Hannah Maria

Book: The Correspondence of William Wilberforce

2012-02-10T10:51:00.003-06:00

I was quite thrilled when I learned, a few months ago, that there was a published volume of the personal letters and writings of William Wilberforce. I eagerly added it to my (verrrrry long) library que and waited for it to arrive! I wasn't disappointed- I was quite enraptured, from the moment I scanned the first page. Can we please write letters again? And use big words like socinianism, foinsters, pecuniary, and muzzy? Thank you.

The most exciting aspect of reading the Correspondence of William Wilberforce, to me, was getting to see a glimpse of the inside of the fight against the transatlantic slave trade of the 1800s. Reading the letters sent to one another from various members of the Clapham Circle was like being transported back in time to witness the birth of the abolitionist movement.

Through reading his personal missives, I also gained an even greater respect for Wilberforce's views on many issues outside of slavery- some of my favorite writings included ; Wilberforce on balancing worldly amusements with Christian devotion, Wilberforce on the institutionalized church, and Wilberforce on Christian doubt.

And it wasn't just the writings of William Wilberforce that inspired me- there were many letters by Reverend William Hey (a church reformer), William Pitt, John Newton, and others that caught my attention. I've copied below a favorite quote from one of Newton's letters- apparently he, like myself, had a penchant for run-on sentences and flowery metaphors:

"Methinks I may compare myself to a harpsichord- how often in tuning, how seldom in tune, and how soon put out of tune again. My imagination, in particular, is an instrument, which seems not under my own power; happy am I when it is under a gracious influence, but at times it seems as if an evil genius had the command of the keys; then I am tortured with a melody of folly, discord, and confusion, from which I cannot run, or stop my ears against it, for it is within me. Wonderful is the grace that can cause the voice of joy and melody to be heard, when but a little before all was disorder and distress. If the Lord appears, the storm is hushed, and a calm succeeds."

All in all, a great, inspiring read!

Make a Paper Tree

2012-02-02T15:20:00.002-06:00

This past Christmas season, my roommates and I really wanted to get a Christmas Tree. Guess what we discovered? Christmas trees (in Uptown) are crazy expensive. Sad day. There was no way that we were going to cough up eighty bucks to purchase a tree that we wouldn't even be enjoying Christmas Eve, as we all celebrated with our respective families. Still, the house needed SOME sort of a tree... I put on my *elf* thinking cap, pulled out some paper and tape, and made this:

It cost me absolutely nothing. Low-budget Christmas tree win.

Here's How:

1. cut lots of two-inch strips of white paper, and fringe it with about 1/2 inch to spare at the top.

2. Use the back of a plastic knife, a bone folder, or similar object to gently curl the paper.

3. wrap around a poster board cone, layer by layer, securing with tape.

Here's my cone in various stages of completion:

And the finished products all lit up on the mantel!

Lemon Curd

2012-01-20T22:52:00.002-06:00

Lemon curd is traditionally made with cornstarch, butter, and a whole lotta sugar. This healthier version is dairy and sugar free and just as rich and delicious! It can be used for lemon tarts or lemon bars, used as a filling for a layer cake, eaten with fresh fruit, or just eaten straight out of the bowl with a spoon (guilty).

3 eggs
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup lemon juice
6 Tb coconut oil

Whisk eggs, honey, and lemon juice together in a ceramic pot or a double-boiler over medium heat. If you don't have one- improvise. The contraption I managed to rig up was a ceramic bowl nestled into a pot of boiling water- whatever works, right? Add the coconut oil (if solid, break into small pieces for easier melting) slowly. Continue to whisk the mixture constantly until thick- when you start to see little bubbles popping on the surface, it should be nearly finished. Do NOT turn the heat up too high- you don't want it to boil, nor do you want to cook little pieces of egg- been there, done that, pretty disgusting.

Chill in the fridge until set, EAT.

Thoughts on Human Trafficking Awareness Day

2012-01-11T18:09:00.001-06:00

Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The month of January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Thirty-one days set aside to reflect on social justice, educate ourselves and those around us on the atrocious facts surrounding domestic (and international) Human Trafficking, and to take steps that will make a change in our country and our world.

President Obama’s December 2010 proclamation establishing January as National Human Trafficking prevention month included these words:

“We cannot strengthen global efforts to end modern slavery

without first accepting the responsibility to prevent, identify,

and aggressively combat this crime at home. No country can

claim immunity from the scourge of human rights abuses, or

from the responsibility to confront them....

Although the United States has made great strides

in preventing the occurrence of modern slavery, prosecuting

traffickers and dismantling their criminal networks, and

protecting victims and survivors, our work is not done. We

stand with those throughout the world who are working every day

to end modern slavery, bring traffickers to justice, and empower

survivors to reclaim their rightful freedom.”

Inspiring, but really- how bad can Human Trafficking really be within the United States of America? Here's a look at a few statistics:

•The average age of entry into commercial sex in the USA is 12-14 year old (UNICEF)

•Females are typically sold for the purpose of sex. Domestic (USA) victims report being forced to service as many as 10 men per day on average. International victims report as many as 40 per day (Breaking Free)

•Human Trafficking is the fastest growing black market crime on the planet second only to drug dealing and generating an estimated $32 billion dollars per year (the U.N.)

•Minnesota is ranked one of the top 13 states in the nation for highest incidence in recruitment of minors (FBI)

•An estimated 14,500 to 17,500 women and children are trafficked into this country each year (Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking)

•When asked, 89% of women and girls used in prostitution wanted to get out but didn’t know where to turn for help (Journal of Trauma Practice 2, 2003)

• There have been reports of trafficking instances in at least 20 different states, with most cases occurring in New York, California, and Florida. Some Florida law enforcement officials, for example, claim that the state is being inundated with trafficked women from Russia, Ukraine, and Central Europe. INS and Labor Department officials fear that the problem is not only bigger than they thought but also getting worse. For example, INS has discovered 250 brothels in 26 different cities, which likely involved trafficking victims. (Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking)

How can the average American citizen fight Human Trafficking in an every-day way?

1.) By learning about what’s going on in your city to fight the crime of Human Trafficking and supporting the organizations that you discover. Twin Cities friends, check out Breaking Free, The Civil Society, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, and Source Annex. Most local organizations are small and semi-grassroots, and constantly in need of dedicated volunteers, donations, and fundraising support!

2.) By boycotting companies, websites, and media that do not promote social justice- and telling those companies WHY you’re taking your business elsewhere! (And yes, this makes a difference- pressure from concerned citizens through petitions and protests SHUT DOWN the “erotic services” section of craigslist, which was being used for the sex trafficking of minors, in 2010).

3.) On an international level, by Conscientious Consumerism- a careful consideration on which products we choose to purchase and how the production of those products might be promoting labor trafficking and child slavery around the world (and yes, here in the USA as well!).

I leave you with a quote by Martin Luther King Jr:

For Freedom,

Hannah

An Ode to Paleo Pizza

2012-01-08T09:40:00.001-06:00

This may very well be one of my best culinary creations to date. Ladies and gentleman, i give you: the amazing grain/dairy/sugar/yeast free pizza! *applause, please*

I really cannot take quite all the credit, though... my good friend Beth had a role to play as well. You see, I become most creative in the kitchen when I have someone to impress, someone whom I know will take a bite of whatever I whip up and exclaim "Oh my GOSH this is INCREDIBLE" with a full mouth and widened eyes. Beth is that friend. Not only is she pretty much the most gratifying friend to have over for lunch, but we have this delightful little barter deal worked out. Beth is an amazing designer, and she trades her creative advice and help with little design projects for my food. win-win.

We made everything from scratch; crust, sauce, and toppings, and all from healthy, non-allergenic ingredients. Without further ado, the recipes:

Making your own pizza sauce is easy and SO delicious. You'll never go back to sauce from a jar.

Classic Marinara Sauce (Adapted from the Paleo Diet Cookbook):
2 Tb extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
4 medium tomatos, diced
1/4 cup red wine
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Saute the onion in the olive oil until soft and caramelized. add the garlic and cook for an additional two minutes. add the tomatos, wine, and spices and simmer on low for about 20 minutes. You can either pulse the sauce in a blender or food processor to achieve a smooth, store-bought-in-a-can texture, or leave it chunky. I prefer the chunky version on pizza!

While your sauce is simmering, throw together the crust. I got this grain-free, dairy-free yeast-free recipe from my Aunt Jinger. It's surprisingly "fluffy" for a grain-free crust.

Coconut Flour Pizza Crust

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1 clove garlic

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

Mix wet and dry ingredients separately. add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir gently until smooth. It will be more of a batter than a dough. let the batter rest for a few minutes, as the coconut flour will gradually absorb moisture. line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spread your batter onto the sheet in a thin circle (this recipe makes two personal-sized circles- if you're reeeaaallly hungry. I could only finish half of mine after smothering it in toppings...). Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. pull it out and flip it to the other side, and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Choose your toppings, and throw it all together! Beth and I cooked up some fresh sausage, caramelized sweet yellow peppers, and chopped up some olives. The flavors, texture, and colors were incredible- you really don't even miss the cheese or yeasty crust that a "normal" pizza would have!

The final product! Best enjoyed with a good glass of red wine and the company of a friend.

Before I sign off, I must acknowledge the mad food Photography skills the multi-talented designer/artist/creativegenius Beth. Seriously good, right? You should really check out more of her work: click here.

Bon Appetit!

Green Smoothies

2012-01-04T22:23:00.002-06:00

Green smoothies are a go-to breakfast for me. Since I don't eat cereal (hot OR cold) or milk, it can be a challenge to come up with quick, nourishing, filling breakfast options. There's a lot of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium in this concoction, and it really satisfies my hunger!

I think most green smoothies have a pretty bad rap- and deservedly so, because many times they DO taste gross! However: NOT SO with this one- trust me. When I first started making my green smoothies, my roommates Em and Amy turned up their noses in disgust, thinking surely whatever "that green stuff" was must be disgusting. I forced them to try it, while rattling off the health benefits, and their tune totally changed. They both LOVED the creamy texture and claimed they couldn't even taste the greens. A few days later I opened the fridge to discover several new bags of spinach and mangos- the roomies were such fans that they'd purchased ingredients to make their own green smoothies!

THE RECIPE:

Blend together
1 Banana
15 chunks of frozen mango
1 HUGE handful of spinach
1 cup coconut milk
(you can add 1/2 cup water if you like a thinner smoothie)

That's it!

Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate (Avocado) Pudding

2012-01-03T15:46:00.001-06:00

Here's a lovely, decadent raw food treat that's easy to whip up in a few minutes! Avocados are so good for your body- chock full of oleic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B! I'd almost venture to call this pudding "healthy" rather than a "treat"... but it IS pretty heavy on the sweeteners. Sugar is sugar, even if it's from an unrefined, natural source like maple syrup or honey, so don't eat the whole recipe- share with a friend!

Dark Chocolate Avocado Pudding:

2 small avocados

1/2 cup good quality, Fair Trade unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup sweetener (honey or maple syrup) - I used 1/4 cup maple syrup and 1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup coconut milk

A Simple Christmas

2011-12-26T18:05:00.004-06:00

I love Christmas. I love creating the perfect gifts for others, and I love the looks on their faces when they tear off the wrapping. I love baking Christmas goodies and breathing in the warm cinnamon-and-molasses scented air as it swirls around the kitchen. I love spending time with family, repeating all the Christmas traditions that we've instituted over the years, laughing at old home videos and photo albums, eating grandma's famous chex mix and mom's date pinwheel cookies. I love hearing the familiar scriptures and Christmas carols that have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries, yet never lose their wonder and mystery.

To me, part of keeping Christmas simple and sweet, focusing on the meaning of the season and memories made with family, is being more conscientious as a consumer and not succumbing to the allure of "Christmas commercialism". This year, I chose to give only simple handmade, recycled, or fair trade gifts to friends and family. And I stuck to that goal, minus some candy for the littles and a few stocking-stuffer trinkets.

I wrapped everything in Trader Joe's bags (how clever of them to print fun patterns and gift tags onto their holiday bags!) and bits of felt, string, buttons and greenery that I had laying around the house.

The family gathered on Christmas Eve- all the siblings, mom's parents, and the brother-in-law... plus one very precious little future niece-or-nephew, just beginning to show up as a little tummy bump! I am truly rich in the love of my great big crazy family! Everyone loved their gifts and I was happy that all my hours in "Hannah's elf workshop" paid off. I'm already dreaming up gift ideas for next year!

l-r: Me, Lydia, Brother-in-law Kyle, Dad, Mom, Isaac, Abram, Noah, Elijah. front: Grandpa Ed, Faith, Grandma.

Merry Christmas!

Lemon Berry Muffins

2011-12-20T09:45:00.002-06:00

I modified this recipe from a lemon poppyseed recipe i found on Pinterest. It's grain, dairy, and sugar free, and the texture is great! I like the fact that the muffins don't turn out sickeningly sweet, but pleasantly tangy with a strong lemon flavor.

The Recipe:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. For twelve muffins, gather:

6 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 lemons, juiced

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup frozen mixed berries

Mix together the eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice. Melt the coconut oil, if solid, combine with the honey and add to the egg mixture.

In a separate bowl, mix together the coconut flour and baking soda. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until smooth. Let batter "rest" for a few minutes, as the coconut flour will absorb moisture from the wet ingredients and thicken.

Thaw frozen berries. drain out most of the juice and sweeten with a drizzle of honey.

Spoon about 1/8 a cup of batter into a lined muffin cup, add a few tablespoons of honey/berry mixture, and top with an additional 1/8 cup of batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the pan to help the muffins hold their shape!

Avacado Chicken "Alfredo" on Zuchini Noodles

2011-12-10T14:57:00.001-06:00

I'm going to preface this recipe post by warning you that there is absolutely no way to photograph this dish and make it look as delicious as it tastes. So just trust me on this one- what appears to be a pile of green gloop is actually a creamy, fragrant, pasta-esque, gastronomic delight.

One of the things that I miss most on my grain-free diet is PASTA. Specifically chicken alfredo- it's the ultimate comfort food, especially for cold winter I-wish-I-could-just-hibernate days. This is my attempt to create a substitute for when that pasta craving hits! Obviously it does not tase exactly like alfredo, but it's close enough to satisfy and chock full of healthy fats!

You'll need:

1 Avocado
1 large clove of garlic
2 Tb water
2 Tb oil
1/4 Tsp salt
1/3 cup fresh basil

Cooked and sliced chicken breast
Zucchini noodles (see this post)

Mix avocado, garlic, water, oil, salt, and basil in a food processor to form a creamy sauce. mix with zucchini and chicken and serve immediately.

A Lettuce-less Salad for Winter Days

2011-12-05T18:20:00.001-06:00

This salad is my winter staple! I am a firm believer in the fact that you can never have too many raw veggies in your diet, and I eat alot of salad, but sometimes I get tired of LETTUCE. Especially in the winter, when my toes and fingers are constantly cold and I skulk around the house looking like Darth Vader with my fuzzy blanket perpetually hanging from my shoulders. Lettuce just can't compete with soup, potatoes, and hot drinks. This salad, however, can. Colorful, crunchy and flavor-packed, with seeds and berries adding a bit more substance. The hint of maple flavor gives it a sweetly unexpected twist.

1/2 head broccoli, chopped finely
1/2 head cauliflower, chopped finely
2 shredded carrots
1/2 cup dried cherries or Trader Joe's orange flavored dried cranberries
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
The juice of 1 large lemon
An equal amount of pure maple syrup
A pinch of sea salt

Chop and combine veggies. Mix lemon juice, salt, and maple syrup together and drizzle over salad to taste.

Make Your Own All-Natural Deodorant!

2011-11-29T10:21:00.001-06:00

Did you know that your favorite deodorant might contain dangerous ingredients that are known to cause cancer, brain damage, and liver abnormalities? Here are three of the worst:

Parabens: Parabens (look on the label for methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben or isobutylparaben) are used in many skincare and cosmetic products. They function as a preservative to discourage bacteria and fungus. Research indicates that parabens from lotions or deodorants absorb into the body and weakly mimic estrogen, wreaking havoc on the endocrine system. Parabens have, not surprisingly, been found in breast cancer tumors- did you know that over 55% of breast tumors are located on the upper outside of the breast, near the underarm? That fact alone is enough to reconsider your paraben-ridden deodorant!

Aluminum: The active ingredient in many deodorants/antiperspirants is aluminum, which actually blocks the body from producing sweat. I'd really hesitate to use any chemical compound that inhibits a normal and useful bodily function... but aside from that, aluminum can cause neurological damage and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Aluminum can enter and remain in a human bloodstream for up to two weeks after just one application of deodorant/antiperspirant.

Propelene Glycol: Propelene Glycol, often used in deodorants, is an ingredient in antifreeze. Factory workers who are exposed to it are warned of the danger of kidney, brain, and liver damage through skin contact.

I've been using various all-natural deodorants for years to avoid exposing my body to the nasty ingredients in mainstream products, but have found it difficult to find one that I really like. Many brands are just too expensive, smell weird, or leave my skin dry, itchy, and red. I decided to try making my own deodorant on a whim and... wow! It's cheap, easy to make, and leaves my underarm skin odor-free, residue-free, soft, and smelling faintly of coconut.

SO. I'm running the risk of being criticized for blogging about my armpits (:-)) to share this discovery with you!

You'll only need a few simple ingredients: baking soda, which neutralizes odor, arrowroot powder to absorb moisture, and tea tree and coconut oil (both are antibacterials and antifungals, and the coconut oil is a great skin moisturizer).

Measurements:
1/4 Cup of Baking Soda
1/4 Cup of Arrowroot starch
4 Tb Coconut Oil
1/4 tsp Tea Tree Oil
Mix all ingredients together to form a paste/cream... and that's it!

To apply, just dip a finger in, hold it against your skin to warm the mixture for a second, and rub it in! A little goes a long way... I've never had trouble with it leaving spots on my clothing and I no longer have itchy, dry underarm skin issues!

Say hello to happy, healthy, non-stinky armpits!

Zucchini "Noodles" with Roasted Vegetables and Broccoli Pesto

2011-11-02T15:53:00.001-05:00

This vibrant, colorful dish is one of my standbys. Veggies that taste like fancy pasta? Yes please!

Cauliflower

Red Pepper

Zucchini

Broccoli Pesto:

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

2 Tb Butter

1 Small Clove Garlic

1/2 Head Broccoli

Oven-roast the pepper and cauliflower with a little olive oil and sea salt.

Blanch the broccoli in boiling water until bright green and softened.

Cream broccoli in a food processor (or blender) with butter, olive oil, and garlic and salt to taste.

Julienne the zucchini and drop in in boiling water for a few minutes.

Combine the zucchini, vegetables, and pesto and enjoy!

DIY Fall Leaf "Rose" Bouquet

2011-10-27T19:56:00.002-05:00

Today while walking to the library I was inspired to create something with the gorgeous fall leaves fluttering to the ground around me. I gathered a handful and started playing around, folding and wrapping the leaves, until I was holding a lovely rose-like "flower"! Excited by my discovery, I ducked into a nearby hardware store to buy a roll of masking tape, and gathered an armful of leaves and twigs to create a whole bouquet upon returning home. Ahh. the perfect way to satisfy my need for creativity and bring a little fall inside!

For this project you'll need: Leaves (the larger the better), twigs, and masking/florist's tape.

Take one leaf at a time...

....and fold the points inward.

Roll the leaf up! Repeat the first step with about 4-5 more leaves, wrapping each new leaf loosely around the first.

When your flower is as large as you'd like it, wrap the tightly rolled bottom with masking tape, then use more masking tape to attach it to a twig.

It should look something like this:

And that's it! Simple as can be!

I supplemented my leaf "roses" with a few stray twigs and some green leaves to hide the ugly masking tape. Some of the green leaves I wrapped around the flower and attached to the twig.

Happy Fall!

A Little Trip to Fairmont

2011-10-22T23:33:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday through Tuesday I took a delightful spontaneous trip to visit my Grandma in Fairmont- a drive of about three hours.

One of my favorite things about my Grandma is her love of literature by Charles Dickens... She is really the only kindred spirit in my immediate family when it comes to a love for his classic tales. We discussed plots, characters, and the life of Dickens. Grandma introduced me to the made-for-TV "Little Dorrit" series, and we watched a film adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby as well.

I was also lucky enough to get to spend some time with my adorable cousins, Abbey and Mariah. We went on a (very chilly) photoshoot, driving around until we found some suitable "chippy buildings".

And a few shots by Mariah (who taught me everything I know)...

