Releasing Children From Poverty in Jesus' Name

Earlier this year, while reading two of my favorite blogs Shlog and Rocks In My Dryer,-yes I admit it , I'm a guy and I love reading Rocks in My Dryer. :) I learned more about an awesome organization, Compassion International. I had heard of them before and how they helped feed starving children in the world.

Compassion was about to embark on taking a group of bloggers , from around the US, on a mission trip to Uganda , to “live”blog on the conditions while they were there. Some of you may remember me blogging about it in February. Anyway, since that time, God has really continued placing this organization, and these children on my heart. Our family has sponsored a child from Uganda and I have recently signed on to blog monthly on behalf of Compassion International.

The blogging part is exciting for me, because since February,it has been my continual prayer, that God would somehow "use me” in whatever way-big or small-to help these children.

Compassion’s slogan is “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name”, and it is my hope and prayer now that God would use my blogging, to help reach these suffering kids, who are in such great need of basic things that you and I take for granted.

THE #1 NEED IS FOOD!

Currently we are in a Global Food Crisis, the World Food Programme, has called it a “silent tsunami”. This is affecting every family in every nation. Food prices for popular items like rice, wheat and beans have DOUBLED in last year. Though these prices have affected all budgets, it’s the poor who bear the brunt of the inflation. These higher prices are forcing people who normally survive on $1 per day, to spend approximately 80% of their budgets just on food.

As a result, many people, including millions of children, are going hungry. The higher the prices go, the more people will be plunged into poverty. In Bangladesh 95% of the 11,782 children Compassion serves are affected. Many are eating only at the church based center. In Haiti, inflation rates have risen by 40%, pushing up food prices as well. All 60,000 children, served by Compassion in Haiti, have been affected as well.


What is causing the crisis, you might be asking?
· Rising fuel costs-of course!
· Rising food demand from populous nations like India and China
· Natural disasters destroying crop yields, all over the world

HOW WE CAN HELP
Compassion International has launched the Global Food Crisis Fund to bring aid to those who are most adversely affected by the rising food costs. More information is available and donations can be made at
https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/global-food-crisis.htm

Donations to the fund will provide:
· Food vouchers to children
· Seed and Agricultural tools so that families can grow their own food as well as earn extra income
· Supplemental nutrition services offered at Compassion-assisted centers around the world.


Compassion International has set aside WEDNESDAY JUNE 25TH as a day of fasting and prayer to honor the victims of the global food crisis and to pray for them.


OTHER AVAILABLE RESOURCES:
http://blog.compassion.com/a-day-of-fasting-and-prayer
http://blog.compassion.com/the-silent-tsunami/
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/11277
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080601/32614CompassionInternationalPreparesForWorldFoodCrisis.htm
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/compassion.prepares.for.world.food.crisis/19191.htm

1987 WAS A GREAT YEAR..........

Average Income per year $24,350.00

Average Monthly Rent $395.00

Average Price for new car $10,3055.00

1 gallon of gas 89 cents

1 LB of Bacon $1.80

US Postage Stamp 24 cents

Dozen Eggs 65 cents

Popular Films
Three Men and a Baby
Fatal Attraction
Beverly Hills Cop II
Good Morning, Vietnam
The Untouchables
Stakeout
Lethal Weapon
The Witches of Eastwick
The Last Emperor
Wall Street
Dirty Dancing
RoboCop
Moonstruck

Popular Musicians
Michael Jackson with " BAD "
Lionel Richie
Fleetwood Mac
Peter Gabriel
Janet Jackson
Heart
Whitney Houston
Bruce Hornsby and " the Range "
George Michael with " Faith "
Bryan Adams
Bananarama
Aretha Franklin
George Michael
U2 with " With or Without You "

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY.....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LOVEY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAREN!!

Where does time go?
Today our baby girl turned 11 years old!!


It seems like only yesterday she looked like this.....

And here's a couple of pictures from Friday's field trip to the zoo, and her birthday party yesterday.....

Time goes by way to fast...

Happy Birthday to my "Young Lady" who is still and will ALWAYS be "My Little Girl"

Love you Maren

Dad

Easter 2008

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend!

