What would you do with $100

Posted on 02/10/2011 by Benji Zimmerman Posted in Honesty, Other | 7 Comments

It might not seem like a lot to some but $100 can still go a long ways in someones life. Good ole Benjamin Franklin can still change someone’s day, week or possibly even month.

This week I was blessed with an unexpected $100. Honestly I really want to spend it on a race entry fee. I really want to run the Red Rock Half Marathon. But after thinking about it I realized that was pretty selfish. My mind then jumped to the next “selfless” act of spending the money. I could use it to pay for a portion of a ticket for Catalyst West. A conference in California that I really want to attend but don’t really have the money for. Going to the conference would me I would grow spiritually and relationally, that in turn would spill out into my relationships, small group and onto the pages of this website. A win-win for everyone right? Nope, still pretty selfish.

After thinking about it for a few hours I really feel a deep conviction that I need to give the money to someone or something. But honestly I am not sure what or whom. So if you had a $100 to give, who or what would you give it too?

3 Causes that need YOUR help TODAY

Posted on 02/24/2010 by Benji Zimmerman Posted in Honesty, Other | 2 Comments

Yesterday I mentioned that there are millions upon millions of Non-profit causes in the United States that are fighting against social injustice around the world. I tried to ease us into the conversation with 3 causes that you could support immediately: your community, your church, and your passion. However, sometimes easing into a conversation has little effect and doesn’t really challenge one to take action.

TODAY WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION!

A few weeks ago when the tragedy struck Haiti, I was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness. I wanted to go and do something, but what could I do from thousands of miles away? Enter Shaun King. Shaun is the pastor of Courageous Church in downtown Atlanta. The things this young church are doing are incredible and one of them is a project called A Home in Haiti.

Did you know that Haiti has a rainy season? It does! And it starts in 4 DAYS!!! Want to make a difference in the world? Buy a tent or donate money to buy a tent! Because by the end of this week it is going to start getting miserable in Haiti for the hundreds of thousands of people who are living in makeshift tents and under plastic tarps. SO DO SOMETHING NOW!

Even though Haiti has dominated the news recently, there are still millions of other causes out there, one of my favorite people in the world Cindy Cunningham is doing her part to fight against injustice everyday by helping Ugandan Refugees find a safe haven to grow up. Right now as we speak Cindy is in the middle of a 72 day campaign to raise funds and awareness for the 72 orphans they are working with currently. Read their stories and you will be moved to do something! They need all kinds of stuff, from $5 water jugs, $10 mosquito nets to $25,000 for a home in the Village. What can you do to help? Because these beautiful faces need our support and help!

Check out this post by Christian musician Britt Nicole from her recent trip to Village of Hope! Partner with Cindy and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Lastly but most importantly I know that there are a lot of causes out there that need financial help. Finances are tight these days and every ministry is pushing the flat line, but there are things you can do besides give money. In Las Vegas there is a great new church starting next month called Verve. They need help! I truly believe that the pastor, Vince Antonucci will do a ton of great things to help the Las Vegas Valley and fight injustice here. Here is an excerpt from his blog yesterday:

If you are here in the Vegas area and would be willing to help us put door hangers on doors, we could REALLY use your help. It could be you, you and your family, you and your small group, you and your church, you and your harem, you and your army. Whatever. It’s very easy, basically you just go for a walk. No interactions with people…

The weeks we need help the most are March 22 to 27 AND March 29 to April 3.

We would give you a map to do, and the door hangers to put on. You could do it at a time that’s most convenient for you. You could volunteer for an hour, or two hours, or two hundred hours. Your choice.

If you’re willing, please e-mail me at vince@vivalaverve.org. Thank you!

Fighting injustice can be as simple as hanging door hangers or as complex as spending your hard earned money to buy tents or mosquito nets. Whatever you decide to do, do something TODAY!

3 Causes for Right Now

Posted on 02/23/2010 by Benji Zimmerman Posted in Honesty, Other | 1 Comment

Yesterday I mentioned that social injustice is happening all over the world at all times of the day. Because the world is experiencing so much heartache on any given day it would seem like it would be easy to get involved and make a difference. But the task seems so overwhelming that myself and maybe you as well, find all the excuses not to do something. It is really easy for me to talk myself out of one thing and into another.

Let’s change that.

When I was thinking about what I wanted to write this week, I tried thinking about all the different causes I have partnered with in the past and I was going to try and sell you on my favorites, but that got me thinking, “Maybe you don’t care as much about this injustice or that thing as I do.” Reasoning with myself I decided the best thing I could do for all of us is ease us into this. How do you do that?

Put things into perspective.

In 2008 there were over 80,000 causes on Myspace & Facebook combined. In 2009 there were 179,000 just on Facebook. There are over 1.5 million non-profit organizations in the United States. Everybody in their brother has a cause. My wife and I seriously contemplated starting one and now I own a couple unused websites because of it. The point is that there is a cause on every web page and on nearly every street corner. There are millions of things you could get involved in. Here are three that I think are the most important:

Your local community. Want to change the world? Start in your own backyard! In Las Vegas there are thousands of homeless adults and almost as many children. There are dozens of organizations working to feed these children as well as adults. In the past few years my wife and I have partnered with the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Club Christ and Caring 4 Kids. Every community in this country has non-profits that could use your time and your talents. If you don’t know of one, call the local Chamber of Commerce and ask for a directory!
Your local church. Want to change the world? Partner with an organization that already is! It may come to a surprise to a lot of my readers, but in Las Vegas there are a lot of churches and most of them are doing something to change the world for a better place. My wife and I choose to donate 10% of my income to Central Christian Church because we believe that Central is doing the right things to help change peoples lives. Every single community in the United States has a church and most churches are doing something positive. How can you either partner with a local church or help start a program in your local church to fight against an injustice that is near to you.
Your passion. Want to change the world? Write down what you are passionate about and find organizations that help your passions meet the world’s suffering. For me that means organizations like Soles4Souls, African Inland Mission, and VOX United have received extra financial support and prayer support in the past few years. The best way you can serve the world and injustice is to find the place where your deepest passions and the worlds deepest needs intersect.

There are millions of organizations and causes out there, but changing the world starts with small, simple and intentional acts: partnering with organizations in your community, partnering with your local church and finding organizations where your passions are meeting the needs of the world.

So what are you waiting for?