Haiti...Is it OK to turn the channel?

I think I can finally write about Haiti. It was too hard at first. The pictures were devastating and I ached for those children with my ties to Compassion International.

A good friend commented that she still feels helpless. She has contributed to the Haiti relief and it still doesn't feel like enough. There are no easy answers. My only thoughts are pray, give, and then turn off the news. I want to guard against being desensitized, emotionally overloaded, or worse, entertained.

I hurt so much for the people of Haiti, but some of this "news" feels like exploitation of sacred, private moments.

What do you think? How do you cope with disaster in this magnitude?

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)

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.

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?

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...

Clean Clothes Update

(News update from clean clothes campaign)

"Polo Ralph Lauren, the upmarket US-based fashion giant, continues to ignore union repression and bad working conditions at one of its suppliers in Indonesia. The Mulia Knitting Factory near to Jakarta. The fashion house simply refuses to respond to the plight of workers who produce its garments.

Tommy Hilfiger, another buyer at the same clothing factory, has claimed that they have discussed the problems with the supplier, but the company has yet to take decisive action.

Support these Indonesian workers in their struggle. Send letters to Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger today and forward this message to your
friends."

World Malaria Day - April 25, 2009

April 25th will mark the 3rd annual malaria day. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that takes 1,000,000 lives a year, 85% of them being children.

An initiative is literally counting down the seconds till December 31st, 2010. Concentrated efforts in this short time window can actually wipe out malaria for good! The treated mosquito netting is preventing further spread of malaria. If we can get nets to communities, we can win against this thing.

See the cool interactive map at nothingbutnets to see how others in America are fund raising for mosquito netting.

Also visit Compassion International to donate $ to provide badly needed nets along with the love of Christ.

Real Justice for Black America

Yesterday was the 36th anniversary of Roe-v-Wade. March for Lifers gathered in Washington to speak loudly against the injustice of abortion for the smallest citizens who have no voice. Where was the news coverage? Did you see any?

While blacks make up 13% of the population, 33% of the abortions in America are African-America; a very skewed proportion.

Just a few days after grand celebrations in Washington DC, what is real justice for blacks in America? Grand speeches and promises, or the end to abortions that take a high percentage of African-American life? There also is a question of justice for the poor, minorities, and single-moms who have a high percentage of abortions.

What you can do?
5 minutes - subscribe to Primetime America's podcast - get a more balanced reporting on the news -

10 minutes - sign a petition to end Roe v Wade

30 minutes - write a letter to the editor of your local paper

1 hour - visit and support abort72.com

2-3 hours - help your child enter and complete a poster, essay, or poetry for the next March for Life in 2010.

Weekly - mentor families in crisis - a stable family is preventative medicine for abortions

Volunteer at your local crisis pregnancy center.

(pix-stock.xhng)

Something Fun

My husband's company, Pelco, is one of the sponsors for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's new home for the Rojas family. The program will be aired sometime in March.

Move that bus....

Financial Freakout

The bad financial news of the last week was in one sense a good reminder to keep things honest. If the companies had been more honest about the true state of their finances this would not be happening. We need to get honest with ourselves and our finances.

Most of the world lives on less than $1 a day. Our stress this week is caused by mismanagement of abundance.

Everyone serves something...for me it's not going to be money...

Need help?

Practical Ideas to Save Money - Ellie Kay
Major Money Revamp - Crown Financial Money Map
Something better than the stock market - $

(pix-stock.xchng)

Music and Justice tours

Happy Day after Labor Day!

Did the summer seem to go by too quickly? Want to catch the last bit of summer in a music tour for a good cause?


Sara Groves
ART*MUSIC*JUSTICE tour this fall, which will benefit both the International Justice Mission and Food For the Hungry. The International Justice Mission (www.IJM.org) is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. Food for the Hungry (www.FH.org) works in more than 26 developing countries providing disaster and emergency relief, and implementing sustainable development programs to transform communities physically and spiritually.







Third Day and Switchfoot
Music builds -raising funds and awareness for Habitat for Humanity.
http://www.musicbuildstour.com/

5/14/08 A note from Chad (Switchfoot) about The Music Builds Tour...

"As a band we have held firm to the idea that music can bring people together to accomplish much more than a show. We've always tried to play music for everyone regardless of ideology, race, or genre.� So with that in mind we are proud to announce our involvement in one of the most diverse lineups we've ever been a part of. We dreamed up the The Music Builds Tour along with a few friends of ours whose main commonality is a dream to see this world change for the better. Different bands, different backgrounds, one goal: A traveling festival to raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity.� We think very highly of the people who listen to our music. We are grateful for the� open minded audience who have embraced our songs and allowed us to push the boundaries of where the music can go. We invite you to put differences in musical taste aside and focus on our commonalities: we all want to see this world change for the better. We hope that you'll come with us on this next part of the journey and get involved in something much bigger than ourselves."�

- Chad

A Good Cause?

