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News, Information and Ideas on how to deal with hearing loss in a hearing world. Plus a few other topics!
Have you thought about where your money is going for Christmas this year?
For those of you that don't 'believe' in this kind of stuff, feel free to stop reading now. I wouldn't want to offend anyone or subject you to a bad start to your day....
My family does not go to a particular church every Sunday. We used to! When the kids were little. Once they all headed out on their own or went off to college, Brian and I decided to put our Sundays to other uses. For those of you that are not in agreement with this, I understand! We've decided that we don't need a 'church home' in order to be spiritual. And, the last few churches that we attended on a regular basis just didn't seem to fit our needs. So, we opted, at least for now, to have our own church service between the two of us whenever we want to. After all, we tend to have a religious spirit within us for most of every day. (I can see the comments coming now on this one...)
We are also lucky in that we have a neighbor that is a minister. We've lived next door to Jan and Mike for the last 17 years. They have always opened the door to us whenever we decide to show up at their church. I must admit that their church is one of the few that you don't feel 'guilty' when you leave after the service. As far as I can see, there is no political agenda and the people that attend are there for one thing. To have a closer relationship with God.
This week, their Church did something that was quite interesting. They decided to eat only what those that are in the grip of poverty as well as living in other countries would consider a normal diet. I admire the ones that hung in there for all 5 days. Rice, Beans, ect., was what was on the menu. They also worked with the under resourced here in our area. Mike was nice enough to send us the daily emails that were also being sent to the members of his church. I am including one below for those of you looking to use your Christmas money in ways other than supporting the commercialism aspect of Christmas. I for one, did not know of all of the resources here in Lake Country that spend all of their time helping others.
All 5 of the emails can be accessed through the church website if you wish to read more of what this group of people did for a week. Here's just one of Mikes' emails that we received this week.
On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 7:57 AM, Mike & Jan Frans <futureinhim2006@yahoo.com> wrote:
You're almost to the half-way point...way to go! By this point, it is probably starting to sink in...even though this week's challenge is more like a fire drill than the real thing that our under-resourced brothers and sisters face day in and day out...with no end to the 5 days...or even 5 years. A missionary friend of mine who learned that we were going through this 5-day challenged mentioned Sunday evening that for 5 years he had lived on oats and sunflower seeds as a regular diet...5 years, not 5 days...in Burkino Faso!
Yesterday, Steve and I took a tour through the Lake Country Caring center in Hartland, the place that Eileen Mooers founded 19 years ago, and you should see it now! The place was bustling with folks bringing in their donations, volunteers who were sorting through the donations and organizing them, and those who were registering the under-resourced who were coming in and waiting their turn to look for and fill up a shopping cart with needed clothes, blankets, toiletries, etc. You should see the look on the faces of those who were going through the store to select needed items for their family...no charge to them. It was humbling to witness not only the under-resourced, but the many volunteers who were working their hearts out today! One Grace Church member signed up to volunteer today! Why not join a tour this Thursday about 10:00?! Just a chance to see the other side of our world...right in our own community!
After touring, for a moment I began to think again about lunch...rice and beans...again! Then this verse came to mind (not the original intent of the verse, but it applies)...The Lord is my portion! Lamentations 3:24.
Prayer for the week: Lord, break my heart with the things that break the heart of God.
Today's Scripture: Matthew 25:36--"I needed clothes and you clothed me..."
Today's prayer: : Lord, give them this day their daily clothes and meet their basic needs...especially their need to be clothed with Your righteousness!
Food for thought: One lady wrote me today and told me that after Sunday's message preparing us for the 5-Day Challenge, she and her family went home and gutted 2 closets and took their extras to Lake Country Caring! What if we all did something similar! And if you want to do something totally out of the box this Christmas...this will blow you away! Several companies like Columbia Sportswear, Reebok and other corporations have teamed up with World Vision this Christmas and will multiply what ever donation you make for clothes...brand-new clothes for children who live in rags, often unprotected by the cold or by the heat...they will multiply your donation this year times 14! That's right, if you give $1000, they will contribute $14,000 worth of clothes to children and families. $100 will purchase $1400 worth! $50 will buy $700 worth, and $35 will buy $490 worth of new clothing! Now...that's some food for thought that others can wear! Think I'm exaggerating? Go to www.worldvisiongifts.org and skim their catalog. And that's only one need to shop for! I can see it now...men and women going on line and shopping for such deals! Go for it! Get your Christmas shopping done this year from the comfort of your home, save gas, save time, let the snow fly...and this Christmas save a life!
His giving today through you!
Mike Frans
You can access the others by going to the Church website located at: http://www.futureinhim.com/It really was amazing to see how far some of these organizations can stretch an American dollar. For the local charities in our area that would like to let others know of their work and needs, the Journal Sentinel is publishing a 'booklet' for the 2009 Holiday season. Details can be found here: http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/65776232.htmlHave a great week!Copyright 2009 Tami Klink
Tami: When we are in WI we go to a small ELCA church in Saxeville. When we are in AZ we go to a Methodist church. Our background is UCC and LCMS. You go to where you are fed, labels be damned. This Sunday, I grabbed an amazing piece of literature from the ELCA about ways to provide help to those in the world that have needs that are so very basic, we should hang our heads in shame for not helping out! The website is www.elca.org/goodgifts.
I would hope that there are some folks that would sense the need and respond to it.
Ref - Thanks for the additional info on another great way to help those that need it. I know that over the years, while our budget for 'gifts' has decreased, we have made a bigger effort to support organizations that help those in need. I think most of us have enough 'stuff' already.
Have a great week!
Tami: Great story and information. My husband has donated as much time as he can to our local food pantry. Christmas is a very busy time of year, but the community should remember that some people need help more than just around Christmas. Continue to donate throughout the year if you can. The Hartland Food Pantry can always use help and donations.
We also help out at our school with a "giving tree" run by a very wonderful woman (I won't mention her name, since I have not contacted her about OK'ing it, and she likes to remain "behind the scenes".) The giving tree has gift wishes for the needy instead of ornaments. People take a gift wish, buy the person's request (people are not identified by name, but by a number), bring it to the school, and they are distributed throughout the Hartland Community come Christmas (I also wish to say "kudos" to you, Tami, for actually using the term "Christmas" and not holiday - you are bold and politically incorrect - you go, girl!). Such requests include gift cards, clothing, toys, etc. and our parents/teachers/students always come through and fulfill ALL the hundreds of wishes on the tree. We also have a huge food drive which I help out on as needed once a year.
Unlike your family, we still attend a church and our raising our kids as Catholics. Once our kids are on their own, they are free to make their own choices in that matter. Unlike many on these blog sites seem to believe, I am not a Bible-banging, speaking-in-tongues, religious fanatic. I was raised a Catholic and tend to go to church very sporadically. We feel we live our lives in a caring, compassionate manner, and church is one additional aspect that adds to our lives. We believe in God. That is our perogative. And if you do not feel it necessary to go to chuch, that is yours. I respect that, and you present your reasons why quite well. Nice post. Early wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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