Whitney Houston
By now almost everyone has learned of the death of Whitney Houston.
Wikipedia has the following to say about her: “Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her awards include two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards in her lifetime. Houston was also one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. Houston began singing with her New Jersey church’s junior gospel choir at age 11. After she began performing alongside her mother in night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis. Houston released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification.”
It is fair to say that she was a very talented and successful person in our world. And yet, those around her allowed her to engage in behavior that was obvious, illegal, and self-destructive. I never want to be one to speak ill of folks, but there is a paradox here that is troubling me.
The national media has presented article after article, news story after news story about what a wonderful person she was, what a talented person she was, what a tragedy it is that she is now dead — the governor of NJ even lowered the flag to half staff in her honor.
And here is my problem. She was all of those things — and yet she chose to waste those gifts and opportunities on self-destructive behaviors. And we still HONOR her.
All the while, every day, in every country around the world, men, women, and children are killed, assaulted, abused, and mistreated — not by choice or of their own design. Every 3 seconds of every day, of every week, of every year — someone dies from hunger related issues. Every 6 seconds of every day, of every week, of every year that person is a child.
And they do not choose to be hungry or suffer from health issues due to hunger. And the media remains essentially silent about this. The sad, unfortunate, and truly heartbreaking part of this is not only is it not-self inflicted — it is preventable! Every day our world produces enough food for every man, woman & child to consume 4.3 pounds.
The problem is not self-destructive behavior, scarcity of resources, or lack of knowledge. It is simply a case of our unwillingness as a species to make the resources available to those in need. It is a supply issue. It is a compassion issue.
How about a little less attention on the self-absorbed, self destructive, self abusing “stars” and more attention on those that suffer through no fault of their own — and how we can stop this trend. We can truly Stop Hunger — NOW if we will choose to do so.
Will you help? Will you invest your time, attention and resources in this cause? Donate today at: Stop Hunger Now.
Saturday
Saturday. Usually a day to clean house, work in the yard, finish things that didn’t get finished during the week in preparation for Sunday worship. Sometimes a meeting.
And then there are times like yesterday.
Yesterday our family got up and cleaned house. We finished “hiding” the boxes that contain our Christmas decorations. We trapped many dust bunnies. We made the place smell of cleaning agents and it was good.
We also had very dear friends drive down to spend the afternoon. After they arrived, we walked up to our 
town and the ladies began to shop. After a couple of stores, my buddy suggested that the 2 of us drop by the Senoia Coffee & Cafe and let him get a cup of fresh roasted, fresh brewed coffee and just visit while the ladies continued to shop. So we did.
We were joined a couple of hours later by the rest of the gang, visited a while longer and then walked up to Maguire’s Family & Friends Irish Pub for dinner. After a really nice dinner, we returned to the coffee shop for coffee and desserts. And again, a really nice time.
It was a really good day. The kind of day I dreamed about when I learned that Senoia would be my new home. The kind of day I enjoy most. (Well, if I can’t take a ride on the Harley that is…)
As I reflected about this wonderful day, and our wonderful friends, I also reflected on what dominated our conversation and my mind.
In just a few weeks I will begin a new journey in my life. I will travel with Stop Hunger Now to Nicaragua to see the work of their partners in actually feeding the children for which we package the meals. And I feel somewhat guilty.
We spent a good of time discussing what I should do about preparing for this trip. Shots, luggage, what to pack, what to expect, the flight down and back — so many details that a novice traveler like me wants to know. I know how to pack and travel going by land. But out of the country is a new concept.
And then, there is the issue of realizing what we spent on coffee, dinner, dessert and coffee. I don’t know what his bill for everything was, but it had to be close to mine. And we could have fed something like 600-700 meals for what we spent in half of a day.
This brings me to realize just how lucky we are. How fortunate I am by virtue of birth. And with that fortune comes responsibility. It again makes me ponder the stewardship of my resources. What I spend on “pleasurable things” could make such a difference in the lives of so many.
I don’t think God wants me to never have pleasure. But I do think there is a level of responsibility to be wise in my stewardship. Can I do more? Will I do more?
I hope I am on track. But I will keep looking at it, re-evaluating it, and making it better. After all, it only takes a quarter to feed a child. A quarter lets a child survive another day. And we can change the world one-quarter, one child, one day at a time.
