tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37114344446002538602024-03-18T20:19:41.672-07:00See ThroughAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-35130697601927250032013-03-26T09:24:00.000-07:002013-03-26T09:24:12.147-07:00Stop Apologizing for God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Awhile ago, in my blog post <a href="http://youthmaster.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-call-to-something-more.html">A Call to Something More</a> I discussed some prophetic words Tozer said to the church then that have become our reality I was asked to share some of them and this is the second.<br />
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In a sermon series (now book) titled <i>And He Dwelt Among Us,</i> Tozer brought up the issue of apologizing for God and hinted to where this could lead.<br />
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He said:<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>"The One who created all things, including the ground on which we stand and build our temporary buildings, does not need anyone running around and apologizing for Him. Nor does He need anybody rushing in taking His part and saying: "Now just a minute, He doesn't mean that. He sent judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah but it doesn't quite mean that, it means something else." It means exactly that...and when the Bible tells us there is a hell where the wicked are going, it means exactly that. It does not mean something else."</i></b> (Tozer, 2009, pgs. 65-66)<br />
<br />
In a culture that is uncomfortable with confrontation, judgment and punishment many Christians have begun apologizing for God's wrath, Hell and many other things that we see Scripture stand against. We've acquiesced to the cultural pressure, back-pedaled and tried to explain certain portions of Jesus words, and God's actions away as "something else".<br />
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This back-pedaling was not something that was really going on in Tozer's day but has become a HUGE reality today. Never was there a time that a large number of mainstream Christians were against Hell as they are today. Never has there been so much pressure to deny certain sinful acts and call them "not sinful" in God's eyes, when Scripture says something different.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsM2rTC1b0OZmR8aaLFrDkz75cvr3W_SewgWOxleWAwjC_7D7R6Y1dDWZxKjl7UpAZuoYyyHv4Q88Cv5C0ZpCoEQV2g7zYnv7OyrXg83JxMQswVhrnWL1MZEAiBtLwiNFZF1nTfIN3f0/s1600/Photo+on+3-26-13+at+11.08+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsM2rTC1b0OZmR8aaLFrDkz75cvr3W_SewgWOxleWAwjC_7D7R6Y1dDWZxKjl7UpAZuoYyyHv4Q88Cv5C0ZpCoEQV2g7zYnv7OyrXg83JxMQswVhrnWL1MZEAiBtLwiNFZF1nTfIN3f0/s320/Photo+on+3-26-13+at+11.08+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a> I realize that this post can come off as me saying we need to rush out there and declare to the world how wrong they are and how dangerously close to Hell they are. I am NOT saying that. Nor is this a political response to the whole Starbucks debacle of this week (see picture to the right...I'm sitting IN Starbucks right now!).<br />
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What I am saying is that Tozer was right in his assertion that Christians were beginning to apologize for God and we are now reaping the total "benefits" of generations of back-pedalers. We must stand strong and hold fast to what God has revealed about Himself and the nature of sin, when we back-off and tell a different story we are not leading people to Christ, but rather a false version of Christ...which isn't helpful at all!<br />
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I saw this from other religions at a recent University Religious forum here at the University of Pittsburgh. Muslims, Jews and one Christian group denied Hell's existence, stating that their religion doesn't hold to something so cruel as all that. I was shocked because I may know more about their religions then them because last I checked...all 3 of those religious groups believes in a literal place of torment...<br />
<br />
In the midst of the mess of lies being weaved there was a lone voice from another Christian group who dared disagree. He said: "I don't think it's wrong to believe in Hell. That is my right and I'm not afraid to say I believe it". I think his authenticity shocked folks and the Jewish representative rolled his eyes and whispered: "Whatever".<br />
<br />
<b><i>The reality is: Heaven is the Presence of God and Hell is the absence of His Presence. Plain and simple. Why would God force people who don't want Him to be with Him forever? Why are we all so afraid to stand for truth?</i></b><br />
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Again, I know this can sound "Driscolly" (made up word for things that sound like Mark Driscoll) but I'm not meaning to say we need to punch people in the face with it and make it our badge of "righteousness" that we believe in Hell or in the wrath of God, but when questioned we needn't back away from it.<br />
<br />
<i><b> This current generation NEEDS something strong to believe in. They need a ROCK in which to build their spiritual house on, yet most of the things out there for them are SAND and as Christians we've been adding beaches to their options rather than keeping the Rock the Rock!</b></i><br />
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Let us no longer pander to this generations "demands" but give them the truth in LOVE as we seek to lead them to the rock of their salvation because everything else truly is sinking sand.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-55926638339052144432013-03-15T19:42:00.001-07:002013-03-15T19:42:17.994-07:00Who Needs Who?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> A few days ago, I felt led to write this post on <a href="http://youthmaster.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-call-to-something-more.html">A Call to Something More</a>. I literally agonized over this post for 2 weeks in thinking about it, then 4 days in editing it. Now, as I promised at the end of that post I will embark in unpacking some of Tozer's prophetic and heart piercing quotes that many people ignored back when he said them and we ignore still.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><b>"God does not need anything, because when you give God anything, you only give what God gave you in the first place"- A.W. Tozer</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I think many of us Christians feel as though God needs us and so we can treat church any which way we desire. Church is not a place for me to grow so I can go out and give to those who need, nor a place that trains me to be the incarnate Christ to a dark world. It is a place I feel justified in making demands. A place that if it doesn't "fit me just right" I can leave and take my tithe somewhere else.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> If the music is too bumpin' or not bumpin' enough I can move on. If the preacher is too dynamic or not dynamic enough I can move on. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I've seen a ton of Christians act as if they are God's gift to the church or that they are God's gift to himself... as if he needed them. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I too have fallen into this trap as a pastor and have lived out this attitude plenty of times. Yet, God doesn't need anything. He is self sustaining, self fulfilling and has all the love he needs within Himself.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> This then leads us to ask (as it should) Why am I here? Why does it matter if I follow Christ or not then? <b>The answer is that <i>we need Him</i>.</b> Every fiber of our being is bent to worship Him. We intrinsically need to give our time, money, work, worship and love to Him. We are built that way, by His design. We find ourselves empty when we are not filling it with Him. He created us way back in the Garden to walk with Him and to have a deep, face-to-face relationship with Him but this was broken and we've been trying to find our way back to Him ever since...many of us just didn't know it (and still may not know). We try to fill it with happiness and we may go to church expecting church, the worship, the sermon or the conversations afterwards to fill us up, but we are not looking to Him to fill us as He was meant to. God doesn't need anything and when we give to Him, it's simply giving back to Him what he already has given to us. He is our sustainer, He gives us life, time, money, love and everything else. It all belongs to God already!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b> This idea changes the way we view everything, not just church. </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> Many churches have forgotten this, because many have been trying to be God's gift to everybody, rather than leading everybody to the true gift: God Himself, the one we all actually need. They've pandered to the masses and have put certain things in place to please people. That was the main thrust of my first blog post in this series.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> Tozer brought this idea forth with this quote and many like it that pointed to the folly the church then (1950's and 60's) was dealing with. He also said many things to warn folks who thought other than the quote above and how perilous that type of thinking could be to the Christian himself as well as the church at large.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> In many respects, I think this idea of God needing nothing has been lost among many American Christians. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Let us remember that God doesn't need us, we need Him. We are utterly dependent upon His favor and when we realize that, the game changes.</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-55943643332712184412013-03-14T07:41:00.001-07:002013-03-14T07:41:40.721-07:00A Call to Something More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A.W. Tozer was a prolific writer, preacher and
considered by many a prophet. He was a Christian and Missionary Alliance
pastor (most of his time spent in Chicago) who wrote weekly for the C&MA
journal and also wrote many books (41) in his lifetime. His most
prominent time in the public eye were 1940's-1963 when he died.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tozer was known for his rebuke against
consumer Christianity calling pastors to stop catering to the masses, and to
preach the truth. His most famous book: <i>The Pursuit of God </i>got him
labeled as a "Mystic" because he taught what is known as the
"Deeper Life" where one pursues more of God and allows the Presence
of God to overtake and change a person.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tozer prophesied time and time again, in
books and in his preaching that the church was going down a road direct to
secularization where soon the church would be more like the world around it
then like the God it was made to serve. He challenged pastors and
everyday Christians to go deeper with God and not to accept what he labeled:
"Nominal Christianity" where a person simply has the name
"Christian" but little else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Tozer was alive and even more so today, we has
been labeled a modern day prophet. Many people rejoiced at his messages
as many rejoice at his books today. I like many have come closer to God through
reading his challenging writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just like the prophets of old however, his
message has gone largely ignored. He was honored for who he was (a
prophetic voice) and is still being honored as such today but many who claim to
have read and enjoyed his messages have not allowed the God about whom
Tozer preached to change their hearts to cause them to become children of the
burning heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I look back and see what he called the
church to become so many years ago, my heart is broken to see that much of what
he proposed possible was ignored. Also, his warnings to his listeners for
not heeding the message in many ways have <b>come true.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of deep pursuit of God in America, much
entertainment goes on in the name of church. People go away feeling like
they paid for a good worship set and paid for a good sermon but it does little
to nothing in their daily lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Church in America is largely a
consumeristic show put on to please man rather than God.</b> This above
all else I believe Grieves the heart of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We've trained many in this young generation
that God is all about fun, and have largely ignored the deeper truths of the
Christian life with them saying: "Oh, they can go deeper when they're
older. Plus, they wouldn't even understand it now".<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> I tell you with sincerity that nothing has
bothered me more in the past few years than those statements. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've been wrestling with this for years on
again and off again but I feel it in my gut that if we continue to entertain
and make God nothing but "fun" we are headed for a greater church
recession than even Europe has known. <b>There is a constant need to up
the ante, always having to one-up our last big thing or worse, to one up the
other churches big thing.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Drawing new believers from a show is not
intrinsically bad but it is dangerous. It's dangerous because many times
when a young person comes to know Jesus at something like that, their
experience dictates their view of God for the rest of their Christian life. <b>They
