Favorite Tweets for December

Life is short. Eat dessert first.

It was a busy month for all of us, right? But especially so for the Espinosa family: 2 birthdays, 1 anniversary (15 years!), Hanukkah, and Christmas.

Let's celebrate a wonderful month, and a exhilarating year, in which we saw God provide for us in everything.

Here were some of my favorite Tweets (@EspinosaJoey) from the past month:

From Others 

@ValerieHulme:  "Seek to heal what is broken. Lead with love. Follow love w/ compassion. Listen. Learn." Great words from @TMProject.

@Elloh_L:  "The only thing I know to do is partner with God the Father to teach people to be color blessed, not color blind." @DerwinLGray  

@ElizabethEsther:  "I can sincerely BELIEVE I'm not racist while still BEHAVING in discriminatory ways." http://www.elizabethesther.com/2014/12/maybe-im-a-racist-and-i-didnt-even-know-it-2.html … // #BlackLivesMatter

@MillVillageFarm:   Thanks @SCCLF for awarding our @GoodToGoGV Mobile Market $10k to help extend our work to additional communities!   

@FallonTonight:  Microsoft is ending Clip Art for Word. It's a small inconvenience for Word users, and a devastating blow for church newsletters. #fallonmono

@CSLewisDaily:  "In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.” ~ #CSLewis  

@PopAtomicStudio:  I'm not saying renewables are bad - they are an important piece of the puzzle, but can't go it alone & do have limitations. @EnergiewendeGER

@Lecrae:  Sick to my stomach about the killing of these NYPD officers. More people dead, more families hurting, more division. God help us.

@BobGoff:  Wise men set out to find a baby who God sent to find us. 

@ChrchCurmudgeon:  They call it a "selfie" because "narcissistie" is too hard to spell.

IJM:  "Two pre-requisites for churches doing justice: courage + humility. They seldom coexist." @IJimMartin #TheJustChurch

From Me

The verdict in the #EricGarner case explains & validates the frustration of the black community in #Ferguson.

Bought beer. Got carded. #stillgotit

If you want to see how a church body can bless families who have children with special needs, watch this: http://buff.ly/1AXQVZN  #kidmin

You can be a part of life-change & community transformation in #GreenvilleSC. http://buff.ly/16eEcYT  

Just had a job interview where the interviewer prayed for me before I left. #firsttime #SouthsideChristian

"The key to understanding masculinity is Jesus Christ." Mark Driscoll (in Real Marriage)... http://ift.tt/1wsnQo4   

College-access programs assist students who grow up in #poverty. http://buff.ly/16uhtZ6  (via @DiverseIssues) #education

"You sit on a throne of lies!"   

Chinese food DOES sound good right about now... "Chinese takeout on Christmas" http://buff.ly/1xe7Zgj 

Favorite Tweets from November

 Our football season came to an abrupt halt in early November. But the month got better with much-needed time with family and friends.

You can stay posted on all my great updates (and re-Tweets), by following me on Twitter (@espinosajoey).

Great Thoughts From Others

@tmproject:  "Single moms and fatherless youth are all around us. They are America's most reachable unreached people group." -@johnsowers

@FoundationMin:  "Jesus didn't come just to save us from problems we have, but from the problem we are". ~ Myron Augsberger @lensweet 

@Mario_A_Russo:  Black Friday: The day where people trample others to buy stuff on sale exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have.

@ChrchCurmudgeon:  Q - Know why God doesn't want Baptists to dance? A - Ever watched a Baptist dance? #BaptistAnswers

@AHud806:  Let my life be the proof of Your love. #Jesus

@LeeBozette:  "There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things." ~DL Moody 

@DANweidenbenner:  "What we give the poor, we lend to the Lord" -Sojourner Truth http://instagr.am/p/SfhsmRREnB/

From Me

Where God says to go, I must go. (see Jonah 1:1-3)

Like my new hoodie? Go Tigers! #AllendaleSC @ Allendale, SC http://instagr.am/p/RgMLd1Dyrr/

"A lot of Christians are in a different political party than you & are excited about the election." http://buff.ly/XlwDZ9  / by @mitchmillerme

"The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives." Francis Chan (Crazy Love) 

Doctor to Sender: "Let's see what's up your nose." Sender: "A booger." Doctor: "Yep. You're right." 

