Tweet. Meet. Give.

On 12 February 2009]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:34:26 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1087703 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1087702 Whenever you're trying to gather support for a vision or project, that usually requires creating a team of people and supporters. Of course that is not easy to do, as must folks are]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:34:26 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1087702 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1087701 Recently inspired by the hit movie The Wrestler. Pastor, youth speaker and friend Jeff Mangum has decided to quit full-time ministry. So far he's canceled all speaking engagements & quit his position at the Austin Stone.

Today was his first day of training in Belton, TX. He's the guy in black pants and red shirt, his opponent is a 3rd grader from Belton Elementary. And yes...this is a true story.

Meeting with Greg was another quick reminder of the importance of community, friendship and wisdom. These types of meetings helps me stay focused and continues to motivate and inspire.

• Sent out the first-round of support letters on Friday. This is really big for us, we have lots of vision and passion, but we literally have no cash-flow.]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:37:21 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1079840 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1079839 I'm]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:37:20 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1079839 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1079838 So we've recently gotten some emails, Facebook's and phone call's from friends and family wanting to know about our future. Let me try and clarify. Back in early fall when the HELP team was]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:37:19 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1079838 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1072858 I'm excited to]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:30:00 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1072858 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1072857 A lot of people want to live an epic life. We hear amazing leaders tell amazing stories of success. We want to]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:29:59 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1072857 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1072856 I randomly picked up this book by Erwin McManus off my bookshelf.]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:29:59 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1072856 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1069195 Some Monday's I wake-up and have this deep sense of stress. So many "needs" that have to get done. I think the way you manage stress determines how effective you will be as a leader. Here are some thoughts:]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:26:32 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1069195 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1069194 While in Zimbabwe, I was asking all sorts of questions. I remember my friend John telling me that the local government drops kids off at the gate of the children home and they drive away! Why? Because these kids are homeless, their parents have died, or they are so poor they choose to let their kids go to a children home. With a burden so deep, but a smile so at peace, John informed me that many times they must refuse the kids a place to sleep, food to eat and a community of love.

  John went on to tell me what happens to the kids that they can't house. Basically, they sleep in the fields...alone....8 year-old's care for their younger siblings...so painful....to think that a kid the age of my daughter, has to care for a younger sibling. If you want to see what this looks like in real life, watch this video.

  Before I heard this story, I was wondering how these kids could be so happy living in an orphanage with so many things lacking. They knew something I did not know. they knew the alternative could be "the fields" or the bench or a local park. They knew they were blessed...blessed to have food, blessed to have a bed, blessed to have a community.

  I'm not trying to be over-dramatic. Just a reminder that real people live in situations that are brutal. Yet, something can be done. We can choose to love, we can love by sacrificing. Not because we feel guilty, rather we choose to sacrifice because we choose to love, and when we choose to love we worship God. This worship is far deeper than any Sunday experience or another weekly Bible study. When we give, we begin to fully become alive, and believe it or not, many kids will live because of your love and compassion.

  

  Pics taken from this blog.

  ]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:26:31 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1069194 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1063634 The past few days I've struggled with the hard]]> Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:56:44 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1063634 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060200 Finally...I finally feel like Help End Local Poverty is going public. I'm so happy. March 1st around 5PM I celebrate my 36th (DEPRESSING) birthday. That evening I'm inviting all my friends, family and anyone else who would like to join to a Help End Local Poverty launch party @ Sodade Coffeehouse in Austin, TX. We will have some great coffee, desert, some art and photography, story-telling and some vision-casting. If you live in and or around Austin, please save the date and come join us. Details to come next week!
  ]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:57:56 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060200 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060199 Click on this link and you will see some great pictures of the Musha Wevena Kids Home. This is H.E.L.P.'s major area of focus. Soon we will be launching a campaign to help raise funds for this orphanage and these kids. We're hoping to raise funds to help provide food, clothing, education etc. We also want to help repair the orphanage and provide some key needs for the kids and the community.

  A little bit of love and sacrifice can go a long way!

  "Little did we know that a week prior to our visit, committee members from the children's home met to discuss some of their needs.]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:57:55 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060199 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060198 Whether]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:57:54 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060198 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060197 There is no doubt we are busy culture. Like most folks, my day started yesterday around 6:30AM and ended with falling asleep on the couch trying to do some reading for school at 11PM. I felt like the entire day was filled with constant activity. I'm no longer proud to be a busy person, matter-of-fact, actually I get worried when life gets to busy. Usually when the chaos comes we forget the most important things in life:

  1. Prayer and scripture reading.
  2. Spending time with my wife and kids. (my pups begins to growl at me when I ignore her for a longtime, ask Jasen Ashdown)
  3. We ignore friendships that are important to us.]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:57:54 -0800 http://virb.com/chrismarlow/posts/text/1060197