Headlines and Testimonies - Words from Leonard Sweet

Ok, so i missed a day blogging, in my 7 x 7 campaign, but who is noticing? So to make up, i'll do two today. here is number one. some words from leonard sweet i hear passed on from andy mcquity at irving bible church while listening to their pod cast. Good stuff. follow the link to see the whole quote.

in speaking of getting something done, or fanning the flame of gods purpose in your life, leonard sweet offers the following.

One of our students received an appointment from a bishop, and the studentdid not feel the placement exactly suited his abilities.I overheard him complaining about it to another student, and then the otherstudent said, "You know, the world's a better place because Michelangelo didnot say, 'I don't do ceilings.' "Her comment stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to admit she was right.If you and I are going to be faithful to the ministry God is calling us to,then we had better understand that. I reflected on the attitudes of keypeople throughout the Scriptures and the history of the church.The world's a better place because a German monk named Martin Luther did notsay, "I don't do doors." (read more follow link below).

Headlines and Testimonies - Words from Leonard Sweet

17 year old changing the world and follow up from yesterdays micro finance story

A Teen in Mozambique--Clinton Global Initiative 2007 This is an incredible story of a 17 year old in Massachusetts who is on a campaign to change the world. He's also the kind of kid who, when he was 13, instructed friends and family to donate money to a nongovernment organization called VillageReach, in lieu of bar mitzvah gifts.

I'll let you read the story (here) but the point i want to make is. One person can change the world; in this case a teenager.

1. get over yourself
2. give of yourself
3. go beyond yourself
4. leave a legacy

SUCCESS!! Lun Chanthy got her loan fully funded! 40 philanthropic would be social, venture capitalist helped her secure her air compressor and tire inventory. Join me and pray for her futhered success and that of her family. For more about this visit http://www.kiva.org/.

Name: Lun Chanthy
Location: Prey Veng Province, Cambodia
Activity: Vehicle Repairs
Loan Requested: $1,000.00
Repayment Term:
18 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use: To purchase an air compressor and tire inventory.

Mrs. Lun Chanthy, age 23, is a housewife who takes care of her two young children. Her husband works as a vehicle tire repairman. In order to expand his business and meet customer demand, she would like to borrow $1,000 to purchase an air compressor to pump tires and invest in a stock of tires to sell to his customers. They expect the expanded business will bring in $10 per day in revenue. They will use the extra income to continue to invest in the growth of the business and to save money for their children’s education.

Micro-Finance; the new way to teach people to fish

Micro finance is not a new concept. It’s been around since the first teenager borrowed money from his dad for a night on the town. But today micro finance is a way to, in part, help equalize and in some ways redistribute wealth in the world and teach people a way out of poverty.

It goes like this. Most Americans have a couple of expendable bucks at the end of the month. Sometimes well give of that surplus to a local charity or church or even sponsor a child in a foreign country who needs food and medical attention. There is another option gaining traction today; micro finance.
What micro finance as a concept does is to provide small loans for small business start ups. Most people in underdeveloped countries are unable to obtain small loans to further their business or family development. If there is micro credit available, it is offered at exorbitant interest rates. Here is an example from the Kiva website. Lun Chanthy is a 23 year old house wife who lives in Cambodia and takes care of her two young children.

Her husband works as a vehicle tire repairman. In order to expand his business and meet customer demand, she would like to borrow $1,000 to purchase an air compressor to pump tires and invest in a stock of tires to sell to his customers. They expect the expanded business will bring in $10 per day in revenue. They will use the extra income to continue to invest in the growth of the business and to save money for their children’s education.


She currently has $175.00 towards her goal raised by kind hearted souls (like you and I) whom she will probably never meet. By helping people like Mrs. Chanthy we can change the world and help her forever change her family tree!

There are several groups that do that and there are links below to help you begin your journey.

Rob Bell in a Whittenburg Door interview says of micro finance…”…there are huge things going on. Like micro-finance. I was in Rwanda—essentially you take someone in poverty and give them a couple of bucks so they can start a business. We met a woman who started a business, built a house, fed her family and her business was now self-sustaining and growing—on a $40 dollar loan. A Western church gave this woman forty bucks and look what she’s done. Economically speaking, that’s one of the hopes of the world right now. We have more money than we know what to do with. American churches have more concentration of wealth than any time in history in a world with massive poverty. But some are exploring with micro financing, working with ground churches and trying things that could help save our world.”

You can now be your own venture capitalist!

Micro-Finance Handbook
World Relief
Info from Wikipedia
Great Organization doing MF

answer the call.

What are you good at and what is your life purpose? Sometimes it is referred to as a “calling”. When I was growing up a common tongue in cheek phrase was used when someone did something very odd, very good. Usually an adult to a kid, after he jumped a car on his skateboard or something equally death deifying, “maybe you missed your calling”.

A calling could also mean, your purpose in life. I mean we are all put here for way more than just to turn oxygen into carbon dioxide and then become worm food, we were made to live. One way to live life to the fullest is by finding who you are, doing what you are good at, having a great time doing it and changing the world while you are at it. Talk about your win, win.

First a funny story, then a quiz; both for the purpose of discovering your calling.

A group of animals got together in the forest one day and decided to start a school. There was a rabbit, a bird, a squirrel, a fish, and an eel. They formed a board of education and tried to create a curriculum.

The rabbit insisted that burrowing in the ground be in the curriculum. The fish insisted on swimming. The squirrel insisted that perpendicular tree climbing be included, and the bird wanted flying.

