Hope is a gift and YOU have the power to give it!

I've recently started reading the official church blog of Buckhead Church in the ATL (AT). Last Sunday, September 16th, they challenged their church to gather school supplies and raise money to provide help for kids in Baghdad that have nothing. They just did a series on stewardship and felt that they shouldn't waste the momentum that had been built up. You can read about the challenge and follow up at the two following links:

Buckhead Church Blog: From Buckhead to Baghdad

Buckhead Church Blog: From Buckhead to Baghdad, Part

My challenge to you is to get on board with someone doing something great to change the world for Christ. You can jump on the Buckhead bandwagon or choose something else, but please give.

In Fresno on Oct. 6th there's something called "Light the Night Walk" to raise support, awareness and money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Participants can walk with a red balloon or a white balloon (white is reserved for cancer survivors). If you live in Fresno, that's one way to give.

No matter where you live, there are hundreds of opportunities for you to volunteer or raise money for a worthy cause. You can order a pair of shoes from Tom's Shoes and the company will automatically match your purchase with a gift to a child somewhere in the world who can not afford a shoes.

You can pledge to give $30-35 a month to make sure one child somewhere in the world, usually a third world country, will eat, get education and be introduced to Jesus through your genorosity until they are old enough to care for themselves. (World Vision and Compassion International)

(Pictures from Mission Mexico '06)

My birthday is this coming Sunday, September 23rd. I'll be 26-years-old! If you intend on sending me a card or gift, I'd like you to do something different. Don't give me anything but an email or comment that says, "I decided to take my twenty bucks and give it to a charity." Or something along those lines. That's one of the best gifts I can get. Give my gift to someone in real poverty, someone without hope, someone who needs to be filled with the joy of the Lord.

God bless you and remember that hope is a gift and YOU have the power to give it!

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