Comments for http://unity-works.org Putting Faith to Work Fri, 21 May 2010 13:35:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Spring ’09 Evening Session – Barriers to housing stability by wmccaig http://unity-works.org/2009/05/05/spring-09-evening-session-barriers-to-housing-stability/#comment-602 wmccaig Fri, 21 May 2010 13:35:58 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=302#comment-602 Hi Robbin, That is fine but can you also include a link to my personal website www.wendymccaig.com or to our Embrace site at www.embracerichmond.org. Those two sites are much more active. Unity Works is not in session right now so if someone wanted to connect with us my site or the Embrace site would be the best places. Please feel free to quote as much as you like. Blessings, Wnedy Hi Robbin,

That is fine but can you also include a link to my personal website http://www.wendymccaig.com or to our Embrace site at http://www.embracerichmond.org. Those two sites are much more active. Unity Works is not in session right now so if someone wanted to connect with us my site or the Embrace site would be the best places. Please feel free to quote as much as you like.

Blessings,
Wnedy

]]> Comment on Spring ’09 Evening Session – Barriers to housing stability by Robbin Salminen http://unity-works.org/2009/05/05/spring-09-evening-session-barriers-to-housing-stability/#comment-601 Robbin Salminen Fri, 21 May 2010 11:32:03 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=302#comment-601 Hello could I quote some of the content here in this entry if I reference you with a link back to your site? Hello could I quote some of the content here in this entry if I reference you with a link back to your site?

]]> Comment on Homelessness and Housing Spring 09 by nita thompson http://unity-works.org/2009/03/09/homelessness-and-housing-spring-09/#comment-557 nita thompson Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:15:05 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=231#comment-557 Do you have knowledge of programs like yours in the tulsa or sapulpa, ok area. I have a daughter that will be returning home from MBCC soon Do you have knowledge of programs like yours in the tulsa or sapulpa, ok area. I have a daughter that will be returning home from MBCC soon

]]> Comment on Preferential Option for the Poor by nohiddenmagenta http://unity-works.org/2009/03/15/preferential-option-for-the-poor/#comment-503 nohiddenmagenta Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:08:42 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=236#comment-503 http://nohiddenmagenta.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/peter-singer-roman-catholicism-the-end-of-poverty/ http://nohiddenmagenta.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/peter-singer-roman-catholicism-the-end-of-poverty/

]]> Comment on Reflection Questions – Week 3 Chapters 8-11 by Bob Krouse http://unity-works.org/2009/05/05/reflection-questions-chapters-5-9/#comment-425 Bob Krouse Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:30:02 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=304#comment-425 "The soul without a body is a ghost; a body without a soul is a corps". Neither is particularly positive. I was struck by the inclusion of each item. I will add one: mind body and soul. Sports has always been a good out look for me. I think the 3 components have to intertwine to be successful. One has to learn, to be inquisitive, and grow for the mind to be sound. The body has to be healthy and ready for all contingencies. The soul has to be trigger for passion and drive to bring about a winning combination. You can't have just one or two. You need all 3. “The soul without a body is a ghost; a body without a soul is a corps”. Neither is particularly positive. I was struck by the inclusion of each item. I will add one: mind body and soul. Sports has always been a good out look for me. I think the 3 components have to intertwine to be successful. One has to learn, to be inquisitive, and grow for the mind to be sound. The body has to be healthy and ready for all contingencies. The soul has to be trigger for passion and drive to bring about a winning combination. You can’t have just one or two. You need all 3.

