tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305102202024-02-28T01:41:07.677-05:00I Was Just Thinking...searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-86717843571394869862014-08-27T10:58:00.001-04:002014-08-27T11:06:09.169-04:00I Am Free<br />
I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet Jay who appears in the video. He is an amazing individual. See his story here:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oRagQjePTgM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Then head over to <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/sponsorship.htm?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a> and set a child free! Thank you.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url("data:image/png; border: medium none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-59018200460075187772014-05-15T17:11:00.000-04:002014-05-15T22:22:47.870-04:00Sewing Up That Curtain<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Scripture records that at the time of Jesus' death the curtain in the Temple that separated the Holy of Holies (where God resides) from the rest of the Temple (and world) was torn in two from top to bottom. The torn curtain signifies that the final sacrifice and atonement for sin has been made in Christ. Furthermore, it showed that the separation that existed between the Holy and the unholy is no longer there. The torn curtain reveals that the incarnation - God being one with us and one among us - not only did not come to an end with Jesus on the cross but that the incarnation would now find its greatest fulfillment. From this point forward there would no longer be a divide between God and God's people. The torn curtain reveals that the separation of the sacred and and secular, the holy and the profane was no longer applicable. The holy would no longer be confined to the Holy of Holies in a Temple but would be in the world and accessible to all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Unfortunately, it seems that we Christians are often so fearful of sinning and of <i>sinners</i> that we are constantly at work trying to sew together the curtain that is torn in two. We pray (or arrogantly assume) that as we mend the torn curtain that we are on the side of the Holy. It is as if we constantly strive to ignore the incarnational life that we are now called to live. We justify this action by saying that we are trying to be holy. Ignoring the fact that we are made holy in Christ by his grace. Instead of allowing the holy to come into the world we strive to do all we can to separate ourselves from all that is and all who are unholy. Think about the many ways we do this. We have christian music, christian TV and movies. We have christian resorts, travel tours and christian cruises. We even have our own sports leagues. In our attempts to by culturally relevant we still dress christian (go to Nashville and see how many times you can spot the culturally relevant worship leaders being hip in the coffee shops).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I realize that many will say that as christians we are to live separate from the world. That we are to be set apart. Indeed we are set apart by God and to God. However, God has chosen not be separate from the world. God has chosen to come into the world, to redeem that which had been lost, to restore a relationship that had been broken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It seems that we often use the idea of being set apart to God as an excuse for placing barriers (like a big heavy, thick curtain) up between us and our neighbors. It is as if we say, "Lord thank you for allowing us into the Holy of Holies to be with you. Now close that thing back up before we become tainted by the outside world." In living this way we reveal that it is our desire is to once again place a separation between that which is clean and that which is unclean. We fail to recognize that what has separated the sacred from the secular has been torn away. The Kingdom is at hand. It is present. It is incarnate. God is with us. The curtain is torn and God has given us all access to the Holy of Holies. The curtain is torn and God has come out of the Holy of Holies to be with his people. The curtain is torn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Grace.</span>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-52500675959254880692014-04-30T14:43:00.000-04:002014-04-30T14:43:07.916-04:00Sometimes a Pastor Has Something Good To Say<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now, go <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">here</a> and start a relationship that will bless you and a bless a child.</div>
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<a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SPONSOR A CHILD TODAY!</b></span></a></div>
searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-74992485388140164642014-04-24T22:45:00.000-04:002014-04-24T22:49:24.331-04:00Creating ChangeOne of the reasons I am proud to be associated with Compassion International is because of their commitment to always work through local churches. After watching this video be sure to head on over to the <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion site</a> and <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">sponsor a child</a> whose life will be changed through the ministry of the local church.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/75324375?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=0039a6" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/75324375">Compassion's Commitment to the Church</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/compassionintl">Compassion International</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-5506971914914860112014-04-23T23:19:00.001-04:002014-04-23T23:22:29.144-04:00You will Fall in Love with this Child -- Guaranteed!<br />
I know it's been a while but I thought you just needed to see this. Oh, and when you are done watching it be sure to head over to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_2031096268" target="_blank">Compassion and sponsor a child</a><a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">.</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Bum0jb3woug" width="480"></iframe>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-87924139082212323142014-03-06T21:26:00.000-05:002014-03-06T21:26:01.527-05:00It's a lie...I recently read this quote and just had to share. This is from Dr. Wess Stafford, former Compassion President:<br />
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<i> At its very core, poverty is a mindset that goes far beyond the tragic circumstances. </i></div>
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<i>It is the cruel, destructive message that gets whispered into the ears of millions</i></div>
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<i> by the enemy Satan himself: "Give up! You don't matter. Nobody cares about you.</i></div>
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<i> Look around you: Things are terrible. Always have been, always will be. Think back.</i></div>
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<i> Your grandfather was a failure. Your parents couldn't protect or take care of you</i></div>
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<i>. Now it's your turn. You, too, will fail. So just give up!"</i></div>
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Please don't allow this lie to continue to be told to these beautiful children who by no fault of their own find themselves in the grips of the destructive force of extreme poverty. </div>
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<a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank"><b>PLEASE SPONSOR A CHILD TODAY!</b></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbulDjDxobkD2NuRVzS0C7QArWN_KWCMR8LTu-h6l5DxeVUcJYHf_TDAl5mPOpTWuMofFbmb87lfZvsN87jwVBsUaXGZXuPIvx3t4iGEK__qyiJy92e_o9vkN5IOhWnkocjMCDA/s1600/DSC_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbulDjDxobkD2NuRVzS0C7QArWN_KWCMR8LTu-h6l5DxeVUcJYHf_TDAl5mPOpTWuMofFbmb87lfZvsN87jwVBsUaXGZXuPIvx3t4iGEK__qyiJy92e_o9vkN5IOhWnkocjMCDA/s1600/DSC_0732.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These children no longer are listening to the lie that poverty tells them. They are worthy. Someone does care for them.</td></tr>
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searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-58843140598243346852014-03-06T12:08:00.002-05:002014-03-06T12:08:52.614-05:00What will it take?<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/AVvXsEhwbCc9iY7eCkNN9g7gR6jBk0YzdlcDm68Oews6Agd5Ty8AuvAFrp6TxWdgy09sxsYuOs7mpCw3DBK6-Mq-7faNOqW7z_2pm5k93-q2jWo48Keufhfd_x7wBAqsqsfiGJqdsMW7yg/s1600/20+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbCc9iY7eCkNN9g7gR6jBk0YzdlcDm68Oews6Agd5Ty8AuvAFrp6TxWdgy09sxsYuOs7mpCw3DBK6-Mq-7faNOqW7z_2pm5k93-q2jWo48Keufhfd_x7wBAqsqsfiGJqdsMW7yg/s1600/20+(2).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Saying goodbye.</b></td></tr>
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By now if you've been reading my blogs then you know that I'm trying desperately to get just <b>41</b> new sponsors for children through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a>. Yesterday, I tried to convince people to sponsor by pulling out the big gun - Scriptures. I've showed pictures of one of the children we sponsor that I met just a couple of weeks ago in Bangladesh. I've even offered to eat a bowl of broccoli if the goal of 41 new sponsors is reached and I HATE broccoli.<br />
