Zealous Love is a response to some of the world’s urgent needs in light of Christ’s great love. Through first-hand accounts and up-to-date facts about eight global issues, Zealous Love uniquely provides readers with the information, inspiration, and involvement they crave to personally make a difference in their world.

the book hit the stores earlier this month, and i’d been anticipating it’s release because i know that the executive editors, mike and danae yankoski, always deliver thorough, sincere, relevant work. i pre-ordered it on amazon so that it would be on my doorstep the instant it was published. the title caught my attention because several of the eight concerns that the book addresses are target initiatives of the spero project. i can’t wait to see how the project can integrate the information and ideas into our programs in okc.

the really fantastic thing about this book is that it takes the message beyond education. these pages are truly for anybody who cares about helping others. the real, do-able ideas inside are not the kind of things you’d be inclined to brush off as an assignment for those in full-time ministry. the colorful, inspiring, organized sections guide the reader in how to turn passion into action, both locally and globally. the staggering needs of the world are suddenly less overwhelming when you have direction and focus for your energy.

i was especially impressed with the interactive website for ZealousLove.org. in addition to descriptions of each of the areas of injustice they hope to bring attention to, there is a forum for discussion about each of the topics. organizations and individuals can share motivation, resources, and practical ideas about taking on some of the world’s most pressing challenges: hunger, unclean water, HIV/AIDS, creation degradation, lack of education, economic inequality, refugees, and human trafficking.

Zealous Love offers hope throughout every chapter. hope for the world, hope for the reader. it’s not about being a “Super Christian,” it’s about seeing a need and deciding to do something about it.  it’s about making your faith more than just good intentions.

for the past eight weeks i have been glued to a new show on NBC called The Philanthropist. it caught my interest because the title character is played by james purefoy who i enjoyed as marc antony on the HBO series Rome. i was hooked by the second episode, which centered around the turmoil in myanmar (or burma) where many of the refugees in okc are from. i’m very impressed with this international drama, which was filmed everywhere from south africa to mozambique to prague. each installment is exciting and engaging, with its spectacular location footage, high action, sensationalistic characters, and emotionally charged circumstances, but the story lines are based on very real conditions in the countries it features. once you’re drawn in by the allure of the good-looking billionaire playboy Teddy Rist and his vigilante heroics, and the heart-tugging people he encounters, the show offers practical ways to make a difference. pretty sneaky…glamorize outreach with a hollywood polish then give people easy ways to jump in while they’re motivated. i love it.

while Teddy’s impulsive actions, impossible connections, and affinity for throwing around huge wads of money are hardly realistic, much less feasible for the average volunteer, anything that promotes awareness to people who are not usually exposed to the reality of global unrest is good in my opinion. the eight-part series is complete now, and i don’t believe there are plans to air any new episodes, but you can watch all of the previously aired shows here.

if you’d like ideas for simple ways to get involved on a variety of levels, check out the links in the “do some good” section of my WHERE I BROWSE page.

*interestingly, the drama is inspired by real life entrepreneur-turned-full-time philanthropist Bobby Sager.

i have been privileged to work with a variety of outreach organizations from local ministries to global missionaries through an awesome previous job, as well as volunteering and community involvement. but oddly enough, until recently i’d never interacted closely with  group of people that represent a large percentage of the population in many cities, including okc: refugees. these strong & resilient people have experienced horrors i cannot fathom, and often relocate to our nation after being forcibly removed from their homes. most have lived in a refugee camp for many years before their move here, and have lost some, if not many, family members to violence. they arrive in hope of a fresh start, and truly need assistance to make the best of the opportunity they have been given.

i previously mentioned an organization i am proud to be involved with that is doing a lot of good locally and globally. one of the main programs sponsored by the spero project is called spero: voice. the mission of this program is to be a voice for those in need, offering them the hope of Jesus in practical ways. this is accomplished by partnering the resources of the local church with the needs of the refugee community, specifically through education, job training, social networking, spiritual growth, and advocacy.

this weekend wraps up a week of awareness in the UK sponsored by the british red cross, aiming to overcome prejudice and help refugees restore their sense of identity and belonging. even though i’m late in spreading the word, it’s not too late to visit lookbeyondthelabel.org and learn more about the struggles of these people. check out the video below, and if you feel inclined, read a little about the terrible injustices and violence occurring in the congo, burma, sudan, and afghanistan. these are just a few of the places those in the refugee community of okc have lived. it is difficult to read these stories without being moved by the hope these survivors represent.

there are countless words across the world that do not exist in other languages. this is one of the reasons i find language so fascinating.  hope is not one of those words. hope is felt and expressed in every corner of the globe. “spero” is latin for hope, and this name represents a new ministry in okc.  The Spero Project is fueled by an exciting vision to unite the community in local and global efforts, because more can be accomplished together than apart.

The Spero Project exists to “provide information, resources, and networking opportunities, equipping and encouraging individuals and local churches to meet the needs of a global community in innovative, effective, and exciting ways.”

God is constantly moving in our city and all over the globe, and we can promote the amazing force of the Gospel to bring truth, freedom, and hope if we work together, doing what we already do to reach out to others. i am proud to be involved in the launch of this fantastic project, because i believe in the vision that drives it and the leadership behind it.  take a minute and visit the website to read the blog, see upcoming events, find resources, connect with community organizations, watch featured videos, discover simple steps you can take, learn specific ways you can pray for the world, and get inspired.

this is what set off the ripple in my peaceful little pond: my sister and her husband have good friends (another young married couple) that i enjoy and admire a great deal.  they happened to be in town today, and i met the four of them for a brief lunch between appointments. as we sat there exchanging updates, they in their flip flops and i in my high heels, i felt the discontent set in. i listened to the stories of their adventures in marriage and ministry, reaching from central america to africa to canada and beyond, and i could tangibly feel the jealousy like a boulder in my stomach. i thought of how they get up each morning with a united purpose, a life led side by side. how they have the freedom to move from one project to the next, not tied geographically to jobs or comfort zones. they backpack, they marathon, they research together. while i acknowledge there are definite benefits to having familiarity and security to come home to every night, and certainly things about my life they might desire, i could not get past how strongly i felt the yearning for their exciting, meaningful, uncommon life.

as i walked away from the cafe in my professional attire to go “close a sale, ” i felt as insignificant and ridiculous as i have ever felt. i know i ‘ve worked through this already, this coming-to-terms with the career i have chosen at the moment, but it seems it doesn’t take much to open the door for resentment to creep in. i suppose i need to give this arrangement some time to fulfill its ultimate goal – providing the means to involve myself in the things i value – but i never said patience was one of my strong traits, and my daily activities are not where my heart is. my next birthday looming doesn’t help calm the sense of urgency, either.

i know that God’s plan for them is not the same as it is for lee and i, and i pray that He will quiet my silly stirrings so i can be satisfied with the abundance i have – and not just most the time.