Tom's Wedding

My favorite shoes for weddings!! how fun!

Food 4 Africa

7 Facts of malnutrition and starvation:

• 1 in 10 Infants die within the first 12 months of life
• 1 in 5 children suffer from chronic malnutrition
• More than 12 cases a month of Marasmus or Kwashiorkor are seen in one
  clinic in Alexander
• 1 in 10 children suffers from severe malnutrition
• 50% of children have a calcium, iron and zinc deficiency
• 75% of South Africans, have inadequate access to food
• More than 1 in 5 children are physically stunted due to malnutrition.

*learned about this in Instyle- Paul Mitchell products supports this organization

IT- review

My Boss sent a link to this article after I told him about my experience at my home church this past weekend. I don't necessarily agree with the article but found it interesting. I wish there was a church that could 100% perfectly represent Jesus how he was... I really wish I could be a person who did.

In 2000, I became a Christian at the age of 23. Two years later, I was working at one of the largest churches in the country. After two more years, I left that job to help start a brand new church. Four years later, I stopped attending church. So...no church, to attending church, to working in a church, to starting a church, to leaving the church - all in less than eight years. Now, I am visiting 52 churches in 52 weeks in order to redefine my faith. This is reflection 31 of 52.

Remember how kid's shows always had a word of the day? Like "ball," and then they would spend the whole episode discussing balls.

This week's word for stop 31 of the Church Experiment is "contradIcTion."

First, I'm going to contradict myself multiple times. Including a huge contradiction at the very end, so no matter how judgmental I may sound throughout this post, you have to keep reading until the very last sentence. Second, I'm going to discuss my visit to Southland in a way that highlights many of their contradictions (from an outsider's perspective). You'll see what I mean.

First, a little backstory: a young lady from Kentucky began following the Church Experiment months ago. As I recall, from the beginning, she wanted me to come visit her church in Lexington. The only thing I know about Lexington is that I loathe UK basketball, so a trip seemed unlikely. Then, a while back, she gave me an update about "IT." Southland began a summer-long marketing blitz for a series beginning August 1st, titled IT. No one knew what IT was, only that IT was going to be huge. My interest was piqued, so Saturday night, I made the 90-minute drive from Cincinnati to Lexington to experience IT firsthand.

When I first pulled into Southland's parking lot, I was overwhelmed (in a good way). I literally had to park so far away from the main building that I expected an airport shuttle to go racing by. Even though I arrived on Southland's campus five minutes early, I walked into the building a minute late. That's how far away I had to park.

READ the rest here.

Chuck Close

Chuck Thomas Close is an American painter and photographer who achieved fame as a photorealist, through his massive-scale portraits. Though a catastrophic spinal artery collapse in 1988 left him severely paralyzed, he has continued to paint and produce work which remains sought after by museums and collectors.

I think this is SO cool- he paints himself a lot big portraits and after he was paralyzed he continued to paint. I learned about him at Opportunity Village a not-for-profit organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities by providing them with vocational training, employment and social recreation services that make their lives more productive and interesting. I am volunteering here this summer while school is out. Its been a really cool experience.

MILK

I saw this tonight. I recommend it.

Tom's for Moms!

My mom probably wouldn't wear them but if your would you should get them!
Mother's Day May 10th!

Las Vegas march to save children in Africa

The plight of children half a world away took center stage for people in the valley on Saturday.

Members and supporters of a non-profit group known as "Invisible Children" marched from the Stratosphere to Hertitage park to make their message clear.

They're trying to spread awareness, gain support and use their voices for change.

About 150 signed up for the event, mostly teens, giving up what they call the comforts of home to symbolize all of the children in Africa who are being forced into a Ugandan civil war.

Alot of outrage and alot of compassion culminating together for all of the youth being abducted and forced into violence.

"They were forced against their will, and it made me appreciate what I have even more. To see the children deprived of a regular life, it's really sad to see the hurt that they've gone through," said Amanda Walters, a student at Seville Middle School.

