From My Bookshelf

Kisses From Katie
         Some of you may remember that I posted (ages ago now; my apologies!) about a book my family and I had read back in 2010 called Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream, by David Platt. A challenging read, but one I think every Christian in America should take up and take in, to re-examine the way we are living out the Christian life. I love what Eric Ludy said in his recent sermon, Band of Rescuers - he was talking about one of his own children, I think, who when they were discussing these things at bedtime, said something like "If Jesus purchased me, by His blood, then He should own me, right?" Well. Hmm. Um, duh?
Eric continued, talking about the reaction a lot of people might have to that - whether spoken or only thought-
"SHHHH! Don't say that! It's too obvious!!!" Because Christianity IS obvious!


Kisses From Katie is the story of Katie Davis, who at 18 years old had a firm grasp on this truth, and decided to live it in a radical way - or at least, what most people would consider as being very radical. In her own words - "People say to me all the time, like 'Wow, you are so lucky -that you found what God wants you to do with your life!'. I kinda look at those people and think like, 'Well I didn't - I didn't find it - it was just in the Bible! And so, as someone who calls themselves a Christian, I mean, it's very apparent that you are to love the Lord with all your heart and then you're to love your neighbor as yourself. Like - myself doesn't want to be starving, and so I don't want other people in the world to be starving..."

Here is the introduction from the book:
 "What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn’t know any of the language? A passion to make a difference. Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people and children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. She has given up a relatively comfortable life—at a young age—to care for the less fortunate of this world. She was so moved by the need she witnessed, she’s centered her life around meeting that need. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of adopting thirteen children in Uganda, and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family.
Despite the rough conditions in which Katie lives, she has found a life of service to God to be one of great joy. Katie’s children bring constant delight and help her help others by welcoming whoever comes to their door. As the challenges grow, so does Katie’s faith and her certainty that what she’s doing in Uganda, one person at a time, will have far-reaching rewards. It isn’t the life she planned, but it is the life she loves.
To further her reach into the needs of Ugandans, Katie established Amazima Ministries. The ministry matches orphaned children with sponsors worldwide. Each sponsor’s $300/year provides schooling, school supplies, three hot meals a day, minor medical care, and spiritual encouragement. Katie expected to have forty children in the program; she had signed up 150 by January 2008; today it sponsors over 400. Another aspect of the ministry is a feeding program created for the displaced Karamojong people—Uganda’s poorest citizens. The program feeds lunch to over 1,200 children Monday-Friday and sends them home with a plate of food; it also offers basic medical care, Bible study, and general health training.
Katie Davis is more than fascinating, she’s inspiring, as she has wholeheartedly answered the call to serve."


     Motivational speaker and humorist Charles Jones has a famous quote that goes like this:
"You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read."
    I cannot encourage you enough to read this book - you will be inspired, you will be blessed, and you will be changed.