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Today though I'm asking for your help. I'm asking what you would do to convince others to sponsor? I'm also asking what would you need in order for you to become a child sponsor? What would you like to know? What would it take to get you to change the life of a child in need?<br />
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I'm looking forward to hearing from you. As always, let me encourage you to <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank"><b>SPONSOR A CHILD</b></a> and to please pass this along. Thank you and God bless.<br />
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<br />searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-60641035481779202732014-03-05T16:13:00.000-05:002014-03-05T16:13:26.929-05:00Some People Need a Little Convincing...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="h5">I realize that in my efforts to find 41 new <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">sponsors</a> of children through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> that there are some people who need just a little more convincing than others. So with that thought in mind I turn to a greater authority on the issue than myself in order to inspire those of you who are still wondering why you should <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">sponsor a child</a>. </span></div>
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<i><span class="h5">Deuteronomy 10:18</span>
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
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<span class="h5">Deuteronomy 14:28-29</span>
At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's
produce and store it in your towns so that the Levites (who have no
allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless
and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied,
and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your
hands.
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<span class="h5">Deuteronomy 15:7-8 </span>
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the
land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or
tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely
lend him whatever he needs.
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<span class="h5">Deuteronomy 15:11</span>
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you
to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in
your land.
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<span class="h5">Joshua 1:14-15</span>
...You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you...
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<span class="h5">1 Samuel 2:7-8 </span>
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He
raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he
seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.
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<span class="h5">Nehemiah 9:27</span>
...But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven
you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers,
who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-405417"></a> <span class="h5">Psalm 9:18</span>
But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.
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<span class="h5">Psalm 12:5 </span>
"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise," says the LORD. "Then I will protect them from those
who malign them."
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054116"></a> <span class="h5">Psalm 72:12-14</span>
For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no
one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the
needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for
precious is their blood in his sight.
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<span class="h5">Psalm 82:3-4 </span>
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of
the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the
hand of the wicked.
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<span class="h5">Psalm 102:17</span>
He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054121"></a> <span class="h5">Psalm 140:12</span>
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054124"></a> <span class="h5">Proverbs 3:27-28 </span>
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your
power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give
it tomorrow" — when you now have it with you.
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054127"></a> <span class="h5">Proverbs 11:24-25</span>
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly,
but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes
others will himself be refreshed.
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<span class="h5">Proverbs 14:20-21</span>
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many
friends. He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who
is kind to the needy.
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<span class="h5">Proverbs 14:31</span>
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
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<span class="h5">Proverbs 19:17</span>
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
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<span class="h5">Proverbs 22:9</span>
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
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<span class="h5">Proverbs 22:16</span>
He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich — both come to poverty.
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054134"></a> <span class="h5">Proverbs 28:27</span>
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.</i>
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<span class="h5">Proverbs 31:8-9</span>
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights
of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights
of the poor and needy."
</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054137"></a>
<span class="h5">Proverbs 31:20</span>
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054138"></a>
<span class="h5">Isaiah 1:17</span>
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="answer-holder clearfix">
<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054139"></a> <span class="h5">Isaiah 25:4</span>
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his
distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.
</i></div>
</div>
<div class="answer-holder clearfix">
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054142"></a> <span class="h5">Jeremiah 22:16</span>
"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.
</i></div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054147"></a>
<span class="h5">Lamentations 4:4</span>
Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its
mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="answer-holder clearfix">
<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054148"></a>
<span class="h5">Ezekiel 16:49</span>
"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters
were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and
needy."
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="answer-holder clearfix">
<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054149"></a>
<span class="h5">Micah 6:8</span>
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD
require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with
your God.
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="answer-holder clearfix">
<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054150"></a> <span class="h5">Matthew 6:3-4</span>
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
</i></div>
</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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</div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054152"></a>
<span class="h5">Matthew 25:34-40</span>
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you
who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom
prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and
you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to
drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you
clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you
came to visit me.'</i><br />
<i>Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When
did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'</i><br />
<i>The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"</i><br />
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054154"></a> <span class="h5">Luke 4:18</span>
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to
preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed."
</i></div>
</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054156"></a> <span class="h5">Luke 14:12-14</span>
Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do
not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich
neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be
repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the
lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay
you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
</i></div>
</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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</div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054159"></a> <span class="h5">Acts 20:35</span>
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we
must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
</i></div>
</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054161"></a> <span class="h5">1 Corinthians 10:24</span>
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
</i></div>
</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054164"></a>
<span class="h5">2 Corinthians 1:3-4</span>
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves have received from God.
