Love In Action » Compassion

Japan’s horrific quake – Act of God?

Jim Collins — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 05:32:52 +0000

Huge areas of land shook violently. Tokyo’s skyscrapers bent up to 20 metres under the force, as streets ‘rippled’ below. One eyewitness said the terror was unbearable. Frozen on quavering pavements below swaying, crumbling buildings – he expected to die.

In the nearby Pacific, the massive earthquake sent shockwaves along the ocean floor. A ten-metre wall of water began to roll towards the cities, ports and beaches of Japan’s north island. The world watched as this tsunami swallowed everything in its path: cars, houses, seawalls. The frightening power of the enraged waters has had devastating results.

Many thousands of people have died, or are missing – feared dead. And worse still, tow of Japan’s nuclear reactors have suffered damage. Explosion of at least one reactor has been confirmed. Hundreds of thousands of people were immediately evacuated. The potential carnage from such ‘fallout’, in a country that two generations ago endured the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is galling.

You’ve probably seen pictures of this disaster unfold on your TV. Maybe you’ve read about it online…

I wonder what are you thinking? What questions are going through your mind?

It’s sickening – how could I/would I cope? Why are there so many ‘natural disasters’ happening at the moment? What is happening to the world?…

Maybe you’re asking – Where’s God in all of this?

Good question. Where is God in all of this?

We can’t pretend to have all the answers. We can’t pretend we know exactly what God was thinking when the quake hit. We don’t know with full certainty how He feels… But we have some idea.

“God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16). God sent Jesus to put God’s love into action – to save the world. To rescue you and to rescue me.

Did God cause Japan’s earthquake? Did He send the rains and floods into Queensland? Did He shake Christchurch?…

I doubt it somehow. I think God is with those who are suffering. I think He cares far more than we do – He made us all. We’re all precious to Him…

So what should WE do? What can we say about it?

God is LOVE – we know that. But we don’t know all the answers, and that’s ok. Frustrating, angering even, but living with some mystery is a real part of a real life.

What can we do?

Japan’s Salvation Army have decided to act – heading straight into the centre of the chaos and pain. “We combat natural disasters with acts of God”, they said in this article.

Combating natural disasters with acts of God. Acts of compassion; acts of mercy.

Our heart goes out to the people of Japan at this time. And we should pray for them. We should ask for God’s mercy and compassion to be upon them and around them. Powerful ways to respond…

But can you do more? How can you respond today with an “act of GOD” to help those suffering around you?…

Trading Fairly over the weekend

Stu Harris — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:29:56 +0000

On Saturday Love in Action was featured as part of a Fair Trade event held at St Stephen’s Church in Belrose, NSW. Many people attended and purchased goods from local artists and producers, and in the evening people came to watch Amazing Grace – the wonderful film about William Wilberforce and his lifetime effort to see slavery abolished.

During the afternoon Love in Action raised $600 that will all be donated to Bridge of Hope to help give additional micro-loans to families living in Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. You can read about how micro-loans can transform the life of the poor in the book, but hurry copies are extremely limited and available online Compassion and in person at Humphries newsagents in Manly.

Manly-Manado Inc. closed for business

Stu Harris — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:08:33 +0000

On Sunday 25 April Jim Goddard, founder of Manly-Manado Inc. announced the cessation of the formal incorporated body of the movement, and called for Manly to “go global” with what we have learnt and seek the needs of others.

Love in Action is both an historical account of the relationship that will continue between the residents of Manly and Manado, and a demonstration of the mutual transformation that can result from one community meeting the needs of another community. Few copies of Love in Action remain. It can be purchased online via Compassion and in person at Humphreys in Manly, on the Corso. Profits from the sale of the book go to supporting people living in Manado.

Love in Action – Sales so far

Stu Harris — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:16:28 +0000

Our primary objective in creating Love in Action was to document a story of hope in the midst of poverty, and to demonstrate a model community partnership and mutual transformation through the example of Manly-Manado.

Our second goal was to raise money for Manly-Manado, so the book could also directly benefit the people of Manado.

To date we have shipped 670 books. Of those books, we have given over 200 books to Compassion as a gift. Every book that they sell will be money raised that will help them continue to do the good work they do. Approx. 60 books remain in stock with our sales partners around Australia.

There are less than 300 copies of Love in Action left in stock. We do not plan to print a second run.

The 300 remaining books will raise $12,000 for Manly-Manado. 100% of the sales of these 300 copies will be given to Manly-Mando and to support the community partnership and help the people of Manado.

Will you help move the remaining copies of Love in Action that we have on hand? We would love to find a good home for them. Perhaps you have a friend or relative who has a birthday coming up? Maybe you’re a business owner and would like to help share some good news with your business partners?

Love in Action is available today from Humphreys Newsagents, Koorong, The Bible Society and directly from Manly-Manado.

Thank you for your support.