I Love Sunday...

I usually love Sunday mornings. Today, I LOVED my Sunday morning. Listening to our teens share their hearts and what God did in their lives in 30 short hours made it all worth it. I firmly believe in investing in teens no matter how nuts they may make me at times (wasn't I a teen once too?). Why? Because they're not yet over-committed to anything. They've not yet committed to a career, a mortgage, a car payment or a certain life-style. They aren't "too busy" to come up with excuses as to why they can't do this or that - in fact, they think they can do anything. And, they CAN do anything! They're still exploring who they are and who they want to be.

I can't think of a better time to invest in someone's life than when someone is still trying to figure it all out. Besides, when I'm old(er), guess who will be running the country in which I live? I hope we would all consider how we can help our children - and even other people's children - seek out God's plan for their lives. After all, we only have 1 life. And God has a plan for every-1 of us.

This would be our youth & their fearless tribal leaders (thanks, Terry, Dave and Elisabeth - you were awesome!), sitting with all the donations that were collected in our community in less than 2 hours (Area 56 did their part, and 1/4 of this "loot" came from their efforts, too. Thank you Kris and Dean for helping them be part of this. Way to go Area 56'ers...we're very proud of you :o).

The Children's Justice Center, the Road Home, South Valley Sanctuary and the Lion's Club will be receiving these items this week. Thanks, Rebecca, for organizing this drive.

It seemed a little "odd", to say the least, that we ended our Famine with a church-wide dinner, but we did. However, I know that as we filled our bellies, every person in our church was 100% more aware of poverty -related issues in our world, and hopefully, 100% more committed to DO something about it. Well over 1/2 the room last night stood up when asked "How many of you have gone hungry for the past 30 hours?" How inspiring that the overwhelming majority chose to go hungry...so others won't have to. Wow!

Thanks to the many families who brought food to feed our hungry teens. Thank you to Doug H. for taking down and setting back up the sanctuary for all of us. Thanks Stephanie S. and Sandy W. for coordinating the pot-luck, and a big thank you, to Melanie D. who made the "Famine Food" that World Vision and other organizations are bringing to other parts of the world...food that is saving children's lives each and every day. Not sure how many of us tried out the food (I did), but I know we all learned how easy it is to make a difference. Can you imagine if every-1 at SMC did 1 thing for 1 person this year? I can!

So, as this event, and this blog, comes to an end, I'd hope that everyone who has been impacted will prayerfully consider what they can do to make a difference in the lives of children and families in our world. Children who know all too well what it feels like to be hungry...to be lonely...to be sick...to be abandoned...to be lost...to be abused...to be sold into slavery...

None of us can do everything...but we can ALL do something.

• Sponsor a child
• Serve at a food bank
• Organize a food drive
• Become a foster parent
• Adopt a child
• Support a family who will be adopting
  
• Go on a missions trip
• Attend groups and classes about injustice
• Read the The Hole in Our Gospel
  
• Support missionaries (financially & prayerfully)
• Be part of next year's 30 Hour Famine
  

I don't know what God has in store for you - but it's probably bigger than you realize. All you have to do, is ask Him.