Compassion Blog: Is it safe to challenge the status quo?

Is it safe to challenge the status quo? No. It’s not. Post completed.

Challenge is an aggressive word. It suggests victory … or loss. It implies a struggle and change, possibly forced change. Change creates uncertainty for people. And uncertainty breeds worry and fear… (read more)

Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/is-it-safe-to-challenge-the-status-quo/#ixzz0t6HxgHpD

I believe God wants us all to live bothered by things around us that are not right….

Possibly the most important indicator of true religion is the desire to love and care for people who hurt.

Palmer Chinche
love these kids…

love these kids…

Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief
C. S. Lewis
Thanks to Gladney for allowing us share a little bit of our story & experience about bringing Sosi home from Ethiopia! “Both Sides of Home” in latest Africa Program Newsletter Rest of the story can be found on our blog at Our Adoption Journey

Thanks to Gladney for allowing us share a little bit of our story & experience about bringing Sosi home from Ethiopia!

“Both Sides of Home” in latest Africa Program Newsletter

Rest of the story can be found on our blog at Our Adoption Journey

the beautiful women in my life…

the beautiful women in my life…

We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.
Bear Grylls
Managing poverty is big business. Ending poverty is revolutionary.
A homeless mother. (via irresistiblerevolution)
One must from time to time attempt things that are beyond one’s capacity
Auguste Renoir
I got goosebumps while I was reading your "our adoption journey" link...what you do is admirable and absolutely incredible. My mother put my brother and myself up for adoption when I was in eighth grade. She has struggled with alcoholism for many years, and unfortunately she was no longer able to care for my brother or myself. We were both placed in foster care and my brother was adopted this past August. but since I was older, I was never adopted. I was able to find legal guardians so I didn't have to stay in foster care until I aged out at 18 and after I finished high school, I moved down south and I now attend the University of Georgia. Dealing with my brother's adoption has been very tough on me, so I decided to volunteer in an orphanage in Tanzania over my Christmas break this year. I feel like I can somewhat relate to the struggles that these children have faced and I think the experience will help me better understand what my little brother goes through on a daily basis.
Since I support myself, the financial aspect of volunteering abroad has proven to be quite a problem. I created a website to collect online donations and I was hoping that since you are an orphan advocate, you would be willing to help spread the word about my cause. Regardless of whether or not you chose to help, thank you so much for your time and continue everything you're doing! :)

here's the link to my site: http://tanzania.myevent.com/ — asked by rebeka21

thanks for your note & what an incredible story - thank you for sharing it.  It also sounds like another story is also just beginning & I’d be honored to share it with other.  Thanks for your encouragement and thank you for doing what you are doing.  I am humbled that this story has touched you and am anxious to hear how yours develops.  Grace & Peace…

A Father’s Day

There has been much talk today about what it means to be a father, and that is good.  However, I have also noticed that there has also been much talk about what it means to care for the fatherless.  Maybe this dual theme has been taking place for many years and I have just never noticed.  Or, maybe there really is so much more of it today than I can ever remember.  I pray it is the latter.

I think I have just two pictures to share.

These were taken just a few hours after Sosi was brought to us in Ethiopia.  While Corrie, Sosi and I rested in the courtyard, I had the pleasure of watching a new father and new son start their journey.

On this day it was a father’s day in the truest sense of the word.  It was a father’s day where the fatherless found a family to be a part of. 

I’ll never forgot watching those few moments unfold because the significance of what was playing out right before me was holy.  It was in this moment that the metaphor of becoming adopted in God’s family became so very clear.  There is no ocean that this father would not have crossed to bring this son home.  In this moment, God’s presence in their eyes was so clear.

A refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm, a healer to the broken, a father to orphan…this is our God.

And then this father did what every father should do with his son.  He stepped back and began to live in a moment filled with joy.

Today I ask myself a simple question…

Am I this kind of father? 

While my mind is only filled with my failures, I do have hope.  I have hope because this is the way that it should be - the way is was designed to be.

I pray I never forget this moment.  May I move forward with a renewed dedication to being a father like this…

irresistiblerevolution:

“Call + Response”

There are 27 million slaves in the world today.
What are we going to do about it?

The New Face of American Evangelicalism

ABC News: The New Face of American Evangelicalism

Discussion with young Christians (Jon Tyson, Shannon Sedgwick Davis, Gabe Lyons, Tyler Wigg Stevenson, Nicole Baker Fulgham) on changing face of the movement.

God as a concept is lighter than you. God as a reality is weightier (kavod) than you.
Tim Keller

I know this sounds crazy, but it’s awesome how this song helps us talk to our kids about adoption, acceptance and love.

Favorite quote “this is your family and I’m your mom”