Some interesting reads...

Hey guys...

Just wanted to pass on a few interesting finds.

The local CBS affiliate in Denver, Colorado has a interesting article on their official website explaining that local hair salons are offering free hair cuts to the homeless to help clean up their appearance for the upcoming Democratic National Convention next week. I love this quote within the article: "To give them haircuts and make them all spiffed up for the Democratic National Convention, because they are part of our community as well," said Ghandia Gohnson, co-owner of Sly's Salon. To read the article for yourself, simply click here.

UNTHINKABLE's very own, Eric Jones (I.T. Coordinator) had a very interesting encounter with a homeless gentleman in Atlanta. Click here to read his story.

My amazing, wonderful, awesome church (Buckhead Church) has adopted a low income school in inner-city Atlanta. Click here to read about some of the awesome things they are doing to serve poor children, and in turn, help them see a brighter future that they could possible.

These are individuals and private organizations, no government funds, no mandated compassion, simple acts of love like this is how we change our world (and the world around us!).

What is your interesting find about serving communities? Send it to me, jonathan.goode@unthinkableproject.org.

Thanks for reading.

J

Steven Curtis Chapman Know About The Forgotten...

I had the pleasure of watching Steven Curtis Chapman perform live after an Atlanta Braves game this past weekend. He also spent a lot of time talking about the short life of his youngest daughter Maria.

I won't go into details but I wanted to point all of you to this article on CNN which is a lead in to him appearing on Larry King Live this Thursday (today Aug 7th) at 9pm ET.

Our forgotten come in all different walks from homeless, to abandoned children, to battered women. Which forgotten is your passion?

Clarity.

I think I need to clarify something...

UNTHINKABLE began under the dreams and direction of a group of like-minded Christ followers, so naturally, when we we're establishing the core of our organizational structure, the following question arose:

"Are we a Christian organization?"

This question was difficult for me to answer. Unfortunately, my experiences with most "Christian organizations" have not always been the most positive. Usually (there are always exceptions, but overall) these are the organizations that seem to have the worst organizational structure, on top of that, the volunteer base of these organizations tend to be less diverse and more exclusively Christian, these were traits I did not want UNTHINKABLE to hold, so, when asked the question "Are we a Christian organization?" I responded, simply, no.

However, as I have thought fully about this, I realize that by saying simply "no" to that question, I limit the potential expansion of fame for my Jesus, by not crediting him as the dream giver and ultimate provider of this organization.

Its the characteristics I saw most dominant in Jesus that ultimately led me to create UNTHINKABLE. I saw Jesus as the healer, the redeemer, the one who came not for the healthy, but for the sick. I saw Jesus as the one who took the blind, and gave sight. I saw Jesus as the man who transformed the heart of the prostitute to turn from her past and run into grace. I saw Jesus as the man who raised the dead to life. It is my view of Jesus that gives me the audacity to not only say, but fully believe, that DRASTIC CHANGE is coming for the culture of Georgia as it pertains to serving the most broken among us.

So to answer the question, "Are we a Christian organization?"... I have no idea. But allow me to make this one point clear, the example set by Jesus is what gives the leadership of UNTHINKABLE the hope that this "unthinkable" cause is not impossible, and to be honest, our belief is that Jesus makes our impossible, UNTHINKABLE goal, not only possibly, but probable.

Thanks for reading.

Jonathan Goode

Statesboro.

Okay... I know that we will get some slack for this post, but please, remember we are a young organization, and we are learning and developing as we go along.

With that said, I now need to announce that we will not be coming to Statesboro during UNTHINKABLE's tour. Unfortunately, due to our current financial situation, every event we hold is helping to contribute to the one that follows. Given the drastic amount of college students that would make up the bulk of our Statesboro attendance, it is not going to be practical for us an organization to invest the thousands of dollars it will take to pull this event off as effectively as possible.

This is painful for me, as the organizations leader, because I see the possible potential that this community has, and I believe in the strength of 825 (this is a the max. that the venue we were looking at can hold) college students saying yes to serving their community. However, I must look out for the larger picture of UNTHINKABLE as an organization.

We hope you can understand and support us in this difficult decision.

Jonathan Goode, Executive Director

Greetings From Dublin...

Just pulled up to my parents house and am enjoying a little, very little, R&R before I hit the road again. Today I have several meetings with local business men and women on just how we can further awaken and motivate people right here in Dublin. It is one thing to go in, do a live event, and leave, that is also one thing we never want to be. We want to follow through with every community we embrace. If we come to you, we plan to have some form of our organization stay around long after we're gone. Success is not just measured for us by the number of butts in the seats, success is how many people are still serving 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, a year down the road, and, how can we increase or stabilize that number more.

Sorry, I am ranting.

Thanks for reading... I will be back later.

J

Macon!!!!

So I am sitting in Joshua Cup Coffee right now in downtown Macon excited to announce the official information for UNTHINKABLE|MACON! (Info Below)

UNTHINKABLE|MACON will be held Saturday, October 11, 2008 at the Cox Capitol Theatre in downtown Macon. Doors open at 6:00PM with the event beginning promptly at 7:00PM. As always, general admission is free, however for this event we will have no reserved seats, all seats will be on a first come, first served basis and will be available at the box office.

Also, come hungry, and come thirsty, the theatre's restaurant and beer & wine bar will be open for the duration of the event.

I'm pumped! Now... off to The Rookery to grab some lunch!

J

Let the fun begin!

Off to Macon! Check in with us tomorrow by 6PM for all of the specifics on our Macon live event.

This is getting fun!

J