Wk2 Inspire Challenge - Got a Camera?

(From Amy)

Inspire with dignity.



Join those in your area who are setting up events in your area for December 12th, 2009.

Find out more information at Help-Portrait.

Mercy Rising - "One Thing" Inspire Challenge

Over the next 6 weeks (until 12-18), I am issuing my amazing blog readers a challenge. Do one thing for someone else who needs some inspiration this season.

I have some good friends who are boycotting Black Friday. That's fine, I honestly thought about it - I could use a "buy nothing day". But for me the issue is bigger than shopping. This year has been hard for lots of families. A better way to celebrate the holiday season is to inspire giving, love, and mercy.

Have fun. Stretch your creativity. Need ideas? - Visit the mercyrising blog archives to get some ideas.


Send in your story/pictures to amberaron@yahoo.com to be featured in an upcoming blog posts and to spread the inspiration.

(pix-stock.xchng)

Halloween Candy, Fair Trade?

As a kid, I remember that one house in our subdivision - The loony people who gave us apples instead of candy at Halloween. The fun of candy and treats were just lost on those weird people.

This year, I stared down aisles of candy for two weeks in a serious quandary what to do about chocolate. On one hand I know stuff about cocoa fields and child slave labor that is more chilling than any haunted house. I don't want to support companies that are hurting children.

On the other hand, I don't want to be the lady with a "cause" on Halloween.

So after a couple weeks of research I find myself on the side of the consumer. It isn't easy to get your hands on individually wrapped fair trade chocolate candy pieces. Online purchases are mainly what we have right now, and I hate to pay for shipping. I probably need to brace myself to be inconvenienced. Just a bit grumpy and selfish today.

What can we do?

1) No Nestle products. Labeled as one of the top ten worst companies in the world when it comes to ethics, human rights, etc.

2) Most major chocolate brands you see on the shelf are participating in child labor for cocoa - consider fruit snacks, play-doh, or other alternatives. It ranks decently on the good guide rankings for toys.

3) Order fair trade candy online.

One in a Million

What does one million look like? dollars, cents, people, statistics?

One million children would fill a typical US stadium 15 to 20 times.
One million children holding hands would stretch for more than 750 miles.
It would take you 12 hours going highway speeds to reach the end of that line.

In June, Compassion International reached their one millionth child sponsored. These sponsored children in the grips of poverty are getting their chance at an education, loving mentors, food, health, and hope.

How did they get to 1,000,000 kids? Just one child at a time.

What does real change look like for one person. See the inspiring video below. (starting at 1:45)

Catalyst 2009 Compassion Moment from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Today, on World Poverty Day, it might seem overwhelming. What can I do about world poverty? Not everything, just do one thing. Why this? Why Compassion International?
It's not about an organization, it's about people. I believe so much in the integrity of this one, though, I will continually advocate for children in need. Change one life today. If you sponsor a child, be sure to put #c251 in the "comments" section on their form, to be entered in a drawing to win free stuff!

October 17th World Poverty Day

(from a previous post)


Do you have your ribbon ready for Saturday? Visit the World Poverty Day site to print out a ribbon to show your support to end poverty. And most importantly show your support for the real people behind the statistics.


Find out the history behind World Poverty Day,
organize an event(or start thinking of one for next year),
organize a time of silence, or join a local event near you. Check out the new map this year to help locate events here and around the world.

(pix-oct17.org)

Shoe Fun

As the season turns to fall, last week I pulled out my fall clothes, dug in my closet for a jacket, and put my sandals away. What about those who don't even have access to shoes?

Shoe company, Gore-tex is teaming up with Soles4Souls to help those who need shoes.

How can I help?
#1) Need new fall shoes? Purchase some from Gore-tex and $5 will be donated to S4S.
#2) Enter to win. 10 winners will win Gore-tex shoes, and one lucky winner will win a trip to see Soles4Souls in action.

(pix-stock.xchng)

Call and Response Rockumentary

Get educated, hear some great music, and find others in your area concerned about ending modern slavery.

Did you know that slave traders make more $ than google, nike, and starbucks combined?

Find a viewing in your area

9/26 Holland, MI
9/26 New York, NY
10/6 Abilene, TX
10/8 Portland, OR
10/9 Orlando, FL
10/17 Seattle, WA
10/17 Ellensburg, WA
10/21 Tulsa, OK
10/22 Australia
10/29 Santa Barbara, CA
11/3 Orange City, IA
11/5 Ardmore, PA
11/6 Ardmore, PA
11/8 Ardmore, PA
11/13 Fulton, MD
11/13 Honolulu, HI
11/20 Calgary, Canada

Entertained by Someone's Pain

I happened upon a documentary about stained glass windows at King's Chapel College in London. The art was fantastic, I settled into a quiet research project, not prepared for a huge shock.

