Sunday, December 20, 2009
So I Might Be Crossing a Line Here ...
So, it irritates me when I see on the news or hear people talking about some poor animals that were saved from starvation or abuse. I know at this point you are thinking, "WHAT?!?!" so let me state why. How many PEOPLE in the world are starving? How many die each day? How many are abused? How many live without the basics of life? I agree that the animals shouldn't have to suffer and that they shouldn't be abused, but let's focus on people first. Before you write that big check to the SPCA think about how many PEOPLE could be fed for that amount. When we went to Honduras for the first time I was taken aback by the look of the animals. They were skin and bones, wondering the streets. "Look there's a cow! On the highway! Wait is that a cow? I didn't know they could be that skinny!" If people can't even feed themselves how are they going to feed their animals? It was one of the many culture shocks I experienced. Anyway - next time you see that news article or see some sad commercial about starving animals take time to think about something even more tragic: innocent children dieing every moment from lack of food and clean water. Which one do you think God would want our focus (or money for that matter) going to?
Monday, December 14, 2009
There's an App for that
Reposted from www.craigbwilliams.blogspot.com
This past Sunday night some friends and I gathered with bowls filled to the brim with mashed potatoes (with homemade gravy of course!), green beans, hot rolls, chocolate chip cookies, fried chicken and roast beef. While this sounds like the beginning of a perfect Sunday pot-luck, the food wasn’t for us. We carefully heaped generous portions into aluminum to-go dishes while the food was still hot and then neatly stacked them together in a large cooler to keep them warm because we were hitting the streets to give it away.
As we were pulling out of the driveway we began to joke about how we would find hungry people at that time of the evening asking if “there’s an app for that”?
Turns out there is!
It’s called Lovebag and while it cannot GPS locate homeless or hungry people it does give you good ideas on what to hand out in care packages, how to start a conversation as well as some phone numbers and websites you can contact to get more information or find out how to get more involved. While our boxes of food were not necessarily up to Lovebag code we pressed on. We had prepared 20 boxes of food and were already a little nervous and probably a little reluctant to get started. Having never done this before, questions like,
“Do we stop?”
“Should I pull over?”
“What should I say?”
“Is this safe?”
began to surface as the new conversation. But we were all truly excited when we found our first victim. Someone mustered enough courage to shout out through the window of the truck we were in to yell: “Are you hungry!??” To which he excitedly nodded. We leaped in the back of the truck and began assembling all the essentials: Box of food, Utensils and a neatly wrapped package of baked goods. We noticed he had a hungry looking dog as well so two plates were given so everyone had a meal. Out of our 20 boxes we were able to hand out 10 meals in all. For us it was a tremendous success. 9 people were able to eat last night who might otherwise have gone hungry and probably do most nights.
We forget sometimes that we treat food as a given in our lives. We, like anything else in our lives that are routine, take it for granted. It is a reminder for us all when we serve those without how rich we truly are. If you have access to the internet to read this you are rich and probably, without even wondering, expect to have dinner tonight. This past Sunday Carl Etchison challenged us to replace three meals this week with a simple cup of rice. We are to do this to remind us of the simple pleasure of having food that others usually don’t and would jump at the possibility to eat. My confession to you is that I don’t want to do that. I love rich sauces made from vinegar and wine reductions seasoned with fresh herbs and homemade stocks. Deep intricate flavors that cause tastebuds to dance. I am a food snob. This challenge while difficult must be done though. After last night I no longer want to be “that guy.” I’m not going to cease liking what I like but I no longer want to take what I have for granted but live in a Holy satisfaction whether there is food or there isn’t.
One of the striking things about our experience last night was the recipient’s willingness to speak of God. Almost everyone said “God bless you” at receiving a meal and I wasn’t even sneezing! We say something significant when we say “God bless you” to someone else because we’re not saying what we usually say: “God bless me.”
In their poverty, they said to us God bless you. In their poverty they are offering whatever blessing God has allowed them pass along to us. There is not app that can make you be selfless. I know that on my own I am self serving and not generous so I’m turning to God and asking that the Holy Spirit empower me to eat the rice, to change my heart and say God bless you.
Something to think about:
For me to eat a decent meal at a decent restaurant it usually costs me approximately $15. Last night I spent $15 on my portion of the meal we assembled ( Pot Roast and to-go boxes) It made enough to feed 20 people. We fed 10. How would I have better spent the $15? A Chicken fried steak for myself or feeding ten people who might not have eaten last night?
This past Sunday night some friends and I gathered with bowls filled to the brim with mashed potatoes (with homemade gravy of course!), green beans, hot rolls, chocolate chip cookies, fried chicken and roast beef. While this sounds like the beginning of a perfect Sunday pot-luck, the food wasn’t for us. We carefully heaped generous portions into aluminum to-go dishes while the food was still hot and then neatly stacked them together in a large cooler to keep them warm because we were hitting the streets to give it away.
As we were pulling out of the driveway we began to joke about how we would find hungry people at that time of the evening asking if “there’s an app for that”?
Turns out there is!
