Food stamp cut is tough on pantries

<Article in the Grand Haven Tribune> Early November 2013.

Local volunteers and human service workers say the decrease in federal food assistance dollars, which began Friday, is on theirs and their clients' minds.

Benefit levels through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, fell after the temporary federal stimulus package increase of 2009 expired. That means more than 22,000 Ottawa County recipients will see their Bridge card amounts fall when they reload them this month, according to David Akerly, acting director of communications for the Michigan

Normally, I wouldn't post something on this.  But really?  We have now let Black Friday suck in Thanksgiving to create Black Thanksgiving?  I am speechless.

http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/11/17/if-you-shop-on-thanksgiving-you-are-part-of-the-problem/

Brown Friday!

Instead of Black Friday, you can celebrate Brown Friday!

(Sternberg, this has you written all over it!)

(Scroll down after the video)

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/brown-friday

(Yup, it's real, and I would love one of those shirts.  People is Singapore have a great sense of humor!  But, this is a serious problem, 2.5 billion people don't have access to a private toilet.)

A great resource to connect your kids to God

How do you get your kids compassionate about God's children around the world?  (Well first, you have to care)  Then, one piece of the puzzle could be:

http://www.compassion.com/multimedia/explorer-magazine-fall-2013.pdf?referer=86255&utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SP_USCOMM-0380_NOV_2013_IMPACT_ENEWS%20(1)&utm_content=

Matthew 25:40 - “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ "

It's Friday!

It's Friday, and I have a challenge.

Turn off the TV, sit down with your spouse, and read this:
http://www.worldvision.org/resources.nsf/main/press-reports/$file/201303_Child-Miners-Speak_REPORT.pdf

All of it.

I John 3 - 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Do you trust Jesus?

Trust Fall from worshiphousemedia on GodTube.

Happy World Toilet Day!

It Is Officially Not a Joke- Today is World Toilet Day!

November 19, 2013

Since 2001, the World Toilet Organization has been celebrating World Toilet Day along with its partners.  This year the United Nations has made it official- November 19th is World Toilet Day!

This may sound funny, but it is not a joke. When we talk about water, sanitation and hygiene,

Turkey Giving

As Dyk said in his last post, it is great to imagine what God will do with 28 turkey meals.  And yes, I am confident that HE will do more than we are even aware of, despite our human flaws.  However, one other thing I am confident of - not only is God watching what we are doing, and the world, but very importantly, many little ones are being raised thinking that Pabama is normal.

This picture says it all.

God, to You alone belongs the glory!

Further Saturday Thanksgiving:

Some verses that describe why we do what we do:

1 Chronicles 29:14 - 'But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.'

2 Corinthians 9:12-15 - 'This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.'

To God be the Glory!

Another picture:

To God be the Glory!

27 birds, 10 men, 5 kids.  It's great to imagine what God did with this already and what he will do.

God rocks!  Not much organization, 27 meals are all purchased, without any counting of the funds.  Just simple obedience and buying . . . .   To God Be The Glory!  We lay at all at your feet Lord.  We love you so

Sparty On!

Well, first we are watching the Ohio State band for inspiration, and now this.  Fellow Knight Nienhouse posted this on Facebook.  I still do not understand how to embed a video.  Maybe some day some techie guy will show me....again (ahem, Dyk).  Anyway, check out this video clip about Chris Norman who is definitely inspiring.  Even if he is a Spartan!  (a little long, but definitely worth the watch).

(Here you go Sterny!!!)


Drafted: Why Chris Norman Said No to the NFL from Desiring God on Vimeo.

Welcome the latest Knight - Ryk Henry Tre-bois!!!

On 3:31am (ouch!) on 11-12-13 weighing in a 7lbs 14oz, Ryk Henry was born to Ryan and Kelly Tre-Boys (You used to know them as the DuBois, but with the birth of their 3rd son . . .  you get the idea).

Congratulations!!!

Salvation from what?

You are standing at the communion table.  You are eating the bread, so grateful that Jesus gave his body.  But what are you grateful for?  Are you grateful for salvation from the punishment of hell?  Or do you love God so much that your sins against him make you sick, and you are grateful that by giving his body he amazingly, suddenly holds you blameless for those sins, and will work in you toward a life of no sin?

Really ask yourself, what are you grateful for salvation from?  Does it show in your life?

What if eternity and heaven were real . . . . ?

What did you wake up and do today?  What were your goals?  What did you think about?  If heaven is a real place, and if I will spend eternity there . . . . should I treat this world as a separate place, operating in a  holding pattern until I go to heaven?  Wouldn't it make more sense if I focused on things that had value in the life to come as well as this life?  Did I do that today?

Are you walking with God?

Are you learning and applying principles, or are you walking with God?  Which method does the Bible model for us . . . . . ?

What IS Discipleship?

What have we come to accept as "discipleship"? A friend of mine recently handed me a program from a large and successful church somewhere in the Midwest. It's a rather exemplary model of what the idea has fallen to. Their plan for discipleship involves, first, becoming a member of this particular church. Then they encourage you to take a course on doctrine. Be "faithful" in attending the Sunday morning service and a small group fellowship. Complete a special course on Christian growth. Live a life that demonstrates clear evidence of spiritual

Captives . . . marching

Os . . . . is he nuts?  Or is he relaying the truth?  Yeah, it's important that you decide.

From utmost.org

The Proper Perspective

Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 2:14

The proper perspective of a servant of God must not simply be as near to the highest as he can get, but it must be the highest. Be careful that you vigorously maintain God’s perspective, and

What Smells?

Well, Coopersville Pabama is in full swing!  Last week, 3 members of the Coopersville Pabama Branch (the CPB), with financial assistance from a fourth member, went out right after school on a Pabama run.  The gist of it:  6th grade student has ADHD medicine stolen from him from older brothers to sell on the streets.  Police look into it, along with other complaints from the house.  Child Protective Services actually takes the student and older sister out if house THE SAME DAY they get Pabamad.  Student is now living with dad, with no meds, not sure of if/when he will go back to mom or possibly moving to a different school.  Very sad situation all around.  But the mom did find a bag with a gift card to Family Fare, as well as a gift card to the Admiral gas station.  Praying that they acknowledge God's love and presence.  Nice work boys! - Hunter, Jake, and Doug.

Jake, in a good mood.

And what would a Pabama run be without Sternberg getting lost (thanks a lot Hunter!).  But it did give us a chance to say hi to Bessie.  Finally got that "mud" off my car.

Dreams . .

It is so hard for me to chose between Movunvivatah & Meena . . . . 
But you talk about 'Getting some Nuts!' to have dreams in the situations they are in . . . . it makes me think about my situation . . . .

---

World Vision Blog:

All this month, we’ve been encouraging our friends and supporters to participate in our #Dreamshareproject by sharing your dreams — for the world, your community, your family, your sponsored child, or particularly for Syrian refugees.

Today, we’re sharing with you the dreams of children from around the world. In the photos below, the children are holding up signs that display their dreams, sharing them with the world.

1. “My dream is to be an English translator because that is what my dad is.” –Nary, age 7, Cambodia

(Photo: World Vision 2013)

I have found God's will!!!

From Oswald at utmost.org :

Is God’s Will My Will?

This is the will of God, your sanctification . . . —1 Thessalonians 4:3

Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be