A house divided. Which is your favorite? #dd #kk http://instagr.am/p/SYS9lfjyt5/
 
Three missionary families that you could support with a donation: us, @josephosborn, @loridoster http://buff.ly/X3QTyy

Favorite Tweets for June

Warming up for the championship game

Summer is about half over! Yikes!

Here are some great tweets from last month:

@JaredCWilson:  One day all our theological nitpickery will be exposed and we'll go, "D'oh. I was a jerk." And Jesus will say "Yep, you were. But welcome."

@BoomBamBunny: There's no b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k,l,n,o,p,q,r,s,u,v,w,x,y, or z in team either. 

@eschneeberg:  @johnsowers Congrats on being recognized today as a White House Champion of Change 

@DavidAllston:  John 3 is a passage about judgment. We are under God's judgment and we are responsible for that judgment and only the Judge can save us


@mitchmillerme:  Shame keeps us from real relationships

@MensHumor:  It's weird to think that before Twitter all of this nonsense just stayed in people's heads.

@Lecrae:  Enjoy the ups and downs in life. The ups should make us grateful, the downs dependent.

@KatieHorton:  Discipleship is not a system or a program. It's a reckless abandonment; a way of life. @gracechurchsc @jimthompson777 #TheInstitute

My words of wisdom, in 140 characters or less:

[Dial #]. Person answers: "Hello?" [I think: Dang! Who did I just call?] #happensallthetime

Check out these 3 videos on mentoring, & check out what @tmproject is doing. http://buff.ly/L2jjSK

It's funny when an 18 year old tells a 13 year old about "the good old days." 

"The most damaging aspect of contemporary living is short-term thinking." Rick Warren

Encouraged by the 75 students & leaders from @gracechurchsc serving in #AllendaleSC with love & energy. 

Sender asked for: waffle cut in the shape of a dino, breakfast at AJ's, & a shooting star shaved in his hair. Guess which 1 he got today?

Instead of granting money, we must empower "people based on shared responsibility, mutual support, & accountability." #ToxicCharity

Happy Father's Day to Us

Here's a great video, that reminds me that us Dads can never quit, and we always encourage our kids to succeed.

And for you wives, we Dads need to hear from you what we do well. We crave your affirmation, to know that we are making a difference.

Recently, I asked Joanna, "What do I do well as a Dad?" What she said is an encouragement to me:

• Set an example in spending time with God each morning
• Take kids out on "dates"
• Take the lead at bathtime and bedtime

Word like this mean more than any tie or cologne or golf club on Father's Day. And if you are looking to give back this Father's Day, check out this great opportunity called Don't Buy The Tie (from The Mentoring Project).

Favorite Tweets for May

Sender's busy course load

 I hope you had a great month. Another school year gone by!


Here are some great thoughts from others:

PatrickShealy:  3 vital truths The Church needs to be always proclaiming: 1)Holiness of God 2) Sinfulness of man and 3)The Gospel of grace for all of life.

TMProject:  "Mentors win by showing up." - @johnsowers #Summit8

ChurchCurmudgeon:  Ever been to a homeschool girls' soccer game? The parents sound like they're screaming a sermon outline. Faith! Hope! Charity! GRAAAACE!

JimGaffigan:  There should be a children's song "If you're happy and you know it, keep it to yourself and let your Dad sleep."

EdAlliance:  FACT: a high school dropout will earn $260,000 less than hs grads and $800,000 less than college grads in their lifetime.

chalmerscenter:  Fikkert: Poverty alleviation is about people and a highly relational process not just projects and products. #hwhpdx

mitchmillerme:  Youth leaders, fill parents with the hope that God is going to work in their students heart. Parents want that hope.


