John Dehne: LIVE with a sinner/saint

Something Meaningful 2011

2011-12-30T17:53:00.000-08:00

So this year, I have observed many of my friends commenting about the real meaning of Christmas and how we should not get so caught up in the consumerism that is all around us during this time of year. Specifically, there was a picture posted on Facebook that created quite a stir. Let me describe it to you. On on side it had the image of a malnourished, thirsty, under clothed, dying child. On the other side...a picture of a home that is fully decorated for Christmas. As though this contrast was not enough to strike a chord, the picture also contained two words: define necessity. The image was intended to get us thinking about those who are lacking bare essentials as we focus on our excess (and feel entitled to do so).

This image...and the ensuing conversations/comments...got me thinking: Why are we talking so much about this image, but not actually doing anything? Thus, I decided to do something. This year I am committed to doing something meaningful as I prepare to celebrate Jesus' initial coming.

I have begun a campaign through Charity:Water to try to raise $500 to help those who lack clean water. So far (as of this writing) we have already raised $900 towards that goal. However, we can do more. I would like to challenge you to actually do something meaningful this Christmas.

Please consider clicking on the link to the right (http://mycharitywater.org/somethingmeaningful2011) and making a contribution that will help someone else have what is truly necessary this Christmas. And in advance, let me say "Thanks" for helping!

off to India...and thinking

2010-11-13T05:35:00.000-08:00

"When you do something out of love, the results are different that when you do something out of pity,or out of duty."

Judith Bukambu

That comment from the video, "The Shadows of Virtue", (watch the trailer at www.johndehne.com) has again caused me to stop and reflect on my heart and my motives. You see, later today I begin traveling for my latest trip to India. I will be revisiting many of the villages that I saw a year ago. I will get to again spend time with friends I have made in the past...brother and sisters who live half a world away. I will get to serve the poorest of the poor on the Indian sub continent. But why?

You see, I have been reflecting again on the difference between charity and compassion. Between love and guilt. Between the desire for self-gratifying service and self-sacrificing living.

So As I climb aboard a series of planes to make the trip across the globe, I want to encourage you to join me in thinking about these topics. And if you'd like to dig a little deeper, here are a few thoughts from the Bible that might spur further thought:

^{Matthew 9:35} Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

^{Matthew 5:43} “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

^{Matthew 5:1} Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The EvENT...

2010-08-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend another Cardinal baseball game with a good friend. It was a wonderful evening…the Cards won, the weather was great, I was with someone that I enjoy spending time with (and don’t get to see enough these days). The experience also provided a moment that I have thought about quite a bit this week.

Around the 7th inning, the people on the other side of the stadium must have decided that things were a little boring. How do I know this? Well, because it was about that time that something began to happen over there that would impact everyone in the stadium. It began as just a few people. Then things slowly overtook the entire section. Slowly, things began to gain momentum until everyone in the stadium was involved in, entertained by, or irritated by what was happening. What is this remarkable event? The Wave.

What I find fascinating is that while the wave can be so enjoyed or so strongly disliked – the guys sitting behind us at the game immediately went into a “What, are we back in the 80’s?” diatribe during which they made it very clear how much they hated the activity – it is a contagious event that ultimately captivates almost everyone. How can people so blindly follow and participate in an activity that, literally, leads nowhere and accomplishes nothing?

Ahh, there it is. That provides the context for what I have been thinking about since my weekend encounter with such a time honored sporting event phenomenon. How can people blindly follow and participate in an activity that, literally, leads nowhere and accomplishes nothing? This question has caused me to again reflect on what my life means and what it is being used to accomplish. Am I willing to consider the plans that God has for me (especially those that go against my own ideas, desires, or personal comfort), or am I simply giving “lip service” to the God who created me, has redeemed me, and has prepared in advance good works for me to accomplish?

I’d like to challenge you to consider these questions with me. Honestly look at you life and see what you are following. What is it that “marks” your life? What are you willing to give for the God who gave everything for you?

*By the way, while I found it interesting, I did not participate in the wave…

Dr. Voelz doing the monosyllable word dance.

