I first heard of the earthquake on local radio. Since all local news media (newspaper, radio and tv) tend to make things more dramatic, I did not know if things were really as bad as the reporters claimed. I also had my own issues to deal with on Tuesday night. When I returned to my house, I was robbed by two teenagers.
Yesterday morning I turned on the TV, but it was 6:30AM in Haiti, and there still were only a few picture. During the day I check the news online, and it looked bad, but it wasn't until last night when I returned home that I saw just how hopeless the situation seems. I could not keep watching. It did not seem possible to sit and watch such suffering.
Yeah, there is poverty here in Honduras. Yes there is political issues. A popular reply that people say when you ask "How are you?" is to say En la lucha. In Haiti people are actually in a lucha or battle to survive.
Brothers and sister in Haiti, you are in my prayers. Be strong Daniel Jean-Louis!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Where is your heart Laban... FORTUNE or FAMILY
Something that stood out to me was that Laban ran to meet the servant when, "... he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms" (24:22-27). The author of Genesis clearly wanted to point out that Laban's love of material wealth prompted his hospitality.
Now we see just how Laban's love of material wealth divides his family. His son-in-law Jacob looks to run away because of unfair labor practices (changing his wage 10 times) and his daughters support the decision because Laban had sold them (to Jacob) and, "...used up what was paid for [them]" (31:14-16). Rachel and Leah state, "Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children."
What a sad family. Not only has Laban's love of possessions turn his daughters against him, but they also have no problem stealing his gods from him(could these be expensive items that come between him and God instead of carved imagines that were worshiped?). Rachel's lie is both direct to her father and indirect to her husband. I am sure it didn't slip her mind to tell Jacob, she had her own love of possessions.
Yes, God can use us in spite of our problems, but we also need to be careful about what we love. The ten commandments were needed to keep lies, stealing and love of items/gods out of the patriarchs' and their wives' lives.
REDEMPTION: How interesting is the difference between the GOODBYE from Laban and the GREETING of Esau. While Laban and Jacob clashed about material goods (even Rachel, Leah and the tribes were seen as items of wealth not family), Esau refused the first offer of Jacob's material wealth and instead wept for joy to see his brother again. Even if Esau's initial refusal was a cultural norm, it presents a clear difference as Laban seemed to care about FORTUNE and Esau about FAMILY.
Now we see just how Laban's love of material wealth divides his family. His son-in-law Jacob looks to run away because of unfair labor practices (changing his wage 10 times) and his daughters support the decision because Laban had sold them (to Jacob) and, "...used up what was paid for [them]" (31:14-16). Rachel and Leah state, "Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children."
What a sad family. Not only has Laban's love of possessions turn his daughters against him, but they also have no problem stealing his gods from him(could these be expensive items that come between him and God instead of carved imagines that were worshiped?). Rachel's lie is both direct to her father and indirect to her husband. I am sure it didn't slip her mind to tell Jacob, she had her own love of possessions.
Yes, God can use us in spite of our problems, but we also need to be careful about what we love. The ten commandments were needed to keep lies, stealing and love of items/gods out of the patriarchs' and their wives' lives.
REDEMPTION: How interesting is the difference between the GOODBYE from Laban and the GREETING of Esau. While Laban and Jacob clashed about material goods (even Rachel, Leah and the tribes were seen as items of wealth not family), Esau refused the first offer of Jacob's material wealth and instead wept for joy to see his brother again. Even if Esau's initial refusal was a cultural norm, it presents a clear difference as Laban seemed to care about FORTUNE and Esau about FAMILY.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Yearly Post
Hello 2010! Hopes for this year...
Work or school
Transformemos Honduras (Let's Transform Honduras)
Cubs win the World Series
Reading through the Bible - In Chronological Order
Economic Development in Honduras - Partners Worldwide
to be continued...
Work or school
Transformemos Honduras (Let's Transform Honduras)
Cubs win the World Series
Reading through the Bible - In Chronological Order
Economic Development in Honduras - Partners Worldwide
to be continued...
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