Quotes

Here are some quotes about helping others! I hope everyone has a GREAT SUMMER!

"There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."
-Acts, 20:35

"To do more for the world than the world does for you - that is success."
-Henry Ford

"Help someone who can't return the favor."
-Author Unknown

"Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible."
-Charles Dickens



What can you do for Others?

Back to Helping Others!

Here is a neat poem I found about helping others. See what you think!

You gave on the way a pleasant smile
And thought no more about it.
It cheered a life that had been dark the while
Which might have been wrecked without it.
And so for that smile that was given there,
You'll have a reward sometime-somewhere.
You spoke one day a cheering word,
And passed to other duties.
It cheered a heart; new promise stirred
And painted a life with beauties.
And so for that word of golden cheer,
You'll have a reward sometime-somewhere.

You lent a hand to a fallen one;
lift in love was given.
You saved a soul when hope was gone
And helped him on toward heaven.
and, so for that help you proffered there,
You'll have a reward sometime-somewhere.

-Author Unknown

What can you do for others?

Social networking sites conclusion

So after looking through multiple journals and articles about how social networking sites are impacting our lives I have come up with this conclusion. Social networking sites, now more then ever, are impacting people of all ages lives.

Two major ways I looked at was through education and politics. We are starting to see more and more sns popping up in classrooms and most of it has been very beneficial. Allowing a child to have an email pal from another country or allowing them to tweet a question during a lecture that they are not understanding can help a considerable amount. Politics is also changing, President Obama was able to raise a staggering amount of money for his campaign through Facebook and there was even a Youtube debate held during that 2008 Presidential election.

I believe that we will continue to see a rise in social networking sites in the classroom and also continue to impact politics. Make sure you check out the video I posted to see just how far Social networking has come!

Interesting video!!

Check out this video I found that pretty much sums up everything I have been researching and writing about for the past month.

Myspace and politics

This article was written with information that was gained by doing a study about the uses and gratifications of accessing political candidate profiles on social networking sites. The online survey showed that voters are drawn to this source of political information for the primary desire to have social interaction with other supporters who have the same views and ideas as them. While information seeking and entertainment were also reasons. In 1996 America saw a dramatic increase in online campaigning, in 2000 it was the personal campaign websites that were the highlight and in 2004 blogs were the main focus of online political campaigning and information gathering. Social networking sites came to be in the 2006 congressional elections and much more attention was given to them during the 2008 presidential elections.

Social networking sites and politics

This journal is written to give readers a look into campaigns and how Myspace and Facebook are changing the way politicians run for office. Like anything else political campaigns have changed over time. With technology advancing the candidates were able to a permanent figure in the day to day lives of the voters. TV, radio, billboards, magazines, and newspapers are examples. However when the Internet came to be no one could have guessed the impact it would have on the campaign process. The other forms of media are still important to the candidate but they don’t compare to what the Internet can do for them. Myspace and Facebook allow the politicians to develop a more personal relationship with their supporters, and can even make direct communication with them. The functions of the Internet in politics will continue to evolve and help more people get involved in politics. The purpose of this journal is to show how the Internet has evolved like anything else in our world and how it will continue to have an impact on events in our life.

Should Social networking sites be used in the classroom?

This articles is showing the readers about the harms that can be done to not only having an account to a social networking site but also to show the harms of incorporating those sites into the classroom. Social networking sites are not only ways for friends to keep in touch and meet new friends but also is used for people to exchange questions and information about classes, tests, and assignments. But how secure are these websites for the teenager and young adults’ privacy and security? Some teachers are trying to find ways to incorporate these sites into their classrooms critique their students writing on these sites, while other teachers say it wouldn’t be right to go in and evaluate a student’s writing on their Facebook page because it the original intention wasn’t for that.

Teaching with Twitter

Twitter is a relatively new to the social networking scene. It has been made popular by celebrities taking on twitter account. Lately now twitter is finding its way into the classroom to help students“Teaching with Twitter” is an article about a new technology that is slowly entering the classrooms, Twitter. A professor at Purdue University is trying out a new software called Hotseat, where in his lecture class all 250 students are able to type or text a question or comment they have about what the teacher is teaching. Although it is not required, 75% of students say they use the program. It helps the students who are shy or fear of feeling stupid for asking a question. They are able to send their questions in anonymously and get a response from the teacher. The professors, for the most part, are seeing having Twitter in the classroom as a positive experience. One teacher said that he is now receiving questions he had never gotten in a class he has taught for years.