The Good List

2011-10-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

*note: this was supposed to be published on Sunday. Oops.

Inspired by the Nubby Twiglet Blog, I'm starting a new series of posts featuring the best of each week in pictures. AND words. just to be different, obviously. Without further ado:

This Weeks Best.....

1.) Event:

A concert attended with my dear friends Christy and Christine, and my roomie Em. Christy won tickets for four in a radio contest! Highlights of the night included dancing in the strobe lights (have you ever noticed that strobe lights make ANYONE's robot-dancing-moves look legit?), being inspired by a new song the band wrote based off an old poem written during the Great Awakening, and NOT buying a t-shirt. (A great victory for me, the t-shirt-aholic).

2.) Place:

My neighborhood library is a newly-discovered favorite place. It's an 1931 brick building with sunny leaded glass windows, an outdoor terrace, two historic fireplaces, restored wooden bookshelves and vintage furniture. My queue of requested books and foreign films is already satisfyingly long, and I walked over today to pick up my first few items on hold. In the rain. Yes, I'm that dedicated.

2.) Food:

Grain/Sugar/Dairy free pumpkin muffins and homemade plantain chips were both among my cooking experiments this past week. I've tried on and off for the past three years to eat wheat/corn/dairy/refined sugar free... but It's only been in the past few months that I've become even more strict, cutting out legumes, ALL grains, and processed foods. I've really enjoyed discovering or making up new recipes and meals that fit into my new dietary plan.

3.) Music:

Fall has put me in the mood for funky harmonies, acoustically driven music, and gentle, simple lyrics. My current music crushes include JJ Heller and the Givers. Listen to "Noche Nada" and "Up Up Up" by the Givers and "Painted Red" and "Everything is Changing" by JJ.

4.) Activity:
Running or walking around Lake Calhoun is a new favorite activity I discovered this week along with my roommate Amy! The lake is four blocks from my house and is bordered by a beautiful three-mile trail shaded by colorful trees. Amy and I passed the time during a recent run by naming each new vibrant color that we spotted.

5.) Just Small Things:
There were a few small things that delighted me last week... Here are two: First, the fact that my yellow-polka-dot rain boots helped me to land a new job close to my new house when I wore them to an interview (in the words of my new boss, "we're looking for the kind of people who wear polka-dot rainboots."). Second, the fact that instead of weeds, FLOWERS grow in the cracks of the sidewalks around my house. I love whoever planted them.

6.) Book:
There are two specific books that I've been enjoying this week. One is "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman, a look at globalization, technology, and the developing world. It's an older read, yes, but I've most enjoyed a new section added on to the original edition on "how to be a political activist and social entrepreneur in a flat world". My favorite new chapter title? "If it's not happening, it's because you're not doing it!". The other is the Book of Acts. I'm involved in a in-depth study of the book of Acts this fall with a small group of about 20 other women through BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), and I'm loving it! Acts has always been a favorite of mine and working through the hefty notes and homework I'm given each week has uncovered many fresh insights.

Recipe: Microwave Chocolate Mug Cakes

2011-10-10T15:40:00.000-05:00

Chocolate mug cake- because what could be better than a fluffy, chocolate dessert that can be whipped up in under 5 minutes? Bonus: they're grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and still taste Uh-Maz-Ing.

Get a mug. Dump in the following ingredients:

2 Tb Coconut Flour
2 Tb Coconut Oil
1 Tb Cocoa Powder
2 Tb Honey
3 Tb Unsweetened Coconut Milk
1 Egg
1/2 tsp Vanilla
A Pinch of Salt
A Pinch of Baking Powder

Mix it up, nuke it in the Microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Bam. Chocolate goodness in less than 5 minutes. Mind blown?

Notes:
I split the recipe into two ramekins rather than one big mug, as it makes just a little too much cake for one little me. Plus I like sharing with my roomies.

I like the cake best drizzled with a little bit of Trader Joe's organic chocolate syrup and sprinkled with coconut flakes.

It's so.... FLUFFY! (as evidenced in this very awful, fuzzy shot. Someone wanna teach me food photography skills? Mariah, are you reading this?! )

~Hannah

D.I.Y. Colored Glass Bottles

2011-10-03T13:58:00.003-05:00

I love the look of sunlight shining through antique colored glass bottles, but always cringe at the antique-shop price! After passing up one too many overpriced old bottles, I decided to make my own thrifty look-alikes with old soda bottles. I’d seen a few techniques prior to trying this project out; swirling the color on the inside of the bottle (meaning I wouldn’t be able to put water and flowers in them as modpodge isn’t waterproof), or painting the color on the outside of the bottle with a paintbrush (leaving visible brush strokes). I decided to try my own (rather messy) technique to create smooth, glazed-looking, fill-with-water-and-flowers-safe glass. And I must say, the results are splendid!

1)You will need: modpodge, water, food coloring, and a plastic stirring utensil.

2)You will also need a clean, dry glass bottle ( I like IZZE bottles or stamped root beer bottles), and two disposable containers- one for the modpodge and another (slightly larger than the bottle) to catch drips.

3)Pour about 1/3 cup of modpodge into your small container, and stir some water to thin it out (I never measure.... about two tablespoons, I’d say.

4,5,6) Add your color, a few drops at a time. I like a mixture of three drops blue to two drops green. I used straight blue for this one, though. Keep in mind that your finished bottle will be a few shades off of your colored modpodge after it’s dried clear.

7)Hold your bottle over the large container (I find it easiest to stick my finger into the bottle’s neck and hold it that way)

8) Drizzle your modpodge over the bottle, turning to coat evenly. Tip: This is easier if you first use your finger to spread a thin layer over the bottle and THEN drizzle.

9) Set the coated bottle, bottom up, on a piece of waxed paper to dry, You can use the colored modpodge that has collected in the bottom of the container to coat another bottle, or put a lid on it and save it for later.

The finished product, and a few others I made earlier- voila!

Recipe: Spicy Curried Carrot Soup

2011-10-03T13:33:00.001-05:00

It’s officially Fall in Minnesota. Though the weather is unnaturally warm, the trees are beginning to sport bright patches of color and my taste buds are starting to beg for soup! Alone in my quiet, box-strewn house for the afternoon and too exhausted to want to walk down the the grocery store, I scrounged through the fridge to see if I had anything to throw on the stove along with my half-used carton of organic free-range chicken broth. I spotted a half-wilted onion quarter and a few carrots, and this spicy Fall soup was born. I’m especially proud that my new concoction is grain/dairy free and Paelo-diet-friendly!

1/4 Yellow Onion

4 Medium Carrots

1 Heaping Tbs Coconut/Olive Oil

2 Cups Chicken Broth

1 Cup Water

1 tsp Curry Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper

1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper (Omit if you don’t want your soup to be clear-those-sinuses & warm-that-belly hot!)

Toss the carrots and onions on the stove with the coconut/olive oil (don’t worry, if you use coconut oil your soup will NOT have a coconutty flavor!). Saute until the onions are soft and translucent.

Add your spices, water, and the two cups of chicken broth...

Make sure you use a good-quality yellow curry powder. I LOVE the salt-free Spice Hunters variety. I put it on EVERYTHING. No, seriously. Everything.

Let the veggie-spice-broth mixture simmer on medium heat until the carrots are very soft. The aroma is lovely!

When the carrots are easily smushed with a spoon, take the soup off the stove and pour it into a blender of food processor. Puree and pour into bowls!

Makes two one-cup servings. Or one two-cup serving. How about that.

Enjoy!

Dusting Off My Keyboard...

2011-09-27T16:26:00.000-05:00

This blogging slacker is hopping back onto the bandwagon! After months (a year? two?) of neglect, I am dusting off my keyboard and resolving to make a regular habit of filling up this space with words, music, photographs, and creative ideas! Stay tuned for some soon-to-come posts containing pithy thoughts, good eats, and fun DIY projects like these recycled colored glass bottles!

~Hannah Maria

Simplicity

2011-09-07T12:42:00.002-05:00

Sweet Littlest Sister

2011-07-26T21:07:00.004-05:00

Quote

2011-07-25T20:44:00.002-05:00

2010-08-31T14:09:00.002-05:00

There's a really thought-provoking post on the Call + Response blog titled "Slumdog Tourism" (Read it here:http://www.callandresponse.com/blog/?p=543). Basically, it's the thoughts of an African man (who grew up in a Nairobi slum) on the phenomenon of "slum tourism".

He explains that there has been a recent increase in the numbers of American and European "tourists" (I think that this could apply to both sightseers and SOME short-term missions or humanitarian aid teams) who take the chance to tour slums and shanty towns while visiting developing countries to "observe poverty".

After reading the post, I had mixed thoughts... Being exposed to poverty- to real life poverty- can be a life-changing thing. It's one thing to see images of starving kids and shanty towns on a computer or TV screen, but It's quite another to BE there, to see it with your own eyes. To stand in the middle of a filthy street, breathing in the smells of human waste and disease and sometimes even death. To watch a filthy naked child running past, deprived even of the dignity of a pair of underwear (I once asked a Filipino friend what the greatest needs among the poor in a particular shanty town were. Her answer: underwear and medicine). Sometimes, sadly, the sheer weight of human suffering has got to hit you in the chest and stun you into action. And for that reason, I do believe that giving people from affluent areas the opportunity to see what life is like for those who are not so fortunate is a good thing.

However, reading this post made me think about the flip side of the issue as well. Observing poverty CAN move us to action... but it is just as easy to experience poverty and not even let it sink it. We've become desensitized to suffering, in a way. It can become a momentary thrill... for a moment, it chills us and we think "Oh, God, that's awful"... and then we go back to our comfortable routine and forget about it. Nothing is gained by the experience, and another shred of dignity is taken from the poor. I think the author of the original blog post puts it well when he says:

"Slum tourism turns poverty into entertainment, something that can be momentarily experienced and then escaped from. People think they’ve really 'seen' something — and then go back to their lives and leave me, my family and my community right where we were before... Slums will not go away because a few dozen Americans or Europeans spent a morning walking around them. There are solutions to our problems — but they won’t come about through tours."

People who are affected by extreme poverty have already lost so much dignity and self-worth. Let's not make them feel degraded- as if they are somehow a lesser human being- by senseless gawking at their misfortune. Let's DO something, change something... help them hold their heads up high again.

