I'll get right to the point on this post. I'm a firm believer that the best things in life are absolutely free of charge.

This is an empassioned but not angry cry against the consumer-driven-economic-lingo-dominated-lust-for-new-things-bigger-is-better-keeping-up-with-the-Jones'-conspicuously-materialistic-let-them-die-in-Africa culture that we find ourselves in.

Before anyone thinks otherwise, I am very much a part of this culture. Upon getting situated in Rapid City I'll be living in a very nice home, driving a great car, working on a fantastic notebook computer, talking on my cell phone, snapping pictures on my digital camera, and among other things taking non-stop air conditioning for granted all at age 23. I could be a poster child for Western civilization's love for material possessions and 'simple' comforts.

But, I am a firm believer that the best things in life are absolutely free of charge. Ever heard an American mission team express how surprised they were to find the dirt poor peasants of Malawi seemingly experiencing more joy in life than they were?

The view from the top of a mountain after a great morning hike. The smell of your favorite flower. A sunset over the lake. A much needed hug. The laughter of a close friend. The first smile your baby makes. Your father telling you he loves you. An unexpected conversation that changes the course of your life.

Rather than thoughtlessly piling up the purchases, strive to recognize the contentment and joy that can be found all around us. Maybe even find things cluttered around the house that you can give away to those who need it more.

And through it all, I'm still grasping at the notion that God's grace abounds free of charge. Maybe if I form practices in my life that reflect God's grace to others, it will help me to grasp God's grace.

Today is my mom's birthday and she is turning . . . well, let's just say she's a year older. I love my mom so much! She's a fantastic woman. We talk sports like it's nobody's business. We talk church stuff and theology from time to time. She's always had a way with my stomach. She's certainly the most techy savvy woman I've ever met. Furthermore, she's a servant, extremely loving, faithful, and insightful.

Happy Birthday Mom!

"The only person who really likes change is a baby with a dirty diaper, and even the baby cries about it." --Mark Twain

---

As I'm now less than three weeks away from the biggest move of my life, I can't help but see the oceans of change ahead of me. Yes it will be a new city, zip code, area code, and region of the country. But we all know it's not about the statistics; it's about the people. On top of new hair stylists, post office workers, and bank tellers, I'm counting on an entirely new network of friends and life companions awaiting me in Rapid City.

Rather than detesting change, I'm striving to embrace it. I have a hunch that sometimes what seems so daunting (i.e. . . . I'll have little to no friends in South Dakota) is the very same thing that can be a source of excitement and faith. I'm expecting and believing that in six, twelve, or eighteen months I'll be writing about the incredible friendships that have been forged in Dakota. I know it won't be automatic or carefree. It will take time. There will be some lonely nights. Effort will be a must. But God has a community of people in store for my future that I can call my own. A community that I can learn and laugh with. I can't wait to introduce you to them ;-)

There are a couple hills that rise above Spearfish in western South Dakota. If you manage your way up the dusty tracks to the top of one of these barren hilltops, you will be treated to an adventure. An adventure that will capture your imagination. Engraved in a sizable rock are these words (punctuation added):

"Came to these hills in 1833, seven of us: De Lacompt, Ezra Kind, G.W. Wood, F. Brown, R. Kent, Wm. King, and Indian Crow. All ded but me Ezra Kind. Killed by Ind beyond the high hill, got our gold June 1834. Got all the gold we could carry our ponys, all got by the Indians. I have lost my gun and nothing to eat and Indians hunting me."

Courage. Journey. Camaraderie. Adventure. Bravery. Exploits. Community. Hopefulness. Frontier. Risk.
>>>>>>>>>>
Riches. Pay-off. Fulfillment. Celebration. Contentment. Success. Control. Triumph.
>>>>>>>>>>
Conflict. Death. Loss. Loneliness. Tragedy. Fear. Emptiness. Questions. Senseless. Pain. Darkness.

The last couple weeks have been full of good stuff. I was in Rapid City, South Dakota and surrounding areas for a few days, and then I was traveling around different parts of Michigan for close to a week. I've also taken in a few weddings in the past couple weeks. These pictures will help in guiding you through the developments.

I'm moving to Rapid City, South Dakota in roughly 3-4 weeks! After spending time with Brandon and Jennifer Bruce and the leadership team of Fountain Springs Community Church, they invited me to be their assistant pastor. I have accepted the call and am eagerly anticipating the move. Brandon will be my Senior Pastor; he has a great heart, is gifted in ministry, and knows how to have a good time doing it. The above is a picture of Brandon and I at Devils Tower across the border in Wyoming.