They put all these courses together and wrote a curriculum guide. Then they insisted that all of the animals take all of the subjects.

Although the rabbit was getting an A in burrowing, perpendicular tree climbing was a real problem for him; he kept falling over backwards. Pretty soon he became brain damaged from these falls, and he couldn’t burrow well any more. He found that instead of making an A in burrowing, he was making a C. And, of course, he always made an F in perpendicular climbing.

The bird was really beautiful at flying, but when it came to burrowing in the ground, he couldn’t do it so well. He kept breaking his beak and wings. Pretty soon he was making a C in flying as well as an F in burrowing. And he had a very bad time with perpendicular tree climbing.

The squirrel was terrific at perpendicular tree climbing, but was so afraid of the water that he failed swimming altogether.

The fish was easily the best in swimming class, but he wouldn’t get out of the water to come to any of the other classes.

The valedictorian of the class was a mentally retarded eel who did everything in a halfway fashion. But the teachers were happy because everybody was taking all the subjects in their broad-based educational curriculum.

(From Everything You’ve Heard is Wrong by Tony Campolo, Dallas: Word, 1992, pg. 130)

1. Look up calling in the dictionary and write the definition below.

2. Now ask 2 or 3 people what they think a “calling” is.

3. No look up at least 30 references in a concordance of the word calling.

4. Categorize the above words by context. For example, find a couple of common denominators and list each verse in that category.

5. List 10 verses that particularly speak to you. Also say why

6. Read the story of Samuel’s calling. I Samuel 1-3.

7. How was Samuel called?

8. Why do you think Samuel was called?

9. Why do you think God calls some people in very intense ways and some not?

10. Are you called?

11. What is/are the most important thing(s) about a calling?

12. Describe your calling?

13. How personal or specific is it?

14. What can I do to help you in your calling (ie help you determine if you are called, help you understand the specifics of your calling, help you get to the next step of your calling, etc.)

15. What is your next step to fulfilling this call?

God itched my foot.

God itched my foot.
May 25, 2007 (started)
October 12, 2007 (finished)

Tonight my daughter learned there was no Santa clause. No biggie, she’s six. She also learned there was no Easter bunny, but she already had her doubts. We didn’t mean to rock her world, she is very inquisitive and fairly smart, so it was only a matter of time.

So, after a few minutes more, she dropped the bomb.

Is god real? Ouch, shot through the heart? not the question parents want to hear, but I do understand. My wife talked her through all the logic that a six year old could understand, and reasoned with her like a great mother would do. This whole thing transpired during the mommy daughter night time ritual, which I was not part of. After Jeanne did all the damage control she thought she could, daddy was called in to bat clean up. I loved it. I love teachable moments. I love dissonance. I knew we had an opportunity. I knew it would be fun.

I had one thing on my mind; to get her to understand that God is different than Santa or the Easter bunny. I understand God’s sovereignty and he wants to reveal himself to his people. I rested in that fact.

I don’t do real well with kids; I mean, I love my daughter but babies, toddlers and elementary aged little people scare me. I have to try too hard to tone down language and concepts. So sometimes with Sophia, when I’m up against a tough concept, knowing that we’ll have many more moments in which we’ll be able to unpack the existence of God, the Easter bunny, big foot and extra terrestrials, I settle for foreshadowing. I’ve also learned throughout the years that I don’t have to go to bat for God every time. So….

I came in to Sophia’s room confident and anticipating an adventure, wherein which we would all win. I had one point to make and a ball to toss into God’s court. I said “sweetie, what’s going on?”

“Well if Santa isn’t real, maybe God isn’t real either.”

We talked a bit about historical fact and categorical differences (in 6 year old understanding, I think) and I tried my best to get my point across; God is real and you will know in your heart that he is.

“How can I know?”

“You just will, he really wants you to know him and will do whatever it takes to show you; maybe tonight, maybe later. He will show himself to you and you will know for certain, that it was God and that God exists.”

“But how will I know?”

“You just will. And right now were gonna pray and ask God to reveal himself to you.”

I prayed a prayer that would be appropriate for the situation. When we said amen, I saw a glowing face of amusement and astonishment; something was visibly afoot.

“What sweetie?”

“God itched my foot.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well when you were praying, I had a bad itch in my foot. I was going to scratch it, but I decided to wait until after you were done praying. But in the middle of the prayer I felt god itch my foot and showed me he is real.”

Several months later, the legend of the itchy foot continues. I’m not about to let that one leave the Jones’ tribal story book. And speaking of foreshadowing, if she ever questions the things of god, she’ll know, undeniably….

God itched her foot.

God is real, and he still scratches us where we need it.

7 days, 7 blogs

the wisdom of emerson wields us this, "the years will teach us what the days will never know." well, in todays speed frenzy we call the day, i've adapted emerson to my week of blogging, ah hum.....

"the week of daily blogging will teach me what the inconsistent months of blogging will never attempt to sort out for me." ok, so it isnt as pity as emerson, but today i'm going for more tongue in cheek than fingers on chin, soaking in wisdom.

so, wish me luck and insight as i attempt to expel wisdom, inspiration and world changing insight in the next 7 days my 7n7 experiment rolls out.

i have a couple of thoughts in mind, but really, i want to be aware that i'm doing this and crack open something fresh more than calculated. some things i am currently thinking about that may surface this week; sabbath, death (a close friends dad died yesterday), the value of 1, green, diet and i'm sure life will reveal some additions.

i'm not sure who reads or who enjoys this, but if you hear something that works for ya this next week, give me a shout.

rawd