So, the past couple of posts that I actually published here were about Haiti.  I figure it only appropriate that this one be as well.

I’ve been continuing to try to figure out just how I can help the people of Haiti.  Of course I pray and give but I want to do more.  I’m even considering going.  Maybe you’d like to join me.  At the very least I want to let you know about something else that people are doing and that you have the opportunity to be a part of.

I figured that the outpouring of support would end pretty quickly following a week or two after the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12.  However, here we are a little over a month later, and, while I’m certain that donations have probably slowed, there are still some people actively working in Haiti and others who continue to see what they can do to raise awareness, funds and supplies for the ongoing relief effort there.  Right now there’s a group of youth ministry bloggers there with Adventures in Missions.  They went to survey what was happening, make connections and help out wherever they could.  And they’re seeing some incredible things.  You can find out more about it here.

I previously wrote about how you could help tremendously simply by giving to Compassion International’s disaster relief fund (which you can still do).  I now want to let you know about something else that Compassion is doing.  Shaun Groves (a great songwriter and musician who works with Compassion Bloggers and whom I’ve written about before) has been working tirelessly to see if he couldn’t make something big happen to help Haiti.  His idea has been to host a concerts in two different cities to raise awareness and money for Compassion’s efforts in Haiti and to simulcast those concerts.  It’s a big idea, especially considering the time-frame in which he has wanted to pull it off.

Well, a number of people have caught Shaun’s vision and joined him and making this idea a reality.  The result is Help Haiti Live.  Here’s the skinny.

On February 27 two concerts will happen, one at the Ryman in Nashville and the other at the Wiltern Theater in L.A.  The lineup for these events is incredible.  Big Kenny.  Alison Krauss with Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas).  Jars of Clay.  Mat Kearney.  Dave Barnes.  Matt Wertz.  Brandon Heath.  Francis Chan.  Amy Grant.  LeAnn Rimes.  Rebecca St. James.  NEEDTOBREATHE.  And as if that weren’t enough, there’s promise of a “to-be-announced special guest headliner” for the L.A. event.

Tickets have gone on sale today.  So all of you who live around Nashvegas or the City of Angels, get ‘em now.  For those of you who don’t, have no fear.  The concerts will be broadcast live at HelpHaitiLive.com.

It’s not just Shaun and these artists that have come together to make this happen.  This whole thing is being made possible through the effort of numerous other individuals and corporations who all care deeply about the plight of the people of Haiti and who see Compassion’s work there as essential and effective and want to help equip them further with what they need to continue releasing the children of Haiti from poverty in Jesus’ name.

That’s why all the proceeds from Help Haiti Live will go to Compassion’s Haiti disaster relief fund.

All money raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to re-equip Compassion’s local support structure and to provide for the immediate needs of Compassion-assisted children and families.

Compassion has been meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Haitians for more than forty years and will continue to serve them in this time of extreme need. Already Compassion International has supplied more than 15,000 families with clean water, food, blankets, temporary shelter, medical supplies and counseling.  Donations will lay bricks, feed, educate, clothe, heal and rebuild Haiti for many months to come.

Compassion International is the world’s largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 26 of the world’s poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children, enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator, has awarded Compassion its highest rating “four stars” for eight consecutive years.

So don’t let the opportunity pass you by to join this great group of people in helping some others who could really use it.  Just because a month has passed, don’t think that the need is any less great, any less vital, any less urgent.

You can make a difference.

Today.

Won’t you?

Help Haiti February 27th – HelpHaitiLive.com from Compassion International on Vimeo.

Perhaps it’s that while Liza and I haven’t adopted yet, we share Aaron and Jamie‘s passion for adoption.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been able to watch their journey with Amos and Story from afar and have been continuously blessed to be reminded of the faithfulness of God they’ve experienced along the way.  It could be that our daughters share the same name (which I might have subconsciously stolen from him, though I really don’t think that’s what happened).  Whatever the reason, this song has touched me as one who’s an adopted heir of our Abba Father, as a parent, as a (hopefully and prayerfully) future adoptive parent, and as just a human being.

Today Amos is still in Haiti.  He’s relatively okay following all of the destruction his native country has experienced from the earthquake last week.  However, I can’t imagine how much more he wants now to be home with his Papa and Mama and brothers and sister.  I also can’t imagine how much Aaron and Jamie want him home.  You can find out more about Amos and Story as well as the rest of the Ivey’s over at Aaron’s site.  But at the very least, please pray for them and for Amos and that their family might finally be united together soon.

Today Aaron posted the music video for “Amos Story,” and I wanted to make sure I shared it with all of you.  Be sure to click over to his site and let him know how much you like it.

In the meantime, here’s a video we produced back before the holidays that just released recently.  It’s a spoken word on the concept of repentance.  It’s part of our effort to introduce some of the words associated with “Re,” this summer’s camp theme.

Actually, this is just a short edit of the piece.  The full cut will be released in association with studentlifeBIBLEstudy.

Enjoy!

For, today, though I have a special Halloween treat for you all (or is it a trick?).

I stumbled across this video.  It’s of a math professor at Biola University named Matthew Weathers giving a special Halloween lesson.  It’s pretty clever and funny.  All math professors should be this goofy.

Enjoy.

There are places I end up that if you ask me how I got there I can’t come close to telling you.

My life is often on a trajectory I did not plan whatsoever and I just hold on.

But that’s not the point today.

Andy and I are constantly saying, “there is no perfect spaghetti sauce; there are only perfect spaghetti sauces.”

Malcolm Gladwell tells us why.

Secretly, however, I believe there is a perfect spaghetti sauce, and it’s over at Joe’s.

Catalyst 2009 Compassion Moment from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Remember, you too can be a Compassion sponsor and be a part of changing a life like Jimmy’s.  To do so, click here.

Thanks.

Certainly adds a new dimension to our understanding of the crucifixion scene.  I’d never heard this before.

Anyway, one night we went to this showcase at some local bar.  We were mainly going to see DecembeRadio who were kinda headlining the deal.  We had them booked for some events and wanted to check them out.  One of the other acts that night was The Michael Gungor Band.  Michael Gungor is a singer/songwriter/worship leader whose big claim to fame is co-writing the song “Friend of God.”  He and his band, which includes his wife, were great.  Actually, they were more like a jam band than anything else.  They were fun and different and way more talented than any of their pre-packaged recordings had conveyed.  I loved them immediately.

That night they played what was a new song for them.  We found out later from his agent that they were repackaging his album and including this new song.  It was called “White Man.”  This song was one of the reasons I developed immediate affection for Michael Gungor.

The other day Matthew Paul Turner over at Jesus Needs New PR mentioned they played this song at his church (Cross Point Church up in Nashville).  This reminded me again of this song.  I watched the music video for the song he posted, which is great, and I wanted to share it with all of you.

I hope you like it too.

White Man – Michael Gungor Band from Brandon Goodwin on Vimeo.

Have a great weekend!

Have a great Monday.