Tag: shared articles

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Little Free Library…

Little Free Library
Little Free Library (Photo credit: litlnemo)

i’m a big time reader… actually my love for books knows almost no bounds… i LOVE books!! i love the feel of a ‘real’ book; i love the way a new, actually even an old book smells. i love the feel of the pages under my fingers, running my finger along the lines as i read.

So when i came upon this website, i was like: “Oh wow! Awesome idea!!”. And i’m sharing it with you here.

It’s the Little Free Library project. A very worthy project. You can either build your own Little Free Library or order one from the website. Stick it on your property, near the sidewalk or hang it somewhere in a school, even an office. Fill it with books, which will then be shared with whoever desires to read them! There are no library cards or late fees or lines. Just pick a book you like and read it. Then return it and contribute with a book of your own.

The whole idea is to promote the joys of reading and i support this 100%.

Silverlake's Little Free Library
Silverlake’s Little Free Library (Photo credit: Michael R Perry)

Hop over to the website and have a look for yourself. Most of the libraries are in the US at the moment. There are 2 in Germany, 2 in Italy, 1 in London, 1 in India and 2 in Africa. So the movement is slowly catching on. Click on the “Find a Little Free Library on the World Map” button at the bottom right of the homepage to see exact locations.

i think the idea of getting a whole community involved on it is wonderful. The website also has advice on what to do when the Library is damaged or books get stolen. See their FAQs.

i wish there was one near me, although that would mean most books in German, which will take me forever to read and i would be contributing back English books. Hehhehee 😉

What do you think of this idea? Would you build one where you live? Or maybe there is already one there? Let me know.

syc

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Stop Apologizing for Your Art…

create
create (Photo credit: suttonhoo)

i read the article below and i thought, “Wow! We, or at least i, don’t just do this about my work (be it writing or art or photography) but i also do this in a lot of aspects of my life.”

There are times and in certain things, such as my writing, i don’t really think people want to read or want to hear what i have to say. i don’t believe in myself enough in certain areas of my life. After reading Goins, i’m determined to, at the very least, start believing in my writing. Have a read and let me know what you think.

Stop Apologizing for Your Art | Goins, Writer.

Oh there is one statement he made at the end,

But whatever you do, don’t apologize. We don’t have time for that.

i don’t quite agree completely with it.

If our art had offended people by making fun of their culture or background for no other purpose than to make them the butt of jokes, then i feel that an apology is owned, even if you did it unknowingly. If, however, the piece was making a social/political point, then i can see the use of such jokes… but we really need to be careful there…

i say the above because i really dislike distasteful jokes about a certain culture or race of people, just because they are who they are.

But having confidence in your craft (completely different from making meaningless jokes) is an important thing and i want to thank J. Gions for pointing that out to me.

i hope you would be inspired too.

syc

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Developing Our Heart for God…

…that is the title of an article i read a few months ago…

It talked briefly about the influences Greek scholars and Socratic thinking had on the 3rd and 4th century churches have affected the way we relate to God.

These influences encouraged focus on the intellectual and have became so deep-rooted in our basic thinking that it has also swayed our relationship with God from one of intimacy and power to one where mere knowledge plays a bigger role. It has shifted our priorities, causing us to neglect the building of close relationship which can change lives.

The concluding lines of that article (read full article here) states

We must listen and respond with the heart. Whatever service we give to God should be a result of our relationship with our heavenly Father, not an end unto itself.

And one form of service i have been actively involved in is advocating for orphans with special needs (please click here for more posts on these orphans).

Today is Teamwork Tuesday where we, advocates, shout out about one particular child, in hopes that such concerted efforts would bring the child more notice and help find their forever family.

3-year R.J. waits for his forever family to come for him.

Meet R.J.

He is such a handsome little guy. See those wonderfully soulful eyes. He is 3 years old and we have been told that he would be transferred to an adult mental institution quite soon. After transfer, his chances of getting adopted would diminish, it may even disappear all together.

Reece’s Rainbow (an advocate website) wasn’t even given enough information to be able to start an adoption grant for him (no donation button). Once he is transferred, information would be even harder to get.

Please don’t let R.J. disappear. Please pray for him and share his story so his family can find him today. Click on his name or picture to see his profile on Reece’s Rainbow.

Responding with heart,

syc