CreatEveryday

There’s been a huge growth in the area of humanitarian entrepreneurs in the past couple of years. Think TOMS shoes. These are great organizations, usually started by someone who identifies or is closely tied to a need in society (for TOMS - kids don’t have shoes and because of that, they get diseases that could be avoided if they had shoes). Then they figure out a way to meet that need.

I’m so impressed by these companies and their products because they understand that it’s not about how much money you have - it’s about making money so that you can help others.

Well, I’ve just found another organization like TOMS that I have completely fallen in love with. I connect to their branding and their mission. The group is sevenly.org. Here’s the idea behind it.

The folks at sevenly.org realized the problem was not just the millions of people who go in need everyday, it was the BILLIONS of people who watch it happen and aren’t moved to take action. They were tired of people not caring about the hungry, sick, enslaved and forgotten. So, they broke down the world’s greatest causes into 7 categories and built a simple model that would allow people to give.

So each week for 7 days sevenly.org picks a cause and offers really cool t-shirts, tanks, hoodies. A portion of sales for that week goes directly to the organization. There’s a fundraising goal for each week as well as a tweet and share goal to help spread the word.

So a couple of weeks ago I got a great tank top for about $22 that supported the END7 organization. END7 is a campaign to see the end of 7 diseases that devastates the lives of 1 in 6 people worldwide including more than half a billion children. Money raised through the sevenly.org campaign helped END7 send a packet of pills to thousands of children to help them combat these diseases.

Don’t get me wrong, serving and helping other people should take more effort and more personal involvement than just making a purchase. But if you have to buy something, I think it’s great to have the option of helping someone with your purchase. Sevenly.org also does a great job of giving you contact information for the organization that you are supporting - so that you can continue your support or expand your support of the organization.

I make a point of checking the site each week to see what the cause and the design is. Last week, Arkansas’ own Heifer Organization was featured.

Check it out when you get a chance!

Jenn

I am not a rabid NFL fan, and I had only realized that it was draft time because some of our friends have been hanging on every pick and discussing them at church and on twitter. But one pick in this draft did catch my attention.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Greg Schiano decided to draft former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand on Wednesday. Here’s the amazing part: 19 months ago Eric suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury while making a tackle in a game against Army at the Meadowlands. Eric is in a wheelchair, but is determined to walk again. Greg was his coach at the time.

“Leading up to the draft, I couldn’t help but think that this should’ve been Eric’s draft class,” Schiano said in a statement. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer men.”

Though the move is considered a symbolic gesture and LeGrand won’t actually receive any monetary compensation due to NFL salary-cap restrictions, LeGrand said Schiano is shipping a Buccaneers helmet and No. 52 jersey to his Avenel home this week.

The NFL has fans who are opinionated and owners who look to make a profit and coaches who are looking to move up. It’s not a bad organization, but it is a business. How amazing, in the middle of the bidding war and playground team-picking mentality of the draft, to see one man stop and honor the life and heart and dedication of another. And how great to see the Bucs allow this to happen. 

Here’s a link to video of Eric talking about his selection.

I might just have to get me a Tampa Bay t-shirt this season!

But here’s the real question that this brings up for me. How should I be honoring the people around me? Life is hard and it’s a struggle and you are always looking to protect yourself and your family. But what if I stopped and put aside what’s best for me just to honor someone else?

It wouldn’t get national coverage. It wouldn’t change the world. But it would change that one person, and it would change me. Maybe that’s the whole point.

Best-selling author and psychoanalyst Clarissa Pinkola Estes once said, “Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.”

I believe Jesus said something like that too: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Start Reaching!

Jenn

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been lucky enough to have several people in my life over the years who have not just loved me, but who have pushed me to be more. They’ve challenged my thought processes. They’ve helped me work through difficult times. They’ve pointed out when I’ve screwed up (often). But they’ve also loved me unconditionally. In short they were Jesus in the flesh, and I’m happy to say that I’ve been discipled by all of them.

Now I realize that discipling is not a cool, hip, “now” kind of idea. It makes people think about cults and mindless followers. But discipling someone or being discipled by someone means just the opposite of that. It’s about establishing a relationship with someone that lets them know they are safe and loved - regardless of what they share or do. Love is the bond and truth is the message in this relationship. Then, it’s just about spending time together - talking through fears, concerns, challenges and joys. It’s about living life together - where an older (ahem) or more experienced person can help a younger, less experienced person.

The goal of a discipleship relationship is not to turn someone into a mini-me. It’s to help that person:

• realize their identity in Christ
• realize their gifting and talents and how they can use these to serve God
• understand more about who God is and how He is intimately involved in their lives
• do more than they could ever have dreamed
• invest in others in the same way

Two of the really influential people in my life, Lewie Clark and Tim Grissom, have just published a book on discipleship. It’s called Imitating Jesus, and the book is amazing - but it is special to me is because I know these men, and I know that they actually live every bit of what’s in this book. 

Lewie was the first person to really challenge me in my Christian faith. It was through his singles group that I realized that God did not save me to sit on the bench, but that I was supposed to be in the game! Then, Lewie put me to work. He helped me identify and cultivate the gifts and talents that I have. And honestly most of the stuff that I do today for our BNC campus and my commitment to investing in the lives of young women are a direct result of his love, encouragement and his example. I still meet with Lewie whenever I’m in Chicago, and after every meeting I’m exhausted, encouraged, emotional, recharged and very thankful. 

Tim was such a huge influence on my life, and I don’t think he even realizes it. I didn’t really even know him until we all started The Summit Church in Little Rock. It was so refreshing to meet a communicator with a heart for God and the most amazing sense of off-beat humor that I had ever seen. Needless to say, we clicked instantly! It really showed me that being a writer/communicator can be a huge tool for God when that talent is surrendered to him. Knowing Tim and his amazingly gracious wife, Janiece, as they faced her diagnosis of ALS and ultimately her death a year later was an event that continues to impact my life and even my marriage to this day. The grace and strength, courage and honesty of the entire family still moves me to tears.

So, I can’t say this enough - but investing in the lives of those around you is the best investment you can make. Parents - disciple your children. Husbands - disciple your wives. Women and men - disciple the girls and boys and young people in your lives.

Here’s your warning though. It will take time. It will be inconvenient. It will be messy. But I promise it will be glorious and joyous and so worth it in the end. And if you don’t know where to start - read this book!

Stop riding the bench!

Jenn

I hit our awesome Fayetteville Farmers’ Market this morning - which is a quintessential NWA thing to do. Even though its relatively early in the season, the selection was really good and the people and dog watching was even better. I didn’t get any veggies this time since I’m headed out of town this week, but I couldn’t resist getting a bouquet of poppies and spring flowers for $8.

Then on the way home I dropped by All My Treasures flea market on Highway 16 and picked up a few items that I spotted last weekend. I figured if I was still thinking about them a week later, I definitely needed them. So I got a really cool Evenflow glass 4 cup measuring picture for $9 and a vintage scarf for $2.50.

So I got home and put them all together to make an awesome centerpiece on my table. Here’s a pic of my haul. I love spring in Northwest Arkansas!