I had a four day weekend, which went by way too FAST. Where does the time go? Days never go by so quickly, when we are at work. :)

Here are some pix from the weekend.

Maren and Josh colored some eggs on Saturday. Will,as I've said in previous posts, is at the age where he can't be photographed doing anything so immature.

But he did come in however, to have his picture taken with his sister and brother.

Joshua being goofy....

My 2 favorite girls........

Saturday evening we had a "Marathon Band Practice" at church, in preparation for the Renee Swope -Proverbs 31 event this coming weekend in Robinson.

Sunday morning, everyone was up early, preparing for church, and searching for their baskets.

I did find out Sunday morning that a phrase that we use to use as kids has taken on a new meaning for our kids. While Maren was searching for her basket, she was very close to where it was hidden. I told her she was hot-meaning close to the basket, however she immediately answered me with...."Well, thank you Daddy!" I had to explain that that was NOT what I meant. :)

Will wasn't too old though ,to still find his Easter Basket, when clothing and candy are involved.


We then were off to church- in case you missed it you can click here and then click on the podcast icon to hear the Easter sermon. After church we were back home and enjoyed a feast complete with ham and all the trimmings, thanks to the Mr. Crock Pot family of 3.

After lunch-a quick family picture, since we were all dressed up....

and then naps for Mom & Dad and then an easter egg hunt,in the snow....

Finally the evening was topped off with a trip to TH to see the movie College Road Trip, which turned out to be a good, clean family movie --which showed the hilarious extremes a father would go to , in order to protect his daughter, who was about to head off to college.

Well, thats a wrap!! Hope you have a great week!

Photos of the Day

OK! I'll admit it, I am a sky/weather freak. Has anyone seen the tv shows where the crazies go to Oklahoma and Kansas in the Spring to chase storms. I would love to do that sometime, and live to tell about it. I would really like to catch a picture of a tornado--from a long, long distance with a telephoto lens of course!

Anyway--I don't know if anyone got a chance to see the sky this afternoon between 4:3o -5:00pm or not, but it was AWESOME!! It seems God provides some of the most breath-taking skies-when I am on my way to work, or on my way home. Many times, I am either in a hurry to get to work and don't have time to pull over and take a picture, or I don't have my camera with me. But tonight as I was coming home I had the time and the camera in hand and took some shots. I thought the sky looked more awesome to the eye, than what came through the lens, but here they are anyway--- take a gander.

Chalking & Tipping

Hasn't the weather been awesome the past few days? I am READY for Spring. It cracks me up how we never see our neighbors during the Winter months-but as soon as the weather gets warm everyone is outside. Yesterday Will, Joshua and cousin Michael had there annual Spring Tractor Tipping Extravaganza. This event takes place in our front yard as Joshua rides his battery powered J Deere around the front yard-like a maniac, while Will and Michael throw any kind of ball that they can get their hands on at him. We do draw the line at baseballs, and softballs by the way. You would think Josh wouldn't be up for this, since he is the target, but he is usually laughing hysterically. If they miss, Joshua likes to run over the balls, which if they are large enough, usually end up tipping the front end of his tractor into the air, and at times flipping him on over backwards. Lots of fun and so far no cracked skulls!! It's even more fun if he can get the tractor down off the ball and keep going.

Josh on the run....

Maren, and cousin Hannah held a little less violent event in our driveway, we deemed the first "Chalkfest" of the year. It wasn't long before everyone joined in the fun on the driveway.

Michael -hamming it up.....

Drawing with chalk can make you strike silly poses....

Maren and her artwork....

An impromptu race.....Best Buddies.......Until............................She takes off with his wheels!!!

And finally.... you're never to old to join in at Chalkfest, Even Will or is that Huck Finn, with the curly hair and pants rolled up got in on the fun--just don't let him know that I snapped this picture. :) or I might be in big trouble--even though he's taller than me now, I can still take him!!

LOVEY-ALL'S I'M SAYIN IS........

We've almost been married for 21 years now, and I have NEVER told you how to wear your hair, but.............I think it is time now........Please go get a HAIRCUT!!!!!