Jesus says, "You are the light of the world." I like even more what Jesus doesn't say. He does not say, "One day, if you are more perfect and try really hard, you'll be light." He doesn't say, "If you play by the rules, cross your T's and dot your I's, then maybe you'll become light." No. He says, straight out, "You are light." It is the truth of who you are, waiting only for you to discover it. So, for God's sake, don't move. No need to contort yourself to be anything other than who you are.
- Father Gregory Boyle, Tattoos On The Heart
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
When Did We Become So Divided?
I'm watching news segments about burning Qurans. When I was in Ohio, a man had signs in his yard, essentially telling people they were stupid for voting for Obama. Yet again, that's not the first time this has happened - liberals were so angry over Bush...
I don't know. When did we stop communicating with each other? When did we just start yelling at each other?
Sara Groves wrote a song and it was a song for her sons, telling them the advice she hoped that they would want to live by and it was inspired by something Jesus says in the book of Matthew. '...the love of most will grow cold.'
The love of most will grow cold. Is that what's happening to us?
I know. I haven't been around lately and now I'm here talking politics?! I know. Sorry. I have pictures to put up. I just needed to set this down. Hopefully I'll be back soon, but I haven't seen my father in over 6 months and he'll be in town...so maybe after that :)
I don't know. When did we stop communicating with each other? When did we just start yelling at each other?
Sara Groves wrote a song and it was a song for her sons, telling them the advice she hoped that they would want to live by and it was inspired by something Jesus says in the book of Matthew. '...the love of most will grow cold.'
The love of most will grow cold. Is that what's happening to us?
I know. I haven't been around lately and now I'm here talking politics?! I know. Sorry. I have pictures to put up. I just needed to set this down. Hopefully I'll be back soon, but I haven't seen my father in over 6 months and he'll be in town...so maybe after that :)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
What's The Difference?
When Haiti happened, the response was amazing. And heart warming! I took part in the Hope For Haiti telethon that actually started with George Clooney and MTV. Crazy, right?
So now I'm watching the videos of Pakistan and I've read that the need is big, people are saying even bigger than Haiti.
This is from the site How Big Really powered by the BBC:
You can change the center using this link: http://howbigreally.com/dimension/environmental_disasters/pakistan_floods
And I keep wondering...
Where are the celebrities?
Where are the telethons?
The comments I keep reading on CNN/MSNBC are disheartening.
I understand that Pakistan has harbored terrorists. I understand that there have been flag burnings there. And people have been murdered. Innocent people. But I look at those little children and think about how much they hurt.
I understand that the economy is bad. I don't blame my friends for not donating. It seems like everything has gone wrong this year, right? You've got Haiti and you've got the BP oil crisis and it just keeps coming. "Donor fatigue" as a friend of mine put it.
Maybe it's that. Maybe it's just all coming on the tail of so much disaster that we're tired of it. That we need a little sunshine in our lives.
I can understand that too.
Plus, it's hard to empathize with someone who is so far away. My mom always likes to tell the story of the alarm she felt when my sister (very, very young and a long time ago) had heard about a plane crash with no survivors. My sister said, 'Why should I care? I didn't know them.' (My mother feared for YEARS for my sister's compassion after that)
There's a quote that is very accurate for me:
Do not commit the error, common among the young, of assuming that if you cannot save the whole of mankind you have failed.
~ Jan de Hartog
Sorry. I'm not really going to wrap this up. It's almost time for work to end, I have a headache, I don't know how to wrap it up, really. There are my thoughts, splattered across a page.
If you are interested in donating through the PRIVATE SECTOR: http://www.oxfam.org/ , http://www.theirc.org/ or through the U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: http://www.state.gov/
So now I'm watching the videos of Pakistan and I've read that the need is big, people are saying even bigger than Haiti.
This is from the site How Big Really powered by the BBC:
You can change the center using this link: http://howbigreally.com/dimension/environmental_disasters/pakistan_floods
And I keep wondering...
Where are the celebrities?
Where are the telethons?
The comments I keep reading on CNN/MSNBC are disheartening.
I understand that Pakistan has harbored terrorists. I understand that there have been flag burnings there. And people have been murdered. Innocent people. But I look at those little children and think about how much they hurt.
I understand that the economy is bad. I don't blame my friends for not donating. It seems like everything has gone wrong this year, right? You've got Haiti and you've got the BP oil crisis and it just keeps coming. "Donor fatigue" as a friend of mine put it.
Maybe it's that. Maybe it's just all coming on the tail of so much disaster that we're tired of it. That we need a little sunshine in our lives.
I can understand that too.
Plus, it's hard to empathize with someone who is so far away. My mom always likes to tell the story of the alarm she felt when my sister (very, very young and a long time ago) had heard about a plane crash with no survivors. My sister said, 'Why should I care? I didn't know them.' (My mother feared for YEARS for my sister's compassion after that)
There's a quote that is very accurate for me:
Do not commit the error, common among the young, of assuming that if you cannot save the whole of mankind you have failed.
~ Jan de Hartog
Sorry. I'm not really going to wrap this up. It's almost time for work to end, I have a headache, I don't know how to wrap it up, really. There are my thoughts, splattered across a page.
If you are interested in donating through the PRIVATE SECTOR: http://www.oxfam.org/ , http://www.theirc.org/ or through the U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: http://www.state.gov/
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Photos!
