Jesus Greater Than...

Came across this site a few months back but didn't really explore it until today. www.jesusgreaterthan.org is a new organization that raises awareness to issues they believe critical.

We are trying to answer the cries of the oppressed by taking action.

They accomplish this through various campaigns. For instance, all the proceeds of Jesus>Poverty go to Compassion International. Jesus>War funds go into a special scholarship for children who have lost parents in war. Jesus>Thirst to build wells in Kenya.

I love the concept of it all but on a personal level it reminds me that Christ is greater than anything I could ever face.

Jesus>Fear
Jesus>Death
Jesus>Sin
Jesus>Failure
Jesus>Hurt

Be honest, what is it in your life that you need to be reminded that Jesus is greater than?

Santa's Ghetto

I know it's a few weeks old but I couldn't pass this one up. Banksy and friends are at it again this Christmas. In what they are calling "probably the world's most low-concept art event," they are showing in one of the most unlikely places on the planet... a former chicken shop on Manger Square in Bethlehem opposite the Church of the Nativity. This puts them one mile behind the security wall in a part of the world ravaged by conflict, poverty and dust.

Of course, Santa's Ghetto is making a statement but according to the artists "it’s obviously not the job of a loose collection of idiot doodlers to tell you what’s right or wrong about this situation, so you’re advised to do further reading yourself (this month’s National Geographic has an excellent article all about Bethlehem)."

In addition to the "show," many urban art pieces can be seen around Bethlehem and especially on the Wall. Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this is the fact that these incredibly well-known/identity-unknown artists are selling their art with all proceeds going to the children affected most by this conflict. "Every shekel made in the store will be used on local projects for children and young people. Not one cent will go to any political groups, governmental institutions or, in fact, any grown-ups at all."

World AIDS Day - December 1

One in three people with HIV are undiagnosed.
39.5 million people living with HIV worldwide
37 million adults
17.7 million women
2.3 million children under 15

New HIV cases in 2006:
4.3 million total new cases
3.8 million adults
530,000 children under 15

HIV-related deaths in 2006:
2.9 million total deaths
2.6 million adult deaths
380,000 deaths among children under 15

All figures from UNAIDS AIDS Epidemic Update 2006.

Read an article concerning this issue by Rick Warren.

Needs for Sale

I came across Wants for Sale a couple of months ago and was struck by how creative the concept was.  Basically, Wants for Sale is a webpage that a 20-somethings couple in New York created to get people to buy things for them.  Artist Justin Gignac and his girlfriend, Christine, paint the object they want on canvas and sell you the piece for exactly what the item would cost.  For example, a Nintendo Wii costs $270.92.  So, for $270.92 you can buy a painting from them of a Nintendo Wii and they turn around and buy an actual Wii.  Though Wants for Sale may have been a clever scheme to get stuff they wanted, it wasn't all about greed and Guitar Hero. Wants for Sale also had its soft side with paintings aimed at donating money to help kids in both New Orleans and Africa.

It's this thought that drives their newest project, Needs for Sale.  All proceeds go directly to charities they believe in and would like to support but don't have the money.  All of the paintings Justin and Christine sell go to help various causes; for instance, Habitat for Humanity says that a $100 donation buys a front door, so the site has a painting of a front door on sale for $100. Ultimately, the couple hopes to donate between $5,000 and $10,000 to various charitable organizations this Holiday season.

One Laptop Per Child begins Mass Production

Wired writes...

Nicholas Negroponte thinks everyone in the world should have a computer. He even quit his job as director of MIT's Media Lab to make it happen. In 2005, Negroponte founded the nonprofit OLPC with a mission to design, manufacture, and distribute the world's most affordable laptop, priced at less than $100 and aimed at youngsters in the developing world. With moisture- resistant seals and a crash-proof Flash hard drive, the no-frills notebook is sufficiently kid-friendly to last five years — more than enough time to work up the inevitable, pricier upgrade.

FoxNews writes...

The computers were dreamed up as $100 laptops but for now cost $188, and buyers are expected to let children keep the computers and tinker with them at home.

The initial recipients will be children in Uruguay, Peru and Mongolia. Also, beginning Monday, people in North America will be able to buy one for themselves and donate the other to a child overseas through http://www.laptopgiving.org.

Even with mass production beginning later than expected, One Laptop Per Child can claim success on several fronts.

The small yet rugged XOs require low power and can be recharged by hand, have a screen that can be read in full sunlight and boast a user interface designed specially for children.

Expand your vocab and do some good...

Not a huge UN fan, but I came across this several weeks ago and had a lot of fun with it. Through the UN World Food Program and sponsorships from some pretty big hitters (Apple, Office Depot, Coke, etc.) comes FreeRice.com. It's a vocabulary builder site that will donate 10 grains of rice to people in need for every correct answer. Doesn't seem like much but take a look at the totals to see how quickly the site has grown and how much rice has been given away in just a month. It's actually quite addictive and it's free.

Rolling Stone Interview with Bono

The U2 frontman sits down for Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary to talk about the future, activism, and idealism. You have to hit the jump to hear Bono grapple with the question, "If you could only pursue U2 or activism, which would it be?"

Indian 'slave' children found making low-cost clothes destined for Gap

This is a couple of days old but I felt compelled to post it anyway. The reports of slavery in other countries that produce goods for us here in the US continue with this story by The Observer in London. For the past few months, I've been wrestling more and more with my buying habits and not for financial reasons either. But, a moral one...

