Yesterday's Chicago Tribune had one of the better articles I've read on local efforts to fight human trafficking. Our friends at CAASE (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation) even get a shout out! Annie Sweeny: New task force targets traffickers who force children into sex trade Inside the Harrison Police District station, the officers sat in …
Deliberately making hungry people hungrier is unacceptable
Note: This post was originally published on the Bread Blog. Have you ever been hungry? I mean, Really. Hungry. As in no-food-in-the-house-and-no-resources-for-getting-more hungry? I haven’t. Oh sure, there’ve been some months when expenses were bigger than income and I didn’t know how to pay some bills. But I’ve always had support - financial and otherwise …
Continue reading Deliberately making hungry people hungrier is unacceptable
Crazy cool video!
This video is amazing! Not sure how long it has been around, but a friend sent it to me today and I had to share. Be sure to watch it all the way to the end. Admittedly, I'm not familiar with Stop the Traffik, but they seem to be doing good work in Europe. …
Nothing says “I love you, Mom” like freedom.
This week I had the privilege of meeting Ashley, the store manager at WAR Chest Boutique in downtown Naperville. I know. At first glance, it's a really odd name. "WAR Chest? What kind of horrible stuff do they sell?!?" But step inside and you quickly discover - not a dark place with skulls or guns …
Continue reading Nothing says “I love you, Mom” like freedom.
Do I look suspicious?
That's what I asked the children gathered at the chancel area for our weekly conversation, after I removed my robe and stole and put on my hoodie. Do I look suspicious? Do I look dangerous or threatening? Or do I just look like Pastor Dave with a hoodie on? They all thought I just looked …
It’s still about supply and demand. #EndDemand #EndSlavery
You've heard the River Story, right? I first heard it from Jim Wallis, but it seems to be a popular parable. I heard it invoked again at the meeting of Bread for the World activists last week. It occurs to me that is the context within which I have heard it used: ending poverty. But …
Continue reading It’s still about supply and demand. #EndDemand #EndSlavery
Giving Up Fear for Lent
That’s what we exploring at our next evening worship experiment this Sunday, March 4 at 5:00pm. Hope you'll join us! First, a short video to get us thinking: What do you think of that? Do you sometimes (always?!?) hide your true self? What masks do you wear? How does being in church affect those masks? …
2000 and 6%
At the end of last year I wrote about why my wife, Joann, and I support Bread for the World. Today, I think I can sum up our advocacy with and for Bread in two numbers: 2000 6% 2000 isn't much of a revelation. Along with others, I've been sharing that number for years. 2000 …
Be the Response
Big thanks to all who attended our anti-trafficking event this week! If you were there, I'd love to hear from you: What did you think of the film? What did you learn from the guest speaker? What questions were left unanswered? Share your thoughts in the comments! The event is over, but of course the …
Is it May 4 yet? redux
We're just an hour away from our Call + Response screening, but this new Avengers trailer is just so good I had t to take a breather from promoting tonight's event. Granted, The Dark Knight Rises is almost certain to be a better movie. My guess, though, is that Avengers will be more fun. Here's …
All That I Can't Leave Unsaid 