Complicated Simplicity

Milk.

Can you believe that milk is supposed to go up to $4.50/gallon? That is insane. I love the price of ethanol, but I would rather my babies and yours have enough milk, at a decent price (seriosuly, how are poor people supposed to buy milk if it's that much-it's already way expensive) than be able to drive a few extra miles. Seriously, take some public transportation for goodness' sake. And if people would start to care about this world we live in, and watch how much gas they are using (plain old gas or ethanol) the prices wouldn't rise so much, and everyone would have milk. That's my little soap-box sermon of the day.

Watch how much gas you're using, be good to our world. Really-because it's a gift from God, and I don't think He appreciates us treating it like crap.

Buy a Frosty from Wendy's this Weekend.

Adoption is something that could eventually play a big part in our family. I don't know what God has planned for us, but we could pursue this avenue someday. Anyway, Wendys is donating 50 cents from the sale of every Frosty this Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17, to the Dave Thomas Foundation. So, buy some Frosties. Buy your father or husband a frosty. Buy yourself a frosty. Buy your kids a frosty. And support something amazing.

We Love Mark Shultz!

Check this out:

Please.

Please watch this and pray.

Invoke The Change: Action Against Hunger

The first organization I chose to showcase here is Action Against Hunger (AAH). They provide humanitarian aid to over 40 countries and specialize in emergency situations.

They have a well-organized website that has tons of information. You can learn about their programs and the current hunger issues facing the world today as well as about hunger and malnutrition in general.

They have an e-mail newsletter that you can sign up for and banners that you can place on your website or blog (see mine on the right).

Hunger is a really big issue facing our world, I don't think any of us would deny that. There are many malnourished, starving people in the world, especially in third world countries. When natural disasters, famine, or war occur the situations go from bad to worse.

I am not asking you to donate money. If you would like to-that's great. However, there are other things that you can do apart from monetary donations. The first thing is to get informed about hunger in our world. Check out the information about hunger provided on their website. And help to inform others. Your children, your spouse and other family members.

Also, be cautious about buying and wasting food. What are you eating-nourishing things or junk food? Are you buying only what is needed? Are you making enough food to feed an army for two people and throwing out the leftovers? I know that I'm guilty of these things time and time again and I need to correct that.

Maybe you would like to fund raise for hunger. Check out the Student Projects section for more ideas on that. Maybe you would like to fast and give the money you would normally spend on food to AAH. Or maybe you would fast simply to be reminded of how much food is wasted or consumed without a thought about those who have none.

Keep informed about hunger issues facing our government. E-mail makes it free (no stamp) and easy to contact your congressperson.

There are so many things that you can do, and I think the most important thing is prayer. To pray for organizations like AAH, who are helping those in need. Not all of us can be there to feed a baby who needs it, or help those affected by a typhoon, but we can pray. We can touch them with our spirits and lift them up.

I also encourage you to always look up any charity on a site like Charity Navigator. It's important that you know what the charity stands for and where the money is going. I will always put a link to their information from Charity Navigator at the end of my Invoke the Change posts.

Charity Navigator: Action Against Hunger

Invoke The Change.

Hello everyone. In case you didn't know, I want to change the world. Yes a very shy, quiet, socially awkward girl wants to change the world. I want to make a difference and help those that need help. I want to give a voice to those that have none, I want to give a face to those that are faceless. I want to live my life serving others and making their lives easier.

I am sick of people that complain about the world, politics, disease, hunger, homelessness, et cetera, and leave it at that. Whining about the hurt and devastation in the world and never taking action. I admit, more often than not, I join that great class of whiners and complainers. I complain and wonder "What should I do? What can I do really?"

I don't have untold wealth. I don't have a ton of resources or connections. I am just one girl in a world of billions of people. I live in Illinois and don't have a national audience. How am I supposed to impact the world?

Well, God has been having a field day with me. Telling me that I need to make a difference. That I need to stand for those who can't. Telling me to use the talents and passions that He's given me-for Him. To center my entire life on Him. I love to blog, so I thought I would use that as my means for communication.

So I opened a new blog called Invoke. I was stoked and did my research and designed it and started it. And....no one looked at it. So, I closed it down, stopped researching and let it go by the wayside.

And yet I kept hearing that voice telling me that I need to act. I need to make a difference. It doesn't take riches. It doesn't take a multitude of people. It takes only one person who is willing to be used by God.

And so, I decided to have a go at it again, but differently. Since no one went to Invoke, I decided to bring it here. And rather than focus on a different issue each week, I'm simply going to feature ministries and organizations and practical tips on how to live our lives differently and get involved.

I really hope you'll join me. I really hope that you'll read those posts and absorb the information. That you will take a minute to visit the websites and see the awesome, amazing things that are happening. That you will pray for these ministries/organizations and issues. That you will allow God to guide you in deciding how to act. Obviously the decision to read and act is up to you, but I am praying that you will join me in loving the world like Jesus. Together, we can invoke the change.

~rd~