Walters says she never knew about this widespread suffering for children in Africa, until she saw a video at school. That's when she knew she had to get involved.

It wasn't just Las Vegans joining in on the march. Tourists who were around for other reasons also got word of the event.

"They're having to murder other people, not something they want to do. No one is speaking out for them. We need to speak out for the children," said Jennifer Drake, who was visiting from Fresno for a wedding.

Drake brought her 12-year-old son along, who is suffering from diabetes. She thought it was important for him to see that other childrens' struggles are worse than his own.

Organizers of the event said they planned on spending the night outside in sleeping bags at Hertiage Park.

What they're hoping for is a brief appearance from a local politican or celebrity to help speak out for the cause.

They say, if that doesn't happen, they plan to take their march to the front steps of City Hall until somebody recognizes.

Stay tuned to Channel 13.

Invisible Children

A road team has been staying at our house

(and showed a screening at our church) this week.

They have a big event all over the nation this Saturday April 25th raising awareness of the children abducted in Eastern Africa to become child soldiers.

The event in Vegas starts at the Stratosphere at 3PM.

Go to there site to see if there is a Rescue by you!

Doing whatever it takes to save a child

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF was founded in 1947 to support the work of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) by raising funds for its programs and increasing awareness of the challenges facing the world's children. The oldest of 37 national committees for UNICEF worldwide, we are part of a global effort to save, protect and improve children's lives.

*There are so many great organizations out there that I would love to work for one day. This one is based out of NYC. Advocating for social justice is so appealing to me- through my school practicum I was able to spend time today at a WIC clinic. We have so many services in the US for those struggling with poverty not all nations are as blessed.

Hotel Rwanda

I can't believe I've never seen this.
This movie is unbelievable how could we as people ever let this happen.

Volunteer in Southern Nevada

You do not want to miss the LIVE UNITED t-shirt Flash Mob taking place, Saturday, March 14th at 10am. Who wants to say they were buying groceries or sitting on their couch at home when history in southern Nevada is being made?

Why?
Because underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people. Connected, interdependent, united.

Come be a part of history as United Way of Southern Nevada and its Volunteer Center embark on its first LIVE UNITED t-shirt Flash Mob in Las Vegas. The first 200 participants to register will receive a FREE LIVE UNITED T-shirt.

The “top secret” details will be emailed to you in the next few days.

Not sure what a flash mob is?
It is a group of people who quickly assemble in a public place, freeze for less than 5 minutes, and then disperse. Click HERE to view United Way of America’s LIVE UNITED t-shirt flash mob that occurred November 13th of 2008 at Union Station in Washington DC.

Children under 14 are welcome with a parent/guardian.

All participants must pre-register prior to the event!

Check in opens at 8:45AM. All participants must be checked in by 9:30AM. Check in closes promptly at 9:30AM with the event starting at 10:00AM.

Impact Areas: Community Enrichment, Arts and Culture, Citizen Action/Academy, Community Enrichment, Other

"Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress...requires change. Education is essential to change, for education creates both new wants and the ability to satisfy them."

- Henry Steele Commanger

Blessed our those who are generous, because they feed the poor. Proverbs 22:9
Friends of ours live in Haiti as full time missionaries.
Read about this organization on their blog
Feed My Starving Children

Donald Miller's recap of the inauguration.

A historic day!

Donald Miller at the Inauguration

Donald Miller will be attending the Presidential Inauguration and you can follow his updates on twitter "follow donmilleris" to 40404.

Found first at here.

All Living Presidents got together today!

"One message that I have, and I think we all share, is that we want you to succeed. Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country," Bush told Obama before lunch with the former presidents.
Very good Bush. Very good.

PostSecret of the Week

I think I would do this.
I am praying for our country this holiday season...

Obama's White House

Keeping Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense

Senator Clinton as Secretary of State

Evangelical pastor Rick Warren will deliver the
invocation at the presidential inauguration next month.

* I am really excited about what Obama is doing.
Even though I am a democrat I like to see he isn't choosing single minded people
What do you think? It will be interesting!

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