I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. (The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost)
Day 92. Dollar 92. Pound 92. Be it a fork in the hand or a fork in the road, we thank you for making all the difference to the hungry here in Denver - taking the road less traveled by, the path of generosity, the Avenue of Hope.
Note from Bren: I recently stumbled upon the website of a food bank located over in Pennsylvania named Philabundance. The name alone conjured up HOPE for me - filling of body and soul, abundance, care - and I couldn't wait to explore the site!
Philabundance is one of the largest hunger relief organizations in Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania. They serve low income residents at risk of hunger and malnutrition, of which 23% are children and 16% are senior citizens.They get food directly into the communities though their direct services programs or through their network of agencies.
While exploring their website (which is chock-full of practical resources and ideas), I tried out "Hunger 101", an interactive crash course on living with hunger in Delaware Valley. (Try it out HERE.) You take on the role of someone who is having trouble getting enough to eat. I chose to be Virginia Fagen, a blind woman living alone in a government subsidized apartment. The scenario walked me through trying to find enough food to meet my 3100 calories for the day with the tiny food budget I had left after paying the bills. Yikes.
Long story short, I was completely unsuccessful in acquiring a consistent balance of calories and nutrients to satisfy that many calories each day. I'd come up short EVERY time. I would run out of money, I wouldn't have enough money, my food would spoil, I wasn't approved for assistance in time, and the list goes on and on.
And don't even get me started on the forms. Aside from the fact that there were a million forms to fill out, let's not forget that the person I chose to represent in this scenario was BLIND.
And this was a SCENARIO. I had a computer and a calculator and a yellow legal pad on which to tally my calculations, to think through each decision, to make adjustments as I could to stretch my dollars as far as they could go. My handy little computer scenario from the comfort of my home didn't include the frustration of having to wait in line, or the heat of carrying my bags from place to place as I chased down what to eat, or the darkness of being blind, much less still hungry. Day after day after day.
My empathy for those in need was exponentially increased, as was my appreciation for the work and dedication of places like Philabundance in PA or Loaves and Fishes in IL or Metro CareRing right here in Denver, CO. God bless such difficult, yet rewarding, work. To be able to take the time and care necessary to work with the PEOPLE in need, and not just work the system, is an incredible act of humanity, and one that has my support, my advocacy, and my prayers.
Day 91. Dollar 91. Pound 91.Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow human beings throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace and joy. Amen.(A prayer of Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will
grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory
and grace.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Take hold of His powerful hand.
He will lift you up in His mighty love. In the strength of your God you can stand.
Day 90. Dollar 90. Pound 90. As we turn down these last curves on the Avenue, let our eyes look toward the Hope and joy of collecting the funds, gathering the food, and feeding the hungry.
How do we even hear those words in today’s culture?
We live in a world that says,
‘It’s all about you!Don’t deny yourself anything.'
Deny yourself.Take up your cross.Follow me.
Thank you, Hunger Relief Community,
for taking up your cross
on behalf of others who struggle to carry theirs.
Jesus stands in the center of all that saying, ‘Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow me.’ And I would guess for most of us, if we’re honest, those words draw a bit of protest, just like Peter.
Deny yourself.Take up your cross.Follow me.
Thank you, Hunger Relief Community,
for following the call
of Jesus to feed the hungry.
Under our words we may be afraid.We may confused by what Jesus is even asking of us and we desperately want Him to stay in the comfortable box we’ve allocated Him.Pretty normal and very human response.Thankfully we have many people in scripture who have had the same reaction.(Moses, Jonah, Mary mother of Jesus, Paul).
This claim about God’s remarkable salvation power – Jesus will be raised from the dead - and the call to live a cross life go hand in hand.For the power of God revealed in Christ is the life giving power which comes to life in us when we follow!
To read Pastor Ruth Ann's entire sermon, click here.
Day 89. Dollar 89. Pound 89.O God, we thank you for your Son, who chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world. Humble us by his example, point us to the path of obedience, and give us strength to follow your commands, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.Amen.
At 5:00pm every Thursday, rain or shine, the guests start arriving outside of Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, ND for a banquet. Volunteers -- the true cornerstone of the Trinity community -- begin to greet the guests, visiting with them outside the doors that open promptly at 5:30.
Regulars fill each other in on their weeks. Smiles are contagious. When the doors open, more volunteers will be waiting to escort guests to a table for a hot and delicious meal, free of charge.
Unlike most of the meals they've had this year, this one will be enjoyed on a beautiful table setting, complete with colorful decorations, menus and real china and silverware. Sometimes there's even live music provided by the Strolling Strings.
Read more about this meaningful ministry by clicking here.
Watch the 37 second video below or by clicking here.
Fine china is best used when serving the homeless.
Day 88. Dollar 88. Pound 88. God our creator, by your holy prophet Jeremiah you taught your ancient people to seek the welfare of the cities in which they lived. We commend our neighborhoods to your care, that they might be kept free from social strife and decay. Give us strength of purpose and concern for others, that we may create a community of justice and peace where your will may be done; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Additional Prayers: the neighborhood)
Guess who celebrates his birthday on September 10?
