A Time for Giving Thanks

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I think they should. That's an example of taking responsibility. I think that if you are already worth tens of millions of dollars, and you are having to lay off workers, the least you can do is say, 'I'm willing to make some sacrifice as well, because I recognize that there are people who are a lot less well off, who are going through some pretty tough times.’"

- President-elect Barack Obama, when asked in an interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters if U.S. banking executives should forgo large bonuses. (Source: ABC News)

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A Time for Giving Thanks

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It is a time to be thankful, even in the midst of the economic crisis all around the world. The election showed that our country is better than some of us thought it was. The electorate voted to turn the page on many things, and to choose hope over fear.

I am in England for a family visit — my wife, Joy, being British. And I have been amazed at how hopeful people are here about a U.S. election. Even among ordinary people, something has connected. I have been meeting with both church and political leaders this week who also feel a moment of opportunity. On Nov. 4, there was dancing in the streets, not only in my inner-city D.C. neighborhood, but in London as well. There is now a chance for the U.S. to change its image in the world.

It's been a long, hard year for many of us. And the sense of relief and even joy is still slowly settling in. We have no utopian illusions, no faith in political messiahs, but we still see a transformational moment in this election — especially for a new generation. So despite the falling financial markets and the problems focused on during this endless political campaign still unsolved, let us take this Thanksgiving holiday to truly give thanks for the hope that so many now feel in our country and around the world. Let us thank God for new beginnings. And let us pray for better days ahead.

And then on Monday, let us go back to work, because there is much work to be done. We haven't yet seen the change that we need, but we now have the opportunity to make that change — which depends not just on a new president, but on each and every one of us. People of faith are often the ones turned to for translating hopes into realities. Let us rest well this holiday, for the work of real change is just ahead.

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A Public Prayer of Thanksgiving
by Randy Woodley
This historic proclamation of "A Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer" was supposedly issued by George Washington during his first year as president. In keeping with that tradition, I offer a simple prayer: Great Mystery, I am humbled that I will never know everything about you, but I am grateful that through the lives of the other I can know more of you. I thank you for those who are like me, but I especially thank you for those who are different than me. + Click to continue

