Not always funny....

Hello, how are things in your part of the world?

While you are used to seeing funny things on my blog, let me play it straight this time. As a wise friend once told me, "Act like a clown all of the time and that is how people will treat you, like a clown". So, with that in mind, here is my attempt at something serious.

Things are going well in the Buckman household. In spite of the usual trials and life's challenges, we are truly blessed. Yes, the price of everything is going up, while our wages stay the same, but by third world standards, we are very rich. I read in today's paper that a family of five in Sacramento needs to earn $65,000 to be "self-sufficient", but we have managed to live pretty good, well below that figure. When you factor in things like good health, above average intelligence, great extended family and God's grace, we are zillionares!

What has brought on this sudden realization of gratitude? Well, a few things, actually.

First, I just got done watching Total Makeover Home edition. Let me admit, I just balled my face off for a good half hour. The shirt I used to dry my tears was very damp when it was done. I am not kidding about that. This show always makes me cry, but this weeks episode was special. It highlighted the Martinez family in New Mexico. Gerald, the father decided to move his family into a crime infested area to show the folks who lived there, Gods love, and to literally help them with food, shelter, etc. Their ministry has not only helped hundreds, but the crime rate in that area was reduced by over 50 percent since they arrived! That is called making a (huge) difference! It was Gerald's hope that if folks saw what one family could do in their neighborhood, then they too would want to do the same. It touched me, because I have been thinking about what kind of legacy I want to leave on this planet. Do I want to be known as a funny guy, who works hard and loves his family? Yes. Those are good things. Honorable things. But are they enough?

That is what I am struggling with. I think I want more than that. But how? You can be sure I am praying about these very things, and in my tears after the show, I asked God how I could make a difference. I know that moving my family into the ghetto is not realistic. But as I thought about it, there is a tangible way we are making a difference already. Their names are Keila and Kelisson, and they live in South America. We have been their Compassion International sponsors for about 4 years. We have had other children we sponsored before them, for the last 20 years. I tell you this not so you will give us a pat on the back, but so that maybe it will spur you to do the same. As I looked at the Compassion website before writing this blog, I was reminded there are literally thousands, if not millions of children living in extreme poverty. And at the same time I felt God nudge me and say, "You asked, and here is the answer". So from today forward, I am going to tell everyone I know of, how they can change the world. You can sponsor a child, or 2 or a hundred if you are that blessed, through this great organization. They exist as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Today, Compassion helps more than 1 million children in 24 countries. That is awesome! Even if you do not decide to sponsor a child on a monthly basis, right now a world food crisis is taking place, and a one time gift would be great. Help me change the world, one child at a time. Jesus said "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. " Matthew 10:42

I am sure I will go back to doing some funny posts, and life will continue on for us the way it always does. But if one child is sponsored because of my post, or funds are donated in any amount, then I have changed the world. You can too, because as Gerald Martinez said, "we all have to do our part".

Thanks for letting me do mine today, and if you were offended by this post, I do not apologize one bit. God told me to, and that is enough for me.

www.compassion.com