Have we Helped?

Several events and conversations have converged the past couple days which are making me rethink some activities.

In no particular order they include:

1) Visit from the new director of Hope Again in Hollywood. This group does a tremendous job of reaching out to druggies, abused, alcoholics and others who end up homeless in the Hollywood area. They deal with psychological, physical, educational and spiritual issues. Goal is always to put them back out in society as a productive and fully functioning participant of the human race.

2) Knock on my office door after hours from an obviously inebriated man who insisted we come and give him food, for his two small children (who were no where present). When I told him he would need to return during office hours, he ended up wandering through an open door and began exploring a kitchen in our E building.

3) A 2 minute video clip from Mindanao sent by Stan, who is there looking over some of our micro-financing projects. We saw pigs. Lots of pigs. Big pigs. From a meager start, farmers now are about to harvest the first batch. Unbelievable how fast one male pig and five females can produce bacon. This is all part of helping people have a livelihood instead of giving them a handout.Hmmm.... Why is it that overseas we have concluded giving handouts is really not helping anyone yet we keep doing it here at home? I don't know how many tons of food we send out our doors each year. I do know there is a steady stream of people. Surely feels good to know that hungry people are getting food to eat.

But in Hollywood, Hope Again, insists the deeper issues of unemployment and sobriety be dealt with. They don't just give handouts. In Mindanao we have concluded handouts from the USA is no long term solution. Meanwhile here in Glendora,we just keep giving out food with no long term additional support.

Just some glocal thoughts. Hmmmm

Sea to Shining Sea

Traveled today from the Pacific to the Atlantic. But did not actually see the "shining sea" on either. It was pouring rain when I drove towards the Pacific at 5:30. it was pitch black when pulling into the Oak Island, North Carolina conference center here on the Atlantic.

13 hour travel day. Tend to grumble about security. Grumble about crowds. Grumble about the food. But pretty great time to be alive when you can travel coast to coast in a day and keep conversations going almost perpetually with friends, colleagues and team members almost the entire time you are en route. Our worlds are so connected.

We all know the changes brought about by technology. But when we experience illustrations of it in the course of a work day it paints the glocal reality.

Our generation has an unprecedented opportunity to serve a wider community than any previous. While the 10 hours of training and lecture I'll be doing over the next two days is not generally considered relaxing, it is rewarding.

The conference center, with no phone and no television in the rooms, with vistas overlooking the rugged Atlantic, promises to be a therapeutic change of pace. It would be almost monastic, except they provide wireless access for the laptop and of course our phones follow us everywhere. Suppose I could go on the blackberry tonight and watch the Late Show. But that would be cheating wouldn't it.

Ah the positives and negatives of our times. If you like running at hyper-speed this is a great time to be alive.

Religious People as Minorities

Had a wonderful time with the officials of SARA yesterday. They were warm, fun, wise, and quite hospitable. They do their job with excellence. I am grateful for their welcome and counsel they provided regarding working relationships in mainland China.

I received a copy of the Olympic Bible from Director Ye. Ms.Guo Wei, who was a warm hostess for our time. Their building is a memorable historic site. It was the birthplace of the Last Emperor. Situated on a lakeside and marvelously rennovated. A wonderful site to receive guests.
One fascinating observation are the words at the entrance. My interpreter pointed out that it says, "religious and minority affairs."

This reminds me of what I was told 10 years ago by SARA officials, "Religionists are a minority in China." Therefore, they require some attention by the government in order to assure their rights are protected.

This was a new concept for someone from the USA where religion is normal. Most everyone I know in the USA is religious. We are the majority.

I suspect each of you reading this has an opinion of your own as to the implications of this observation and I will leave that to you to sort out. But it is interesting.

Years ago most people in Europe were religious. Not so today. Will this happen in the USA? Will those who believe in God become a minority? Hmmmm....

One encouraging word from our visit. A ranking official mentioned that when she begain with SARA most people viewed people who were religious as somewhat strange. Today, she said, not so much. People in China who worship God are not thought to peculiar. They are respected as being academic and intelligent. Progress I think.

See you back home.

Good Friends

For those of you who know me this note will mean something. Other guests from around the world may find it less enlightening.

In Beijing for a couple days. Today we met with good friends and spoke of growing partnerships.

Tomorrow morning will be meeting with Director Ye of SARA (State Administration of Religious Affairs). We plan to introduce the work of GFA. His office has graciously extended an invitation to chat and enjoy a luncheon.

I hope we can adequately convey our sincere desire to work openly and legally in China.
This has been our commitment for the past 10+ years. In 1997 Han Wenzao challenged me by saying "good friends always deal with one another honestly. If you wish to work in China do so legally and openly." We accepted his challenge. He also said "because we cannot do something today does not mean we may not be able to do so later." This word of wisdom has continually brought patience.

I am honored someone of Mr. Ye's stature and standing would make time in his busy calendar for us. I am also hopeful this will be yet another step in our growing friendship.

If you read this and have a moment to say a prayer for the meeting it will be greatly appreciated.

The weather here in Beijing is quite pleasant. The people just as inviting and warm.

See you back home soon.

Saying No

One thing the world is sharing in common today is financial concern. I often share here some perspectives from the overseas view but as I sit here in Southern California some of the solutions seem rather simple to me.

This Sunday night at 6:00, I and two friends will be sharing some principles for "Surviving Tough Financial Times."
If you are in our area--please come. It's free.

But just for starters what are a few things we could all do to take the edge off. Here is my top 10 list:

1) Stop eating out. A sit down meal is easily $20 per person on up.

2) If you eat out why not "eat down"---try to cut the meal to $8-10 per person.

3) Wash your own car at home in the drive way.

4) Have your hair cut at home or extend the time between hair cuts one week.

5) Cut your cable service to the basic channels.

6) Turn your heat off at night. No one will suffer frost bite in Southern California.

7) Watch a DVD at home and avoid the movie theatres. If you go to a movie sneak in your own popcorn and snacks.

8) Stop buying toys. It's time to grow up.

9) Car pool and look for gas on weekends.

10) Buy a used car. Buy a car with higher MPG.

What I find so fascinating about this list is it requires absolutely NO PAIN. Yet following through could mean hundreds of dollars per month for a family budget.