A few years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to become a part of the Board of Directors of International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES). I’ve been exposed to IDES and their incredible ministry for as long as I can remember and have, on several occasions, had the joy of sharing in its work. From participating in work trips to a storm-ravaged Pearlington, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, to helping with shed building projects after a tornado ripped through our neighboring region in 2012, to volunteering with numerous “God Always Provides” (G.A.P.) food packing events, IDES has always been a familiar and beloved mission to me.

One of the founders of AA, Bill Wilson, has said, “We believe (in the church world) that faith without works is dead (James 2), but in AA we have conclusively proved that works without faith are dead also.” For the alcoholic, that means it’s not enough to just try; you need a spiritual foundation. And for the Christian, being a “good person” is not enough; we need what Christ and the church offer. In fact, what he said mirrors the dual message of Scripture, as we compare James 2 with Ephesians 2. And yet, both sides of this equation can be lacking among many who claim allegiance to Jesus. 

I recently met a fan of Bible trivia who asked, “What preacher left Joppa because of Gentiles?” After a moment, I replied “Peter”, thinking of Acts 9. Actually, it turned out to be a bit of a trick question. It turns out Peter, as well as the prophet Jonah, both left Joppa but under different attitudes toward Gentiles. This left me curious enough to explore the parallels between these two departures.