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054165"></a>
<span class="h5">2 Corinthians 8:2-4, 7</span>
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond
their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for
the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that
you also excel in this grace of giving.</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="answer-holder clearfix">
<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054166"></a> <span class="h5">James 1:27</span>
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself
from being polluted by the world.
</i></div>
</div>
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<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054169"></a>
<span class="h5">James 2:5</span>
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in
the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he
promised those who love him?
</i><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="answer-holder clearfix">
<div class="paragraph clearfix">
<i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="faq-tcm:5-4054170"></a>
<span class="h5">James 2:15-17</span>
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one
of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but
does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way,
faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. </i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now I suppose you could continue to argue all the reasons you have for not sponsoring a child but do you really want to do that? Go on now and <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">SPONSOR A CHILD!</a> Please remember to drop me a line and let me know that you are not sponsoring a child AND please pass this along to others. Thank you and God bless.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="yui3-u-1-6" style="float: left;">
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searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-71588223629207792132014-03-04T21:38:00.002-05:002014-03-04T21:43:59.374-05:00It's Simple Math Really...Everyone knows that math is not my strong suit. However the math here is simple enough that I can even do it. The math is this: I have over 700 friends on Facebook that I have bombarded with my desire to have 41 new children sponsored through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> by my 41st birthday this March 8th. Now that is 700 people who have been asked to sponsor. I have also asked 700 people to share my birthday request with their friends. Let's assume (and be very conservative) that each of those 700 have at least 200 of their own friends that are not mutual friends of mine. So if each of those 700 shared my birthday request with their friends that would be an additional 140000 people who would be contacted with the request to sponsor a child. So in total more than 140,700 people would know of the 41 for 41 campaign. This means that in order to reach 41 new sponsors less than 1% of the total number of potential people who will hear about this request need to actually respond by sponsoring a child.<br />
<br />
Now to be honest, when I started this little campaign I really didn't think it would be possible. Now I'm thinking that the numbers don't lie. Honestly, with a potential audience of over 140,000 people the number 41 seems too small. Of course this is all contingent upon my friends passing this on to their friends.<br />
<br />
So as always I'm simply asking that you <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">SPONSOR A CHILD</a> but this is a post to truly ask that you send this on to your friends. Please make sure that all your friends know about the 41 for 41. With your help we should easily reach 41 new sponsors which means 41 children whose lives will be forever changed.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your help and God bless.<br />
<br />
<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/AVvXsEgsbdueJaPi0kxdkF-mPr742eAHURAOZJMT2Vgym8NBF4OPU84Hx6iyjQiuXEIJzSIzPxdeoZa6GAKSuK3HsLS7ai8NQxvtrkoA9QWbnThPHoG2zbhtgbvZiDWsJPMBF4R6sxo8bw/s1600/DSC_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbdueJaPi0kxdkF-mPr742eAHURAOZJMT2Vgym8NBF4OPU84Hx6iyjQiuXEIJzSIzPxdeoZa6GAKSuK3HsLS7ai8NQxvtrkoA9QWbnThPHoG2zbhtgbvZiDWsJPMBF4R6sxo8bw/s1600/DSC_0968.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John with Munna, Munna's Grandmother, Munna's social worker and Timothy our interpreter.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-73813091633006064132014-03-03T17:44:00.000-05:002014-03-03T17:44:31.704-05:00Not fully home yet...Well, it's been a while since I've added to this blog. So here is a brief update.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago I started a little campaign that I called 41 for 41. The intention is to get 41 new sponsors for children through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> before my 41st birthday which is March 8th. I made a few post about this and then perhaps it looked like I just stopped, died, or simply stepped off the earth for awhile. Well, none of that is true. The fact is that I went on a trip to Bangladesh where I had the opportunity to meet, eat with, play soccer, play cricket,and to dance with some of the wonderful children who are not just surviving but are now<b><i> living</i></b> because they are sponsored through<a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank"> Compassion</a>. I've been back home now for a while but have found it difficult to write (although I will be sharing more of this great trip later) because frankly I'm not fully home yet. Truth is part of me is still in Bangladesh. Part of me who had the chance to laugh, cry, and hug these wonderful children is still there but with the added pressure of not actually being there. There is the desire to be there and to protect them from the harsh realities of the world that they must live in. Never the less, I'm here far away and detached. This is something that I'm still struggling to process. All of this is further complicated by my desire to be fully home for my family here. We must never forget the present of being present.<br />
<br />
So I am home, but not fully home yet. Perhaps the remedy is found in extending my definition of home. One of the last things I said to Munna, our sponsored child, before we left was that he is family. So perhaps I will never by fully home or perhaps my home is in North Carolina, Florida, Ethiopia, and now Bangladesh. I'd like to encourage you to extend your heart and to extend your home. Extend your family to a child that is perhaps half way around the world. Extend your love to a child by sponsoring today. <br />
<br />
Finally, when you do <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">sponsor a child</a> will you please send me a message so I know how close we are to reaching the 41 for 41. And would you be so kind to help share this with others as well. Thank you and God bless.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">SPONSOR A CHILD HERE!</a><br />
<br />
<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/AVvXsEgWuCnit8WPbM-F1wZ0AHih0NeuSeB0HQ6zob-5y0Y2C7ATJdpcYs6Kjx0Byp6O7KSwBX7DFj9zNRCktWrpapJbJL1A1CR4zgdFk01ZcMajkohaSnGJNu327BnAulARDpA37AGIoA/s1600/DSC_0915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuCnit8WPbM-F1wZ0AHih0NeuSeB0HQ6zob-5y0Y2C7ATJdpcYs6Kjx0Byp6O7KSwBX7DFj9zNRCktWrpapJbJL1A1CR4zgdFk01ZcMajkohaSnGJNu327BnAulARDpA37AGIoA/s1600/DSC_0915.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-19039323874137761372014-02-12T22:32:00.000-05:002014-02-13T11:06:28.443-05:0041 Reasons...As many of you know by now I'm trying to get 41 children sponsored through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> for my 41st birthday which is March 8th. I thought it might be helpful if I were to give you 41 reasons to sponsor a child. So, in no particular order here are 41 reasons to sponsor a child:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>It gives you the chance to be a world missionary without ever leaving your home.</li>
