Correction: So much to say

and very little time to say it.

"Christianity can be built around isolating ourselves from evildoers and sinners, creating a community of religious piety and moral purity. That's the Christianity I grew up with. Christianity can also be built around joining with the broken sinners and evildoers of our world crying out to God, groaning for grace. That's the Christianity I have fallen in love with." -Shane Claiborne, "The Irresistible Revolution"

"When someone strips a man of his clothes, we call him a thief. And one who might clothe the naked and does not-should not he be given the same name? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat in your wardrobe belongs to the naked; the shoes you let rot belong to the barefoot; the money in your vaults belongs to the destitute." -Basil the Great

"'The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.'" -John in Luke 3:11

"Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all." -Proverbs 22:2

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." -Proverbs 21:13

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." -Romans 12:14-16

"'Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'" -Jesus in Luke 12:32-34

"'Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? ... If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will becomes like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.'" -the mouth of the Lord in Isaiah 58:6-7, 9-11

"'You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" -Jesus in Luke 18:22

"'Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.'" -Jesus in John 6:27

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself by being polluted by the world." -James 1:27

"'He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.'" -Jesus in John 8:47

"Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." -James 1:22

Dear friends, I don't know how much more clear and blunt I can be in this matter. We live in a society that is so full of STUFF. We go to college to get a degree to get a good job to make more money to buy more stuff. We have made Christmas into a holiday about getting stuff. Our day is based on three meals in which we feed ourselves stuff. The thing is, God has given us these gifts but it doesn't mean we are using them the way He wants us to.
There are so many people in this world who need the help of Americans. I believe it's something like this: America, which is 6% of the global population, uses 43% of its resources (including food). What does that leave the other 94% of the population? And how much does that leave the poor?

Perhaps you see this as a mere justification of how I choose to live, of the area I am seeking to live in. Yet I don't see it as a justification- I see it as the cause. God has called me to a lifestyle completely devoted to Him, devoted to prayer, loving His people. He has called me to step out of my comfort zone, take care of the earth He gave us, and live amongst those who need their physical needs met. I encourage you to read James 2. I will let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what He is saying in that chapter.

Pray about what you can do to help the poor. Pray about the assets God has given you and where He wants you to allocate those. And when He shows you, don't ignore His prompting- do what He says.