The Short but Significant Life of Brenden Foster
by Eugene Cho
Brenden was the 11-year-old boy from Seattle diagnosed with leukemia three years ago who recently stirred a movement of compassion and generosity. On a recent trip from his doctor, he passed the homeless community called Nickelsville, and his last wish was to help feed the homeless.
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My Day on the Hugo Chavez Show
by Rose Marie Berger
In 2004, I was in the audience for Hugo Chavez' "Aló, Presidente" -- for five hours. And this was one of his shorter shows! It was one of the most fascinating examples of political theater I've ever seen. He used media deftly to create a politically engaged populace.
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Win a Trip to Africa in the Sojourners and World Vision Filmmaker Challenge
by Matt Hildreth
Sojourners and World Vision need your help to promote the Mobilization to End Poverty. We're looking for people to create a quick four-minute YouTube video that shows what you're doing to end poverty. The top two filmmakers will receive a FREE trip to the Mobilization in Washington, D.C.
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A Chance to Change Our Failed War on Drugs in Colombia
by Ryan Rodrick Beiler
I've been to Colombia and have met the farmers, pastors, and advocates who have suffered from the fallout of the U.S.'s counterproductive drug policy. Its militarized approach of eradication and interdiction has served only to fuel a conflict that has harmed many innocents, while drug production has actually increased and the street price of drugs in the U.S. has fallen.
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What if All Churches Treated Women as Jesus Did?
by Mimi Haddad
Clearly Christ not only opposed abuse and patriarchy—the devaluation of women—he also found opportunities to promote women's ultimate destiny as bearers of God's image and joint-heirs of God's eternal kingdom. Perhaps that is one reason women were so drawn to Jesus.
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Thinking Thankfully About Money
by Rachel Anderson
When you are giving thanks this week, why not give thanks for money? Sound crass? It shouldn't be, because that's what could empower a household economy based on gratitude rather than one driven by greed or guilt.
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Hate Crimes, Racist Incidents Escalate After Obama's Election
by Jimmy McCarty
According to Associated Press writer Jesse Washington, after Obama's election, incidents of race-based hate crimes escalated across the country. I am calling on all white Christians to publicly speak out and denounce all such racist attacks. The church cannot remain silent in the face of such sin. To do so would be to be complicit with it.
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Deadly Delays as Zimbabwe's Talks Drag On
by Nontando Hadebe
As the power-sharing talks between political parties drag on and off, the delays have turned deadly -- literally. An outbreak of cholera has killed 300 people, and thousands of people are fleeing across the border with sick relatives to South Africa for treatment. Health workers in Zimbabwe have asked the government to declare the situation a national disaster.
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Give Thanks in All Circumstances
by Valerie Elverton Dixon
Imagine. You pack up your family, your kin, and tribe, leave the singular home you have known with only what you can carry, chased by an army that wants to kill you. You find yourself facing a deep Red Sea with the army at your back, and you do not have a boat. Miraculously, the sea parts and you and yours escape. Escape to what?
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A South African Role Model of Reconciliation
by Seth Naicker
Since the historic election of Nov. 4, I have been part of discussions with college students and faith-based institutions that have experienced racial tension and intolerance on their campuses. As people of faith, we need to be self-critical and willing to deal with hypocrisy as it relates to racism in its overt and covert forms.
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I Am a Predatory Borrower
by Tim King
While I don't think I can be blamed for the collapse of our entire planet's economic system, I'm a big part of the problem. Yes, I am probably a "predatory borrower," or at least I can relate to them. While my tale of woe will not cause my economic devastation, it very well could cost me several thousand dollars over the next few years, and I have learned my lesson.
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A Second Bretton Woods?
by Neil Watkins
Twenty heads of state descended upon Washington this past weekend to discuss the global financial crisis and how to solve it. A communiqué and action plan came out of the meeting, but without President-elect Obama there, few had expected much to come in terms of concrete results –- and they were right.
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A Texas Procession for Life
by Jennifer Svetlik
This week, 700 Catholics demonstrated their commitment to promoting the sacredness of all human life in a Pilgrimage of Life in Huntsville, Texas. The pilgrimage included Mass and a mile-long rosary procession. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and more than 10 other clergy led the procession, which began at an abortion referral center and ended at a Texas correctional facility.
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Protesting Injustice and Celebrating Memories at the Gates of the SOA
by Kaitlin Barker
This past weekend I road-tripped with my housemates, the Sojourners interns, from Washington, D.C., to the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia. The SOA (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001) is a U.S. Army combat-training facility for Latin American soldiers connected to numerous human rights atrocities.
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Top Stories:

Politics, poverty and ‘Joe the Plumber’
Florida Baptist Witness

A large group of prominent evangelicals hopes to make poverty a center-stage issue during these difficult financial times and the upcoming elections. According to a recent Associated Press story, prominent organizations are working to make eradicating poverty a political priority. Jim Wallis, in particular, has been heralded as a symbol of the “new evangelicals”: politically active Christians who focus primarily on issues like poverty, healthcare, and racial equality. Wallis’s Sojourners are spearheading a program to “Vote Out Poverty.”

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Evangelicals have a duty to culture
The Charleston Gazette

Leading up to Nov. 4, editorial pages ran scurrilous commentaries attacking as "clever ploys to elect Republicans" the democratic process used to define and defend marriage against those who feign tolerance and advance an agenda of familial redefinition. The election of Barack Obama kindly puts that notion to rest. Evangelicals led by Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo and others voted in droves for the hope of social-justice change promised by the presidency of Sen. Obama. Let us hope they are correct.

Sojourners President Jim Wallis said the election results indicate a wide range of evangelicals may be ready to broaden the issues they address with Congress and the White House.

Some pro-life Christian groups, like Sojourners and Catholics United, are jumping on board with this agenda to reduce the number of abortions. They find that working with pro-abortion groups could result in fewer children being killed, instead of remaining in an all-or-nothing deadlock on the issue.

"Sojourners in the news" articles are the most recent news clippings that mention Sojourners in any way - whether favorably or unfavorably. Though we provide the text on our site for your convenience, we do not necessarily endorse the views of these articles or their source publications.

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