Becoming numb is a big problem the western world is facing and in reality we have created much of the tragedy, the third world is facing. I say we, cause even though I am born and bred in Africa, I am white and eurpoean. We need to take responsibility and be creative.

Everytime I take friends from other countries around in SA, they are overwhelmed. I have lost that sense of being overwhelmed. For me it’s just the way things are.

Rachel and I are going to be asking for The Good Shopping Guide for Christmas which as book which rates companies as to how ethical, environmentally friendly, etc, they are to help people know the best clothes shops to buys from, the best supermarkets to use, the best technology firms, etc. I think this will be really helpful for us.

Also, one thing we have just started is getting a delivery of fruit and vegetables each weeks from a local company using locally sourced food. We’re trying to make sure all our light bulbs are the energy efficients ones too. Hopefully some of these things will be small steps towards living my life more carefully and respectfully. I know we have a long way to go, but it think it is right as Christ-followers that we take these sort of things seriously.

In my opinion, it’s not really that people don’t want to do these things. It’s that they do get frustrated with all the work they think is involved. When I’m driving from my non-profit job to a faith event so I can encourage others it’s really easy to buy the fast food that is overpriced. “It’s ok,” I can justify. “It’s helping me love other people.” And on some level that is true. But there is a better way.

Recognizing this internal struggle, I think some of us with the passion for these issues need to take a lesson from many non-profits now days and accompany our calls to act with practical next steps.

Should people be able to jump right into themselves? Perhaps. But perhaps we should be taking a lesson from the Mosaic LA folks - sometimes people don’t experience transformation until after they have sacrificed.

Allen - it’s been too long! I hope the transition goes well and I’m exited about your desire to catalyse a movement with lots of ethnic diversity. That is something very much on my heart. We don’t see nearly enough of that here in the UK either.

Niza - I hope you had a great day!

I don’t know how this goes in the UK, but in the US our churches still sadly lack diversity. We want to help catalyze a movement to create environments for ethnic groups come together in local churches to follow Jesus in unity.

Hope things are good for you guys! I’ll have to check out your church website to see what’s going on.

Take care…

Am currently reading “The End of Poverty” - If you haven’t read it the author is an economic advisor to Kofi Anan and partner with Bono and details how recently we reached the point we are at, as well as offering a plan for how to move forward via microeconomic - He states that we are the first generation truly able to end extreme poverty. This is my challenge to myself - Since I have been placed in this generation, how can I play my part?

Thanks for your thoughts Sam.

Everyone thinks its great to be charitable and wants to be SEEN to be charitable (something that Christ actually warns us against). The problem is that more harm than good could result if we’re not careful.

I liked what Bono said earlier in the year about the need to move beyond charity to justice. I think he’s dead on.

I think Madonna only thought what can i do and ended up removing a child from its family because she has the money and his father who visits him regularly does not, what kind of screwed up message does that send to our children? and are we prepared to let society get away with it?.
This is really dangerious teritory its dressing up a selfish nature as one of being caring, in this instance for the child. I think this is the lever with which far too many things are done to HELP people when really they have no choice in the situation.
I don’t think were called to be poor, i don’t think were called to be rich I think were called to have integrity in all situations that we find ourselves in day in day out, i’m fed up with people sacrificing their integrity on the alter of wealth only to hoard it and protect their new little world.