<li>You can write to your child.</li>
<li>Your child will write to you.</li>
<li>It gives you the opportunity to explore a new culture.</li>
<li>It reminds you that the church is universal.</li>
<li>It is a reason to try new foods.</li>
<li>If you have children, it is a great way to introduce them to the issues that children around the world are facing.</li>
<li>It's my birthday and I have asked you to.</li>
<li>Compassion is Christ centered.</li>
<li>Compassion is child focused.</li>
<li>Compassion is church based.</li>
<li>Compassion is committed to integrity.</li>
<li>Compassion has received Charity Navigator's highest rating for over 10 years.</li>
<li>Compassion has a holistic approach to child sponsorship meeting the spiritual, physical, social, and economic needs of the child.</li>
<li>It's biblical. "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has
no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us
not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18</li>
<li>Because more than 6 million children die each year from malnutrition.</li>
<li>There are <strong>1.8 million</strong> diarrheal-related deaths per year among young children.</li>
<li><strong>About 2.5 billion</strong> people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation - roughly <strong>two-fifths</strong> of the world's population. </li>
<li><strong>Approximately 1.8 million</strong> children die each year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This is around <strong>5,000</strong> deaths a day.</li>
<li>About <strong>1 million</strong> children each year are diagnosed with intestinal worms causing malnutrition due to the lack of sanitation. </li>
<li>An estimated <strong>130 million</strong> of the world's 15- to 24- year-olds cannot read or write.</li>
<li><strong>One in six children</strong> 5 to 14 years old — about 16 percent of all children in this age group — is involved in child labor in developing countries. </li>
<li>After drug dealing, human trafficking (both sex trafficking and
trafficking for forced labor) is tied with the illegal arms industry as
the <strong>second largest</strong> criminal industry in the world today, and it is the <strong>fastest growing</strong>.</li>
<li>Worldwide, there are nearly <strong>two million</strong> children in the commercial sex trade.</li>
<li>There are an estimated <strong>600,000 to 800,000</strong> children, women and men trafficked across international borders annually. </li>
<li>An estimated <strong>20 million</strong> children worldwide have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict and human rights violations.</li>
<li>Because Dr. Seuss reminds us that, "A person's a person, no matter how small."</li>
<li>Because of what you see in this video (it's long I know but what you really need to see starts at the 3:34 mark through the 10 minute mark - trust me you want to see this): <a href="http://vimeo.com/7072300">http://vimeo.com/7072300</a>.</li>
<li>For the chance to one day meet the child that you sponsor.</li>
<li>Because it may mean that you'll have to sacrifice - and that actually is a good thing.</li>
<li>Because if it was your child you'd be praying for someone who would provide the hope to your child that you are unable to do.</li>
<li>It is your chance to literally change the world.</li>
<li>I promised to eat a bowl of broccoli if I get 41 sponsored children by my birthday.</li>
<li>It will not only change the life of a child, it will change your life as well.</li>
<li>Because of the joy and excitement you will experience each time you get a letter from your child.</li>
<li>Because I've already written 35 other reasons!</li>
<li>Simply because it's the right thing to do.</li>
<li>Because not only will you be changing the life of the child but you will also be changing that child's family and impacting that child's community.</li>
<li>Did I mention that it is biblical? Isaiah 58:6-7 - "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of
injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and
break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to
provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to
clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"</li>
<li>Did I mention that I've agreed to eat a bowl of broccoli if I get 41 children sponsored? Did I mention that I gag just at the smell of broccoli? </li>
</ol>
And reason number 41 that you should sponsor a child through Compassion is:<br />
<br />
41. Because you can.<br />
<br />
Now please go on over to <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion and sponsor a child</a>. Also, if you would please pass this on to encourage others to encourage them, that would be great. Finally, after you sponsor a child please message me and let me know so I can know how we are doing in reaching 41. Thank you!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-55405171792297151632014-02-12T10:22:00.000-05:002014-02-12T10:22:59.467-05:00I'm willing to make this interesting...So yesterday I launched a birthday wish campaign that I'm calling 41 for 41. For my 41st birthday on March 8th I'm looking to get 41 children sponsored through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a>. Now I've decided to up the ante. For everyone who knows me you also know that I absolutely despise broccoli but I will eat it for the kids! That's right, if I can get 41 children sponsored before March 8th then I will eat, record, and upload a video of me eating a bowl of broccoli. Now come on folks, that's pure entertainment.<br />
<br />
So again I'm asking that you do 3 things:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Sponsor a child through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion!</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Share this with everyone you know!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. Message me that you have sponsored a child so I can keep track of the numbers (by the way, Compassion tracks these numbers too so no cheating here just to get me to eat broccoli).</span></span></span><br />
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Thank you and here's to eating some broccoli!searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-58713197265016616292014-02-11T14:03:00.001-05:002014-02-11T14:04:59.816-05:0041 for 41In just under 4 weeks I'll be turning 41. I'm not one for really celebrating my birthday in a big way. Usually just a simple dinner with my family is all I really want. However this year there is something that I really want but it will take quite a few people to make it happen. It will take you who are reading this to not only respond but to help in passing on the birthday request to your social circles as well.<br />
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For my birthday this year I want to see 41 children sponsored through <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a>. Compassion works to release children from extreme poverty in Jesus' name. In just a few days I'll be traveling to Bangladesh to see first hand the work that Compassion does and how it is impacting the lives of children, their families, and their communities. I look forward to being able to share what I see and learn on this trip. However I don't need to be on the trip to tell you that I have been involved with Compassion for years. Compassion is Christ centered, child focused, church based, and committed to integrity. I know not only from the over 10 years of 4-star ratings from <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3555#.UvputIXX8Xs" target="_blank">Charity Navigator</a> but more importantly from the letters we have received from our own sponsored children that Compassion is a program that works. That children who once had no hope now have hope and a future.<br />
