Mercy Rising 4 Haiti

LIVE MUSIC, LOCAL BAND
Date: Friday, April 30, 2010
Time: 7:00pm
Location: 2606 W 96th Street - College Park Church
Indianapolis, IN 46268

Great Party, Good Cause, Mercy Rising Book Tour

Free Admission with a $5 suggested donation per person
benefiting Compassion International's Haiti Relief Fund.

WK3 Inspire Challenge - Outrun the Turkey

Inspire Activity.

My friend Erin got up early and joined the other 7500 runners who ran an annual 5k race on Thanksgiving morning. The proceeds benefited Wheeler Mission. through the entry fee for the race.

They also did a huge canned food drive loading up some moving trucks. What a great idea! It's a great alternative to manning the traditional soup kitchen lines. In my area there were more volunteers than the soup kitchens could handle so lots of people entered the race with friends and family.

There are "drumstick dashes" around the country, not just in Indy.

(pix-sxc.hu)

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.

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)

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...

Free Download, Free Meals

For every (free) download of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft will donate 8 meals to Feeding America.

Offer is good now through August 8, 2009.

(Thanks Aaron L. for the tip!)

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.

Fresh produce to your door

(great ideas from Jodi and Sara)

Maybe gardening (see last week's posts) isn't your thing. You can support local food in your area by buying shares in local farm products (CSA's). Healthier and cost effective all at the same time!



Upland, IN's Victory Acres has an added justice component where they share Christ's love with the homeless, troubled teens, and struggling families. They also have Indy drop off locations.




For all you Indy locals, Farm Fresh Delivery is a great way to get (mostly) local produce delivered to you year round. It is pretty cost effective and yummy.

Great Read for 2009

Robert Lupton's, Christian Life, Rethinking Ministry to the Poor (Regal 2007), is a great read. Controversy blazes between aid with work components or free aid.

His practical compassion paired with common sense is a refreshing approach.

It is a surprising easy read yet probes the marrow of our thinking bones.

Favorite line, "We must come to deeply believe that every person, no matter how destitute or broken, has something of worth to bring to the table."

Question of the week... A hand out or a hand up?

Do you give $ away to the needy or do you give to charities helping the poor work to change their lives?

Why?


(pix-stock.xchng)

How much is enough?

Questions of the week...


How do you know it's time to start cleaning out your stuff?

How do you decide where it goes?

(pix-stock.xhcng)

Advent Conspiracy and December Giveaway

I found a great new website where people are joining forces to share great ideas to make Christmas more meaningful and less commercialized.

I am also starting a contest for the month of December. If you leave a comment on this blog to share a cool idea to help make Christmas meaningful I will enter you in a drawing for a free book!

Check out the Advent Conspiracy site to get those creative ideas flowing.

(From Advent Conspiracy web site...)
Christmas can (still) change the world.

The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?

Welcome to Advent Conspiracy.

Observing Oct 17th

Oct 17th is as an international day to promote awareness to end extreme poverty I was excited to take part.

I printed off ribbons for Aaron and I, looked up observances near me- then I remembered that we were scheduled to hang out with friends at the Sarah Palin rally.

Well I thought - it's different but it certainly will raise awareness. So Aaron and I put on our anti-poverty shirts from Compassion International, donned our ribbons and were interested to see what happened.

We got some funny looks from people. One guy actually stopped Aaron and asked about his shirt. I wonder if people thought we were going to start protesting.

But the kingdom of God isn't about the kingdom of man. We don't endorse any of the candidates. And honestly were out of place in the frenzied crowd. Many of our friends are voting for this candidate or that one because their stand on ______ (fill in the blank).

What I want to know is if you believe in _________(fill in the blank). What will YOU do in 2009 about _________to change your world?

Kingdom Justice trumps Social Justice

Society says, "Fight and claw your way to the top."
Kingdom justice says, "The last shall be first."

Society says, "Take care of yourself and your family first. Give away your leftovers."
The Kingdom says, "Look to the interests of others."

Society says, "Seek out the wealthy, the brilliant, the famous, the well-bred. Use those connections to win."
The kingdom says, "Humble yourself to aid those who can never repay you."

Social justice follows the whims of a fickle crowd.
Kingdom justice is age-old wisdom,
Never changing,
Ever–constant,
Until one day when the
Author of Justice returns.

(pix -websiterepository.ed.ac.uk)

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

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