We collected over $200.oo (222.00) today to help buy mosquito nets for those in Africa, who suffer from malaria, because of mosquito bites. There are over 2,000 people who die everyday because of Malaria. There are a number of organizations that send out nets for the people. We sent ours to www.worldvision.com
Some Malaria facts
Malaria kills nearly one million people each year; eighty-percent are children under-five.
Malaria results in 8 percent of total under-five deaths worldwide, or approximately 776,000 under-five child deaths from malaria each year.
Malaria infects 350-500 million people each year.
More than 2,000 children under-five years of age die from malaria each day.
Malaria is a prime cause of low birth weight in newborns, anemia and infant deaths.
The protective effect of insecticide-treated bed nets has the potential to prevent as many as 1 million deaths from all causes for children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than US$ 12 billion every year in lost GDP, even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum.
Approximately, 40 percent of the world's populations, mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries, are at risk of malaria.
In some countries with a very heavy malaria burden, malaria may account for as much as 40 percent of public health expenditure, 30-50 percent of inpatient admissions and up to 60 percent of outpatient visits.
An estimated 57 percent of malaria deaths are attributable to undernutrition.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Monday, May 04, 2009
The Hole.... part 2
Richard Stearns in his book. “The Hole in Our Gospel” shows why God required the tithe (10% of our income) in the Old Testament.
1. It provided for the work of God’s kingdom by supporting the levitical temple worship system as well as taking care for the aliens, orphans and widows (Deut. 14:29)
2. By giving the 10% it helped Gods people realize that they depended upon God not their own resources to get by.
He then shares a personal story.
In 1987 when the stock market had its largest crash since 1929, he and his wife lost over a third of their savings along with money they had put aside for their children’s education. He became obsessed staying up at nights worrying about the money they had lost.One night as he was stewing his wife came in and said,“Honey this thing is consuming you in an unhealthy way. It’s only money. We have our marriage, our health, our friends, our children and a good income-so much to be thankful for. You need to let go of this and trust God.”She then suggested that they pray about it, but Richard felt it was his responsibility and that worrying would work better. After prayer his wife then said, “Now I think we need to get out the checkbook and write some big checks to our church and the ministries we support. We need to show God that we know this is His money and not ours.”After the initial shock of such a suggestion, and following the dictates of his heart, they sat down and began writing checks. He shares that as they wrote those checks “…I felt the wave of relief. We had broken the spell that money had cast over me. It freed me from the worries that had consumed me. I actually felt reckless and giddy…”
There are to many people who say they cannot afford to tithe, personally I have always felt that I could not afford not to tithe.We have to realize that what we own is not ours but Gods and then we need to show God that we believe that by giving minimally a tithe (10% of our income).God blesses a cheerful giver.
1. It provided for the work of God’s kingdom by supporting the levitical temple worship system as well as taking care for the aliens, orphans and widows (Deut. 14:29)
2. By giving the 10% it helped Gods people realize that they depended upon God not their own resources to get by.
He then shares a personal story.
In 1987 when the stock market had its largest crash since 1929, he and his wife lost over a third of their savings along with money they had put aside for their children’s education. He became obsessed staying up at nights worrying about the money they had lost.One night as he was stewing his wife came in and said,“Honey this thing is consuming you in an unhealthy way. It’s only money. We have our marriage, our health, our friends, our children and a good income-so much to be thankful for. You need to let go of this and trust God.”She then suggested that they pray about it, but Richard felt it was his responsibility and that worrying would work better. After prayer his wife then said, “Now I think we need to get out the checkbook and write some big checks to our church and the ministries we support. We need to show God that we know this is His money and not ours.”After the initial shock of such a suggestion, and following the dictates of his heart, they sat down and began writing checks. He shares that as they wrote those checks “…I felt the wave of relief. We had broken the spell that money had cast over me. It freed me from the worries that had consumed me. I actually felt reckless and giddy…”
There are to many people who say they cannot afford to tithe, personally I have always felt that I could not afford not to tithe.We have to realize that what we own is not ours but Gods and then we need to show God that we believe that by giving minimally a tithe (10% of our income).God blesses a cheerful giver.
The Hole in Our Gospel
Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision, argues in his book, “The Hole in our Gospel” that the church is missing something. Through his own testimony of how God led him from being the CEO of a profitable company, to being the president of World Vision. Through bible verses, stories, quotes and statistics he makes the argument that the church has a hole in its message. The hole is seen in our sins of omission, specifically in dealing with social justice and righteousness around the world. He states that, “God wants to see the authenticity of our faith put into action, not the emptiness of a faith without deeds.”
With the awareness, access and ability available to us in our technological age we have no excuses, nor can we plead ignorance, not to be helping those around the world in need.
He wraps up the book saying that we all have something to offer: either time, talent or treasure. It may not be the best or the most but we can all do something. I like the quote that he ascribes to Henry Van Dyke, “Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
This was a good book and I am going to share some more thoughts from the book on this blog
With the awareness, access and ability available to us in our technological age we have no excuses, nor can we plead ignorance, not to be helping those around the world in need.
He wraps up the book saying that we all have something to offer: either time, talent or treasure. It may not be the best or the most but we can all do something. I like the quote that he ascribes to Henry Van Dyke, “Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
This was a good book and I am going to share some more thoughts from the book on this blog
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Malaria
We are collecting funds to help by mosquito nets to send to Africa. The following is some information regarding malaria. It is unreal how much these nets can do to save lives. If you are interested in helping out, please get in touch with us.
Malaria fact sheet
Malaria kills nearly one million people each year; eighty-percent are children under-five.
Malaria results in 8 percent of total under-five deaths worldwide, or approximately 776,000 under-five child deaths from malaria each year.
Malaria infects 350-500 million people each year.
More than 2,000 children under-five years of age die from malaria each day.
The most common malaria species in Africa, Plasmodium falciparum, is estimated to cause as many as 10,000 maternal deaths each year and 8 percent to 14 percent of all low birth weight babies.
Malaria is a prime cause of low birth weight in newborns, anemia and infant deaths.
The protective effect of insecticide-treated bed nets has the potential to prevent as many as 1 million deaths from all causes for children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than US$ 12 billion every year in lost GDP, even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum.
Approximately, 40 percent of the world's populations, mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries, are at risk of malaria.
Malaria fact sheet
Malaria kills nearly one million people each year; eighty-percent are children under-five.
Malaria results in 8 percent of total under-five deaths worldwide, or approximately 776,000 under-five child deaths from malaria each year.
Malaria infects 350-500 million people each year.
More than 2,000 children under-five years of age die from malaria each day.
The most common malaria species in Africa, Plasmodium falciparum, is estimated to cause as many as 10,000 maternal deaths each year and 8 percent to 14 percent of all low birth weight babies.
Malaria is a prime cause of low birth weight in newborns, anemia and infant deaths.
The protective effect of insecticide-treated bed nets has the potential to prevent as many as 1 million deaths from all causes for children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than US$ 12 billion every year in lost GDP, even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum.
Approximately, 40 percent of the world's populations, mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries, are at risk of malaria.
Crazy Love
We will be using the DVD "Crazy Love", which is a companion study resource for the book by the same title written by Francis Chan ( a pastor in California). Our study time begins at 7:00pm on Wednesday nights. Everyone is welcome.
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