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I'm turning 41 this year and I want to celebrate with 41 children who are now being sponsored through Compassion. Please help me reach this birthday goal by doing these 3 simple things:<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Sponsor a Child using this link - <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion!</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 2. Pass this birthday wish on by posting on FB, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> twitter, etc.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 3. Please either leave me a comment here, on FB, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> or email me and let me know that you have </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> sponsored a child. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for making this the best birthday yet not only for me but for 41 children around the world.</span></span></span></span></span>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-27189694041598902222014-02-06T11:53:00.000-05:002014-02-06T11:53:13.222-05:00Just a Comparison<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I thought I'd take just a moment to share a little side by side comparison of the life in the United States of America to life in Bangladesh. Enjoy the facts and then head over the <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a> site to find a child whose life you can change forever. </span><br />
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<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="3" id="CountryTable" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr id="CountryTitle"><td class="colTitle">
</td><td class="colTitle"><strong>Bangladesh</strong></td>
<td class="colTitle"><strong>United States</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow1">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Capital</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Dhaka</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Washington, D.C.</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow2">
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Population</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">156,050,883 (July 2010 estimate)</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">307,212,123 (July 2010 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow3">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Languages</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow4">
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Religions</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9% (2004)</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Christian 78.5%
(Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian
1.6%), Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified
2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow5">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Literacy rate
<br />
<em>Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write.</em></td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Male: 54%
<br />
Female: 41.4%
<br />
(2001 Census)</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Male: 99%
<br />
Female: 99%
<br />
(2003 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow6">
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Percentage of population using improved drinking water sources</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Urban: 85%
<br />
Rural: 78%
<br />
(2006 estimate)</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Urban: 100%
<br />
Rural: 94%
<br />
(2006 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow7">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Percentage of population using adequate sanitation facilities</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Urban: 48%
<br />
Rural: 32%
<br />
(2006 estimate)</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Urban: 100%
<br />
Rural: 99%
<br />
(2006 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow8">
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Climate</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Mostly temperate,
but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the
Great Plains west of the Mississippi River and arid in the Great Basin
of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are warmed
occasionally in January and February by chinook winds from the eastern
slopes of the Rocky Mountains.</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow9">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Percentage of population urbanized</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">27% (2008 estimate)</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">82% (2008 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow10">
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Life expectancy</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Male: 57.57 years
<br />
Female: 63.03 years
<br />
(2010 estimate)</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Male: 75.65 years
<br />
Female: 80.69 years
<br />
(2010 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow11">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Under-5 mortality rate</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">54/1,000 (2008 estimate)</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">8/1,000 (2008 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow12">
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">GDP per capita</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">$1,500 (2009 estimate)</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">$46,000 (2009 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow13">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Monetary unit</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">taka (BDT)</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">U.S. dollar (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow14">
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">Number of people living with HIV/AIDS</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">12,000 (2007 estimate)</td>
<td bgcolor="#D8D8D8" class="EvenRowStyle">1.2 million (2007 estimate)</td>
</tr>
<tr id="CountryRow15">
<td class="OddRowStyle">Percentage of population living below $1.25 a day</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">50% (1992-2007 study)</td>
<td class="OddRowStyle">Data not available</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<em>Sources for facts:</em> The World Factbook, <em>2010;</em> The State of the World's Children, <em>2009 </em>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-77770904167692101072014-02-04T14:09:00.000-05:002014-02-04T14:09:02.998-05:00Life in Bangladesh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUb_Hw-LcBFFG5zXlvei03sF7u4McWz14RrdkAwDm7GXRVQuSl_oVV36-_VRWBv-NTYWkTi1sUxRRWp0njVhQp7dqv712qm7RvEI5a7c164iGr79kjpccPCQBrYVv0FTzn4Ilwg/s1600/Bangladesh-clothesline-and-small-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUb_Hw-LcBFFG5zXlvei03sF7u4McWz14RrdkAwDm7GXRVQuSl_oVV36-_VRWBv-NTYWkTi1sUxRRWp0njVhQp7dqv712qm7RvEI5a7c164iGr79kjpccPCQBrYVv0FTzn4Ilwg/s1600/Bangladesh-clothesline-and-small-house.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
It won't be long now before I head off to Bangladesh with <a href="http://www.compassion.com/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a>. Before I go I thought I'd share this little write up on life in Northeastern Bangladesh where the boy that we sponsor lives. This information comes from <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>Many of the people living in the villages of northeastern Bangladesh
are from the Garo tribe. Known for their honesty and industrious spirit,
most Garos earn a living by farming. Many of them work on larger farms
as day laborers. However, despite their hard work, they earn only a