It’s called Lovebag and while it cannot GPS locate homeless or hungry people it does give you good ideas on what to hand out in care packages, how to start a conversation as well as some phone numbers and websites you can contact to get more information or find out how to get more involved. While our boxes of food were not necessarily up to Lovebag code we pressed on. We had prepared 20 boxes of food and were already a little nervous and probably a little reluctant to get started. Having never done this before, questions like,
“Do we stop?”
“Should I pull over?”
“What should I say?”
“Is this safe?”
began to surface as the new conversation. But we were all truly excited when we found our first victim. Someone mustered enough courage to shout out through the window of the truck we were in to yell: “Are you hungry!??” To which he excitedly nodded. We leaped in the back of the truck and began assembling all the essentials: Box of food, Utensils and a neatly wrapped package of baked goods. We noticed he had a hungry looking dog as well so two plates were given so everyone had a meal. Out of our 20 boxes we were able to hand out 10 meals in all. For us it was a tremendous success. 9 people were able to eat last night who might otherwise have gone hungry and probably do most nights.
We forget sometimes that we treat food as a given in our lives. We, like anything else in our lives that are routine, take it for granted. It is a reminder for us all when we serve those without how rich we truly are. If you have access to the internet to read this you are rich and probably, without even wondering, expect to have dinner tonight. This past Sunday Carl Etchison challenged us to replace three meals this week with a simple cup of rice. We are to do this to remind us of the simple pleasure of having food that others usually don’t and would jump at the possibility to eat. My confession to you is that I don’t want to do that. I love rich sauces made from vinegar and wine reductions seasoned with fresh herbs and homemade stocks. Deep intricate flavors that cause tastebuds to dance. I am a food snob. This challenge while difficult must be done though. After last night I no longer want to be “that guy.” I’m not going to cease liking what I like but I no longer want to take what I have for granted but live in a Holy satisfaction whether there is food or there isn’t.
One of the striking things about our experience last night was the recipient’s willingness to speak of God. Almost everyone said “God bless you” at receiving a meal and I wasn’t even sneezing! We say something significant when we say “God bless you” to someone else because we’re not saying what we usually say: “God bless me.”
In their poverty, they said to us God bless you. In their poverty they are offering whatever blessing God has allowed them pass along to us. There is not app that can make you be selfless. I know that on my own I am self serving and not generous so I’m turning to God and asking that the Holy Spirit empower me to eat the rice, to change my heart and say God bless you.
Something to think about:
For me to eat a decent meal at a decent restaurant it usually costs me approximately $15. Last night I spent $15 on my portion of the meal we assembled ( Pot Roast and to-go boxes) It made enough to feed 20 people. We fed 10. How would I have better spent the $15? A Chicken fried steak for myself or feeding ten people who might not have eaten last night?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Hands and Feet - Stolen from Eddie!
Hands and Feet
It's funny as my life group continues to press in to our relationship with God and being passionately involved in relationship with Him...it has begun to bring a by-product. Our group can't seem to get enough of going and serving people.
Last week before the cold hit one had the idea to go and take coats and blankets to the homeless: 8 people brought personal items to give. This week 7 or so of us were serving at the Mobil Food Pantry at Woodloch last night. On the 20th they are bringing food to church and plan to go after class time to pass out a holiday dinner to any homeless that they come across.
What's great is that this is not so that they can feel good about doing something...its so that they can be the hands and feet of Christ to the less fortunate, understanding that God has blessed us with so much. Last night numerous times I overheard people at the food bank asking if we worked for the food bank. Over and over again people said...no we go to church together and wanted to help. Then they would ask what church.
Amazing opportunities to share Christ come from us drawing deeper with him and sharing our blessing with the world around us.
Posted by Eddie at Thursday, December 10, 2009
It's funny as my life group continues to press in to our relationship with God and being passionately involved in relationship with Him...it has begun to bring a by-product. Our group can't seem to get enough of going and serving people.
Last week before the cold hit one had the idea to go and take coats and blankets to the homeless: 8 people brought personal items to give. This week 7 or so of us were serving at the Mobil Food Pantry at Woodloch last night. On the 20th they are bringing food to church and plan to go after class time to pass out a holiday dinner to any homeless that they come across.
What's great is that this is not so that they can feel good about doing something...its so that they can be the hands and feet of Christ to the less fortunate, understanding that God has blessed us with so much. Last night numerous times I overheard people at the food bank asking if we worked for the food bank. Over and over again people said...no we go to church together and wanted to help. Then they would ask what church.
Amazing opportunities to share Christ come from us drawing deeper with him and sharing our blessing with the world around us.
Posted by Eddie at Thursday, December 10, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Let's Start from the very Beginning. That's a very good place to Start...
It's something that's been stirring. It's been stirring in my heart for years. The passion to help, to reach out to those who need help, to be the hands and feet of Christ. It's more than a stirring. It's a burning. It's a passion. I feel it in my heart. I have for years. I think that is one of the main reasons I went into nursing. I feel that I help people in my job now, but ... it's not the same. It's not the kind of help that I feel called to do.
