What’s Your One Idea?

Can I confess something? Sometimes I get overwhelmed by all the creative strategies and unique approaches to solving the world’s problems that are out there.

An overwhelming overabundance of options

The corresponding rise of “social good” in our culture and the over abundance of information on the Internet makes it very difficult for me to keep up with all the different things that people are doing. It’s hard not to be inundated with gripping stories and frightening statistics describing the different ways that the world is going to hell in a hand basket. (Is it like this in other countries or is it just sensationalist way “news” is presented in America that makes it seem this way to me?)

The Power Of Online Community To Save Lives

Jon Acuff, founder of Stuff Christians Like is back at it leveraging the power of online community to save lives.

This time the challenge he’s set before the community of Christians who like stuff is:

Can they raise enough money in 24 hours to provide 1,000 people in the Nakaseke District of Uganda with a malaria net?

The project is in partnership with SafeWorld Nexus,  a non-profit that serves the people of Uganda and Haiti to promote community health, clean water, and protecting children.

You can follow the project’s progress on:

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When Did “Doing Good” Become So Cheap?

It’s amazing what  passes for “doing good” these days.

We live in a world where activism takes place on Facebook pages. You can respond and provide disaster relief simply by sending a text-message. It’s almost expected that at most companies to get one paid-day off of work per year to volunteer at a service project.

I’m very enthusiastic that things like social justice and environmentalism, poverty relief and humanitarian aid are becoming embedded in our social fabric. But I have to wonder what affect these changes are having on the value of our efforts?

The new ethic of doing good.

More and more our culture is co-opting the “doing good” ethic into areas like shopping and entertainment. Companies like TOMS shoes...

I Don’t Want To Save The World

It’s so easy to get caught up in the nobility of most causes, inspired by a vision for a better future we dedicate ourselves to creating change in this world.

And our intentions are good…

…angered by the injustice and oppression, we fight for social justice.

…frightened by unchecked pollution, we become environmental activists.

…dismayed by the corruption and greed synonymous with business, we put our hope in social entrepreneurship.

…disheartened by the apathy that is endemic in most churches, we become enchanted with leadership.

…frustrated by the limitations of our efforts, we become enamored with the power of technology.

…disgusted by the depravity all around us, we seek to purify our culture.

Unrest leads to interest. Interest becomes passion. Passion becomes our purpose which quickly becomes our calling.