Books I've Been Reading

Caid and Rachel reading:
Divergent, Insurgent, and now Allegiant by Veronica Roth (they are fun read aloud together books)

Rachel fun reading:
Anything by Shannon Hale (Caid calls them 'girly books,' I call them fairy tales)

To be a better teacher:
Brain Rules by John Medina (so fun!!) http://www.brainrules.net
Visible Learning for Teachers by John Hattie (amazing information--harder to read though)
Addicted to Camp by Chicka Elloy (someone I am proud to call my friend, with wise things to say)

What I am passionate about:
Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (BEST BOOK I READ IN 2013!) http://www.halftheskymovement.org/
The Locust Effect by Gary Haugen (He works with International Justice Mission, and is bringing out the truth that without ending violence and providing protection/safety to the poor, we will never end poverty) http://www.thelocusteffect.com/

Lastly, I am reading Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton. I am going to a conference about holistic ministry soon, and Lindsay Turner (co-worker in Brazil) suggested this book. I couldn't put it down. I was excited about learning new things, and scared of what needs to change--because even with all my good intentions, I've personally seen my charity turn toxic. EVERYONE IN MINISTRY NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!

My notes from Toxic Charity:

“As compassionate people, we have been evaluating our charity by the rewards we receive through service, rather than the benefits received by the served. When relief does not transition to development in a timely way, compassion becomes toxic.”

Oath for Compassionate Service:
• Never do for the poor what they have or could have the capacity to do for themselves
• Limit one way giving to emergency situations
• Strive to empower the poor through employment, lending, and investing, using grants sparingly to reinforce achievements
• Subordinate self-interests to the needs of those being served
• Listen closely to those you seek to help, especially to what is not being said—unspoken feelings may contain essential clues to effective service
• Above all, do no harm

“Giving is no simple matter, not if giving is to be ultimately redemptive. Doing for rather than doing with those in need is the norm. Add to it the combination of patronizing pity and unintended superiority, and charity becomes toxic.”

 “The Bible places equal emphasis on both mercy and justice. Twinned together, these commands lead us to holistic involvement. Mercy without justice degenerates into dependency and entitlement, preserving the power of the giver over the recipient. Justice without mercy is cold and impersonal, more concerned about rights than relationships. Combined it creates
• Immediate care with a future plan
• Emergency relief and responsible development
• Short-term intervention an long term involvement
• Heart responses and engaged minds

Effectiveness questions to ask about the ministries you invest in:
• Are recipients assuming greater levels of control over their own lives or do they show up, year after year, with their hands out?
• Is leadership emerging among the served?
• Are their aspirations on the rise?
• Is there a positive trajectory?

 “John McKnight’s extensive research concludes that services rarely empower the poor because 1. They divert money away from the poor people to service providers, 2. Programs are based on deficiencies rather than capacities, and 3. Services displace the ability of people’s organizations to solve problems.”

(Spoken by a recipient of charity) “Blacks know a lot more about whites than whites know about blacks—that’s survival. Trying to get rich white folk to change their deep-seated views by putting on a one or two hour sensitivity class isn’t going to change anyone. That kind of change takes years of close relationships. No, it is better just to let the neighborhood to do the inviting, and maybe talk together about the cost of accepting charity from good people who aren’t aware of how insulting they can be. If neighbors agree that the price is worth the help, then they’ll welcome the volunteers and let honest friendships develop naturally over time if they’re going to.”