Those Irksome Holiday Season Emails

Aren't you just sick of receiving those holiday season emails that make you feel a little bit overwhelmed about the discrepancy of the rich and the poor; that remind you of every need there is around the world—as if there isn't enough need in your hometown?

They encourage you to give to China and the Philippines and Africa, and show empathetic photos of children in rags with a "Merry Christmas" sign underneath the photo. Do they do that just to make you feel bad?

"Merry Christmas! We're in the middle of the worst flood/famine/persecution in history!"

Maybe you should just mark those emails as spam, and get on with what truly matters on Christmas: turkey, presents, family and football.

Okay, okay. That scenario seems a little facetious, we know. But the truth is, it's easy to get bogged down with "the overwhelming need" that you simply try to sit back in your pew and hide from all those holiday email reminders from Christian ministries trying to take advantage of year-end giving opportunities.

Because you're smart enough to know that empathy works, right?

But can we stop for just a moment and picture your old WWJD bracelet on your wrist again. (Where is that old thing, by the way?)

Persecuted Chinese Christians.
Abandoned Orphans.
Hungry children.
Empty eyes.

Seriously, what would Jesus do?

The fact is, Jesus already did it. That's why we're having this whole conversation.

Christmas is just around the corner, reminding us of the ultimate price that the Son of God paid to ransom the world. It wasn't just a adorable nativity scene, a cute baby, and bright star overhead. It was God Almighty taking a stand for injustice for the people he loves.

2,000 years ago, Jesus came to sacrifice his life for you and for me. At the heart of the matter is God's inexorable love for those in need. And I guess the proper response would be, "Okay God, now what can I do to help bring your salvation to those in need this season?"

Yes, that's the correct response. Because God hates injustice, and loves when we are conduits of his peace. He loves when we are consumed and committed to reaching to those who are supposedly "out of reach".

Enter: Within Reach Global.

We are certain that the one third of Earth's population that has been left out of the picture for over 2,000 years can be reached. That's right, over 2 billion people who have never heard of Jesus before, and they live with us in the 21st century!

Pretty crazy, huh?

With recent world trends of urban migration—people flooding to the cities like never before—the harvest is riper than ever. And the harvest is right under our noses.

So here's the point: Don't get too overwhelmed or distracted by all the little things this holiday season. God's love is at the core of this special time. His presence in your life is there to remind you to broadcast his love to those around you, even to the ends of the earth.

Your giving does make a difference in the world. Your year-end tax deductible donations will affect peoples' lives for eternity. (Sorry, we just had to get that year-end tax deductible donation thing in there somewhere!)

Yes, it might be easier to send e-cards of cute kittens and pets doing silly things, or perfectly arranged digital nativity sets over the interwebs, but we think God has bigger things on his mind than that.

Invest now.