will constantly be expecting God to be more and more fun.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>So, as Pastors, what can we do to help solve this
issue and spiritual decay we find in America?</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i> Here are a few suggestions:</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stop entertaining and playing games and preach the
Word<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need to talk about healing, emotional, physical
and spiritual.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need to talk about the empowering Holy Spirit,
who He is and what His role in the life of the believer is all about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need to teach surrender.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need to preach dependence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We must discuss the meaning of discipleship, not
just conversion, both among each other as pastors and with the people who
follow us. Bonheoffer wasn't afraid to share the Cost of Discipleship and
neither should we. I think, as pastors we fear we will turn people away
if they knew how hard true discipleship would be. Here again, I think we
sell people short! If they knew it was such an adventure, wrought with
tough times and amazing victories, I think more people would buy into it as
valid for their lives. After all real life is hard...delusional
religionists make things look ethereal...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> I fear that for too long many in the
American church have been worried so much about conversions that they have lost
sight of discipleship altogether.</b> Once someone comes to
Jesus, that's it! Yay! We did it! Then that person, with very
little guidance is expected to join the ranks and get some conversions under
their belt as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Have we forgotten that <i>God</i> is the ultimate goal?</b> The
redemption happened so we could be reunited with our first love. The
Cross and Resurrection happened so we can once again have a walking side by
side, hand in hand, face to face relationship with our Creator. The Fall
took that away and God offers us a way to get it back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He desires community with us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>He doesn't want to be our court Jester</b>,
he desires to be our Daddy, our Coming (and present) King, our God, our Friend,
our Savior, Our Healer, Our Sanctifier. We need to re-tell the story of
God for the people who follow us, not simply pander to their desires.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>As Parents of children, youth and young adults what
can we do?</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i> Here are a few suggestions:</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i> </i></b>Live a life of surrender before
your kids<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pray for your kids and with them<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Live a life that is seeking more of God's presence<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't hope the Sunday School teachers will teach your children about the Word, or God, teach them yourself</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't be so consumeristic in your church talk, or
in the way you treat church<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EXPECT God to show up in your prayer times, your
church services and share this expectation with your children, so when God does
show up (because he most certainly will) you can point to Him and his work
amongst you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love your children the way God does<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Admit your mistakes and apologize when you sin
against your children<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don't pretend you have it all together, be real!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>As Christians what can we do?</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i> Here are a few suggestions:</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Expect God to move<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Live lives of surrender<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stop thinking of "Christian" as a title
but rather a deeper life reality.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be the INCARNATE Christ to a world who desperately
needs Him<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think of God and others before we think of
ourselves<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tozer is one of many forefathers who spoke of things about where
we'd be today. Many of those before us didn't heed the advice and we are
further than we were before. May we as pastors, parents and Christians
heed the Spirit's advice and reset a new course for the generations to come! I think we should take a deeper look at some
of Tozer’s (and other forefather’s) statements and unpack them. So, in the coming blog posts, this will be
what appears!<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-27711921761870017262013-02-23T06:36:00.000-08:002013-02-23T06:36:21.969-08:00Starbucks, the Holy Spirit and a Drunk
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m_tCrypHHaKEvB5cVmdTLgAetDdOcc64KamgIvqUfS7rhFvB-CsVTGYKfKErFZIppriBq6cqOIU4ZRDdd0Eto6qT8kAxZptbRLg-fdyQcc_UIJunz_bPZw7nYZCsZRZIKI8BhCOvQig/s1600/starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m_tCrypHHaKEvB5cVmdTLgAetDdOcc64KamgIvqUfS7rhFvB-CsVTGYKfKErFZIppriBq6cqOIU4ZRDdd0Eto6qT8kAxZptbRLg-fdyQcc_UIJunz_bPZw7nYZCsZRZIKI8BhCOvQig/s400/starbucks.jpg" width="400" /></a> A drunken
man walks into Starbucks yesterday and asks for a bit of cash so he can buy
more booze. This is not the beginning of
some sick joke but was my reality Thursday.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was
meeting with an amazing young man named David Bjanes when it all happened. He saw us talking on the elevated portion in
the back of the coffee shop and must have thought we looked like nice
fellows. He comes over to us and looks
directly at me and asks for a couple of dollars. I ask him if he needs to get food, I’d love
to walk him to a restaurant and get him something. He points to a bag and says: “I got
food. To be honest, I just need a couple
of bucks to buy a drink. It’s been a
really bad week”. I felt something stir
within me (the Holy Spirit type, not the go to the bathroom type) so I said to
him: “I don’t have money to buy you a drink, but I know something or rather
someone who can ease you better than alcohol”.
Before asking me what it is, he goes on a long tirade about how he’s not
an alcoholic, then asks: “What is it then?”
I say: “Jesus, he can heal you and help you through this painful
time”. He easily dismisses this and says
“I know Jesus”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t
know why but boldness just popped into me and I called him out. I told him I smelled alcohol on his breath
and that I’ve lived with alcoholics and I believed he was using it to ease his
pain, more than he was willing to admit.
He kept trying to leave but continued to talk to me about Jesus, how
he’s 60 and I’m only in my young 20’s, what pain could I know. I shared a bit of my story and he
listened. We just kept talking and he
said: “You can pray for me, but I still want to drink”. I asked him if I could pray with him and he
said after he leaves, so I let him leave and silently prayed for him in my
heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Interestingly enough, something else
happened after that. A young man sitting
near us, Will asked what the H**** that guy was talking about and I had another
open window to talk about Jesus with Will, and his girlfriend Sophia. David then joined the conversation with Will,
because the drunken guy kind of took most of the talking points and time. David assisted me in talking about things I
wasn’t sure on (Science stuff) with Will and we discussed Jesus for about
another 10 minutes. It was a really cool
experience!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t
share this story to say David and I are heroes or anything, but I share it
because people deeply desire to know Jesus, even if they don’t know it. The drunken man couldn’t leave (although he
seemed agitated and seemed as if he really wanted to) and Will, a more or less
atheist wanted to know why I was so patient with this drunken man, because to
him it wasn’t normal for someone to tolerate someone like that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We truly
are aliens in this world and when we live as Christ would, people notice and
ask questions. I’ve been in that
Starbucks all semester and this is truly the first time I’ve displayed Christ
in this way there…so hear me when I say I know it’s tough and not normal for us
to just be bold this way. However, I am
convinced that if we desire to see God move, we must live this way. David and I were just discussing all of that
before this took place and so I believe the Holy Spirit was preparing us for
that very moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May we, the
priesthood of believers continue to be willing to listen to His Spirit!<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-34165777700084946952013-02-21T08:09:00.003-08:002013-02-21T08:09:58.217-08:00Finding My Voice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL79zCt3dH82CVGPcrc3IDmWfPeLo3CmYEZTZKKnxRSoj6s2keqnV1Z9dtaR5JpGK3cVCjqrvsgDNanmPgxXa7CLlqEt3ODLY_0sqq4ok6iW5Zmq-E9rpJJaAZgTHhWWnJFuK8VNSp10/s1600/Find+Your+Voice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL79zCt3dH82CVGPcrc3IDmWfPeLo3CmYEZTZKKnxRSoj6s2keqnV1Z9dtaR5JpGK3cVCjqrvsgDNanmPgxXa7CLlqEt3ODLY_0sqq4ok6iW5Zmq-E9rpJJaAZgTHhWWnJFuK8VNSp10/s1600/Find+Your+Voice.jpg" /></a></div>
As I look back into my blogs (and even more so my first book), I realize that I've been searching for my very own voice.<br />
<br />
I believed as many young writers do that I already had my own voice and that it was a good, necessary voice. A voice that the world needed to hear because of the profound statements it was to make. Yet, I'm not sure my voice was or even is yet purely defined for me.<br />
<br />
Granted, I've been able to touch on things that are dear to my heart: my family, authenticity, leadership and current culture but in many ways, even though I've been writing since 2006-2007 I am still very much a voice freshman, one who still needs to find what is it that only I can say?<br />
<br />
I'm still young. I'm still not supremely experienced, but I can see some things in which I have a voice and a platform to speak to. I know what bothers me, I know what excites me and I know that in many ways some of the provoking things I say and will say have been said before...and have before been ignored.<br />
<br />
As a writer, I've always thought that influence based on numbers of readers is what makes your voice needed in this world and to some degree this is true and I still hold to it. Yet, I've learned to that I write also for myself, I write because the thoughts bubbling within my conscience I fear will simply go away and I will not remember the profound thought, so I capture it on digital paper (or real paper). The sad reality is that if I fail to capture some thoughts this way, they do grow moldy and forgotten, so this exercise of writing has been super helpful for me.<br />
<br />
Sadly, in the past, in an attempt to grow the readership, I wrote with a voice that was not my own. I wrote what I felt people waned to hear rather than simply write what I truly wanted to say. As any human, I fear rejection, I fear my words will go ignored, hated or worse yet, not even read. Sometimes, I find myself writing a Facebook post and checking back every 5 minutes or so to see if anyone has said anything about what I wrote. I let the cyber approval lead and guide my day...this I am realizing more and more is unhealthy and driven by pretty foul motives.<br />
<br />
I am a thinker, a theologian (at least in my own mind), a reader, a pastor, a father, a husband, a child of the King, a writer and a practitioner. Yet, for years I've been trying to isolate one or the other of these hats, when I can write as all of them at once. I've stolen other's voices in order to sound more of one of these hats than I truly was and in that destroyed much of my credibility.<br />
<br />
Granted much of this was unintended and arrogantly thought to be non-existant within my writing but alas, it has been there and continues to creep in. I hope to grow as a better writer, a better thinker and a better social interactant as I learn my own voice better and learn to grow into it. If what I say offends, it's what I truly think. If what I say inspires, thank the Lord I can spur someone on. If what I say causes readership to decline, so be it. If what I say causes readership to grow, maybe it's time a voice like mine was heard...a new voice a different voice, my voice.<br />
<br />
You friend also have a voice. Maybe you're not a writer of blogs, but of poems. Share your poems with the world. Maybe your thoughts that rattle your brain need written down. Maybe it's time your voice is heard...even if mine isn't. Get out there and share your voice with the world!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-52735665123230917582013-02-07T12:19:00.001-08:002013-02-07T12:19:35.418-08:00LENT 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZPQyAwqsrlZkj1JEG0NPgYenS1PZ0ghdaSCAY5ZksGoG0WUAPFB1Rb1eIMcKOl3khXeAFCO7xYeQS6yq9vraCNmnsSpSdBf9q78KXVlu4d44i40FTthIalzlWQ-8uKMLf1wdKyZ5EYY/s1600/Distracted_parents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZPQyAwqsrlZkj1JEG0NPgYenS1PZ0ghdaSCAY5ZksGoG0WUAPFB1Rb1eIMcKOl3khXeAFCO7xYeQS6yq9vraCNmnsSpSdBf9q78KXVlu4d44i40FTthIalzlWQ-8uKMLf1wdKyZ5EYY/s400/Distracted_parents.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Sadly, this picture can be how my son and daughter see me and I confess it is more me (by like a gazillion) than my wife. <br />
