As one of my frequent readers recently noted, our world is filled with people living in poverty or under a totalitarian government. While we do have many poor people in America, our version of poor looks rich by the standards of many third world countries. And even with money, some countries treat people as disposable objects.
In China, boys are treated as worthwhile, but girls are unwanted. The orphanages are overrunning with children, most of whom will never know the love and comfort of home, or a mother or father who will care for them.
I've a very dear friend who has a heart to touch these lives, one by one. He has started a ministry called Hearts and Hands International. His ministry is actively reaching out to poor and abandoned children in China and India. Many trips to these regions are planned so that these children can be brought decent clothes, food, and medical treatment. Most importantly, Hearts and Hands will bring love to those that society has discared, letting them know that they are valuable and loved by God.
Of course, it takes a great deal of money to provide all these services. I am pleased to partner with Hearts and Hands, and I hope you will join with me as you are able. Together, we can make a difference in a life.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
June 20, 2005 08:15 PM
Wonderful, Joel! I am thankful to see another side of you. I apologize if some of my remarks my have seemed harsh, but I just see s much hatred from Conservatives to liberals lately. From talk radio shows like Hannity and Savage and Jim Quinn to a bad experience with blogs lately - Blogs for Bush in fact. Check it out sometime. They would not let me post because I did not bash Democrats immediately. In fact, I was rather polite in my comments and they later emailed me insulting me and basically saying that I was a horrible liberal and stupid as well as ignorant. It is people like this, those Conservatives that run the site and spew NOTHING but hatred for liberals, that are runing this country into the ground. The same goes for Libs who do the same to conservatives. However, I am thankful to see that at least you have a concience and the ability to think and have a heart for people. Even through you and I may not always agree, you at least generally treat you readers with respect, quite unlike the yahoos at Blogs for Bush and many talk radio hosts like Limbaugh and Savage...
Glad to see that you can at least TRY to understand the other side, unlike many hatemonger Conservatives....
By the way, you are correct that poverty is much worse in many countries, in fact though my life was hard, it is Heaven compared to some lives. But in America, the land of opportunity, it is a shame that people live in such poverty when rich greedy people are stealing from employees, like at Enron. But, as I keep saying, if we ALL work together, Conservatives and liberals alike, qw might just make a dent in the porblems ailing this country and make it TRULY the land of opportunity. However, BOTH sides have to give a little and show some humility to make that happen.....
June 21, 2005 12:13 AM
Don't be naiive, Robert. Let Joel first state how much he has donated to charity before regarding this as more than a gesture. I have a sneaking suspicion that he has received more dessert for himself than he has given out to starving children.
As for republicans/conservatives vs dems/libs, the nature of the former is at best competitive, and at worst, just plain vicious. In light of this, your conciliatory bashing of libs/dems is like appeasing the wolves by slaughtering the sheep.
June 21, 2005 09:11 AM
So you have to tell people how much you give before you're allowed to help?
From what I know about being online, I'm sure Joel will be lucky if he clears $5/month with his 'desserts.' (Am I close Joel?)
Also, knowing a little about Joel myself, he is kind and ALWAYS willing to help people in need. From taking food to homeless people, making loans with no regard to when it will be repaid, to buying a car for a friend in need.
Unselfish and deserving of all he has. Surrounded by selfish and undeserving people.
I'm lucky to have him as a friend.
June 21, 2005 11:41 AM
Ahhh! And we were playing so nicely in the sandbox today with Robert starting us off with somewhat of an apology before he slid back into his regular prose. Our next playmate came with an unsubstantiated accusation that Joel skimps on his charitable donations. Hmmm, methinks our new friend is upset because he didn't finish his dinner and was denied any desert. From reading this blog over the past few years I'd put Joel in the, "10-15% of his total income to charity," category. Just personal speculation though. Then we're joined by the self-proclaimed "Joel-supporter" who in a particularly non-Joel way labels our 2nd playmate with a nasty epithet. Yup! We're having quite a time in the sandbox today kids. And the poor are still poor, still with us, still in need.
June 21, 2005 02:57 PM
All this hub-bub over l'il ole me? hehe... too funny.
Of course, my giving is between me and my God. I don't answer to anyone else.
June 22, 2005 05:21 AM
As it should be Mr. Mayor, as it should be.