Monthly Archives: March 2010

Sippin’ for South Africa

Posted on
11

Remember my friend Alece? Well, she’s the Founder and President of Thrive Africa – an organization that exists to… let’s put it in their words:

Thrive Africa’s vision is to disciple Believers, equip leaders, and strengthen the Church in Southern Africa. We accomplish this through AIDS prevention, pastoral development, discipleship classes, youth camps, mission trips, and more.

For so long, she was just Alece, an incredibly good friend and fellow blogger and Jesus-lover. But, the more I’ve gotten to know Alece, the more I’ve come to believe in her ministry.

And her ministry needs our help. This is what Alece said:

Right now our financial situation is so dire that, unless there is a significant increase in funds, we will not be able to pay the bills at the end of April. We will have no choice but to scale down our AIDS prevention program and other ministry initiatives. We may be forced to decrease our staff team, affecting the 52 nationals we employ and the families who are dependent on their income.

Leading the charge, she and her Board of Trustees have set a goal to raise $80,000 by the end of April. Details about that here.

So, this morning, before finishing this post, I logged onto their store to purchase some South African Coffee. Hence: “sippin’ for South Africa.” But when I nearly completed my order, I changed my mind. I decided that, instead of whittling down my donation with shipping charges and transaction fees and packaging, I’d just donate the whole order amount straight into their bank account.

They need the full donation more than I need another bag of coffee in my freezer.

So I won’t be sipping for South Africa. But, if you want, you can.

To find out more about what you can do to help this amazing organization, go to impactsouthafrica.com.

DON’T EVEN SAY IT!!!!

Posted on
80

We all have them. Words we can’t stand. Maybe because of how they sound. Maybe for what they mean. Or for a memory. For whatever the reason. We just don’t like certain words. And these words have come up in a conversation or two recently…

I have friends who hate: tinkle. moist. girth.

And I LOVE saying those words around them. Just to get a response.

(I can be a brat.)

(sorry)

So, what’s your word? What’s the word(s) you just can’t stand?

“I was reading your blog…”

Posted on
87

Just a few days ago, I had two friends tell me they were reading my blog. Y’all just don’t know how cool that is, so I’m gonna explain.

I mean, I know you’re out there. But, what you don’t know is that you’re my favorites: the ones who read me who are in my real life.  I run into you at church. I get emails from you. I talk to you on the phone.

But I don’t always know that you are you – unless you tell me.

And oh the joy when somebody in my life tells me that they’re reading. It’s like I didn’t know you were a part of this corner of my world. But I’m glad you’re here. And if you ever want to talk to me about anything that you read here, please feel free to do so. See, because… well…

I like the two-way conversation better than the one-way convo. Yeah, I write whatever I want on this blog, but I don’t just write to be heard. I write to hear. I write for the interaction – the exchange – the two-sided conversation. The iron sharpening iron. The perspective that you may have that I don’t have.

So – you. YOU. Let me know you’re here. Tell me. Email me. Text me. Leave a comment.

Please.

And stick around.

Because, sometime in the near future, you’re going to read about a part of my life that I’ve yet to mention on this here blog.

And I’d love to know you’re here.

Pick your pain.

Posted on
67

I’ve been thinking about pain a lot lately. Thinking about my pain. About how I hate facing it. About how others face their pain. About how we want to avoid it. Hide it. Not deal with it.

Granted, I’m speaking in terms of emotional pain. Even though I have known times of intense physical pain- pain so bad that it made me sick to my stomach. I have. I’ve also known emotional pain that brings a degree of nausea with it.

Both can affect me in similar ways.

Both come with their own mix of “impossible.”

Both are hard to face.

I can’t help but wonder which pain is worse: Physical or emotional?