Accountable For How We Live

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did 
for me." (Matt 25:40)

On the week before Jesus was to be brutally killed, the disciples could feel the pace of events picking up
speed. They were concerned about how everything would end. (Matt 24:3) In Matthew 24 & 25 Jesus gives
them a glimpse of the culmination of human history. Since then, His followers have written down the details as they were revealed to them  about how it will all play out. Theologians have a whole area of study called eschatology to encompass their theories and guesses.

Growing up, I remember a fascinating curiosity about the impending end of all thing. The book "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey sold millions of copies, and we evangelicals hunkered down in our paranoia and entirely missed the point Jesus was making.

His point was that God has an expectation of man. We don't get to live our lives just for our own pleasure. A day is coming when we will answer for how we lived, and there will be criteria applied in assessing the quality of our life. We will be separated into two groups, and He will look at one thing about our lives: How did we love those in need?  He feels what they feel. His heart breaks for the pain He sees down here. He wants ours to break as well so that we will act in His stead to alleviate that pain.

The question is, knowing this, how will we live our lives? There are so many distractions and so many ways to miss the point. And I guess that breaks His heart too.

God help me, God help us all as we answer that question.


In 2011 we want to increase the number of Bibles available for distribution, help more children, widows and lepers, and bring the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ to more people. Please Give Now that this ministry might grow for the glory of God. 

In the days ahead we will be listing some possible staffing needs here at AIM, so please begin praying now how God might want to use YOU for His glory.

If you live in MD, VA or surrounding states, and would like an opportunity to hear firsthand about what God is doing in India, please Contact Us to schedule a visit with Russ Sharrock and our ministry partner from Tenali, India during the month of May 2011. There are several dates still available.

Prayer Points:
Please be in prayer for our president, Russ Sharrock, as he prepares for surgery on his legs
Pray that more people will respond to God's call to work for the harvest
Pray that many new souls will open their hearts to the gospel
Pray that donations will continue to come in for the completion of the new Children's Home

All gifts are tax-deductible and are used 100% as designated

Kissing Their Scars

In 2008 "Slumdog Millionaire" came on the big screen and ultimately swept the Oscars, winning eight awards including best picture. I had an opportunity to view the movie on a British Airways flight to Hyderabad in 2009, and was amazed at both the cruelty and beauty of the poverty and the people portrayed in the movie. Two of the children in the movie are actually from a slum in Mumbai. They were on the stage at the Oscars among all the glitter, lights, fame, and fortune. But soon, they went back home, back to the slum and the life, to the life they knew before the cameras and fame.

As the movie ended, I felt a sense of helplessness.How can you effectively impact and nation with over a billion people and so much suffering? What do you say to a child who has tasted wealth and fame, but not known the security of a permanent home? Are we just fooling ourselves into thinking we can really make a difference?

Throughout the whole movie, the star pursues his true love, searching for her, never forgetting  her, and never giving up. At the end of the movie, they embrace and he kisses the scar on her face that represents all the pain, the suffering, and evil that has happened to her. And in that kiss it is all washed away. The pain, the suffering, the years of separation; it's a beautiful picture of what God has done for us. He never quits pursuing us, He never loses hope, He kisses our scars and heals the pain that dwells within.

And that is what we can do also. It's too overpowering to think about trying to bring change to India as a whole. The pain is overwhelming. But even though I may not be able to bring massive change, I can be used by God to pursue a few people. To not give up, to remember, to pray; to see God kiss their scars and bring life again.

I have no idea what I would say to those children returning home to poverty. I would want them to know that wealth and fame aren't the only way to a better life. That joy and contentment can be found in the slum too. But who am I to say these things when I live so well?

Maybe the best thing would to just bend down and kiss their scars.

Prayer Points:
Remember that Jesus came that the whole world might be saved
Pray that the Holy Spirit will speak clearly to the people and that many will respond

Pray for Adhori of India

Population: Unknown
World Pop: Unknown
Main Language: Hindi
Main Religion: Hinduism
Bible: Complete
Status: Least-Reached
Christ-Followers: Few, less than 2%

"Declare his glory among the nations" Psalm 96:3