Monday, November 2, 2009
ccda institutes
On November 13, Bob Lupton will be with us from Atlanta, GA, to address "Empowerment" and on November 14, Alvin Bibbs from Chicago,IL, will address "Suburban-Urban Partnerships". Both workshops are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Commons at OHC. Lunch is included. Cost is $25 a day or $40 for both days. You can register by going on-line to http://www.ccdaregistration.org/ or contact Heidi Fuchtman with any questions at hfuchtman@gmail.com.
a new way of seeing
Some quotes from author Anthony DeMello:
"Take a look at a rose. Is it possible for the rose to say, ‘I’ll offer my fragrance to good people and withhold it from bad people?’ Or can you imagine a lamp that withholds its rays from a wicked person who seeks to walk in its light? It could do that only by ceasing to be a lamp. And observe how helplessly and indiscriminately a tree gives its shade to everyone, good and bad, young and hold, high and low; to animals and humans and every living creature – even to the one who seeks to cut it down. This is the first quality of compassion – its indiscriminate character."
"When I love with the compassion of Christ and not with a faint copy, judgments about worthiness are left behind. All people qualify for my love simply because they are human and, thus, image bearers of our wondrous God. To love in this way is to plow up the hard ground present within my heart. We are called to love the unlovely, to love those who hurt us, to love even when it costs us everything ... like God loved us."
"To see the image of God in others and to worship him through engagement with others is the culmination of loving Jesus, the purpose of community, and the greatest meaning of earthly life."
"Take a look at a rose. Is it possible for the rose to say, ‘I’ll offer my fragrance to good people and withhold it from bad people?’ Or can you imagine a lamp that withholds its rays from a wicked person who seeks to walk in its light? It could do that only by ceasing to be a lamp. And observe how helplessly and indiscriminately a tree gives its shade to everyone, good and bad, young and hold, high and low; to animals and humans and every living creature – even to the one who seeks to cut it down. This is the first quality of compassion – its indiscriminate character."
"When I love with the compassion of Christ and not with a faint copy, judgments about worthiness are left behind. All people qualify for my love simply because they are human and, thus, image bearers of our wondrous God. To love in this way is to plow up the hard ground present within my heart. We are called to love the unlovely, to love those who hurt us, to love even when it costs us everything ... like God loved us."
"To see the image of God in others and to worship him through engagement with others is the culmination of loving Jesus, the purpose of community, and the greatest meaning of earthly life."
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sponsorship stories
I love the video that will be shown this morning of some of our Orchard Hill friends meeting their sponsored children in Mozambique.
Our family longs to meet Maria, our 9 year old friend in Mozambique.
In one of Maria's latest letters to us, she writes that one of her favorite ways to help the family is to fetch water. I wonder how far Maria must travel for water. I wonder if it's clean water.
Maria's report card stated that she had failed third grade. This brought up really good conversation with our children. Reasons for failing a grade might be different in Maria's situation than in our situation. Maybe she was absent too many days due to fetching water or helping find food. Maybe the walk to school is so long that there are days she cannot travel that distance. Maybe no one in her household is educated and can help Maria with schoolwork. The reasons are unknown, but it reminded me of how complex the web of poverty is, and how we will continue to pray for Maria and family and support her through Food for the Hungry so that she might have a chance to grow and thrive.
How about you? Any sponsorship stories or thoughts to share?
Our family longs to meet Maria, our 9 year old friend in Mozambique.
In one of Maria's latest letters to us, she writes that one of her favorite ways to help the family is to fetch water. I wonder how far Maria must travel for water. I wonder if it's clean water.
Maria's report card stated that she had failed third grade. This brought up really good conversation with our children. Reasons for failing a grade might be different in Maria's situation than in our situation. Maybe she was absent too many days due to fetching water or helping find food. Maybe the walk to school is so long that there are days she cannot travel that distance. Maybe no one in her household is educated and can help Maria with schoolwork. The reasons are unknown, but it reminded me of how complex the web of poverty is, and how we will continue to pray for Maria and family and support her through Food for the Hungry so that she might have a chance to grow and thrive.
