TIM GILLESPIE // Politics

SHARE

verb
1. have a portion of (something) with another or others.
MUSIC // Hillsong Worship — 'Christ is Enough'
MUSIC // Vintage Worship — 'Generous Giver'
MUSIC // Gungor — 'Beautiful Things'
MUSIC // People & Songs ft. Charity Gayle & Joshua Sherman — 'Living in the Overflow'
REFLECT // The Generosity of Jesus
Here are stories that show how generous Jesus is.
Do you have a story that shows how generous Jesus has been to You? We’d love to hear it. Send yours to zan@the1project.org

MAKE

verb
1. form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances; create.
2. cause (something) to exist or come about; bring about.

Believing  in the abundance of God is an act of revolution

MAKE // Bread
Ame Fowler | Chattanooga USA

This Mom wanted to do something special with her kids over the summer and taught them how to make bread. I love that she shared she was making bread daily and that along the way, her kids did it with her.  Know that love is the active yeast in every relationship. Without it the bread is flat.

MAKE // A Lego Miracle
James Murdock | Boulder USA

The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is a big scene with lots of people getting to see the power of Jesus at work.
  1. Using Legos, can you build a scene that shows this miracle?
  2. As an added challenge, count the number of Legos you used for the scene.
  3. See if you can’t make another set that teaches the same lesson using half of the Legos you used the first time. Keep trying this over and over until you can tell the story using a set built with only 10 pieces.

TRY

verb
1. make an attempt or effort to do something. Use, test, or do (something new or different) in order to see if it is suitable, effective, or pleasant.
TRY // A new perspective
Wes Tolhurst | Gold Coast Australia

One of the things that struck me when visiting Galilee and the hills Jesus would have fed the 5000 on was that they weren’t gently undulating slopes of green grass.  They were relatively steep and rugged hills with prickles and long dry grass.  But the thing that further destroyed my fairytale idea was the role that nature played.  They say a lot is lost in translation.  And I would add, a lot is lost when a story is put onto paper.  That’s two layers of separation from the day when Jesus gave a strong lesson in the politics of abundance.  

All around, while Jesus spoke, nature echoed his message.  When I visited, there was a snake, grasshoppers and birds… so many birds singing and flitting about.  I’m guessing the same species making the same merry songs.  All creatures of lower intelligence than those created in God’s image, and yet, understanding the politics of abundance.  On another occasion, Jesus revisited the same challenge with his disciples...
Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Why not consider the next time you have the panic of not enough, going out into nature and taking the advice of the Creator.  Nature has a way of putting things in perspective for us.  
Check out this information about the sea of Galilea and the area around.

TRY // Listening to the birds
Zan Long | Sydney Australia

I love the sound of these birds flying.  I wonder if,  like people, the birds and animals were drawn towards Jesus too.
TRY // Making Popcorn
Ame Fowler | Chattanooga USA

Watch this video to see corn pop in slow motion. You can even try this at home with coconut oil or peanut oil, popcorn kernels, butter, and salt. 

This website has a recipe and video to show us how to make popcorn. As you watch the corn pop, think about how big they get. They could even flow over the pan. Love is like that. God’s love is generous and abundant. Love grows more love. After you watch the corn pop, make some and add your favorite topping then share it with your family or give some to a neighbor. Jesus shows us that abundance means sharing, giving, and everyone has enough. We can care for everyone.

PLAY

verb
1. engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
WATCH // The Wonders of Space
Zan Long | Sydney Australia
What an amazing God! The Creator made something so BIG like the universe, but also considers the little things, like breaking bread and water into wine. Christ is enough for me. 
PLAY // Backyard Creation Scavenger Hunt
James Murdock | Boulder USA

You will need: to print the scavenger hunt list, a pencil or crayon, your imagination, and to go to a park or your yard. Read through the scavenger hunt. Explore your yard or park. Write or draw each thing you find. Talk about each thing you've found and go through the questions together.