2010-07-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

It has been an interesting week in Greek class. To prove my point, here is Dr. Voelz as he does a little dance to illustrate how two sets of words are accented in Greek.

Greek Duel - 1801 Reenactment

2010-07-20T04:13:00.001-07:00

Dr. Voelz describes a duel that took place in 1801 over which man was a better Greek scholar...and then two Greek students reenact the dual using slingshots and mini cup cakes.

June 24, 2010 - Greek...Week 2

2010-06-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

Final week (before Greek)...

2010-06-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

Shoes...

2010-06-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

So the other night I walked into our living room where I had been relaxing a few minutes earlier and saw an interesting sight. Where my slippers/sandals sat on the ottoman (where I had left them earlier) I saw that they had now been "added to". My son had come in and seen them laying there and had gone and gotten his Spiderman flip flops and had placed them inside of my shoes. Why? When I asked him he just smiled and said because they fit there (he also said later that it was because he wanted to be like his dad). Hmm...

Not only does this make a dad smile (and it does!), but I also think that in normal fashion one of my kids was teaching me...and us...what it means to have a Dad and want to follow him. Obviously I am not talking about earthly dads but of our relationship with God.

I believe that discipleship (following Jesus with our lives as living testimonies) is something that is terribly missing in today's "Church". We want to conveniently fit Jesus into the comfortable areas of our life, around our schedule, just where we want Him. But rarely do we think about what His lordship means and thus what it means for our lives to fit in with His.

As the writer of Philippians said in chapter 3:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

What would it mean for us to live, as my son demonstrated, with a passionate desire to follow with our lives? What would it mean for us to live lives where we wanted our footsteps to follow in His - to the point that we are actually living inside of His? What would it mean for us to truly want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death?

Not just a cute photo, but something deeper to think about as well...

johndehne.com update

2010-05-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

In this video, John walks through some of the reasons for the johndehne.com site...as well as some of the tools for dialogue about what it means to be "Church".

Shadows of Vitrue

2010-05-20T08:22:00.001-07:00

Last year I took my first trip oversees...and it opened my eyes in many ways! Though my wife, Jill, was born on the foreign mission field (in West Africa), I had only read about the conditions that the majority of global citizens face as art of their daily existence. Suffice it so say that words on a printed page do not capture the reality of things very well.

Many in the world face poor water quality (if any water is even readily available to them), terrible health conditions, minimal food, persecution, social injustice, etc. Hardships that are often too intense to even imagine.

The scriptures are full of references to the poor. Jesus spoke of Himself in connection to the poor by saying that what was done (or not done) to them was done to Him. The proverbs speak of the care for the poor and the value of character over riches. Specifically, Proverb 19 speaks to this subject. Verse 17 says, " He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done."

We are called to care for the poor...as an extension of Jesus' love for us and our response to Him. And God says that He will reward us for it! After spending time in India last year (and planning to again this year) I can honestly say that I understand at least a little bit of the reward that was received.

So maybe you can't travel abroad - though if you want to head to India with me this fall please let me know! But maybe you can't. How can you gain a better understanding of things from the USA when words don't seem to capture the reality of things?

Recently I ordered and watched a short film called The Shadows of Virtue. It is an independent work that examines the difference between charity and sacrificial service. It is a GREAT film! If you are interested in seeing a great film that captures the reality of this subject better than any words could, click on the link above and check out the Shadows project. I pray that God will stir a new discussion within you about what it means to love the poor and to help in caring for them!

beer vendors

2010-05-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

John reflects on a recent trip to Busch Stadium...and his thoughts on two beer vendors.

Food bank...and God's provision.

2010-05-09T11:50:00.001-07:00

042710 - Loading/Moving Day 1

2010-04-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

This was recorded just a couple of hours before we began to load the truck for the move to St. Louis...

Cape Girardeau Concert Afternoon

2010-04-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

This is a short video that I captured as the band was rehearsing for the evening concert. I am excited about the evening...as I have the joy of talking about the hope that I have because of Jesus! It should be fun!

johndehne.com initial message

2010-04-22T07:58:00.000-07:00