In the glass windows there is a scene where Jesus is being beaten and the crowd and soldiers are mocking him, while the aristocratic class watches. A quaint little nun (documentary guide) draws your attention to one of the women, leaning outside the window, observing the scene while resting on a cushion/pillow. The aristocrat is making herself comfortable while watching Jesus being beaten.

The nun's commentary went on to say that this is what it is like sometimes watching the news from the comfort of our homes. Are we far past ignoring someone else's pain, to the point of being entertained by it? She mentioned that if we aren't praying or giving or helping in someway, but are watching, we are being entertained.

The shock of that statement still hasn't worn off although I watched that documentary last month. My eyes are open about how "reality tv" and the "news" has permeated what I think I have the right to view in someone else's life.

Am I being entertained by someone else's pain? Probably yes. Has my mind fully wrapped around what that means? Not yet.

09-09-09 Prize Give Away

Diana Scimone's website is giving away a prize a day for 31 days. It works kind of like a raffle.

Donate $9 on 09-09-09 - catchy isn't it?

The money goes to end sex-trafficking.

Here are some prizes listed so far:
Art work
Twitter wall backgrounds
Cool sunglasses
Kitchen gadgets
Custom Photo Announcements
Jewelry
Beauty Products
Work out program
And more

Check out Diana's website for the details.

World Humanitarian Day - Do Something

Today (August 19th) is World Humanitarian Day established in 2003 to remember those who lost their lives working around the world to help others.

We often forget that those who go in and feed a village, dig a well, or educate others are putting their safety and sometimes their lives on the line.

These educators, doctors, and community developers are motivated often by deep waters of faith. Some are killed or imprisoned in countries where freedom of religion does not exist.

Got 5 minutes?
Got a stamp?

Send a letter to someone imprisoned overseas.

1) Choose a few phrases
2) Let the computer translate it.
3) Print
3) Send letter to the prisoner, their family, or government

Each letter sent helps draw attention to human rights violations and often pressures the authorities to release prisoners unjustly treated.

Cars + Clunkers + Donate = Smile

Our little car held together - sparking, hissing, squealing. We loved her through our last decade of life and hated to see her go. We knew she went out in a blaze of glory when the dealer wouldn't even take her *for free*.

What to do? Find someone to tow her away.


Check list.
1. Get a tax-deduction for car donation.
2. Sort through internet scams
3. Flip through random charities - dog grooming, non-profits?
4. Found Cars 4 Causes
5. 30% of donation goes to Cars4Causes' educational initiative, 70% to charity of my choice (a legit one).
6. Tow company calls me for pick up date
7. Got receipt from Cars4Causes
8. Smile


pix-stock.xchng

Pan-jacking

Do you live in one of the U.S. States with a panhandler charged with car-jacking?

This morning I saw the news in Indiana that a panhandler apprehended a woman in her car after she gave him money. This has also happened in California and Mississippi.

People in Indiana are calling for stricter panhandling laws, especially at busy intersections.

What do you think? Do you give to the local homeless on the street, if so why?, If not, why?

Yard Sale Queen

What to do with all the stuff?

There is a cool site called Yard Sale Queen that is thorough, organized, and has a certain coolness factor.

Donate some or all of the proceeds to a responsible charity of your choice.

Ashley's Clothes Closet

I met Ashley at Cornerstone Music Festival in July. She was working the booth for mission year. What was really interesting is that she is working on an experiment. She is shopping from her closet and seeing how many days she can put together different outfits. Currently she is on day #77 - shopping only from her own closet. She is asking the question... How much is enough?

We will all answer that question differently, but it does make me think...

Story of Stuff

(from earlier post)

Do you ever stop and think about where your stuff comes from? Where do all the little pieces of the computer keyboard originate? The eggs I had for breakfast, the clothes I am wearing right now?

There is a very interesting video about stuff and our alarming rate of consumption. Annie has studied this in depth for a decade and says that the production of stuff is linear, yet we have a finite space to store it in. Break that down - we all have only so much space. She is worried on an ecological/economic level.

I worry more on a spiritual level -holding on to too much stuff is the opposite of a generous - giving spirit - it is greed, coveting, envy, and hoarding. This affects our willingness to give and to relate to those in poverty. The dumping grounds for hazardous waste affect those the hardest in the poorest countries.

Check out the full story of stuff video at www.storyofstuff.com

Also check out this link to 100 things.
http://www.guynameddave.com/100-thing-challenge.html

The author is trying to pare down in his life to only own 100 things and is blogging about his journey. I think I have more than 100 books...