Muhammad Yunus has helped millions of impoverished people; ninety-something percent of those helped being women.
Why does he focus most of his energy on women, anyway? That's a question I wanted to ask and a statement from him that I didn't really like. The honest truth, though, is that I already knew the answer. In his own words, he answers the question by saying, quote:
"... Women have plans for themselves, for their children, about their home, the meals. They have a Vision. A man wants to enjoy himself ..."
It should not be this way, but largely, it is. It's not impossible for things to be set right. I'm a man who has some vision for his family and obviously, there must be other men who do as well. Dr. Yunus is a man, after all. I know of many Godly men who are connected with their wives and with their families.
But the reality is that this sort of man seems to largely be a minority in our world. I here of women in destitution because of the men they have married or been with from my missionary friends living in Kenya. I see woman after woman in the Army who are single Moms or who live with deadbeat men who won't lift anything but a beer can or a video game controller. Just this week, I've met two single Moms who work at the hotel desk where I'm staying in Virginia.
Women are amazing creatures and for all the feeling inside and irritation I sometimes feel when ministries or governments focus more on women, well, goodness, why are we as men surprised? Men of integrity, we all need to step up and alleviate the need to focus on women in crisis if we want things to balance back where they belong.
Women carry the weight where we leave off. It's something to tear your garments over, to throw ashes on your head over, and weep and mourn because of. Thank a woman today, hug your Mother, and then challege your fellow men to step up.
Isaiah 3:12
Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
A good friend of mine, Bram Warrick, asked me if I'd ever heard of "microloans" years ago. I opened the newspaper last Sunday and found that Muhammand Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner and father of the "microfinance" movement would be speaking at the University of Virgina that day. I quickly got dressed and heading down to hear him speak.
Muhammad Yunus has helped millions of impoverished people; ninety-something percent of those helped being women. He had the following to say concerning the battle against poverty:
I strongly believe that we can create a poverty-free world, if we want to.... In that kind of world, [the] only place you can see poverty is in the museum. When school children will be on a tour of the poverty museum, they will be horrified to see the misery and indignity of human beings. They will blame their forefathers for tolerating this inhuman condition to continue in a massive way.
... Invisible Berlin Walls must go. We are not even trying to make it happen. Whenever we talk about the people at the bottom or the poor people, our usual reaction is to write a cheque. Okay, take care of them, feed them, clothe them, give them some place to live. But we don't touch the wall. We simply say, let them stay on the other side of the wall, but feed them a little. What I'm saying they don't need your throw-away money, they don't need handouts. They need an opportunity, a fair deal. They don't get a fair deal right now. Poverty is the denial of all human rights. I am talking about establishing their human rights. If we do that the walls will disappear. Poverty will go ...
If you think creating a world without any poverty is impossible, let’s do it. Because it is the right thing to do.
We got rid of colonialism, we got rid of slavery, and we got rid of apartheid – everyone thought each one of them was impossible. Let’s take the next impossible, do it with joy and get it finished with and create a world free from poverty. Let us create the world of our choice.
You can learn more about Muhammad Yunus at: http://muhammadyunus.org/
-James Matthews
When it comes to charismatic leadership or sports performance, I don't shine out as awe inspiring. In the workplace as well, I'm a "Jack of all trades and a master of none." This state-of-affairs gets old and frustrating, and leaving me wondering what purpose and significance I have "out there" in the big world.
My wife reminded me today that God sometimes allows us to stay humbled in some areas of life to increase our "usability" in other areas. I thought I'd share two recent examples of how I have been useful in hopes to helping a kindred hearts reading here.
In my Virginia class of 19 students, we have a kind person and a mean person who happen to share a room. The mean person lost an important, work-related item and the kind person happened to find it. The kind person, after having endured weeks of antagonism from the mean one, let go of kindness and decided to throw the item away and and revel in sweet revenge. I handed the item back to the kind person and said "are you sure you don't want to take this chance to make peace," with a smile. The kind person actually agreed, took the item out of my hand, and looked happy to do the right thing.
Today, a fellow classmate's wife and his 3-year old son had traveled here to visit my friend over the weekend. However, a last-minute change had all of us back in class on Saturday at 8am. It was now 1:30pm and my friend was distressed but holding his frustration well. I came to him, hoping to encourage him to ask to leave, and said "I can't see why they wouldn't let you go with your family. We are basically finished here." Although I didn't know it, a key class leader was right behind us and heard what I said. Minutes later, my friend had been released quietly and I saw him looking full of joy and leaving with his family at last. The rest of the class didn't leave until after 3pm and I heard one person complain that our classmate left early. I guess "misery loves company" but I felt good about what happened.