2010-06-14T08:24:00.002-05:00

Excerpt from The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges:
For the gray areas in our lives where you aren't sure whether it's "sin" or not:

Is it helpful- physically, spiritually, and mentally?
"Everything is permissible for me- but not everything is beneficial" (I Corinthians 6:12)

Does it bring me under its power?
"Everything is permissible for me-but I will not be mastered by anything" (I Corinthians 6:12)

Does it hurt others?
"Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall" (I Corinthians 8:13)

Does it glorify God?
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (I Corinthians 10:31)

2010-05-08T22:56:00.003-05:00

Authenticity. It’s hard to find, isn’t it? It seems that we all have a barrier to hide behind, a mask to distort our faces, a sugar coating to cover deceit and manipulation.

Authenticity is free from pretentiousness. It’s about simply being as you are. It means you must overcome the fear of being seen for what you truly are.

Authenticity means being truthful about your intentions, motivations, and feelings. It means you’re sincere. Authenticity is being your “true self”, being free to be yourself in the deepest essence.

Authenticity is messy, it’s vulnerable. It leaves us exposed and tender. It’s easier to be wounded when you’re not inside a shell.

What would our relationships look like if we were authentic with each other instead of trying to control our image in other’s eyes? I think it would be beautiful.

But.

We’re all just a little bit too afraid, aren’t we?

2010-03-28T09:10:00.001-05:00

Quiet my heart precious Savior
Sing over me songs of peace
Just let me rest in your presence
Cripple my wandering feet

Wrap me in your arms of mercy
Help me find new strength to feel
Fight off these lies that surround me
Hide me so my wounds can heal

Teach me to hear only you Lord
Let it be you that I see
Guide me again with your spirit
Until I find where I’m to be.

2010-03-25T08:59:00.004-05:00

I can’t rest. There are a million thoughts and emotions swirling around my head. I guess it’s been a culmination of several things that have sort of ripped my heart wide open over the last few days, allowing things to spill out that were hidden away.

This week I’ve seen a baby born into a family that didn’t want him- simply because of poverty. Poverty! Here in the USA, two blocks from my doorstep. They’re afraid that if the mother has to take care of the baby, she won’t be able to work… and If she’s not able to work, they won’t be able to pay the rent on their small, run down, smelly apartment. And I think of all the unwanted ones that I personally know, and the countless more that I don’t. I am ashamed that I am not DOING anything. I am ashamed that I’ve even neglected to pray- something so seemingly small, something so easy to do!

I guess knowing this family has brought a flood of memories and images flooding back to my mind. Memories that I guess I’ve tried to repress because they were too hard to handle. I’ve come into contact with some pretty gut-wrenching things…. An unwanted baby, murdered and thrown away like trash, washed up on the shore of a river. A mom holding her dying little boy- the desperation on her face as she begged me for help that I was not able to give- the feeling of her hand clutching my arm. The faces of kids- street kids who’s stories I don’t know and the orphans who’s stories I do know continue to haunt me. And I realize, I'll never be able to "handle" this. It's forever changed me and I can't forget it.

God, forgive me for my selfishness. Forgive me for running after dreams and accomplishments and desires that have no eternal value. Forgive me for loving the things in this world. Show me what it means to take up my cross and follow you. And, God, help me to be ok with not being able to save the world. That’s your job, not mine. Just show me what my part is, and let me be content with that.

I Saw What I Saw
By Sara Groves

I saw what I saw and I can't forget it
I heard what I heard and i can't go back
I know what I know and I can't deny it

something on the road, cut me to the soul

your pain has changed me
your dream inspires
your face a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what I'm afraid of
and what I know of love

2010-03-07T16:45:00.002-06:00

Scene one: The living room of a home. A small group of people sitting on the floor, the couch. Simple guitar music. Voices lifted in praise- and sometimes hands, too. Children dancing, beating on makeshift “drums”. Warmth, sincerity, intimacy, family.

Scene two: The huge sanctuary of a church. A choir singing the words of an ancient hymn, rich in meaning. Organ, piano, brass, and flute creating magnificent harmony. Congregation participating as spectators. Majesty, tradition, excellence, depth.

Scene three: A small building housing over 100 Karenii/Karen/Laotian/Thai Believers. Out of tune guitars, laughter, silly choreography to Sunday school tunes. Different languages belting out the same worship to the creator. Community, simple, disorganized, pure.

So God is teaching me about worship. The three scenarios above have been my last three “church” experiences… and to be honest, I found myself struggling to enter into the same attitude of worship in each situation:

During my visit to the big church with the choir, I found myself thinking “This is just a show! The pretty choir is up in front singing special arrangement after special arrangement while everyone in the congregation looks on and applauds… and everyone is so DEAD here! How can people sing the words of ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name’ and stand there looking like fence posts? And how can I make myself worship when I’m more tempted to giggle and poke fun at the choir (In my defense, they sang “Ezekiel Saw da Wheel”)??

In house church, I find it so easy to worship. I love the music, I love being with my family, I feel comfortable. The songs we sing are passionate, solid, and full of life to me. There are no inhibitions and there is so much freedom. I know that I can just be still and quiet, or holler, or dance or fall asleep… and no one would care or think differently of me.

I loved the Karen church, but it was difficult to be in the same attitude of worship there as I would be at, say, house church. A lot of that was because the language barrier was so intense and I didn’t understand a lot- but it got me to thinking: I’m worshiping the same God I’d be worshipping anywhere else, right? Do I NEED an amazing preacher to speak eloquently about worship, or an amazing song to move me before my heart bows down in awe before my Savior, or do I simply need to reflect on Who He is and what I know about His character? Why can’t I worship in any place, in any situation, in the exact same way?

I’m realizing that I need to let go of my own personal likes and dislikes, and my need for the others around me to help usher me into worship. Worship not about me. But it is dependent on my attitude. Yep.

2010-02-21T23:02:00.003-06:00

In Xtreme Impact class on Tuesday nights at XTI, Papa Larry has been teaching us about oral communication vs. literate communication. This involves more than just literacy- whether someone can read and write. People who come from a background of oral communication have a different mindset than those who come from a literate background- the way they think and process information is very different. 80% of the world’s population can be classified as oral communicators, making it vital- especially for American missionaries- to thoroughly understand how to think and teach from the mindset of orality.

Papa Larry has been challenging our American, linear perspective and thought patterns by playing “mind games” with us- showing us images, or words and having us interpret them, and then showing us what those same images and words would be interpreted as from the perspective of an oral communicator. It’s been surprising to me to see how differently my brain is wired as a highly literate communicator! It’s definitely brought me to a deeper level in my understanding of communication methods.

The most important thing we are learning at XTI regarding orality is storytelling. People with oral communication backgrounds respond best to teaching that is in story form, like the stories that have been passed down from generation to generation in their own cultures to preserve history and local legends. Storytelling will be the basis for sharing the gospel with our refugee friends, and perhaps someday it will be the way that we bring the truth and light of God’s word to an unreached people group. It’s exciting to think of the ways that I will be able to use the things I’m learning now in the future!

2010-01-24T12:46:00.002-06:00

As part of XTI’s “Xtreme Impact” training on Tuesday nights, we’re reading Transforming Leadership: Jesus’ way of creating vision, shaping values, and empowering change by Leighton Ford together as a group. It’s all about becoming a better leader by following the example of Jesus, the greatest leader and teacher. Here are my reflections after reading the first chapter:

• Following Jesus’ model of leadership results in creating and empowering more leaders.
Jesus knew that his ministry on earth would be short and that He would soon join His Father in heaven, leaving His disciples behind on earth. Therefore, He focused on training, equipping, and investing in the lives of His disciples so that they would be ready to carry on building His kingdom on earth. In missions, it is essential to grasp this same vision for leadership- the missionary will often have to go into an area, build relationships with the people, plant a church, begin the work of evangelism, etc., and then leave. It is important for the missionary to leave behind strong leaders that he has trained and mentored from the indigenous people group to carry on the work he has begun without his presence. I think this is why Jesus didn’t say “go into the world and lead people to Me”- he said “Go into the world and make disciples”.

• Like Jesus, we need to be transformational, not transactional leaders.
Transformational leaders are change-makers, whereas transactional leaders don’t “rock the boat”, but continue to lead within the confines already set for them (by the previous leader they are replacing, cultural values, etc). The world (and the mission field) is in desperate need of fresh, visionary, transformational leaders who are ready to take risks and make bold decisions. Jesus was definitely a transformational leader-he introduced a radically new set of ideas and was able to effectively motivate others to follow Him.

• Leaders must develop specific traits that will enable them to empower others.
Jesus was a great leader because He was clear in both His identity and His mission. He knew who He was, where His authority came from, and what it was that He set out to accomplish. On a practical level, good leaders should possess a solid vision, good communication skills, and a positive, well-grounded self image.

2010-01-20T16:16:00.004-06:00

We were created for relationships- why do relationships have to be the hardest thing we’ll ever have to do? We were created to crave love- why is it so hard to love well and to allow yourself to be loved? Why aren’t the very things that we need the most the things that come naturally, easily to us?

Jesus says: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). The idea being expressed in that phrase is “life that is superior, extraordinary, surpassing, or uncommon, more than necessary, and exceeding abundantly”. Not many people that I know would say that those words describe their lives. And I honestly can’t either. Maybe that’s why Jesus also says “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14). I know in this particular passage Jesus is referring to eternal life, but I’m quite sure that the path that leads to life to the full, life as it was meant to be, is hard to find and follow as well. I want to find “life to the full” to the greatest extent that I can on this sinful earth.

I can’t wait for the day that all will be restored. I can’t wait to love without inhibitions, worship without restrictions, and be in a beautiful, pure relationship with not only Jesus but every child of God that has ever existed! I can’t wait for things to finally be the way they were supposed to be.

2010-01-15T15:43:00.002-06:00

Of Darkness I am weary
I wish I did not know
It seems too much to carry
I’ll break beneath the load

I know I must keep fighting
Though strength is hard to find
And my resolve is wavering
As I watch many die

The fight against injustice
Is one that can’t be won
Until the day the just king
Comes shining like the sun

His righteousness will shatter
All that opposes light
All chains will then be broken
And all the wrongs made right

And this is why I’m fighting-
All just to hear him say
“Well done, my faithful soldier”
On that triumphant day

2010-01-05T00:24:00.003-06:00

Songwriting again....
Collection of words in progress:

We are drowning in ourselves
We’re so restless
We are yearning for some worth
For a purpose
And we wonder why
We can’t seem to find
This abundant life we're called to live
Why are we so complacent
When we have so much more to give?

