Monday, March 24, 2008

Giving Back

UPDATE ON RANDOM CHANGE JAR (RCJ)

The money that we collected before the holidays ended up not being needed for the person that we were going to donate that money to.

We've been looking for a way to use the $110+ that we collected in a way that is both positive and can achieve the maximum effect for the $. What we've found is this:

There is a hispanic-American 3rd-grader in the Willow Springs community (Between Gardner and Angier) who has a rare disease that does not allow him out of the house very often. He cannot even attend public school and is forced to be homeschooled. The disease, Skins Crohn's Disease, is severely debilitating this child's life.

Partially because of the expense of this disease(treatments, doctors, tons of bandages), the family is having a hard time financially. Both because of his illness and his family's money situation, he misses out on common activities that we take for granted (he's never had a birthday party).

His birthday is coming up soon, and there is a group working on helping the family with that. Our plan is to take the money and get them gift cards to a grocery store to help free up some of their funds to focus on other needs. We hope that this gift will help not only the child, but the family as a whole!

If you still would like to give to this specific gift, please call or email Justin by wed. March 26th at noon! You can PLEDGE the money and by Wed. @ noon, and we will add it to the count out of our pocket. You then can reimburse us Thurs. when we meet, or call and we will make some other arrangements if you can't make it out Thurs. but would like to give.

EMAIL Justin cucamel@gmail.com

The money in the RCJ that we began collecting last month will not go towards this and instead will be left alone, continue to be collected, and will go to a future endeavor of the group's choosing.

Thanks again for your willingness to help, your conversations, and your friendships!
feel free to leave comments too!

love,
Justin and Alison

Monday, March 10, 2008

Questions On Suffering, Evil, Love and Justice

Possible topic this week as we look into recent headlines. The timeless questions on suffering, evil, death, war, Love, humanity, justice, etc... Here may be some starting points in the news recently.

Shooting of a gay middle-schooler by another middle-schooler.


A BETTER Video is found here on CNN.

Eve Carson's death, Student Body President for UNC.


Lauren Burk, 18, was found shot on a side road, and her car was found burning in an Auburn University parking lot.


See full story of both here!!

And of course we can't ignore the War in Iraq: From REAL NEWS

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Also don't forget the Questions project mentioned last post, and we are beginning the random change jar back up. If you have any place you would want our random change to go to in the next month or so, we are taking requests now!!!!

see you Thurs, or on the blog discussion!

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

A Questionable Project?


We want to begin a new activity in our discussion process. But we need your help!

What spiritual questions do you have in your own life?

these thoughts need to be heard, although we won't "Answer" them, perhaps we can spend some time discussing them. We are going to begin collecting these questions this week. Your job is simple. Start writing down ANY questions or doubts that you may have and we will have something to place them in this week. This will be an ongoing activity, and all questions will remain anonymous! All questions are valid and will be treated with respect!

I truly have missed you all and hope to see you this thursday@ 7:30. We will prob. go grab dinner after and anyone is invited to join us!

contact me for more info or questions!
on facebook or at divineconversations@gmail.com

peace and love.
Justin