Post Vegas, July 4th post -- homeless or not?

Post Vagas Trip -- Las Vagas may be sin city but it’s also where God abounds. I guess He just has a weak spot for the lost because, believe me, He was there—amidst the poor and the rich, and with His heart yearning to reach those caught up in temporary, veneer distractions.

Undoubtedly because of your prayers, our time in Vagas was God-driven, God-given. Every second was jam-packed with activities magnifying Christ including several radio broadcasts, services, meals with awesome folk. How adventuresome it is to walk with God, led by Him. One minute we were with the homeless, the next with high-profile people and we could pour into both. Oh, and the women’s study was a great blessing… Thanks for praying.

We also met an amazing man, Josh, who lives on the streets of Vagas—by CHOICE. In other words, he’s a respectable citizen, a Math teacher, but 5 years ago, he gave up everything to live on the streets and minister to the homeless. Check out his website: http://www.geocities.com/servingjesus99212

The homeless hold a special place in my heart. And God’s.

So many children have no homes—like Lena who I’ll feature in this month’s Orphans First newsletter – www.orphansfirst.org

Still, many who have homes are really homeless since they’ve not yet secured their Heavenly abode. Their home here, and all the rest that takes place here, keeps them from reflecting on the eternal. They think they’re independent, free from needing outside help, but in fact, they’re entrapped by dependence on temporality.

July 4th -- America celebrates independence. Me too. I celebrate being free. Free to follow Him as the Newsboys sing. And I celebrate living in a free country—but with a zeal to see America return to basics and not plunge deeper into the mire of filth, amorality, compromise, luke-warm-ness…etc.

Sweet America
Sweet America, land of dreams, you have been blessed.
Do not caste away your blessing,
As worthless waste for glitter that isn’t gold.
Rather, hold fast to the dream of pure gold.
Pure gold—that lines the streets above,
Golden pure from trials’ mold.
Purified gold because you chose,
To flee from what glitters to embrace the Gold.

Copyright©July 3rd 2007, Janey L. DeMeo

Is it ever time to quit?

When is it time to quit?

Time evaporates. Tomorrow I travel again. And I only just got back.

The Write-to-Publish conference in Chicago was awesome. Fellowship was rich and inspiring both on the spiritual and the intellectual level. I made contacts for Orphans First that will hopefully generate more prayer for the children with more people considering how they can help them. I returned home with a long list of potential assignments as well as some exciting, new projects for O.F.—enough to keep me busy for a long, long time. Yikes! Now I need every ounce of God’s grace to get things done.

Why is that so important? Because there are millions of children being enslaved, abused and suffering. Getting the word out can make a big difference for them.

Tomorrow, I’ll do a women’s radio broadcast in Las Vagas, and another with my husband on Friday. Sunday, he’ll preach at a friend’s church and on Monday, I’ll teach a women’s Bible study. Great opportunities but I hate the thought of hot Vagas in June. Still, God never said the call would be comfy!

Returning to the conference in Chicago, I’d like to share some reflections about the call to write and whether or when we should quit.

A young, new writer I met was enthusiastic about writing but concerned about juggling family with two very small children, and writing. I encouraged her never to place writing above being with her children. Maybe she could write during their naps. But if it didn’t work out for some reason, then maybe the timing’s not right. If she couldn't write for a long season, it didn't matter. What matters most is her children because she only has so many years to invest in their precious little lives.
(I cover this subject—as well as many others—in my parenting book:
Heaven Help Me Raise These Children! -- Biblical Direction for Practical Parenting Issues.)

Sometimes God calls us to quit either a project or our entire career--even just for a season. He might need to re-prioritize our focus, such as when a career becomes our ambition, our goal, our (dare I say it) "idol". God and family come first. If not, then who are we writing? What is the purpose behind our words?

Sometimes God has us quit our piece because it's oozing with bitterness. We might need to come back to it later when some healing has taken place. (Sometimes, of course, the healing takes place as we plod on—which complicates our ability to discern whether we should or shouldn't quit).

But if we quit because it's tough, or because we haven't yet found a market for our "masterpiece", then we perhaps need to remind ourselves about spiritual warfare, about godly determination, about having gutz to press on when that seems to be what God requires of us. As has been said gazillions of times: writing is hard work. But worth it if He's calling us to do it. If God is calling us, quitting is not an option, no matter how bleak things might appear.