How about you? Any sponsorship stories or thoughts to share?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
the dollar bill
This dollar bill thing in my face is causing me to ask some questions this morning. As I looked at the dollar bill taped to my bathroom mirror and on my dashboard this morning, I have been asking the following questions of myself...
- Will seeing this bill and remembering its significance cause me to consider better financial stewardship today? Will it change any of my choices today as I move out into the day?
- What can I tell about my appetites by the way I spend money? Does my life reflect an appetite for love and justice? Do I hunger for the rights and dignity of people?
- Will I begin to become blind to this dollar in front of me over the next three weeks?
Here's my prayer as I got in my van this morning to head out into a day of errands and engagements:
God,
Guide me in your Truth. Help me to know the truth, trust you, and have the courage to live a new nature. One that looks like and smells like and feels like Jesus. Help me to know when I'm trying to self-protect and justify.... "The problems are too overwhelming for my part to make any difference anyway." or "I'm just living like most everyone else I know...I'm just being normal,"etc.. Help me to follow Jesus more than my culture. For deep down, I know it is your truth that will set me free.
- Will seeing this bill and remembering its significance cause me to consider better financial stewardship today? Will it change any of my choices today as I move out into the day?
- What can I tell about my appetites by the way I spend money? Does my life reflect an appetite for love and justice? Do I hunger for the rights and dignity of people?
- Will I begin to become blind to this dollar in front of me over the next three weeks?
Here's my prayer as I got in my van this morning to head out into a day of errands and engagements:
God,
Guide me in your Truth. Help me to know the truth, trust you, and have the courage to live a new nature. One that looks like and smells like and feels like Jesus. Help me to know when I'm trying to self-protect and justify.... "The problems are too overwhelming for my part to make any difference anyway." or "I'm just living like most everyone else I know...I'm just being normal,"etc.. Help me to follow Jesus more than my culture. For deep down, I know it is your truth that will set me free.
Challenges for the Heart '09
Challenges for the Heart
With God’s help, we will grow His heart within us for under-resourced people in the Cedar Valley and in our world…
by
Connecting our hearts and minds with people who are in need around us and around our world.
Acting to help bring Christ’s hope and redemption into the world.
From November 1-21, we invite you and your family to the following challenges for the heart :
Prayer
Ø Pray daily for those in need.
Ø Tape a dollar bill to the dashboard in your car, your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, your closet, or other frequently visited places in your life. Let it serve as a reminder that 1 billion people live on less than $1 each day. Another 2.6 billion people live on less than $2 each day. Each time you see the dollar, pray for those in desperate poverty.
Ø Pick up and wear a prayer bracelet found at the church information centers to remind you of the call to prayer during the Challenges for the Heart.
Child Sponsorship
Ø If you sponsor a child somewhere in the world, we ask that you write and send a letter to your sponsored child. Remember your sponsored child in your prayers.
Ø We ask that you consider sponsoring a child from Haiti or Mozambique. You may sign up to sponsor a child at the Information Centers on November 1, 8, and 15.
Connecting With the Poor
Everyday, nearly 4,000 children die as a result of drinking unsafe water. Six million people are blind as a result of drinking contaminated water. This just is not right. The week of November 1-7, consider one or more of the following challenges to help you remember and to begin to connect with those who do not have access to clean water.
Ø Go without water for a day. No shower or bath, no laundry, no dishwasher, no running water in the home.
Ø Drink water only for 1-7 days this week. Contribute the money that would have been spent on soda, coffee, etc… in a special offering box in the atrium on November 8. The money will go to special projects in Haiti and Mozambique.