<br />
I love to portray myself as a really good Daddy and I think in a lot of ways I am a pretty decent Daddy but here is where I fail: I am distracted by my phone...a lot! <br />
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My wife posted a <a href="http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/">blog</a> on her Facebook the other day that struck such a chord with me that I felt the pain of being the person the blog author was mentioning.<br />
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The author was describing how parents can miss their children's childhood by being distracted by the screens we place in front of our noses. Here's one thing the author said:<br />
<br />
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Carry your phone around so much that when you happen to leave it in one room your child will come running with it proudly in hand—treating it more like a much needed breathing apparatus than a communication device."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
MJ does that with my phone and before I read this line of this blog I felt as if MJ being excited to bring me my phone was simply cute. Now I feel ugly, disgusting and like a neglectful parent because something so STUPID looks so IMPORTANT to my son. <br />
<br />
My wife has mentioned my addiction to my phone plenty of times but I've ignored it (and her). I am just as likely to answer a text while talking to her as I am my son. I neglect the loves of my life in order to answer a text that could wait?<br />
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A problem is that I am lauded for my ability to respond quickly by many and it's that praise that keeps me distracted from the things most important. <br />
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If you think this is how I am with my family...you should see some of my devotion times. I like to do my devotion times on my phone or iPad, which are not inherently bad but when it's buzzing, beeping and changing screens every 5 seconds with a new message, new Facebook update or a new tweet I miss time with God.<br />
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So, I've prayed about this and God smacked me with an answer. <br />
<br />
I heard clear as day: "Take Facebook and email off of your phone for lent. Use it for calls and texts ONLY"<br />
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Imagine only using my phone (or you using your phone) for only calls and texts! Sounds so 1999, right? But for me, it's going to be liberating. When I'm home, I'm going to turn my text noise off and leave my phone in my room, instead of in my pocket!<br />
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I may find emails from the day before in my inbox *gasp* or a Facebook comment un-liked for a day *DOUBLE gasp* and I may even get a mean message or so stating I am hard to get ahold of but you know what? I will be PRESENT with the people I am with and that means more to me than any old nice comment about my "quick replies".<br />
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I will definitely find more QUALITY time with Jesus too and to me that time is my LIFE BLOOD and sustains, lifts up and grows every other aspect of my life.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Well, that's my Lent story and I'm gonna stick to it! Who knows...I might even like it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-14815922220057568072013-01-31T10:44:00.001-08:002013-01-31T10:44:08.652-08:00Sojourn: Days 30 and 31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeLXrz8JRrC7oHEetgVuErX8GyDqzQX575nxQ7ttUQ7wcxJZARZdv7tnZCn4En_AAixJ124KyQXhbQwVazQToUtOcYKq1eWAVSZ4YgjpILQ9Ou65aYqBjs_uNjnpQukMfgNVr3VFthZc/s1600/sojourn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeLXrz8JRrC7oHEetgVuErX8GyDqzQX575nxQ7ttUQ7wcxJZARZdv7tnZCn4En_AAixJ124KyQXhbQwVazQToUtOcYKq1eWAVSZ4YgjpILQ9Ou65aYqBjs_uNjnpQukMfgNVr3VFthZc/s320/sojourn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Well, the end is nigh! I've officially to date lost 29 pounds, saved over $150 in excess food and have not cheated!<br />
<br />
As I reflect on all I've learned, I see that there is still so much to be learned and so many more sacrifices to be made in order to continue to support the efforts of great people like Chris Coakley and Danny Yourd.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, I will celebrate with a Nutella and Peanut Butter Toast "sandwich" and a tall glass of coffee with some chocolate creamer in it! Below are some Before and after pics of me (which is embarrassing) because I promised I'd pop those up here for folks to see just how crazy eating like this is for the people around the world.<br />
<br />
It is not a sustainable diet. It is not safe to eat this way...yet millions of people do each day and we rarely think about them in our day to day lives. I think it's important for us to see just how deep this deathly area of life can be and that is why I ventured on this sojourn to starvation.<br />
<br />
I was supremely tempted several times, but the accountability of writing this blog helped me stay the course, as well as my reliance upon God in moments of deep, deep temptation to eat the things I said I wouldn't. Today, sitting in Starbucks in Oakland is the hardest it's ever been because I so desire a cup of coffee. My body has craved it for the entire month and I am so ready to give into my body right now! Yet, knowing it's almost over helps tremendously.<br />
<br />
I think I am going to make a jar that will hold the $$ that I would be spending on random fast food trips. By that I don't mean times I decide (rarely BTW) to have a meal (Breakfast lunch or dinner) at a fast food restaurant, but those times I know I would give into a random stop for an unnecessary meal and when it's full, I will send that dinero right to my friend Chris Coakley for Grain of Hope!<br />
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Hilary and I also decided to cut our food budget by $50 and hope to use that extra to help in ways we couldn't before.<br />
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It's been a great journey but I know I wouldn't wish living like this on ANYONE. Finally, let me say that this is NOT a weight loss plan! I said this early on, but this type of eating is dangerous. For a person to lose almost 30 pounds in a month (unless they are morbidly obese) is un safe. So PLEASE don't do this sojourn unless you are monitored and have a failsafe person to pull the plug if needed!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs_7tlnuYAm5Z3fCB2QQ9YPVYCPmXrrpEea2auMwt6pi8SZzLWasP4XZ3Y5iDHl5uty70_ZpadnGP9duzyX7shqIp218KVx0d7h-nhIR8kLMJu_Ps1HevT_uQSbnVCSB1SeF3jv7mhc4/s1600/IMAG0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs_7tlnuYAm5Z3fCB2QQ9YPVYCPmXrrpEea2auMwt6pi8SZzLWasP4XZ3Y5iDHl5uty70_ZpadnGP9duzyX7shqIp218KVx0d7h-nhIR8kLMJu_Ps1HevT_uQSbnVCSB1SeF3jv7mhc4/s400/IMAG0027.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day One: 213.5 pounds</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TEHUZ6B7GtIvB9FK02eIqs-iYyjKwd4fL76wYSbblHaD3ZV7M-lqBX6As8Ufs_kNnuLkL6YwMbRtrIbPJQ7BqYHoGoTWgSHA88B4xjGfoJ8Zio85kNYwpdFFzqtmSuUKtG9h2F_Oy5U/s1600/IMAG0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TEHUZ6B7GtIvB9FK02eIqs-iYyjKwd4fL76wYSbblHaD3ZV7M-lqBX6As8Ufs_kNnuLkL6YwMbRtrIbPJQ7BqYHoGoTWgSHA88B4xjGfoJ8Zio85kNYwpdFFzqtmSuUKtG9h2F_Oy5U/s400/IMAG0067.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day Thirty One: 184.5 pounds</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-34681755706704095202013-01-29T10:47:00.002-08:002013-01-29T10:47:26.926-08:00Sojourn: Day Twenty Nine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VP1KNIkmWMz4xOT6HXzb43NFE406w78kknjypeX-89CwSRlmSFBb012E3tVlRubf_j3t7XkAvpNbQOKuBAvQj_jkYiBRhqUuxlY35nUXHbDvSHCmUZGQ_L07ya6cgZ00fLccnYVjwd4/s1600/hunger-stats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VP1KNIkmWMz4xOT6HXzb43NFE406w78kknjypeX-89CwSRlmSFBb012E3tVlRubf_j3t7XkAvpNbQOKuBAvQj_jkYiBRhqUuxlY35nUXHbDvSHCmUZGQ_L07ya6cgZ00fLccnYVjwd4/s320/hunger-stats.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, I need to reflect on why I began this sojourn 29 days ago, because I've been focussing a bit too much on the end of the fasting that I'm having trouble focussing on the now and the reasoning for beginning.<br />
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Redirecting my thoughts towards this, I'm thinking about what I am going to about hunger afterwards, because it is such a serious issue in our world that 31 days is not enough to put towards it.<br />
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Every time I see this picture, I'm immediately reminded of who hunger effects and the majority of those who suffer are children! When children die, people should be outraged. When children die of something that can be prevented, people should be even more outraged and I for one am moved to do something about it, not just sit on the sidelines and "talk about it".<br />
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Again, I know that Hunger is not the only preventable issue that takes the lives of children, but it is a big one. My heart to begin this sojourn was to spur me as well as those reading this (that's you, in case you were confused) to be moved to do something as well. I have not set out to begin a non-profit but to highlight several non-profits who are doing great things in the world and the country of Africa in particular.<br />
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I've recognized my wastefulness in over-eating, over-buying food as well as in throwing away left-overs. I've seen my heart in how I try to comfort myself with food and my bodies desperate need of caffeine (due to a lack of sleep... mostly baby and pre-schooler induced). I hope to not go back to old patterns, I pray that God will allow these 31 days to not only reshape where my money goes, but also how I deal with food for my own health.<br />
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Seeing how often I would normally snack and just graze all day long I see how I got to 213.5 pounds and it needs to change. Paying attention is another thing I've been learning. I need to pay attention to what I'm eating and I need to pay attention to what I'm wasting.<br />
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Right now, I'm HUNGRY but I know that my starvation will end in just under 2 days. The people who suffer from hunger don't have that assurance (yet). God calls us to help those in need, he asks us to take care of the poor and the widow. I'm praying that from now on, I can do better at these things.<br />
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It's almost done, but the lessons aren't even close to being done, nor are the future lessons I hope to learn from this!<br />
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How do YOU plan on changing?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-69028924826703978282013-01-28T16:17:00.002-08:002013-01-28T16:17:30.531-08:00Sojourn: Days 26, 27 & 28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIx7yJvgJbGNYicc1oRKK-XvzCQ_jUJkmVqb6SBOOJnWPplVCVwp_maxYu7f8BrstkPVlKzZcWJOV_Ow34Vyc9NCU7czcSIuqXEBxYbZDLT0yqGMwKmfJL-yZ_Ioe_FSs9aN7EpycUAtA/s1600/Tired-Man_leader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIx7yJvgJbGNYicc1oRKK-XvzCQ_jUJkmVqb6SBOOJnWPplVCVwp_maxYu7f8BrstkPVlKzZcWJOV_Ow34Vyc9NCU7czcSIuqXEBxYbZDLT0yqGMwKmfJL-yZ_Ioe_FSs9aN7EpycUAtA/s400/Tired-Man_leader.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Well, I've gone my longest stretch without writing so far on this sojourn, so sadly I've got to pack 3 days worth of content into one blog post.<br />
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Well, for starters, I'm VERY tired, but this is not simply a lack of food sleepiness, oh no. Since Tuesday Night Hilary and I are lucky to have gotten 15 hours of sleep total due to both of are children conspiring against us and waking up all hours of the night. REM wasn't something we hit until late last night...so add that to my lack of food and I'm pretty stinking exhausted. Thankfully tonight, my kids are exhausted to and are already sound asleep and tucked away in bed.<br />
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As it pertains to learning anything new, quite frankly I'm not sure these past three days have lent themselves to any new revelations simply because of my tiredness and my busy schedule on the weekends.<br />
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One thing I'd love to highlight though is my friends Film <i><a href="http://www.bloodbrotherfilm.com/#homepage">Blood Brother</a></i> did something amazing this weekend. It won BOTH big awards at Sundance! (Make sure to click the link and watch the trailer!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ38LQxji-39ZhxcsLq1J2i3h5r6nzqhxdfeDdF9cz6FuyZ2weqbSo97IpJu6APuyg8eUP4_7S33t7Fa1GP5KpQOdNRT0vWNVaT5l8bjfngeOTYYB5N8VZvnxt4zrrRjj6xjuigTtn1JA/s1600/sundance+winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ38LQxji-39ZhxcsLq1J2i3h5r6nzqhxdfeDdF9cz6FuyZ2weqbSo97IpJu6APuyg8eUP4_7S33t7Fa1GP5KpQOdNRT0vWNVaT5l8bjfngeOTYYB5N8VZvnxt4zrrRjj6xjuigTtn1JA/s400/sundance+winner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is Director of <i>Blood Brother</i> Steve Hoover accepting one of the awards</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Blood Brother won both Audience and Grand Jury prizes at </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=7148723514&extragetparams=%7B%22group_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/sundance?group_id=0" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Sundance Film Festival</a> <br />