Social networking sites

How much do you really know about the social networking sites that you use on a daily basis. I realized by reading this paper that I didn't know too much.

Youtube was founded in February 2005, it is currently the leader in online video sharing. Youtube makes it very easy for people to upload and share their personal videos and watch other what other people have uploaded. Many social networking websites get their revenue by selling advertising space. With the popularity rising, social networking sites can charge companies the maximum price to advertise on the homepage. The companies can advertise by using banners and text that millions of people will view daily. One of the most popular social networking sites is Myspace, who has over 168,000,000 members as of April 2007.

Blogs in education

Have you ever thought about how far blogs have come? How maybe they can be used for more than just a place to put our thoughts? I found an article that shows how blogs have evolved.

Blogs have become a firmly established web communication tool. They have evolved from simple online personal diaries to being able to engage people in collaborative activity, knowledge sharing and reflection on debate. Many blogs have very large and dedicated readers/followers. Universities are starting to use blogging and its tools for the classroom, including Harvard Law.

If you would like to read the entire journal you can find it here: “Exploring the use of blogs as learning spaces in the higher education sector.”

Youth becoming more involved

I found this great article that talks about how our youth are getting more involved in politics.

With this last presidential campaign we saw more and more youth getting out and becoming more involved with the candidates campaigns. Youth are not just getting out and voting as well as participating in campaigns. The authors talk about new forms of communication and how risky they can be. For example, negative press a candidate can get by a supporter posting something bad about another candidate on youtube. Also the article talks about how candidates are posting videos on their websites to announce their running for office. All major 2008 candidates created facebook pages for potential voters to look at.

You can read the entire article here. Youth Vote 2008

Impact of facebook on Political Communication

Originally, if a candidate was wanting to receive feedback from the public about their campaign they would have to use a public opinion poll. This is no longer the case, beginning with Howard Dean in 2004, political strategists started to realize how the internet could provide additional methods and engage community members in the political process. Facebook provides campaigns with the ability to organize and communicate with their supporters in an efficient way. It also allows community member to react and put personal input politicians views/polices.

“Expanding the Public Sphere: the impact of facebook on Political Communication.” is a journal that shows how the internet and social networking sites are starting to play an increasing bigger role in politics and campaigns.

History of social networking sites

Many people use social networking sites but have little knowledge on the history of them. I found this journal that gives us some of that background information.

Since they have been around, social networking sites have gotten millions of viewers, many who visit the sites on a daily basis. People can be related by their previous relationships or they can be connected to strangers based on their political views, religious views, and shared interests. The first recognized social network site was launched in 1997.

If you would like to read the entire you journal you can find it here...Social network sites: definition, history, and Scholarship.

It really is interesting to read about how far social networking sites have come. See what you think?

How social networking sites are impacting our lives

Thinking about how social networking sites have impacted different aspects of our day to day life I came across a really neat journal about blogs and politics.

Blogs are starting to take a very important role in politics. Two important factors are the readers across the variety of blogs, and the interactions between the significant blogs and the media. Blogs can help shape political issues, especially those that originally would not have gotten as much focus. Also they can trigger debates, not only from other blog users and peoples' comments but also politician debates. Blogs also bring attention to political scandals. But there is some doubts, such as how many people truly read the blogs and how informed are the blog writers. Either way blogs are impacting American politics.

You can read the entire journal here: The power and Politics of Blogs

I found this video on YouTube and really enjoyed the quotes!



What can you do for others?

Update on American missionaries being held in Haiti

It was a happy homecoming for the families of eight American missionaries who were being held in Haiti on child trafficking charges. Two from the original group of ten still remain in jail. The group of eight who were allowed to come back to the United States had to agree to go back to Haiti if it was so ordered by the judge. The eight also said that they were treated well while they were in jail and better than some suffering from the earthquake.

They declined to speak to reporters, but their attorney, Caleb Stegall, read a statement in which they said they were thankful to be home.

''We hope and pray that our release will allow everyone to focus again on the dire conditions that remain in Haiti. People are still suffering and lack basic necessities,'' the statement said, adding: ''For those whose cases have not been resolved, we will continue to pray for their safe return.''