Wake up and see the world
How long can we be deaf to the cries of the hurting?
Wake up and feel the pain and see the needs
and be Christ’s hands and feet
Wake up....

Light

2009-11-14T21:32:00.001-06:00

"I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth"
Isaiah 49:6

"On Mission, Changing the World, and Not Being Able to Do It All"

2009-10-19T21:38:00.003-05:00

I just stumbled across a great blog post by Kevin DeYoung. He writes:

"The Bible is a big book and there’s a lot in there. So the Bible says a lot about the poor, about marriage, about children, about evangelism, about missions, about justice; it says a lot about a lot. Almost anyone can make a case that their thing should be the main thing or at least one of the most important things. But what often happens in churches (or church movements) is that the person with the “thing” thinks everyone else should devote their lives to the “thing” too. So churches squabble over limited resources, and people feel an abiding sense of guilt over not caring enough or doing enough about the ten other things that other people in the church care about more than they do.

Maybe it’s because I’m Type A or left brained or a beaver or an ESTJ or a good pastor or a people-pleasing sinner, but I often feel like I could, perhaps should, be doing more. I could do more evangelism. I could pray more. I could invite people over for dinner more. Because of this tendency I actually prefer the “do not” commands of Scripture. “Do not commit adultery”–that’s tough if you take the whole lust thing into account. Obeying this command requires prayer, accountability, repentance, and grace. But it doesn’t require me to start a non-profit or spend another evening away from my family. I just (just!) need to put to death the deeds of the flesh, die to myself and live to Christ.

Not committing adultery is, of course, easier said than done, but the command doesn’t overwhelm me. Changing the world, doing something about the global AIDS crisis, tackling homelessness–those things overwhelm me. What can I do? Where do I start? How will I find the time? I have four small kids, a full-time job, I give much more than 10% away to Christian causes, I try to share Jesus with my neighbors, I pray with my kids before bed, I’m trying to be a better husband. So is it possible, just possible, that God is not asking me to do anything about sex trafficking right now?"

Read the entire article here:http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2009/08/25/on-mission-changing-world-and-not-being/

Facebook Facade

2009-10-16T20:34:00.005-05:00

I’ve noticed something. When I am using facebook, it’s easy to build up an image of myself that looks really good. I can personalize the “about me” section of my profile to include all the best and brightest things about myself. I can post inspiring status updates, write pithy notes, upload photo albums of all the amazing things I’ve done, I can “un-tag” all of the photos of myself that I think make me look fat or unattractive… The list goes on. I can add as many friends as I can manage in order to a.) appear popular and b.) let as many people as possible see and comment on my wittiness/humor/wisdom etc…. I can control the information about me that all my facebook friends can see. It feels sort of fake.

This façade is impossible in the real, non-electronic world. My friends that I interact with face to face get to see me at my worst as well as at my best. They hear me say stupid things, since I don’t have time to think of a clever response to a comment, like I do on facebook. They see me when I’m not looking my best, they know about my stuggles and shortcomings. What do you think? In our delight over the wonders of social networking, do we end up creating a glitzy online persona that doesn’t actually portray us as we really are? Does the bulk of communication that we do over facebook lack real meaning?

Don’t get me wrong- I’m not attempting to bash facebook. I have a facebook and think it’s a great communication tool… I’m just thinking out loud about how much harder it is to “keep it real” online. It’s already tough to cultivate real community without the hindrance of social networking on the World Wide Web. Isnt’ it?

Sharing Jesus

2009-10-11T08:32:00.002-05:00

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine about Evangelism. I thought I'd share some of His thoughts...

People who cling to this world will almost always never listen to Jesus. He gave hope to the hopeless, riches to the poor, love to the unlovable, mercy to the sinner, but to the unwilling He will not force the issue. He'll just let the issue force itself on them whether they learn it the hard way or not learn it at all. It's a hard truth.

There's a big difference between sharing Jesus and sharing one's belief. If one is not willing to partake of Christ, might as well move on to someone who needs Him more. Sometimes sharing Jesus will just require you to shut up and just listen… I can’t help but wonder how His ears were as much a great blessing to people as His words.

But greater still was His ATTENTION. THE UNDIVIDED ATTENTION OF JESUS. He'd zoom in on a sinner like Zacchaeus or single out a woman who "touched" Him- or sit face to face with a Samaritan woman. He’d have a nice dinner with a man named Levi the tax collector or come face to face with the Gadarene demonic and not turn away. He’d see crowds without a shepherd and feed them miraculously or shed a tear for a beloved friend named Lazarus… His undivided attention to people changes lives. And that is REAL power.

Greatest of all was when the Creator of heaven and earth zoomed in on each and every individual born from eternity past to future and did it with the lenses of two planks of wood and said "it is finished." now that goes beyond doctrine. What was once doctrine has become a person. A person named Jesus Christ.

People don't get argued out of living in sin or persuaded out of their wrong belief systems... they abandon those sins or beliefs without a second thought when they ENCOUNTER JESUS and his love...

Washed

2009-10-07T16:03:00.003-05:00

Close up of a bit of painting I did this morning...

Inspired by this:

"Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth...
We will be called holy for the Lord will
wash away our filth."

Hosea 6:3 & Isaiah 4:3-4 Paraphrasedd

There will be a day....

2009-10-05T21:09:00.004-05:00

I wish that I could tell you something
To take the pain away
But while we’re still here on this earth
I know there’s nothing I can say
But… there will be a day you won’t know hunger
There will be a day you won’t know pain
There will be a day you’ll be with God forever
Gazing on his face
And when you look into his eyes
Maybe we'll finally understand
How your present suffering fits into
His greater grander plan
On that day.....

Modern Day Slavery: What’s a Christian to do?

2009-06-16T23:42:00.001-05:00

Human Trafficking/ Modern-Day slavery has become somewhat of a “hot issue” lately. Though there are still many people who are not aware of this injustice, there are more and more ministries, movements, and media exposure popping up every day. Christians are beginning to hear about slavery, too, with popular Christian artists, speakers, ministries, and “celebrities” taking up the cry to end Human Trafficking. I’ve noticed a trend, though. Most Christians seem to hear about the problem, yet be too paralyzed to do anything about it, even if they want to. Modern day slavery and Trafficking just seems to overwhelming and uncomfortable for the average person, or average Christian to do anything about. What is the best course of action towards being able to do something about injustice?

Become aware:
What is the first step for someone who has heard about modern-day slavery but doesn’t know what to do about it? Study. If you’re going to fight the injustice, you’ve got to know what exactly it is you’re fighting against, where it occurs, who the victims are. Become educated on the specifics-not just the general facts and statistics. Discover organizations who are fighting injustice and utilize the resources that they offer. Discover the different types of modern day slavery and human trafficking- sex trafficking, labor trafficking, child trafficking. Most importantly, look at what God’s word says about injustice and exploitation, and His expectations for us as Christians in doing something about it. Let that, above all else, guide you and fuel your passion.

Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Proverbs 31:8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
Isaiah 1:16-17 Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Jeremiah 22:3 “This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed.
James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Psalm 41:1 “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.”
Isaiah 58:10 "And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
Ezekiel 16:49 "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 29:7 “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”
Proverbs 14:31 “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

Pray:
What’s next after you know what you’re fighting against? Prayer. The absolute core of the Christian effort to fight injustice is intercession. Think about it- an atheistic aid worker can break into a brothel and rescue slaves! We have so much more to do as Christ followers. We can pray for justice- and this is vital. I don’t mean write down “human trafficking” and “modern day slavery” on your prayer list and spend a few minutes every night saying “dear God, please help victims of trafficking around the world.”. We can do more. Like Lamentations 2:19 says, we can literally pour out our hearts like water before the Lord for the LIVES of starving children, trafficked women, and other victims of injustice! Our prayer times should be a battle ground. We should actually be getting uncomfortable, expending energy, getting so close to the Fathers heart for His suffering children that he will prompt us to pray for a specific country, city, situation, or even victim. Our prayers can move and change things! In order for our prayers to carry this much weight, though, we must commit to investing a significant amount of our of time, energy, and emotions to prayer for justice. Through prayer, you gain access to the Father’s heart- and this is vital as well. We can’t just launch out on our own thinking that we can stop injustice. We need to join God in what He’s doing. Instead of agonizing over what you can do, ask Him to give you an assignment- it’s much easier that way! Keep in mind, any action that you take toward fighting injustice needs to be thoroughly prayed over before you attempt it.
Some good prayer pointers to get you started can be found here:
Exodus Cry Prayer Forum: http://www.exoduscry.com/forum/711
Salvation Army Prayer Guide: http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki%5Cwww_uki.nsf/txt-vw-sublinks/7F7C63D5F85D5A59802574C10045C8DA?openDocument
IJM Prayer Ministry: http://www.ijm.org/getinvolved/prayerpartners

Take Action:
As you intercede for justice, if you feel that the Lord is calling you to take action, begin to ask him how. It may seem like there’s really not a practical way to get involved fighting injustice- but the reality is that there are countless ways for the average Christian to help. From simply raising awareness among your friends and churchmates, to doing something radical like moving overseas to work with an organization like the International Justice Mission, physically rescuing slaves, there is something for everyone to do depending on where God calls you. Keep in mind that some of the less glamorous, behind the scenes ways of helping out are sometimes the most important. It would be a lot more exciting to work in a safehouse for trafficked persons, but safehouse ministries also need volunteers to raise the funds they need to run their ministry, or warriors to pray for them. Many of the wonderful ministries that have been established to fight modern day slavery and human trafficking have wonderful suggestions of ways to become involved. Some of these organizations include:

The International Justice Mission: www.ijm.org
Exodus Cry: www.exoduscry.com
Love 146: www.love146.org
Stop the Traffik: www.stopthetraffik.org
Human Trafficking .Org www.humantrafficking.org

Above all, as you fight injustice, stay close to the Father’s heart and be guided by His spirit in order to maximize your impact as a freedom fighter!

Three Minutes

2009-04-17T02:35:00.001-05:00

I was thinking about my time in the Philippines last April, and was trying to pin down the exact moment when I knew that I couldn't stay away from the Philippines- that I'd be coming back (for good). Here's my story, the story of three minutes that changed my life.

