Saturday, January 23, 2010

HAITI DONATIONS and RESPONSE

Here is one of the great organizations helping in Haiti right now.

It is UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief. Because UMCOR is connected with the United Methodist Church, all of its administrative costs are covered so literally 100% donated goes to relief!

Here is a link to their site, you can donate money or make kits of supplies to send to them. All the info is here -->;UMCOR

Haiti, and the Christian Community Responses

In light of everything going on with Haiti, there have been many different reactions form the Christian community.  There have been millions praying and sending money and help to Haiti.  I have to say that I am very proud of almost all of them, but here is a video from one I am not.
Link to Pat Robinson Video

In response to this and several other comments like this, here is a letter from Bishop Joe Pennel, a United Methodist Bishop:

"FROM THE BACK PEW
While driving to Church yesterday I heard a preacher say that what happened in Haiti was the will of God. I do not agree. I believe that the devastation and loss of life made God cry.
I believe that God has created a world where different pushes and pulls are at work. We live in a world with great differences in natural phenomena, and these differences can "bump" into each other or "mesh together". When this occurs the unpredictable is sure to happen. The creation is not programmed so that one aspect of nature never touches or influences another. On the contrary, these dissimilarities have a mysterious way of challenging and influencing one another. When such interactions happen, change and turbulence and even mass destruction are possible. We cannot stop the interactions of nature nor can we get out of the way of the outcomes.
The universe is not a puppet on a string and it is not programmed to run smoothly. There is a freedom in creation, just as there is a freedom in the human species.
This answer does not satisfy all of my questions but it is the best that I can do at this juncture of my theological journey. But for me--blaming God is not the answer.
It is worth pondering,

Joe E. Pennel Jr.
Worn Out Preacher."

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?....
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HAITI?