Would you consider a contribution today? Donate here or send your gift to: Senoia UMC, PO Box 98, Senoia, GA 30276.
Until the next time….The Hog Father,
Twenty-Five Cents
Twenty-five cents. A quarter of a dollar. Two bits. 25 pennies. Any way you say it — it represents different rent things to different people in different places.
“Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar. All for [insert the name of your team] stand up and holler.”
“Shave and a hair cut, 2 bits.”
Twenty-five cents will buy an extra packet of sauce at a fast food restaurant. In most places it will buy a gum ball or toy from a vending machine. Back when you could find one, it would pay for a telephone call from a pay phone. It is used for most coin tosses to decide who begins a game or wins a basic wager.
Quarters have been around a long time. And for those that know, they can now buy a whole meal for a child who might otherwise not get to eat. A meal that gives proper nutrition and is filling to the belly.
Each Stop Hunger Now meal provides 226 calories that includes 11 grams of protein per serving. And 
based on my own taste test (remember I lived on these for 47 or 50 days last Lenten season) they taste pretty good. Granted, not my favorite, but then I am spoiled to meat, potatoes, and bread that are highly seasoned.
It has gotten to the point that I cannot look at a quarter without trying to pull it out and drop it into the bank in my office. I have to be careful not to snatch them away from the kids. I find them on the ground, in my change at stores, and I even take a shot at snagging them from others when they are not paying attention — “Hey, you keeping that quarter?”
Not only do I like the meals, but the children that receive them like them as well.
“I love Stop Hunger Now rice a lot…I can’t have enough of this rice. When my parents send me to school without anything to eat, they don’t worry because they know I will eat at school. I pray every day for the people who send the rice.” –Jean Kendy, 2nd grade student from Cite Soleil School Haiti
Each meal is composed of dehydrated rice, soy, vegetables, flavoring and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. And it does this for only 25 cents a serving!
I am excited to be invited to travel to Nicaragua in March with Stop Hunger Now to meet the persons that are distributing these meals and the children that benefit from the meals. I will see first hand how this effort directly impacts those in need. What a blessing that will be.
As the weather begins to improve around my part of the world, I hope to ride the Stop Hunger Now Harley to each US warehouse to meet the staff there and to see what their part of this ministry looks like.
I invite you to pray for this effort and to pray for the children that receive these meals. I also invite you to join the effort. Why not host a packaging event where you are: at your church, your school, your business. $25 packs 100 meals. $2,500 packs 10,000 meals. Even in this difficult economy quarters can be found and collected.
Thanks for your continued support of my efforts and my blog. Please share this with others as you can. Donations can be sent to: Senoia UMC, P. O. Box 98, Senoia, GA 30276 payable to Stop Hunger Now. Or give online.
Until the next time….The Hog Father,
A New Adventure in 2012
As you may know, during the season of Lent in 2011, three pastors and myself “Fasted” by living on meals prepared by Stop Hunger Now. These meals are packaged and shipped to schools, orphanages, and disaster areas all around the world. Many persons accepted our invitation to sponsor us as we took this journey. And most amazing to myself, I ate only Stop Hunger Now meals for 47 days during this time.
It is exciting to report that through my family, friends, and church over $5,045 was donated. This not only funded our local packing event of 10,000 meals. It funded, along with funds from Rev. Dan Dixon & Mt. Gilead UMC, a packing event for the East Coweta Middle School 6th Grade to package 20,000 meals.
That brings me to this blog. I need your help — and prayer for an exciting journey. I have been invited to travel to Nicaragua with Stop Hunger Now. This trip will be March 22-27, 2012. We will fly into Managua airport and stay at Casa Bernebe located 30 minutes outside fo Managua in Vera Cruz. Our group will visit sites where Stop Hunger Now meals are being served including ORPHANetwork sites and other Methodist partners.
The purpose of this trip is to see the successful model of partnership Stop Hunger Now is committed to by sharing in an experience with the in country partner. It also will proved an opportunity to see first hand a program where the meals are being served and meet the children who are eating the meals daily. This will also help cultivate the relationship with the partner in country.
So here is what I am asking.
First, I ask that you pray for me as I prepare for this journey to Nicaragua and the experiences it will bring.
Second, if you believe in the ministry of Stop Hunger Now, and your are blessed to have the resources; would you consider a contribution to help underwrite the cost of this new journey?