I've been reading the book "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. Talk about some stirring and passion! If reading this book doesn't get you motivated to get out there and change the world one person at a time I don't know what will. He redefines our thoughts as far as Jesus's life here on this earth, on what we are really called to do, on politics. Last night I was reading and he was talking about war and Iraq. I have always supported the war. Now, I don't know anymore.
Anyway - that is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about last week. Our lifegroup has been feeling the stirring. We have been thinking, talking and plotting our next moves to help the poor. Last Wednesday I was thinking about how it was going to be seriously cold later in the week and where are all the homeless going to go. I suddenly got the idea that I wanted to open a homeless shelter. The thought seriously kept me up when I should have been sleeping in preperation for work! As soon as I got to work I finished up my tasks and charting and headed straight to the internet! I wanted to do what to do next. How do I do this thing?
Later on in the night I decided to read my book. I was reading about God's Economy and how Jesus asked us to give our stuff away:
"If you have two coats, one of them belongs to the poor." -Dorothy Day
"Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none." -Luke 3:11
Then the idea came to me! We all have about 10 jackets each! We have blankets all over our house. What if we go through our "crap" and give it away to the poor! I mean seriously, most of us won't even miss it! So I got super excited and sent out this email:
---It's going to be really cold tonight (Thursday.) What do you say we try to collect as many blankets and coats as we can and try to hand them out this afternoon/early evening to the homeless? I'm not sure where the tent city is, but Jesse may know or Diane or Jay. We don't have to go buy stuff, just extras we have around the house and we all know we do! Whatcha think? I have to sleep today - worked last night and tonight - but people could leave stuff on my porch, up at the church or bring it when they come to help distribute. We can meet at our house (around say ... 4ish?
"If you have two coats, one of them belongs to the poor." -Dorothy Day
"Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none." -Luke 3:11
If you are liking this idea would you forward it to our "peeps" please?
Thanks!---
I will say that I was pretty anxious about this. What if no one wants to participate? What if they think I'm crazy? What if people don't get the email in time? I tossed and turned all day and checked my phone for messages. I woke up early and checked my email and people were super excited about the idea! Seriously! Wow! We all met at our house and brought in tons of stuff! Tons of stuff that was our "excess!" Amazing! We sent the boys on a "scouting trip" to find the homeless people. We had general ideas, but nothing solid. Then we split into three groups to distribute. It was so exciting! I'll let everyone post their own stories from that night, but it was so neat!
This turned the burner up my passion for sure! What else could we do? Where do we go from here?
I've been reading the book "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. Talk about some stirring and passion! If reading this book doesn't get you motivated to get out there and change the world one person at a time I don't know what will. He redefines our thoughts as far as Jesus's life here on this earth, on what we are really called to do, on politics. Last night I was reading and he was talking about war and Iraq. I have always supported the war. Now, I don't know anymore.
Anyway - that is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about last week. Our lifegroup has been feeling the stirring. We have been thinking, talking and plotting our next moves to help the poor. Last Wednesday I was thinking about how it was going to be seriously cold later in the week and where are all the homeless going to go. I suddenly got the idea that I wanted to open a homeless shelter. The thought seriously kept me up when I should have been sleeping in preperation for work! As soon as I got to work I finished up my tasks and charting and headed straight to the internet! I wanted to do what to do next. How do I do this thing?
Later on in the night I decided to read my book. I was reading about God's Economy and how Jesus asked us to give our stuff away:
"If you have two coats, one of them belongs to the poor." -Dorothy Day
"Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none." -Luke 3:11
Then the idea came to me! We all have about 10 jackets each! We have blankets all over our house. What if we go through our "crap" and give it away to the poor! I mean seriously, most of us won't even miss it! So I got super excited and sent out this email:
---It's going to be really cold tonight (Thursday.) What do you say we try to collect as many blankets and coats as we can and try to hand them out this afternoon/early evening to the homeless? I'm not sure where the tent city is, but Jesse may know or Diane or Jay. We don't have to go buy stuff, just extras we have around the house and we all know we do! Whatcha think? I have to sleep today - worked last night and tonight - but people could leave stuff on my porch, up at the church or bring it when they come to help distribute. We can meet at our house (around say ... 4ish?
"If you have two coats, one of them belongs to the poor." -Dorothy Day
"Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none." -Luke 3:11
If you are liking this idea would you forward it to our "peeps" please?
Thanks!---
I will say that I was pretty anxious about this. What if no one wants to participate? What if they think I'm crazy? What if people don't get the email in time? I tossed and turned all day and checked my phone for messages. I woke up early and checked my email and people were super excited about the idea! Seriously! Wow! We all met at our house and brought in tons of stuff! Tons of stuff that was our "excess!" Amazing! We sent the boys on a "scouting trip" to find the homeless people. We had general ideas, but nothing solid. Then we split into three groups to distribute. It was so exciting! I'll let everyone post their own stories from that night, but it was so neat!
This turned the burner up my passion for sure! What else could we do? Where do we go from here?
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