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Which is a HUGE stinking deal! It hasn't happened since 2006 where both the winning Drama and the winning Documentary won both awards! I am simply in awe of what my friends film has done and I still don't feel like it's even close to done making waves around the world! As I've said before, this film is breath-taking, moving and awe-inspiring and the best part? The proceeds of everything go directly to Rocky (the main character in the documentary) and his efforts with the AIDS Orphans in India. If that doesn't make you want to go see the film, I don't know what would get you moving!<br />
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These men, Rocky, Steve and Danny have worked super hard on the film and all of it goes to helping these super in need children. If this story (even without watching the film) moves you, I implore you to act! <br />
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<a href="http://www.bloodbrotherfilm.com/how-to-help/">HOW TO HELP <i>BLOOD BROTHER</i></a><br />
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Not only can you donate out right, but you can purchase a T-Shirt as well! Below is the logo on the shirt. And Here is the Link: http://www.backpagepress.com/product/blood-brother-tee-by-backpage-press<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgAUAAkuzNEODFT_NfPi0RQfrCYAYiiWBwlL5-fzmdia7R3gl3D3W6zxppxxVe1YWQ7vGVyyWWaE-lZmb7ymePPy1xpchYu27lfvXPKep12DkRyQYNTM576PFMCcDcQtciM80sk_4yRU/s1600/blood+brother+shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgAUAAkuzNEODFT_NfPi0RQfrCYAYiiWBwlL5-fzmdia7R3gl3D3W6zxppxxVe1YWQ7vGVyyWWaE-lZmb7ymePPy1xpchYu27lfvXPKep12DkRyQYNTM576PFMCcDcQtciM80sk_4yRU/s320/blood+brother+shirt.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
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It's a pretty awesome T-shirt (I've got one!) and all of the proceeds again go directly to Rocky and the children. Don't miss the chance to help out!<br />
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____________________________<br />
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To date, I've lost 26.5 pounds and am still in pretty good spirits despite being tired. I do desperately want coffee still (for the jolt) as well as am starting to think of some of the foods I am going to enjoy once I ween myself off of this sojourn...but that thinking of food doesn't always help. God is good and continues to teach me things through the journey. Thank you to all who have supported me in this, rooted me on, prayed for me and encouraged me. I hope I'm learning but also teaching in the process!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdw0vCloKBv6mFqpxvFsT0dLUgdAal581narIOD4_FnoJpLJ4K2i5ahRfU9ADIo2XcmOs9qmddVYJ-mU5GA7Zsr_3dlMcIdNQ7RZgwaA8qjdsowdLXIoiZGBkBl48tLQClffpFCM_d0WI/s1600/myshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdw0vCloKBv6mFqpxvFsT0dLUgdAal581narIOD4_FnoJpLJ4K2i5ahRfU9ADIo2XcmOs9qmddVYJ-mU5GA7Zsr_3dlMcIdNQ7RZgwaA8qjdsowdLXIoiZGBkBl48tLQClffpFCM_d0WI/s320/myshirt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See! Here's me repping my shirt! GET ONE!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-89287203285346867952013-01-25T14:44:00.000-08:002013-01-25T14:44:00.636-08:00Sojourn: Day Twenty Five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHZIgxDYtpNo_RbjC5rOVBBMhKHLl6jG-A6To7FeQIJMd9XfjOlFi6x0GXpRrwu6lw1dKC0XTG8V6WVyQatXjXd7VFek7Oo0uKApGyrMRN9SaUV1ZAHIMezIALtb0VRFP0uQb8O3AMPw/s1600/hungry490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHZIgxDYtpNo_RbjC5rOVBBMhKHLl6jG-A6To7FeQIJMd9XfjOlFi6x0GXpRrwu6lw1dKC0XTG8V6WVyQatXjXd7VFek7Oo0uKApGyrMRN9SaUV1ZAHIMezIALtb0VRFP0uQb8O3AMPw/s320/hungry490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today was my day off, so I wondered through the crazy winter land that is Pittsburgh! Hilary and I are having folks over for dinner (if the roads clear up, P.S. I'm not eating) and we needed some food in order to feed these great people...so I went out to get some food at around 11:45am.<br />
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The roads were awful but MJ and I ended up having some good one on one time as we barely got up an icy hill and then went shopping.<br />
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I then got the great opportunity (thanks to my wife!) to lay down for a bit.<br />
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So, on this day of the sojourn, not much has really been done, and I must confess I've not learned "anything new", but I am continuously learning the <b><i>art</i></b> of self-denial.<br />
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I say "art" because self denial doesn't come to any of us naturally...in fact the opposite (self gratification) is our natural bent as fallen humanity. So, just like any other art form, it takes practice to hone and perfect. <br />
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This is an art form I've had little practice with and have recognized my desperate need to put more time in my life to hone this skill. I am a self gratifier to the core. I remember my father telling me that I had an issue with "instant gratification" most of my life. I never wanted to wait for anything, in fact I can barely stand waiting now as an adult! When I want something, be it food, a book, a movie or whatever I simply get it, or if there are obstacles in my way (like a budget) I find ways to move them, reject them or ignore them so I can get what I want. <br />
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This way of living is not helpful, because it means that I consider myself and my "wants" (because let's face it most of the self gratifying we do is for wants, not needs) more important than the obstacle or the people behind the obstacle*.<br />
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* Before I move on, let me unpack what I mean fairly quickly. If for example the budget is the obstacle, the budget is in place so my family can pay our bills, save for the future as well as give to those in need. If I move, reject or ignore this one obstacle I effect my entire family. Big or small I effect them and one BIG movement of the budget or several SMALL movements amount to the same result.*<br />
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<b> Many things in Scripture lead down the road to self-denial, in fact Luke 9:23 suggests that we can't follow Christ fully unless we deny ourselves. </b><br />
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These are tough sayings and are even tougher to actually live out, yet it's part of being a disciple. This is what I'm learning and hopefully will continue to apply to my life even after I am done with this Sojourn.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-19169432409562479212013-01-24T12:32:00.003-08:002013-01-24T12:32:46.628-08:00Sojourn: Day Twenty Four<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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OK, so Oakland is COLD! I know it's no colder than other parts of the Burgh' but it's pretty chilly. As I've dropped weight so quickly (IN THE WINTER!) I realize just how much insulation I was carrying around.<br />
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One experienced "faster" let me know it's normal to be cold because eating actually eats your body as your body digests the food. If that is true (and I think it is) when my body stops digesting (starting around noon) I get cold...and right around 12:30 I got freezing and haven't warmed up since.<br />
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I'm sitting in Starbucks, sipping a hot water and I am bundled as you see me above. It's hard for me NOT to wear gloves as my hands are like icicles banging on these keys writing this blog. Not trying to be a whiny baby...but I am very very cold. Also, losing yet another pound (weighing in exactly 23 pounds lighter after 23 days of Sojourning) doesn't help in the "trying to keep warm" department.<br />
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I got a text the other day from someone who was going to jump into the sojourn with me this week and they stated how they were going to only eat rice the whole day, but didn't notice how much they "just snacked" all day. She ended up accidentally eating two chips and a swig of juice! My day one was hard as well and I almost did the same thing. Denying self in this is not natural and it sheds light on how we just pop things to eat in our mouths without actually paying attention to it.<br />
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It's people like that that keep encouraging me to finish off the Sojourn. At this point, it's tough and getting to me because I have so many foods I love to eat that I've not eaten. Interestingly though I am becoming quite fond of my Rice Soup I eat for dinner and know I will end up eating it again and again in my life. It's just so stinking good! God is good and there is so much for us to be joyful for...even if things seem like they are not going well, or if they seem like we don't have very much!<br />
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Yesterday's entry was a lot of what God was showing me personally about where I am with Him and man the truth does hurt. It was a theme I know God has continually been teaching me and I know I've grown a lot out of those certain struggles, but I also know I am prone to go back to them and rest in self-reliance. My prayer through the end of this Sojourn is that the lessons I've learned will stay with me and I will apply them into my life for eternity and not just for a momentary time.<br />
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Are you interested in trying your own sojourn? If so, please feel free to ask questions. I know that sounds like a "marketing scheme" but I hope many of you are spurred on to try something out of the box with fasting. Asking God to show you some ways you can grow as well as something (maybe not even food) to give up for your own personal sojourn.<br />
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Also, if you do, let me in on the fun! Blog about it so I too can learn from your journey!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-14214331007365594022013-01-23T16:49:00.000-08:002013-01-23T16:49:20.928-08:00Sojourn: Day Twenty Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I had one of the best interviews on my radio show I think I've ever had. My friend and Founder/President of Grain of Hope 58:10 Chris Coakley talked about his ministry in Africa through the feeding of the people there.<br />
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He shared his joys and pains and his passion for what he is doing. I am telling you, it's powerful! To listen in, click here: <a href="http://tobtr.com/s/4309645" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://tobtr.com/s/4309645</a><br />
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In this interview, he mentioned a video of a woman who was so desperate for the food that was being passed out, that he was sweeping it off of the ground. Here is that video:<br />
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As you can see, what he is doing in Burkina is powerful and very much needed. Yet, Chris in his interview reminded me that it's not just the "global world" that need help fighting hunger, but those also here near us, in our own back yard. My mother in Law, Sally also mentioned this to me awhile ago, so I'm sensing a theme with this.</div>
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I know I've mentioned some "global" issues and the ones I've highlighted are by far not all the world is dealing with (one BIG one I've not highlighted is sex-trafficking) but I've not mentioned the local need for fighting hunger.</div>
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I walk by and drive by several homeless in our city each day and my story from a couple days ago of a Homeless guy handing a college student a hot chocolate is just one story of many I've encountered in my time here in the city. These folks, many of them anyways are very hungry and need assistance but sadly go largely ignored.</div>
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I am also reminded of hunger within people who do have homes. Single moms, widows, orphans many of whom live day to day on what little food they can muster. Hunger is a global epidemic and again it strikes me how it could be taken care of globally without a huge effort from those who "have".</div>
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This has caused me to think what could be done locally as well? Food banks, shelters, orphanages, half-way homes, single mother homes...really there are multiple places for outlet for this type of ministry.</div>
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<b>Today, I'm thinking through these local needs.</b></div>
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I'm down 22 pounds and feeling cold all the time (it doesn't help that here in Pittsburgh, it's like 7 degrees) as well as tired. Now, last night was a terrible night for Hilary and I because our little Amelia was up all night, we literally got zero REM sleep and very little normal sleep...so I'm tired. I've been so blessed through this process, humbled as well. </div>
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My personal learning is that I am constantly being bombarded with how selfish, self-focused, self-reliant and prideful I am. Much of what I've done in my life has been for self glorification and very little glory have I shared with God. </div>
