A reader of mine, Michelle at My Semblance of Sanity, posted a story on her blog this past Monday about how she was having a hectic morning getting the kids off to school. Right as she was about to lose it, she glanced into the pan where she'd just made her kids cheesy eggs. What she saw stopped her in her tracks and made her think about the topic she'd been teaching her Sunday school class just the day before - Peace.
Well people started writing her, telling her to sell this piece of burnt cheese on eBay. Although Michelle said she couldn't live with herself if she made a bunch of money off this cheese because some loony person bought it, she decided that she could indeed live with herself if she earned a bunch of money to donate to Julian and his family.
Michelle emailed me asking me if I thought it would be a good idea.
"Absolutely!" was my response. "Stranger things have happened. You know - people bidding over $100 on a $4 pack of Pokemon cards for example."
Sorry to divulge this information, Michelle, but Tuesday, after the light bulb went on about auctioning the cheese to obtain some funds for Julian, Michelle ran to her kitchen to find the pan, still unwashed in the sink (Hey, we all have days like this!). She pulled it out and found that the cross shaped cheese glob was still intact!
The wheels started spinning as Michelle excitedly set out to make enough money to give Julian an awesome Christmas to remember and/or help out the family with overwhelming medical bills. Please check out her listing on eBay and pass it on to your friends and family.
Although she just listed it this morning, the bidding is already up to $100! If this is more than you can bid, but would like to donate something, visit Michelle's blog where she has a Paypal button set up to accept donations on Julian's behalf.
Thank you!
PS - Someone left a comment on my last post about the movie the Golden Compass. I'm sure you've all heard about this by now, but I thought this article was especially well written and wanted to share it if you're interested in reading.
Just tonight my girls asked if they could go see the Golden Compass. I said we were going to skip that one. I'm sure the movie is well done, but I just don't think I want to support it or the author. Even though movie is toned down, the purpose of the author is something I can't support and I don't want my children reading his books after enjoying the movie.
ReplyDeleteI am keeping Julian and his family in my prayers. Thank you for keeping us updated on him.
You might have your friend double check the ebay policy about charitable donations as she could have her listing pulled or her account suspended if she isn't complying with ebay rules.
ReplyDelete"Guidelines for non-eBay Giving Works nonprofit listings
Sellers may only list items for charity without eBay Giving Works if they:
Are soliciting on behalf of recognized tax-deductible charitable organizations (for example, 501(c)(3) status or equivalent with the IRS).
Receive advance written consent for the solicitation from the benefiting nonprofit.
To verify you received permission, you must include a scanned copy of the consent in your listing. It must appear with the nonprofit’s letterhead, signed by an officer and include the nonprofit’s tax-deductibility status as well as your name or eBay User ID, dates of event/listings, and donation amount (percentage of the final sale price). It must be large enough to be easily legible, and it must appear as a picture rather than a link."
I am all for supporting Julian - just don't want it to all get ruined because she wasn't aware of the policy.
Best wishes!
See? It's good not to wash your dishes too frequently. I'll tell my husband:"There's money in them thar hills of unwashed pots and pans!"
ReplyDeleteI read something recently warning about the golden compass. i dont think i will be watching it at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that link. I have been trying to tell my husband why we shouldn't go see this movie (our girls keep seeing previews for it and think it looks like a good movie!) but couldn't find anything to back up what I was saying besides word of mouth. Now I have more proof and I'll be sure to share this with everyone I know. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat idea--I hope she's able to raise a lot of money for Julian!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say hi to a mother of six from a father of seven.
ReplyDeleteI like your blog and I'll visit again.
Thanks for the link for the article on The Golden Compass. So much of what I've heard has just been blown up ranting about this movie. It was nice to read and educated, informed article on it and how it fits in with Christianity. Not that I'm planning on going to see it, I've just been curious what all the huff was about and this article was well written. Thanks for always making me feel normal with my 5 little ones that leave hot dogs in mysterious places :)
ReplyDeleteI've sent the ebay link to everyone in my address book!
ReplyDelete:)
THANKS also for the link to the movie - I've heard of it and will NOT be going to see it. A lot of buzz about it and many don't think it is as bad as it appears to be.
Bless you!
I read that the movie version of The Golden Compass is kind of a lame, watered-down version of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe cross is going to mold. She'd better get it to the freezer soon!