The trip to Nicaragua will cost $1,625 all-inclusive (travel, meals, lodging, etc.). I have to send 1/2 of this ($812.50) by January 20 to confirm my participation. The balance has to be turned in by mid February.
Thank you for your prayerful support. And thank you for considering a contribution. Contributions can be made online: www.stophungernow.org/4for40 or by making your check payable to Stop Hunger Now and mailing it to me at: Senoia UMC, P. O. Box 98, Senoia, GA 30276.
I will continue my blog so you can see how things are going.
Until the next time….The Hog Father,
2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 3,700 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people.
The End Nears
As the end of 2011 comes into view, it is a chance to reflect. I reflect on the path I have traveled since I began this blog in February. I think about the journey I have been on as I lived on the meals for 47 days, helped fund 50,000 meals, helped a church pack meals, watched the Atlanta area grow in meals packaged, took a trip of a lifetime on the Harley, and how I continue to see God’s lessons in the world around me.
A couple of pictures appeared on Facebook putting into sharp contrast the American experience of Christmas and what 
much of the world experiences. I don’t know where they came from, but here is one that tears at your heart.
In 2012 we hope to see 2.5 million meals packaged through Atlanta and the area. I am planning to travel with Stop Hunger Now to Nicaragua to see the feeding program in person and learn how that works. This creates a new fund-raising need. I need to raise $800 by January 20 to fund my deposit and then an additional $800 by mid february to pay the balance. The 4 for 40 link is still up if you can and will help.
You know, I worry about a dying computer, a dead printer, cars that need major repairs, and the frustration of dealing with a society that places family gatherings ahead of worship of God — and then I remember the child that dies every 6 seconds of every minute of every hour of every day and I pray for forgiveness and repent of my self-serving attitude.
May God use me to change the world for a child. My quarters are slowly building up. Can you help me feed a child for a day? Can you spare 25 cents?
Until the next time….The Hog Father,
Christmas Time
Well, I am finally sitting down and blogging after an extended absence.
One of the things that kept me away from the blog was a family vacation to Sea World in Orlando. My frugal wife found us good tickets back in the summer so our admission was paid for — and very dear friends opened their home to us yet again so our housing was paid for — and that left only eating. And we have to eat wherever we are so that was not an increased cost.
We rode down on Sunday after worship. Got squared away in the house and began catching up with our friends. We made a day at the park on Monday. Tuesday we paid a visit to the in-laws at Fort Wilderness at Disney world and the kids swam for hours. Wednesday we returned to the park where Ashleigh got her dream of getting daddy soaked on the Journey to Atlantis ride. (My shoes were still wet for the ride home on Saturday!)
Thursday we slept late, then Al took us on a hike/walk of something like 1.5-2 miles. We then shared a 
Thanksgiving meal with our friends — home cooked, traditional with all the fixings. Naps all! We then rode to a nearby town to feed swans, walk around downtown and look at our first Christmas lights.
Friday was a trip to a local “flea market” to buy fresh produce and lunch at 5 Guys for my first time. Then it was off to Sea World for our last day. We stayed to Friday because that was when the park shifted to their Christmas schedule. We have been several times, but never for their night shows.
As we looked at the schedule of shows, and read the descriptions of the different themes, we talked about how we expected they show to honor or not honor Christmas as Christians. And I am here to tell you, Sea World once again exceeded my expectations.
I am always amazed at the ways they interact with the animals. And I am amazed and God’ secretive genius as I gaze upon these amazing creatures. But I am here to tell you, Sea World honors Christmas. In the Nautilus Theater they do a Christmas show that is told from the perspective of the animals in the stable. Now that is not your usual story, but as the music begins, you have no doubt that this is the story from scripture. They sing arrangements of traditional Christmas carols, they retell the biblical account, given it has taken literary license for its perspective, but they keep to the real story. They do not edit the carols, nor do they hedge on the story. And it is a WONDERFUL way to re-experience the biblical account. And it raises goosebumps on your arms, makes the hair stand up on your neck, and brings tears to your eyes with its power and majesty.
Yes, they have many secular Christmas displays and the Ice Show is very secular. But it is tradition, and 
honest in its spirit as well. And as you walk the park, you hear a wonderful blend of classic, modern, religious, and secular music. (It does mess with your head to be walking around in shorts, short sleeves, and wet to hear Christmas music.)
