Week of Sep 4, 2010:
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This Week's Program

May 29, 2010

A Safe Place to Live

“Forty-four percent of all homeless people work, have jobs, and yet can’t afford housing. So this is wrong, it’s just simply wrong from a biblical point of view.” —Jim Wallis

Jim Wallis is no stranger to advocating strongly for the poor and homeless. He’s spent the better part of his life putting his faith in action for those who need a voice.

My Turn

This week's My Turn author

Potluck

Rebecca Thatcher Murcia

When I took my sons to live in a low-income neighborhood in small-town Colombia two years ago, the last thing I expected to find was that Colombia is ahead of the United States in some areas.

This Week's Resources

Video
Building on Faith: Making Poverty Housing History
A Third Way Media documentary exploring how faith groups and others are working to bring decent, affordable housing to all. 

Books
Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street — A Moral Compass for the New Economy, Jim Wallis

 
 
Online
www.Sojo.net - The official website of Sojourner’s Magazine.
 
www.GodsPolitics.com - Jim Wallis’ daily blog.

Related Resources

Online
DOOR Urban Service Organization
Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR) is a faith-based network of urban service-learning programs that expose, educate, challenge, and motivate participants to respond to the issues and concerns facing an increasingly urban world.  Program offerings range from a weekend to a year and include opportunities for individuals and groups.

Habitat for Humanity

Video
ABC News Nightline “America’s Working Poor”

Book
Invisible City: Poverty, Housing, and New Urbanism, John Gilderbloom

Burton's Blog

Burton Buller

For Someone, Their Path out of Poverty Crosses Mine

I’ve often interviewed people who tell about their family’s poverty, but end the conversation with something to the effect that, “We were poor, but we didn’t know it.” I’ve always found that interesting. I grew up the son of a share cropper. We were poor, and we knew it. There were constant reminders.

Next Week

It’s perhaps a parent’s worst nightmare to realize a child has gone missing. Imagine the desperate search when it happened to Wilma, our guest next week. Hear about her struggle to forgive after the tragedy of her child’s abduction.

Your Turn

What do you think?

  1. Write your comments about this week's program.
  2. Respond to the My Turn speaker.
  3. Tell your own story, or respond to the stories of others.
  4. Ask a question you’d like answered a bit more personally by sending an email to our staff and we’ll respond to you directly. 
  5. Post your comments to our Facebook page.

Favorite Family Recipes

Desperation Chili

In her "My Turn" column this week, Rebecca Thatcher Murcia describes a year living with her family in Colombia. When she discovered an unusual bean in the market, she remembered her late husband's rule that "everything starts with frying garlic and onions, and created this chili dish.  Her then 12-year-old said, "I'm the authority on chili.  It passes." 

Study Guide

Download a PDF of a study guide for use in small groups, at home with the family or in Sunday school classes.

Updates

Shaping Families Update is the easiest way to keep up with the current program guest and topic along with next week's topic, a direct link to the recipe of the week, a stress tip, a positive praise word to use with your family, new stations, prayer requests, events and more. Read it here each week or subscribe to get it to your email box every Monday evening.