Invisible Children - YOU can make a difference

NOTE: If you care about this topic email, blog, or send a link to
these events to your friends. If nothing else just send a copy the
text below. I don't know the same people you do and everyone can help
to get the message out.

Watch the story of the Ugandan Civil war and the children kidnapped
from their beds by the rebel soldiers during the night. Join the
Global Night Commute this Saturday April 29, by making the trek to
sleep in your local city to commemorate the children in Uganda which
travel miles every night to hide away from the Rebel armies who seek
to kidnap and forcibly recruit them. Help get the message out showing
the press and government officials that its time to put pressure on
the Ugandan government to end this war.

Facts

* NORTHERN UGANDA CALLED THE WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE
WORLD TODAY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ATTENTION
* 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE FORCIBLY DISPLACED AN ESTIMATED
* 20- 50,000 CHILDREN ABDUCTED TO FIGHT AS SOLDIERS
* TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN COMMUTING NIGHTLY 130 PEOPLE DIE
PER DAY IN NORTHERN UGANDA DUE TO VIOLENCE

Who is going from your city?
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/theMovement/globalNightCommute/

Watch the whole video on line
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3166797753930210643

Order the DVD
http://www.invisiblechildren.com

How can you Help?
1. Sign up for the global night commute in your city (Sign up early so
the scale of this event is known to the press in advance and others
you know will know you are going.)
2. Order a DVD, buy a bracelet, or contribute money to the cause
3. Email or blog about the topic - if nothing else copy my blog entry
in its entirety into your blog or email and send it out. I don't know
the same people you do. Help get the message out!

Info Bits

Italicized comments belong to the author of this blog

Planning the U.S. "Long War" on terror
The "Long War" is the name Washington is using to rebrand the new world conflict, this time against terrorism. Read more at BBC News.
This war now has no end in sight. It reminds me that at the beginning of the war, our President told us that this would be a long, drawn-out war. But 20 years? Fourth-generation plans?

French protestors to mark victory
Students and trades unions in France are planning a day of action on Tuesday as they celebrate the defeat of a law introducing flexible youth employment. Read more at BBC News.
It’s awesome to see that a group of people, in peaceful protests, can indeed change the government. This proposed law would allow French corporations to fire young people without reason. It was hoped that this would create more opportunities for young people. Circular reasoning, perhaps?

Zimbabweans have "shortest lives"
Life in Zimbabwe is shorter than anywhere else in the world, with neither men nor women expected to live until 40, a new UN report says. Read more at BBC News.
Zimbabwe is also one of the poorest nations in the world, ranking 185th in Gross Domestic Product, per capita (out of 232 countries). In fact, most countries in Africa fall in the “low-income economies” category. See for yourself at solcomhouse.com.

Venezuela and FMLN mayors of El Salvador form joint venture
Caracas, Venezuela, April 8, 2006—On Wednesday, the Venezuelan government signed agreements with the Inter-municipal Association of Energy for El Salvador (ENEPASA) initiating a joint venture company, which it is hoped, will provide cheaper oil to El Salvador and Central America. Read more at target="blank">Venezuelanalysis.com.
Now this is a very, very, very cool idea. Basically, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will trade oil for coffee, sugar, industrial goods, and other products that Venezuela needs. Venezuela is one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world (and this June, it may be declared the largest oil-producing country in the world by OPEC). He wants to trade with 20 mayors of cities in El Salvador. Even since Chavez took office in 1998, he has struck trade agreements with other countries in this fashion, giving discounts to oil to poor countries. He even donated oil to poor communities in the Bronx! So why is our government opposed to him and these tactics?

God's word is a lamp unto my feet and a light onto my path

The verse that makes up the title of this posting can be found in Psalm 119:105. I didn't go to church this weekend, because I didn't know about the time change and so when I woke up at what I thought was 9:30 am on Sunday, it was actually 10:30 am and too late for me to shower, and still make the 25 minute drive to be at church for the 11:15 service.

I did, however, watch the service via streaming video on my church's website (hooray for technology!) The guest pastor mentioned this particular verse, and through him God illuminated this passage in a whole new way to me. When God's word is described as a lamp and a light, in the Hebrew it was referring to the lanterns that were carried at night. By nature, these lanterns could only light the next couple of feet in front of you.

In the same way, God's word illuminates the next couple of steps I need to take in my walk of faith with the Lord. Sometimes it's only the next step. Now, by nature, I like to know exactly what is coming up ahead, and as far ahead as possible. But God is teaching me patience, and to trust in Him. So quite often, I have to take that next step before I can see the following step. Instead of being afraid of this, or challenging God to show me more of the path ahead of me, I should give God the glory for leading me along the path with His word.

Let's all praise God for His infinite wisdom and His perfect love for us!

God's calling me

A stirring of dismay
I read an online book that bothered me. It was authored by Noam Chomsky and is titled, "What Uncle Sam Really Wants." Noam Chomsky is a leading linguist scientist at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and has the title of "University Professor." This means that he is qualified, and able, to teach any of the subjects taught at MIT.

Chomsky is also known as a political activist who is suspicious of big media, big business, and big government. The book mentioned above is exhaustively researched and the sources Chomsky uses are extensively documented, coming mostly from declassified U.S. documents.

In other words, this stuff is real.

It bothered me. If you don't want to be bothered, don't read it. I'm serious. I have to be very careful here, and keep in mind the command in scripture to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).

A confirmation of the burden on my heart
What would Jesus do? I've heard that before, and seen it on bumper stickers and bracelets. But seriously, what would Jesus do? What DID he do? He visited the poor and the widows. He dined with sinners. I want to do something to help change this.

I've been exposed to a lot of things recently that seem to be culminating now. I've been learning in my Sociology class about some of the glaring flaws of our national and global economic systems. In my Philosophy class I've been learning about some of the injustices and contradictions of our foreign policy. Then, yesterday, my girlfriend and I are on our way to breakfast when she tells me about a movie she just saw titled "Invisible Children."

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'll probably check it out soon. From what she described, it sounds a lot like the tactics used by government or paramilitary forces in recruiting/coercing children soldiers, as described in Chomsky's book. As she was telling me about this (I hadn't yet told her about Chomsky's book), a big smile spread across my face. I don't believe much in coincidences, and in this case God was clearly telling me something. The fact that this has become a burden in my heart, and now my girlfriend is telling me about a similar experience she's had, was clear evidence in my mind and heart that God is at work in this.

What to do?
First of all, I need to learn more. I'm currently reading "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It." Next, I'm going to see how I can make some immediate differences in the lives of people right here, right now. I pray that God would glorify Himself through what I do, and that He would guide me in doing His will.

On a side note, I just want to say that I am blessed beyond measure by God with the most awesome girlfriend! After I shared this with her, and some of the things I want to do, she told me she supports this 100%. This is also something that is important to her. It means that our lives together won't be about the nicer and nicer house, newer cars every couple of years, fancy toys, etc. But she's never been about this anyway. God's put in her heart such a love for people. She rocks! (High-five, God.)