As my fellow compatriot once said: "Never, never, never give up!" Thanks Winston. I agree.

Janey L. DeMeo
Founder/director of Orphans First - www.orphansfirst.org
freelance writer, author of Heaven Help Me Raise These Children!
Biblical Direction for Practical Parenting Issues.
http://janey-demeo.blogspot.com / http://www.myspace.com/orphansfirst
http://www.myspace.com/janeydemeo

Drawing Near To A Generous God, Embraced by Grace

OK, so where’ve I been? I told you in my last blog, but that doesn’t explain the silence since I returned. The thing is that life hasn’t stopped whirling around me and, frankly, my head’s spinning.

My daughter’s Master’s graduation was beautiful and we enjoyed renewing contacts with friends in Atlanta, one of my favoritist cities. The adoption awareness seminar in Daytona Beach, FL – sponsored by Embraced by Grace, a Christian adoption agency – went fantasticly well and was catalyst to several adoptions.

Here on the homefront, last week we enjoyed a special banquet at the Spirit of the West Coast with Peter Furler of Newsboys speaking, followed by a wonderful, God-exalting concert by the Newsboys. My husband, son and I had a blast just enjoying the Newsboys' great music, super performance and spiritual inspiration. Helping build houses for poor people in Baja, Mexico, this band lives what they sing and preach. Love 'em. And tomorrow we have Switchfoot, This Holiday Life & a bunch of other bands on Moonlight Beach hosting a surf contest. (Can you understand why I keep harping on So Cal-ers being so spoilt? It's the truth). Too bad Louis won't be there. Yes, Louis left yesterday to minister again in several countries in AFRICA. And I will be in Chicago next week for the Write to Publish conference—a Christian writer’s conference I highly recommend.

Talking of writing, I have an article in this month’s issue of Indeed magazine (Walk through the Bible) called: Expectant Squawking (Drawing Near to a Generous God). This is a great devo mag more meaty than most—a great tool to go deeper with God.

On that note, some great books I recommend are by Chris Tiegreen, Indeed’s editor:
http://homepage.mac.com/ctiegreen/Personal2.html Chris’s writing is refreshingly deep. He doesn’t cater to the feel-gooders who formulate their doctrine based on what keeps them comfy. Chris, like many of my fave authors, knows about suffering and understands its value in our lives. And, whether we like it or not, pain has great value.

Speaking of suffering, this weekend features the Worldwide Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk (see details at www.viva.org). The idea behind this event is to encourage churches, small groups and individuals to specifically put time aside to pray for the world’s suffering children. There are so many needs out there, it’s not hard to think of children who need our prayers. Sadly, there are still too few churches who implement this event on their premises or who even promote it for small groups. I hope it’s through ignorance and not through indifference. God forbid that we wouldn’t find it important enough to put aside our comfort for a while and give time to intercede for those who cannot speak up for themselves: Prov.31: 8,9.

This brings me back to the title of my article mentioned above: God is indeed generous. He waits to be gracious to us (Isa.30:18). And He waits for us to call on Him on behalf of others.

On that note, yikes, the clock is ticking me off. Must go. I’m hosting a prayer meeting at my home tonight and the house needs cleaning. Don’t want folks sneezing ‘cause of dust in the middle of praying right?

If I don’t blog before I’m back from Chicago, please know I appreciate your visits and especially your prayers for the suffering children of the world.

Janey DeMeo (copyright 31 May, 2007)

Pic of my children at my daughter's bachelor's graduation several years back. Now she's getting her Masters...

Just a quick update before hopping on another plane… It seems that I’m on a wheel that’s turning round faster and faster. My head is spinning and I can’t get off. But I do believe there’re some amazing things around the corner.

Our daughter, Rachele, graduates with her Master’s of Arts from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta in a few days. We’re really proud of her—especially since she’s a newly wed and continued doing her online courses while working and being a new bride. Way to go gal.

On Saturday, I’ll be speaking at an Adoption Awareness seminar at the Daytona Beach Hilton Hotel, beginning around 1.30 pm, and organized by a new adoption ministry—EmbraceD by Grace founded by a dear friend of mine. Apparently, Florida is one of the highest states for children who need adopting or fostering so we’re praying for God to really touch hearts to make a difference in their lives.

Africa – well, we’ll be going again soon. Or at least my husband will.