Three Minutes

I knew when I decided to take an eleven day trip overseas last year that I would see things that would wake me up, things that would change me. That’s partly why I wanted to go so badly. I wasn’t disappointed. Shortly after flying from the US to the Philippines, I found myself at a home run by a group of nuns with some of the most beautiful hearts I’ve ever seen. It’s a place for the very sick, the very old, and the very young. It’s a place for those that have the least chance of surviving on the streets of Manila. It’s often a place for them to spend a few weeks or days of their lives being cared for and shown the love of Jesus before they die.

Walking inside the front door of the first house in the compound, there were kids everywhere, more than one piled on some of the small beds. Dying kids. Kids with diseases like encephalitis or tuberculosis. I looked at the few nuns scurrying from one child to the next and realized that there was no way that they could possibly care for so many children properly. I guess that they just couldn’t turn anyone away despite the overcrowding. The smell in the air proved that many of the children needing washing or changing. Overwhelmed, I looked up and caught the eyes of one of the sisters. “How can I help you?” A few minutes later, I found myself sitting cross-legged on the floor holding a bowl of runny rice gruel. Gathered around me in a semi-circle were half a dozen tiny malnourished toddlers. They reminded me of scrawny baby birds, opening their mouths and staring at me with eyes that seemed to huge for their tiny bodies. The bowl was empty all too soon. One of the sisters took it from me and motioned to me that she would take care of the babies.

I stood up and wandered into another room, this one holding children of various ages with handicaps or deformities. I found myself drawn to a yellow crib near the center of the room. In it lay a child whose limbs were baldly twisted and bent, looking like nothing more than a tangled mass of skin and bone, really. The child’s hair was closely shaved, and I couldn’t determine the sex. It was impossible to tell the age of the child as well- could have been 7, could have been 13. The child couldn’t speak and didn’t have much mobility, but was responsive to my voice. I watched as the child’s eyes fluttered open and fixed on me. I reached down and grasped the child’s hand, and my grip was returned firmly. I began to sing softly, an old hymn my mother sang to me as a little girl, as tears began to well up in my eyes:

“I am Jesus’ little lamb
Ever glad at heart I am
For my Shepherd gently guides me
Knows my needs and well provides me
Loves me every day the same
Even calls me by my name”

It struck me how fitting those words were. I didn’t know this child’s name, or anything else besides what I could observe, standing beside that crib. But I didn’t need to. This child was known and loved intimately by the Good shepherd who gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11). I knew that the indescribable love that I felt flooding through me for this unknown child was not mine, and I felt privileged to be an extension of Jesus, holding that hand and singing the words that He wanted to be sung to that child. I think that my words were understood despite the barriers of language and physical disability.

“Who so happy as I am
Even now the Shepherds lamb
And when my short life is ended
By His angel hosts attended
He shall fold me to his breast
Ever in His arms to rest!”

As the last few words of the song escaped my lips, my friends began to call me, telling me that it was time to leave. I didn’t want to go, but I began to peel those little fingers off of mine. The child wouldn’t let go! I couldn’t believe that a child who looked so weak could have such a vice like grip. And those eyes, they were starting to bore into me. I gently tugged my hand away. Not ready to give up, the child’s hand closed around a fistful of my hair as I bent over the crib. One of the sisters had to come over to help me disentangle myself.

My encounter with this child had lasted for only about 3 minutes, but those 3 minutes were enough to make me a misfit. I turned and walked out of the door of that room entirely wrecked. That’s when everything changed for me. I knew that I would never be able to go back to my life as it was before. That little one’s grip had reached around not only my hand but my heart, and I still haven’t been able to pull away. I will forever be thankful for my 3 minutes with Jesus in the form of a child.

Caring for Your Own Heart

2009-04-06T02:34:00.000-05:00

I've been reading this book called "Waking the Dead" by John Eldredge. I can't begin to tell you the healing that it is beginning to bring to some very shriveled and dead parts of my soul. I'm learning a lot about misconceptions we Christians have about our hearts or lies that the enemy feeds us in order to deaden our hearts. Read this:

"Above all else, guard your heart" (Prov 4:23). We usually hear this with a sense of "keep an aye on that heart of yours", in the way that you'd warn a deputy watching over some dangerous outlaw, or a bad dog the neighbors let run. "Don't let him out of your sight." Having so long believed our hearts are evil, we assume the warning is to keep us out of trouble. So we lock up our hearts and throw away the key, and then try to get on with living. But that isn't the Spirit of the command at all. It doesn't say guard your heart because it's criminal; it says guard your heart because it is the wellspring of your life, because it is a treasure, because everything else depends on it. How kind of God to give us this warning, like someone's entrusting to a friend something precious to him, with the words: "Be careful with this- it means a lot to me".

When was the last time that you took time to care for your heart? So many people I know seem to have neglected, broken hearts. Maybe you've simply ignored the needs of your heart. Maybe you've pushed out of your mind those seemingly unimportant things that your heart craved. Maybe you've thought "I'm OK, I'll make it. I just need to quit focusing on myself and work harder serving others, that will make my heart feel whole again". Or maybe you've turned to something else, something negative, to make your heart feel whole. Whatever your situation, I have a feeling that we are all brokenhearted, that we are all looking for something that will make us feel whole and alive again. Something outside of our own hearts. Here's another thought to chew on from John Eldredge's book:

“Caring for our own hearts isn't selfishness; it's how we begin to love. Yes, we care for our hearts for the sake of others. Does that sound like a contradiction? Not at all. What will you bring to others if your heart is empty, dried up, pinned down? Love is the point. And you can't love without your heart, and you can’t love well unless your heart is well. When it comes to the whole subject of loving others, you must know this: how you handle your heart is how you will handle theirs. This is the wisdom behind Jesus’ urging us to love others as we love ourselves. This would be a horrible command, if we hate ourselves or don’t care for ourselves”.

I could hardly believe the preceding paragraph when I read it. It makes sense, doesn't it? I'm sure we've all heard the saying "J.O.Y. = Jesus first, others second, and yourself last!". Hmmm, what's wrong with that idea? How are we going to love and serve others if our hearts are not full, if our hearts are not alive. I'm going to suggest a change. Go to Jesus first. Let Him heal and restore and fill your heart to overflowing. As much time and effort and pain and work as it takes- take care of your heart. THEN, and only then, will you be able to live and love others abundantly.

Is This the Way Your Heart Feels?

2009-04-03T02:33:00.000-05:00

Just some thoughts that have been roaming around in my head...

Sometimes I feel my heart might burst because it is so swollen with love. I love loving and I love being loved…
Is this the way Your heart feels too, Father?

I see the way your people have chosen death over life, and I long for them to understand… to reach up and grasp the hand that you are ever holding out to them.
Is this the way Your heart feels too, Father?

I see the evil that permeates the world you created to be perfect, and I long for the day that we will be reunited in a place with no darkness, and no tears.
Is this the way Your heart feels too, Father?

I don’t think that I’ll ever be “tough” enough to see suffering without it knifing into my soul. I see kids on the street and I long to pull each one of them into my arms… I want to hold them until it doesn’t hurt anymore.
Is this the way your heart feels too, Father?

I am frightened by the intensity of the anger that I feel towards those who inflict the unspeakable on your children. I want to push back the darkness, I want to fight the injustice with my last breath.
Is this the way your heart feels too, Father?

Put my heart inside of Yours. I have glimpsed only tiny pieces of Your heart, and I know You are only waiting for my answer, “yes”, to reveal more. Put my heart inside of Yours. I want my heart to beat out the same rhythm that yours does. No matter how much pain it means, no matter how much sacrifice it takes, I want to be inside your heart. It’s frightening to say “yes”, but I know that my heart is safe in Your hands.

I want to cry tears for you
I want to laugh with you
May the things that break Your heart break mine as well.
May the things that bring You joy be my source of joy.
May the things that You love be those that I love.
Until You come back, or I come to You.

Human Trafficking in the book of Revelation

2008-11-11T02:32:00.000-06:00

Revelation 18:10-13:
"Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!' The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more- cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.

I didn't either...

And then there is Psalm 10...

Psalm 10
1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises. (Hmmm, kind of sounds like traffikers)

3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

5 His ways are always prosperous; (Trafficking is the most profitable crime ever)
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.

6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
I'll always be happy and never have trouble."

7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.

8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims. (does this sound like the LRA to anyone else?)

9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.

11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees."

12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.

13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?

14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; (Hmmm, I like this...)
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.

17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. (AMEN)

Just a bit of rambling/pondering... The more I searh the word the more I find that has to do with Justice, and the more I find that deals specifically with the people trade. Almost like God wanted to make sure we got what He was saying about His heart for justice and what he requires of us as a result. Yeah.

China Olympics and Persucution: Prayer Bracelets

2008-07-15T10:20:00.002-05:00

There has been quite an uproar over the Olympics being hosted in China this year. However, though Tibet and Taiwan are getting a lot of attention, there is yet another instance that China is failing with regard to human rights: Christian persecution.

You can read more facts and statistics about China’s persecution record at persecution.org

So what are we going to do about it? Voice of the Martyrs is partnering with Christians in China to come up with a plan.

“Recently a prominent representative of a group of house churches in China asked Christians throughout the free world to pray for China during the Olympics. The Voice of the Martyrs, in partnership with China Aid Associates, has accepted that call and has produced the Olympic Prayer Band. We would like to invite you to request one for free to wear during the Olympics. Similar prayer bands will also be distributed to house church Christians in China and they will be praying for you as well.”

Get your prayer bracelet HERE.

The Olympics in Beijing run from August 8th to August 24th. Let’s make this time a time of concentrated prayer for our brothers and sisters in China. Wear the wristband to remind yourself to pray for them and to symbolize the fact that you are “bound with them” (Hebrews 13:3).

Cultivating Compassion

2008-06-28T23:04:00.001-05:00

In April I had the awesome experience of traveling to the Philippines to do ministry there. My eyes were opened to see the huge need for the children of God who are blessed, saved, and secure to actively cultivate compassion in their hearts for the lost, the poor, and the oppressed. My heart was overwhelmed by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”. I saw Jesus in the eyes of a dying child, an old woman in the market, young boys and girls on the street. It is amazing to me that we, as Christians, can minister to Jesus Himself by caring for the poor. There are so many people who are dying for the word of God to be brought to them, with no hope. We have that hope, we know how to share it, and we have the means to get it to where it needs to go. We only need the compassion the Holy Spirit will give us to motivate us to do so.

