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Can I get some encouragement?

Aug 18, 2015
2 min

Can I get some encouragement?

“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…” Hebrews 10:24-25. It is a special call to provoke one another to love and to do good. And considering how to encourage people is part of Spirit in Action’s legacy. There are some places – camps, retreats, church groups, support groups, etc. – where the barriers we build up in everyday life can be broken down, and we ca

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Wisdom from Del: Co-creators with the Divine

May 12, 2015
2 min

Wisdom from Del: Co-creators with the Divine

“God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves. We are not created as puppets to be manipulated and controlled. The Holy One does not force us to make certain decisions or to take specific actions, but honors us as co-workers and gives us free will. We are created as junior-partners, ambassadors, and co-creators with the Almighty. The work is not complete until we fulfill God’s divine plan and destiny in our lives by expressing and manifesting “God’s kingdom here on

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Honoring Del and Lucile Anderson

Mar 31, 2015
2 min

Honoring Del and Lucile Anderson

With hearts full of gratitude, we extend this invitation to celebrate the life of Lucile Anderson (wife of Spirit in Action’s founder, Del Anderson) on April 25th in Oakland, CA. Please see the invite from Lucile’s family for details and how to RSVP. Lucile’s son, Rob Hanford, shares that in her last days Lucile was “still growing, still teaching. It was amazing and uplifting to see the genuine love that the staff at Windsor had for mom, and the deep sadness at her passing. W

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Fostering dignity in myself and others

Feb 3, 2015
2 min

Fostering dignity in myself and others

Brown Ngoma is expanding his family’s store, building a home, and now “when his family is sick he can pay for a private hospital.” (Manyamula, Malawi) “If I fail to treat someone with dignity, it is me, not them, who is undignified.” In other words, to keep my own dignity – that sense of self-respect and pride in oneself – I must honor everyone else’s dignity. Just because someone is poor it doesn’t mean they can’t or don’t have self-respect. In fact, as an article in the Gua

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Wisdom from Del Anderson: God Calling…

Jan 6, 2015
2 min

Wisdom from Del Anderson: God Calling…

Some inspiration to start the new year! The SIA Board reads this piece by Del Anderson at the beginning of each meeting. When I first read it, the language tripped me up a bit. As I have read it more and more, and line by line, it has become a great source of encouragement and inspiration. GOD CALLING GOD SPEAKS TO YOU, TO ME, TO SPIRIT IN ACTION By My grace, you have the privilege to be used as My yeast, My salt, to be my quickening Spirit manifested . . . now. For one brief

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Wisdom from Del: “Act in the Truth”

Nov 4, 2014
2 min

Wisdom from Del: “Act in the Truth”

Boyd and Tanya with school children at the SIA Small Business Fund nursery in Manyamula Village, Malawi. On this election day in the U.S., I post something to remind us of our core and common humanity. Del Anderson wrote the reflection below in the weeks just after September 11th, 2001, and for me it is a call to search for and hold onto that flame of hope within each of us. Where ever you are, I hope today you reclaim that “boldness, firmness, and humility to act in the trut

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Wisdom from Del: Living Triumphantly

Jun 17, 2014
2 min

Wisdom from Del: Living Triumphantly

Let us then labour for an inward stillness, An inward stillness and an inward healing: That perfect silence where the lips and heart Are still, and we no longer entertain Our own imperfect thoughts and vain opinions, But God alone speaks in us and we wait In singleness of heart that we may know His will, and in the silence of our spirits, That we may do His will, and do that only! — Longfellow Excepts from Created to Life Triumphantly by Del Anderson: Living triumphantly. Del

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A Work in Progress

Jun 3, 2014
2 min

A Work in Progress

Breathe. Relax. Follow the path in front of you. I woke up in a panic this morning. I had dreamed that I had planned a second trip to Africa – and that I had to leave TOMORROW. In my dream I was rushing around trying to get ready for the last minute trip: I still didn’t have my vaccines. I hadn’t packed. I couldn’t find my camera. Ack! Breathe. Relax. In reality, I still have another month to figure that all out. And I still have a lifetime to work out everything else. One of

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A letter from Del

Apr 8, 2014
2 min

A letter from Del

Del and Tanya at Del’s desk in 2006 A central part of Del Anderson’s ministry prior to, and continued after, his founding Spirit in Action was writing letters. He wrote regular letters to possibly hundreds of people throughout the US and the world. I love receiving letters in the mail and I remember Del’s letters were always stuffed with sage advice and funny tidbits of inspiration. Even though he must have been in his 90s by the time he was sending letters to me, there was a

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Wisdom From Del: Receiving God’s Gifts

Dec 16, 2013
2 min

Wisdom From Del: Receiving God’s Gifts

In this season of giving and receiving, I am sharing some words of wisdom from our founder, Del Anderson. His vision for finding power within ourselves and seeing God in others is a source of inspiration for me. I am learning, “the great power of prayer is not in asking, but in learning how to receive.” Receiving requires acceptance and willing obedience. It requires us to fasten our gaze on the Christ and let (allow) God to re-make us in God’s image and perfect pattern. This