And, I'm not talking about boycotting a company because it supports some position out there I don't agree with. In my opinion, very little changes from that approach.

It has to do with a simple sense of right and wrong.... just and unjust. There's no way to 100% change your spending habits to know how everything gets made but you can be a more "conscious consumer"... at least know what's going on and think before you buy. Read the excerpt below or the full article and draw your own conclusions about how this should affect you.

The Observer in UK reported Sunday...

Child workers, some as young as 10, have been found working in a textile factory in conditions close to slavery to produce clothes that appear destined for Gap Kids, one of the most successful arms of the high street giant.

Speaking to The Observer, the children described long hours of unwaged work, as well as threats and beatings.

Read the FoxNEWS report here.

Free Documentaries

I know this is a couple years old but I had the opportunity to meet these guys at the SoCal Youth Convention last year. If you haven't seen Invisible Children please watch it today. The trailer is below and you can watch Invisible Children in it's entirety at www.freedocumentaries.org. Great site with a lot of online docs.

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Redeeming our voice...

You need to check out thepassport.org. Like Paul on Mars Hill, Christians should know what's going on in their world and it's our responsibility to stay informed so that we can have an appropriate response. Too many Christians only read "Christian" material and only know what's going on in the church. Religion/Spirituality is only one sphere of influence that shapes culture. We've given away our voice in the other six spheres of influence because we've only focused on the Religion/Spirituality Sphere. So, we've given up our voice in Business... Politics/Government... Education... Media... Art... Entertainment.

The encouraging thing is that there are Christ-followers engaging these other areas. I see a shift in the Body of Christ moving in these spheres... gaining influence... to shape a future culture that God has in mind. The Church... (what an awesome concept... I love the Church) should be the center of culture in all areas... not just the Religion/Spirituality sphere. At a minimum, it starts by all of us taking a personal responsibility to know what's going on in our world so that we can pray... and then act.

China is Getting Ready

In light of the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, Amnesty International is putting out some ads bringing attention to China's human rights issues. I don't agree with everything Amnesty International stands for but these ads are pretty in-your-face. View more ads...

People Shouldn't Be Bought and Sold

I was laying in bed last night with Ben. I read a Veggie Tales book... God Loves Me. Then he prayed... and then I prayed. As I'm laying there holding my son, my mind went to all the children who's existence in our world is the polar opposite. I'm not apologizing for the blessing we have but when the time is right, my son will know about other children in the world that don't have the blessing he has. We are going to teach him to give and pray for those in need... beyond just finishing his meal because there are children starving in Africa. BTW... there really are children starving in Africa.

Anyway... the human trafficking issue is one that is a bit too tough to handle at times. Really hard for me to get my arms around because of how horrendous it is. There was a booth at Catalyst and I came across this organization through Michelle. Click the graphic below and give this organization your full support.

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Catalyst - Session 008

This session started off with an interview with someone from TOMS Shoes. Check it out... for every pair of shoes you buy, they give a pair to a child in Africa. I'm ordering Maria a pair when we get home.

Erwin McManus - He spoke on how we always talk about making history or changing history (that's impossible) but what we really should be focusing on is creating the future. Below are some quotes from his talk.

"We have an improper understanding of our role in the creative process."

"Hitler and Stalin didn't wait for permission to make a difference in history. If the only ones who feel free to create the future are those who are evil then its time for us to understand our role on this planet."

"God didn't create us to live in neutral only reacting to what he does on the planet... We are called to live courageously and to shape and create the future."

"The reason we are here is that we are God's agent in this world for creating the future he has in mind."

Catalyst - Session 004

What a great session! First, we started off with some worship (which has been incredible) but then it got really good (sounds bad I know). We broke three... yes three Guinness World Records today.

1. The Most People Blowing Bubbles at the Same Time
2. The Most Frisbees Thrown at the Same Time
3. The Most Bubbles Being Broken By Flying Frisbees at the Same Time

We took up an offering for the Rwanda Clean Water project. The project is to provide clean drinking water for every child in Rwanda. The average American spends $120 annually on bottled water. For just $4, you can provide clean water for a child in Rwanda for life. Check out the Fermi Project.

Then the speaker... Francis Chan. He pastors Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. You've got to go to the website and check out how they are building their new sanctuary. Instead of spending the $60,000,000 on the campus they were planning, they scrapped the plans so they could give 50% to projects that impact the impoverished. They are building an outdoor (picture church in the rain) amphitheater instead for their main venue.

Anyway... he spoke on... it's hard to describe and sitting here writing it, it sounds so cliche' but in the moment... he spoke on true purpose. The fact that Almighty God... the Creator of the Universe knew me before I was born and that he has set me apart. Not just to work a job but to accomplish his purposes here on earth. We forget that so often and we need to be reminded that this calling we have is from the God of Heaven and Earth. He has called us to speak... to make things better... to bring life... We use the words "high calling" so flippantly to the point that we really don't believe it... it's the cliche' that I fear.

I'm not doing this session justice at all so please... when the CDs come out... go to Catalyst and at least get this session.

So here's what I want... check out the Cornerstone site and give us your thoughts on the outdoor church project and the heart behind it. Write something beside... "I think it's great..."