Invisible Children
One of the beautiful things about the electronic age is the ease it’s given us in contact our Senators and Representatives. Today I received an email from World Vision:
Did you know that an estimated 250,000 children are exploited in armed conflicts worldwide? These “child soldiers” are forced to serve as combatants, spies, human mine detectors and sex slaves.
You can do something to help end this horrific practice. Join us as we speak out and say “no child soldiers.”
The Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007
Stopping the use of child soldiers begins at home. The United States currently provides military assistance to eight of the nine countries that are reportedly implicated in child soldier usage:
|
 |
|
However, a bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would put restrictions on U.S. military assistance for governments that use child soldiers.
The Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 (S.1175) would curtail U.S. military assistance to governments that fail to take steps to demobilize and stop forcing/recruiting children into the armed forces or government-supported militias. Countries that do take steps to disarm, demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers would be eligible for certain forms of assistance to help professionalize their forces and ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to finance the exploitation of children in armed conflict.
Ask your Members of Congress to support the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007. American tax dollars should not be used to support the exploitation of children as soldiers, and American weapons should not end up in the hands of children.
Thank you for partnering with us as we advocate for children around the world.
God bless,
![[signature]](https://i0.wp.com/media.worldvision.org/shared/rich_sig_new.gif)
Rich Stearns
President, World Vision U.S.
If you haven’t heard of Invisible Children, I urge you to visit their site, watch the movie and donate what you can to their cause. And please, send the message to your reps in Washington. It only takes about 2 minutes.
Hee
This? Just made my day.
Failing in Solitude
Word’s gotten around at church about my application to seminary.
Last week two people mentioned it, then this week four did. I imagine the senior pastor brought it up at the last board meeting, in order to discuss what they would do if I left – whether to look for someone within the church, or to hire outside the congregation. Those that mentioned it to me were excited and positive, but each time someone brought it up, my heart sank. And I’ve had to stop and ask myself why my reaction was what it was.
I’m not trying to keep it a secret. I told the pastor and the ministry committee last fall it could be a possibility. But I really didn’t want anyone to know – and I am remembering now as I type that I did the same thing when I picked up the guitar. I told my dad and four months later I stood in front of the congregation to lead worship with it and everyone was surprised. And I know exactly why I kept the guitar a secret – just like I’m certain of why I didn’t want anyone but the two people I need recommendations from to know about my choice to apply to seminary.
It’s easier to go through failure alone.
The last two weeks I’ve made everyone decision with the thought of leaving Nebraska, while it’s quickly chased by the reminder that I may not get accepted.
The last seven years I’ve spent in ministry were nothing but a roller coaster. I’ve not had one break from doing what I do and that realization’s taken a toll on me. When I first told my pastor about the possibility of attending seminary, he gave me a book called The Leadership Baton and he asked me to think about who could take my place. So I’ve had months to think about it, and I’ve tested some potential people and this much I know: ministry is hard. It’s not for everyone, but there are few things more rewarding.
Failing to get into seminary is a possibility, and I’m trying to brace myself for it. It took several years for me to work up the courage to take this step and I’m scared to death if I get to take the next one. But I don’t know what I’ll do next if I fail.
Nothing Left to Lose
This is how I feel tonight.
Something’s in the air tonight
The sky’s alive with a burning light
You can mark my words something’s about to break
And I found myself in a bitter fight
While you’ve held my hand through the darkest night
Don’t know where you’re coming from but you’re coming soon
To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I’ve ever known or seen
Come on and we’ll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we’ll try, one last time
I’m off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there’s nothing left to choose
And here we go there’s nothing left to lose
So I packed my car and I headed east
Where I felt your fire and a sweet release
There’s a fire in these hills that’s coming down
And I don’t know much but I found you here
And I can not wait another year
Don’t know where you’re coming from but you’re coming soon
To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I’ve ever known or seen
Come on and we’ll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we’ll try, one last time
I’m off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there’s nothing left to choose
And here we go there’s nothing left to lose
I can still hear the trains out my window
From Hobart Street to here in Nashville
I can still smell the pomegranates grow
And I don’t know how hard this wind will blow
Or where we’ll go
Come on and we’ll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we’ll try, one last time
I’m off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there’s nothing left to choose
And here we go there’s nothing left to lose
-Mat Kearney
Here is Mat’s testimony:
Pick-a-little, talk-a-little
I was shopping at Target earlier and walking towards the check-out I spotted two women, probably in their earlier 40s. They were impeccably dressed and adorned with nice jewelry, both had the latest style of haircut; the epitome of a woman secure and happy with herself. They were standing in the children’s clothing division chatting. And while I didn’t hear anything they said, I knew what they were doing. They weren’t just chatting, they were gossiping.
I was struck by how their eyebrows were arched, the faces animated in disbelief, their hands gestures exaggerated. But mostly I was stuck by what looked to me like judgment in their eyes. I saw one shake her head- it seemed in disappointment – while the other one continued to share what she knew.
Why do I knew these two women were gossiping? Because I’ve been there. I’ve done it countless times before. I’ve spoke with animation on my face and judgment in my eyes and voice as I shared a juicy piece of gossip about a mutual acquaintance. I mostly do it at work – where I have no strong Christian influence to keep me in check. (That is no excuse.) Thankfully I don’t work with too many people, so there isn’t much to gossip about.
The thing is, I know why gossip is often so tempting to us. It’s because we are constantly comparing ourselves to others, and when someone slips up when we haven’t, it feels good. It makes us feel better about ourselves – it’s almost about justifying our existence. If she’s busy doing that, then I’m good. I haven’t done anything near as awful.
One of the great things about being an adult – and a child of God – is that we’ve learned who we are. Many of us learn from our immature behavior and don’t do it again. We grow out of it. There are many others that don’t, of course, and these are the ones who who allow these thoughts to plague them, and fool themselves into thinking the only way to feel better is by picking and talking about someone else. But it doesn’t work that way. Never seek happiness in others, because you will always end up unhappy. You can only find happiness and a true sense of who you are in one thing – Christ.
I must remember to not discount my tongue as being just a “small” part of me – but a part of me that affects the rest of my soul, mind and spirit – and effects so many others around me.
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
-James 3: 5-10
Stephanie Nelson 