MAKE A NOTE!! -- September 19th, 2001
CIRCULATION - 18,791 (From Around the World! :-)
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A Free Twice Monthly (1st and 3d Wednesday of each month) Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics
NEXT ISSUE TO BE PUBLISHED ON/ABOUT OCTOBER 3RD, 2001
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NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it in these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to someone else who can use it.
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Our Deepest Sympathy
First we want to express our deepest sympathy for all the victims of the terrorist attacks, and our support of all the people who are working so hard to help. We too lost someone we knew at the Pentagon, and would never pretend to imagine the grief all the families must be experiencing. In light of this, we are deviating from our normal format in this issue. We are re-running articles that we feel would be of help during this time, and also adding a couple of new ones. Our hope & prayer is that they would help you and those around you.
Sharon Powell Editor, Make a Note
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Charities, A Few of the Many
So many people wanted to "DO something" to help. But with blood banks now full & most groups with more volunteers than they need, we are limited in what we can do. I would encourage you to continue to give blood, and volunteer, as often as you can, even after things settle down. In the meantime, watch out for charity scams; don't make any donations over the phone. Here are a few charities that I have checked out to be legit, that you can contribute to. Also consider sending a card of sympathy or support to the firemen/police, or companies that have lost someone. For our international readers, I've been informed that they will also accept checks drawn on foreign banks, wire transfers (through the web site), or money orders. In many cases, you can use your credit card. POST IT...near your bills or computer.
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Helping Families Who Have Suffered a Loss
If you or someone you know is going to be needing help from friends & families, whether due to hospitalizations, illness, or some other difficulty, here are some suggestions to get the help you need. First of all, if YOU are the one in need, don't be afraid to ask for help. It is best if there is one person who coordinates the assistance, usually a close friend is the best choice, the person themselves will probably have enough to keep them busy elsewhere. It also makes things a LOT easier if the coordinator has email. This coordinator should sit down with the person and drag out of them every possible thing they might need help with. This could include: meals, babysitting, rides, shopping, or perhaps certain special services that only certain people could supply. The coordinator should also get a list of contacts for other groups the person may be connected with so that ALL groups have an opportunity to provide help. These contacts might include the person's church, school/homeschool group, clubs, work, neighbors, & family. The coordinator will send out emails or call all the contacts summarizing what the situation is, what needs there are, and how all people interested in helping can contact the COORDINATOR (email preferred, then phone), which the contacts will pass on to all their people. The coordinator should have a nice big calendar close to her phone/computer to fill in the people who offer to help. If meals are involved, be sure to get the likes/dislikes & preferred mealtimes from the person needing help, & pass them on with the original message. If the people volunteer to bring a meal, ask them what they plan to bring, so that you can make suggestions to later callers to limit duplicates. If you are doing a meal be considerate of the person's health condition in your choice of food. Also you might try to avoid the one dish meals that, while easy, are VERY popular in situations like this. The people might be ready for some "plain" food. If you are the one receiving meals, consider asking for them only every other day, since there are usually leftovers. The coordinator should CALL each volunteer the night before or day of the meal/service for a reminder. The coordinator, or a family member, should also send out email updates to interested parties to try to limit well-meaning, but rest-disturbing phone calls. If the person will be recovering at home, they shouldn't be afraid to ask people to hold calls/visits for a few days until things settle down. The coordinator could also keep a running list of addresses for volunteers to give to the family for thank you notes later. POST IT...with your church roster, or get well cards.