Richie Brannon and I visited friends in Grand Haven and Traverse City. Richie is a cherished friend that I can say I "go back with." We've been friends since age 10. We found these places to be beautiful and the people inviting. I was able to reconnect with many great friends at Spring Lake Wesleyan Church where I spent the summer of '03 as a ministry intern under Dennis Jackson. Special thanks to the DeMarse family and Brian Bradford for putting us up and to Julie Collins and Joy Hurlow for deeming us vagabonders worthy of hanging out with. In Traverse City we spent the night on a sailboat moored off the coast of Bryant Park. What an experience! Brandon was a fantastic host, and it was great seeing Shea and Tec Petaja.


Josh Fowler and Robin Thada were married on July 9 in Crawfordsville, IN.


Jessie Kinsley and Adam Johnston were married on July 22 in Indianapolis.


Jonathon and Christine Shepherd were married a few weeks ago in Thailand, and hosted an Indianapolis area reception on July 22.

I became great friends with Jonathon and Jessie through youth group back in the high school days. I got to know Josh and Robin at IWU. Each of these are people I am proud to be friends with, and I am so happy for them as they embark on the wonderful journey of marriage. May God bless each of you with his abounding grace and love.

Recently I've been in dialogue with some people who are either wanting to get involved with helping 'the poor' (meaning primarily economically) or are actively involved already. I would be somewhere in the middle of those two camps hopefully on a journey toward the latter. Through the course of the dialogue, many of the same concerns keep rising to the surface. Questions like:

• How can I get involved and really make a difference?
• How should I respond when poor individuals are irresponsible with the resources they do have access to?
• How should I respond when impoverished individuals blatantly deceive or lie to gain more aid (i.e. lie to the government to get more funds)?
• What should I think when poor individuals are not satisfied until they are living the upper-middle class American dream (i.e. house, 3 cars, cable, wireless internet, etc.)?
• Are these efforts even worthwhile when so many people don't seem to think that it is?
• How can I motivate more people to get involved?
• Why is helping the poor so discouraging much of the time?

As I think about those road blocks a part of me gets demoralized. These concerns are valid. Helping the impoverished, the down-trodden, is messy any way you look at it. Now, as I turn to the Scriptures and particularly Jesus' teachings, he sheds a lot of light on these issues. He speaks boldly about forgiveness, love, and service. More often than not it seems that Jesus' actions and teaching are in the context of interacting with marginallized people - the poor, sick, outcast, widows, prostitutes, tax collectors, foreignors, criminals, etc. Please take the time to soak in these words of Jesus which have been passed down to us, and see if they strike a chord within your very being.

Luke 6:30-36 (ESV)

"Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Okay, so I'm dodging the very questions that I raised. But that's where I'm at right now. I am at the same time both compelled by the very nature of God (which is full of unquenchable grace, love, and mercy) and disheartened by the reality of the struggles which come with trying to reflect His nature to the world around me.

---

The following is borrowed from the blog of Dr. Ben Witherington who is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. This short conversation is a great example of the dialogues that are taking place in relation to this issue.

Shane said...

Dr. Witherington, I agree with your the post [from July 9] but my concern is about how we actually go about helping the poor here. I can donate to solid organizations like World Vision or Compassion to help people overseas, but should I only help through organizations here? My problem is, I get frustrated at con-artists and panhandlers out there. Not only that, we live in a country where even many of the poor among us have bought into our consumer culture and insist on having cell phones and premium cable television. Credit cards and payday loans have become predators who only make matters worse for the poor. It's hard to balance generosity with good stewardship. Just a few thoughts.

Ben Witherington responds...

Hi Shane:
You are so right about the dilemma of how best to deal with this issue. I think that there are four principles to live by: 1) simplify your own lifestyle so you can free up some resources, and be a good example to your flock and family; 2) of course support good organizations that deal with poverty; 3) be prepared to be spontaneously charitable, leaving the results in God's hands. If you are taken advantage of, that is between the other person and God, but you at least have erred on the side of compassion; 4) remember that poverty and homelessness are only a symptom of a larger problem, namely we live in a society that rewards selfishness and does not take care of its most vulnerable. The church however should never exhibit these traits [of selfishness].

Blessings,
Ben

[Emphasis added by Paul Kind]

On July 8th PBS aired a cover story on the Emerging Church movement, featuring familiar names like Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones, and Brian McLaren. I missed the show live, but thanks to the wonders of the internet I didn't miss a thing. You can check out the 10 to 12 minute video HERE. (Be sure and select the LARGE format in the upper-righthand corner once it starts playing, if you're on Broadband that is.)