As I’m typing this, the TV is on in the background showing the Academy Country Music Awards. Carrie Underwood just won a reward and she (again) thanked God first and foremost. Ok, I know some don’t get it. I know America is fast falling. But trust me, we’re still better off than many countries where folks don’t believe in God, or if they do, it’s not the real God. But let’s not forget: To whom much is given, much is expected. Because we’ve been given much, we are more accountable. That’s sobering.

Lots more to say but now I must go back to my packing. At least I can enjoy the music in the background.

Closing thought: Let’s be praying for the needy, and especially the world’s suffering little ones. And let’s remember: The first person to benefit from my prayers is me. It changes me! And, of course, it opens the way for those precious children to receive timely help.

Janey

Don’t Be So Callous, So Cal-ers!

Today I was not thinking about Heaven. Not that I don’t often think of it. I do. But today I was absorbed by earthly problems. Seems there are days like that (let’s say, most days!!!). My focus shifted later when I attended the End Times Conference at Maranatha Chapel. I was reminded of the simplicity of Christ and our greater hope. It was very kooooooooool to consider all the biblical prophecies already fulfilled and to remember again that our lives here are ephemeral. I’ve been reminded of it a lot lately here in So Cal.

Let’s face it, So Cal-ers, we’re spoiled. Apart from the gorgeous weather and the nearby ocean, we’re also living in a part of the world that’s sun-saturated and Son-soaked. There’s so much going on here to deepen your faith that it’s not hard to be enthused about Jesus—if you choose to tune into the vibe. Some disagree. Some think So Cal is all superfluous superficiality. I say, it’s the new-era Bible belt. But I guess it all depends where you come from. (I just returned from four countries in Africa where people would die to have access to such an abundance of diversity presenting the Christian message. And where I come from—Europe—it’s spiritually impoverished.)

Europe is poor. And Africa is poor. Poor children. Poor people. And poor representations of Christ. In Africa, many try to exploit the hungry souls of the precious Africans, bringing them such rubbishy lies as are presented by the so called “prosperity gospel”. It sure isn’t a gospel. It’s a bunch of bologna. The problem is that when you’re hungry, and there’s no food, you’ll eat bologna.

So Cal-ers are rich…and I don’t mean money. I mean that here in So Cal we have access to all kinds of Bible speakers, Christian music, Jesus conferences—all the time. If you’re hungry to grow it’s there. Of course, there’s plenty of seeker friendly, superficial churchianity also. But if you choose the meat, it’s there. And with good music to go with it.

Take the last few weeks for example. Last weekend the Truth seminar took place in Yorba Linda. A weekend of solid teaching to ground folks in their faith. Simultaneously, there was also a seminar in Anaheim on helping children at risk—something we should all feel concerned about in a world with ever-increasing cruelty to children. Sadly too few people attended. Prior to that, 6 weeks tent revival took place in Costa Mesa. In spite of the distance, we were able to attend a few evenings including the Wednesday featuring the old Jesus movement band “Love Song”. And they sounded better than ever, making us weep with good memories. (That evening many came to Christ, just as back in the good ol’ seventies....)

But I wonder how many are oblivious to all the God stuff that’s going on around us. Too busy perhaps? Oh, tis hard to pull away from the surf (ouch!!!) or the malls perhaps with their never-ending, ever-enticing sales…So much to distract us. So little time for…well, for less entertaining stuff. Sorry to sound facetious—or maybe a tad self-righteous—but I’m looking at life as a European who spent over two decades in dark France where such Christianity is nada. Aint there.

Yes, it’s true that there’s a lot of superficial Christianity. But there’s also a lot of amazing stuff taking place for God’s Kingdom. We need to tune our hearts to them. Tune our hearts to His voice to be sure we’re in the flow of what He’s doing. There are many, many hungry souls out there—even here in So Cal. (Met three today). Let’s not become calloused whereby we don’t see them or hear them.

Let’s not be so callous, So Cal-ers! Rather, let’s be soft and gooey about what God is soft and gooey about. Lets be tender and alert to all that God is doing so that we can better reach out to those who don’t know Him. And let’s remember we’re rich—oh so rich compared to many—and give to those who are oh so poor. He’ll meet us there!

Today we are still in the wake of horror as we pray for the victim families of the Virginia Tech Shootings.