Sorry this took so long! I forgot my digital camera so we bought a disposable. The pictures are terrible, but you can see a little bit. Father Gregory Boyle talking about his book 'Tattoos On The Heart'
Sara Groves was the opener for an Amy Grant concert. I just wanted to see Sara Groves. It was great!
Have you ever heard of Peter Luger's? It's a famous restaurant in NYC. We went with another couple. It was really good, but I'm feeling guilty about how much we spent. Ack! That one picture is bacon. So good :)
A few blocks from our apartment was the Puerto Rican Day festival. We got some AMAZING food. We got it today, but it wasn't as good - the place we got it from yesterday (photos below) didn't have as much food made today. It was really windy and I think that everyone was just trying to keep their tents up.
Sara Groves was the opener for an Amy Grant concert. I just wanted to see Sara Groves. It was great!
Have you ever heard of Peter Luger's? It's a famous restaurant in NYC. We went with another couple. It was really good, but I'm feeling guilty about how much we spent. Ack! That one picture is bacon. So good :)
A few blocks from our apartment was the Puerto Rican Day festival. We got some AMAZING food. We got it today, but it wasn't as good - the place we got it from yesterday (photos below) didn't have as much food made today. It was really windy and I think that everyone was just trying to keep their tents up.
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Winner!!
Before I announce the winner, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who donated. We really appreciate everything you've done and it couldn't be done without you!
The winner of the $75 gift certificate is...
Congrats, Danielle! You can send me an e-mail at DanaeHudson at gmail dot com to choose your gift card.
The winner of the $75 gift certificate is...
Danielle
Congrats, Danielle! You can send me an e-mail at DanaeHudson at gmail dot com to choose your gift card.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
LAST DAY TO ENTER!!
The Blocks are $7 away from $300 in their fund! If 7 people put in $1 or one person puts in $7 or any combination thereof, the giveaway will go up to $75 in gift cards!!
Even $1 will get you entered in the drawing! So far, we only have 3 people in the running, so if you donate, your chances are still pretty high :)
The Blocks received $20,000 to help with their last adoption. They realized that it shouldn't end with them. They have already given away $10,000 to a family adopting and are raising another $10,000 to give away to another family. If you'd like to read more about their decision to raise $20,000 for others, please visit here.
Kenzie was born a little bundle of energy! She learned new words and then...suddenly it all stopped around her 2nd birthday. A specialist diagnosed her as having Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Integration Disorder. Autism is such a mysterious disorder and the only proven treatment (not cure) is ABA therapy. To learn more about Kenzie and her family, please visit here.
I really want to be able to give somebody $75 in gift cards (though I'm still willing for $50!!). If you can donate, that would be awesome! If you can't, please pray or pass this blog on!
Winner will be announced tomorrow. What a great way to start a Friday, right?
Even $1 will get you entered in the drawing! So far, we only have 3 people in the running, so if you donate, your chances are still pretty high :)
The Blocks received $20,000 to help with their last adoption. They realized that it shouldn't end with them. They have already given away $10,000 to a family adopting and are raising another $10,000 to give away to another family. If you'd like to read more about their decision to raise $20,000 for others, please visit here.
Kenzie was born a little bundle of energy! She learned new words and then...suddenly it all stopped around her 2nd birthday. A specialist diagnosed her as having Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Integration Disorder. Autism is such a mysterious disorder and the only proven treatment (not cure) is ABA therapy. To learn more about Kenzie and her family, please visit here.
I really want to be able to give somebody $75 in gift cards (though I'm still willing for $50!!). If you can donate, that would be awesome! If you can't, please pray or pass this blog on!
Winner will be announced tomorrow. What a great way to start a Friday, right?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
BONUS!!! Plus An Apology
Apology first: In my first post, I said that this contest would end on SEPTEMBER 19th. That was a lie. It actually ends TOMORROW, August 19th. BUT, if you were to comment and say that you wanted to donate, but had to wait until next week, I would hold it. Because I like you.
Now, for a BONUS!
I notice that we've gotten the Block's Chip-In to $292.83. That is awesome and I thank you!! So here's what I'm thinking. If we could get the Chip-In to $300, I will add another gift card for $25. So the winner would get a $75 gift card instead of $50!!
So I would ask that you pray about it, think about it.
If you can donate, please do! Donating something like $10 could get you $75!
If you can't donate, that's okay! Maybe you could send your friends here. Or you know, anything. :)
Thank you for all of your help! I really appreciate it. I know how hard it is with the economy. I'm thinking of doing Rice and Bean days like The Blocks, but my husband is pretty close to vetoing that one. ;)
Now, for a BONUS!
I notice that we've gotten the Block's Chip-In to $292.83. That is awesome and I thank you!! So here's what I'm thinking. If we could get the Chip-In to $300, I will add another gift card for $25. So the winner would get a $75 gift card instead of $50!!
So I would ask that you pray about it, think about it.
If you can donate, please do! Donating something like $10 could get you $75!
If you can't donate, that's okay! Maybe you could send your friends here. Or you know, anything. :)
Thank you for all of your help! I really appreciate it. I know how hard it is with the economy. I'm thinking of doing Rice and Bean days like The Blocks, but my husband is pretty close to vetoing that one. ;)
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