You can read the entire article here: 8 Missionaries Freed in Haiti, Return to US

When helping others goes too far

Following the massive earthquake in Haiti many people felt the need to actually go to Haiti and help. This was the case for ten missionaries from an Idaho based Baptist church. They say they were just trying to help, and that they didn't know what the did was wrong.

The ten missionaries took 33 children who they claim were orphaned because of the earthquake, loaded them all onto a bus and tried to take them into the Dominican Republic. The group was stopped at the Haitian border and officials said they lacked the authorization and travel documents needed to take children out of Haiti.

The Americans were arrested and have been charged with child abduction and criminal conspiracy. They will await the judges decision and continue to try and get support and help from the United State government and also the United States Ambassador to Haiti. Some evidence has come out saying the children were in fact not orphaned. It will be interesting to continue and see how everything plays out.

If you would like to read more news articles about the situation you can read this article from the New York Times and also one from BBC News.
U.S. Missionaries In Haiti Charged With Child Kidnap New York Times

US missionaries in Haiti charged with child abduction BBC News

It's my opinion that those 10 American missionaries didn't go to Haiti with the intent to commit a criminal act and abduct 33 children. However it does show that you can go into a situation wanting to help and come out doing something very different.

What can you do for others?

We are the World

I saw this video played on Saturday during the Olympics and thought it was amazing!


What can you do for others?

But I don't have money?

In my posts I have been talking about various things you can do to help someone else, and in almost all of these circumstances it has involved giving money. Being a college student, there isn't a lot of extra money just sitting around to give out. The country is also going through a big recession meaning families don't have extra money either. So how can we help others without breaking the bank?

The most obvious way would be to simply give your time. It could be at the local food bank, homeless shelter, or even shoveling the sidewalk or driveway for your neighbor.

Another great idea would be to clean out your closet and donate some of the clothes you don't wear.

If you want to read more ideas about helping someone else without breaking the bank check out this web site!
Ten ways to help someone during the recession

What can you do for others?

Random Acts of Kindness

How would it feel if you pull up to the window at McDonald's and they say that the car in front of yours had paid for your meal, the only catch is that now you have to go and do something kind for someone else.

What if you walked up to a vending machine with one dollar already in it and a note that said, "Buy yourself a treat on me, pass the kindness on to someone you don't know" Random acts of kindness are simple and easy to do, and they will make the day of the person you help.

"If we do this, we will be doing our part to create a world in which kindness is more than a random act, but rather it becomes a way of life."
The Spirit of Kindness


helpothers.org is a web site that you can learn more about random acts of kindness, here stories from people who had a random act of kindness done for them, and learn what random acts of kindness you could do for someone else.



What can you do for others?

Pat Tillman: An American Hero

Pat Tillman was a great football player and a great American. He left his professional football career and a $3.6 million dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to serve his country. He joined the United States Army Rangers and in May 2003 Pat was deployed to Iraq leaving behind his family and new wife. In early April 2004 Pat’s unit was sent into Afghanistan and on April 22, 2004 at 7:50 p.m. Pat was pronounced dead from gunshot wounds. There is a lot of controversy about his death; originally reports said he was killed from enemy fire to only later say that Tillman was “probably” killed by friendly fire. But that’s not what I want to focus on.

This is a blog about mission work and you might be thinking how that has anything to do with Pat Tillman. To me, mission work is putting your own needs aside and doing something for someone else. Pat Tillman took this to the extreme by going to fight in the war so we can all have freedom. He gave up millions of dollars, starting a new life with his wife, and continuing his football career so that we can live how we want, worship how we please, and not live in fear of persecution.

To Pat Tillman I want to say thank you, you put your needs on the side to help all Americans, we will be forever grateful.

What can you do for others?

Since I went ahead and said something about this in my last post I thought I would put a clip up.

The Blind Side

This weekend I finally went to see the movie The Blind Side. If you haven't had a chance to see it, I highly recommend it!

This blog is all about what you can do for someone else, and this movie is a great example of that. It is based on an incredible true story.

This is a summery from www.imdb.com

"The Blind Side" depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Tuohys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Tuohys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/plotsummary

Mrs. Tuohy does something for someone else and realizes how much it has changed her life.

If you want to get more information and watch the official trailer on The Blind Side check out its official web site.
http://www.theblindsidemovie.com/

Think about what Mrs. Tuohy did and ask yourself...