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I truly believe that this is why God has not favored me in many ways I felt I would be. One of those examples is that I wrote a book and it didn't sell. I know now that I wasn't ready to handle it if it were to sell. I know that I would have allowed it to glorify me, and not God. Plus after re-reading it I realize just how much I've grown up as a writer...much of what I wrote was and is good content, it's just not worded well, nor is it cohesive.</div>
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Granted, people told me this before I went to print but because of my arrogance and the fact that my editor was more or less paid to do grammatical checks and no more I didn't have to heed their advice. I now se how immature this attitude was and am ashamed at my own actions. I know God has called me to write, preach and start this church (Aletheia the church plant I am involved with) but I simply can't do it for myself or by myself. I need to stop pretending that this whole thing is about me and realize it's about Him.</div>
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If you're reading this and I arrogantly shunned your advice, I am sorry, I needed to (and still need to) grow up a lot. </div>
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It's terribly frustrating to know what God desires for you to do with your life but see yourself fall short because of a lack of humility and a lack of dependance on His Spirit.</div>
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These are the things I'm learning about hunger and myself. God is good to smack us where we need it...sometimes all we need is the quiet and a bit less food to hear it.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-58300883746172256202013-01-22T19:54:00.001-08:002013-01-22T19:54:02.334-08:00Sojourn: Day Twenty Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I interviewed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chriswcoakley">Chris Coakley</a>, my friend from college who started a non-profit organization called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/grainofhope5810">Grain of Hope 58:10</a> to feed hungry people in Burkina Faso Africa. His work inspired much of what I am doing here on this fast.<br />
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<i><b>1. What caused you to desire to start Grain of Hope?</b></i></div>
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<i>There were times when I was younger that I wasn't sure where the next meal was coming from. I always knew I wanted to help with things like that. When I found out how ramped hunger was in Burkina I knew that The Lord said to me that this was it. Now is the time to step up.</i></div>
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<i><b>2. What is the hardest part of running Grain of Hope?</b></i></div>
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<i>The hardest part of Grain of hope is not being able to help everyone. This past summer while I was there we did 3 food distributions and there where hundreds of people we had to turn away simply because there was not enough food. At the end of each distribution it was my job to go throw the crowd and pick who got the rest of what was left. I was told to find the oldest first. It was hard because we had more older people than we had food. I had to turn away people like my grandma that I simply could not fee.</i></div>
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<i><b>3. What is the most rewarding part?</b></i></div>
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<i>The most rewarding part is the ability to tell people about Jesus while standing in front of the food. We tell that this gift of food came from Jesus and not us. We had Muslim men come and accept food from Jesus. That is awesome.</i></div>
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<i><b>4. Why should and How can people get involved with Grain of Hope?</b></i></div>
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<i>We should help with originations like this because if you are a Christian helping the poor is not an option.</i></div>
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<i>Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. (Proverbs 31:9 NLT)</i></div>
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<i>The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all. (Proverbs 29:7 NLT)</i></div>
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<i>Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. (Isaiah 58:10 NLT)</i></div>
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<i>So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. (Job 5:16 NIV84)</i></div>
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<i>This is not an option. We also need to remember that the opposite of poor is not wealth. It is JUSTICE.</i></div>
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<i>How can you help.</i></div>
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<i>Pray. Pray that the poor will recover justice. Not just the hungry but the thirsty. The forgotten. The trafficked.</i></div>
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<i>Go. Go on a trip with us and experience first hand what The Lord is doing.</i></div>
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<i>Give. Give of your resources to help us. This does not just mean money. This means your resources. We need a website. Cards. Banners. Shirts. Everything a business needs to promote itself to gain more exposure to help more people. And you can just give money.</i></div>
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<b>I encourage those of you reading my blog to consider helping in this great venture! Thanks for following my journey.</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-91914052823498004832013-01-21T18:39:00.000-08:002013-01-21T18:39:59.345-08:00Sojourn: Days 20 and 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I'm realizing again how little of an experience this actually is. I fully believe it's significant, relevant and valid for me and my life but compared to what folks in the poorest part of Burkina Faso are dealing with, it's a drop in the bucket.<br />
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I was sharing with someone what I have been doing and they asked: "Are you walking 10 miles a day to get your water and working hard in the sun?"<br />
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To which I had to reply: "No, I'm still living the way I would (mostly) except in the way I eat". They then replied: "So it's not a full experience then is it?"<br />
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Again I said: "No". <br />
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I know they weren't being mean, they were simply wondering if I was doing more than changing my diet but it got me thinking of how much I don't have to experience that they in fact do. Is changing my diet enough? Or is that the beginning? Hunger is probably one of the biggest issues they face but is of course not the only one and not even the only "bad" issue they face either.<br />
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Just the other night by daughter woke up in the middle of the night with a 101 degree fever and I was able to simply give her tylenol to help ease her teething mouth. What about teething kids in Africa? What about the parents who eat very little, then end up sleeping very little because their infants are teething?<br />
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I also have a water connection to my home where I can get clean water every day and as much as I need or even want at any moment of every day. This is not something the majority of the 3rd world can claim.<br />
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I have a vehicle in which I can drive to and from destinations. I have a house that has air-conditioning and heating. I have a hot water tank that allows me to take nice hot showers and baths.<br />
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All of these luxuries I've been using without a second glance, or even a thought. In fact, I've been so focussed on how "good I've been" with the whole eating thing that I took no time to think of the other luxuries I employ on a daily basis that the people I'm trying to highlight have no clue about. <br />
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Even the ability to blog, typing on a computer, connected to the internet are things I've only just NOW thought about.<br />
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I bring all of this up because even though I am giving up food for 31 days, I am sacrificing NOTHING else. It may seem like a big deal but looking at the view of the totality of what the 3rd world countries deal with, it's simply a small endeavor.<br />
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These are just things I've been thinking about as I walk through this journey. I know I am not living the full experience but I am still learning a lot. The people that do LIVE the full experienceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-23268740279423323862013-01-19T12:25:00.001-08:002013-01-19T12:25:54.503-08:00Sojourn: Day Nineteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I want to reflect on how I have been learning to cut back. <br />
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I started this journey thinking I was just going to be cut back on my food intake for 31 days, highlight hunger and hopefully get some people inspired to give to the cause of hunger (as well as give myself). Yet, I've found it has impacted more than my food ideals but also taking a look at everything in my life and seeing where their is waste that can be cut back on.<br />
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Hilary and I just the other day slashed our budget, giving us more room to lower our debt and to give more. We noticed that roughly $200 of our current budget wasn't be used as best it could, so we readjusted the budget to better fit. When we first moved into our house, we declared we wouldn't get cable and here, roughly 1.5 years later we haven't looked back. In August we had to readjust our internet to house basic cable (a whopping 15 channels) so we could maintain the lower monthly bill...but I only use it to watch Standard Definition Steeler games.<br />
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This time of slashing was looking at how we can get healthier, cheaper foods from places like Aldi's rather than every month getting hoards of food from Sam's Club and wasting a good bit of it. I will confess, Hilary has said these things before to me but I simply brushed it off and thought little of it, but thinking differently from this experience, I bowed to my wife's wisdom.<br />
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I will spare you more details of our cutting back but it was substantial. I am no one to cut back once I've gone ahead and made a plan but God has been teaching me that being wasteful is not the best plan he has for me, nor this world.<br />
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I'm also learning a new appreciation for dinner. By the time it comes I am so stinking hungry that I think about it starting around 3pm. I've lost a total of 19.5 pounds in 19 days, so I am a walking hungry man! I feel like I've crossed over the groggy seas of starvation because I seem to have more pep in my step the past couple of days, so that is very exciting!<br />
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Let me challenge you with a thought:<br />
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<b>Are their places in your budget you can cutback in order to give more away?</b><br />
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Wrestle. Think on it. Take your time. Be honest.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-33716370523210379012013-01-18T19:18:00.002-08:002013-01-18T19:18:42.103-08:00Sojourn: Day 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_-HaEQs4hAb4t1xCypEIHaArPo7PvnDNQpIz4cy-2oGzI-L9ukoGlZ06O9crxB-37NIFy_62z9I03UgB81I8hybV2oAQOkdU1It4BSEk-h11ZmARSzg2qiFDZwGJa7vDE_3rNV9Z3O8/s1600/rice+handoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_-HaEQs4hAb4t1xCypEIHaArPo7PvnDNQpIz4cy-2oGzI-L9ukoGlZ06O9crxB-37NIFy_62z9I03UgB81I8hybV2oAQOkdU1It4BSEk-h11ZmARSzg2qiFDZwGJa7vDE_3rNV9Z3O8/s320/rice+handoff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, I've lost 19 pounds in total and have had a creeping friend named halitosis continue to invade my life, conversations and taste in my mouth.<br />
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You know it's bad when your family doesn't wanna kiss you. So, I've been taking a bottle of scope with me in my back pack so when I know I'm meeting someone for a meeting or whatever, I swish that in my mouth for a few so I don't end up killing anyone with my foul breath.<br />
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Not eating very much does that to you...plus the occasional "burn your esophagus out of your body" heart burn, the once in a while wet stool and a host of other fun things that go with it. The temptation just to eat ANYthing besides rice has been a constant gong going off in my head too.<br />
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So many things have been going on with this process, I feel like today I simply need to remember why I am doing this: 1. to shed light on a severe issue in our word: HUNGER. 2. to help raise awareness of my friend's and their endeavors and 3. to show what an American goes through if they are forced to eat like a poor person in Burkina Faso.<br />
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I am tempted to pack it in and quit. Watching people eat food I want to eat gets tiresome and tempting to resist but knowing it's impacting people, knowing people are reading this and knowing I'm close to done as well as knowing I myself am learning and being changed keeps me going and gives me umph to stick with it.<br />
