My two oldest children, John and Jenilee both read this book by Shane Claiborne.  The book is very popular with Christians who are in their 20's.

 Claiborne raises some good questions regarding the church and its respnse to those who are less fortunate.  He is someone who walks the walk.  He tells the story of the movement called The Simple Way.  He and his friends in The Simple Way chose to live a very simple lifestyle whild making thier home among the poor.

There is much in the book that resinates with me.  I share his view that most of us who call ourselves Christians live materialisitc lives with no great concern for the poor.  At best we want to donate some money to help but we certainly don't want to share our lives with these people.

It reminded me of how much more concerned I was for the poor when I was a young Christian.  I did open up my apartment to several men who were struggling to make ends meet.  Today, I have little contact with people like those that I befriended during that time.

I like this book.  I am so grateful that this younger generation has in many ways rejected the materialistic lifestyle of my generation.  My son took a class at Baylor called Poverty In Waco.  He lived as a homeless person for a weekend.  He serves food to homeless people on Friday mornings at a shelter.  My oldest daughter works with ex-inmates.   She helps teach an art class to these men.  My youngest daughter spent a week this summer with our church ministering to the people in a small town in New Mexico.  I am blessed to get to share my life with these three young people.