Summarizing The Hole

Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God. -Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision  

To summarize the most inspiring book I've read this year -heck, in the last five years- is challenging; there are motivational morsels springing from every page. Yet The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns is a compelling call to action, and so, having just finished the book, I'll share some particularly thought-provoking quotes and excerpts:

We must pray constantly that God will soften our hearts so we can see the world the way He sees it. -Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S., 1998 - present

Don't fail to do something just because you can't do everything.  -B. Pierce

Confronted with an overwhelming problem, Jesus did not ask the disciples to do the impossible; He asked only for them to bring to Him what they had. He then multiplied the small offering and used it to do the impossible. The principle here is so very important for those who are overwhelmed with the immensity of human suffering and need in our world:  God never asks us to give what we do not have... But He cannot use what we will not give.  -R. Stearns (on the miracle of the loaves and fishes which appears in all four gospels)

Imagine what would have happened in your lives if there had been no connection whatsoever between how hard you worked and the results you got, because that is exactly the situation faced by the more than 1 billion people who live on less than a dollar a day. The connection between how hard they work and the result they will get has been broken.  -President Bill Clinton

That bread which you keep belongs to the hungry; that coat which you preserve in your wardrobe, to the naked; those shoes which are rotting in your possession, to the shoeless; that gold which you have hidden in the ground, to the needy. Wherefore, as often as you are able to help others, and refuse, so often did you do them wrong.  -Augustine

My faith demands -this is not optional- my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference. -President Jimmy Carter

The Lord Jesus told us to be the world's salt and light. If therefore darkness and rottenness abound, it is largely our fault and we must accept the blame.  -Reverend John Stott

If the Christian community is truly to be salt and light in a dark world, we will only succeed by embracing the whole gospel. Faith and works must be put back together again.  -R. Stearns

When we have enough cash, food, and possessions, we can become self-reliant. Therefore, money is not seen by God as a benign and neutral thing. Money is power, and power competes with God for supremacy in our lives. -R. Stearns

In the end, God simply calls you to be faithful to the things He has given you to do. -R. Stearns

For more information, check out:  http://www.theholeinourgospel.com/