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To date I've heard several of you share personal stories of how this is effecting you, but might some of you respond in the comments? I ask because I'm curious as to how this sojourn I am on is speaking to, helping, challenging, encouraging you or maybe ticking you off...I don't know but I'd love to know!<br />
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It's a bit late and I am bit tired. Tomorrow I will post another video on youtube and soon I hope to highlight a BIG long post about Grain of Hope 58:10.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-89659092118896059612013-01-17T11:43:00.000-08:002013-01-17T11:43:16.052-08:00Sojourn: Day Seventeen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqeaD2kfA6ytGURxe58uWmdyLModlqaZmfzW72HFh9TEGTn6OnKzLrcPr2lm-ntpkwMntQ0xFSCRtMLr4PHufw-IrBDiOG1oNLQ94K9x4H5GSQJlN8ZExFtamdP0ZccHQgkiPSPsx_Wg/s1600/starbucks-cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqeaD2kfA6ytGURxe58uWmdyLModlqaZmfzW72HFh9TEGTn6OnKzLrcPr2lm-ntpkwMntQ0xFSCRtMLr4PHufw-IrBDiOG1oNLQ94K9x4H5GSQJlN8ZExFtamdP0ZccHQgkiPSPsx_Wg/s320/starbucks-cup.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
Today, I'm sitting in Starbucks and I still miss the pep I get from the caffeine! I LOVE the feeling it brings when I get that little extra energy but like I said earlier, maybe my tiredness is fully indicative of my lack of sleep, so this is a great exercise to understand I need more sleep.<br />
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Today, as I was sitting in Starbucks, a senior at Pitt that I know came up to me and talked with me about something crazy that just had happened to him today. He showed mea cup of Starbucks hot chocolate and asked me: "You know you gave this to me?" To which I replied: "Sorry No idea"<br />
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He then said: "A HOMELESS GUY!" Needless to say he was blown away as was I, someone who has so little willing to share a cup of hot chocolate was pretty awesome stuff!<br />
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That's something I've learned through many poor, third world folks I've come in contact with as well: they share the very little they have, almost always.<br />
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Traveling to Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic and even here on the North side I've experienced this phenomenon of people who have little sharing all they have.<br />
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It got me thinking that we who have so much are willing to share basically nothing in comparison. I feel that the more someone has, the less willing they become to share. This is not to vilify the rich and uplift the poor but it suggests something deep within our Western reality, doesn't it? We do have so very much, how willing are we to share?<br />
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The early church shared everything and had everything in common, which means they were a community of Jesus followers who never closed their hand to a brother or sister.<br />
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This sojourn has taught me just how un-sharing I am, with my food, my money, my time and even my God! It's brining me to a place where I definitely need to reassess many things...not just my eating habits.<br />
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Today, I didn't have time to weigh in so I am not sure at all what I weigh but I'm pretty sure I didn't gain anything, so I'd assume I lost another half pound or whole pound...tomorrow will tell the real tale.<br />
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Still feeling like I'm dragging a bit (thus the deep, deep desire to have a nice GIANT cup of coffee) but doing OK. Many people thought I'd be dead by now but I am still kicking! Hard part was I went to Eat N' Park for breakfast and watched the person I was meeting with eat some great breakfast food. I got to be honest, I am starting to miss my favorite foods a whole lot by now. <br />
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Praying for strength as I am now more than half over the sojourn. I can make it, I WILL make it!<br />
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Thanks for following the journey so far. Keep coming back because even though each day I think I'm done learning, the next day proves to tach me something new. Let me leave you with this one question for today though:<br />
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<b> "How stingy have you been with your sharing?"</b><br />
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Wrestle with it. Pray about it. Be honest.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-5454803416748188282013-01-16T13:31:00.001-08:002013-01-16T13:31:22.019-08:00Sojourn: Day 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqnsUVX7n5gJRY3DyV2xyPSTCrM8WtQ5UMWJSkkLhyphenhyphenPVSp79OSNYzytggQ8QEzQIJL6YaRbBNjrJfa2dVmH-JQ1aa8vDqAjZ4lXiFs4S3lhDo4vSbLYTEfYrpKmzJhW3aWGDaV5fr4ac/s1600/bloodbrother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqnsUVX7n5gJRY3DyV2xyPSTCrM8WtQ5UMWJSkkLhyphenhyphenPVSp79OSNYzytggQ8QEzQIJL6YaRbBNjrJfa2dVmH-JQ1aa8vDqAjZ4lXiFs4S3lhDo4vSbLYTEfYrpKmzJhW3aWGDaV5fr4ac/s400/bloodbrother.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This morning I weighed in at 195.5, which means I am down 18 pounds in 15 days. I am dragging more each day at around 4pm. Part of it is middle of the night wake ups I'm sure, but the lack of food is definitely starting to play it's role.<br />
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So far, so good though. I have not heard anything from the Doctor's office on my blood work so I am rejoicing at the good news of no news. Today, I decided to interview one of my good friends: Danny Yourd who is a producer of the upcoming film: <i>Blood Brother</i> which is premiering at Sundance this coming week! In fact he's on his way there now (if he's not there yet)!<br />
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As I've stated several times in this series: God has blessed me with incredible friends who do incredible things.<br />
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My journey is small compared to some of the things my friends are doing and I thank God to be a part of their lives. <br />
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Here's my short interview with Danny, plus some ways you can check out what it's all about as well as have ways give to the cause.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><b>1. How did you become the producer for this film?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">My good friend and long time business partner, Steve Hoover, decided to make the film and asked me to come on board. We've worked together for 10 years so the decision was easy. Plus, Rocky is a long time friend and I was inspired by the stories that I heard about his time in India. Very simply...I wanted to help.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><b>2. What is the over all message as filmmakers you are hoping to convey with the film?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">The message is more Steve's than mine. I echo Steve in saying that we hope it inspires people. We do not wish to evoke pity but rather, just to tell a story we were moved by and hope people feel the same.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><b>3. What are you most passionate about within the story?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">India became a part of all of us through this project, especially the children. They showed us a love that was amazing and beautiful. My passion lies there. We all want to support Rocky's efforts and the children.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><b>4. How have you changed since going to India?</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Thats a hard question to answer. I hope I've changed in ways that make me look at myself and my needs vs wants. Evaluating purchases of things, spending money, and how I show love to others. I know I look at my job differently. We all found a calling to tell stories like this, so we're looking forward to future efforts.</span><br />
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Let me tell you: this story is incredible, moving and very well done. I was blessed to see the film and I was completely moved. I remember Danny talking about what they saw down there days after he got back from India and my mind was blown hearing about it. Then seeing it, I simply can't explain that feeling but to some it up: it was powerful.<br />
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Part of my desiring to go on this Sojourn was due to this film so I could look at where I'm spending my money, as well as what I'm eating and how I am living. Most of us reading this blog have got it so good, while others have it so bad. We truly are rich in comparison to the world, not in comparison to the latest fad but to the actual, real world.<br />
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To check out the film and how to get involved:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloodbrotherfilm.com/">www.bloodbrotherfilm.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.bloodbrotherfilm.com/blog-post/text-to-donate/">LEARN HOW TO DONATE</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/bloodbrotherfilm">CONNECT ON FACEBOOK</a><br />
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Just don't miss out on checking this stuff out!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-23515401237395049602013-01-15T13:10:00.002-08:002013-01-15T13:10:42.743-08:00Sojourn: Day Fifteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNh2bG6bO_1_eugiYRwrbHa-3vu5zhl6raCux4zaStPbMb-NzW9k2Y-ft1h1jIgNu0fXctcNJB7_CTXpn5Loe-hCBIJRNDt3CiTBc1mHgAe6ncqRqjyoLh7jJDh-Az5DYOoYoalc2BJM/s1600/sojourn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNh2bG6bO_1_eugiYRwrbHa-3vu5zhl6raCux4zaStPbMb-NzW9k2Y-ft1h1jIgNu0fXctcNJB7_CTXpn5Loe-hCBIJRNDt3CiTBc1mHgAe6ncqRqjyoLh7jJDh-Az5DYOoYoalc2BJM/s320/sojourn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have a feeling my body has now entered "starvation mode" because, for the last two days I've not lost a single pound and I've noticed a "slowing down" of my body as well. I am here in the mid-afternoon dragging a bit...this is where I am now craving coffee strictly to get through the day, knowing that a cup of the good stuff could keep me going for another couple of hours.<br />
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I feel like my body is conserving it's energy by this "slowing down" process. My mind's not as sharp and my thinking feels a bit fuzzy. This is not anywhere near "concerning" levels it's just simply a beginning to something I expected several days ago.<br />
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Another interesting "body thing" I've noticed is that I am cold a lot of times. I am never cold, so feeling cold is odd to me. I've been wearing a hoodie all day today, just so I can keep warm.<br />
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I can hear all the nurses and mothers out there now saying: "Stop doing this thing! You've proved your point, there's no need to be tired, or cold, just stop". I'm fine, it's not alarming, it's all normal body stuff, so please no worries.<br />
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I went to the Doctor yesterday and they drew blood, if anything odd pops up and they demand I stop, I will...I'm not going to be reckless but I won't stop at the first sign of getting tired quickly either.<br />
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Today, I'm realizing why the Prodigal Son could even entertain eating the pig slop...when you are hungry food just looks good, even food you wouldn't normally eat. I know I am a picky eater. I know there are certain foods I love, some I like and many I would put on my "dislike to hate" list. Now however, I am rethinking my list. Being a picky eater food gets wasted...food that a hungry person would fight for. Hilary has made some good meals with foods I don't care for...selfishly I asked her not to make them again, but now I'm thinking of rescinding that request, because wasting food "I don't like" is starting to sound stupid to me.<br />
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In fact it sounds like something my 3 year old son would suggest. Many of the foods I don't "like" are actually much cheaper and much healthier than the ones I do like. I love cheese and I hate peas...perfect example.<br />
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I am also aware that I need more time with the Lord, maybe a part of my "sluggishness" is because I've not been as hungry for Him as I should be. My bodily hunger is showing me that my spirit is hungry for more of His Spirit as well. We take for granted the food we have, and I think we take for granted the Word we have as well. I just throw food down my throat without really chewing it...I've done the same with God's word. I read it, throw it in my spirit and don't really chew on it. It nourishes me but it doesn't produce the bodily results it should.<br />
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So many thoughts going on in my head but those are big ones for now. I will highlight tomorrow the Blood Brother Film again and share a small interview with my good friend and one of the producers Danny Yourd.<br />
