Adam Behnke

HNGR Extra Credit 6 April 2009

The first event I attended was on Wednesday night with Braddigan. After the half hour delay (the pickup in Brads guitar was dead), the audience was blessed to watch Dia De Luz, an hour-long documentary of a trash dump community surviving in Managua, Nicaragua. All footage in the film was shot over the course of one day during which a large group of college students traveled with Brads ministry, Love Light and Melody, to help and uplift the residents of the trash dump. The cinematography in the film was brilliant. Many of the scenes did not include any people, only the trash dump. As the film started at sunrise, there were small fires that created thick smoke dotted throughout the shot. It turns out these flames are gas fires or tire fires. The first is formed from the compacting of the trash over a long period of time, and the second one is started by the people there, as they light the tires on fire to get the metal rings on the inside that can then be sold for a small price. Brad explained later that this smoke has detrimental effects; he spent four hours in it one time, and for the next week his body was disjointed ill. And these people are daily breathing in these fumes! After the film, Brad spoke for quite a while on what is important in his life, and further, what should be in ours. He continued his sentiment from chapel, urging us to give ourselves to help the less fortunate around the world. He made some striking statements that have made me reconsider my views on wealth and motivation. To him, the wealth of the United States is the scariest and most disgusting thing in the world. He considers those in Managua more beautiful and wealthy us here and tries to spend as much time as he can there. Unlike many other Christian speakers, he believes Jesus calls everyone to give their all, finances included, for the ministry of Christ. His passion for all of this has further convinced me that giving all of ourselves (money included) to the Lord is fully satisfying and what the Lord deserves.

I also attended the Christianity and Wealth forum on Thursday night. The first panelist was from a large technology company, the second a Wheaton international relations professor, and the third from a company striving to build up businesses in Eastern Europe with the help of Christ. The Wheaton professor had valuable advice. She and her husband recently decided that they would not live on more than they are currently are, but would increase how much they tithed and donated every year from now on. The third panelist admirably told of how he has not had a savings account since early in his marriage, but has depended on the Lord for that part of his finances. A question towards the end of the night about whether owning a dog (and paying all the expenses involved) was Biblical gave energy to the crowd and panelists. Unfortunately, the third panelist took offense, and gave and rushed and rash response. I do not even remember his response because I felt convicted. The Wheaton professor flat out disagreed with him, and defended her view that the expenses could be better used towards the cause of Christ. On the whole, these panelists were much more subdued and conservative on how to give our funds to the Lords work than Braddigan was. They echoed the line, Well if there were no rich people, who would give to the poor? more than once. After a while, it seemed to be more of an excuse for having wealth than anything else. If the Lord does lead us towards receiving large paychecks, all that means is that we have more to give. As this was the night after Braddigans riveting testimony, this forum seemed only half-hearted. I am leaning more and more towards the view that giving all of ourselves (money included) to the Lord is fully satisfying and what the Lord deserves. Both of these events were thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable.