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A New York City Library Card Gets You Free Access to Dozens of NYC Attractions

A New York City Library card does much more than letting you check out books. Did you know you get into over 30 cultural attractions for free?

By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist

If you’re a New Yorker and don’t have New York City Library card, now is the time to get one. Besides having a access to unlimited books, cardholders can use the Culture Pass, which gives free admission to museums, public gardens and more.

Your New York City Library card offers endless adventures around the city at no cost. The Guggenheim, the Whitney and The Metropolitan Museum of Art are just some of the amazing institutions that have teamed with NYC libraries to create a program that gives more access to the city’s cultural sites.

Here’s how it works.

Log on to the Culture Pass website and sign up your library card number and pin to make reservations. It’s that easy. And some of the participating places even allow cardholders to bring guests!

But make sure to read the fine print. There are restrictions. According to the Culture Pass FAQs, you can only reserve one pass per cultural institution per year and you can only have two active reservations per library card. However, there’s so many places to explore in the city, so it’s not likely you’ll run out of fun free things to do.

Current institutions you gain free entry with your New York City Library are:

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Brooklyn Historical Society

Brooklyn Museum

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Children’s Museum of the Arts

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

The Drawing Center

The Frick Collection

Historic Richmond Town

International Center of Photography

New York Transit Museum

Noguchi Museum

Queens Historical Society

Queens Museum

Rubin Museum of Art

SculptureCenter

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Society of Illustrators

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Sugar Hill Children’s Museum

Wave Hill

Whitney Museum of American Art

Keep in mind that passes for a given date may sell out, reservations can be made up to two months in advance and upon arrival, guests will have to show a printout or mobile version of their pass.

If you’d like to apply for a New York City Library card, you can do so here.

March 16, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Beyoncé and JAY-Z to be honored at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced that it will honor Beyoncé and JAY-Z together with the Vanguard Award for their LGBTQ allyship at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

By: Heather Newgen

The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues. Events will be held in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 28 and in New York City on Saturday, May 4. Visit http://glaad.org/mediaawards for more information.

VANGUARD AWARD

Beyoncé and JAY-Z will receive GLAAD’s Vanguard Award, which is presented to allies who have made a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people. Previous Vanguard Award honorees include Jennifer Lopez, Kerry Washington, Cher, Janet Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Antonio Banderas, Demi Lovato, Whoopi Goldberg, Eric McCormack, and Britney Spears.

BEYONCÉ and JAY-Z

Beyoncé and JAY-Z are longtime allies and supporters of the LGBTQ community who use their global platforms to share messages that inspire and change the world for the better.

Beyoncé has spoken out against laws that would discriminate against LGBTQ people in states including North Carolina and celebrated the passage of marriage equality nationwide, saying that “everyone has the right to love who they love.” She has spoken out loudly for LGBTQ youth and told her followers on social media that “LGBTQ students need to know we support them.” Beyoncé has included LGBTQ people and couples in videos for ‘Formation’ and ‘All Night’ and dedicated her performance of ‘Halo’ to the victims and survivors of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting during “The Formation World Tour.” Ivy Park, her athleisure clothing line, proudly showcased transgender actress Laverne Cox as one of the featured faces in one of the brand’s promos.

JAY-Z received a GLAAD Special Recognition Award last year for his song and music video, “Smile,” featuring his mother Gloria Carter who used the song to come out as a lesbian. The lyrics and video poignantly share the powerful story of Ms. Gloria Carter, who accepted the GLAAD Media Award from journalist Robin Roberts. JAY-Z has featured LGBTQ people in his art including an appearance by LGBTQ leader Janet Mock in the video for ‘Family Feud,’ which opens with a quote from iconic gay writer James Baldwin. JAY-Z also famously supported the passage of marriage equality, noting it was “the right thing to do as a human being.”

“Beyoncé and JAY-Z are global icons and passionate defenders of human rights and acceptance for all people,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “When Beyoncé and JAY-Z speak, the world becomes inspired and when it comes to LGBTQ people, their voices of acceptance have been heard loud and clear. We could not be prouder to stand with them to send a message of love during the biggest LGBTQ event in the world and to honor their work to bend the arc of justice forward for LGBTQ people, people of color, and marginalized communities everywhere.”

30th ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS

GLAAD previously announced that Sean Hayes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award during the Los Angeles event. Ross Mathews will host the event and special guests will include the cast of Netflix’s Queer Eye, Allison Janney (Mom, I, Tonya), Nico Santos (Superstore, Crazy Rich Asians), Jameela Jamil (The Good Place), Shangela (A Star is Born, RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons.

GLAAD NOMINEES

GLAAD previously announced 151 nominees for the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 27 categories, including an inaugural category for Outstanding Video Game, along with Kids & Family Programming, Comedy and Drama Series, Documentary, Reality Series, Music Artist, Comic Book, print, broadcast, and online news, and five Spanish-language categories. For the first time ever, the GLAAD Media Awards’ Outstanding Film – Limited Release category expanded from five to ten nominees as a result of a welcomed increase in fair, accurate, and inclusive LGBTQ images in film.

Nominees include Pose, Love Simon, Crazy Rich Asians, Will & Grace, The Favourite, Schitt’s Creek, The Handmaid’s Tale, Nanette, Janelle Monáe, Hayley Kiyoko, Troye Sivan, American Idol, RuPaul’s Drag Race, She-Ra, Law & Order: SVU, Don Lemon, Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, Univision, MSNBC, Ebony, GQ, CNN, and The New York Times.

March 12, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Why Afya Foundation is a Great Nonprofit to Volunteer With

Volunteering at the Afya Foundation in Yonkers is a wonderful opportunity to help people affected by natural disasters.

By: Lisa Reyes

Afya means “good health” in Swahili. For the founder, Danielle Butin, it was a trip to Africa that changed her life. She founded the Afya Foundation ten years ago in bustling Yonkers, New York, a suburb of the city. The foundation works directly with
hospitals on the ground during natural disasters to find out exactly what they need. As part of relief efforts, Afya has sent 3 million pounds of emergency supplies to Haiti, Japan, Pakistan, Syria and Greece.

Volunteers sorting medical supplies at the Afya Foundation

Photo By: Lisa Reyes

As a local news reporter, I have done countless stories about the foundation’s efforts after natural disasters domestically to global crises. The Afya Foundation calls for supplies American hospitals would throw out and re-purposes them for other nations that don’t adhere to the strict laws here in the States. Volunteers sort through packaged plastic gloves to wrapped catheters, breast pumps and syringes. Each piece of equipment will be used at hospitals low on resources to help save lives.

As a volunteer at the Afya Foundation packing bags of alcohol wipes or basic toiletries, you think about hospitals without power, patients in need of something as simple as a band-aid and the life-saving difference you are making in their lives. After Hurricane Maria
destroyed Puerto Rico, the Afya Foundation mobilized private planes and local hospitals to donate and deliver supplies to the island that seemed so inaccessible. Bright orange bags filled with packages including much needed insulin for Americans who were running out of their lifeline.

Young volunteers are learning how to sort medical supplies at the Afya Foundation

Photo By: Lisa Reyes

The Afya Foundation offers open sorts for local businesses and young people like Girl Scouts and those preparing for Bar or Bat-Mitzvahs to participate in community service. It could seem overwhelming at first, but after a few hours, once things are
packaged and tossed in bins, you can see your efforts literally piling up. Groups with special needs come in and re-count all the items before they are shipped off to countries like Tanzania. The Afya Foundation is also on the front lines here at home, providing supplies to Texas, Florida and Louisiana. Butin calls it rescuing supplies…supplies carrying much more weight than any packed bag.

Volunteers of any age are welcome and you don’t need specialized skills or previous volunteering experience to give back at the Afya Foundation. For more information please visit https://afyafoundation.org/

March 10, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Why You Shouldn’t Miss the Mardi Paws Parade in Louisiana

Mardi Gras may be over, but the festivities aren’t. There’s one more parade you can catch and this one isn’t to miss. The Krewe of Mardi Paws is a tradition that celebrates our four-legged besties in the coolest way. Plus proceeds from the event benefit both canines and kids through the Ian Somerhalder Foundation.

By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist

Taking place on March 10th, the 25th annual “Mardi Paws” Parade is a totally different sort of event designed especially for dogs. This year’s theme is “SuperPaws,” and celebrates everything about comic book culture. Matthew Davis, who is currently starring in The CW series “Legacies,” a supernatural drama that’s the third show in “The Vampire Diaries” universe, will serve as the Monarch for Mardi Paws .

The Mardi Paws Parade will also have a king and queen. King Otis was rescued about four years ago just outside of New Orleans. When he was just a puppy found with his snout glued, wired and roped shut with electrical cord; a cloth tied tightly around his neck; and broken bones in his front leg. The rescuing officers suspected he was being weakened to be a bait dog in a dog-fighting ring and that he somehow managed to escape. Today he’s safely living with a loving family and two dog siblings in Covington, Louisiana. He loves his blanket and taking rides in the car.

Queen Allison was put up for adoption when her former owner went into hospice care. She got a totally new leash on life when her current dad saw her on online adoption site, got in his truck with his other rescue dog – a fellow Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Theodore – and drove all the way to Kansas to claim her so she didn’t have to endure a flight. These days 9-year-old Allison is very happy at her new home, and Theodore is her very best friend.

And of course you can’t have a parade without a grand marshal, so 10-year-old Audrey Nethery, an internet and social media sensation will take on the role.

Shortly after she was born, Audrey was diagnosed with an incredibly rare bone-marrow disorder called “Diamond-Blackfan Anemia”; she just released a cookbook to raise awareness about the condition. Despite multiple blood transfusions and heavy medication, Audrey is known for her high energy, as exhibited in a now-famous viral video in which she shows off her Zumba skills. She’ll bring that enthusiasm to the parade route and will likely bow-wow the crowd. Audrey has her own dog, Leo, plus a few cats.

“Lost” and “Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder is a big supporter of Mardi Paws and although he won’t be there this year, he has a special connection to the event. Proceeds from the parade help animals and children through the Ian Somerhalder Foundation (ISF). The “V-Wars” actor is an ardent animal lover and grew up in neighboring Covington, Louisiana where he purchased 100 acres of land to give back to the community.

About 70 of those acres will be set aside to preserve the bayou; the remaining 30 will support pet projects that serve the needs of animals, youth and the community at large. He’s worked like a dog to create his namesake foundation, which empowers, educates and collaborates with people and organizations that have a pawsitive impact on the planet and all its creatures. Scott’s Wish, which provides aid for patients with leukemia and life-threatening illnesses, is the other beneficiary of Mardi Paws events.

Mardi Paws always takes place on the Sunday after Mardi Gras on the lakefront in Mandeville, Louisiana, just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. It’s generally agreed that Mardi Paws, which rolls at 2 p.m., is pawsitively the happiest, yappiest event of the entire Carnival season.

It’s $25.00 to register your dog for the parade, all four-legged friends must wear costumes and the event is free to the public. Sign up your pooch here.

March 8, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Shop and Show Your Support for International Women’s Day

Girl power! March 8th is International Women’s Day and to support those helping empower and uplift women check out what these brands are doing to give back.

By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist

Sexism, ageism, income inequality and sexual harassment are just some of the issues women regularly face and intolerances for such injustices are at an all-time high. Women are making positive changes, demanding gender equality and accomplishing great achievements socially, culturally and politically. While International Women’s Day is about celebrating women’s victories, it’s also about being a voice for those who can’t be heard.

According to UN Women, “Globally, women only make 77 cents for every dollar men earn. This is a major cause of lifetime income inequality. At current rates, it will take 70 years to close this gap.”

But that’s not the only issue women face. UN Women also reports, “In the European Union, 55 per cent of women have experienced sexual harassment at least once since the age of 15. Of these, 32 per cent experienced it in a place of work.”

More work needs to be done to ensure fair and equal treatment of women so for International Women’s Day here’s a look at inspiring women and brands giving back and how you can support them.

RAEL

Women-owned organic feminine care brand Rael is celebrating International Women’s Day by providing period products to underprivileged women in their own community – LA-area women living in poverty and homelessness. Although often requested, period products are rarely provided by shelters.

Through their new partnership with Happy Period, Rael will donate one period product to a homeless woman in need for every menstrual product purchased at GetRael.com through the month of March. This includes all of their best-selling 100% certified organic pads, liners, tampons, feminine wash and wipes.

“Millions of women in the U.S. struggle to access proper period care, many of which are homeless,” says Rael co-founder Yanghee Paik. “We believe every woman should be able to access safe and effective period products, and we’re on a mission to help make this happen any way we can.”

Throughout the year, Rael and Happy Period will also execute a series of period kit hand-out activations, with volunteers handing out supplies to women living on Skid Row in downtown LA. The first one is scheduled for March 30.

Made In Covfefe

The Made In Covfefe political T-shirt collection was started by your average American family who wanted to help make a difference. A portion of proceeds from these tongue-in-cheek shirts with sayings like, “Fake News, Fake President” and “Grab him by the Putin” go to support marginalized groups Trump and the current administration ostracize (like the disabled, LGBT+, immigrants, Dreamers, assault victims and others).

In honor of International Women’s Day, the organization of choice for Q1 of 2019 is Planned Parenthood. Each shirt in the Made In Covfefe collection is $22 each (including shipping throughout the US), produced in the US, and comes in both Men’s and Women’s sizes in Black, Navy, Gray and Blue Wave. You can purchase a shirt at www.MadeInCovfefe.com

Tal Man of TALIA

Tal Man’s company originated in Israel and now she is back and forth between Israel and NYC running her customizable jewelry brand! The jewelry designer + goldsmith, entrepreneur and mother of two said, TALIA, “was born out of a need to cater to the wishes of today’s confident, successful woman, a woman who wants her jewelry to be both unique and versatile, precious yet affordable, classic yet contemporary, easy to wear and, perhaps most importantly, easy to vary.”

Tal just partnered with Girls Inc. to give a portion of proceeds from ever Talia purchase to the charity as part of TALIA’s commitment to the empowerment of other women. Also, on behalf of the International Women’s Day, TALIA is giving away $1000 shopping experience to a lucky winner and a friend.

Talk Cancer to Me: My Guide to Kicking Cancer’s Booty!

From a cough dismissed as allergies, to coping with Stage 4b Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Jessica DeCristofaro truly exemplifies strength. A survivor, turned author, motivational speaker, inspirational blogger, and social media influencer. Jessica shares her heartwarming story as motivation for millennial’s battling with how to care for their new lives, their families, and themselves.

In Talk Cancer to Me, DeCristofaro confesses the initial terror at her unexplained symptoms, the mounting stress as none out of myriad different specialists could help her. Finally, after landing in urgent care, she is officially diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, an aggressive type of cancer.

But she’s determined to beat it. Always one to look on the bright side, DeCristofaro seeks out laughter as she faces a terrible situation. While buoyantly recounting parties in the ICU and flirting with cute doctors, she also openly details some of the physical and emotional challenges cancer patients experience. DeCristofaro provides definitions doctors may gloss over and practical tips for fellow patients as they step through their own treatment process. The majority of the proceeds of this book will go to cancer research. Talk Cancer to Me can be purchased on Amazon.

March 6, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Venice, Italy to Charge Tourists a Fee to Enter the City

Planning a day trip to Venice, Italy? Starting in May you’ll have to pay an entrance fee in an effort to combat overtourism.

By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist

As if visiting the historical Italian city of Venice wasn’t expensive enough, it’s now about to get pricier for certain tourists. Anyone who is day-tripping it to Venice will have to pay up to $11.00 officials confirm. The city’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro tweeted an announcement earlier this year stating there would be a tax for day travelers and now we know the details.

Conde Nast Traveler reports, “Starting this May, all day-trippers will have to pay €3 ($3.40) for access to the floating city, and in 2020, the fee will begin fluctuating between €3, €6 ($6.80), and €10 depending on the time of year and number of visitors. (The city sees around 24 million tourists who visit just for the day, without spending a night within the city center, each year.) All that revenue will be used to clean and maintain the city’s lagoons and public spaces, and to supplement more security officers.”

While local officials are in favor of the new tax law, collecting the fee could be rather challenging. Tourists can enter Venice by car, ship, train, bus, or plane.

The Daily Beast writes, “Last May, the Venice city council introduced turnstiles into the old city from the main square used by the hordes of cruise-ship passengers who are seen to be the most problematic tourists—and primary target of the new tax—to the city. The turnstiles are intended to ebb the flow of people into the city when it is impossible to move or when the number of people poses a security risk. The city can close the turnstiles and only allow citizens and those staying at hotels into the city. Those opposed to the turnstiles argued that it was one step closer to turning the canal city into a Disneyland. The new entrance fee will likely do nothing to calm those fears.”

Residents, tourists staying the night, employees who commute into the city for work, and students studying in Venice will be exempt from new tax.

March 5, 2019 admin Leave a comment

How Chris Pine Supports Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Chris Pine helped Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Launch their Fourth Annual Make March Matter® Fundraising Campaign. More than 100 Southern California businesses will rally individuals to raise $1 million during March in support of pediatric care and research at CHLA.

Actor and longtime CHLA friend Chris Pine joined the hospital to kick off the campaign, which has attracted the commitment of businesses in Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. The month-long community fundraising drive is helping local businesses rally community participation to raise $1 million in the month of March to support children’s health in Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 04: Actor Chris Pine attends the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles fourth annual Make March Matter fundraising campaign kick-off event at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles)

“There’s nothing more human than caring for our children. To see hope on a child’s face is just about the most beautiful thing in the world,” Chris Pine said as he joined on-stage adorable Kairi Ramirez, an 11-year-old CHLA patient with a chronic kidney disease who is currently waiting for a kidney and liver transplant.

Each year, CHLA treats children who face a broad range of health issues, from common illnesses to traumas to chronic diseases. The hospital is also dedicated to innovation, supporting advances in research designed to improve pediatric health outcomes and partnering with physicians across the nation to bring the best care here to children in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 04: Elliot and family attend the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles fourth annual Make March Matter fundraising campaign kick-off event at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles)

“This campaign is a much-anticipated event for our hospital and our community because it embodies our shared commitment to improving the health of children” states CHLA President and CEO Paul Viviano. “For 31 days people can improve access to health care for children by participating in very accessible ways that make a difference, like buying a latte at a local coffee shop, sharing a meal with family and friends at a local restaurant, shopping at a favorite retailer, and more.”

Last year, Southern California business and corporate partners helped the campaign exceed its $1 million goal, raising a total of $2 million to aid in funding life-saving care for children in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 04: (L-R) Alex Carter, Kairi, Chris Pine, Paul S. Viviano, Elliot, and Dawn Wilcox attend the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles fourth annual Make March Matter fundraising campaign kick-off event at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles)

Here’s how the community and individuals can help Make March Matter:

Make a purchase or attend an event. For a complete list of participating partners and local events taking place throughout the month of March, go to MakeMarchMatter.org.
Make a donation at MakeMarchMatter.org.
Individuals may share how they are participating in the campaign on social platforms using #MakeMarchMatter

Corporate Partners

Corporations across the southland have agreed to support community members in giving back. Each business has selected a unique way to contribute to the campaign’s collective impact—some sell specific items with proceeds supporting CHLA patients, others devote a portion of overall sales for the entire month and still others create their own unique fundraising campaigns to galvanize their employees and consumers to contribute.

“The Panda Restaurant Group is proud to once again support the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Make March Matter campaign,” says Peggy Cherng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO. “As we mark our 20th anniversary of Panda Cares, our team is committed to giving back to the community, especially when it comes to helping youth in need. We have been the campaign’s top fundraiser three years in a row and it is our goal to keep that distinction.”

March 5, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Food on Foot Volunteer Review- Great Program

For over 20 years, Food on Foot (www.foodonfoot.org) has been assisting the homeless around the Hollywood area by providing nutritious meals, clothing, work opportunities and ultimately the transition to full-time employment and life off the streets. It is a 100% donor and volunteer driven organization.

By: Mario Rivas

As a volunteer, you help distribute food and clothing to up to 200 poor and homeless people in Hollywood. (Children ages 6 and up are welcome to attend.) You will also get a chance to meet and hear stories from the homeless participants in our Work for Food program. Through this program, Food on Foot helps the homeless leave the streets with a life-skills education, a full-time job, housing they can afford, and the confidence needed to make their accomplishments long-lasting.

One of the things that I like about volunteering at Food on Foot is how hands-on it is. Volunteers take positions along a food line and you hand out items as people come along. As gets pointed out before the distribution begins, not everyone there is technically homeless. Many people are families hovering on the poverty line for whom even one hot meal a day can make a huge difference. FOF hands out an assortment of food items, including fruits and vegetables. There is also donated clothing, which people are welcome to take. At the end of the distribution, volunteers stick around to watch as the homeless who are part of FOF’s Work For Food program are rewarded. Every week, someone is chosen as the worker of the week, and there’s also a worker of the month. They’re given gift cards and eventually–if they’ve demonstrated real commitment, work ethic, and punctuality–FOF helps them transition into actual jobs. I myself have been present to see members of the Work For Food crew “graduate” into real paying jobs and even off the streets and into their own apartments, which can be very emotional.

Volunteering takes place every Sunday from 3:15pm to 5:00pm at their serving location in Hollywood (1625 N. Schrader Blvd) and REQUIRES a $25 donation per person, which covers the cost of food that will be distributed that day, as well as food gift cards and prizes given to the top workers in FOF’s Work for Food program. Parking is available on site (tell the Work For Food member you’re there to volunteer), although street parking is also available. To volunteer, sign up at FOF’s website, but keep in mind their opportunities DO FILL UP weeks in advance, so plan accordingly.

March 4, 2019 admin Leave a comment

The Prosperity Gospel and Short-Term Missions

More money does not equal more blessed – we need to learn this at a deeper level. So for this post I focus on the prosperity Gospel.

By: DJ Schuetze

DJ Schuetze is the President of Door of Faith Orphanage: Changing lives through serving others; President of Strong Tower Ministries: Helping people fulfill their life’s purpose; Author of: Reciprocal Missions – Short-term Missions That Serve Everyone.

The prosperity Gospel is the belief among some Christians that teaches financial blessing, and physical well-being are always the will of God for them. That enough faith, positive attitude, and donations to the right organizations will increase one’s material wealth. The prosperity Gospel reduces God to a cosmic Santa Claus: “If I’m a good boy or girl God will give me what I ask for.” The prosperity Gospel isn’t that simple; it is profoundly deeper, richer, and more important than to be just about material wealth. Our faith is not a transaction, “If I give this, I should get this.” Our salvation is a free gift from God, our giving to others and representing Him well is our act of worship. If our personal financial prosperity is our goal, we’ve missed the whole point.

Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Israel
Photo by: Heather Newgen

When Jesus was in the desert, Satan offered Jesus material wealth and power if He would only bow down, Jesus was bright enough to pass on the offer. How many of us take the bait and swallow it whole.

Money is always a thorny issue for people. If you want to create an uncomfortable church service, talk about tithing. Jesus spent a great deal of time talking about worldly goods and our reaction to them. It’s a BIG deal, and people understand at a gut level that money is important. Money is the great scorecard the world uses to see who is winning. If we are a follower of Christ, we are not of this world. Our scorecard needs to be very different; we need to work towards different goals. We also need to expect different blessings from God. God does want to bless us, material blessings or physical health are not always in that mix of blessings.

Several years ago, after we had been in Mexico for quite a while, my wife was dealing with some long-term, severe, medical issues. We had been to a LOT of doctors and done countless tests with no solution in sight. Every couple of weeks, a small group from a ministry in our town would come by and pray for her. Prayer is always a good thing; we’ll take all we can get. After a few weeks, as they were finishing praying, one of the leaders indicated that is was my wife’s “lack of faith” that was keeping her from being healed. I was polite and held my tongue, in hindsight I wish I had thrown them out of our house (they were not invited back).

