Why we no longer care about Foreign Aid

Back as far as 1970, OECD countries agreed that official development assistance (ODA), should be set at a minimum of 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI). In Australia, we call it foreign aid, and it's about supporting countries that lack strong economies to provide for the marginalised of their communities.

One of the statements leaders of the G7 signed upon at the Monterrey summit in 2002 was, 'We urge developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts toward the target of 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI) as ODA to developing countries.' (See Jeffrey Sachs', The End of Poverty, p. xxxiii).

But, we no longer care about foreign aid. Have a look Australia. Look at these damning statistics. Under Whitlam's government back in the 1970s we see the best effort yet of distributing foreign aid money overseas. Our overseas development assistance, has all but declined (as a percentage of GNI) ever since. Under Howard foreign aid was consistently below 0.3%. Under Rudd, Gillard, Rudd we see the ODA percentage rise a little. Now under the current conservative government of Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison we see it being the lowest contribution recorded.

http://theconversation.com/factcheck-what-are-the-facts-on-australias-foreign-aid-spending-71146
 

I think I know why.

We are experiencing a kind of Australian nationalism that I haven't seen before. Maybe it's a response to the populism of President Donald Trump or a reaction to radical Islam that has done it. Irrespective of the reasons, we live in a Australia now that is more intent of looking after itself. The Australian Federal Government is continually banging-on about securing our borders and we all become a little more insecure.

The premise is that we need to look after Australians better. I agree, but why does it need to be at the expense of others? I'm not a big fan of nationalism. I believe God created every living being. I believe all are made in the image of God. I believe all have human rights. I believe therefore that an economically strong country like Australia should do more to support our fellow brothers and sisters.

There's more to be said. We could debate the validity of the foreign aid system, and argue about the accountability measures that ensure it goes where it should, but all that aside...

Our rising Australian nationalism reveals that we are self-serving and greedy, with a disdain for cultural integration and respect for others.

I pray we can learn to be generous again.

Read more here about Australian Aid: http://www.micahaustralia.org/agency/australian_aid



 

The Most Important Ingredient Needed in 2019

I've seen too many people just trying to survive.

Trying to survive from pay-check to pay-check.
Trying to keep the family united.
Trying to remain positive in dire circumstances.
Trying to make lemonade from lemons.

We're not created to simply survive. You know what I mean, simply make it from one week to the next and with glazed-over eyes watch another seven days roll on-by.

We can shift ourselves out of a survival mentality.

I want to give you one thing, that as you enter 2019, will help you not just survive, but to thrive.

Without this one ingredient 2019 will look bleak. You and I need it.

The most important ingredient needed in 2019 is: hope.

Hope causes us to look at the world in a positive light.
Hope causes us to see the glass as half-full.
Hope means we might give something another shot.
Hope means that when the rubber hits the road, we won't give up, and we'll keep moving forward.

As a follower of Jesus, I have hope. Hope in the person of Jesus Christ. Hope in the eternal life that springs up within me through his very Spirit. Hope that Jesus is who he says he is and that I will rise with him one day in glory.

Hope in Jesus Christ means I can soar into 2019 with my eyes lifted, my shoulders back and my focus clear.

I move into 2019 with hope. Will you?

Pass this on to someone today. God bless.

*****

And for an added bonus, here's John C. Maxwell's Just for Today list:

John C. Maxwell writes:

1. Just for today, I will choose and display the RIGHT ATTITUDE!

2. Just for today, I will determine and act on IMPORTANT PRIORITIES!

3. Just for today, I will know and follow HEALTHY GUIDELINES!

4. Just for today, I will communicate with and care for MY FAMILY!

5. Just for today, I will practice and develop GOOD THINKING!

6. Just for today, I will make and keep PROPER COMMITMENT!

7. Just for today, I will earn and properly manage MY FINANCES!

8. Just for today, I will deepen and live out MY FAITH!

9. Just for today, I will initiate and invest in SOLID RELATIONSHIPS!

10. Just for today, I will plan for and model GENEROSITY!

11. Just for today, I will embrace and practice GOOD VALUES!

12. Just for today, I will seek and experience IMPROVEMENTS!

 
 

When The Salvation Army Dies...

A decade ago I signed the Officer's Covenant. What a privilege I felt in my heart, to be able to lay down my life to serve others and lead people to Jesus Christ.

That passion is still there. In fact, it is there more than ever.

See, I have such a holy discontent that we are not doing more to support people in need and see lives transformed for Jesus. I long to increase our impact upon society. I long for more people to join the cause. I long for more people to commit themselves to the ideals of the soldier's and officer's covenants.

But then this nagging feeling comes upon me.

I began to reflect one day on what would happen if The Salvation Army died. Let me qualify what I mean by that: I began to wonder what would happen if The Salvation Army lost its focus so much so that it became significantly different to the original movement that I signed up to be a part.

Maybe you have asked that question once or twice. It's not because you or I lack faith or fail to have a view that God raised up The Salvation Army, but because we don't want to see it be less than what God raised it up to be.

Recently I was walking around a large lake at a local park, praying and thinking about that very question.

'What if The Salvation Army died?'

Then I felt some words in my spirit that said:

The Salvation Army does need to die. 
It needs to die to its own image.
It needs to die to its own strategic plans.
It needs to die to its own narcissism. 
The Salvation Army needs to spend less time celebrating the mission it has achieved, and more time celebrating the source of the mission.
The Salvation Army needs to spend less time focused on how good it thinks it is, how good it thinks its forebears were, but rather point to how good it believes God is.

We need to reignite the coals of Jesus-focused, gutsy, Spirit-filled fervour, that is embedded within the very DNA of this movement. We need to re-embrace the Apostles, Evangelists and Prophets across the globe, to join again with the Shepherds and Teachers to work together to establish God's kingdom here and now.

Captain Matt Reeve quoted this recently, 'Movements start because their founder loves Jesus. They die when the movement loves its founder.' There's a tension there. One that I feel and acknowledge. We are thankful to William, Catherine, Bramwell and the team. We love their focus, passion and tenacity to raise up such a movement. We are thankful to Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit that we should be a part of such exciting times.

Though The Salvation Army didn't succeed because General William Booth always spoke about how good John Wesley was.

The Salvation Army didn't succeed because Catherine Booth chose to put Phoebe Palmer up on a pedestal.

Part of why The Salvation Army succeeded was both because Salvationists learned and were inspired by the past, but were driven ultimately by a passion for Jesus Christ.

In John's Gospel, chapter 15, we read that Jesus is the true vine, and that the Father cuts off every branch in us that bears no fruit. Jesus says we cannot bear fruit unless we remain in him, because apart from him, we can do nothing.

I look forward then to the day that The Salvation Army dies.

A day we lay our timbrels at the mercy seat.

A day we lay down our own ambition for that which is even better.

A day we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the cause of Jesus Christ in the world.

This is the day I long for.

This is the day that we will be at our best.

And Praise God that in some places, that day has already arrived.