Musings on Life

Someone just sent me this latest video from Tony Perkins, posing an abortion question to Barack Obama.



Now, I have to tell you. While I am not pro-abortion, I firmly believe that no one has a right to talk about being pro-life unless they are applying a consistent life-affirming perspective. A right to life does not end after birth, nor does it end if you are terminally ill, nor after you’ve committed a crime.

My problem with Tony's video is not that he’s challenging Obama. He has every right to challenge and question a presidential candidate’s position on abortion. And I agree with him that abortion is not the choice God wants us to make. My problem is that Tony’s solution to the pro-life debate seems to be mostly about shutting down Planned Parenthood, overturning Roe v. Wade, and supporting capital punishment. At least, that’s what you see when you receive his email newsletters, as I do. He and the Family Research Council remain conspicuously silent on the 30,000 children that die each day from preventable causes – no mention of them on the FRC’s “Issues” page. And this video only underscores the omission.

If Jesus came so that everyone could live life in all its fullness, then why shouldn’t we also make that our goal? Surely God also does not choose for 30,000 children to die every day on our watch.

The Girl Effect

Since my last post was about a girl's story, I thought I'd follow up with this amazing video... As if you need another reason to support Gift Hawa and One Home Many Hopes.





Just so you know, one of the organizations that benefits from The Girl Effect campaign was started by an Ashoka fellow! Check it out. Ashoka is the leading organization for social entrepreneurs and it just so happens I'm interning there over the summer. The graduate student interns have started a blog and I'll be cross-posting between the two. Stay tuned for more info! Be inspired!

Aude Sapere: A Girl Named Gift

At age six, a girl named Gift Hawa was foraging the streets of Mombasa, Kenya, with her infant brother strapped to her back. Their mother had just died of AIDS and they were left on their own. Only Gift survived.

With the help of Mombasa's street children, a generous journalist named Anthony Mulongo found Gift, adopted her into his Nairobi home, enrolled her in a boarding school and hired a housekeeper to care for her during school holidays.

Today, Anthony and Gift have been joined by more than 30 other girls from the Kenyan streets in a new home called Mudzini Kwetu -- Swahili for "Our Home." The girls now have a family, attend school, have a safe place to sleep and to eat -- and they have another chance at enjoying childhood and life in all its fullness.

But it gets better! These girls are not only making a better life for themselves and their sisters, but their story is inspiring a small band of supporters from around the world. Led by a Northern Irishman in Boston (who, yeah, okay, is an old friend of mine -- full disclosure!), these folks have created their own organization to support Mudzini Kwetu and the girls. Through One Home Many Hopes, they've already raised thousands of dollars to alleviate the skyrocketing food costs, build a play area, start a small garden and farm, and purchase two cows. And probably more, but I can't keep track of it all.

I just love when stories like Gift's reach across the globe and inspire action - not only from individuals but in journalists too! Get to know Gift's story -- and if you're interested in keeping up with One Home Many Hopes, you can sign up for their mailing list here.

A dangerous leftist agenda!

Watch out, folks! There's a dangerous leftist agenda about.

My house just received a letter from the Black America's Political Action Committee, self-identified as BAMPAC. And if you think that acronym is unfortunate, just wait til you read what Alan Keyes, BAMPAC chairman, had to say about Barack Obama. Alan Keyes, of course, was the last-minute, black Republican stand-in to run against Obama for the Illinois senate seat. And lost.

The following excerpts are being reprinted here verbatim. No joke. The only difference is that the original letter used underlining, which I've represented as italics.

" ... Barack Obama represents the political evil that threatens to destory our conscience and our freedom ...

... Mr. Obama is a hard-core pro-abortion, anti-defense, pro-homosexual marriage, anti-sovereignty, pro-tax, anti-religious liberty leftist ...

... Those in this election who adore Mr. Obama, are also those who hate America, hate the truths of the Declaration of Independence on which America is founded, including the idea that our rights come from God and not from human choice. And frankly, with enemies both abroad and here at home determined to destroy our creed, we who love this country, our Constitution, and all that our nation stands for are morally bound to speak the truth about Mr. Obama ...

... What's more, we also plan to open up the REAL Barack Obama and his dangerous leftist agenda for America to see. An agenda that includes:

• surrender in Iraq;
• retreat in the war against radical Islam;
• the appeasement of Iran, North Korea, Red China and other dangerous enemies;
• the giveaway of our sovereignty to the United Nations;
• "amnesty" for illegal aliens;
• wide-open borders;
• higher taxes and federal spending;
• draconian environmental regulations;
• unconstitutional restrictions on gun ownership; and
  
• a "right" to universal healthcare

This is just the tip of the iceberg ...