Here's a teaser ::

BRIAN MCLAREN: More and more of us are feeling that if we have a version of the Christian faith that does not make us the kind of people that make this a better world, we really want no part of it.

My previous post was about the G8 Summit, and now I've got a post about a completely different kind of summit. My great, great friends Mark and Jessica Schmerse just got off the trail from having completed the 220 mile John Muir Trail!

Allow me to brag on these guys for a moment. The JMT is widely considered one of the best trails in America, and it's certainly not because it's easy. In fact this hike takes you over high pass after high pass in the Sierra Nevadas of Central California. Going north to south as Mark & Jess did, the trail culminates on the highest mountain of the 48 states: Mt. Whitney at 14,494 ft above sea level.

What makes the Schmerse's hike an even more impressive feat is that the California mountains were battered with snow this winter, piling on nearly twice as much snow as usual in some places. So even in early July these two were putting away significant mileage in the snow. Way to go guys!

If you're interested, you can check out my pictures of hiking through the Sierras summer of '02.

Despite great depressions, world wars, oil embargos, and economic recessions, Americans and other developed countries are very well off while billions in our world struggle to meet basic needs of food, water, shelter, and health - let alone education of upcoming generations. Whether from CNN, the LIVE8 Concerts, or the ONE Campaign, you've probably heard something about the G8 Summit that just wrapped up in Gleneagles, Scotland. This gathering of leaders from 8 out of the 9 (China has now passed Canada in GDP) richest countries in the world is intended to be a time to address and move towards tackling some of the world's stickiest global issues. This includes massive concerns like terrorism, extreme poverty, climate change, and global trade to name a few.

I know that my travels this past year have changed the way I respond to these issues. Having seen poverty, corruption, and low standards of health up close, I can no longer just go on with my movie-going, steak-eating, air-conditioned life as if nothing is happening. I desire to be a voice calling people to action, the kind of action that is determined to throw off injustice and bring hope in the loving spirit of Jesus of Nazareth. But, who am I to do that?! Though I now have the motivation, I’m pretty ignorant as to how to be a part of mobilizing people with means to help those without means.

I suppose I can at least help those who are willing take the baby steps that I’m taking. So here's where I'm starting from:

• I’m keeping my eyes open and partnering with organizations like the One Campaign and World Hope International who put these same concerns at the forefront.
• I’m trying to stay abreast on the newsy bits that will help me be aware of the reality in our world.
• I’m brainstorming ways that I can get involved in my community; I strongly believe action must be a keyword in this movement.
• What ideas do you have? What would you add?

So if you’re interested in learning more about the G8 Summit, I’ve compiled the Good Stuff for you:

• Chair’s Summary of 2005 G8 Summit
• Preliminary Analysis from CNN
• More Summit Documents
• Official Site of the 2005 Summit

By their very nature the G8 and similar organizations like the UN Security Council are going to address these issues through economic and political lenses. But at their core, these bodies represent people like you and me. And while the economic and political angles are aspects of the holistic approach that is required to address these global issues, you and I need to think about whether the spiritual and relational aspects must be emphasized as well. I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with humanitarian workers overseas who have embraced the Kingdom of God and are serving in disadvantaged locations with an attitude of love and service. There must be more like them, and more who will support them on the home front.

Setting: Lake Wawasee, northern Indiana

Time Frame: July 1-8, 2005

Plot Sketch: The fourth installment of the ‘Kind Family Vacation’ becomes a reality in the midst of much transition with Jeremy & Andrea as well as Paul looking to make big moves soon. In addition, new members have been added to the mix since last year: Macy & Bailey. There was pontooning, napping in the sun, Frisbee golf, great eating, playing Up & Down the River, lighting and watching fireworks, researching the Mennonites, and in the midst of everything five little kids loving being kids.

Cast:
Bryce Parsons


Thomas Parsons & Uncle Paul


Becca & Kara Parsons


Bailey & Tom Parsons


Andrea & Jeremy Summers


Macy Summers


Ma


Pa



It was a phenomenal week, that at the core was all about relationships. It was the people that made it, no question. Fam, you're the best!

Happy 4th everyone! I've spent most of the day out on the waters of Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana. I'm enjoying a week of vacation here along with the rest of the Kind family. This includes my folks, Tom & Kara Parsons and their four little ones, and Jeremy & Andrea Summers and their little one. There has already been a lot of activity this weekend. We have thrown frisbees and balls, pontooned (that a word?) all over the lake, eaten some fantastic meals, and of course enjoyed the non-stop action of having five kids around who are all five years old or younger. A few of us are really looking forward to the renting of jet-ski's tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will be as amazing as it has been so far. Look for pictures in the future.