getting some balance in the season of giving

So apparently today has been proclaimed as "Giving Tuesday" by those who know better than I. 
Don't get me wrong... I am all for it ... in fact I wish that I had come up with it.  Joanne and I have become so much more aware as the years role on and we experience things that open our eyes to a world that we had been so very insulated from.  It was only 5 Christmases ago that we jumped all in to the movement known as Advent Conspiracy  and through it have immersed ourselves in the cause of clean water throughout the world, partnering with Living Water International, and drilling wells for villages without clean water access. 
The reality is that we in the United States will spend upwards of 500 billion dollars between Thanksgiving and Christmas...much of it fueled by the frenzy that has come to be known as "Black Friday" and its evil twin "Cyber Monday".  Experts in the realm of the clean water issue estimate that it would take only around 40-50 billion to eradicate the clean water crisis from the planet.  So, pretty much, we are at the very least way off balance in our priorities.  We are consuming ourselves to death.  #GivingTuesday seeks to bring a little perspective to the season of giving and allowing us to channel some of our giving towards issues far beyond whether or not ipads and elmo's are in stock.  There are so many good causes out there within the realm of the non-profit world.  People are certainly still without access to clean water.  People are still homeless and hungry.  People are still suffering from disease and the effects of natural disasters... there is certainly no shortage of places for you to gain a bit of balance in your holiday giving.
Let me add one more.  In the season with the underlying message of the arrival of the baby Jesus,  wouldn't it be fitting to be part of letting people know and understand the implications of that beyond the cuteness and nostalgia of shepherds and angels.  Let me ask you to consider helping to plant a new church in a neighborhood that could really use another to be planted.  Why a new church you ask?  Here are just a few reasons:
1.  Upwards of 5000 churches close their doors each year while far below that number are begun.
2.  Planting new churches is undeniably understood to be the most effective way in connecting new people to Jesus.
3.  If we are to ever re-establish a balance point during the Christmas season, beyond the great intentions of #GivingTuesday, wouldn't it be to connect and reconnect people to the real meaning, heart and purpose of Christmas?

So I ask you with all sincerity, to consider this gift as something that can help both in balancing your own celebration of giving this year as well as to help bring balance to a neighborhood through the gift of a new church planted deep in their heart.

You can make your (tax deductible) gift by going here and select "Common Table" as the destination.