Our significance at home is more obvious when we look at our children and our spouse. But even in the wide world out there, we might not get fame, great wealth, or attract large followings with our leadership, but God uses even those like me (and you) to make a great difference in our world and in the lives of others.
In looking at home fellowships here in Virginia, I came across a group's doctrine saying they believed the age of gifts and miracles has ended but that "We do acknowledge and rejoice that God still chooses to perform miracles on occasions when it suits His purposes." Are they right? I haven't heard of any seas parting recently. Even so, I believe their statement to be way off because God has actually increased His miracles here among us.
To illustrate this, I recall hearing it said that following Jesus is easier today than it was to follow God in the Old Testament days. I disagree. Jesus actually raised the standards. Before, you could not sleep with someone other than your husband or wife, for example. Now, you can't even look at someone else lustfully. Before, you could not murder someone. Now, you can't even hate them in your heart or you are already guilty of murder.
In the old days, the Prophets received the spirit of the Lord and were used to anoint others occasionally. God usually touched or led one person and then that person directed everyone else. But today, He has poured out His spirit on all of us. Any of us can hear, and feel, and know the Lord for ourselves. In the old days, God performed fantastical miracles using a few people. But today, His works among us are like the sands of the seas, the stars of the sky, or like the hairs on our heads; All over the place, at all moments of time, and beyond number.
Can't seem to detect an outpouring of God's spirit and miracles in our days? It may be because your either somewhere out in the desert, couped up and sheltered indoors, or you may need to close up the umbrella you're carrying over your head.
I'm at a U.S. Army "professional development" school in Virginia right now that is a mandatory part of career progression for an enlisted person like myself. It reminds me of my public education experiences in some ways because we are learning the same technical and tactical things we learned in basic training and in my "job skill" schooling, but now on a deeper level and for a higher level of responsibility. Funny to say, but in some ways it also reminds me of some religious or other organizations that teach you things in various levels as you grow within the group.
For example, we covered the foundations for "operational law" or "law of warfare" in a way that I found fascinating. A bit sobering also, because, after reviewing the Hague Conventions, Geneva Convention treaties, etc., I discovered that the effort to organize as one World has been going on since at least the 1800s, and probably long before that, but here was proof. As far as the "laws of warfare," I thought they were great ideas and that they have likely made a large improvement of things. But they'd help so much more if Nations would follow them! All nations, I mean. (and I notice there's three fingers pointing back at us (I'm in America) as I say this. Regardless, I've found a new, favorite career emphasis which amounts offering a strong, moral influence for commanders and Soldiers to consider in the conduct of war. Something there's a great need for.
I wanted to talk about memorization and recitation. A basic, scholastic skill that may not be used much in today's public schools, but was used in the "old days" and is definitely a part of Soldier indoctrination. We have creeds for the new Soldier to learn and creeds for the Enlisted leaders to recite. We at this school recite them at least 3 times per day and so I can almost be asleep and say them well. The amazing thing is that I've noticed that certain sentences of this creed will "pop" into my head at certain moments of decision. Sentences like "I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate actions in the absence of orders" and "I will not compromise my integrity or my moral courage." This technique works and can strengthen a person's moral and situational compass.
The idea was not the Army's or the school system's; It was not even the church's. It was God's. You can find it in the Bible. "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11) Here away from my family, it's lonely and depressing to be away and there are temptations and troubles all about. (Not too many in the social arena for me, actually, as I've never really been much of a "Mr. Popular" but that's all right with me.) But anyway, a powerful verse that's often come into my head at "just the right time" is "if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, He would not have listened." (Psalm 66:18)
When I pray, I want God to listen. When I reach for Abba, my Father, I want Him to hold my hand and to hear me. I want to connect with God. Whatever it is that I might be wanting to do or to get involved with is not worth trading a connection of fellowship with my Father for. But reading His word regularly and completely helps to make a difference, as well as efforts to memorize scripture. It's been my experience that God will use that familiarization with His word to benefit and emphasize something for me, and at just the right moment in life when I need it.
Photo used with permission and found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/374268661/
Black Widows
We recently discovered that we had an infestation of black widows around our house. EEEkkkk!! I sprayed and collected a dozen specimens of male and female and adolecents for the kids to see. Also collected 6 egg sacs ( which house about 900 babies. They eat each other the moment they hatch, until only a dozen or so are left- somewhat comforting I guess.) Anyway, it provided a nice rabbit trail in our schooling. And I must say was very fascinating!
Goo
Yet another fun science project, involving glue, borax and water and some food coloring. The glue was on sale for .20 a bottle, so it provided for cheap entertainment.
Eden's Birthday
Eden's 1st B-day was the 2nd- just thought I'd post a picture or two of her. She is such a great joy in all our lives.