So far down 6 lbs with a goal of 40lbs less by the end of the year. I really think i may be able to do 50 lbs but we will see.

Keep me in your prayers and i fight the batte of the bulge.

More updates and pics to come.

Thanks so much for all those who have given already and will give today on donor bridge. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to send a gift to us. I know donor bridge has been having some delays (due to high volume of donors, yea) and you all have been so patient through the process. Thanks so very much.

As we move on into the fourth quarter please continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest that will send workers into the vineyard of Voice of Hope to help minsister to the needs of HIS kids in HIS community.

Thanks so much again.

Did you know your perception is your reality?

Did you know how you view the world determines how you behave in it?

Did you know how you view people determines how you react toward them?

Did you know that you have a view towards poverty and the people in it? We all do.

When Jesus asked his disciples in the Gospel of Mark chapter 8 verse 29, “who do you say I am?”, he was asking them how do you see me or how do you view me. “Most saw who they expected to see – Elijah or another of the prophets. Only Peter saw the Messiah, and we are told it was only because the Holy Spirit helped him to see truly. Seeing what we expect to see is a common human weakness.”[1] We bring our presuppositions (my one use of Cornelius Van Til) with us when we go anywhere to do anything. And when we go to work in an urban community with poor people “we come with a full array of information and perspectives that affect how we view the poor and understand poverty.”[2]

“The world tends to view the poor as a group that is helpless”[3], below are common views Christians bring in working with the poor.

· Poor as made in the image of God: This view draws in the creation narrative and tends toward a romantic view of the poor. Their poverty is the result of lack of skills and opportunity. What they need in a “leg up.”

· Poor as people in rebellion: This view draws on the fall as the defining reason why the poor are poor. They are lazy and make bad choices. The poor need to accept the gospel, go to work, and make better choices.

· Poor as Christ incarnate: Drawing on Matthew 25, this view of the poor centers on the Incarnation and, with Mother Teresa, “sees Christ in the distressing guise of the poor.” The poor lack love and relationships; they do not belong. The poor need accompaniment; we should relieve as much suffering as we can.

· Poor as God’s Favorites: This view draws on the prophetic literature and the Exodus account. The poor are the ones who are blessed, for theirs will be the kingdom. They are poor because they are oppressed by social systems that keep them poor for the benefit of the non-poor. The poor need justice and help in finding their voice and place in the economic and political system.

· Poor as lost souls: This is a category that I am taking the liberty of adding to Mouw’s typology. This view draws selectively on the gospels and reflects the dichotomy between the spiritual and the physical of the modern world. The poor are lost. The kingdom is coming when Jesus comes, and that will be soon. The poor need to be saved.[4]

What’s your view from the above list? Do you have one view, a combination of views or do you think it is all of the above?

Why do I ask this question? It’s because often the poor become nameless, and this invites us to treat them as objects of our compassion, as a thing to which we can do what we believe is best. We, the non-poor, take it upon ourselves to name them – homeless, destitute, indigenous, working poor, and so on. Talking about the poor as abstract nouns invites well intentioned people of compassion to speak for the poor and to practice the latest fads in social engineering and urban ministry. Whenever we reduce people from names to abstractions we add to their poverty and impoverish ourselves. The poor are a group of human beings who have names, who are made in the image of God, whose hairs are numbered, and for whom Jesus died. The people who live in poverty are as valued, as important, as loved as those who do not.[5]

What’s your view on this?

Today the First Lady of the United States of America annouced the nations commitment to fight childhood obesity. Well today I announce as well my commitment to childhood obesity. My commitent is to lead by example. It is my desire to share on a consistent basis my journey of weigh loss. My goal is to get to 225 lbs. The last time i weight that amount i was 21 years old. Many moons ago.

So please stay tuned for updates and pray requests as i embark on this fantastic voyage.

Me (far left) and a few of my friends at a Oct 2009 church reunion. In this picture I am 357 lbs.

In this pic with my wife i am 330.6 lbs. ( Feb 5, 2010)

STAY TUNED FOR MORE PICS SEEING LESS AND LESS OF ME (pounds that is)

The current economic crisis in America and most other countires in the world can give people reason to worry. With people losing their jobs in record numbers, forclosures, reposessions, credit charge offs, savings and investments decreasing, donations to non-profits significantly decreasing and whatever else you can name, its happening. With all the forementioed, some believe it is now official time to start worrying.

The passage of scripture basically reminds us that God sustains nature. He takes care of the animals (vs.26) and he takes care of the plants (vs. 28, 30). Then the writer reminds us that we are of more value to God than the birds, the lillies and grass so we should not worry or be anxious about our needs or sustainability (vs 31).

The "b" clause of verse 32 gives us the second of two reasons why we should not, "for your heavenly father knows that you need them all." Isn't that great to hear that we dont have to worry or be anxious for our basic needs becuase our heavenly father knows that we need them all. But i want to go one step further. We don't have to worry or be anxious about anything becuase our heavenly father knows everything that we need albeit basic or not.

So as you go throughout your day, your week, this rest of this month, this year and your life, remember that God know whats you need of.

So is it time to worry? No, it is not.