]]> Comment on Reflection Questions – Week 2 Chapters 4-7 by Brin Gribben http://unity-works.org/2009/10/04/reflection-questions-week-2-chapters-4-7/#comment-422 Brin Gribben Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:37:16 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=439#comment-422 For the most part everything in the book had resonated with me and really is how i feel. I am from a social work background and so many of the things I learned in school were from the perspective of helping someone so they can help themselves. Life is such a learning process. I know through my own trials and tribulations that finally figuring out I could rely on God was such a burden off my shoulders. I know personally that pain and suffering is really the only way we grow. I am doing a Beth Moore study right now and so much of that is related to what we are talking about. It is great to be doing the study along with Unity Works,it solidifies it all for me. The thought of seeing and feeling God's love through serving is very exciting to me. I have enjoyed the book so much and listening to Charles and Rudy's stories is so hopeful. I think what I like best is you can't fix people they must in some way do it for themselves but if I can be a catalyst for that that is what would be so rewarding. For the most part everything in the book had resonated with me and really is how i feel. I am from a social work background and so many of the things I learned in school were from the perspective of helping someone so they can help themselves. Life is such a learning process. I know through my own trials and tribulations that finally figuring out I could rely on God was such a burden off my shoulders. I know personally that pain and suffering is really the only way we grow. I am doing a Beth Moore study right now and so much of that is related to what we are talking about. It is great to be doing the study along with Unity Works,it solidifies it all for me. The thought of seeing and feeling God’s love through serving is very exciting to me. I have enjoyed the book so much and listening to Charles and Rudy’s stories is so hopeful. I think what I like best is you can’t fix people they must in some way do it for themselves but if I can be a catalyst for that that is what would be so rewarding.

]]> Comment on Reflection Questions – Week 2 Chapters 4-7 by Bob Krouse http://unity-works.org/2009/10/04/reflection-questions-week-2-chapters-4-7/#comment-416 Bob Krouse Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:14:59 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=439#comment-416 The question, "How comfortable am I in allowing God to teach me, encourage me, and reveal his love from the people we want to serve" really hit home for me. I think we all learn and adapt to new situations, circumstances and in perils. Each person is special before God and to each other. I think in my growing years I am becoming more comfortable , but sometimes hurt more by opening myself up. There is a deeper level we reach in a relationship if we allow ourselves to open up and be "vulnerble". I think others can assist us in seeing things in each of us that we could never see on our own. The experiences of those we are trying to serve help us just open us up a whole lot more. The question, “How comfortable am I in allowing God to teach me, encourage me, and reveal his love from the people we want to serve” really hit home for me. I think we all learn and adapt to new situations, circumstances and in perils. Each person is special before God and to each other. I think in my growing years I am becoming more comfortable , but sometimes hurt more by opening myself up. There is a deeper level we reach in a relationship if we allow ourselves to open up and be “vulnerble”. I think others can assist us in seeing things in each of us that we could never see on our own. The experiences of those we are trying to serve help us just open us up a whole lot more.

]]> Comment on Reflection Questions – Week 1 Fall 2009 by Deb Griffin http://unity-works.org/2009/09/29/reflection-questions-week-1-fall-2009/#comment-409 Deb Griffin Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:57:26 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=434#comment-409 Another post to think about as you enter into this beautiful weekend. I have been with Embrace for three weeks now. I saw two friends from Richmond go homeless. I even used my van to help move one friend from her home. I helped carry her belongings to the back of her kind boss' office where he provided her free storage. My other new friend just got into an apartment and word has it, she has a coupon from Caritas Furnature Bank to receive a bed and linens but nothing else. You should of heard the joy in her acceptance of this gift. My other friend that I helped move just got a landlord to work with her. She moves into her place on October 10th. She has $575 saved but needs $600 by the 10th. She asked me to pray for her. I am asking you to pray for her also. I have faith it will come. I also saw a dear friend be traumatized in her neighborhood the very day of our second meeting (last night). She was sipping coffee outside her home when a SUV on her street started swaying. Out jumped 3 men, one injured. The SUV continued to drive right into her car. The two able uninjured men saw that she was a witness and ran toward her. Not being a morning person she was amazed at how quickly she fled into her home, locked the doors and ran upstairs. She kneeled and prayed for safety. They tried to get in but couldn't. When it was quiet, she went back outside to help the injured man. He was robbed, and stabbed, so she got an ambulance. She called 911 and it took 20 minutes. She told the ambulance crew she wasn't moving until they got the police to come. What a woman and what a God who was watching over her, keeping her safe. There are so many blessings, so many wonderful women and men live in the permanent housing solutions as our friend Erika of Homeward renamed the projects. The projects are their permanent or permanent-like housing. To make them feel safe, to help them connect to resources, to let them know we believe in them and the Lord has not forgotten them is an honor. Another post to think about as you enter into this beautiful weekend. I have been with Embrace for three weeks now. I saw two friends from Richmond go homeless. I even used my van to help move one friend from her home. I helped carry her belongings to the back of her kind boss’ office where he provided her free storage. My other new friend just got into an apartment and word has it, she has a coupon from Caritas Furnature Bank to receive a bed and linens but nothing else. You should of heard the joy in her acceptance of this gift. My other friend that I helped move just got a landlord to work with her. She moves into her place on October 10th. She has $575 saved but needs $600 by the 10th. She asked me to pray for her. I am asking you to pray for her also. I have faith it will come.

