Here she is!

Are you ready? Here's the most recent picture that I have received of her. Isn't she beautiful? Her letters are even better. I'm going to try to transcribe one on here.





This was the first picture we received of her. Can ya see why she's so wonderful? What a doll!




Here's my transcription of the first response letter we got from her!

Dear Paul Stevens,

Rahma greets you she says praise the Lord Jesus! She says she is fine together with her family and continuing wel with their daily activities. She asks is your family fine?

She says that she thanks you so much for your prayers for she is continuing well with her daily school studies together with the Bible studies she is studying on Saturday at the central.

She continues to say that she thanks you so much for the good letter you sent her. She says she was very happy to know your family also she was very happy to get information that you are living in San Diego city, she says may God bless you so much for your love.

She says that the weather condition here now in lringa is rain then they have start to prepare the fields and grow different crops. She says she loves you so much and she would be happy if one day you will come to their home. Lastly she says be blessed with the Lord.

Rahma

How's that for a letter! Can you see why I can't just turn away? I want to thank everyone that's given so far, whether it's through money or prayer. God is so blessing you for giving this wonderful child a chance. God loves you and so do I!

A small plea for Compassion

I'm going to have to start posting again. I don't want to be put in the "blogatical" category. Seems as if everyone is going on some kind of break from blogging. Carlos, Anne Jackson, even Heidi at Candid Chatter. Soooo, maybe I'll blog a little more to make up for their lost voices.

It's funny how Satan works. He knows where my pride and ego are. He knows where I'll normally stop relying on help from God and the people he puts into my life. He knows that I want to be able to declare myself "self-sufficient" without the need of help from anyone. That's a real bad place for me to be. When things are rough, especially financially, I have a tendency to shut up and try to figure out a way around it. I would never ask for help. I can figure it out by myself.

That's why I love the spiritual principle of tithing. It makes me totally rely on God instead of leaving myself to my own devices. It makes me take some kind of "ownership" interest in my church. I feel that when I'm tithing it really is "my" church, my family's spiritual home. What's awesome is that God hasn't let us down. No one in my house is going hungry, the bills are somewhat paid, and we have a roof over our head.

It's also making me reach out to you. The people that read this blog. To do something that I totally hate to do. Which is ask for some help. Not for me necessarily. To help someone I really care about. My Compassion Child. Rahma from Tanzania.

We have barely been getting by financially. The last couple of months I've been able to keep my commitment to her but this month I haven't been able to figure a way to do it. I know that it's only $32 a month. If I could figure out where to get it from without asking for help I would do it. I still wouldn't ask for help but I think God is leading me to do this. To put down my ego. To swallow my pride. To let others do what I can't. As hard as that is to admit.

The old me would have let her go. Cut her loose. Push her off on to someone else. That not what the new me is going to do. I'm going to figure out how to help this girl. Even if it means, gulp! asking for help. I don't care if I have to beg for $32 a month every month for the rest of my commitment to her.

So Rahma is now going to be God, Me, and Poker's kid. I'm going to figure out a way that you can give money to her. If anyone has suggestions let me know. Any money that you give will go straight to Rahma's Compassion account. She writes the most beautiful letters also. I'll put them on here for you to read. I'll put her picture up so you can see what a beautiful little girl you are helping. So that you can see how His Compassion reaches across the world.

Anyways, do God a favor. Help me give Rahma a hand up. He'll most assuredly appreciate it. He wants to show me and you His love for all of His children.

This might help facilitate things for the time being. If you want to write a check, money order, or send cash Here's where you can send it.

Paul Stevens
4250 Parks Ave. #16
La Mesa CA 91941

I'm looking in to getting a paypal account set up as well. Their site was enormously slow this morning so I'll take another crack at it right now. Thanks again.

OK, here's the paypal button. Hopefully it should work. I'm not a genius at these things. Thanks again again.

I think this is my most edited post ever. I forgot one more thing. If you can't contribute anything don't feel bad. I wouldn't be able to either right now. Just do me one more small favor. Pray for Rahma. She's such a great kid. I love her to pieces. Oh, and maybe a prayer or two for me and my family. We could use them as well.

Quiet

If y'all are wondering why I'm so quiet lately, I believe it's because I'm in a season (maybe most overused word in American Christendom) of God telling me to shut the F up. And listen. So I'm listening. I'm hearing. It's all good. I'm sure that I'll be back soon. It's hard to shut up a talking donkey like myself for too long. Loving God, Jesus, my family, my Church, and my country more than ever.

Denying The Resurrection

I found this blog entry by Peter Rollins. It was so good that I had to borrow it.

I am four days into my ‘Lessons’ tour and so far loving it. My time to date has been spent in Calvin College engaging in fascinating debates with Kevin Corcoran, Jason Clark, Jamie Smith, Lori Wilson and Michael Wittmer. Many subjects have been covered, but perhaps the most pertinent one revolved around the place and nature of belief in faith.

At one point in the proceedings someone asked if my theoretical position led me to denying the Resurrection of Christ. This question allowed me the opportunity to communicate clearly and concisely my thoughts on the subject, which I repeat here.

Without equivocation or hesitation I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think…

I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.

However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.

That's where I want to get.