I was recently asked to review Cast of Characters by Max Lucado, so here is what I thought.
Max Lucado is clearly one of the most influential and accomplished Christian authors in years and this book shows why that is.
He has a writing style that just draws you in. This is a great book about the stories of perfectly normal people that were used in amazing ways by a totally perfect God. It is a book that is great for any seasoned or new Lucado fan. I came away from this book being encouraged by the type of people that God has chosen to use.
If you are struggling to understand how, or if, God can still use you because mistakes, poor choices or bad decisions in your life you need to read this book. You are part of an impressive cast of characters that God has used throughout history.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze®
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
New Website
I am excited to announce that I have a brand new website that I will be moving all of my blogging and communication to.
This site will be left up for a little while but will eventually be taken down.
Visit the new website, WWW.ADAMLEGG.COM
This site will be left up for a little while but will eventually be taken down.
Visit the new website, WWW.ADAMLEGG.COM
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Choosing To Hope
It was at my desk in my office in a multi-million dollar building when I first heard the news via Twitter.
It was a shocking image. A visual picture that my Americanized, middle-class mind wanted to quickly erase. It seemed more like an image from a Hollywood movie than an actual reality.
Were mothers really arriving at the border between Somalia and Kenya, after a journey that took weeks, with their dead babies strapped to their backs?
Was this really happening? Today? In 2011?
It was. And it still is.
An entire world away from my comfortable life in Anchorage, Alaska there are millions of people that are starving and dying because of the worst famine the world has seen in years
Millions? How can that be? My entire state doesn't even have a million people, yet there are SEVERAL million people? Starving? And dying?
There are reports that the roads to the borders are lined with people that have died on the journey, people that just wanted something that few of us here in America ever think twice about: food and water.
The more I read about this situation the more that I knew that I had to help. But how? How can someone in Anchorage, Alaska, nearly 8,000 miles away, help? How can anything I do even begin to make a difference?
And that's when it hit me. If I do nothing, it is guaranteed that I will have no impact. However, if I do something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, there is always the hope that change will occur.
I am choosing to hope. Will you do the same?
____________________________________________
2 Ways 2 Help:
Spread The Word: Use Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and blogs to get the word out. There are far too many people that are unaware of the severity of this situation.
Give: Here is a list of organizations that you can give to that are making a difference in Somalia today.
It was a shocking image. A visual picture that my Americanized, middle-class mind wanted to quickly erase. It seemed more like an image from a Hollywood movie than an actual reality.
Were mothers really arriving at the border between Somalia and Kenya, after a journey that took weeks, with their dead babies strapped to their backs?
Was this really happening? Today? In 2011?
It was. And it still is.
An entire world away from my comfortable life in Anchorage, Alaska there are millions of people that are starving and dying because of the worst famine the world has seen in years
Millions? How can that be? My entire state doesn't even have a million people, yet there are SEVERAL million people? Starving? And dying?
There are reports that the roads to the borders are lined with people that have died on the journey, people that just wanted something that few of us here in America ever think twice about: food and water.
The more I read about this situation the more that I knew that I had to help. But how? How can someone in Anchorage, Alaska, nearly 8,000 miles away, help? How can anything I do even begin to make a difference?
And that's when it hit me. If I do nothing, it is guaranteed that I will have no impact. However, if I do something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, there is always the hope that change will occur.
I am choosing to hope. Will you do the same?
____________________________________________
2 Ways 2 Help:
Spread The Word: Use Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and blogs to get the word out. There are far too many people that are unaware of the severity of this situation.
Give: Here is a list of organizations that you can give to that are making a difference in Somalia today.
Oxfam: A $50 donation will provide 200 people a day's supply of clean water.
Oxfam Website
One Day’s Wages: ODW has recently launched a “Horn of Africa Relief Fund” to provide immediate humanitarian response.
One Day's Wages Website
World Vision International: Has been working to fight hunger in this region for a long time and is positioned to make an immediate impact.
World Vision Website
Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps has teams in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
Mercy Corps Website
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Saddened by the death of John Stott today, but thankful for the impact that his life and teaching has had on me and many other.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from him.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from him.
"What, then, is the biblical basis for social concern? Why should Christians get involved? In the end there are only two possible attitudes which Christians can adopt towards the world: Escape and Engagement...'Escape' means turning our backs on the world in rejection, washing our hands of it ... and steeling our hearts against its agonized cries for help. In contrast, 'engagement' means turning our faces towards the world in compassion, getting our hands dirty, sore and worn in its service, and feeling deep within us the stirring of the love of which cannot be contained."Thank You for being someone that challenged us to engage our world.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Vacation With A Purpose
As recent blogs have stated, I have been compelled to view my resources as a tool to use, rather than objects to consume. As my wife and I try and spread that through all areas of our life the idea came to us to try and do that with our upcoming vacation as well.
What if our vacations were NOT all about us? What if they could be used as a resource to bless others, while still having time for us to rest and enjoy family?
Thus was born our "Vacation With A Purpose" idea. We have decided to take at least 10% of what we are spending on the entire vacation and keep that on us in cash at all times and look for people, organizations, churches or non-profits to stop and randomly bless.
Just thinking about the ways that God could use this small act is exciting.
I will report back after our vacation (August 15th or so) and let you know the results! I am already praying that God would change us through this process.
Are you going on a vacation soon? Would you be willing to try the "Vacation With A Purpose" concept?