Jesus Christ is our model for compassion. The way he tenderly healed and loved the sick, the broken, and the lost shows us the way we, too, should act as “imitators of Christ” (Ephesians 5:1) I love the picture that is painted of Jesus for us in Mark chapter 6. Jesus was tired and the disciples were weary from ministering to the crowds of people that flocked around Him without ceasing. They hadn’t even had time to eat, so Jesus suggested retreating to a “solitary place” to rest and refuel. Apparently Jesus’ efforts to slip away quietly were futile- by the time He and His disciples arrived at this “solitary place” it was already crowded with people. Mark 6:34 says; “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things”.

We need to pray that the Holy Spirit would fill our hearts with compassion like that- compassion that “does not grow weary of well doing” (Galatians 6:9), compassion that is utterly selfless and motivated by pure love. While in the Philippines I was inspired by the staff at the orphanage we visited. They work day in, day out caring for the kids- without a rest, much like Jesus in Mark 6. They wash the children’s clothes by hand and cook their meals over a fire. Yet they do it all with such joy- with laughter and singing. I saw nuns at a catholic home for sick and dying children who have dedicated their lives to live in this place where it seems they will never even make a dent in the suffering- there are always more people than their facility can handle. And yet they love what they do.

John 3:16-18 says; “This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters. Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then God's love is not living in that person. My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring.” Henry Martyn , a missionary to Asia in the 1800’s once said; “The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become”. May it be so with us.

A Prayer for Overcoming Indifference

2008-05-29T08:31:00.001-05:00

I watch the news, God. I observe it all from a comfortable distance. I see people suffering, and I don’t lift a finger to help them. I condemn injustice but I do nothing to fight against it. I am pained by the faces of starving children, but I am not moved enough to try to save them. I step over homeless people in the street, I walk past outstretched hands, I avert my eyes, I close my heart.

Forgive me, God, for remaining aloof while others are in need of my assistance.

Wake me up, God; ignite my passion, fill me with outrage. Remind me that I am responsible for Your world. Don’t allow me to stand idly by. Inspire me to act. Teach me to believe that I can repair some corner of this world.

When I despair, fill me with hope. When I doubt my strength, fill me with faith. When I am weary, renew my spirit. When I lose direction, show me the way back to meaning, back to compassion, back to You. And let us all say, AMEN.

~ by Naomi Levy

God's Heart for Justice

2008-05-09T15:04:00.004-05:00

So often we hear teachers and mentors talking about having "God's heart for People". The context in which this phrase is usually used is talking about having God's LOVE for people. There is so much more to having God's heart- God has a heart of justice as well. When we have God's heart for others we will have a burning desire to see justice upheld.

"God has a history of using the insignificant to accomplish the impossible."
~Richard Exley

Persecution

2008-03-13T10:56:00.003-05:00

While doing some research for a talk I'm giving on persecution this Tuesday, I came across this post on VOM's Persecution Blog.Please Pray!

Muslim militants killed at least two Christians and wounded dozens more on March 3, 2008, in the town of Nensabo located 325 km southeast of the capital Addis Ababa, according to VOMC sources and a March 6 report from International Christian Concern. The militants attacked the Christians, including women and children, while they were attending a worship service.

Eight of the wounded have been taken to the town of Awassa for hospitalization, while others with serious injuries were taken to Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa. Among the wounded were a police officer and a Christian whose hand was cut off by the attackers. Reports indicated that the attack was part of a plan by Muslim militants, influenced by the spread of Wahhabism in the area, to wipe out Christians from the Muslim-dominated region. The plan included destruction of churches and attacks on Christian groups involved in missionary work.

Pray that those who mourn for the deceased Christians will find comfort in the fact that Christ has triumphed over death and that those who die in the Lord will be raised with Him (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Pray that God will embolden Ethiopian Christians to follow the example of those who were martyred for Him (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Learn more about the persecution facing Christians in Ethiopia. Go to www.persecution.net/country/ethiopia.htm. Video reports on persecution in Ethiopia can be viewed at www.persecution.tv. The March edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter focuses on the trials and faith of those who are spreading the Good News in Ethiopia. Subscribe today at www.persecution.net/nlorder.htm to receive your free subscription.

Revival

2008-02-13T09:18:00.005-06:00

It starts in a heart
conformed to His likeness
A spark, then a flame
growing in brightness
Led by the Spirit,
Fed by the Word
Revival is spreading
all over the world

Now a fire is raging that can't be contained
Won't you let it consume your heart once again?
Shine light in darkness, purify
Bring hope and passion renew, revive..
Oh, Revival's fire

Persecution

2008-02-04T12:17:00.000-06:00

One thing that I'm commited to do with this blog is post frequently regarding the Persecuted church. I first began to feel very burdened for the persecuted church last year when I gave a speech on persecution for a school assignment. I'd always known that persecution was a very real issue, but did not realize the extent of the problem until I began to do research for the speech.

I discovered that there are an estimated 200 million Christians enduring persecution around the world, and that 70 million Christians have been martyred since the death of Jesus Christ. I learned that persecution today is even worse than it was during the height of the Roman Empire, mainly because of the rapid growth of radical Islam and communism around the world.

I read stories about modern-day martyrs... Men women and children who have died because of thier faith. The Christian boy who was "crucified" crudely- nailed to a board. The girl who was shot for refusing to spit on a Bible.

I want to encourage you all to pray for and support persecuted Christians- and if you get the chance, speak out about this issue- I recently was able to teach a class on persecution and slavery at my church.
For more resources and information, check out:
www.persecution.com
www.prisoneralert.com
www.torturedforchrist.com

Isaac's Mission Project

2008-01-14T20:58:00.000-06:00

Issac, Noah, and Faith are part of a "missions club". each week the kids take turns presenting and leading the other kids in completing a project. Isaac chose writing letters to persecuted Christians as his project. The kids wrote letters to Christians in prison around the world using an online translator and then decorated them and prayed for the Christians they wrote to by name. I'm so blessed by Isaac's heart. : )

The kids with their completed letters.

Pray Global Prayers

2008-01-14T15:01:00.000-06:00

I copied the following from John Piper's blog- good enough to share! : )

May I encourage you to build a global dimension into your daily prayers? “Grant that your name be hallowed. Grant that your kingdom would come. Grant that your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.” These are global prayers—with personal implications. Both kinds of prayer are good: specific, local, personal prayers, and general, global, sweeping prayers for the church and the nations.

Here is the way I keep the world in my prayers. I use the Online "Operation World". I keep it in my bookmark bar on the browser and click it every day. If you go there, click in the left hand column “Pray Today.” Each day there is a different global focus. On February 7, they will start to lead us in prayer for every country of the world alphabetically. Till then they direct our attention to the overarching picture of the global church. Today the call for prayer looks like this:

1) Maintaining a clear witness to the uniqueness of Christ in the midst of a growing religious pluralism, non-Christian religious revival, urbanization, modernity and relativism. Christians will be increasingly criticized for being "intolerant".

2) Sustaining the centrality of the Scriptures in today's world at a time when many Evangelicals in the West are becoming less firm in their convictions. Too often believers' thoughts, prejudices and fears are moulded more by the prevailing culture, philosophies, superstitions and religions of the society around them than by the Bible. Humanism in the West, Hinduism in India, etc., are examples. All such can rob Christians of their assurance, power and joy in the face of a hostile world, and side-track believers into focusing on secondary or irrelevant issues.

3)The effective functioning of local congregations. Each should be an organism, a body. Each member has gifts to contribute to the up-building of the whole, yet rarely do congregations function in this way. This emphasis on "body life" has come into prominence in the past three decades. New, innovative models of 'church' and its ministry are emerging. May every congregation be an effective body through which the Holy Spirit can work!

4) Leadership — the key. Pastors, ministers and elders need constant upholding in prayer. There is a worldwide lack of men and women truly called of God and deeply taught in the Scriptures to lead the churches — people willing to suffer scorn, poverty and the shame of the Cross for the sake of the Saviour who redeemed them. Those who accurately and effectively expound the Scriptures are few, especially in areas where the churches are growing rapidly. May all leaders be an example to their flocks in holy living, evangelism and missionary concern for a lost world!

5) Spiritual depth. This is rare in many congregations. Superficiality, an inadequate devotional life and worldliness are common. This highlights the need for effective teaching, in the mother tongue, of the Bible's content, doctrines, and applicability to life and witness.

6) Victorious optimism is rare where evangelical believers are a small and despised minority or in countries where there is widespread decline in commitment to the Lord. These believers are often introspective and timid, and hardly a mighty force for the pulling down of the fortifications of the devil. Believers need prayer that they may witness boldly and effectively.

7)Young people. In this modern age they are often lost to the Church and become worldly, even after a Christian upbringing, because of a growing generation gap and the pressures of the world around them. Every new generation needs to be evangelized afresh, or the churches soon become nominal. Young people need prayer as never before.

8) Revival has occurred in various parts of the world this century (see Regions), but not on the scale, nor with the effect, for which believers long in this critical and momentous time of history.

9)Missionary vision. An Acts 1:8 strategy is needed for every church and denomination. Amazing results have been achieved by a dedicated few. How speedily the world would be evangelized if all believers and every congregation obeyed the commands of Jesus in Acts 1, and believed His promises for enablement through the Holy Spirit! Pray for the awakening and growth of missionary concern. Pray for effective and practical missionary involvement in praying, giving and going and for the following:
a) The speediest possible completion of the goals given in the Great Commission by the Lord Jesus to His Church.
b) All churches to make obedience to the Great Commission their primary ministry objective. Only through this will the resources be available to bring the task to conclusion, or closure, in our generation.
c) All leadership training institutions and programmes to ensure that missions be a fundamental and essential core component of every course. It is failure to do this that has caused the centuries of neglect and marginalization of world evangelization in churches and agencies.
d) Mission agency prayer, planning and deployment to emphasize reaching unreached areas, peoples and cities. The Adopt-a-People Clearinghouse and the AD2000 and Beyond Movement have compiled a list of over 6,000 unreached and adoptable peoples submitted by agencies as targeted for entry. Many are those included in our World A totals, others are World B and C peoples. (See Appendix 2 for addresses of these organizations and agencies who can provide further information.)
e) The adoption of unreached peoples by churches, Christian groups, prayer circles and individuals. The task can be completed only as Christians take responsibility in earnest intercession until believers are won and churches planted in each people.

