Give It Away

Brooklyn, NY Skyline

 

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31 [NIV]

Compton, California is a hard-scrabble town with lots of guns, drugs and crime.  A Hollywood screenwriter named Court Crandall took a novel approach to make a difference.  He went to Compton High School and announced a free throw contest that would net the winner a scholarship for college of $40,000.  Anyone and everyone with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher could apply to be in the contest.  “I thought the free throw is a good metaphor in a world where there’s a bunch of lines that are kind of dividing us,” Crandall said afterwards.  “The focus became, how do we show the world another side of Compton, that’s more positive, beyond the stereotypical guns and crime stuff.”  He would quickly learn that the kids of Compton had something to teach him.

100 students applied – 8 were randomly chosen to participate.  A student named Allan Guei was the winner of the March 2011 contest before a packed house.  He was a member of the school’s basketball team, but landed in the event because of his academic achievements.  Allan was already headed to Cal State Northridge on a full basketball scholarship.  By the time graduation rolled around, Allan had made a momentous decision regarding his $40,000 scholarship from the hoops contest:  He was going to divide it equally among the other seven contestants.  “I’ve already been blessed so much and I know we’re living in a bad economy, so I know this money can really help my classmates.  It was the right decision.”  One of his recipients said, “Because of what he has done for us, God will bless him.  That’s what life is all about – stepping forward to help other people.”

All quotations taken from Yahoo Sports! Rivalshigh online

Day 4 of Prayer for my daughter in West Africa.

Thank you for your prayers for safety and a successful audit. 

Contentment

Keep your lives free from the love of money,

And be content with what you have, because God said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

I went outside early this morning to get some yard work done before the heat arose.  We had a terrific thunderstorm last night, and the ground was thoroughly soaked.  I am digging out a garden area two and a half feet wide, following the sidewalk from the driveway to the front steps.  There is a considerable amount of gravel in our dirt, and I knew it would be easier to dig when damp.

As I was coming back from the garbage dumpster, I was halted in my tracks by the sight of a box turtle sauntering out from under my car.  He was probably eight to nine inches long from tip to tail, with a six by four inch shell.  He obviously lives outside, and his shell was glistening in the early morning light from the dampness of the air and grass.  He was moving along at lightning speed for a turtle, completely unconcerned with my presence, and all I could do was stare.  He was beautiful – a perfect specimen – a little morning gift from the hand of the Creator.

There are many things in this world that promise contentment – most of which require money to acquire them.  Those which bring peace and joy to the heart, however, are priceless:  a turtle glistening in the morning sun; the warm hug of a child; the fragrance of a rose; the smile of a friend; a sunset on the beach; the joy of another day of life; the affection, encouragement and support of family; and the love of Jesus, our Savior.  At the end of the day, these small miracles are what surround us with contentment.   

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, America!

July 4, 2011 

The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire . Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The birthday of the United States of America—Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress. ~Wikipedia

Day 1 of Prayer for my Youngest Daughter

Prayer for safe travel to West Africa