“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Gospel of John 15:5-8

 When Twanna Jackson walks through her neighborhood and finds herself curious about the interior layout of a neighbor’s house, she doesn’t need to knock on their door and ask to be invited inside.  In many cases she already knows the house ‘inside out’ from having helped build it as a Habitat volunteer.

Ten years ago Olachi Anaemereibe sat in front of her TV, with tears in her eyes as she watched news reports depicting the incredible devastation that was unfolding in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Hers were tears of compassion and frustration, and she felt there was very little she could do to help.

Last Saturday, I found myself sandwiched between a 12-year old Michael Jackson wannabe and the southern hip-hop group, Nappy Roots, on stage at NC State's back-to-school celebration, Packapalooza.

In a way, Gwen Reis has been building things her entire adult life. At age 20, she began building cars on an assembly line for a major automotive manufacturer in New York. She later moved to Atlanta with the company.

It was announced Wednesday that Habitat's most famous volunteer, former U.S.President Jimmy Carter, has been diagnosed with cancer.  We ask everyone to lift up President Carter, his wife Rosalynn, and their family in your prayers.

In a recent study by the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University researchers found stark differences in life expectancies based on neighborhoods in which the subjects live.  The variations come in surprisingly close proximity.   In Washington, D.C., for example, life expectancy can vary by seven years just between one subway stop!

There are many factors in a person’s life expectancy and surely housing is a primary one.

Check out the research at:

But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible."  

Matthew 19:26

Habitat’s founder, Millard Fuller (1935-2009) would often remind us that with God all things are possible—even making sure everyone on the planet had a decent place to live, but that nowhere in scripture did it say it would be easy.  I’m reminded of that often as we go about our daily work.

Clarence Jordan was born on July 29, 1912--103 years ago.  Clarence is credited as being the spiritual father of Habitat for Humanity through his encounter and relationship with and mentorship of Millard Fuller—Habitat’s founder.

At last evening’s Raleigh City Council meeting, Congregations for Social Justice, a local coalition of faith communities concerned about social justice in local issues, organized a large group of supporters to address the council around the need for action to ensure that affordable housing is provided in our growing and prospering city.  I was proud to be a part of that group—event though I had to stand in the “overflow” room due to the large crowd in the council chambers.