We hear that slogan shot around like a puck in table hockey. Help out - it’s for a “good cause.”

What makes it a "good cause"? Because it's doing good or because it makes us feel good?

We all have limited funds. There are so many causes doing good? Where do we start?

Mission of organization – what is their mission statement. What is their goal?

Financial Integrity – money goes where they say it goes

Low overhead costs – small percentage goes to running the business – most goes directly to the work at hand.

Flexibility of organization to adapt with changing world – is it an outdated business model or is there a strong web-presence, embrace of technology, striving to reach new volunteers/members, and a fresh leading of the holy spirit?

Leadership structure of organization – is it the boss from the top or a group effort?

Personal Integrity – from the CEO, marketing VP, to the worker on the field

Centrality of Christ – it is easy to put the “good cause” in the center instead of Christ.

Sub-causes – Does this charity have links, ties, or take substantial donations from political parties, lobbying groups, or major corporations such as pharmacuitical companies, media groups, pro-abortion, or other causes?

Reputation – Word on the street value

Well managed – organized, professional, returns calls promptly

How to find out? – What is a charity's financial transparency rating? (charitynavigators.org, wallwatchers.org)

How is their financial efficiency? (wallwatchers.org)

Poverty Bill Victory

Poverty Bill Victory!

Please see the message written below and join in the celebration!!! Visit one.org to see how you can and get updates like these in the future.

Dear ONE Member,

And it was a big one. In the past few weeks, more than 100,000 ONE members have written letters, signed petitions and made phone calls, asking our senators to support the reauthorization of PEPFAR, America's lifesaving response to global AIDS, TB and malaria.

On Wednesday, 80 senators did just that by voting to pass PEPFAR. Overwhelming bipartisan majorities stuck together to defeat a number of amendments that threatened to cut funding or otherwise undercut the success we've had in fighting these diseases.

In Indiana, Senator Dick Lugar was a true champion of PEPFAR reauthorization, and Senator Evan Bayh also voted for the bill, answering your calls and providing hope for the millions of people around the world who look to America as a partner in fighting these deadly, but treatable diseases.

I hope you'll take a moment to call Senators Lugar and Bayh at the numbers below to thank them for standing with us and reaffirming America's commitment to saving lives in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Senator Richard Lugar
Phone: 202-224-4814

Senator Evan Bayh
Phone: 202-224-5623

Thank you for your voice,

Josh Peck, ONE.org

Don't let the Recession Put the Squeeze on Giving

My natural tendency is to give what I have left over.
Lately, I've realized this isn't the best thing to do.

My friend Andi, just had her 5th child. She is a stay at home mom on a limited budget. We have been bouncing ideas around for her interview in the book project, Mercy Rising. I am blown away about how many times God has provided for her family. I love her spirit about giving first.

She came to mind as I listened to a web-cast on saving $. Sometimes giving might also mean cutting back in other areas. Need some ideas on cost cutting?

Visit middayconnection.org. Click on past programs - April 15th.
They also have some other great archives on orphan care, the AIDS crisis, and helping the poor.


Give generously and without a grudging heart. Then the Lord God will bless you and all the work you put your hand to. (Deut 15)

Shane Claiborne speaks in Indy

This past Sunday, Aaron and I had the opportunity to listen to Shane Claiborne speak at Carmel United Methodist Church.

For those of you who don't know, Shane has traveled all over the world learning from people like Mother Teresa and Tony Campolo.

But what makes Shane's stories really interesting is that Shane lives in a close knit community in Philly where they are trying to live out what the early Christians did in Acts by sharing with each other and taking care of the poor.

It was great to hear his many stories and be challenged so much. Aaron and I both agreed after listening to him that we have so far to go.

You can find out more about Shane at his website the thesimpleway.org

Big Give or Not Big Give

As most of you know Oprah's "Big Give" show phenomenon is gaining popularity as well as controversy. I decided to make the plunge and watch the show to see what all the hype is about.

Pro's
Highlighting how fun it is to give
Giving no name charities and organizations- big publicity
Motivating the viewer at home to help
Showing how creative people can be if they are motivated
The help those in need actually receive from the show

Con's
Making a production out of helping someone else
Is this demeaning to those getting help?
Linking helping others to see what's in it for us- like in this case $1,000,000
Those in need will have no contact with the givers after the show
Emphasis on $ help instead of $ with relationship and true compassion/love
Charity work is a trendy way to feel better about yourself

Summary
The word Compassion means to suffer with. Is that really happening here? True love that changes life can only be found in Christ. The Oprah Big Give isn't evil, just a good idea that is a bit misguided.


"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be done in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matt 6.2-4 NIV