Although I would not have described the young men as ghetto boys, I do think it was wonderful that he decided to help some young men who were not as fortunate as he was.

I guess he was highlighted because in his culture it is not to common for someone like him to take in urban youth but it got me thinking about all the people in the “hood” that do it all the time.

I can think of countless women in my community where I grew up and where I live now that took in many kids. My dad took in four from our neighborhood. No one seems to highlight them. No one seems to tell their story. I wonder why.

Well, for all those like my dad, in communities like North Philly and West Dallas who have ever taken in kids who needed shelter and loving guardians, for what it's worth, Ed Franklin says THANK YOU.

Well, it all started in a summer session of Greek II at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. I was in class taking a refresher for the upcoming Greek II in the fall. There was a break in the class, and I turned and noticed an older African American male in the back of the class taking notes. I started towards him to share with him that this is a hard class, and maybe he should start with Greek I instead. He accepted my polite gesture and then asked me what I was struggling with in the class. I told him, and he then took me aside and started writing and speaking perfect Greek. I immediately turned to him and asked who he was. He said, “My name is Elliot Greene, and I am a professor here at Westminster.” I said, “No you are not because I know all the professors, and you are not one of them.” He then told me about the WTS Dallas campus (now Redeemer Theological Seminary) and suggested that I come down to Dallas to take Greek with him. I agreed. And the summer of 2002, I came to Dallas.

While here that summer, I stayed with and had a lot of time to talk with Steve Vanderhill, who is now the President of Redeemer Seminary. At that time, he was the Vice President of Westminster Theological Seminary. I shared with him my passion for urban ministry and my ideas for God's people in "the hood."

After completing of Greek I, II, and III (in which I received all A's by the way) I returned to Philadelphia and graduated with a Masters of Arts in Religion and a Masters of Divinity. Soon after, I married a wonderful woman and was working full-time at Northwestern Human Services as a behavioral specialist and mobile therapist for kids, and part-time as the Director of Outreach at the then "8th Street Baptist Church" in Wilmington, Delaware. One month before my first child was born, I got a call from Steve Vanderhill about a job opportunity here in Dallas. It was with a West Dallas ministry called Mercy Street. They wanted me to come and start an urban Bible institute. After the interview with Trey, I went back to Philadelphia, prayed about it, talked it over with my wife, and was led to decline the offer. However, I did inform them that I was still passionate about community transformation and mercy ministries. Trey Hill, the E.D. of Mercy Street, then informed me of the job opportunity at Voice of Hope.

I flew down again to meet with some board members, including a three hour interview with one of them, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I am glad that the Lord blessed me with this opportunity. I really enjoy what I do. I was born to do ministry. I was born to shepherd God’s sheep. Many people do not have jobs that they love. I praise the Lord that I do.

He goes on to suggest 5 ways to get customers back in the habit of buying from you and I thought I would revise them to suggest to my fellow non profit leaders 3 ways to get our donors to keep supporting us.

1. Try to get your donor to donate something – anything.

During these times we want our donors to donate anything to us. Our goal is to get them to continue to support you with any amount of money. Once the donor commits at this level for a month or longer then you can strategize ways for them to increase their gift. Neale, states that the goal here is to reestablish purchase behavior and I say the goal here is to establish or reestablish donor loyalty and consistent giving.

2. Recognize the reason that the donor initially donated to you may no longer hold.

In the book “ The Seven Faces of philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating Major Donors” Russ Prince and Karen File state that there are a myriad of concerns, interests, needs, and motivations to why people give. And sometimes those reasons change. Spend some time with your donors to determine if you, the organization or the population you serve still have relevance to them or if there interests have changed.

3. Listen to your donors

Often we share and share and share about our organizations and all the good we are doing but we may not take as much time to listen to the donor. Feedback is good and can help you refine your approach to prospect development or donor care.

These are three approaches that we have tried to implement in our organization. I will let you know how and if they are successful.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions to maintain or increasing gifts during these times? If so, please share them in the comments.

He goes on to suggest 5 ways to get customers back in the habit of buying from you and I thought I would revise them to suggest to my fellow non profit leaders 3 ways to get our donors to keep supporting us.

1. Try to get your donor to donate something – anything.

During these times we want our donors to donate anything to us. Our goal is to get them to continue to support you with any amount of money. Once the donor commits at this level for a month or longer then you can strategize ways for them to increase their gift. Neale, states that the goal here is to reestablish purchase behavior and I say the goal here is to establish or reestablish donor loyalty and consistent giving.

2. Recognize the reason that the donor initially donated to you may no longer hold.

In the book “ The Seven Faces of philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating Major Donors” Russ Prince and Karen File state that there are a myriad of concerns, interests, needs, and motivations to why people give. And sometimes those reasons change. Spend some time with your donors to determine if you, the organization or the population you serve still have relevance to them or if there interests have changed.

3. Listen to your donors

Often we share and share and share about our organizations and all the good we are doing but we may not take as much time to listen to the donor. Feedback is good and can help you refine your approach to prospect development or donor care.

These are three approaches that we have tried to implement in our organization. I will let you know how and if they are successful.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions to maintain or increasing gifts during these times? If so, please share them in the comments.