What can you do for others?

My first mission trip

When I was a sophomore in high school I went on my first big mission trip to the Appalachian Mountains. There were 14 of us going, spilt into two work crews. We went to a town in Kentucky where we spent a week helping a family with projects they needed done to their home.

I thought I had seen families living in poverty but nothing would prepare me for what I witnessed in Appalachia.

The mission program we went through is called the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) They take applications from families living in the Appalachian Mountains who need work done on their homes but don't have the money to do it themselves. The ASP crew then looks over the applications and decide who needs the most help, during the summer crews just like us come into the towns and go to those peoples homes to help them. Each work crew will spend one week at the home doing whatever work they can and living in either a local community center or sleeping in the gym of a school. Over the course of the summer there will be a work crew at each house until the project gets done.

My work crew went to the home of an elderly couple who had never had an indoor bathroom. That is correct, in there home there has never been a shower or toilet. They did have an outhouse however, the husband who was very frail after breaking his back was unable to walk outside to the toilet. They literally live on a side of a mountain where it is straight up right behind the house and straight down right in front. There is a small flat path but if your not quick on your feet then you would surely slip and fall.

Over the summer ASP work crews built the elderly couple a bathroom. It was very hard work, but being able to talk with them and hearing all their stories really made it worthwhile. The bathroom turned out absolutely beautiful and they were so thankful. They were also using a washer that appeared to be older than they were, so we went into town and purchased the wife a new one. You can't even begin to explain the look on her face when we showed up with it. She is so proud of that washer and has taken such good care of it.

You go on a mission trip expecting to just help people, but you leave realizing that they helped you in so many other ways than you could ever expect. I will never forget about that elderly couple I was able to become so close to, and although this past May the husband passed away from cancer, I know he truly appreciated that bathroom for a good three plus years.

The Appalachia Mountain range is home to some of the worst poverty in America, can you even begin to imagine having to go outside every time you need to use the restroom? ASP is a great mission program, I have gone back two more times since that first trip and every time is as

equally rewarding as the last.

I have included the website for ASP if you would like to check out more information about it.

If you have any questions about the organization, please don't hesitate to ask!

http://www.asphome.org/

*What Can You Do For Others?*

Help for Haiti

As I'm sure you all know by now, last week the small country of Haiti was hit with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. It was the strongest earthquake Haiti has experienced in some 200 years, hundreds of thousands are feared dead and right now 3 million people are in need of emergency aid.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and right now they are in need of every ones help. The best thing we can do is to send money, but with a major catastrophe there will be a lot of scams out there saying they are collecting money for Haiti when really they are just pocketing it for themselves.

The best thing to do is find a government website and make sure it is a legit one before you just send your money anywhere or you can also take your money to a local church and tell them you would like it to go to the Haiti Relief and they will know where to send it.

Another good thing to realize is that any amount of money will help, you don't have to donate 50 dollars or even 20 dollars. Anything you can give will go a long way and if that means five dollars then go for it, because that will be five more dollars than they had yesterday.

Here is a youtube video slide show showing devastation that the people of Haiti are going through right now. I should warn you, some of the pictures are disturbing and can be very hard to look at.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4VI-4tgL0

I found this website that if you are wanting to donate to the Haiti Relief right now you can. It is a legit website and your money will go to help the people of Haiti. Remember anything will help.

http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/

*What can you do for others?

My earliest experiences with mission work.

I have always loved helping others. Growing up in a church that was very involved with helping the community, I had many opportunities for mission work. One Friday a month various families in the church would put together a hot meal for those who were homeless. After the meal was made, we would deliver it to the local worker house and then serve it to whoever came in. Seeing not only adults but also children who were my age come in to eat really opened my eyes. I couldn't even imagine being a child and having to wonder if I was going to be able to eat on a day to day basis.

You don't have to be involved with a church to participate in mission work. During Christmas time my elementary school would put out a list of items that they were collecting for local anonymous families who had children at the school. They would put a huge box in the office that we could drop off the items we got for them. Knowing that some of our classmates were in need of such essential items like towels, blankets and socks really made the school come together and collect more that anyone could have imagined.

Throughout this blog i will be talking about my experiences with mission work, other peoples experiences, and mission organizations that you can get involved in.

Right now there is someone close to you that is in need of you help so i will leave you with this question?

*What can you do for others?