DJ and Lynette Johnson Schuetze
Photo courtesy of DJ Schuetze

The church has a long history of godly, wonderful people living in poverty or suffering through great physical illness and challenges. No one would question the apostle Paul’s faith or the incredible works of his ministry. God used Paul to build the foundation of the church. Paul suffered greatly both physically and financially through his entire ministry. Maybe he didn’t have enough faith? Probably not. Paul still found immense joy and peace, not only in the midst of trials; Paul found joy because of the trials he was going through. Strong faith does not mean financial blessings; strong faith means joy in whatever situation we find ourselves. Our physical or financial state has no determination in eternal things. Everything here passes away, get used to it.

Church of the Annunciation Nazareth, Israel
Photo by: Heather Newgen

So how does the prosperity Gospel apply to short-term missions? Spending time with people of great faith in other countries, giving their all, who are still living in poverty, will kill your belief that doing the right things will automatically mean a big bank account.

If we go into missions with the idea that we know more, or we are more blessed because we have more money than the people we’re visiting, we are wrong, and we will fail. Most people, even if they believe that having more money indicates better people, have never thought it through or even realize they believe that. A person who is racist, never thinks they are racist; it’s just an underlying attitude that others see. Coming from the US culture that passes judgment by financial wherewithal, it’s easy to fall into the trap of judging others by their resources, even more so if we’re not aware that we are judging in this way.

By going on short-term mission trips and spending time with rock-solid pastors, missionaries, and other believers living on poverty, our false outlook when it comes to money is stripped away. It’s a cliche response from many people on a missions trip to say, “They’re so poor but so happy.” when talking about the people they are visiting. This is really saying, “I thought to have more money was always better, why are they happy?” At the same time, they will say, “I now realize how blessed I am” indicating they think the other people are not as “blessed” because they don’t have hot water, a solid house, the latest I-phone, or any of the things we equate with “blessed.”

We need to go into missions realizing we are all poor, we are all wounded, we are all deficient in many areas, but that is irrelevant to the prosperity Gospel. By working alongside pillars of faith in other countries, it strips bare our misguided beliefs about what money is, what it means, and what our attitude about it should be.

Prosperity is not a bad thing, but if our faith is based on prosperity, we are building our lives on a false Gospel.

March 4, 2019 admin

JetBlue Contest: Win Free Unlimited Flights for a Year

Calling all travel lovers. Check out this incredible JetBlue contest. You could fly free for an entire year thanks to the airline. But here’s the catch–you must delete all of your Instagram posts ASAP!

There’s something so freeing about traveling, well aside from the cost. But three lucky people and their companion have the chance to jetset and won’t have to worry paying for flights for an entire year. JetBlue is flying the winners around the globe unlimited for FREE to any of the over 100 JetBlue destination. It’s all part of promoting the return of JetBlue’s “All You Can Jet” pass.

“With a blank social slate, participants are able to make room for all the destinations and activities they could capture and share using the pass,” JetBlue shared in a statement. This way, JetBlue added, the winners can showcase “who or what they love most by filling in the blank: All You Can ____.”

JetBlue Flight Heading to Cuba
Photo courtesy of JetBlue

Here’s how to enter the JetBlue content.

— Turn your Instagram feed into a blank slate by deleting or archiving all of your photos, and keep it clear through March 8, when the contest ends.

–Upload and customize your image with the tool below, then download and post to Instagram with @JETBLUE and #ALLYOUCANJETSWEEPSTAKES before 9:00am EST on 3/8/2019.(Make it good. You can only enter once.)–Hit this special JetBlue link and upload said image, create a custom image frame, and download it.

–Post that image frame to your Instagram account, being sure to include @JetBlue and #AllYouCanJetSweepstakes in your caption. Don’t add any images until after the contest ends on March 8th.

JetBlue went as far as to delete their Instagram posts.

“With the #AllYouCanJetSweepstakes, we’re encouraging travelers to fly with a blank slate to help them imagine of all the places they could jet to with the All You Can Jet pass,” said Heather Berko, Manager, Advertising & Content at JetBlue, told Travel + Leisure. “We hope this will serve as inspiration to refill their slate with the activities, places and people they will visit — wherever that may be.”

The best part is, while the JetBlue contest winners are expected to showcase their adventures, there are no set requirements as to the content or how often they should post.

You can read the official rules here.

March 3, 2019 admin Leave a comment

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