photoxpressions 05 - WA living

Greetings from Whispering Pines. Just a lazy Sunday afternoon here as I look out at the intermittent rain showers rolling in from the north. I was planning to go hiking this afternoon but 35-40 mph wind gusts and a temperature of 37 degrees kept me inside. Yeah, I'm a pansy like that. Instead, I decided to browse through some pictures from our first 3 months here in Washington, which is what prompted this post. The first 2 pictures are from Manastash Ridge a few weeks ago. The blue sky with the cool clouds is from our weekend trip to Spokane, WA earlier this month. The fence post pic is from an unnamed trail, on the opposing, north side of the Kittitas valley. Second to last is a shot of the original Starbuck's in Seattle at Pike Place Market. And lastly is the pooch, Lance, lazily sunning in our living room here at Whispering Pines.
Have a good week. If you have a second check this out, a great concert that Rae & I have been absorbing this past week.

justice

From the book of Micah, Chapter 6, Verse 8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? [from the ESV version of The Bible].

This was a reminder that drop-kicked me in service yesterday. That regardless of how daunting and frustrating it can be to see so much pain & hurt in this world, we as Christian's must continue to seek out and do justice (even in areas that our government blatantly overlooks). We must do this in a kind & merciful way; and we must continue to walk humbly. Something we Americans are lacking in......after all the Manifest Destiny we've gorged ourselves on.

invisible children

This weekend was the 2nd annual Ellensburg Film Festival. I only caught one film, "Invisible Children", which I've been wanting to see for quite a while.
The story is told from the view point of 3 high school guys who, after graduating, decide to leave the comforts of America and travel to Sudan, Africa. They go in search of adventure and the hopes of capturing it all on film.
On arriving in Sudan, they find a virtual wasteland devoid of excitement and humankind. The boy's continue to search for an exciting story and when they begin to think to only "cool" thing they have on tape is the killing of a "gigantic snake", they go on a trip to Gulu, Uganda.
In Gulu, they met the children of the Acholi tribe who have grown up in the 17 year war which, still has no visible endpoint. The rebels who are trying to overthrow the government, The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), drive into the refugee camps at night and abduct the children, ages 8-12, to bolster their troop ranks. You may ask why those ages of children. The answer is coldly logical and sadistic: #1, these children can be easily terrorized into fighting with an indoctrination of beatings and murder of their fellow kids. #2, children that age are big enough to carry automatic rifles and machetes to continue the murder and rape which plagues Uganda & Sudan.
Each night the children of Gulu make a "night commute" from their villages & refugee camps to the surrounding hospitals and town centers to sleep in relative safety. In these sites the children are not at as much of a risk of being abducted by the LRA. This war has been going on for 17+ years with minimal outcry and no media coverage in the United States. In the film one local priest states "If a bomb goes off in Israel the whole world knows about it. If children are killed & abducted in Africa it does not even make the news in America." The priest was referencing a killing of 40+ children who were studying to be priests at his school in Uganda.
The story this movie tells sickens and saddens me; it saddens me that here is another example of tragedy in Africa which it getting minimal outcry in the world and it sickens me that again our country wants little to do with aiding and stopping these crimes against humanity!! (read this) WHY? Because it's happening yet again in "black Africa"? (see posts: speak up and truth in humor)
At the end of the movie the filmmakers ask the viewers for 3 things: Talent, Time, Money, in that order. So, I ask you to take the time to sign the "Children Should Never Be Soldiers Declaration" and send a message to President Bush and your representing member of Congress. Please send a one time gift to the Children of War Center or sponsor the Gulu Community both of which are in Gulu, Uganda and in need of your money. Then, read more about the conflict and use your talent to spread awareness and help end this tragedy. Please help.