(the same day as a rather large party about Hunger Relief, I hear.) Arnold Palmer!
Today's Food Fact Friday is all about the
drink named in his honor: half lemonade, half iced-tea!
Or was that tee...
Lemonade can cure kidney stones by forming a type of citrate, which can prevent formation of crystals.
Lemon juice can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration. Sweat is good!
Lemonade contains potassium, which controls high blood pressure, and provides relaxation to mind and body, reducing mental stress and depression. Don't worry, be happy! (Source: Organic Facts)
Tea is considered a superfood, whether it's black, green or white.Super Tea!
Tea leaves are rich in polyphenols, (detoxifying antioxidants) – they have 8-10 times the polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables!
Regular tea drinkers lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.Chill-lax with a glass today! (Source: The Medicine Net)
Day 87. Dollar 87. Pound 87. Thank you, Hunger Relief Community, for taking a swing at ending hunger! No half and half for you - you've shown the world with iron determination that following the true Master's call is par for the course for you! See you on the greens September 10th!
ABC News will kick off a series called "Hunger at Home: Crisis in America" on Wednesday, August 24, exploring the growing number of American families who battle hunger.
The basis for the series is a glaring statistic that some may find startling: one in six Americans does not get enough food.
"ABC World News" focused on the troubling trend last week with a segment by correspondent Jim Avila, who reported on the growing number of children living in poverty.
The upcoming segments will air on “Good Morning America,” “World News with Diane Sawyer” and “Nightline” with reporting from “ABC World News” weekend anchor David Muir, chief medical editor Dr. Richard Besser, and correspondents Steve Osunsami and Deborah Roberts.
Day 84. Dollar 84. Pound 84. Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow human beings throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands this daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace and joy. Amen. (ELW, additional prayers, spiritual life, a prayer of Mother Theresa of Calcutta)
PlayingforChange is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.
No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world. http://playingforchange.com/
Stand By Me Written by: Ben King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller "This song says mo matter who you are, no matter where you go in your life,
At some point, you're going to need somebody to stand by you."
No matter who you are No matter where you go in life, You gonna need somebody to stand by you.
No matter how much money you got Or the friends you got You gonna need somebody to stand by you.
When the night has come, and the land is dark And that moon is the only light we've seen.
No I won't be afraid,
No I won't shed one tear Just as long as you people come and stand by me.
Darling, Darling, Stand by me, Stand by me. Stand, Stand, Stand by me.
When that sky that we look upon, Well, should tumble and fall, All the mountains they just crumble into the sea.
I won't cry, I won't cry, No, I won't shed a tear. Just as long as you stand, stand by me. Darling, Darling Stand by me, Stand by me Please stand, stand by me, stand by me. Stand by me, Stand by me, stand by me.
Day 83. Dollar 83. Pound 83.As we connect the world through song on these Musical Mondays, we, too, hope to break down the boundaries between the fed and the hungry, overcoming the distances between the neighbor hunger deserts and the local hunger oasis, transcending and uniting as one human race to fight hunger in practical, sustainable ways. The Psalmist reminds us of the refuge we can find in God - the strength we gain by Standing by Him, our ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46) We are playing for change in this world - change that will nourish, change that will bring hope, change that will bless.
From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the first of many "songs around the world" being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it travelled the globe. Watch the Video of "Stand by Me" from Playing for Change below:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples,“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?”he asked.
“Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16
Excerpt from Pr Ron's sermon: "There is no doubt that we live in times which can be quite confusing and challenging. That is why it is such good news that we have arock solid gospel message, “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is that foundation upon which our mission and ministry is built. It is about Jesus, who is the Anointed One, the Christ who was sent by the Father to save the world. It is the living God who sent his Son in order that we might have life and have it abundantly. This gift of life graces us and blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others."
Day 82. Dollar 82. Pound 82. Heavenly Father, we pray for those living without the assurance of where their next meal will come from, remembering them along our Avenues of Hope. We know that our solid assurance in life comes from our foundation in Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, our rock. Amen.
Today's photos come from our friends, Janie and Ray Johnson of Wellshire Presbyterian Church, fellow partners on these Avenues of Hope! They've put up some great SIGNS of HOPE around their church to help remind people of the upcoming 9.10.11 event and food collection efforts.
Saturday, September 10, 2011 (9.10.11) A day to gather in celebration! 11:00am - 2:00pm
A day to gather in hope! Bethany Lutheran Church
Ashton Altieri, 9NEWS Meteorologist, will be the Master of Ceremonies, so we are hoping the weather gives way to a beautiful day!
ONE of the many WAYS to celebrate on that Saturday, 9.10.11 will be with local Blues Band Erica Brown and Friends! They will infuse the crowd with the best Blues in Colorado from 11:30-12pm while guests enjoy a BBQ lunch - suggested donation of $10 or 10 pounds of food. A brief intermission (12-12:30pm) will include speakers & recognition of participation, then it's back to the blues until 1pm!
Follow the happy path to the Children's Area, where you will find an inflatable jumping house, colorful balloons, and artistic face painting!
Stop on by Bethany Lutheran Church to celebrate!