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Until then, keep following the Journey!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-74848145192986472982013-01-14T13:14:00.007-08:002013-01-14T13:14:57.260-08:00Sojourn: Day Fourteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcpMLu71MOQhrK50G2rJ31CNDp0cycHaMAhNIfHF0AztQrcFJ21jatS00XtUA_wXXviCZRzjawP6XNjOxmLPeCpoHOtrsHIQ42YxDvPSG08aTzLLPIluYZ_Rp7u1QYFUlouOSYT-UMJU/s1600/hope4africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcpMLu71MOQhrK50G2rJ31CNDp0cycHaMAhNIfHF0AztQrcFJ21jatS00XtUA_wXXviCZRzjawP6XNjOxmLPeCpoHOtrsHIQ42YxDvPSG08aTzLLPIluYZ_Rp7u1QYFUlouOSYT-UMJU/s320/hope4africa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, I am going to highlight a ministry I just found out about called <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-4-Africa/283782648374832">Hope 4 Africa</a>. My brother's friend Paul Armitage began this non-prfit organization with a passion to see the African people prosper. I could speak to it, but I decided to interview him about this ministry. It goes hand in hand with helping the poor folks there get more to eat, which I am trying to highlight. <br />
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Before the interview, let me just say I am very hungry today and temptation to "snack" has been very much increased. Not sure why the increase but it's definitely there. I weighed in at 196.5 again, marking this being the only day so far I have not lost weight since I began. Please read the interview and prayerfully consider how you can help! Tomorrow, I will highlight Grain of Hope as well as share more of my journey with you!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">1. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">What sparked your heart to be apart of Hope 4 Africa?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"> </span></i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">A series of trips to Africa with high school students, I read a book called "Banker to the Poor". I began intrigued with how micro-finance was being used in developing countries to help lift people out of the nasty grip of poverty. I felt God calling me to be a part of a sustaining work that would really empower people and not just do hand-outs. Following my reading of this book, and a series of miracles, I was put in touch with an African who had a desire to help. We started with $1,000 and loaned in to 29 women in a remote village in Burkina FAso. All 29 loans were returned. This was the start of the adventure and would eventually lead to the birth of our non-profit, Hope 4 Africa.</span><br />
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<br /><b><i>2. What is the hardest thing about what you do there?</i></b></div>
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The most difficult thing of what we do is sifting through so many desperate needs and focusing on who God calls us to help with the resources that He has given us. We can't do it all...but we can do some!</div>
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<br /><b><i>3. How does Hope 4 Africa give the loans and what is involved with getting people apart of the project (Africans that is) </i></b></div>
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Hope 4 Africa has staff on the ground in AFrica that help with the screening of applicants. When a person shows that they have a plan to have a sustainable income, they then qualify for a loan. We give loans ranging from $30 - $160. We give loans that help people establish businesses and help create an income which ultimately provide for their family and enables their kids to go to school. The people that receive the loans in a respective village meet for training with our loan officer. We also partner with a local church which helps in the screening of people and encouraging the borrowers to pray back in a timely manner. Hope 4 Africa has a 100% repayment rate.</div>
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<br /><b><i>4. How do you through Hope 4 Africa share the gospel?</i></b></div>
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Every borrower hears the Gospel through our loan officer. We work in areas where people are either muslim, annimistic, or Christian. Most are muslim. In addition to sharing one on one, we also share the love of Christ through our training sessions. We also go into villages where we are already doing a work and we show the JESUS film. MAny have trusted Christ through this. We always work alongside a Hope 4 Africa partner church and their pastor and / or elders.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"> In addition to being on Facebook, our website is </span><a href="http://www.givehope4africa.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.givehope4africa.com</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-78966507690101946942013-01-13T17:27:00.000-08:002013-01-13T17:27:45.813-08:00Sojourn: Days 12 & 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZID9EmfaDMOFwnUq8sVPlVW33gsuJGIIlIMhhNlcBGNl4VW3P9fixOpW14o5La-HunyqAAtrfIav-OV3_D1Pl4H001HusJx4Vc1cHEpQgBtoxHFRnuevCLpun_DqDYuf9LPNZOJYhoU/s1600/hunger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZID9EmfaDMOFwnUq8sVPlVW33gsuJGIIlIMhhNlcBGNl4VW3P9fixOpW14o5La-HunyqAAtrfIav-OV3_D1Pl4H001HusJx4Vc1cHEpQgBtoxHFRnuevCLpun_DqDYuf9LPNZOJYhoU/s320/hunger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Last week, I stated that I would not write on Sundays but somehow I missed yesterday...so I'm not going to miss two days.<br />
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Last night in our small groups at our Young Adults service (called Ingage) I shared some of my journey with our people. Once person stated something that has stuck with me. She said: "Only in America do we have drugs that help us eat less".<br />
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She's right, we are a country that produces drugs that helps people eat less! While many countries cant even get enough food to eat, we spend extra money on drugs (diet pills etc.) that help us to eat less. We are a country over not just indulgence, but uber overindulgence. It's not just food either, it's in almost every category! A man named Nick also stated that we are a country that has most resources and so we grow up thinking everyone has as much as we have. Whether we see pictures or not it's hard for our American minds to adjust that people have different experiences than we do when it comes to food.<br />
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All of this is true and I am finding that by me experiencing very little of what the majority of the hungry world experiences I am learning a new respect for their situation. <br />
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Seriously today I weighed in at 196.5, which means I have lost 17 pounds in just 12 days. When I say this is unsustainable, it truly is. If I were to lose all of my fat stores and living only on the food I intake I think my level of energy would be supremely dwindled from where it is today.<br />
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I know my body would adjust, as the people in Burkina and other places have adjusted but still, I wouldn't have the energy I have now, I believe...it's still not sustainable for normal living.<br />
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How can we adjust our thinking, our lifestyle, our spending towards those who live in destitute situations? Some say: "If you got it, spend it" a motto I've heard even recently, pointing to the fact that they "earned" their money so they have the right to spend it anyway they want to. Granted as a person in America that is 100% true, but as believers (those of us reading this that are), can we really think of our income this way? Not saying that God will or does impose himself on our spending, but should't we seek him more with our money, and in turn the way we eat with that money?<br />
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I know for a fact that in just 13 days I've saved over $50 on food. That's a good chunk of change...I don't even want to think about how much it will be by day 31 I've saved from eating differently. I know that God is asking for more of a say with how Hilary and I spend our money because of this sojourn as well as how we eat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlEplPykxCNP8oBCpSL_iLFXk3taAEQqrNdmIQfiEMFmA-jkfzREo2H4byouBuRbRBLR6KgxaadlIrrXup707IL81sVxmt-oLXmXOy8sxnPRCT8sEuWAaLEtFmI68znIBhnvUMqGOJw4/s1600/chocolate+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlEplPykxCNP8oBCpSL_iLFXk3taAEQqrNdmIQfiEMFmA-jkfzREo2H4byouBuRbRBLR6KgxaadlIrrXup707IL81sVxmt-oLXmXOy8sxnPRCT8sEuWAaLEtFmI68znIBhnvUMqGOJw4/s320/chocolate+balls.jpg" width="191" /></a> I've been very tempted with food lately, I'm not going to lie. My stomach has reached the point where it is craving all my favorite foods. I can smell a good pizza two rooms away. My mouth begins to water at the site of these (pic on right), what MJ calls: "Chocolate Balls" and a big old juicy Cheeseburger would feel oh so good sliding down my throat about now. My desire for coffee has turned into a desire for a pick me up rather than the flavor now (finally) but the desire is still there, begging to get a fix. Yet, I still feel strong and energetic, not at all lethargic like I expected to feel by this point.<br />
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I appreciate your prayers, your thoughts, your encouragement but most of all I appreciate the fact that God is speaking to many of you during this sojourn. My hope was that in sharing my experience you too would learn and have a heart for Africa, in particular the people of Burkina. <br />
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Please consider helping my friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/chriswcoakley">Chris Coakley</a> in his mission to feed the people in Burkina Faso with his organization: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/grainofhope5810">Grain of Hope 58:10</a><br />
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Tomorrow, I will highlight another ministry I just found out about called Hope 4 Africa as well as give more information about Grain of Hope 58:10! Don't miss it!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-61074379424769867812013-01-11T21:17:00.001-08:002013-01-11T21:17:21.416-08:00Sojourn: Day Eleven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaBjk2sQRCxo0zENc7dUBxHuZpTceOnMaKKl_hGAYrftjSdClTIiXnJHLwxuRsnhS0uNZB3no3AjqFY6jHfIyV6cPfnwE_z0_DWKy8Bg_Bh_E9vYQoENeAsVTV4yhVzmD9SjAU80SPug/s1600/sojourn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaBjk2sQRCxo0zENc7dUBxHuZpTceOnMaKKl_hGAYrftjSdClTIiXnJHLwxuRsnhS0uNZB3no3AjqFY6jHfIyV6cPfnwE_z0_DWKy8Bg_Bh_E9vYQoENeAsVTV4yhVzmD9SjAU80SPug/s320/sojourn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, I weighed in at 198.5, down 15 pounds in 10 days, proving once again that this amount of food for a human is not sustainable. Look, the reality is I sit around a lot. I am not running, working out or even walking very much. The most work I do is talk (or type, which is still talking) most days, so losing weight at this rapid of a pace shows just how ridiculous the amount of food I am eating is.<br />
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Tonight, I sat down and chatted with my wife about my learnings through this journey and we discussed her learnings as well. <br />
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The one learning that smacked me in the face just today was how much of a baby I have been when it comes to eating left-overs. Hilary would ask me if we should eat left-overs many times over and I remember most of the time saying no. The result? The left-overs get pitched in the end because they continue to get passed over. My fridge has been full to capacity and I would't eat anything in it, so I would pitch the food.<br />
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Early on in the learning I noticed how much "grazing" I would do and the waste in the actual extra eating I would do. Here I realize how much I throw away due to basically being stupid. My western mindset of always needing new, fresh cooked food has caused me to waste food and in turn money. Again, as I've been saying this whole journey: I can't believe it took me going through this to actually realize this. <br />
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I came to this realization today because I had to throw away a good amount of food out of my fridge, most of which was ignored a week or so before I took this journey. It broke my heart realizing how childish I've been, demanding a new, fresh meal when there were perfectly good ones in the fridge. Even taking these things to eat for lunch became to laborious for me...which is embarrassing to admit but very very true.<br />
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In my conversation with Hilary tonight she reminded me of something I had recently done. For Christmas she wanted to buy a gift card for a family who we dearly love and have been blessed by. She asked for $50 and I was (with my budget hat on) thinking more like $25. The very night of this disagreement we went to the movies where we spent $20 on the tickets and I bought close to $20 on food there as well. I was willing to spend $20 on food I didn't need on myself but wasn't willing to spend $50 on a family I love? How stinking selfish!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82nr8oYr18pyUef81wY4x0xUoem6sV4tPzGQbK3XYIYmK3Vfbr7Afl-8lM8IJBchYN7v3OnCEVdFrIgwkLF2zUgCuXo3fSLzyuKGIokY2EMtWRj-MSvqqq6GgsimDk0KZt0fn2fBiIjw/s1600/i-love-leftovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82nr8oYr18pyUef81wY4x0xUoem6sV4tPzGQbK3XYIYmK3Vfbr7Afl-8lM8IJBchYN7v3OnCEVdFrIgwkLF2zUgCuXo3fSLzyuKGIokY2EMtWRj-MSvqqq6GgsimDk0KZt0fn2fBiIjw/s320/i-love-leftovers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm not saying that going to the movies and getting a ton of food to celebrate is bad, not at all. My learning personally here is perspective. Why would I be willing to spend that on junk and neglect to bless others? I know I've done this over and over again just with food (not to mention the selfish money I've spent on NOT food).<br />
