Category: take action

politics, social justice and ways you can make a difference in the world around you.

Song of the day: Belief

Belief by John Mayer

Is there anyone who
Ever remembers changing there mind from
The paint on a sign?
Is there anyone who really recalls
Ever breaking rank at all
For something someone yelled real loud one time

Everyone believes
In how they think it ought to be
Everyone believes
And they’re not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching under water
You never can hit who you’re trying for

Some need the exhibition
And some have to know they tried
It’s the chemical weapon
For the war that’s raging on inside

Everyone believes
From emptiness to everything
Everyone believes
And no ones going quietly

We’re never gonna win the world
We’re never gonna stop the war
We’re never gonna beat this
If belief is what we’re fighting for

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother’s hand
Belief can
Belief can

Leaving on a jet plane

“My sister” Kathryn left Saturday afternoon for a trip to Uganda, followed by a trip to Russia.
I just got this email in an old email account (apparently she hasn’t updated her address book):

Thank you so much for your generous support! All your donations, prayers, and
encouraging words have been such a blessing. Although you will not physically
board the plane with me today, you will be apart of spreading the Good News of the
Kingdom of God to the people of Rakai, Uganda.

Jesus says in Isaiah 61 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, and release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Jesus’ mission was to not only bring
spiritual healing, but his mission had a physical dimension as well. Jesus’
mission was to show what the Kingdom of God is like, and we as his missionaries
are sent to the world to proclaim the goodness of God and the reality of His
Kingdom.

Many people in Rakai are oppressed, many are imprisoned by poverty, HIV/AIDS,
spiritual darkness, and we are called to help fulfill the message of the Good News
that there is FREEDOM and HEALING in Christ. We will do this not only by our
words, but by our actions.

Please pray that God may use us as his missionaries to help bring lasting healing
and transformation to an area that is beautifully green and lush, but is a desert
wasteland spiritually as people live under the oppressive yoke of the kingdom of
this world. Together with your fervent prayers, let’s wave the banner high and
kick in the gates of hell!

I look forward to writing you again and updating you on what God is doing in the
lives of the people in Rakai.

Much love and gratitude,
~Kathryn

Trip Dates: (Rakai, Uganda – 6/9-6/22) (St. Pete, Russia – 7/5-84)

“Smokey” Joe Barton promotes balanced energy use

According to the WDL Blog:

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, recently joined a group of Republican Members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol to unveil a common-sense approach to energy policy. Barton, who is ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has long played a role in crafting the nation’s energy laws, having drafted the sweeping Energy Policy Act of 2005, which is now law.
The Republican energy plan announced today contains several action items designed to expand and encourage the use of renewable fuels, fund research and development of new and innovative energy technologies, and increase energy efficiency and conservation to reduce consumption and protect the environment. The plan is designed to help reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels, particularly those from unreliable foreign sources. It also purports to increase investment into research into new and innovative domestic fuel sources.

SOS Roger Williams resigns

KEYEtv.com is reporting that Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams has will announce his resignation this morning.
Many are speculating Williams will make a run for the governor’s mansion in 2010. We’ll wait and see.

Williams is said to be most proud of his economic development efforts with Governor Rick Perry to bring more jobs to Texas. He has also been credited with making voting more accessible for all Texans.

Williams is expected to end his term, that began in 2004 on July 1.

Mrs. Warren calls to help the AIDS fight

Kay Warren, wife of pastor and author Rick Warren told a Dallas audience that she initially considered AIDS a “gay, white man’s disease.”

But her mind and heart changed about five years ago when she read an article about the AIDS crisis in Africa.
Kay Warren, whose husband, Rick, wrote The Purpose Driven Life, said church congregants have the opportunity to be ‘the hands and feet of Jesus’ in the battle against AIDS.
“I was reading a news magazine about AIDS and read that 12 million children in Africa were orphaned from AIDS,” Ms. Warren said. “I didn’t know a single orphan’s name. I didn’t even know a single person with AIDS.”

Warren told a group of minister’s wives that the story of the leper who came to Jesus for healing changed her outlook on AIDS and compassion.
Read the full story in the DMN