So thank you to those that make the decisions for keeping Christmas alive and well in this setting. What a blessing it was for our family — and who know how many other families.
Until the next time…..The Hog Father,
Morning All! Let’s do this!
I just wanted to share a reminder that today is the start of Stop Hunger Now’s G-Team Campaign through Groupon.com! Please visit this link to make a gift today to fund life saving meals. Each $8 gift will provide 32 life saving meals.
We are aiming to raise enough funds to host a packaging event at the Atlanta Warehouse. However, we need a minimum of 35 donations to get any funds at all. Groupon Campaigns function on a tipping point principle. Your donation will not be charged unless we receive a total of 35 or more donations. However, once we reach the tipping point of 35 donations, all money donated through this campaign will go directly to SHN. It is my hope that we will raise enough funds to have an open event at the warehouse but we need to get the word so people support this campaign. So, please share the news of our campaign with your friends, families, churches and offices! Check out the Stop Hunger Now Atlanta post on Facebook and share the link!
Thank you for a playing a role in the movement to end world hunger. Through donations like these, we will achieve our vision of world without hunger.
Best,
Kyle Galenski
Program Manager – Atlanta
1000 Williams Drive Suite 1022
Marietta, GA 30066
404.461.9581 Office
404.312.3913 Cell
866.298.7603 Fax
There’s No Telling…
You know, there is no telling when you will make a connection to someone, something, somewhere, sometime. You just never know — but you do have to look for it and be open to it. And sometimes, you have to make it happen.
Take today.
I had a wonderful lunch and conversation with noted author and inspirational speaker, Cathy Lee Phillips. I first heard Cathy as a new pastor something like 8-10 years ago. She spoke to some group I was in, and I purchased a couple of her books. Her style of speaking and writing touched me back then and I have been grateful all these years for that touch.
Recently, she has relocated to the area and by some stroke of luck, I was “friended” by her on Facebook. I have followed her notes there and in our denominational Newspaper as she has chosen to “reboot” her life (her metaphor). I have identified with many of her observations and experiences. So I decided to see if we could meet and become acquainted. And you know what — she accepted this invitation and we did get together.
Today in fact.
We met at a restaurant halfway between her town and mine. We began to share our stories and how we came to be where we are and you know what? We have not walked the same path, but we have walked very similar paths. Kind of like two people talking about driving to Atlanta from the south — one using I-85 and the other I-75 — two very different roads, different towns, different geography — but very similar rides. And, we find ourselves in similar places in life.
I am appreciative of her making time to get to know me. I also appreciate the opportunity to get to know her as a person — in person. And who knows, we may just become good friends — and even find ourselves involved in some kind of mischief or ministry together. It could happen. And there may just be a Harley-Davidson motorcycle involved — or Stop Hunger Now Meals, or mosquito nets from Imagine No Malaria or just a good-natured relationship. There’s no telling…….
You know, there is no telling when you will make a connection to someone, something, somewhere, sometime. You just never know — but you do have to look for it and be open to it. And sometimes, you have to make it happen.
Until the next time….The Hog Father,
Honored
On Tuesday of this week I had a great honor. I and many others were invited to escort the Moving Vietnam
Wall as it was taken to the Coweta County Fair Grounds.
I had tried to take part in this event once before, but had professional obligations that prevented this.
Having lived my life between wars, I have been too young and now too old to serve in our military. I could have volunteered, but as I have been told, I am not really good at taking orders. My brother served our nation as a member of the United States Marines and I have been privileged to serve as the pastor of many veterans — one of which died just this last week.
We as a nation need to remember that our men & women who serve do not make our nation’s policy, they simply follow their orders and execute that policy. They have more than earned — and certainly deserve — our respect, our prayers, and our support.
Their families deserve our respect, our prayers and our support as well. They work to keep up the home as their loved ones are in harm’s way. And most of the time they have no idea where they are, what they are doing, or if they are okay.
If you can make the time, go see the wall. It will touch you. It will humble you. It will tell you. And, it
will inspire you. The Wall closes Sunday night. I will be making time on Monday to ride escort from the Union City Mall to Centennial Olympic Park with the Wall. It’s what I CAN do. If you ride a 2 wheeler, consider joining us. Staging is at 2:00 PM, KSU at 3:00pm.
Until the next time….The Hog Father,
