At the Harvard forum last week with Peter Singer, the influential ethicist and atheist, I was grateful for the opportunity to share with him and those gathered how God has changed my life.

We agreed that, as humans, we are essentially selfish. (Who can deny that?) We agreed that there is a spark of compassion in each of us that compels us to act. Where we respectfully differed was why.

Singer described giving as part of an “ethical life,” that people are much more likely to give when they see others giving and when they realize that it’s personally fulfilling. As a Christian, I added that giving away money is an unnatural act. Only God can make a change in someone’s heart that causes us to overcome our selfishness.

Our reasons differ, but Singer is advocating the same radical thought that Jesus did: That is, to ignore our neighbor’s need is wrong—for a Christian or an atheist.

Many of us are doing something. But compared to what we could do, is it enough? As we enter the main giving season of the year, will each of us—and the American church—heed the Holy Spirit’s urging to be intentional about our giving? Or will we succumb to selfishness or fear of further economic turmoil?

“Rich and I are trying to develop a culture where it should be unacceptable not to give to the poor,” said Singer. Do you think it could happen? Why do you give to the poor? And what will wake up the American church to really care about the poor—and act it?

Want to hear my dialogue with Peter Singer? Listen to the 90-minute audio here.

And, you can see a slideshow of images from the event.

Our books came out just days apart back in March. We drew from much of the same research. And we came to virtually the same conclusion: Now is the time to tackle global poverty and suffering—and it’s up to us to do it.

The main difference? Peter Singer approached his argument in The Life You Can Save from an ethicist (and atheist) point of view; I approached mine from a Christian perspective.

This afternoon, Peter Singer and I are appearing together at Harvard University to talk about our shared call to action. It’s compelling that there’s so much common ground between us, despite our divergent backgrounds. I’m looking forward to our exchange.

Some people might say that I shouldn’t engage with an avowed atheist who has liberal views. But global poverty is so staggering, the issues so urgent, that making a difference will take all of us. We don’t have to agree with each other’s philosophies to collaborate. I believe that people of good faith can work with those of good will to accomplish great things.

But what do you think? Can Christians work alongside the Peter Singers of the world? If so, how? What has been your experience of working with people of diverse viewpoints to fight poverty, locally or globally?

Next week I’ll write about the Harvard event. I’ll try to make a podcast available if you’d like to listen for yourself.

When Jesus said in Matthew 7, “By their fruit you will recognize them,” I doubt he was thinking about Washington state apple trees. But as Jesus goes on to describe, “every good tree bears good fruit,” that’s what this verse reminds me of—especially this time of year, when our world-famous apple crop comes to fruition.

Good works are the natural fruit of a vibrant faith. Not that our salvation depends on these works. It’s the life in the tree that produces the fruit, not the fruit that produces the life in the tree.

This past Sunday I spoke at Lighthouse Christian Church in Bellevue, Wash. It’s not big, but it has a big vision. Mobilized by their “Advent Conspiracy” campaign, the congregation assembled 500 kits for African AIDS caregivers, and they’re giving generously to Asia disaster relief. I’m honored that my book has helped them in these efforts.

Churches like Lighthouse bear good fruit because of the life of Christ within them. As an African pastor once told me, “A church that lives within its four walls is no church at all.”

So what does that mean for each of us and our churches? How is the life of Christ at work in us? Are we bearing good fruit? Spend some time in prayer about this, or ask God to help you expand your crop.

I’d also appreciate your prayers next week when I meet with acclaimed bioethics professor and atheist Peter Singer at Harvard on the topic of fighting global poverty. Our different perspectives on why we do this work should make for interesting discussion.

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you know that there’s a lot of suffering in the world just now: earthquakes rocking Indonesia; typhoons ravaging the Philippines and Vietnam; floodwaters deluging parts of India; a tsunami shattering American Samoa.

It makes me ask, Why, God?

But then I read Psalm 46:1-3: “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Apt descriptions for our times. God knows such things shake us to the core. Yet He wants us to put our faith in Him—no matter what.

And if we do that, the question changes: What now, God?

I don’t think God wants any of this suffering. I don’t know why He allows it. But I do know He brings good out of bad.

What if the recent disasters present yet another opportunity to bring good news to the poor—to show the disbelieving how big our God is by helping to save the world He loves? We pray, sometimes every day, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But how do we live daily as kingdom-bearers, even when the earth seems to be revolting against us?

Let me hear from you. What’s your reaction to calamities? Are you overwhelmed, or do you feel more deeply convicted of your part in God’s plan?

Most mornings I have to check my schedule to know what my day looks like. But not Oct. 1. There’s only one thing on the agenda: prayer.

World Vision sets aside the first day of the new fiscal year, Oct. 1, solely for corporate prayer—thanking God for what He has accomplished through our work and asking for His provision in the year ahead.

Prayer has always been an essential part of World Vision’s ministry. The difficulties we face working in some of the world’s poorest and least stable countries demand our dependence on God. In 1981, former president Ted Engstrom made Day of Prayer official. This year, nearly 40,000 World Vision employees around the world will eschew e-mail and business meetings and devote themselves to prayer and worship.

It reminds me of a quote I heard from Martin Luther: “I have so much to do that I will spend the first three hours in prayer.” For those of us who are wired for action rather than contemplation, it’s hard to literally stop and ask for help—even from God, who we know guides our steps.

I’m always inspired by the story of Nehemiah in the Old Testament, who was a man of both prayer and action. His fervent prayer time with God prepared him to carry out an ambitious plan to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He sought God’s blessing, then he got down to work: securing permission from the Persian king and mobilizing people to rebuild the walls—in just 52 days.

On Thursday, would you join us at World Vision in prayer? We would appreciate your prayers for the children and families we serve. Your devotion time can also be an opportunity to clarify God’s call in your life or to seek His favor on your plans. Like Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time, much of our world today is in ruins—and every child of God has his or her part to rebuild.