Track Your Christmas Child Shoe Box Gift!
Starting on Monday, November 16th, National Collection Week for the 2009 Operation Christmas Child shoe box campaign gets underway. Lots of people will be packing boxes this year, so much so that Samaritan’s Purse hopes that more than 8 million children will be reached around the world.
EZ Give
One new feature that may be of interest to contributors is that if you make an online donation to cover the cost of shipping your shoe box, then you can also get the tracking code to learn where your gift is going. Samaritan’s Purse asks donors to contribute $7 per packed box to help defray shipping costs and if you make that donation online you can print out a tracking label to be taped to your shoe box.
That label features what is called an EZ Give barcode which connects to your email address. You will receive an e-mail telling you the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country. If your boxes go to more than one country, you will receive more than one e-mail.
A pretty nifty idea, right? I think so. We already had our labels affixed to the four shoe boxes we pack when I discovered this feature, but it was an easy thing to make payment online and print out new labels to replace the ones we had already selected. This was important for us because when a gift is sent overseas, we’d like for our children to understand a bit more about the conditions in that country.
Email Follow-up
Though our children may not know specifically who received their gift, we can then follow up that email to talk about what these children experience in their every day lives. Importantly, we can pray for them.
I’ve added a video of a shoe box campaign in the Republic of Georgia where children caught in the crossfire of a regional war were helped. For many children, the shoe box gift is their only gift at Christmas, perhaps the brightest gift they’ve receive all year.
Popularity: 23% [?]
Going Away With God
When the women of our church head out for retreat they enjoy a fine hotel and all of the amenities. For us guys, we get something like this!
That church retreat might do you some good
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
Retreat Time
My wife is heading out today for a woman’s retreat, an event she has been looking forward to for several months now. She will be gone for two nights, returning on Sunday afternoon, but not before spending plenty of time studying scripture, participating in worship, fellowshipping with her sisters, and allowing God to speak to her heart.
Meanwhile, back on the ranch I’ll be busy with our two boys and thinking ahead to next weekend when us guys go away on our own retreat!
Seriously, I hope and pray that this is a good time for my wife and for each of the women who are planning to be there. I like retreats: they are a chance to get away from it all, catch up with people, eat “okay” food, but above all else minster to and be ministered by God.
Heading Out
Ever since our children were small, my wife and I have been going on retreats. In 2003, we took in our first and only family retreat, but it wasn’t what we expected: with two toddlers in tow we were busy meeting their needs, while missing out on ours. After that, we decided that the best way for us to get something out of a retreat was to go to our respective women’s and men’s retreats.
That move has proved to be a blessing each time.
I know of some people who never go on retreats. I’ve heard all kinds of reasons why they don’t go including family obligations, work responsibilities, inability to sleep anywhere but at home, not liking the food, and more.
I suppose there are always reasons not to get away, but I can think of many reasons why you might and probably should including:
You Need It – There is a selfish component for why you need to go on a retreat: you need it. As men and women of God, we’re constantly pouring out and finding ourselves under assault by the world, our flesh, and our mortal enemy, the devil.
Oftentimes we simply don’t recognize that we’re being hassled, frightened, beaten or otherwise worn down, needing a change of scenery to help us regroup.
Your Presence – Though I’ve been blessed by any number of teachings I have heard while on a retreat, I look forward to seeing other men including meeting some for the first time. Women seem to be naturals when it comes to taking in a retreat, enjoying snacks with each other, swapping stories, laughing, praying together, and just having a whole lot of fun.
Guys are a bit more low key, but I must confess that I recall friend’s faces and conversations more readily than I do most of the teachings. That may not be so bad because I get regular feedings of God’s Word, but not enough time for fellowship with men. You may think your absence will go unnoticed, but I like to think that your presence means something to other men.
Your Heart – Life is a journey and the road is certainly a long one. I must confess that there are times in my life when I find myself terribly distracted and not focused on the Lord. I get into “guy mode” where I try to handle everything on my own. Sometimes that works out for awhile, but generally I end up getting short with my wife or boys, tempted to take short cuts with work, or otherwise blowing my witness.
Let me be candid about retreats: God has something special in store for you, but you have to do your part by recognizing your own need. Worship, a particular message, an unexpected conversation or interaction with another person can go far in speaking to your heart. We’re not meant to set out on this journey of life by ourselves particularly these days when our core beliefs are under constant assault.
Ephesians 6:11 tells us that we can’t be engaged in the battle unless we first put on the armor of God. As in any battle we are supported by fellow soldiers (men and women) and we follow our commander, who is Jesus Christ.
Seek God
This missive isn’t meant to be a guilt inducer. That’s not my style. Rather, I hope that I am speaking to your heart if an opportunity to get away with God presents itself and you’re not sure what you’re going to do.
Consider all that God has for you and take of His riches. On the surface there may not be much there, but dig a little deeper and you may be surprised at what you turn up.
Photo Credit: Atif Gulzar
Popularity: 19% [?]
Upward Sports Offers Scholarships To Military Families
America’s military families are underpaid and unappreciated. Still, the men and women who defend our country by protecting our liberties and quelling foreign threats, often serve without complaint and in many cases cheerfully.
Military Families
Recognizing the difficulties families face when a loved one is deployed, the Upward Sports Christian sports league for children is reaching out to military families across the United States by offering sports scholarships to children whose mother or father is currently providing military service in a foreign country. That move by Upward comes at a time when many military families are finding it difficult to make ends meet let along provide a positive and rewarding opportunity for their children by registering them for sports.
“This scholarship from Upward Sports is definitely a blessing for my family,” said Sharon H., whose two sons Sam and Max play Upward Flag Football. “It’s an encouragement to know that Upward Sports recognizes the sacrifices that military kids make. Since deployment can create real financial burdens, this scholarship will enable many military kids to play sports this year even if money is tight.”
Scholarship Program
Upward Sports rolled out its scholarship program for military children in 2007, following a visit by Founder and President Caz McCaslin to the Pentagon memorial honoring those who gave their lives in service to our country from September 11, 2001 onward. Since its introduction more than 685 military children with a deployed parent have received assistance. Right now, Upward Sports is making a renewed effort to let families know that these kinds of scholarships are available to them.
“In an effort to serve those who serve us, Upward Sports is offering sports scholarships to all children who have a parent serving in the military and are currently deployed overseas,” said Caz McCaslin. “Offering such scholarships is just a small way for us to say thank you to those who serve our country.”
Four Sports
More than 500,000 children participate in leagues and camps for flag football, soccer, basketball and cheer-leading. For more information about Upward Sports, please visit their website.
Popularity: 26% [?]
