Friday, March 26, 2010

Token Gifting is the Mechanism

Stephen Baldwin of the famous “Baldwin Brothers” Hollywood clan is a veteran actor who has starred in over 60 films and TV shows. He is no stranger to the Hollywood life of glitz, glamour and the public eye.

In 2003, he had an experience that changed his life forever. He became Born Again Christian, giving his life to Jesus Christ. Over the next few years, he became very vocal about his faith, using his spotlight to boldly preach the gospel. However, because of this convictions it has caused him the loss of many jobs and the most recently, a highly publicized bankruptcy.

He has been publicly ridiculed and insulted by people who think that he has been abandoned by God. A simple search through the internet will reveal that people not only mock Stephen, but mock God.

In response to this (with the permission of Stephen's ministry President Daniel Southern) we have established RestoreStephenBaldwin.org. A privately funded and managed website. Our vision is to see Stephen Baldwin publicly restored in front of millions. Stephen's platform will increase allowing him to reach even more people with the Gospel and God will get all of the glory. Publicly.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Show Them You're Nuts

Calendar Fundraising

A nude calendar is certainly not appropriate fundraising for all groups but there is a growing number of organizations who have determined that they can raise funds with this eye-opening alternative and have a little fun at the same time. The idea here is to create a calendar based on photographs of people that are nude, but have some well placed object blocking their “naughty bits”. This fundraiser works particularly well for local public organizations, especially those with a light-hearted attitude.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

All Good Dogs?

Pet Care Service

Many people in the U.S. — perhaps 20 million to 40 million — believe there will be a Second Coming in their lifetimes, followed by the Rapture. In this event, they say, the righteous will be spirited away to a better place while the godless remain on Earth.

But what will become of all the pets?

Bart Centre, a retired retail executive in New Hampshire, says many people are troubled by this question, and he wants to help. He started a service called Eternal Earth-Bound Pets that promises to rescue and care for animals left behind by the saved.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Bzzzzz

Buzzword Bingo


It's Board meeting time again; here's the latest Buzzword Bingo.

If you're not happy with the sheet that you're initially presented, click Reload until you get a card that looks like a winner.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Farm With Your Friends

What Is A Farmville Community Growing Project?

A Farmville growing project is a unique and rewarding way for Farmville participants to raise money to fund food security programs - a long-term solution to the problem of world hunger - in villages in the developing world.

A typical project involves a group of people getting together online to farm a virtual plot of land. Once harvested, the crop is converted to cash which is donated to the Food Resource Bank to supply real seeds, tools, drip irrigation, animals and instruction to actual villagers who work to create community gardens, wells, herds, etc., that will sustain them long-term.

Organizing a successful community growing project takes a committed group of volunteers - land, some creative fundraising and publicity, and lots of good, honest work!

Despite the challenges, community growing projects have tremendous benefits. You'll feel a sense of achievement and build community spirit. You'll gain a new appreciation for farming, learn about food security issues and work together with many others to achieve a common goal: helping hungry people in the developing world know the dignity and pride of feeding themselves.

Most importantly, you will help reduce world hunger by using the talents you have been blessed with and encouraging others to contribute their talents as well.

What Shall We Grow?

The choice is entirely up to you. If you're willing to share and the crop can be sold, we're willing to do what we can to utilize the resources you provide. Climate, crop rotation, availability of seed and the value you'll get on delivery will help you determine what to grow. In the Midwest, corn and soybeans are the most popular, but we've also had pumpkins, ornamental gourds and shrubs, hay, winter wheat and even beef cattle!

Getting Started

Growing projects are not the responsibility of the pastor. The pastor can help identify potential leaders, add his or her spiritual blessing and endorsement, and then become a "cheerleader" for the effort. A leader is needed to convene a group of like-minded people who have a passion for overcoming world hunger. The initial organizer may or may not become the eventual project chair, but is the catalyst for organizing the group. This group soon structures into an ad-hoc leadership committee. There should be a chairperson, a secretary, a treasurer, and someone to handle publicity and community relations. Inclusion of other farmers, people with farming backgrounds, general business people, agribusiness people, and community "thought leaders" is useful. However, wherever "two or three are gathered together" with God's help, a lot can happen!

It is the committee's responsibility to determine the structure, size and scope of the project. Planning all aspects of the project as early in the crop year as possible is highly recommended.

The structure your project takes will be unique to your community. Some of our past projects have been:
  • organized by a single church or a group of churches
  • organized by a group of farmers
  • as small as 10 acres or well over 200 acres
  • a collective effort, involving everyone in a community
  • a "twinning" project between a rural and urban or suburban community
Foods Resource Bank will also help. We are available to meet with you and your group, in person or by telephone, to provide support in the form of information or ideas and share stories with you about previous projects.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Matthew 18

Lesson Learned

It all started when Mark and his wife Glenda decided it was time to start taking the kids to church. The first Sunday they had attended in a long time, the kid's Sunday School lesson was on the subject of forgiveness from Matthew 18:21,22;

"Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

"When we heard what the Sunday School lesson was about we got all excited," said mother Glenda. "We thought that perhaps this would encourage the kids to start loving and forgiving each other more."

But the Ellisons were wrong. Upon hearing the lessons, younger brother Jared decided to take the verse literally, specifically where Peter asks about forgiving one's "brother." Now he never intends to forgive his sister ever again.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Could it Be?

Pat Robertson on Chile Earthquake

Pat Robertson, the conservative Christian televangelist and host of the 700 Club said that the 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Chile this week was the result of a pact.

Monday, March 01, 2010

The Point is Simple

Christianity Isn't Jesus' Fault

The point is simple: Jesus didn't found Christianity. He never intended to start a religion or be the object of its devotion. Followers of Jesus took his revolutionary social movement in a direction he never intended. Sadly, what we know today as "Christianity" and "Church" are far removed from the visionary ideas promoted by Jesus two thousand years ago.

Institutional religion is the greatest threat to the modern world. And Christianity, like other faiths, has been the source of much division and exclusion — something completely opposed to the radical inclusivity Jesus advocated.