What if our vacations were NOT all about us? What if they could be used as a resource to bless others, while still having time for us to rest and enjoy family?
Thus was born our "Vacation With A Purpose" idea. We have decided to take at least 10% of what we are spending on the entire vacation and keep that on us in cash at all times and look for people, organizations, churches or non-profits to stop and randomly bless.
Just thinking about the ways that God could use this small act is exciting.
I will report back after our vacation (August 15th or so) and let you know the results! I am already praying that God would change us through this process.
Are you going on a vacation soon? Would you be willing to try the "Vacation With A Purpose" concept?
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Where is my heart?
This morning I was reading from the book "Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals" and I came across this quote from Shepherd of Hermas, whose second-century writings were cherished by early Christians.
I then went to do some reading from the Bible. I am re-reading Matthew in preparation for an upcoming series at Church, and what do I read today?
I struggle with things like materialism and consumerism. I know that nothing I buy, acquire, make or purchase here is of real value. I know that what is eternal is what is important. Yet what I know with my mind is not often enough lived out with my life.
I have bought into the "better than most" lie. In regards to giving? Probably better than most. In regards to our time? Probably better than most. In regards to helping others? Probably better than most. But is better than most the goal? Is that enough? It sure doesn't feel like it.
If where my treasure is truly defines where my heart is, then far too often my heart is focused on me.
Where is your heart?
My prayer is that we would be people that, "Instead of fields, buy for yourselves people in distress in accordance with your means." May we use our time, talents, treasure and touch towards the things that truly matter and may our heart be found in things that last.
“You know that you who are God’s servants are living in a foreign country, for your own city-state is far away from this City-state. Knowing, then, which one is to be your own City-state, why do you acquire fields, costly furnishings, buildings, and frail dwellings here? Instead of fields, buy for yourselves people in distress in accordance with your means. It is far, far better to buy this kind of field, property, or building, which is quite different and which you can find again in your own City when you come home. This ‘extravagance’ is beautiful and holy; it brings no grief and no fear; it brings nothing but joy.”
I then went to do some reading from the Bible. I am re-reading Matthew in preparation for an upcoming series at Church, and what do I read today?
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:20-21
I struggle with things like materialism and consumerism. I know that nothing I buy, acquire, make or purchase here is of real value. I know that what is eternal is what is important. Yet what I know with my mind is not often enough lived out with my life.
I have bought into the "better than most" lie. In regards to giving? Probably better than most. In regards to our time? Probably better than most. In regards to helping others? Probably better than most. But is better than most the goal? Is that enough? It sure doesn't feel like it.
If where my treasure is truly defines where my heart is, then far too often my heart is focused on me.
Where is your heart?
My prayer is that we would be people that, "Instead of fields, buy for yourselves people in distress in accordance with your means." May we use our time, talents, treasure and touch towards the things that truly matter and may our heart be found in things that last.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
God seems to know what He is doing
Tonight I went to Blockbuster Video to rent a documentary (i LOVE documentaries). After browsing their selection for a few minutes I decided on a movie called The Bridge that I have wanted to see for a while. I grabbed the video, checked out and headed home.
Once home I realized that I had somehow NOT grabbed The Bridge and instead ended up with a movie called Born Into Brothels. There are very few documentaries that I don't enjoy so I decided not to return the movie, but instead to watch it.
Within minutes of the opening I was SO glad I kept the movie.
It is a documentary about a photographer who goes into Calcutta and teaches photography to the children in the area. She gives them cameras and teaches them the basics of photography. This art quickly becomes an escape and a way out of the slums and the prostitution that many had been in.
The creativity and talent that these children showed was amazing. Having their own camera and being able to "create" was such a point of pride for them, you could see the joy on their faces as they used their new talent.
As I watched this movie I got to thinking about the 3 or 4 older digital cameras that we have lying around our house and I wondered if they could be used for something like this. I went online and found a great list of organizations on the Kids With Cameras website and I found several that were seeking cameras for similar projects around the world. I selected one, got their address and tomorrow will be mailing a box of cameras to an organization that will be able to use them to make a real difference in the lives of underprivileged children around the world.
I am thrilled that a "mistake" at the movie store led to a great opportunity to share what we have and hopefully provide a skill and hope for a child somewhere.
God seems to know what He is doing.
Once home I realized that I had somehow NOT grabbed The Bridge and instead ended up with a movie called Born Into Brothels. There are very few documentaries that I don't enjoy so I decided not to return the movie, but instead to watch it.
Within minutes of the opening I was SO glad I kept the movie.
It is a documentary about a photographer who goes into Calcutta and teaches photography to the children in the area. She gives them cameras and teaches them the basics of photography. This art quickly becomes an escape and a way out of the slums and the prostitution that many had been in.
The creativity and talent that these children showed was amazing. Having their own camera and being able to "create" was such a point of pride for them, you could see the joy on their faces as they used their new talent.
As I watched this movie I got to thinking about the 3 or 4 older digital cameras that we have lying around our house and I wondered if they could be used for something like this. I went online and found a great list of organizations on the Kids With Cameras website and I found several that were seeking cameras for similar projects around the world. I selected one, got their address and tomorrow will be mailing a box of cameras to an organization that will be able to use them to make a real difference in the lives of underprivileged children around the world.
I am thrilled that a "mistake" at the movie store led to a great opportunity to share what we have and hopefully provide a skill and hope for a child somewhere.
God seems to know what He is doing.
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