FOR THE FAMILIES OF WASHINGTON AREA VICTIMS: WASHINGTON FAMILY RELIEF FUN C/O RIGGS BANK NA LINCOLN OFFICE 800 17TH ST NW WASHINGTON DC 20006 1-800-368-5800 http://www.riggsbank.com
FOR FAMILIES OF FIREFIGHTERS KILLED ON 9/11: NY FIREFIGHTERS' MEMORIAL FUND DATE OF LOSS: SEPT. 11TH, 2001 NY, NY Address: FIRE DONATIONS 1127 BROADWAY STE 102 TACOMA WA 98402 http://www.firedonations.com
FOR FAMILIES OF FALLEN POLICE OFFICERS: NY CITY POLICE FOUNDATION 345 PARK AVE NY, NY 10154 212-751-8170
AMERICAN RED CROSS 1-800-HELP-NOW 1-800-GIVE-LIFE http://www.redcross.org
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Free Christian Tape on Why there is Suffering
Discipleship Tape Ministries ( http://www.dtm.org ) has always provided a large selection of FREE Christian Teaching Tapes on a wide variety of topics. If you are an email only reader you can call 1-800-375-7778 to request a current catalog, but remember they are all FREE. If you wish to make a donation they will accept, but they never ask you for one. I have had articles on this before, but felt it was time for a reminder. For those of you who have already enjoyed these tapes, Russell Kelfer (teacher on the tapes) passed away early last month. My friends always used to joke that he must be hiding in our closets because he seemed to hit so close to home with the comments in the lessons. God truly blessed Mr. Kelfer with a gift for teaching. His wife has said that the ministry will go on and I am sure that his tapes will continue to bless many, many people in the years to come. My favorites are #174 on Worry and #712-Side B on Suffering. For our international readers, they also have tapes available in a variety of languages. The tape on suffering (#712-Side B) discusses suffering in the light of the Old Testament story of Joseph. It answered all the questions I had on the subject & my hope is that you will be blessed by it also. POST IT...by your phone or computer.
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Personal Security
"The Gift of Fear(Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence)" by Gavin DeBecker is worth a lot more than any self-defense training (for those of you who don't know, I have a black belt), pepper spray (yes, I still carry it), or alarm system (yep, we have one of those too). I think it should be required reading for all of us, but especially for women. The basic premise of the book is that our intuition is actually our brain taking in information and processing it quicker than we realize. So while we come to a conclusion, we aren't quite sure how we got there until a lot later. For example, a man (true story) went into a convenience store on the way home. Almost as soon as he got inside he felt a rush of fear and that his life was in danger and he left the store and went home. Later he found out that shortly after he left a policeman interrupted a robbery in progress and was shot dead. While the man had no idea why he felt the way he did, he later started remembering details of things he had seen. The way the clerk was watching another man in the store with concern, that the man was wearing a winter coat(in the summer time) probably hiding the shotgun, that there were 2 men waiting in a running car outside the store, and that he had read in the papers that this store was hit quite often. By themselves, these items wouldn't have been worth mentioning, however, his brain put all the pieces together and realized he was in danger and sent the danger message. In the book, the author discusses how too often we put these feelings aside as being "silly". How often has someone told you that just before they were attacked or something bad happened that they "had a feeling", but disregarded it as "being silly"? In the book, he discusses this gift that we all have and how we can learn to listen to it, and what to watch for. To be able to recognize the information that we are getting that is causing the concern, but most of all to listen to those "feelings" and not to dismiss them too quickly. Our local library had this book, and most libraries should either carry it or be willing to purchase it since it is on the bestseller list. Check out his web site at www.gdbinc.com too. He has a second book that talks about protecting our children called, "Protecting the Gift". POST IT....on your reading list.
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Alternate Travel
For the immediate future & perhaps permanently, commercial air travel is going to be a huge hassle. Consider seeking out a private pilot to fly you somewhere, your local smaller airports would probably have contact info. This would be ideal for short hops. The train costs about as much as a plane trip, but you have the option of getting a compartment to yourself, where your family could get up & move around, & even sleep on a fold out bed. On some train routes you can even bring your own car. If you use the option of a bus or driving, consider traveling at night, when you can sleep through most of the trip. It is difficult to get rental cars, but they might be an option for those who have cars that have seen better days. POST IT...under "Travel Agent" in the yellow pages.
Our Middle Eastern Neighbors
Everyone knows that tensions are running high now & ignorant thugs have unfortunately taken out their anger on innocent residents just because of their Middle Eastern appearance. In our neighborhood, every day I would see people walking & their children played with mine. Since the attack, I haven't seen a one. These people are just as much victims as we are, and what a wonderful time to reach out to them in neighborly love & friendship. Perhaps go over (if you have a child w/you they might be less afraid to open the door) & let them know that you know it is a fearful time for them & assure them that not everyone is an ignorant bigot. Offer to run errands for them, or accompany them on their errands, take a meal over, maybe let their children come & play at your house so they can get out of their own house & have a change of scenery while still playing in safety. Encourage your children to stick up for & defend anyone they see being picked on. No matter what our individual faiths may be, we tell more with our actions (about our faith) than with all the words we might utter. POST IT...near your front door.
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Final Words
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired & weary, and young men stumble & fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run & not grow weary, they will walk & not be faint."
----Isaiah 41:29-31
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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AT&T's Community Port
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