And here are some that I wrote:

"Without the intervention of caring mentors, fatherless children often miss out on their God-given potential." @johnsowers

I just had to stop a drunk guy from getting on the swings ride with all these little kids. #cooterfest

"If a teacher doesn't have the love of reading, the class can't catch it from her." Jim Trelease #education

Me: "What brought you to SC? A job change?" Dude: "Yes. I work for Verizon." Me: "Oh. So you're mobile?" #punny

AT&T has had the worst customer service I've ever had. (That includes Charter.) 10 phone calls so far, & still a 1/2-done job.

No, @im_old_gregggg. You don't need to dial "9" to use our landline phone. We have a home, not an office.

The speaker of this breakout session just said, "One thing I do do ..." #giggle 

Told my high school students that I'd trade grades for free babysitting. #joking #notreally 

Getting Out of Our Little Boxes

I saw this video a couple of weeks ago. Besides being very creatively produced, the lyrics are interesting to ponder. I may be missing the main point to the song Little Boxes (originally written in 1962), but it challenged me how much I enjoy being in rut, content with conforming to a comfortable existence.

I can easily settle into a routine of "normalcy." Maybe that's why I'm glad God shook up my family by sending us to Allendale. Maybe breaking out of the routine is why this guy is hiking across the US.

I'm not saying that anything is wrong with a middle-class suburbia life. But here's what you have to ask yourself:  "Are we raising our kids to conform to a 'normal' life, with some good deeds on the side? Or, we raising them to be instruments in God's hands, in order to spread the gospel?"

Consider reading about My Radical To-Do List.

Consider that maybe a change is needed for you. Maybe it's for a few days, or a week, or 6 months, or for 3 years.

Consider that it's not about what sacrifice God may want from you, but about what blessing God may want for you.

Related Link:

•  What Brings You Joy in Parenting? 

Thoughts Askew

I love looking through the quarterly Furman Alumni magazine, especially when I read about someone I went to school with, such as the friend who is now a astrophysicist (never knew one in real life, before her) or my former chemistry lab partner that joined the Peace Corps.

Sometimes, though, the stories aren't so happy. Such is the case with Major Ken Dwyer (I'll always know him as "Kenny"). We came in as freshman together, and as a ROTC member, he was always in top-notch shape. He probably enjoyed games of sand volleyball more than hours in the library, but can you blame him?

A few years ago, however, he was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan. Injured as in losing an eye and an arm. This husband, and father of 2 kids, has had his life changed completely. But the trauma would have been worse if not for the support and help of the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

In honor of Kenny, another Furman classmate, Alastair McCandless, is walking across America to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Foundation. You can learn more about his journey on his blog, Thoughts Askew.

You can help by donating to the project, by encouraging him with a blog comment, or by just praying for his journey, and by praying for Major Dwyer and his family.

A Zoo Buddy

Last Saturday, our family went on a trip to Riverbanks Zoo with 32 others from Allendale -- 27 children and 5 adults. The event was sponsored by Radius Church in Lexington, SC (I've known the student pastor since he was in middle school).

This pastor and four others drove down, leaving their homes at 6:30 AM, in order to ride on the school bus with the Allendale kids. While additional members from the church met us at the zoo, the bus ride gave them an additional opportunity to connect with the children and leaders.

It was Hannah and Sender's first time on a school bus, and Elijah's second, as he and I rode to a game with the football team a few weeks ago. Sender had his own personal "Buddy," a middle schooler from the after school program. They crashed out on the trip home.

For many kids, it was their first time to a zoo, and we were also treated to a box lunch from Chick-fil-A. Oh, the joys of civilization!

Here are some links where you can see other pictures and thoughts from this day:

• Zoo Guests. From the Radius Outreach blog. The commenter Sheila Leath is the principal from Allendale Elementary School.
• Radius Students. The same zoo pictures as above, but I was impressed with all that these group of students are doing to engage their culture.
• More pictures (on my Facebook page). Disclaimer: Some of these were taken with my camera by one of our Allendale kids.

Thanks again to the leaders and volunteers from Radius Church for making this trip happen!