ReplyDeleteUmm... I actually liked the first two His Dark Materials books as they're innovative and well-written (the third one's a bit too propagandistic for my taste). I'm also going to see the movie with my DH. We're both into fantasy and adventure literature and movies, so this is a prime feast for our fancy. If my kids were old enough I'd let them see it, too. I don't think these books argue against religion per se, just against the excess fanaticism that organized religion can stoop to sometimes, as evidenced by our history.
ReplyDeleteAs for the removal of the mention of charity from Michelle's eBay listing: I concur. It's against their TOS, and if she really wants to raise money for Julian she shouldn't get herself banned. A link to an explanation on her blog would be OK, but I'd just tread on the safe side.
Hope I didn't stomp on too many toes with that comment- see it as a side effect of living in Europe ;)
While I respect every opinion on The Golden Compass, I must stress that this is a PG13 movie. I wouldn't take kids to see it unless they were mature enough. AND... I wager most of the kids that go to see this would have already read the books. This was never meant for a young audience. Any good parent wouldn't just let their kid see a movie without explaining it.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, (and having read the books in question) this is a work of fiction. We have no more chance of encountering an armor plated bear than we do of getting hit with the Avada Kedavra curse! If we try to take this away from kids, we might as well take away princesses and happily ever afters too! In the age of i-Pods and Playstations, why should we be upset when a child actually wants to read? We read for fun... We know most of the books we pick up are fiction. Why be hypocritical about it? What better opportunity to discuss with your children what is real and make believe, as well as discuss your faith?
Most of these topics would be over a child's head. I know my favorite movie when I was four or five was Saturday Night Fever... I never thought twice about the content... I just thought it was cool music and loved the dancing!
I am Catholic! My kids and I are no less Christian now than before we read The Golden Compass or Harry Potter. If anything, the big stink Christian groups are making about A WORK OF FICTION is making me less inclined to be associated with them.
My hope is that most young people will not "get" what he is trying to portray in the movie. I cried when I saw Narnia and read the book because I GOT what it represented and was moved by it. However, a non-Christian may have never made the correlation. I'm hoping that it will be the same with this movie...that much of it will go over the heads of those caught unaware.
ReplyDeleteWe will not be seeing it.
Delurking to say that I will be going to see the Golden Compass. Just because it presents a view that you oppose does not mean you should avoid it or prevent your kids from seeing it. It is a "teachable moment" and if you have not seen it, how can you teach them anything about it. My son is too young to go but he will see it too when he is old enough. Besides, as I understand it, the movie is about how having one large faith based government leads to oppression. I think Martin Luther would have understood that message as would our founding fathers. Just my own opinion, obviously.
ReplyDeleteIt's really sad that Christians and Atheists can't coexist, drop their respective agendas and movie wars, and work together to remove an even more insidious subversion: marketing. It's everywhere, not just TV - it's in public spaces, and now even children's report cards (see Julie's Health Club in the Chicago Tribune). Kids are being groomed to be wanton greedy consumers who "need" every creepy toy or candy coated cereal they see or hear about. In my opinion, greed is the root of all evil - and I think the Bible would agree (Or at least not argue). Yet here we all are, Religious and secular alike, worrying about movies with a pro or anti God message, while our kids are being told everywhere they go that they need brand name clothes, cell phones, Bratz dolls, 50 cent cds and candy. And the message that "He who dies with the most toys wins".
ReplyDeleteMaybe if we start working together on replacing empty greed with values, the religious or non-religious movie thing won't be such a big deal, because our kids will already have a sense of what's important - love, life and compassion. When you become more values-oriented, "God" (what that is to everyone personally) just kind of falls into place.
(PS Dawn - I am not trying to stir the pot in any way. I just feel that if everyone stands across lines - no one is going to get anything done. I am a mom too, & worry about all the evil stuff my kids are going to be inundated with as they grow. For example, did you know Barbie has a "Hot Tub Party Bus"? I think EVERYONE can agree on the creepiness of that!)
The Golden Compass - as controversial as that 'evil old Harry Potter" *rolleyes* Quick - let's have a book burnin'!
ReplyDeleteSorry - been in a heavy debate on a message board I'm on.....thought it funny to see you mention it today. Here is another great article - from the other side.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2007/11/25/god_in_the_dust/?page=1
Love your blog!
