“The Hole in Our Gospel” by Richard Sterns
a short book review

Recently I received a complementary copy of “The Hole in Our Gospel” to review for BookSneeze dot com*. I was overjoyed to receive my copy and thought I would get to it sooner than later. I’m sorry I waited so long to finish this book and review it here for you.
It is the story of Richard Sterns, now president of World Vision US and his journey of “What God expects of us” as Christians today. It’s a very powerful telling of Rich’s personal life and experiences with World Vision in third world countries where he boldly asks Christians everywhere to do what the scripture says, take care of widows and orphans. This is what this book is about. There are over 2000 scriptures dedicated to poverty and justice in the Bible and Rich focuses on this insight and leads us to believe, it must be important.
Of the many stories Rich shares, I was amazed at his story about becoming president for one of the worlds largest NGO’s. It’s hard to ignore God when he is calling you. I was encouraged and wondered how I would respond if God were calling me so clearly.
It would be an error to assume that every Christian understands the difficulties of extreme poverty and justice in third world countries. Many minister and pastors fall short of this understanding. Not because they don’t care, rather, they are just uninformed. If you are looking to equip yourself with a better understanding about extreme poverty as seen through the efforts and work of Rich Sterns and World Vision, then this is a great place to start. It gives powerful stories of children in need all over the world and statistics that can sometimes be overwhelming. It has the potential to change your paradigm and ask you to live different and give different.
There are many organization that are working to make a better world for children. This book focuses on what Rich Sterns and World Vision are doing. In all it is very well done.
Keep an eye out for the launch of my new website and a contest where you could win a copy of this book.
peace.
johno~
* I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Jul 26, 2010 | Categories: johno | Tags: Gospel, Poverty, Rich Sterns, World Vision | View Comments

Another month has flown by. I know many of you are planning vacations and your summers are more packed than mine. Personally, I feel like I need to pick up some Montana brochures and relax a bit. Anyhow, I realized as I looked for photos for July’s desktop of the month, that I’m not to [...]
Jul 01, 2010 | Categories: johno | Tags: 2010, calendar, desktop, grand canyon, july | View Comments
I hate to take another week off in getting back on track with the 52 pics of the week so I’ll move my lazy butt and get with it. I’ve been very blessed to shoot sports photography for a local football team here in Wenatchee. I started taking pictures for the Rams in 2004 with [...]
Jun 06, 2010 | Categories: photography | Tags: action, football, sports, wenatchee valley rams | View Comments

Hey everyone. I know it’s been a long time and many of you are waiting to see the pics from my trip to Uganda… Well, so am I. I really haven’t had the chance to get a good look at them, let alone do the needed post work on the favorites. I seem to have [...]
Jun 01, 2010 | Categories: johno | Tags: 2010, calendar, desktop, June | View Comments
Here's a photo of two of my kids. peace Johno~ Posted via email from Faith Quest Uganda
May 10, 2010 | Categories: johno | View Comments
What a day! Heavily packed with joy and tears. It began this morning as Hannah and I were picked up by World Vision and set out to meet our sponsored child Zakalyia. Our driver had to make a stop and pick up his tire that he replaced while on his way to pick us up. [...]
May 10, 2010 | Categories: johno | View Comments
Amazingly the week at Faith Quest Uganda has passed. The week started in heavy rain… mud… mud… and more mud. Vehicles stuck. Huts incomplete for campers. Water source non existent… Toilets defiled… Yet, God was there in the midst of this insanity. By the start of Faith Quest we were at our end, which is [...]
May 08, 2010 | Categories: johno | View Comments
This has been a wonderful week. We can hardly believe the time has flown by. The kids have wonderful spirits and their songs are amazing. Glory to God. We will clean up as soon as possible tomorrow and return to Fort Portal. We look forward to showers and toilets. Jesus, bless the youth of Uganda [...]
May 07, 2010 | Categories: johno | View Comments
Well, our first full day at camp is going well. We’ve readjusted the schedule several times… it’s an African thing. The teens are singing and praising God even though we’ve been rained on and mud is covering the landscape. African mud clumps to your shoes and you grow in hight and gain about 10 pounds… [...]
May 05, 2010 | Categories: johno | View Comments
Well, we’ve finished our Monday and it was full of wonderful experiences. Well, for some that is. Last night I had a really difficult dream… my first in a long time. Must be the Larium. Anyhow, I woke up just before 6 AM and realized I would/could not fall back to sleep, so I did [...]
May 03, 2010 | Categories: johno | View Comments