Loving Shepherd Ministries

This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, but what do we do after that?

After the Indianapolis Colts won a major championship on Sunday, Jan. 24, a local newspaper’s Web site practically exploded with coverage: quotes from the players, minute-by-minute coverage of the game, pictures of fans in blue and white face paint.

Underneath the display, a much smaller headline mentioned that 150,000 dead had been found in Haiti so far.

Someday, I fear, people will only care about something if it entertains them. Imagine living in a world where, instead of mourning the victims of a disaster, we treat it like a football game. It’s halftime, and the earthquake is ahead by about 200,000 people. Las Vegas is taking bets as we speak.

Now, I understand that the news cycle demands that the local newspaper exalt a major championship over a tragedy already about two weeks old, and I understand that many people can enjoy a good football game without forgetting about those in need.

But I also understand from personal experience how America’s constant barrage of entertainment subtly dulls the heart to the more important things of life: compassion for orphans, passion for God and disdain for sin.

And while I would never necessarily condemn anyone for watching one football game or one movie or one television show, I would caution them about how easily we can watch just one more … and then another … and then another … until we actually spend more time entertaining ourselves than being about our Father’s business.

Soon, and without realizing it, these people will find that helping the poor, reading the Bible and praying to God is … well … “boring.” They’ll find it much easier to put in the latest film than studying the Sermon on the Mount.

And the headlines about Haiti, about orphans, about the world in general, will get smaller and smaller and smaller.

Prayerfully discern how God wants us to use our time. Try to find a God-ordained balance between 1 Timothy 6:17 and 1 Corinthians 10:7.

According to the Nielsen Company, Americans now watch more than 151 hours of TV a month. That’s about five hours a day — an all-time high. Perhaps we can all spend some that time praying for God to show us if we can find other ways to spend our day.

Loving Shepherd Ministries has a strong presence in southern Haiti near the city of Les Cayes. Thankfully, none of our staff, their families, and/or any of our operations were destroyed or hurt by the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince.

To assist the Haitian people, Loving Shepherd Minis…tries has initiated a Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund that will be used by our staff on-the-ground in Haiti to help with the Haiti relief efforts. Any money donated to this fund will be used to assist in the relief and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. We will specifically look to assist in ways that benefit vulnerable children and orphans who have been affected.

If you feel compelled to give to this effort, you may give on-line at www.loving-shepherd.org (please note Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund in the “Add Special Instructions” field) or you may send a donation to:

LSM
c/o Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund
PO Box 375
Bluffton, IN 46714

Please pray for Haiti.

Sincerely,

The LSM Team

Many of you have asked us about the earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday afternoon. We thank God that it did not damage or hurt the Pfister family or any of Loving Shepherd’s staff, children or homes, but many others need our prayers and support because of the disaster. The quake struck the capital city of Port-au-Prince, and thousands are feared dead.

We will continue to let you know of any new developments as we learn them. Thank you for your love and prayers.