meager wage, insufficient to provide for their children’s basic needs.</i><br />
<br />
<i>
</i><i>Garos typically live in houses made of bamboo, straw and mud. Those
who are better off have houses with brick walls and tin roofs. As a
rule, these simple houses lack electricity, running water and adequate
sanitation facilities.</i><br />
<br />
<i>
</i><i>Unlike the majority of Bangladeshis, who are Muslims, most Garos
practice Christianity, and in the northeastern region, Compassion
partners primarily with local churches in Garo villages to minister to
their children.</i><br />
<br />
<i>
</i><i>Garos typically build their homes with bamboo and straw. Some houses
have mud-made walls with a roof of straw or plastic sheets. The houses
are 7 by 14 feet in size, and usually house five or six people. Most
homes have front yards where families keep their pet cows, chickens and
ducks.</i><br />
<br />
Oh yea, now please go and <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">SPONSOR A CHILD!</a><i> </i>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-29259682242745512922014-02-01T11:09:00.005-05:002014-02-01T11:11:25.725-05:00Also this week Natalie Grant left the Grammys early...<div style="float: left; padding-top: 10px;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>One in six children</b> 5 to 14 years old — about 16 percent of all children in this age group — is involved in child labor in developing countries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the least developed countries, <b>30 percent</b> of all children are engaged in child labor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Worldwide, 126
million children work in hazardous conditions, often enduring beatings,
humiliation and sexual violence by their employers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">An estimated 1.2
million children — both boys and girls — are trafficked each year into
exploitative work in agriculture, mining, factories, armed conflict or
commercial sex work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The highest proportion of child laborers is in sub-Saharan Africa, where <b>26 percent of children</b> (49 million) are involved in work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Also this week Natalie Grant left the Grammys early - priorities. </span></div>
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<a href="http://compassion.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sponsor a Child Today </span></a></div>
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searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-39916065141123430022014-01-31T11:23:00.001-05:002014-01-31T11:33:04.300-05:00Reaching 400...<br />
Today is the last day that the team from <a href="http://compassionbloggers.com/trips/uganda-2014//?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a> will be in Uganda blogging about their experience there. I mentioned yesterday that it is our hope that during this time that 400 children will find their sponsors. I urge you to go to this<a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank"> link and to sponsor a child today</a>. Below you'll see a video of 13 year old Pastor Amon giving thanks for the sponsors that have changed his life and the life of the more than 200 children at this Compassion Center. Watch it and then <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">SPONSOR A CHILD!</a> Thank you.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jumXQw95bsY" width="480"></iframe>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-80337452512912150692014-01-30T20:44:00.001-05:002014-01-30T20:44:48.556-05:00Ordinarily SpectacularIn my past couple of posts I've shared that there is currently a team of Compassion bloggers who are in Uganda visiting a Compassion Child Development Center and then blogging about their experiences. One thing that I have not mentioned is that during their time there we have a goal of seeing that 400 children find sponsors. I won't say much today because I really just want you to go this <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2014/01/why-today-was-spectacular-in-an-ordinary-way.html" target="_blank">blog by Myquillyn Smith</a>. In it you'll see just how the ordinary act of compassion with integrity is so spectacular. When you are done reading be sure to follow this link and <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=V2747" target="_blank">SPONSOR A CHILD!</a><br />
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Thank you and God bless!searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-62085793414128689762014-01-29T20:29:00.001-05:002014-01-29T20:29:38.571-05:00Calling on the Men...As I wrote to you yesterday, right now there is a team of <a href="http://compassionbloggers.com/trips/uganda-2014/" target="_blank">Compassion Bloggers</a> in Uganda who are visiting a Compassion Child Development Center and are sharing their experiences each day. I want to share with you one particular blog from today but before I do I want to tell you why I'm sharing this one. In the blog you'll read a great story that conveys the need for men to be involved in the work of <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a>. This is a concern that I have had for a couple of weeks now. As you know I'll be traveling on my own <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a> trip soon going to Bangladesh. The team that I'll be traveling with is overwhelmingly made up of women. I've noticed too that the team on the trip to Uganda is primarily women. Now I obviously don't won't to get into a big discussion on women and their role in ministry. Nor do I want to in anyway diminish the wonderful role that women have in sponsoring, working with, and changing the lives of children through Compassion. In fact, my experience with Compassion is that women are the backbone and the core of Compassion sponsors. However as this <a href="http://blog.compassion.com/boys-will-be-boys/" target="_blank">blog by Brianne McKoy</a> there is a special place and a special need for men to take an active role in providing hope and love to these wonderful children in need. With that said please take a moment to read <a href="http://blog.compassion.com/boys-will-be-boys/" target="_blank">Brianne's blog</a> and more importantly take a moment to find a child whose life you can change forever - <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child Today</a>.<br />
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<br />searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-33336749775848971682014-01-28T16:01:00.000-05:002014-01-28T16:11:18.638-05:00Follow CompassionAs most of you know I'll be traveling soon to Bangladesh with <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> where I'll get the chance to see first hand the work of <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a>. Also, on the trip I'll get the chance to meet the young boy that my family sponsors. I cannot wait for this amazing opportunity. However, there is still a couple of weeks before I leave and in the mean time I wanted to let you know of another <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a> trip that is taking place right now in Uganda. This trip is featuring <a href="http://compassionbloggers.com/uganda14" target="_blank">Compassion bloggers</a> who are blogging about their trip everyday. It is a wonderful opportunity for you to hear first hand accounts of what <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">Compassion</a> is doing and how the lives of children in extreme poverty are being changed. I encourage you to read their stories and then to <a href="http://www.compassion.com/child-sponsorship/sponsor-a-child-in-uganda.htm/?referer=V2747" target="_blank">sponsor a child</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://compassionbloggers.com/uganda14/" title="Follow the Compassion Bloggers in Uganda"><img alt="Follow the Compassion Bloggers in Uganda" src="http://www.compassionimages.com/UG-Blog-Sidebar-250x300.jpg" height="300" width="250" /></a>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-19975668216723686252013-10-21T10:19:00.001-04:002013-10-21T10:19:53.376-04:00Update on Mission Trip to Bangladesh<br />
