Where can you give?

Part of giving is receiving!  One thing I like to do is to give when someone HAS to take it.  For example, my family and I stayed in a hotel Saturday night as we went to a wedding in Longmont, Colorado.  My wife in her younger years worked in housekeeing for a hotel.  She could tell you horror stories of cleaning rooms.  She tells of cleaning up after a bunch of cowboys held a rodeo in one room.  Hay bales, beer bottles, and chewing tobacco all over the place.  Her past experience has led her to always leave a $5 bill on the bed each night we stay at a hotel.  Now, we don’t know for sure who cleans the room, and they don’t have any other option than to take the money.  It’s just a small token of our appreciation for cleaning up after us.

May is the month of giving.  This morning as I sat to write a post, I was called by our neighbor down the street.  (Granted, they live a mile and a half away)  She was late for work and found a dead battery and called to see if I could assist.  I got in the truck and did what any average farmer in the world would do, I got her going.  She thanked me and I smiled and said, “Not a problem!”  But, she led me into what is really worrying her.

It appears that her and her husband uprooted their family from Kansas to move here so that he could take this promising  job at the local ethanol plant.  She informed me that he is searching hard for a new job because last week they laid off six employees and speculation is, they won’t be open through the summer.  They just bought the homestead down the road and their kids are starting to get used to school.  I could tell she was scared.  Now I am wondering, why am I the one that had to hear that story?

It’s so much easier to just give $5 at the hotel room.

Would you rather be comfortable, or would you rather make a difference?

An incredible day

The Spirit of Giving!

It is an incredible day!  Thank YOU to those who went over to Trey Morgans site and gave some money to the effort in feeding the people who have nothing. They say that $25 a day can feed the entire group who searches for food there everyday. I was entangled with following the comments as things progressed.  You have to read about the 3rd grade class and what the teacher, Mrs. Jahnseske wrote.  All my appreciation goes to her and the teachers like her on National Thank a Teacher day!

I chatted with Trey and he didn’t think he would get to $10,000.  I knew it could be done and I encouraged him to go for something big! Seems people want to be a part of something big and meaningful.  And we are almost there.  You can still give to the effort, during this month of giving.  Just click the link and read the page and send in your gift.  It doesn’t matter the size, and don’t think that your $10 gift doesn’t matter, that’s half a days food supply.  I just love how God is using Trey for great things!

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Neva Cooper Update

I have been chatting with Neva’s husband Ned via the text message the last few days.  Neva is doing much better.  Her WBC count is still high indicating she is still fighting something, but, she is doing well enough to sit up and walk the hall.  She once again is proving she is a miracle child.  You won’t believe her story and once it gets written, it will bring faith, inspiration and encouragment to those who hear.

Today she was eating her Rice Krispies for breakfast when she was told she needed protein.  She promptly did what anyone would do, she ordered up an omelete.  Shortly after that, the Dr. came in and ordered a test to look around where her spleen was removed and put a kabosh to eating anything else.  Oh well!  Maybe tomorrow!  The prayers worked and she is much better!  She’s an incredible lady.

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The Question of the Day

I need your help.  Why this came to me, in the month of Giving as I proposed, is somewhat suspicious.  Have you ever had to give and yet have it questioned on the grounds of an ethical decision?

Let me give you the background and question and you can take it from there.  Let’s say a woman with 5 kids (ages 9-21) is an illegal immigrant, whose husband is in jail, and is in need of some financial help.  She is a good person, hard worker, and willing to work for her money.  She came here legally and two of her kids were born here. She wants to work for YOU to clean your house for some extra income, but, it has to be done “under the table”.  Her whole personal economy is done through cash.   She has a life here, became a productive member of society and even goes to church. She needs your help and assistance, but at the same time, it is against the law.

What actions do you take?  Can you help this woman? What would Jesus do?

(This is strictly hypothetical.  I had the question posed to me and thought it would be good to discuss.)

The Month for Giving

It has started.  How have you given of yourself this month?

American food shipments to help the poor

Here is a quick list of google searches on ways you can give:

blood, birth, plasma, quotes, away, money, your life.

It can go on and on. These were just words after typing giving into google.

One of the ways you can give is to give some support to those who aren’t as fortunate as you.  If you can read this on a computer screen, you are doing pretty well.  Just head on over to www.treymorgan.net and check out what he is asking you to do today.

This month is all about being more aware of the opportunities in front of you to make this world a little better.  You can’t stop poverty, it will always be here.  You can’t save the world, but, you can impact your community.

Give thanks in all that you have, focus on where it all comes from, and as I heard it said, “put your hands in to your neighbors pockets, and give like you always wanted.”   Well, that could get you in trouble, but feel free to give in ways you never thought of before.

As you can see, giving can be simple.  It can be complex.  It can be a million different things, and it only requires one thing.  A willingness to do so.

Spread the word, it’s time to make a difference!

Neva Cooper Update

Many of my friends have inquired about Neva Cooper.  Friday, I made the 70 mile trek to North Platte to check on my good friend.  I took her a huge geranium that my wife put together and stopped in to see her at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.

Neva had just had her spleen removed on Thursday.  It was suspected that she might have cancer of the spleen and removing it might restore her health.  No word on that just yet, but Friday when I stopped in to see her, she was not looking her usual happy self.  In fact, she looked quite distressed.  She had a cough and an ear ache.  Just plain miserable.  She was trying not to rip out all of her fresh sutures.

Her husband Ned has been keeping me informed via the ol text message and he let me know Saturday that she had developed pneumonia.  This morning he let me know that she wasn’t doing any better.  This afternoon he assured me that once the pneumonia is in check, she will be fine.  Right now she just needs to get over the pneumonia.  I am sure it might have something to do with the fact that it took a lot longer to do the surgery than expected.

These are a couple of my favoritist people.  They just spew joy and love all over the place!  Many have asked how can I send her a card or get in touch with her.  The hospital does not have email to the room or a way to send ecards.  However, if you would like to send a note of encouragement, let me give you a couple of avenues. 

You can send cards to the church building where Ned is the minister.  Here is the link to the church website and the address.  Ned also said that if you want to send her something electronically, you can email him here.  NedWCooper@hotmail.com.

This internet world wide web thing is pretty amazing.  It amazes me that people whom we never met could be praying for somebody they don’t know.  Look me up when we get to heaven, I’ll buy the coffee!

Its National Scrapbooking Day!

Frankly, I would rather go to the store and buy the stuff.  My artistic ability to scrapbook would stop the moment the scissors come out.  However, my good friend Charity Adams over at Adams Acres is having a blow out event. 

Typical Scrapbooking Table

Seems she is a huge scrapbooking/blogging aficionado and is giving away the farm.  Ok, it isn’t a farm, but it is a ton of scrapbooking stuff. Click here for all of that scrapbooking stuff!

All of this is in honor of National Scrapbooking Day.  You may not be interested, but go ahead and pass the word to all of those who are.  I wanted to do my part to help all of those who want to scrapbook.  Kitchen tables across America will be cluttered from one end to the other, floors will contain the scraps of a beautiful production of memories.  Hey, what can I say, go out and celebrate National Scrapbooking Day!

As for me, I think I have a tractor that needs the oil changed!

Jesus would never be on Facebook!

Can you imagine if Jesus took on Social Media?

It might be nice to hear his thoughts and teachings.  But then it might be a little condemning too.

He might be so swamped with followers no one would get any personal attention….or would we?

Jesus would never be on Facebook.  It only allows 5000 friends.  One thing that Jesus definitely wants is to be our friend.  He wouldn’t be confined to the limits of Facebook.

How’s your relationship?