Helping Charities When Money is Tight

There are charities on every corner (sometimes literally!) during the holiday season. We want to give to them all, but when finances are tight, what can we do? Why not do what you are already doing... just maybe a little better! Organizations like the Raleigh Rescue Mission are able to help you plan your holiday travel and you can give to your favorite charity every time you shop at the supermarket! Check out this great link for 11 more ideas like these. Plus, don't forget the His Radio Blanket Bundles event (canned food and blanket drive) on Saturday, November 14th!

http://http://www.newsobserver.com/business/local_state/story/155733.html

And the Winners Are...

... The Deep Fried Snickers AND the Deep Fried HoHo! (I can't believe I ate the whole thing.) I thoroughly enjoyed eating the foods that you selected for me to eat at the State Fair. The Deep Fried Snickers and Deep Fried Ho Ho ended up tying as the foods you wanted me to try at the fair, so between the four members of my family we HAPPILY polished them off.

My personal favorite was the Snickers with yummy, melt-y, carmel-y, chocolate, plus the texture the peanuts provided. The HoHo had a nice cake-y structure surrounded by the deep fried batter, however the white filling was MIA. It appeared to have been baked out (or baked in.)

Thanks for your votes and thanks for the fun!

Deep Fried Suggestions- Vote for State Fair Food I Should Eat

If it can be skewered and fried, you'll find it for sale at the North Carolina State Fair. The latest delight on a stick: the deep fried HoHo (to go with its close cousin the deep fried Twinkie.) From deep fried candy bars to deep fried macaroni and cheese there is something for everyone.

I tend to be the funnel cake type, but I'd like to branch out and try something new. I will try the State Fair food that receives the most votes (comments) here prior to Friday's Jeremy Camp concert. (I'll even be sure to get a pic of me eating "His Radio's Best Loved [Fried] State Fair Food.")

Have you been to the State Fair this year? Tell me what fried food you'd recommend.

Confessions of a "No guy"

Earlier today I received an urgent email from an organization whose goal is to unite one million people who will at a moment's notice fight to defend the traditional definition of marriage. I often send my appropriate emails to the right congressmen and hope and pray they make a difference. I receive probably three or four of these types of emails a week from this organization and others desiring my action. Protect babies, defend marriage, stand for strong families. Worthy causes that deserve my time and my money.

I go through times, probably like you, when I am battle weary. I am weary because for as long as I can remember I have fought (losing) battles. Growing up listening to programs which encouraged my parents to "write their congressmen" and "call the White House switchboard" I learned the importance of being an active citizen and defending what is Biblically right with the freedom offered voters in our country.

I'm the "No guy." Saying "no" to everything from "pro-choice" to "sexual freedom" and this language makes me feel like the bad guy in this battle of verbiage. "Defending the faith" is a statement we commonly use, but perhaps the reason we lose so often in the marketplace is because we are on the defense and not on the offense.

It's widely known that Christians in music, books, and media are primarily imitators. We see something that works in the secular world and we simply shift the marketing to suit the Christian public. We are often six months too late and unoriginal. (If you need an example just look at knock offs like the "Sunday School Musical" DVD or "Conservapedia" which is claims to be more Christian-friendly than Wikipedia.) How would the world be different today if a Christian had originated either "High School Musical" or Wikipedia?

Not to downplay the validity of the putting out moral fires as they come, but what if we anticipated fires in advance and assembled an army when there is a moral consensus? Child pornography is a battle Americans who care about children have a general agreement about- it is horribly wrong. Why not mobilize on this issue NOW instead of in 10 years? This is a war where we can win by being on the OFFENSIVE. This beats putting out last minute fires, winning a few battles and losing the war.

So how about becoming Christian innovators and changing the face of technology? How about fighting a winning battle together and celebrating the chance to be "Yes Men!"