Ø Walk for Water. Saturday, November 7, 1:00 p.m. Individuals and families are invited to bring a bucket or two to Orchard Hill Church. We will meet inside entrance G at OHC, and walk 2 miles on the bike path toward Seerly Blvd. We will collect water for our buckets in the stream adjacent to the bike path and walk 2 miles back to church with our buckets of water. We will do this to begin to consider how so many must walk long distances for water daily.
Act Locally
Throughout the 21 days, consider one or more of the following challenges:
Ø Go on a “need” hunt in your neighborhood, workplace, or school. Meet one need that you uncover.
Ø Consider actions that would reflect your love for God and others in a “physical and present” kind of way in the broader Cedar Valley. Select one and act on it. (see a list of ideas in the back of the booklet)
Ø Join with others from OHC on Saturday, November 21, for a Saturday of service in our community. Check out our church website for more information (http://www.orchardhillchurch.org/)
With God’s help, we will grow His heart within us for under-resourced people in the Cedar Valley and in our world…
by
Connecting our hearts and minds with people who are in need around us and around our world.
Acting to help bring Christ’s hope and redemption into the world.
From November 1-21, we invite you and your family to the following challenges for the heart :
Prayer
Ø Pray daily for those in need.
Ø Tape a dollar bill to the dashboard in your car, your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, your closet, or other frequently visited places in your life. Let it serve as a reminder that 1 billion people live on less than $1 each day. Another 2.6 billion people live on less than $2 each day. Each time you see the dollar, pray for those in desperate poverty.
Ø Pick up and wear a prayer bracelet found at the church information centers to remind you of the call to prayer during the Challenges for the Heart.
Child Sponsorship
Ø If you sponsor a child somewhere in the world, we ask that you write and send a letter to your sponsored child. Remember your sponsored child in your prayers.
Ø We ask that you consider sponsoring a child from Haiti or Mozambique. You may sign up to sponsor a child at the Information Centers on November 1, 8, and 15.
Connecting With the Poor
Everyday, nearly 4,000 children die as a result of drinking unsafe water. Six million people are blind as a result of drinking contaminated water. This just is not right. The week of November 1-7, consider one or more of the following challenges to help you remember and to begin to connect with those who do not have access to clean water.
Ø Go without water for a day. No shower or bath, no laundry, no dishwasher, no running water in the home.
Ø Drink water only for 1-7 days this week. Contribute the money that would have been spent on soda, coffee, etc… in a special offering box in the atrium on November 8. The money will go to special projects in Haiti and Mozambique.
Ø Walk for Water. Saturday, November 7, 1:00 p.m. Individuals and families are invited to bring a bucket or two to Orchard Hill Church. We will meet inside entrance G at OHC, and walk 2 miles on the bike path toward Seerly Blvd. We will collect water for our buckets in the stream adjacent to the bike path and walk 2 miles back to church with our buckets of water. We will do this to begin to consider how so many must walk long distances for water daily.
Act Locally
Throughout the 21 days, consider one or more of the following challenges:
Ø Go on a “need” hunt in your neighborhood, workplace, or school. Meet one need that you uncover.
Ø Consider actions that would reflect your love for God and others in a “physical and present” kind of way in the broader Cedar Valley. Select one and act on it. (see a list of ideas in the back of the booklet)
Ø Join with others from OHC on Saturday, November 21, for a Saturday of service in our community. Check out our church website for more information (http://www.orchardhillchurch.org/)
some stats
40 percent of the world's people....2.6 billion people...live on less than $2 a day.
15 percent of the world's people....1.0 billion people...live on less than $1 a day.
0.3 billion people....4.5 percent of the world's people live on $105 a day.*
*this number is based on the average annual income of an American which was $38, 611 per person- * U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis 2008
15 percent of the world's people....1.0 billion people...live on less than $1 a day.
0.3 billion people....4.5 percent of the world's people live on $105 a day.*
*this number is based on the average annual income of an American which was $38, 611 per person- * U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis 2008
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