I’ve read several articles, trying hard to understand what possessed Cho Seung-Hui, the disturbed, young killer. And I mean “possessed”. Was he indeed possessed? I certainly can’t answer that question and I’m not even sure it would make much difference because one doesn’t need to be possessed to perform such heinously chilling crimes. Not nowadays!

Nowadays you can just feed your mind on ubiquitous obsessions of evil. And every ghoulish gadget and garbage possible is at your fingertips ready to make you a puppet of the macabre. Let’s face it: TV, movies, video-games, web sites—all avariciously espouse filth and violence as if the world’s gone mad. Really mad! And many of us know it. Still it goes on.

One article I read was written by someone previously in the same class as Seung-Hui. He’d read his class-mates twisted plays. They’re now published on the net and I read one. Horrible. This play was a homework assignment and was apparently read aloud in class. That means people heard it and had an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the torment plaguing this kid’s mind. How can it be that teachers heard this stuff and did nothing? No-one saw red-flags? Or they just ignored them? This is my question: Why are we ignoring such heavily morbid obsessions with hatred, death, evil being expressed by fellow human-beings—and some very young?

I like what I read on Assist News Service – www.assistnews.net – where Michael Ireland’s article quotes David Kuo’s blog. Kuo alludes to the fact that not only is it not enough just to be aware of tragedies through TV and media, but continually giving so much time to update ourselves on them, weep over them and empathize in our hearts is actually counter-productive. It would be better we limit the quantity of time we engage in absorbing the needed info (news, media etc.) and embrace the horror of it in our hearts only to quickly put our empathy into action by helping those around us in need. Amen to it! I love this concept because there are needy kids all around—especially in the foster system.

I’ve recently thought a lot about the disconnected kids who reach 18 having never connected to any family—not even a foster family. They leave the system with nobody to turn to for guidance, help, and encouragement. Many become prostitutes or delinquents of some nature. Many end up in jail. Yet, we can do something. Not only can we begin praying for them but, in most states, we can ask foster agencies (especially Christian ones) to connect us to these older kids. Or to connect us to those who will soon be leaving the system. We can become their friends, their listeners their mentors and maybe, by speaking into their lives through love, we can help prevent them from making major mistakes with their little, vulnerable lives. Love changes things. And love is an action!

Let’s face it, it’s not true of all but it’s true of many: A lot of kids have hatred because they’ve been wronged. After reading one of Seung-Hui’s plays, it’s clear to me his heart harbored deep hatred. One of his plays features a boy who hated an abusive step father. (I couldn’t face reading his other play). The words echo distorted ideas, violence, sick-mindedness... I wonder how many kids there are out there whose hearts are steeped with unresolved conflict and hate. May God help us pray for them—and reach them. We are Jesus’s hands and feet. Let’s find those around us, those we can reach, who are needy. And let’s lay down our lives to reach them so that, instead of becoming haters, these kids can be transformed into loving, God-fearing citizens whose lives impact others for good.

May God make us all mentors of those in need, givers to those who are so lost and needy so that these kind of incidents become fewer or stop altogether.

blessings,
Janey www.orphansfirst.org

Yes, I’m back from Africa. And I’m alive! (I guess you figured that unless you thought I’m an imposter of me). I have lots of stories to tell you about Africa so please check back in a few days. But for today, since it’s time for our featured CSFF blogtour, I’ll add a short blurb in hopes that good Christian literature will grab more attention everywhere.

This month, the CSFF is featuring Karen Hancock’s Return of the Guardian-King : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0764227971

Although I have not read this book—hey, who can read when they’re crying so much?! (You should see those street children in Africa and see if you cry)—I know my fellow bloggers have, and they’ve written wonderful reviews so please visit some of their blogs:

CSFF Blog Tour
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa Annakindt
Wayne Thomas Batson
Jim Black
Grace Bridges
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Frank Creed
< Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Janey DeMeo
April Erwin
Kameron M. Franklin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Sharon Hinck
Christopher Hopper
Heather R. Hunt
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Karen
Tina Kulesa
Lost Genre Guild
Kevin Lucia and The Bookshelf Reviews 2.0 - The Compendium
Rachel Marks
Shannon McNear
Caleb Newell
Nicole
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Robin Parrish
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
James Somers
Tsaba House Authors
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Daniel I. Weaver
Dawn King
Rebecca Grabill
Jill Hart

I will be back soon with more news on my recent trip. Let’s just say that God was very present. I do thank you for your prayers.

Gratefully,,
Janey