| Winter 2004 | |
RENDEZVOUS | |
The Gift of Shared Resourcesby Jim Carlson, Lone RockA Montana rancher was telling me about friends who had visited his place from back East (New England, not Minneapolis!). Noting a grassy hillside behind the barn, the guest asked, "Now, is that a clear cut?" Well, no. Actually, it's just a grassy hillside.Many folks are misinformed about natural resources, whether timber, water, wildlife or mineral. Part of the confusion is due to concern as to whether a resource is "zero sum;" that is, whether it is renew- able or non-renewable. A non-renewable, zero-sum, cannot- be-replaced-or-regenerated resource would include fossil fuels and mineral ores. There is a fixed amount of these materials, however large, and once it's gone, it's gone.Some people seem to consider all natural resources as zero-sum, and so can become quite lively when timber or animals seem to be harvested in excess, or at all. This concern has given rise to influential organizations whose desire is to limit or stop the depletion of a resource through activism, legislation or litigation. The Rocky Mountain West has therefore become an environmental battleground for interest groups ranging from those who would ban extraction altogether, to those who would exploit the same, and all stripes in between. Many of our natural resources are, in fact, renewable and need only to be managed properly for their continued growth and healthy benefit by human- kind. And, while the people of our Rocky Mountain Bible Mission churches and ministries are familiar with the dynamics of environmental debates, we realize that we are privileged to be managers in an even greater arena, the Kingdom of God! One of the most exciting aspects of being in the Lord's work is the joy of sharing His abundance with others. God's people helping God's people build with God's resources. It's the Ukrainian believers helping Lone Rock with their building. It's Lone Rock helping Cut Bank with Vacation Bible School. It's Cut Bank helping Camp Utmost, Camp Utmost in- vesting in Superior's people. It's Superior Community Church returning the favor, and on and on, around and in and out of the Rocky Mountain Bible Mission. No "zero sum" here; no hoarding "what's ours" and holding out on a known need. The Mission not only responds to one another's opportunities, we look for more all the time! Yes, we are managers of what is His, and we do not regard His resources as zero-sum. The limits of God's people, money, time and materials are yet to be imagined, because He is Himself the fountain- head of the Kingdom enterprise. Didn't Jesus promise His disciples that He would build His church? (Matthew l6.2l) How many baskets of scraps were leftovers after Jesus fed His sheep on the green grass? And then did it again? God has shared abundantly with us. "Freely you have received," Jesus said in Matthew; so "freely give." This Rendezvous highlights shared, continually-renewed resources the Lord is putting to use through this humble Mission. To His praise and glory, to be sure! | |
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