio-economic status. This student’s statement though was not about rude people but the power that money has in one’s life. Her statement is a response to the common misunderstanding of both humanity and wealth. Money does not buy happiness. This student is happy with who she is right now. She does not need a million dollars to have a good life.
It is for this reason that Bethel’s mission statement does not say, “…to offer a renewed sense of wealth,” although we know that poverty is major issue facing this community. Instead, our mission statement says, “Bethel’s mission is to offer a renewed sense of Hope.” Hope is so much more valuable than wealth. The Federal Reserve Bank shared with us yesterday, “Our money is backed by a faith in the government and in the Federal Reserve system.” Hope however does not need the backing of the government or a federal system in order to give it credibility. It stands on its own merit. It is backed by dreams, ambitions, and faith.
Hope can be fueled through conversation, friendly gestures, and in empathetic silence. Bethel’s aim is to fuel that hope. We stand as a lighthouse, a beacon, and a guiding light of hope. We stand to defend those living in our community. We stand as advocates when needed. Yet, we also stand silently beside them. Supporting them. Supporting their basic human need to feel loved. So, that although we might not all be millionaires, we can all feel richly blessed.
We can see that this is a blanket statement and know that not all of those with money are rude. We also realize that rude people are not limited to a particular socio-economic status. This student’s statement though was not about rude people but the power that money has in one’s life. Her statement is a response to the common misunderstanding of both humanity and wealth. Money does not buy happiness. This student is happy with who she is right now. She does not need a million dollars to have a good life.
It is for this reason that Bethel’s mission statement does not say, “…to offer a renewed sense of wealth,” although we know that poverty is major issue facing this community. Instead, our mission statement says, “Bethel’s mission is to offer a renewed sense of Hope.” Hope is so much more valuable than wealth. The Federal Reserve Bank shared with us yesterday, “Our money is backed by a faith in the government and in the Federal Reserve system.” Hope however does not need the backing of the government or a federal system in order to give it credibility. It stands on its own merit. It is backed by dreams, ambitions, and faith.
Hope can be fueled through conversation, friendly gestures, and in empathetic silence. Bethel’s aim is to fuel that hope. We stand as a lighthouse, a beacon, and a guiding light of hope. We stand to defend those living in our community. We stand as advocates when needed. Yet, we also stand silently beside them. Supporting them. Supporting their basic human need to feel loved. So, that although we might not all be millionaires, we can all feel richly blessed.
Neighbors, Strangers and Bicycles
January, 09, 2012, 11:45 AM
I have made it a habit to watch the news in the mornings before I go to Bethel. I do this for two reasons; first, I like to watch the weather and see what the day will bring, second, I like to stay informed about what's going on in the community. However, after watching the news I find myself to be more cynical rather than more informed. The news is full of stories that reveal the hate that is in our world. On a few occasions it highlights something great that is taking place in our neighborhoods but generally that is rare. So, today my blog is an attempt to highlight the good in our community rather than the pain and hate. I want to show that there are still good people in our world and that humankind's first instinct is still to love despite the pressure to ignore others.
Bethel has the privilege to serve many different needs here in our community. One in particular concerns a homeless man that visits us daily for a meal and place to feel at home. He rides a bicycle everywhere he goes and due to the distance that he travels puts a lot of wear on tear on this bike. I've repaired flat tires, tightened the brakes, fixed the chains and provided other maintenance to keep this bike running. Last year we even helped to purchase a new bike for him to have. But, because of fear of his own safety he turned down the gift because a shiny new bike would attract too much attention and put him at risk for being robbed. So, we work to keep his bike functioning.
Last week he came and told me that his bike wasn't working right. The problem was that his bike wouldn't go anywhere when you would pedal. This was far beyond my bike repair abilities so I called an expert. I contacted the Trek Bicycle Store in Shawnee Mission to see if they could help us. I loaded the bike in our van and drove it to the store. Christopher at the bike shop put it on the rack and immediately began to diagnose the problem. The part would cost $20 not including the cost to repair it. I explained the situation and while I was telling him the story of the man that rides the bike Christopher began repairing and tuning up all parts of the bike. He repaired the brakes, fixed the wheels, oiled the gears, cleaned the tires and replaced the broken part. His hands were covered in grease by the time he was finished. He took the bike off the rack and said, that'll be $20. I had not asked for him to do anything beyond helping fix the problem but, he helped anyway.
