Feeling a little Hungry?

Millions of people in our world are hungry and it isn't a matter of going to the store to replenish the pantry. Today(March 11, 2009) is a day of emphasis by Compassion International about the global food crisis.

"What is the global food crisis?
The World Food Programme calls the global food crisis a phenomenon, a "silent tsunami," that is affecting families in every nation on every continent. Food prices for popular menu items like rice, wheat and beans have doubled in the last year. Though increases in food prices have hit all budgets, it's the poor who bear the brunt of price inflation. The higher prices are forcing people who survive on just $1 a day to spend upwards of 80 percent of their budgets just on food. As a result, many people, including millions of children, are going hungry. The longer food prices rise, the more people will be plunged into hunger and poverty.
Why is the global food crisis happening?
Food shortages have affected developing countries for generations. It's a cyclical problem. But this global food crisis is more rapid, urgent and devastating. Since 2005, food prices have risen a whopping 80 percent.

• Why?
  *rising fuel costs
  *rising food demand from populous nations like India and China
  *natural disasters destroying crop yields all over the world, including the United States
  *growth of biofuels."

An editorial comment of mine and certainly not to be attributed to Compassion International - the issue of biofuels is concerning because many people think it is very "green" to use biofuels in their vehicles. My understanding of the commercial production of biofuels is the costs are not low to make the fuel and clearly it takes more production out of the world food supply. My prejudices are showing- but in my mind the survival of human beings (created in God's image beings) is a great deal more important than nifty car fuels. Not being foolish about wasting fossil fuels is a good thing. Using food to fuel a vehicle to drive to church to pray for the poor and downtrodden isn't exactly the highest and best use of resources. Please read and pray about the issue and respond according to your finances and heart --

"James 1:27 (New International Version)
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Interesting wording, being polluted by the world. I believe true religion is following the teaching of our God and Savior as closely as we are able. Are we able to feed orphans and widows and millions of our brothers and sisters with a few dollars? Yes - because $5 from each of us can become tons of rice, cooking oil and seed to plant for a future harvest. Try it - you will like it! Better to be labeled a fool for Christ than be wise in man's eyes. We are well fed and content on Buhlaland - why are we so blessed?