I wanted to let everyone know that the stew was a huge success and to thank everyone who helped and bought stew. As I write this I only have about 15 quarts left to sell. <br />
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At the moment I'm still in need of about $400 for the mission trip. So I wanted to let everyone know that there is still time to make a donation and to be entered into the drawing for the Kindle Fire HD. Remember you get 1 chance for $2; 5 chances for $5; or 20 chances for $10. <br />
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Finally, I wanted to share the following video to give you an idea of the life of my own sponsored child in Bangladesh. I can't wait to be able to meet him face to face. Thank you all for your support!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/240OppYBJj0" width="480"></iframe>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-38677939875143750052013-10-07T23:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T23:00:13.147-04:00Meeting Munna...Win a Kindle Fire HD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to Munna. He is a 14 year old boy living in Bangladesh. He is also a part of our family. You see for several years now our family has sponsored Munna through Compassion International. We have had the privileged of watching Munna grow up, learn, and share his dreams of being a teacher to help others achieve their dreams.<br />
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Now I have the chance to go on a mission trip with Compassion International to see first hand the work that Compassion does and just what our sponsorship provides for the children. Most importantly, I'll have the opportunity to meet Munna face to face. <br />
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Of course, like most mission trips there is quite a bit of cost in flying half way around the world. The trip must be paid for by Nov. 1st. Although we've been able to pay a little over half the amount needed, I'm currently $1500.00 short. Therefore, I'm asking for your help. You'll notice that there is a donation button on here that allows for donations through Paypal. Of course, checks can be sent directly to me at 2388 River Rd., Stoneville, NC 27048. <br />
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Oh and you can WIN something too. Just to make this a little interesting we are giving away chances to win a Kindle Fire HD with donations. Here is the break down: 1 chance for $2; 5 chances for $5; or 20 chances for $10. <br />
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Thank you for helping me with this wonderful opportunity to meet this special young man and to serve the people of Bangladesh. <br />
searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-31093921835590152672013-09-06T11:18:00.001-04:002013-09-06T11:42:26.322-04:00What Does Success Look Like?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In light of yesterday's post on heroes and <a href="http://revraymer.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-we-wanted-tebow-to-succeed.html">"Why We Wanted Tebow to Succeed" </a>I thought today I'd simply share a video from <a href="http://www.compassion.com/">Compassion International</a> on success and what it looks like. Enjoy and have a wonderful day.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_PqWYE3YXRY" width="459"></iframe>searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-15314195450584436912013-09-05T09:34:00.002-04:002013-09-05T09:34:09.058-04:00Why We Wanted Tebow To Succeed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNQ5eFBzkktrO_HIGrtOI7ElC-vVtq6cOKIORwrK7-snGJntPNBlOfEhioHBmcC3uGedRr7VyRgqRW0Nygg-s6DfamsTPemMeSWKm2zf014A7Z1-uTXjiI28o563rfFeyiWcDAA/s1600/107688150_crop_650x440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNQ5eFBzkktrO_HIGrtOI7ElC-vVtq6cOKIORwrK7-snGJntPNBlOfEhioHBmcC3uGedRr7VyRgqRW0Nygg-s6DfamsTPemMeSWKm2zf014A7Z1-uTXjiI28o563rfFeyiWcDAA/s320/107688150_crop_650x440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Several weeks ago I received a phone call from a friend (a self professed agnostic) who was driving in his car, listening to a preacher, and had a question for me (his Christian friend). He wanted to know, "Why do Christians insist on the Founding Fathers being heroes of Christianity?" I initially did not have an answer but later that evening I texted him, "We want the founding fathers to be Christian heroes for the same reason we want Tebow to succeed." It's the same reason that if someone brings up the Christian musician and world renowned guitarist <a href="http://www.philkeaggy.com/">Phil Keaggy</a>, then someone else will bring up the story of how Jimi Hendrix was once asked how he felt about being the world's greatest guitarist and he replied, "I don't know, you'll have to ask <a href="http://youtu.be/crwTSDVFwlo">Phil Keaggy</a>." This false story has been around for over 20 years and has been repeatedly denied by Phil but Christians still tell it. We went insane for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Lin">Jeremy Lin</a> and had Lin-sanity. We had <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/marchweb-only/randytravis-0309.html">Randy Travis</a> on every Christian radio and TV show when he came out with his gospel albums (of course, we have conveniently forgotten all that now). And we are crazy for Christian rapper and mainstream crossover<a href="http://reachrecords.com/artists/show/Lecrae"> Lacrae</a>. <br />
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The question still remains, why? Why do we want Tebow to succeed? Why is it that Tebow being cut this past week by the Patriots feels like a punch in the gut to so many Christians (many of whom care very little about football)? Why do we want Jimmy Hendrix to say that Phil Keaggy is the best guitarist? Why did we go circle around (and have since removed ourselves) from Randy Travis? Why did we have Lin-sanity and why do we care about a rapper being a Christian?<br />
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We want someone like Tebow who is smart, good looking, charismatic, and even if he doesn't succeed in the NFL, is still one of the greatest college football players ever. Tebow is cool. If Tebow was not a Christian, Tebow would still be cool. And that's why we want him to succeed. That's why we want our Founding Fathers to be Christian heroes and why we want Lacrae to sell millions of albums and for Phil to be the best guitar player. Being a great musician or a great athlete is cool and we want be at the cool table. We want people to think our music is cool and our films our cool (oh how we went gaga over "Fireproof"). We want athletes that we can point to and say, "Yea, that guy is in my camp, my tribe. See you can make fun of Christians and call us out of touch with society but we have Tebow and he is one of the cool kids." <br />
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Of course if this is true we must ask ourselves, why do we want someone cool at the Christian table? I believe the answer lies in a possible inferiority complex and this complex manifests itself in a couple of possible ways.<br />
