During this “month of love” it is easy to become consumed with planning that perfect, special date or lavishing gifts on family but this “story” showed me what true love is. How Jesus loved. Jesus did not just love his family and friends. He did not just give to people he liked and were similar to him. Jesus touched the lepers, ate with tax collectors and befriended Gentiles.

Our friends Kristian and Katy are perhaps the most “Jesus like” people I know. They live in New York City and work for non-profits yet they give more away in terms of possessions and time than anybody I know. They constantly had people living with them in their apartment – for various reasons like they were looking for an apartment. They lead small groups, serve at Apostles and many other places. They are humble, sweet and purp0seful in their lives.

Read their story here: http://kristiankatyrose.blogspot.com/2009/02/at-77th-st-subway-station.html

It made me cry. It challenged me to do more – right here, everyday, in the burbs.

This afternoon Bill and I went to a V.I.P. screening of the movie HOLLY. This screening benefited a Christian non-profit organization – Restore NYC. If you click on the movie picture it will take you to Restore NYC’s website.

HOLLY is set in Cambodia and exposes the child sex trafficking business that is huge in Southeast Asia. It is the story of a 12 year old Vietnamese girl and a Western white man who tries to save her. If you don’t know much about the trafficking business then in is very shocking and eye opening. And while this movie is about trafficking in Asia it is estimated that in New York City there are over 12,000 victims of sexual trafficking.

After the screening the writer and producer of the movie, Guy Jacobson , gave us the background behind the movie and took questions. He took some major risks in investigating the movie- going under cover in Cambodian brothels to interview girls, filming in Cambodia where the brothels are run my mafia, there were hits out on his life, and he had to travel with security guards with AK -47′s. It was an amazing story and he hopes that the movie will bring awareness to the issue and inspire people to take action.

So, if you see this movie playing in a theater near you – go! It is not a movie that will necessarily be enjoyable but you will walk away with a broader perspective of the world we live in and the evil that is rampant.