And just for some more of Sender's thinking, he said his favorite animal was the "koala with the rag on his bottom." Upon further question, we figured out that he mean the (red-bottomed) baboon.

Two Videos for Practical Applicaiton

Parenting

• Concepts:  Two of my favorite parenting principles is to think about stages, and to parent inside the funnel.
• Application:  Register for the Future Women event.
• Read More:  Future Women

Fastzkie Support

• Concepts: Mike and Shannon Fastzkie are engaging the culture in Eleuthera.
• Applications:  Support this family financially.
• Read More:  Poverty: Allendale, Bahamas, and the Gospel

Disaster Relief

Life can be really difficult. Sometimes, I don't know how we make it through some first-world problems.

Netflix Relief Fund with Jason Alexander from Jason Alexander

Poll: How Much Do You Give?

Recently, I've commented on several charities and non-profits that we support or think are worth supporting. These include:

Image courtesy of mathdelane09 via Picasa

• Osborn Mission (Papua New Guinea)
• Guardians ad Litem
• Lee Cunningham (Brazil)
• Compassion International  
• Fastzkie Mission (Eleuthera)
• Jews for Jesus 
• Answers in Genesis

This got me wondering: How much of your gross (not net) income do you donate to charity? Please take the poll to the right.

As I wrote in Why Ask for Financial Support?, I think you should consider supporting the Osborns, because of the nature and duration of their work.

Additionally, we ourselves are looking for a few more financial supporters.We have been blessed by a number of folks who have given one-time, monthly, or something in between. But a few of our monthly supporters will soon come to the end of their generous commitments. Any amount would be helpful, but I am looking to add about $200 in monthly support. This can be accomplished with about 4-10 more people who could each donate $20, $30, or $50 per month.

You can learn more about how to donate (tax-free) on our Financial Support page, or email me.

Answers in Genesis: What I Like and Loathe

Like with Jews for Jesus, I've donated to and received resources from Answers in Genesis on multiple occasions over the years. They have solid and helpful books for adults and kids, although some of their children's videos are (for a lack of better words) lame.

We were supporters for their Creation Museum, becoming members before construction even began. We visited the museum twice, once when it was near completion for a sneak preview, and once when it was fully operational. It's an impressive facility, and the petting zoo was a nice feature (including our kids feeding a camel). And it was during this second visit that my older son asked, "How do we know that God is real?"

For all that I like about Answers in Genesis, I do have disagreements with some of this organizations theologies and philosophies. While I do believe in a young earth, I think some of their interpretations are out of context and not exegetical. Also, as I stated in Passing on Your Faith, I disagree with their premise that many youth "fall away from the faith" because their parents and churches compromise on the subject of evolution and creationism.

So where do I go from here? More than likely, I will continue to buy books from Answers in Genesis on occasion, and may even give more donations. But part of that is because I am a science nerd, and I enjoy the pursuit of truth and scientific explanations.

I know that not everyone is as passionate about science, but if you have questions about specific topics, I recommend that you check out their selection of books.

Why I Like Jews for Jesus

Being a Jewish believer in Jesus, I get a lot of questions from friends about things related to Judaism and being Jewish (note that those 2 things are quite different), like:

• How can I share my faith with my Jewish neighbor?
• Would you help us with our Small Group's Passover celebration?
• How do Jews justify not offering sacrifices today? (That one came over a text. Really?)
• How did your family react to you becoming a Christian?
• Why do Christians follow some Old Testament laws but not others? (I think that one came by text, too.)
• Where can I get some good books and other resources?

A friend introduced me to Jews for Jesus soon after I started following Jesus. I signed up for their newsletter, which I still enjoy reading. One particular part that I enjoy is the stories from missionaries all of the world.

I buy a lot of books and other resources from them, whose online site is called Purple Pomegranate Productions. I don't know why it's called that. Are the initials "PPP" the Jewish antithesis to the Mark of the Beast (666)? I really don't care. All that matters is they sold me my favorite shirt, which says, "Jesus Made Me Kosher." You get a lot of looks and comments by wearing this around town, including when I once wore it to a BBQ place in Greenville. I couldn't figure out why everyone was staring at me, until I realized what shirt I wore that day.