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One possible manifestation of this inferiority complex could be seen in an underlying embarrassment of Christ. Now it could be that we do think Christ is cool. After all, he died, rose again, and secured our eternal salvation - that's pretty cool. But then again, he was born a poor baby, rumored to be the bastard child of an unchaste Mary and and a carpenter named Joseph. He was from the town of Nazareth and "nothing good comes from Nazareth." He spent years wondering the streets, preaching to nobodies, had no home, no official title, and died a criminal's death leaving behind a small band of followers made up of fishermen, terrorists, unscrupulous businessmen and some women who held no position in society. He isn't flashy. As far as we know, he was no great musician, no great literary works attributed to Him (and no smart Alec needs to say, "um, the Bible"), no grand athletic feats, no great military conquest, nor was he a great political leader. In the end, he was a homeless preacher who washed feet. Not exactly the cool hero. <br />
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A second manifestation of this inferiority complex could be that we are embarrassed by the fact that we simply are not really like Christ. As odd as it maybe, Christ is highly regarded even among non-Christians. Unfortunately, the followers of Christ are not always so highly regarded. Perhaps it is the case that we are simply ashamed that we know who Christ is and yet we as His followers often seem to barely resemble Him. Perhaps we are embarrassed that for as much as we want to look like Christ, we also very much want to look like our neighbor. We want the cool house, the cool car, and the cool clothes. We want to shop at the cool stores and eat at the cool restaurants. So we look to those who appear to maintain a strong Christian lifestyle but also appear to have worldly success. We look to those who are cool in both their Christianity and in the world. We hope that by association the world will see that just because we don't live up to the standards of Christ there is Tebow who is able to excel in what the world thinks is cool while also maintaining a high degree of Christianity. He's cool and he is one of us. So you see, Christians can be cool athletes, cool musicians, cool political leaders, cool businessmen, cool actors, and cool writers. We can be cool and be Christian, just see Tebow.<br />
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Now however it may manifest itself, the root cause of this inferiority complex may simply be that we as Christians have yet to really understand that Christ not only is the hero but that He literally turned upside-down the definition of hero. Jesus showed us that the real hero is the servant. Beyond that a hero is a servant to the most vulnerable and the most socially outcast. The hero is the one who quietly serves the food at the soup kitchen. The hero is the one who gives up everything to work in the slums of Calcutta. The hero is the one who week after week strives to minister to a congregation and to deliver faithful sermons to those congregations regardless of size (this is here for us ministers who have inferiority complexes toward the "famous" ministers like <a href="http://www.brookhills.org/new/pastor.html">Platt</a>, <a href="http://www.francischan.org/">Chan</a>, <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/authors/john-piper">Piper</a>, and <a href="http://rickwarren.org/">Warren</a>). The hero is the parent who stays up all night with their sick child. The hero is the neighbor who anonymously provides toys for their neighbors' children at Christmas knowing that the parents have been out of work. Now before anyone asks how do I not know that Tebow does do these things, let me just say that I don't. However, I am pretty sure that the reason thousands of Tebow jerseys sold was not because the guy worked in a soup kitchen. And to be honest they weren't sold because he was a great NFL quarterback. They were sold because he was a great college quarterback, who played in the NFL and who also proudly Tebowed after every touchdown. <br />
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We look to Tebow to save us from this feeling of inferiority. We need the Founding Fathers to not only be brilliant political minds but Christian politicians. We need mainstream accepted musicians and we pray for more miniseries like <a href="http://www.history.com/shows/the-bible">The Bible</a> so we can hold up our heads high and say, "Wow, that was the highest rated show on TV. The Bible is cool and so are we." Can you just imagine, how cuckoo we would be if LeBron James came out and said he is a Christian. Oh sure we would be happy that he was saved but we also couldn't wait until his new Nike's came out with a Jesus fish right above the swoosh!<br />
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P.S. Just for the record. I like Tebow. I think he is a stand up guy. I don't own a Tebow jersey. searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30510220.post-10521348344930849142013-09-01T17:37:00.001-04:002013-09-01T17:43:47.510-04:00Say a Prayer for the Ways of Men...An Answer(?) to the Syrian Situation<br />
I'll be honest, I don't really understand the complexities of the situation in Syria. I also feel a huge lack of trust in the government (all branches - all parties) as well as a huge lack of trust in the media (whether CNN, NBC, FOX, CBS, etc.) to really believe much of what any of them are saying. All I really know is that there are people suffering. Unfortunately I don't know what the answer is to ending this and I'm not sure if anyone else does either. If we intervene, will we really help or make things worse? If we don't intervene though, the suffering of the people of Syria is sure to continue. I'm not going to pretend to have an answer. What I am going to do is to offer this song by the late Mark Heard that has been on my mind the past couple of days. Perhaps in it we find the only real answer: "Say a prayer for the ways of men..."<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/m2oSTB_tXjE" width="459"></iframe><br />
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I wish that the ways of men were the same as the ways of God,<br />
How is it so our thick little hearts leave the narrow path for the broad?<br />
Leave the narrow path for the broad?<br />
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We could fly on the wings of eagles, we could see with the eyes of love,<br />
We could laugh with a childlike lack of concern, for the world would have nothing to fear of.<br />
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But fear, we have plenty, and countless are the ways that we deceive,<br />
A peace can be heard on the breath of each morning, by evening the widows will grieve,<br />
By evening the widows will grieve.<br />
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So, sing…sing a song for the ones who mourn,<br />
Light a candle for the world war torn,<br />
Find hope in the Lord if your soul is worn,<br />
And say a prayer for the ways of men,<br />
Say a prayer for the ways of the men.<br />
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Oh, you wandering souls that are huddled against the harsh wind,<br />
It does no good railing at the evil gale,<br />
Men have died while the devil grin,<br />
Men have died while the devil grin.<br />
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So take courage, you pilgrim kind, when the good that you do is mocked,<br />
For the day, it will come when the proud will fall and the ground that they walk on will be rocked,<br />
And the ground that they stand on will be rocked.<br />
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Sing…sing a song for the ones who mourn,<br />
Light a candle for the world war torn,<br />
Find hope in the Lord if your soul is worn,<br />
And say a prayer for the ways of men,<br />
Say a prayer for the ways of the men.<br />
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Sing…sing a song for the ones who mourn,<br />
And say a prayer for the ways of men,<br />
Say a prayer for the ways of men,<br />
Say a prayer for the ways of men,<br />
Say a prayer for the ways of men.searchingforjazzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14891701130221437448noreply@blogger.com0