This Week in Native American News - July 1, 2016: election voting, trendy food, and a whole bunch of ancient seeds.

After the enormous success of Hope House's Backpack Drive last year, Tom and Cathy Benzler have now set their sights on feet. Not only do the children of the Olympic Peninsula's tribes need shoes for the upcoming winter, but a pair of new shoes encourages excitement for a new school year.

"If we can continue to raise awareness and get the ball rolling, we can really make an impact on the lives of Native Americans living on the Olympic Peninsula!" insists Cathy. "We really want all these children to know that someone genuinely cares about them. They are the future, and we want to help give them a bright future!"

Socks can do that!

At LIM, we are building our 'ohana in the rural villages of Alaska, among the students at Haskell Indian Nations University, in Hawaii, and daily reaching new Natives with the love that comes from being part of the 'ohana of all God's children.

Who can you include in your 'ohana today? Who needs to be cared for and loved?

This Week in Native American News - June 24, 2016: a picture book, a virtual reality tour, and some crooked trees.

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

What is the main point of these four verses? Luke is writing to persuade this Roman official [Theophilus] (and probably others like him) that the Christian teachings which he has heard are true.

The question, then, is: Is it important to persuade someone of the truth of Christianity?

The answer is, "Yes, it is important to try to persuade people that Christianity is true." At least, Luke thinks it is.

Luke does not merely pray for God to tell Theophilus it is all true. He undertakes a very heavy intellectual task: he writes a fifty-two chapter book! All for the sake of certifying to Theophilus the truth of the Christian teaching he has heard.

This Week in Native American News - June 17, 2016: New teachers, traveling politicians, and some pretty pictures.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances... in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who give me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Philippians 4:11-14 (NIV)

Because of Jesus, our thinking changed. The thoughts and attitudes of the mind that seep into the heart have been made new. Because of Jesus, our actions changed. Our “new outfit” was “created” to imitate the holy God who is right and just in all his works. All of the old me is in the past. All of the new me lives with the full potential to honor God in everything I do.

There is an old song I remember that goes something like this, “I’m not who I used to be and I’m not what I want to be, but thank God I’m not who I was.” Every believer can thank God that we are not who we used to be. By his grace, we have been given a fresh start!

[Excerpt from Ron Moore: Reflecting the Glory]

This Week in Native American News - June 10, 2016: an oil spill, Chief Red Cloud's pipe, and some kuspuks.