4500 E. Hampden Avenue (of Hope!)
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113
Day 81. Dollar 81. Pound 81.Saturday, September 10, 2011: As God has shown us signs of hope throughout this journey of faith and advocacy, let our gathering that day be a celebration of the signs of love and hope we are called to show our neighbors in need!
The name cauliflower comes from the Latin words caulis, meaning "stalk," and floris, meaning "flower". Cauliflower originated more than 2,000 years ago in gardens of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean.
Cauliflower plants are usually started in a greenhouse from seeds. After 35 days, the young plants are transplanted to the field. Cauliflower plants require rich fertile soil, good moisture, and cool temperatures to grow.
After being transplanted to the field, the cauliflower plant grows for another 80-110 days. As the plant grows, a flower bud forms in the center of the plant. It is very important to protect the developing cauliflower from the sun while it grows. Workers fold the large outer leaves of the plant over the head of cauliflower (creating a tent with the leaves) to protect it from sunlight. This prevents the cauliflower from turning yellow.
When buying cauliflower, select one that is white or creamy white in color, firm, and heavy. Cauliflower may be stored for up to one week in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Keep it dry. Don't wash it until you are ready to eat it, and remove any brownish colored bruises.
Cauliflower is an awesome vegetable! One-half cup equals one serving of vegetables and contains just 15 calories. Cauliflower is an antioxidant Superfood because it is an excellent source of vitamin C and a top source of antioxidants called glucosinolates, which helps keep your body healthy. Cauliflower also contains potassium, folate and fiber. Like other vegetables, cauliflower is low in calories and sodium and contains no fat or cholesterol.
Cauliflower is delicious raw or cooked. This makes it versatile! In the supermarket you can find whole heads of cauliflower, as well as bags of fresh pre-cut florets and frozen florets.(Source: Dole) Here are some fun and easy ways to enjoy cauliflower:
Dip raw cauliflower florets into low-fat dip/salad dressing, hummus or salsa.
Add chopped raw cauliflower to a mixed green salad or a pasta salad.
Steam cauliflower florets and serve as a side dish with meat, fish, poultry and even pasta.
Create a creamy side dish by mashing cooked cauliflower with low fat milk. Many people think mashed cauliflower tastes just like mashed potatoes!
Add cauliflower to your favorite stir-fry.
Add chopped cauliflower to vegetable lasagna or an omelet.
Enjoy hot, delicious cream of cauliflower soup on a chilly day.
Day 80. Dollar 80. Pound 80. Praise God from whom all Cauli's flow. Praise God, all gardeners here below. Praise God above, for strong, green leaves. Praise God for vegetables received. Amen!
Day 78. Dollar 78. Pound 78. From the World Food Programme: "The brightest smile we've seen in weeks was on the face of a woman in Somalia. That's not just relief, folks. It's HOPE."
Our generation is the first in history with enough resources to eradicate hunger worldwide. And Josette Sheeran, head of the UN World Food Programme, has a plan.
Sheeran talks about why, in a world with enough food for everyone, people still go hungry, still die of starvation, still use food as a weapon of war. Her vision: "Food is one issue that cannot be solved person by person. We have to stand together."
Visit the main TED website HERE for additional details on Sheeran's Video.
Day 77. Dollar 77. Pound 77. To a hungry man, a piece of bread is the face of God. ~ Gandhi
John Legend and the Roots Released September 10, 2010
Watch the video below:
Wake up everybody, no more sleepin' in bed. No more backward thinkin', time for thinkin' ahead. The world has changed so very much from what it used to be. There is so much hatred, war and poverty, whoa, oh.
Wake up, all the teachers, time to teach a new way
Maybe then they'll listen to what'cha have to say
'Cause they're the ones who's coming up
and the world is in their hands.
When you teach the children
teach 'em the very best you can.
The world won't get no better,
if we just let it be, na, na, na.
The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah,
Just you and me.
Wake up, all the doctors,
make the old people well.
They're the ones who suffer and who catch all the hell.
But they don't have so very long
before the Judgment Day.
So wont'cha make them happy before they pass away.
Wake up, all the builders, time to build a new land.
I know we can do it if we all lend a hand.
The only thing we have to do is put it in our mind.
Surely things will work out, 'cause they do every time.
It's the God hour, the morning I wake up,
just for the breath of life I thank my maker,
my mom say I come from hustlers and shakers,
my mind builded on skyscrapers and acres.
He said take us back to where we belong,
I try to write a song as sweet as the Psalms,
though I am the type to bear arms
and wear my heart on my sleeve,
even when I fell in God I believe.
We the days at, weave through the maze
and the season so amazing,
feed them and raise them,
seasons are changing,
earthquakes, wars and rumors,
I want us to get by but we more then consumers,
we more than shooters, more than looters,
created in his image,
so God live through us
and even in his generation living through computers
on love, love, love can reboot us.
Wake up, everybody, wake up, everybody
Need a little help, y'all, yes I do, need a little help.
Need a little help, y'all ay, wake up everybody,
Wake up everybody, wake up everybody.
Day 76. Dollar 76. Pound 76.Good morning! May God awaken in you a new day - a new HOPE - for making this world a better place!
