I was inspired today by several things but two things in particular. I have been watching the movie “The Color Purple” and was able to take time and see it to the end today. Secondly I received an email from a dear friend with this terrific message produced by Cameron Burnett. Called “The Bench”. (I pray you can open it and watch it to its conclusion). I asked myself how would you describe what you see if you were not blind, if you were not a slave to anyone or anything. You see, I believe in God almighty creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. etc. (Please take time to read the Apostles Creed to its conclusion). But, I would like to set GOD aside long enough to recognize that although I draw strength in knowing God directs my life and leads me through his word and I am persuaded by the the presence of the Holy Spirit,who lives within my soul, that for me to sustain myself, I must physically put food and drink into my body. I am no longer a baby who is fed without any effort except to swallow. I must be physically strong and work to survive. But each of us has limitations. In these examples that I have pointed out, that being the movie and this clip, the stars in the presentations have limitations for which they have no control. There is pain and suffering within the individuals life; some assumed and never shown. But in spite of the challenges in the end what is portrayed is contentment and gratefulness. {What is evident is a peace beyond understanding}. I would like to take you to real world situations where having a place to lay down, a place to bath, a place to put your stuff is just not there. Imagine being blind and in that situation. Imagine being deprived of someone to help you find a park bench. Imagine having a smoke alarm beeping 24-7 because you have no one to call on to replace the battery. Imagine having no food because a twenty year old refrigerator quit working in the night and you have no way to save the contents. As great as this country is and continues to be; there are folks suffering gravely everyday. There are folks that don’t know what they don’t know because no one has reached out to help them. Someone to show them where the support is and how to make contact with that help. How would you describe that situation? More importantly what advise could you offer to help eliminate it? How can you help today? You tell me…You who know these situations and these individuals exist, please tell me.

There is an organization called HPLA (Habitaciones Para Latinos Association) that is trying to help by providing minor home repair and education to folks that don’t know, what they don’t know. This is our website. It is so small and so underfunded that the difference it makes is minimal at best. However, recently for several individuals, that little difference kept the power company from taking the family off a payment plan and forcing them to come up with hundreds of dollars immediately. It helped water run-off from coming into a basement and causing more damage and mold growth. It reset a garage door opener for safer access. It provided some used furniture to help furnish a place for one that was homeless. How big of a difference did these acts of charity impact those few people. I believe it was huge. Picture yourself handcuffed and unable to do for yourself due to no fault of your own and please if you can please contribute to HPLA but, also seek out and find folks who are needy and direct them to HPLA or other charities you know are there for them. Be the conduit to get them the help they don’t even know exists. End your day with contentment and gratefulness for what you do have and what you do. Blessings.

Climate change can be defined differently by each of you. But, what does it really mean? In the heat of politics it is the feud between clean energy, fossil fuel energy and green energy. (Those all can be hard to define). For you as an individual it may mean how the environment, you exist in, impacts your health. For many it is clean fresh untainted air that has the fragrance of nature in its most perfect form.

Looking through the lens of reality however, clean air is a luxury. For the low income individual it is a luxury to have a central air conditioning system and new filters. The fact is that pollution is in every breath of air that most of the US population takes in. As for living in the most pristine areas of the country the cost of living will take most folks out of contention. Living and working in a suitable location for months, year after year, will not exempt the general population from the negative effects of climate change.

For many years it has been predicted that the ice caps will melt and the level of the oceans will rise. We are seeing evidence of that with the recent flooding & with the shifting of the tectonic plates which are causing tsunami’s and earthquakes. We have seen recent earthquake activity in California and Alaska. Is it important that we not live in fear of these catastrophic occurrences which effect a very small part of the population? Yes, of course. But, let’s see what goes on in the life of the low income homeowner who is concerned with the increasing cost of basic physiological needs including food and water. We have had a tremendous influx of calls from folks who not only cannot keep up with their homes but the rising cost of all goods and services which are making them fearful of going bankrupt or being homeless.

The effects of climate change and the effects of raising cost to the average homeowner have little correlation simply because of the probability of which will come first. Life in the Midwest and specifically Kansas & Missouri where all of our charitable work is done currently has been impacted by flooding but, the thought of the sea raising and flooding us out is way beyond the realm of probabilities. The probability of an earthquake is also fairly farfetched since the New Madrid fault might impact neighboring states more so than Missouri. However the 1811-1812 event was significant and needs be remembered and monitored. These events, though significant, are insignificant for the clients we serve.

Climate change has a greater impact on what it is doing to impact the cost of living for those people we serve. The cost of water, gas, electricity, phone service and healthcare to start. Business is impacted by the same things but has the ability to trickle their costs down to the consumer or through reduced cost of operation. Good “Business Acumen” suggest both channels should be scrutinized always. But, for example, Mr. X and neighbor Mrs. B who are both retired and are still able to do for themselves with little need to purchase outside help. The ability to bring in more revenue is impossible. A 2% increase in social security income (COLA) does not overshadow the 10-20% increase in cost of living including basic physiological needs. Doing without is no longer an option and at an all-time high. The next choice is to eliminate maintenance of their living quarters and further to their healthcare. HPLA Charities is doing all it can to fill in the gaps. We do it with volunteer labor and your donations to buy supplies. No overhead is paid out of your donations. All your donation dollars go to benefit the low income homeowners we serve.

Picture yourself self being hit with a $1000.00 unexpected or planned sewer line clog. Picture yourself having a rainstorm breach your roof and bring gallons of water into your bedroom, kitchen or bath. Picture your self-having a grease fire and your insurance deductible requires you to pay $500.00. The fire department may send you a bill.

HPLA Charities will do the work we do for free, to those who qualify. But we cannot provide all the labor and all the materials. We need you to please help us with the cost of materials at the least. Please go to our donate tab in the ribbon above and give a large donation. That may be $5.00 to you. That might be $25.00 for another but, together it adds up to hundreds of dollars which allows us (HPLA) to help someone stay in their own home one more month or one more year. Your day is coming and I pray HPLA Charities will still be there for you. If you can only offer to help by adding your name to our volunteer list than we are grateful and will praise God for you. Just call Bob 913-269-4450

Be Blessed.