I also saw a dear friend be traumatized in her neighborhood the very day of our second meeting (last night). She was sipping coffee outside her home when a SUV on her street started swaying. Out jumped 3 men, one injured. The SUV continued to drive right into her car. The two able uninjured men saw that she was a witness and ran toward her. Not being a morning person she was amazed at how quickly she fled into her home, locked the doors and ran upstairs. She kneeled and prayed for safety. They tried to get in but couldn’t. When it was quiet, she went back outside to help the injured man. He was robbed, and stabbed, so she got an ambulance. She called 911 and it took 20 minutes. She told the ambulance crew she wasn’t moving until they got the police to come. What a woman and what a God who was watching over her, keeping her safe.

There are so many blessings, so many wonderful women and men live in the permanent housing solutions as our friend Erika of Homeward renamed the projects. The projects are their permanent or permanent-like housing. To make them feel safe, to help them connect to resources, to let them know we believe in them and the Lord has not forgotten them is an honor.

]]> Comment on Reflection Questions – Week 1 Fall 2009 by Deb Griffin http://unity-works.org/2009/09/29/reflection-questions-week-1-fall-2009/#comment-407 Deb Griffin Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:36:55 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=434#comment-407 Entitlement is a common problem with youth within the urban setting as well as in the suburban setting. Our youth and our adults feel certain inalienable rights or our natural rights our forefathers spoke of. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." --Declaration of Independence as originally written by Thomas Jefferson, 1776. ME 1:29, Papers 1:315 So even our forefathers were trying to encourage social justice but in creating social justice, we have created a entity of entitlement and entrapment. By giving sometimes those gifts are not supportive but enable our brothers and sisters in need to continue needing and NOT become more capable and empowered. Empowering, encouraging and teaching others is not distructive giving but the true gift necessary to succeed. Entitlement is a common problem with youth within the urban setting as well as in the suburban setting. Our youth and our adults feel certain inalienable rights or our natural rights our forefathers spoke of.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.” –Declaration of Independence as originally written by Thomas Jefferson, 1776. ME 1:29, Papers 1:315

So even our forefathers were trying to encourage social justice but in creating social justice, we have created a entity of entitlement and entrapment. By giving sometimes those gifts are not supportive but enable our brothers and sisters in need to continue needing and NOT become more capable and empowered.

Empowering, encouraging and teaching others is not distructive giving but the true gift necessary to succeed.

]]> Comment on Reflection Questions – Week 1 Fall 2009 by wmccaig http://unity-works.org/2009/09/29/reflection-questions-week-1-fall-2009/#comment-406 wmccaig Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:53:30 +0000 http://unity-works.org/?p=434#comment-406 “If the past thirty years have taught us anything about the poverty mentality it is that undisciplined giving can be just as distructive as the poverty it is meant to allieviate" I never really understood how distructive giving can be to people until we started working in Hillside and I began to see such a deep rooted "entitlement" mentality. Many people there think it is thier "right" to have government run programs to meet all thier needs, instead of a priviledge. When we think someone "owes" us we tend not to appreciate the service and mistreat those who are there to serve us. However, when people see things as a priviledge, they tend to treat them with respect and those who serve with respect. This mentality is a serious problem in public housing complexes and I am very careful that anything we do at Embrace does not further support this mentality. “If the past thirty years have taught us anything about the poverty mentality it is that undisciplined giving can be just as distructive as the poverty it is meant to allieviate”

I never really understood how distructive giving can be to people until we started working in Hillside and I began to see such a deep rooted “entitlement” mentality. Many people there think it is thier “right” to have government run programs to meet all thier needs, instead of a priviledge. When we think someone “owes” us we tend not to appreciate the service and mistreat those who are there to serve us. However, when people see things as a priviledge, they tend to treat them with respect and those who serve with respect. This mentality is a serious problem in public housing complexes and I am very careful that anything we do at Embrace does not further support this mentality.

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