Christopher showed that the world is not just full of hate and anger as the news channels shows us. He was concerned for a stranger he had never met. Our world needs more neighbors like Christopher and more businesses like the Trek Store that allow their employees the discretion to help those in need. We thank Christopher today for the kindness and love that he showed.
‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink (or have a broken bike and repair it)? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:37-40
Bethel has the privilege to serve many different needs here in our community. One in particular concerns a homeless man that visits us daily for a meal and place to feel at home. He rides a bicycle everywhere he goes and due to the distance that he travels puts a lot of wear on tear on this bike. I've repaired flat tires, tightened the brakes, fixed the chains and provided other maintenance to keep this bike running. Last year we even helped to purchase a new bike for him to have. But, because of fear of his own safety he turned down the gift because a shiny new bike would attract too much attention and put him at risk for being robbed. So, we work to keep his bike functioning.
Last week he came and told me that his bike wasn't working right. The problem was that his bike wouldn't go anywhere when you would pedal. This was far beyond my bike repair abilities so I called an expert. I contacted the Trek Bicycle Store in Shawnee Mission to see if they could help us. I loaded the bike in our van and drove it to the store. Christopher at the bike shop put it on the rack and immediately began to diagnose the problem. The part would cost $20 not including the cost to repair it. I explained the situation and while I was telling him the story of the man that rides the bike Christopher began repairing and tuning up all parts of the bike. He repaired the brakes, fixed the wheels, oiled the gears, cleaned the tires and replaced the broken part. His hands were covered in grease by the time he was finished. He took the bike off the rack and said, that'll be $20. I had not asked for him to do anything beyond helping fix the problem but, he helped anyway.
Christopher showed that the world is not just full of hate and anger as the news channels shows us. He was concerned for a stranger he had never met. Our world needs more neighbors like Christopher and more businesses like the Trek Store that allow their employees the discretion to help those in need. We thank Christopher today for the kindness and love that he showed.
‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink (or have a broken bike and repair it)? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:37-40
Waiting for Jesus
December, 16, 2011, 09:29 AM
We are asked to wait everyday of our lives. Young children are taught to “wait your turn.” We teach them that it is good to know how to wait because it shows patience and patience is a virtue. As we get older we continue to wait. We wait in line at the grocery store and we wait in traffic, we wait for everything. One thing we begin to learn as adults however is that waiting only gets harder. We wait for that phone call offering us the job, we wait for the doctor to call us with the test results, and we wait for our pain to go away.
The Gospel of Luke tells us a great story of waiting. Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple eight days after his birth. A man named Simeon took Jesus in his arms, blessed God and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation…” (Luke 2.29-30) Simeon had been promised that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ. Can you imagine living knowing that you would not die until a specific moment? How do you suppose Simeon lived his life? The Bible says that he was devout and righteous. He was no longer waiting but living within the promise.
During the Christmas season we prepare ourselves for the birth of our Savior. We begin to light the Advent candles, make plans with our families and decorate our homes. These are expressions of our waiting. We celebrate Christmas differently because we know the ending. We know that the birth of this baby was not the birth of a traditional king or a ruler but the birth of the Christ that would die for us.
Knowing the end of the story allows us to live in expectation. It allows us to have some influence on how we wait. Living in expectation means that we no longer have to live waiting for suffering to end. We can work to give relief today. We no longer have to wait for peace to come but we can work to end fighting today. We no longer must wait for hunger, homelessness, oppression, hate, violence, injustice, poverty and evil to end but we can work to end it today. In this we pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
So…what are we waiting for?
During the Christmas season we prepare ourselves for the birth of our Savior. We begin to light the Advent candles, make plans with our families and decorate our homes. These are expressions of our waiting. We celebrate Christmas differently because we know the ending. We know that the birth of this baby was not the birth of a traditional king or a ruler but the birth of the Christ that would die for us.
Knowing the end of the story allows us to live in expectation. It allows us to have some influence on how we wait. Living in expectation means that we no longer have to live waiting for suffering to end. We can work to give relief today. We no longer have to wait for peace to come but we can work to end fighting today. We no longer must wait for hunger, homelessness, oppression, hate, violence, injustice, poverty and evil to end but we can work to end it today. In this we pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
So…what are we waiting for?