More seriously, they also sell a great assortment of books and children's materials.

I've never supported Jews for Jesus with monthly donations, but we donate at least once per year. Plus, whenever I order materials, I usually add on an extra donation to the final order.

If you are in need of articles, books, or other Jewish-related materials, you definitely want to check out Jesus for Jesus.


Related Link:

• 9 Chosen Reasons I Love Jewish People 

Poverty: Allendale, Bahamas, and the Gospel

Stocking the Allendale food bank

What would make a young lady earn money (by babysitting and selling jewelry) for the purpose of leaving one impoverished area and "vacationing" in another? That is exactly what Lydia Fastzkie did, coming to Allendale last month (this article was written by her mom, Shannan).


Poverty Is the Same, and Different
The culture of poverty in Eleuthera (Bahamas) is very similar to Allendale.


Read the rest of the post on the Mission: Allendale blog . . . 

Financial Support Page

If you haven't noticed, I recently updated the tabs on the blog. Besides the regular Home tab, you can check out the others: Contact, Financial Support, Mission:Allendale, etc.

The Financial Support page is the newest, and was a suggestion from a friend of mine, who knew that we needed to communicate our financial needs, as we live and serve in Allendale, SC.

In particular, I'm thankful for another friend who made the image for the blog, that shows how many supporters we need versus how many supporters we already have on the team. Here's a hint: You can find out about his mission in Brazil. 

We are thankful for the two dozen families and individuals who are supporting us with monthly support, and the many others who have also donated to the cause. If you want to learn more about financially supporting us, be sure the see the Financial Support page on this blog.

Compassion International

As a grad student, around Christmas time, I heard my first radio ad for Compassion International. I didn't have much money, but I figured that I could give up on $18 per month (I think that was the cost of sponsorship back then). Honestly, I didn't really know what I was getting into. I just felt like the right thing to do.

Now over a decade later, I am still a sponsor -- rather, my family is a sponsor. In the past 8 years, I have traveled to 2 Third-World countries, and now live in an impoverished area, so I have seen firsthand the needs for those who live in generational poverty. It's amazing to think that just $38 per month can provide a child with food, clothing, education, and hope.

And the blessings have been returned to my family as well. Sponsoring children has given Joanna and I a great tool to help expand our kids' worldviews. We want them to think bigger than just their neighborhood, church, city, state, and country. As parents, we want them to know that God created and loves people all over the world, even those that look and speak differently than they do.

Obviously, I think a lot of this organization. But don't just take my word for it. Here are a couple of our bloggers that testify to the potential for changed lives through Compassion.

• The Simple Mom writes that the mere ability to give is a luxury.
• Keeper of the Home shares thoughts from her husband, who gives 6 reasons why Compassion is a good investment. One of the reasons that I have continued to support this ministry is the fact that it continually receives top-tier ratings among charities.

Consider sponsoring a child today!


Related Link:

• Kenya vs Hannah

Big Opus in Brazil

I have known Lee Cunningham for close to 15 years now. He was working for a campus ministry that I got involved with when I was at Furman. I've enjoyed his friendship, and I've enjoyed being able to worship with him.

He taught me to wake-board. We've played ultimate frisbee together. He's better than me at both these things.

We've eaten at Cracker Barrel after being on the lake all day. I'm better at eating than he is.

I'm very excited about his next step in ministry; he's about to move to Brazil to help with a new church and a campus ministry. Watch this video to learn more:

A Brazil Story from Lee Cunningham on Vimeo.

You can find out more information on his FAQ page. Then, consider supporting him financially. As you can see on his financial info page, he would love to have you on his team, and I believe you would be making a worthwhile investment.

Guardians ad Litem: A Different Way to Make a Difference

Thanks to Cherie Walker, Public Awareness Supervisor from the South Carolina Guardian ad Litem program, for writing this guest post. You can learn more about this program by visiting their website or by calling the statewide number (800-277-0113).