Christ Has Come!!!

2007-12-24T15:36:00.000-06:00

For so long hearts waited for a Savior
watching for the promised one
how great the joy when a baby boy
was born and love had come

He is here, He has come
the Son of God the Holy One
He has come to set us free
He is here, He has come
the Son of God the Holy One
He has come, Oh, he has come

Years have gone by and still hearts cry for
someone to set them free
They need to know that there is hope
in the blood shed on calvary

He is here, He has come
the Son of God the Holy One
He has come to set us free
He is here, He has come
the Son of God the Holy One
He has come, Oh, he has come

Savior, our Savior, my Savior has come
Savior, our Savior, my Savior has come

He is here, He has come
the Son of God the Holy One
He has come to set us free
He is here, He has come
the Son of God the Holy One
He has come, Oh, he has come

Merry Christmas!

Bella

2007-11-10T23:48:00.000-06:00

I AM SO EXCITED!! BELLA THE MOVIE IS NOW SHOWING AT A DECENT AMOUNT OF THEATRES!!! Lydia and I tried to go see it last week but it was only playing in like two theatres in MN and niether were remotely near us. I guess it had a great opening week 'cause now they've expanded the number of theatres at which it can play... : )

*sigh*

Everyone go see it- we need to support the godly young men who created the film. : )I got to hear one of the movie's creators speak at a leadership confrence I was at and I am so excited that this movie seems to be getting some attention...

here's the official website: www.bellathemovie.com
and here's a movie review- gotta love it when the review says "the strongest word used in this movie is 'gosh' : ):
"http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0003464.cfm

November 11th

2007-11-08T12:51:00.001-06:00

Hey, Just wanted to remind y'all that November 11th is the National Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Go Visit www.persecution.com and sign up to recieve e-mail prayer alerts, or get involved by writing a letter to a persecuted christian or a government official by visiting www.prisoneralert.com!

Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Shadow Missions

2007-08-11T22:08:00.000-05:00

For the past two days I've been attending a leadership summit satellite church conference with Dad. All I can say is incredible! We've heard from Jimmy Carter, Bill Hybels, and John Ortburg among others. Kirk Franklin came in to lead worship. Wow- he can live in my neighborhood in heaven! : )I love being around people like him who are so incredibly joyful and alive in the way they worship our God.
My favorite session was John Ortburg's- he spoke on the subject of a leader's greatest fear. Ortburg believes that a leader's greatest fear is not fear of failure, fear of criticism, or even fear of mutiny- according to him, a leader's greatest fear is not what can happen to us, but what can happen in us. A leader's greatest fear is that of being seduced by his/her "shadow mission".
Ortburg defines a shadow mission as "what we would be doing if we were not fulfilling our true, God-given mission". In myself, I realize that my shadow mission is all about winning other's approval and admiration. I could easily let my life's focus slip out of my true, God-given mission of bringing glory to God through my life. And I confess that I do- often. Sometimes the enemy can trick us into thinking that our shadow missions are really our true missions- I pondered how many times I have done something that I told myself that "I was doing for the Lord" when in actuality my underlying motive was to win the approval of others in my church, home, etc. I need God's grace and His Spirit to help me keep my true mission crystal clear in my mind and to keep me from giving in to my fleshly desire to pursue my shadow mission. I am frankly ashamed at how often I can recall myself giving into that temptation, even in this past week!
Ortburg challenged us with these words at the conclusion of his session: " Will you have the courage to challenge the shadow missions of those around you, and that of our culture?" So I'm challenging you- think about it. What is your shadow mission? are you pursuing your God given mission right now, or your shadow mission?

2007-07-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

Something really cool happened today...

My friend Beth and I took our little sisters to the county fair to spend the day. It was super hot and we decided to buy some ice cream and sit down in the shade. : ) We all sat down near these two Asian girls, and eventually struck up a conversation with them.

We found out that they are Japanese English students here in the States for a month to be immersed in American language and culture. It was fun to hear about their homes and families in Japan, and what they found strange and different in the U.S. After we had finished our Ice cream, we said goodbye and left.

After we had walked away I turned to Beth and said, "I really feel like we should have talked to those girls about Jesus." Beth looked at me with huge eyes and said, "Hannah, I feel the exact same way!" so we turned around, went back and asked the girls (their names were Ayumi and Yumi)if we could talk to them awhile longer. They were really happy to see us again! : D

We found out that both girls are Buddhists and spent awhile talking about our respective faiths. Their basic beliefs were in a "god" or "higher being", heaven and hell, and that salvation is acquired by works... Both were very open to hearing about what we believed and we were able to pretty much outline the gift of salvation to them. We had to go our separate ways after awhile, but they exchanged e-mails with Beth and I and made us promise to write them.

Both girls were very sweet and my heart feels burdened for them tonight. Would you all please join me in praying that a seed was planted in Ayumi's and Yumi's hearts today through what Beth and I said and did?

And here's our picture together! Apparently the Japanese like to do "peace" signs in all their pictures! : ) They also say "cheese!"....Cute!

"Sayounana!"
(Japanese for good bye!)

Mission Trip Pictures!

2007-06-29T16:27:00.000-05:00

Alrighty- here are some pictures from Lydia and Dad's trip- I'll have Lydia post more incredible stories and such later when she has recovered from jet lag! : )

The Dump in Manila- literally the poorest place on the face of the earth!

Dad with kids at the dump.

At the orphanage passing out donations of clothing and school supplies. The little girl in the picture with Lydia is the child she sponsors, Nerissa, who calls her "anke (big sister) Lydia".

Another child Lydia sponsors- little Lovely- with her new toys.

Lydia putting her nursing skills to good use! She got to help the mission team doctor to stich up a boy's hand, do surgery on a girl's ear, and more...
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Dad teaching the kids about baptisim

Dad and Nathan doing the baptisims- Dad learned enough Tagalit (native language)to be able to baptize the kids in thier own language!

One little boy laughing and crying at the same time after being baptized

The playground the team built for the kids.

In the village near the orphanage handing out hygiene items and food- the locals loved the toothpaste and were all clamoring "you have colgate?". : )

Village kids eating food the team served.

Dad and Lydia with village children.

The team washed the feet and prayed over all of the orphanage staff and children.

Lydia with a little girl who was once perfectly normal but because of years of abuse was brought to the orphanage able to do nothing but lay on the floor all day. She was beaten so badly that her back was broken and she became mentally handicapped.

Dad learning a breakdancing move from one of the teens at the orphanage...: )

Dad with a pile of kids!

Some of the kids with Lyd.

The cement-block wall the team built; the neighbors tore up the old wooden fence for firewood!

Dad and his buddy- this sweet little boy hung onto his leg pretty much the entire time they were at the orphanage!

WOW!

2007-06-25T11:06:00.000-05:00

I just recieved an e-mail from my Dad, who is still in the Phillippines. I'm still crying... Praise God for the amazing things He is doing!

Dear Family and Friends,

I was able to get online at a little place in the village of San Antonio in the province of Zimbales. I have no way to send pictures at this time but can only describe this experience as amazing. We went to the landfill in Manila where people live right in the filth and stench of rotting garbage. Little naked children ran through the human waste and raw sewage that flowed in muddy passageways between their dwellings. They lived in huts made from scraps of anything they could find for building. Pastor Ric, a Methodist preacher, has a little school for preschool children built on the outskits of the old dump site.
Further into the new dump we distributed eyeglasses to people from a little shanty made from scraps. When I entered the shanty and saw the back wall with a banner, I realized this was a church. A man was urinating in the mud next to her when I walked in. Amid the stench, the flies, and the unbelievable living conditions, a still small voice told me, "This is my house." I will never forget that moment.

We visited a home for handicapped children and I was deeply touched by the human suffering. Lydia began weeping almost the instant she walked into the room with the little babies. We held them and they just clung to us like little koala bears. It was incredible. My eyes were hot and teary most of the time as I held a sweet little girl who just cried and cried until I sang to her. She would have nothing to do with anyone else after that.

The mission of Shepherd of the Hills is utterly fantastic! I can't wait to get back to tell you all about the life saving work they are doing in the lives of children who would otherwise be lost. They are taking the future drug dealers, prostitutes, and criminals off the streets when they are young. They are leading them to the Lord Jesus and setting them on a new course. These young people are getting a new vision for their lives which is in Christian service.
Nathan and Ruth (the directors of the multi site ministry) tell me that these children will lead the churches of the Philippines with a great passion for Jesus. You should see the worship. I had the oppoirtunity to preach in their worship service this past week. WOW!

The Baptisms (of 65 of the orphans at SOTH) are scheduled for tomorrow morning (it will be late this eveing for
you) Please pray for these children and teens who are making the commitment to never turn back from a walk with the Lord.

Both Lydia and I are feeling fine, the food is wonderful! I've eaten things I thought I'd never taste but it is all very good. We ask your continued prayers as we complete this mission. Lydia is getting so much experience as a student nurse. She is hearing heart tones with her stethescope that you hardly ever hear in the United States. She has made regular rounds to care for the sick children and I can see that she has what it takes to be the very best nurse I've ever known. God's hand is really on her for this work.

Well, after a long (probably sleepless) flight we will be home in just a few days. We miss everyone and can't wait to see you all. God is deeply impacting our lives with this experience. Thanks for praying. More later (probably when we return) with pictures.

Mark & Lydia

Missions...

2007-06-20T16:07:00.000-05:00

I keep finding more cool stuff to put on this thing- check out the media player and Summit ticker in my footer... I could make this blog very elaborate if I wanted to! : )

Today Lydia and Dad left on thier mission trip to the Philippines- I wish I could have gone, too! My whole family has gotten to play a small role in the mission, though, that's pretty neat. There's an awesome ministry up here called Feed My Starving Children where volunteers help package meals to send to areas around the world where people have no food. The meals have actually been formulated by doctors and nutrtionists specifically for the bodies of people who have been starving- they wouldn't be able to handle regular food! We've volunteered several times before- it's a fun family project because even Faith and Isaac can help measure and pour ingredients while the older kids weigh and package, etc. Anyway, last week we all went to help package meals that the Philippines mission team will actually take with them to cook and serve at a huge garbage dump where lots of people (including about 800 orphans) live. They actually live in and eat the garbage. The mission team is helping a pastor who is literally building a church in the middle of this garbage dump and will hopefully be establishing connections to get food sent there on a regular basis. Awesome stuff happenin'! : )