I'm a contradiction. I realize that. I mean this post follows Friday Cool Snacks where it's nothing but an all-you-can-eat buffet of materialism. Having said that, I do believe that the heart of Jesus is for the poor and downtrodden. Having been in "ministry" for over decade where reaching the lost wasn't on the radar or barely a blip, I tend to filter most of what I see in church life through that grid. And, I can admit, I sometimes swing the opposite direction and have little use for the "country club" mentalities found in a lot of our Western churches. So, what is this post about and where is all of this self-evaluating introspection leading? I don't know but I did come across an incredible organization I'm going to connect with and put on the map for you.
Sometimes I wonder where all this buzz about "social justice" is headed. As mentioned, I believe Jesus' heart is for the poor, orphans, widows, and children but I think we fall short sometimes in simply stopping at meeting the physical need. It can't just be about us "doing good" for the sake of doing good. That only meets part of the need.
Well, NeverThirst looks like the kind of organization that gets it. Located here in Birmingham (thus the reason I'm going to connect), these guys are serious about providing water and meeting the deeper inner need as well. I'm also impressed by their promise that 100% of donations go to real people in real places with real needs. No "administrative" costs are taken out of donations. Be sure to check them out and be a part.
Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, GOD GREW TIRED OF US explores the indomitable spirit of three “Lost Boys” from the Sudan who leave their homeland, triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversities and move to America, where they build active and fulfilling new lives but remain deeply committed to helping the friends and family they have left behind.
Mark Horvac was succesful in TV and then found himself homeless in Los Angeles. Now he uses the camera lens to document and help the homeless.
I not only feel their pain, I truly know their pain. I lived their pain. You’d never know it now but I was a homeless person. Fourteen years ago, I lived on Hollywood Blvd. But today, I find myself looking away, ignoring the faces, avoiding their eyes — and I’m ashamed when I realize I’m doing it. But I really can feel their pain, and it is almost unbearable, but it’s just under the surface of my professional exterior.
Sobering... I've been reading through a slim yet powerful little volume by Elie Wiesel. Night chronicles his survival of Auschwitz and other hellish events and places. I'll write more on how this is impacting me but for now...
via PSFK - "The PlayPump is an incredibly simple but effective invention that helps people in Africa access clean drinking water. While children are playing on a merry-go-round up to 1,400 liters of clean water can be pumped into a tank that stands seven meters above the ground. The tank’s walls are used to place ad billboards while two sides are reserved for educational messages. The revenue from ad-sales is put into the maintenance of each pump."
The Gift Card industry has risen to be a 45 billion dollar industry. Ever wonder how many gift cards are unused? Some reports say at least 10%. That means billions of dollars are waiting to be used on Gift Cards.
Jeff and Andre Shinabarger (formerly of Catalyst) have launched www.GiftCardGiver.com to help you figure out what to do with all those balances leftover on your cards this holiday season. They write...
How many gift cards do you have sitting in your wallet? We guess you have at least $5 of unused gift cards in your wallet or purse right now. What’s 5 bucks going to buy you?
GIVE YOUR GIFT CARD Five bucks in Gift Cards will buy you a pair of socks…but 10 people giving 5 bucks will buy a kid a winter coat or 100 people giving $5 from Home Depot will give that same kid a warm bedroom to sleep through the night.
I know it's a few weeks old but I couldn't pass this one up. Banksy and friends are at it again this Christmas. In what they are calling "probably the world's most low-concept art event," they are showing in one of the most unlikely places on the planet... a former chicken shop on Manger Square in Bethlehem opposite the Church of the Nativity. This puts them one mile behind the security wall in a part of the world ravaged by conflict, poverty and dust.
Of course, Santa's Ghetto is making a statement but according to the artists "it’s obviously not the job of a loose collection of idiot doodlers to tell you what’s right or wrong about this situation, so you’re advised to do further reading yourself (this month’s National Geographic has an excellent article all about Bethlehem)."
In addition to the "show," many urban art pieces can be seen around Bethlehem and especially on the Wall. Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this is the fact that these incredibly well-known/identity-unknown artists are selling their art with all proceeds going to the children affected most by this conflict. "Every shekel made in the store will be used on local projects for children and young people. Not one cent will go to any political groups, governmental institutions or, in fact, any grown-ups at all."
Well, 