A Different Way to Make a Difference
Have you ever worried who cares about the children who have been abused or neglected in Allendale County? What about the children who are now in foster care? Well, there is a group of people in Allendale County who make a difference for these children. These people are called Guardians ad Litem.

Guardians ad Litem are ordinary people who volunteer a few hours a month to make a difference for abused and neglected children. In 2010, nine volunteers made a difference in the lives of 37 children in Allendale County. One of those children was Yolanda Sanders.

Yolanda entered foster care when she was 13 years old. Being a teenager in foster care has its own challenges. "I moved to 10 different places in the last 5 years," says Yolanda. "It was horrible; I hated to move. It seemed like I moved every three months. It was hard for me to make friends, and when I did, I ended up moving. Having to start over in all those new schools, I couldn't get what I needed to finish high school. So I just went and got my GED."

But through all the moves, one person was always there for Yolanda: her Guardian ad Litem, Jan Bellinger. "Ms. Jan has been a part of my life since the first month I was in care. She helped me when I got frustrated, and didn't want to talk. There were so many people coming in and out of my life. Other people where walking out, or giving up on me. But Ms. Jan was always very nice and willing. She didn't try to force me not to feel what I was feeling."

What would Yolanda say to someone who was thinking of becoming a Guardian ad Litem? "Do it, because you'll love it! You'll meet some great kids, with great talents. They just need that extra person to speak up for them, because they can't speak up for themselves. I think that Guardians ad Litem are very special, loving people."

If you would like to learn more about the Guardian ad Litem program, call the Allendale County office at (803) 625-2450 or visit www.allendale.scgal.org. You can also stay connected with the program through Facebook.com/GALVolunteersSC or Twitter @GALvolunteersSC.

Will You Be Here in the Fall?

image courtesy of hugoslv via sxc.hu

The last day of the school year (and after school programming) was June 2. It was a half-day for the schools, so we had kids arriving around 11:30 AM, with some staying until close to 7 PM. This 7+ hours with about 30 kids gave us a taste of our upcoming all-day programming through the summer.

At some point on that last day, while I was talking about our summer programming, one child raised his hand and asked, "Are you going to be here in the fall?"

I thought about his question, and the reality sunk in. For this child (and most of the other kids), having consistent adults in their lives is not common. It could be a disconnected dad, or the after school programming and leaders that went away a few years ago, or high turnover of school teachers and administrators. Whatever it is, many youth here have been let down and neglected by adults. Therefore, his question about whether I'd still be around was legitimate.

I've seen this before when folks come in to volunteer in this program. When someone comes back for a second time, the kids really take notice. They start to cling to those leaders. We've had volunteers that come in once per week, and the kids come to me and ask, "Is she going to come back every week?"

The children in this area have a need for love and attention, much like my kids or any others. But for many of them, that need is not being fully met, or even close to it.

When that boy asked if I would be back in the fall, I replied that I sure was planning to. We don't know how long we'll live in Allendale. It may be two more years, or six, or twelve. But we will continue to pour ourselves out for the next generation, and trust that God will guide our next steps.

By the way, today is the first day of our summer programming. We were off last week, so I'm not sure about our numbers to start off -- maybe 25, but probably somewhere around 30-35. It will be a long day (8AM - 5PM). Please pray for us as we minister to these kids.

I am so glad to have other part-time staff, plus students from Grace Church (over the next 2 weeks), college interns (all summer), and other volunteers.

And I'm especially glad that Joanna and I get to serve together. From educational instruction, to fun activities, to organizing, she is so much better than me at what this program needs. This organization got a bargain for sure -- paying me part-time and getting her for free!


Related Link:

• They're Baaack! 

More About Non-Profits

I wrote last week about why missionaries ask for support. The point is that we are not asking for ourselves, but for the people that we are ministering to.

I want to highlight more charities and missionaries. I have a few that we've supported in the past, and some that we still do. I will talk about some of these over the next few weeks.

For starters, check out The Culturally Engaged Daily, which has been giving a wrap-up of articles related to having an impact in society.

Do you have any charities that you currently support or have supported in the past?