Misty
thank you so much for putting the link for the golden compass move.
ReplyDeleteI have heard many of the things said but have yet to read such a well written artical about this. Thanks again..
Charlene T.
I've been reading with interest the views of your readers on the Golden Compass. I've already commented that I won't be seeing it. When my sister first sent me a link screaming "Don't see it" I rolled my eyes as well. Here we go again. I love the Harry Potter series and my daughter and I both read them. I don't like others telling me what I should or shouldn't like. So I checked it out on the Snopes website because I find them very objective. I will continue to watch the comments on this issue but, for the time being, I plan on standing by my decision. Ultimately, it is my job to raise my children how I see fit. I don't let my children have Bratz dolls, I don't let them watch R rated movies and I'm going to say no to this movie. Perhaps I am wrong on this one. It wouldn't be the first time or the last. I think I'll err on the side of caution here. Like I said before, there are lots of other movies out there to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm 'non-christian' because I never read anything deeper in the Chronicles of Narnia then a good read/movie. But I am Christian (Catholic at that). My son's school (private catholic) actually sent home a 'warning' letter on TGC and my immediate reaction was "? Don't tell me what to see or not see with my kids."
ReplyDeleteA story is a story. I don't believe authors write stuff with hidden messages. If someone happens to find a message then they're looking too hard and need to get a life. Relax. Enjoy things at face value and stop looking for trouble where there isn't any.
It is telling in this sentence from the article:
ReplyDelete"Indeed, Pullman's His Dark Materials is intended as an answer to Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. What Lewis (and J. R. R. Tolkein) did for Christianity, Pullman wants to do for atheism."
Looking at this objectively you have to come to the conclusion that the other authors were wrong to publish those books that parallell thier beliefs. Those books did not kill Athesim (not even close) and the Golden compass will not kill Christianity. Put away your crusading gear and go out and solve a REAL problem. Stop trying to repress opinions that are different from yours!
HI Dawn,
ReplyDeleteHave I told you lately how much I love your blog?
Well I do. I also love how you help out fellow mothers. I saw the story on the cheese. It moved me because I lost a family member to cancer. I wrote about Julian and the cheese and ebay in my blog. I hope you get a chance in your hectic day to read it.
http://mvkq3.blogspot.com
Thank you again for all you do for us. You are an inspiration to mothers every where. Especially me, (in TX)
Wow! Interesting comments. I'm glad you posted the Mohler article as it is the best article I've seen on the GC movie when compared to all of the hysterical emails I've received. I think it's obvious to any Christian what is so wrong with this movie. The reason Christians and atheists can't agree, for one, is that greed is not the root of all evil...(sin)rebellion against God is. That is the heart of what this book series is and the cleaned up versions in the movies will be based upon.
ReplyDeleteBut on a MORE important topic, little Julian needs some joy and lots of our prayers right now. I hope that Michelle is successful with her Burnt Cheese enterprise for Julian's sake. Thanks, Dawn for keeping us updated on this little precious's progress!
What a sweet thing to do! I hope Julian can have the Christmas that he deserves.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting Mohler's article. We as Christians are called to point to the TRUTH, and debunk anything that contradicts it. Thanks again!!
ReplyDeleteKelly another mom of 6, in Texas
I think it's great that so many people are talking about literature. But what is so bad about being exposed to different viewpoints? In the end, it can only make you well-rounded and more convicted of your beliefs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the review. It's nice to have a review from someone who has also read the books - that seems to be a quick argument of those who think it's no big deal. It's definitely not an agenda I will be supporting and I want my friends with kids to know the story behind the story too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping us updated on Julian, and for the links to Michelle's blog and ebay auction. I went and read them both. The PayPal donation link is a great help, as I'm sure there are many like me who want to do something to help, but who can't afford a $250 piece of cheese. :-) I think what you and she are doing to help Julian and his family is wonderful. God bless you. I am praying for Julian and his family, and trusting that God still does miracles every day.
ReplyDeleteJulian and his family needs some powerful prayers and blessings. I will light a candle and every time I pass it I will stop and send a prayer. This is something everyone can do. There is power in prayer.
ReplyDeleteI believe this .......I know this.