simple things that you can do to change the world...

believe it or not... but there's only 4 more days of my internship!
i'm done friday night.

so after a summer of hanging out with kids and mentoring and discipling them,

and doing York university outreaches and bible studies,

ministering and hanging out with homeless folks, goin to Paris Ontario and doing a week long camp with inner city kids from all over ontario,

taking kids to field trips,

playing in a basketball tournament with some high school youth, visiting seniors and ministering to them, and all that was inbetween.... i'm really gonna miss it.

i'm really gonna miss the community, the multiculturalism and diversity, the passion for change in some of the leaders here, the church, the kids, and the people...



so one more week left, and we'll be doing basketball camp for the youth this week, should be lots of fun. last week, i coached a team of youth and we came into the championship game of the camp as underdogs, and left as champions. it was awesome just seeing how far the kids came in a week. they went from yelling at each other and being mad at each other, and giving up, to listening and learning, and playing hard and playing together, passing and distributing the ball, and even setting picks and screens for each other. it was just amazing how far they came in just a week.


anyway, this summer has taught me so much...
i've learned about all the not-so-emphasized things in the bible, like caring for the poor, the widows and orphans, and loving the least among us... from Matthew 24:40... Jesus says at the end of times, the King will say 'whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine (or the least among us), you did unto God as well...

i learned that at the end of times, (Matt 25:33) we will be separated... sheep and goat. (Matt 25:2) wise virgins(bridesmaids) or foolish ones. there's no middle ground, and there's no compromise. when Jesus returns... we're either on one side or the other...

i learned that (Matt 8:18-22) there is an extreme cost to following Jesus and a cost to discipleship, and it is our life. our whole life. no compromising. we must deny ourselves and leave everything behind. Jesus is more important than any earthly, materialistic, worldy thing. it should be like this in a way that we are not attached to anything. we should be able to detach and sacrifice anything in our life at any given time, to truly be a follower of God that denies its flesh and human desires.

i've learned that Jesus brings freedom. He frees us from bondage and footholds in our life. there is nothing we can't do when our full trust and reliance is in God

anyway... to wrap this up... im posting a list of things that John Knight compiled that can change the world... and though a lot of them may seem insignificant or very small and meaningless, they can go a long way... especially if we stay true to them and keep our integrity with it, it is part of our life-testimony, that people see us as examples and followers of Christ...

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU, THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD
from John Knight.

Community & Fellowship

1. designate 1 night per week to gather ppl of maturity and integrity for community potlucks/dinners (since our culture is often very individualistic)
2. find the 'outcasts' in your school, workplace, church, fellowship, and be their friends (for real, not just superficially)
3. make friends with at least one poor or homeless person
4. make friends with a recent immigrant of a different cultural background

Fashion

1. refrain from buying clothes that use sweatshop and child labour, as they oppress people around the world and drive poverty deeper (another option is 2nd hand clothes)
2. refrain from wearing brand names from big corporations that oppress people (Nike, Wal-Mart, etc...) however don't waste existing clothes, if possible cut off the tags or cover the logos, so you don't promote these oppresive corporations

Entertainment

1. delete stolen music/movies from your computer and/or iPod. downloading is theft/stealing
2. refrain from watching movies and TV shows (most of the ones out there) with nudity, greed, excessive profanity, violence, and just things that aren't Godly)
3. refrain from eating out at restaurants and fast food joints... that money spent could be used to feed starving kids around the world... (it also promotes selflessness, and self control, denying the spending of money on yourself)
4. refrain from spending money on entertainment or nights out (i.e. Laser Quest, Bubble Tea, bowling, D&B, going to the movies) as a lot of the over priced activities could be used to feed orphans and to provide shelter for them

Environment

1. get rid of, or reduce the use of your Dryer, as it uses extreme amounts of electricity which then leads to pollution and chemicals in the air, which can further lead to global warming and things like asthma and cancer...
2. unplug your stereo, TV, DVD player when not in use. they use electricity even if turned off
3. drive less, walk, bus, or bike more. pollution and use of oil/gasoline isn't helping the world
4. cover the top of your house with greenery (plants and such) it can cut down on heating and A/C

Money

1. do not aim to be rich (1 Tim 6:9), though you still should work hard, and still try to succeed, however don't make it your goal to be rich or to acquire material things, if you do have a lot of money, wealth, riches, thank God, and share with the poor and oppressed
2. generosity is not measured by how much you give, but by how much you have left over. sell what you don't need and give to the poor, or even to (trustworthy, reliable) organizations that distribute to the needy (Outreach International, Compassion, World Vision)

Sabbath

1. take one day out of the week to rest, it's biblical, and is much needed to enjoy all of God's blessings, and without it, we may wear ourselves down, burn out, or even become workaholics

Spiritual Life

1. pray 20 or more minutes a day in solitude (it will take 15 minutes just to clear your mind)
2. fast or skip meals and pray consistently for issues of great importance (i.e. Peace in Sudan)
3. read the bible everyday for 20 or more minutes - it will change your life
4. share with everyone you meet that Jesus is the only way to heaven

if there are any misunderstandings or misinterpretations from anything listed above, please ask me, or email me, or you can even email John himself, who said to email him if you have any questions or comments or misunderstandings about any of these.. and remember, these are only suggestions, and we shouldn't make them into religious rules.

these are just some suggestions, and there are some that i do, and some that i haven't come to yet, but it is my life goal to be able to do all of these... so i will try to mark these off and be able to get to all of them! some are a lot harder than others, but they are all very do-able, and when you see it as doing it for God, it's worth it. His love makes it worth it all.

maranatha (...till the Lord comes)
and
peace to the least (peace to the 'least among us')

jono.
unlimited in Christ.