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Each day I think: how can I possibly learn anything new about this journey? Then I get smacked over the head. I think God is really trying to tell me something about many things in this journey and today it was how immature I've been about my food and irresponsible I've been by simply allowing it to rot in my fridge simply because "I didn't feel like eating it"...<br />
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Let me just finish today's learnings by saying thank you to all of you who have encountered this journey and engaged with me in person, on Facebook, on the blog itself or over the phone. I knew it sounded crazy on the onset but many of you have encouraged me in this and I am blessed by your support...especially my wife who has helped me through this journey more than I could say!<br />
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Keep following and listening, who knows what God will reveal to me next about this stuff. I keep thinking there is no more to learn and he keeps laughing at me and showing me much much more!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-80595567490590406182013-01-10T19:26:00.001-08:002013-01-10T19:26:15.068-08:00Sojourn: Day Ten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4X6x7MMTqoRh3bL2_oX8BZZa_X7WvQ1ftF9XuFVxT16htVFzRr4_hfTunqjFFO6PC6aNtTwqXPmq4rAzSjky6jMqyTT0PctuCkaFY7ChsRkcHaBuMMIfOyBG3aA_ubKbmY-l1Kf_6LA/s1600/Dunkin+Donuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4X6x7MMTqoRh3bL2_oX8BZZa_X7WvQ1ftF9XuFVxT16htVFzRr4_hfTunqjFFO6PC6aNtTwqXPmq4rAzSjky6jMqyTT0PctuCkaFY7ChsRkcHaBuMMIfOyBG3aA_ubKbmY-l1Kf_6LA/s320/Dunkin+Donuts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My tummy rumbles as I sit here in Dunkin Donuts typing this blog post. Smelling the delicious chocolate in the air as well as my waning desire for the great coffee I smell.<br />
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I am beginning to lose my deep seated desire to consume buckets of the brown liquid that I used to suck down like water...so triumphs are happening all over the place in this walk.<br />
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This morning of day ten I weighed in at 199.5, which means I have lost exactly 14 pounds on the nose in 9 days of eating like a poor person from Burkina Faso Africa. <br />
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Literally that's unhealthy, even for someone my size 14 pounds in 9 days is just not good. I scheduled my blood work appointment for Next monday: Dat 14 on the Sojourn to see if I'm still healthy so I'm looking forward to the results that will come of it.<br />
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The main lesson I am walking away with today is that many people (including myself) don't know much about hunger. When I tell people what I'm doing and sharing my reasons for it they kind of blank stare at me... until I tell them how much weight I've lost, then they perk up. It stops them and I take that time to ask them: imagine a person who doesn't have as much fat as I have to burn this quickly. Now imagine what this type of starvation does to them and it's every day of their life, not just 31 days!<br />
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Hunger is a lost conversation among tons of other good causes. Slavery is bad, we should fight it, other social justice issues are huge, bad, ugly, sinful and wrong. People die of those things but more die of hunger...yet it's a pretty quiet topic. Why is this?<br />
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If hunger is preventable by you and me if we choose to engage, why don't we as much about it as we do other social justice issues? I'm not saying hunger is and should be the only thing we fight for, simply highlighting it's more important than many think.<br />
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As an American on this diet, I am proving it's not sustainable. Once my fat reserves give out I am going to be a zombie...I think I will get by for 21 more days because I have a lot of fat stores, but it proves something heavy, doesn't it?<br />
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So far on this sojourn, I've realized I need to pay more attention to what I'm eating because I am a food waster, money waster with my food wasting and I am filled with fat that is only due to my awful, wasteful eating habits. I have been an unhealthy, unconscious eater for too long. I've allowed my son to throw away food simply because he wanted other things to eat. I've allowed myself to not eat certain foods we had in our cupboards because it didn't "sound good" at the time...so I threw it away!<br />
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It's hard to admit just how bad I've been at all of this and it's tough to believe it took this to open my eyes.<br />
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I hope many of you too are challenged as you follow this journey of mine. Maybe you may need to venture down something similar to teach you something. I highly recommend it because it has been truly eye-opening!<br />
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PEACE until tomorrow!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-22218274805546049562013-01-09T11:27:00.002-08:002013-01-09T11:27:47.800-08:00Sojourn: Day Nine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, I've officially lost 12 pounds. I weighed in at a whopping 201.5. <br />
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I'm also feeling it a bit today, I'm a bit tired slightly dragging but that could be due to a few middle of the night wake-ups as well as no coffee to balance out the tiredness.<br />
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As I began this journey, I had my doubts as to if it would mean anything to anybody and if it mattered but I've received so much encouragement, love and comments since I began that I see it's worth more than I thought to many people. It's sometimes hard to see it mattering when you throw it all into cyber-space and hope it lands somewhere, so for those of you who've ben encouraging and loving me through with kind words and prayers, I say thank you!<br />
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When I look at what I'm learning through this process I am astounded that it took something so drastic to show me how ridiculous I've been with my eating as well as my addiction to coffee.<br />
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Today as I reflect on everything, I see how I've allowed my coffee drinking to effect my sleep. This may not come as a shock to many of you but it has been a revelation to me. For years now, I've ben drinking a lot of coffee, so much so that I can trick myself into thinking I am not tired when I am. I've been accepting less and less sleep because I didn't think I needed it when I had the drug of caffeine pumping through my veins. Now I realize and feel (especially today) how my body really is doing on less sleep. Sure I can muster the energy to go through my day and get things done but I am dragging on little sleep.<br />
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I see that I've been forcing my body to do something it can't sustain...on a drug. Now don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get my morning pick-me-up February 1st and I will enjoy every second of my full blast dark roast cup of amazing java (can you tell I miss it?). My point is that I was drinking so much of the stuff that I would literally lose sleep over it. I now can see how un-healthy my caffeine intake really was. I would grab a cup at 8pm and be up til 1, wake up at 6:30 or 7 grab another cup and do it all over again.<br />
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My body is not built for that. Nor is yours.<br />
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Then, as I'm thinking about waste and money and the hungry in our world, it's even more convicting because of the money spent on the coffee I was consuming, that I didn't need. We in American consume many things we simply do not need in portions that are way too large! It's mind boggling.<br />
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What if we decided to eat only the food we needed and a little bit that we wanted? What if we did the same with coffee, soda, beer, wine, and juice? Would our wallets, lives and hearts see a difference? I think the answer is yes. Yes in fact I think they would. We are not people of moderation but we are people of over-consumption. <br />
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We feel the need (myself included) to stuff our faces when we watch TV, yet we are mindlessly consuming hundreds of calories and barely remember what it was we ate. We feel the need to constantly have a cup of something in our hand (more often than not it's NOT water), or candy in our mouths. Then we complain about our weight and complain that we don't have money.<br />
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My favorite phrase when I was grazing and hungry was: "there is nothing to eat in this house" yet I just looked in a cupboard FULL OF FOOD...there just wasn't something I wanted to get fat on is all...or nothing "worth the calories".<br />
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LOTS of learning I'm going through. Tomorrow, I will re-highlight my friends and their efforts to raise awareness and funds for hunger as well as AIDS in our world, because while I was stuffing my face, there were kids dying of starvation...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3711434444600253860.post-57440290832980137582013-01-08T10:15:00.001-08:002013-01-08T10:15:39.907-08:00Sojourn Day Eight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFmV7S-7ZToy87HjeMTF6ziZSmrBeordgn3pKitdrgP-oCR33AbmCYhvCDX1EXdDD8-vi_v0hn_8vyp8QVN77yQ9fWkVJYeBAFmKWOJiIDC5vUCRfCD880BfZ03t4b6wUTXcFwMRBlm0/s1600/starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFmV7S-7ZToy87HjeMTF6ziZSmrBeordgn3pKitdrgP-oCR33AbmCYhvCDX1EXdDD8-vi_v0hn_8vyp8QVN77yQ9fWkVJYeBAFmKWOJiIDC5vUCRfCD880BfZ03t4b6wUTXcFwMRBlm0/s400/starbucks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This is me...in STARBUCKS. My face is attempting to depict the question: "What do I think I'm doing here?!"<br />
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I walked in and I figured I had to buy a bottle of water because I was going to use their wifi all day, I wanted to contribute. I walked up to the counter and saw: Chocolate Cinnamon brea, Double Chocolate brownies and a deliciously huge Blue Berry Muffin. Immediately my stomach started revving like an engine, my mouth began to salivate and my heart pumped faster.<br />
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It pumped harder once the fragrance of beautiful wonderful coffee struck my nostrils and I inhaled that which my body has desperately been craving. May this be a lesson in dying to self as well then because I fought the temptation, grabbed my bottle of Ethos Water and sat my butt down...not to darken the dang counter again.<br />
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Reflecting on this though, I wonder how 2/3 of the world feels about our food availability. I know they don't have the food dangling in their faces like I do, nor the means to get it if they so desired, but do they know how much we as average American's eat? Does the average person from Burkina Faso know how much (or guess at how much) I eat in a normal day?<br />
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Because I know my feelings of people who have full hands of food right now: jealousy and a thought of "Why don't they share?" My human reaction could be bitterness, anger and a serious desire to steal if from them because many of them (let's be honest) just don't need it (like myself!).<br />
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What if they do know how much food we waste? Imagine someone somewhere shows them videos of our lives on an average day. What if they saw my (your) average month of eating. How would those starving feel about our flippant, wasteful eating? Wow, just writing that and re-reading it is very convicting for me.<br />
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Next comes a deeper, spiritual thought, because as I was reflecting on the physical aspect, I think God brought to mind the Spiritual as well. Not only are their people out there hungry for food, but there are many more hungry for God.<br />
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We as American Christians have gotten fat on our consumption of God as well. we have so much available, so much wasted use of the knowledge of God in our culture. Let's flip the video from just food to also our consumption of the Gospel and the goodness of free worship of our Lord. We have the food they are hungry for, yet we don't share it. We have the answer these hungry people need to find bread, yet we gorge ourselves with no intent of bringing someone else to the table.<br />
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How do they feel now?<br />
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Sorry to get all deep on you but this is where my mind is. I think our over consumption of food can correlate to our over consumption of church and we are hoarding both needed resources rather than sharing them.<br />
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What are your thoughts? Share, comment and discuss. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm right. Maybe I'm almost both.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11444080691904308394noreply@blogger.com0