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Why we take time to listen

Oct 22, 2013
2 min

Why we take time to listen

Listening to Kubadwa Tembo in Malawi tell us about being a farmer in Malawi. Visiting and listening helps us understand the context of the work there. Are you surprised that what many people really want is to be listened to? How are we really going to understand people and interact compassionately and effectively if we don’t really know the other person? We recognize that listening is essential for international aid. Spirit in Action focuses on creating lasting partnerships a

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Joy, when you need it most

Oct 15, 2013
2 min

Joy, when you need it most

My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. — James 1:2 Sometimes it’s the photos that are blurry and candid that capture the most joy. Here I am with SBF Coordinator Dennis Kiprop in 2011. What does joy feel like? For me, it is a feeling of expanse and effortlessness, an emotion that fills my heart and soul. Joy opens me to experience something that feels bigger than I alone. Thinking about these positive emotions of joy, it is dif

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Del: “Let us pledge ourselves to be God’s light”

Jul 30, 2013
2 min

Del: “Let us pledge ourselves to be God’s light”

Del loved words. He ruminated on words, contemplated and meditated on words of inspiration, and he wrote many words of encouragement to friends around the world. Today, to celebrate International Friendship Day, I’m sharing a letter that Del sent to friends over the years. If you have a friend who you haven’t written to (or talked to) in a while, I invite you to take this opportunity to write to them and share some words of encouragement. Dear Children of God on the Path of f

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Let us share a story about Del

Mar 19, 2013
2 min

Let us share a story about Del

Tomorrow is World Storytelling Day – a global celebration of oral storytelling – and for our contribution Marsha Johnson, Spirit in Action Coordinator for 12 years, shares a story with us about Del Anderson. If you have stories or memories of Del that you’d like to share, leave a comment or email me. Del Anderson It was a moment of awe. Del Anderson and I sat close beside one another at the computer table in the library of the assisted living facility that was his home. The

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Listening: Wisdom from Del

Mar 5, 2013
2 min

Listening: Wisdom from Del

One of the things I really admired about Del Anderson was his passion for learning. He was still reading, writing, thinking, and learning well into his 80s, 90s, and past 100 years old! This morning, I read one of his journal essays about improving his listening skills. (The quotes are from an article by Morton T. Kelsey that inspired this writing.) These are some of my favorite passages from Del: To read the full essay, go to: http://godsspiritinaction.org/listening/ Del wit

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How do we get news from Africa?

Jan 29, 2013
2 min

How do we get news from Africa?

Stories about Africa aren’t always in our mainstream news. Yet, I still like to keep informed about where we are working, so today I share some of the great alternative news sources with stories from Africa. 1. Kenyan Elections Important Kenyan elections are coming up on March 4th! Since the violent response to the last presidential elections, many organizations have been working to ensure a peaceful process this time. You can read helpful updates about the coming election he

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Nov 13, 2012
3 min

Moving, and Meeting Angels

This is an excerpt from a talk that I gave at Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church, sharing my personal journey and about my work with Spirit in Action. ˜ Tanya If you’ve ever moved to a new place, you know that it can be really hard. New places can be uncomfortable; they force you to encounter new things and new cultures, even within different regions in the US. You have to find a new grocery store, a new bank, new friends. And yet these moments when we are lost and lonely are mom

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The Miracle of the Seed

Sep 11, 2012
2 min

The Miracle of the Seed

Seeds are amazing things: from a tiny beginning comes growth, blossoms, and fruit. In a way, Spirit in Action is a seed that Del Anderson planted in the world. He was fascinated with the way that nurturing people and developing encouraging relationships could produce fruit far greater than what we see in a humble seed. Seed Grants We saw the grants we give and the projects we support as seeds. Indeed, we often call them “seed grants” because they are meant to be a beginning f

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Aug 7, 2012
2 min

Time for International Camp!

By the time you read this I’ll already be on my way to Lima, Peru for the Camps Farthest Out International 10th International Camp! I’m looking forward to 10 days of fellowship with friends from around the world, praying for peace, and singing songs in many languages. This week I’m reposting a piece from July 5, 2011 about our SIA partners in India, some of whom I hope to see in Peru. (P.S. There won’t be a blog post next week since I’m not sure what my internet access will b

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Co-Creators with the Divine

Jul 31, 2012
1 min

Co-Creators with the Divine

From the writings of Del Anderson (1906-2008), Spirit in Action Founder, in honor of his birthday on July 17th: God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves. We are not created as puppets to be manipulated and controlled. The Holy One does not force us to make certain decisions or to take specific actions, but honors us as co-workers and gives us free will. Mat-maker in Uganda. Co-creator with God. We are created as junior-partners, ambassadors, and co-creators with

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