... I took on Barack Obama in an improbably campaign for the same reason Black American's PAC and I are taking him on again: He is not just a run of the mill leftist. He represents the evil that most threatens liberty in America and that must be kept out of the White House at all costs at this crucial pivotal moment in America's history."

And that, my friends, is that.

Wow.

The only thing better than this letter is the opening animation for the BAMPAC home page.

Be fed and be a holy troublemaker

I spent my weekend at a wonderful conference called Pentecost 2008 -- it was a gathering of people of faith who want to put ending poverty at the top of everyone's priority list. Good people! We had the opportunity to hear from some absolutely incredible people, including Jim Wallis and Brian McLaren -- two wonderfully prophetic voices who inspire me to live life deeply and purposefully. Other notable speakers included John Unger, who worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, James Lawson, who worked with Martin Luther King Jr., and Alexia Salvatierra, an ordained pastor doing phenomenal work in creating economic justice for low-income workers.

And, as always, the best part of attending these conferences is the company you are honored to keep, kindred spirits who challenge you, love you, and motivate you. I just drank up the fellowship with dear, old friends and look forward to more time with the new friends.

The driving force behind this conference is the mobilization of resources around a campaign called Vote Out Poverty -- the purpose is to call our nation's elected leaders to go on record and come up with real ways to address poverty in the U.S. and around the world. There are 90 million working Americans who struggle with poverty -- and that is deplorable.

So, stay tuned for more information! Pentecost 2008 did such a good job of motivating me that I got talked into starting up the local campaign in my church and neighboorhood. My roommate, who I now call Five Star, is heading up the effort and I have no doubt she'll be putting me to work soon.

I hope you, dear readers, have a chance to attend an event that refreshens and rewards you as much as Pentecost did for me. Go and feed that spirit of yours!



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Now playing: Henryk Goreki - Sostenuto Tranquillo Ma Catabile
via FoxyTunes

Be a Mooch!!

For you book-lovers, this site is absolute HEAVEN.

You go to Bookmooch.

Post your own books, receive a request for them.

Send the books to the requester, get points.

Find a book you want.

Use your points to get the book.

How stinkin' fabulous is THAT?!?!

In an age of skepticism

Thanks to everyone who sent me such nice notes about my blog on racism! As a token of my appreciation, I'm now giving you an entry on religion. Nothing like tackling two tough topics in three days :)

First, the somewhat flippant piece -- Facebook launched a group today called "Faithbook." Founded by a rabbi in the UK, it's meant to be way to promote constructive dialogue about faith using images, prayers, content from sacred texts, videos, etc. (Either that, or it's a group for Facebook users who have a lisp). I'm intrigued by this idea and wonder how it will play out -- what kinds comments will people write on the wall? How will the discussion be kept above board, coherent and intelligent? Moreover, will it even be useful? So far, there are only 2 "fans" of the site and neither of them have commented on the content. Check it out, if you're a Facebook user, and let me know what do you think!

Second, I bought Tim Keller's new book the other day, The Reason for God, and I'm really excited about it. Not only do I hold Mr. Keller in high esteem but I've been having some pretty heavy faith-focused conversations with people recently who have (rightly) challenged my beliefs and my rationale for faith. I hope this book will help me give them better answers. And, who knows, maybe they will also be compelled to read it, in an intellectually and emotionally honest desire to get to know me and my faith better.

I've only read a few pages of the introduction (short Metro ride) and Keller says that, in general, our global society is turning both more religious and less religious simultaneously. What a great way to start the book -- pulls you right in! Let me know if you're reading this book too and feel free to share your thoughts. You can be my virtual book club (oh, how I miss you, my dear Boston book club buddies!)

Both Faithbook and the Keller book are aimed at creating an honest dialogue on faith (although, I'd also say that there's nothing quite like THE Book to do accomplish that, too). And, given all the crazy developments we've seen in religion (extremism) and churches (Rev. Wright, sex scandals), I am glad for the effort. I hope, however, that these vehicles don't become substitutes for good, old-fashioned face-to-face dialogue. Faith is a personal decision, of course, but that doesn't mean it has to be a private one, made by a solitary person in a room with a computer. Who makes big, life-changing decisions without consulting family and/or friends and then doesn't tell anyone?