40 Day Fast: Putting Shoes on Jesus’ Feet

20 posted on July 20, 2008

POSTED IN: Authenticity, Blogging, Makes You Think, Social Justice

Today’s my day to blog and fast for the 40 Day Fast and I’m fasting all day from…my shoes.

As I’m sure you figured out from Friday’s post, I had an ulterior motive for asking how many shoes you own. The average American owns at least 10 pair of shoes. The key words there are ‘at least’. Many of us own way more.

Last year alone over 14.8 billion pairs of shoes were produced to be sold to consumers who are only too happy to purchase them. That equals out to over 2 pair of shoes for every man, woman and child on the planet.

Unfortunately, while millions of Americans wake up each morning and choose what shoes they’ll wear based on their outfit and activity, there are still 300 million children around the world whose tiny little feet are left unprotected.

[singlepic=83,180,180,,right]That’s why I’m excited to tell you about an organization with you called TOMS Shoes – shoes for tomorrow. It was founded by Blake Mycoskie on a question. What if there was a company that gave away one pair of brand new shoes for every pair purchased? Since 2006 that is exactly what TOMS has done.

To date they has given away 10,000 pair of shoes to needy children in Argentina and 50,000 in South Africa. They’re already on track for giving away 200,000 shoes this year alone!

In Matthew 25 we’re told that when Jesus returns some will be honored for attending to his physical hunger and needs. They ask “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you?” To which Jesus replied, “In as much as you have done for the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

Somewhere around the world Jesus is walking barefoot across the hot, rocky ground longing for something to protect his feet. When we give to organizations like TOMS we’re doing so much more than just buying a pair of shoes. We’re putting shoes on the feet of Jesus.

Today’s post is part of the 40 Day Fast, a collection of 80 bloggers joining together to shed light on needs around the world and the people who are making a difference. Joining me today is Shawn blogging about child trafficking in America.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 9:46 am and is filed under Authenticity, Blogging, Makes You Think, Social Justice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

15 Comments

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July 20, 2008

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1 Shawn Bashor said:

Thank you for writting about this organization as it truly gives me a source of where I can help about 20 people out with that amount of shoes in a storage bin that I never wear. A little convicting not because I own that many, but because they are in a storage bin where they are never worn.
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July 20, 2008

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2 nancy said:

Thank you so much for sharing about TOMS. My oldest daughter was trying to pick out a pair just last night.

I praying for you today.

nancys last blog post..Grace Home and Feed The Children – 40 Day Fast
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July 20, 2008

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3 Nick said:

Praying for you today!
TOMS is a great organization.

Nicks last blog post..When The Millennials Come Marching In
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July 20, 2008

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4 euphrony said:

Brad, thanks for talking about TOMS. I’ll be praying for you today.

euphronys last blog post..A recent conversation with my wife
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July 20, 2008

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5 Day 28 – I’m with ya « redcedar said:

[...] Brad and Shawn, I’m with ya today, and so are my prayers! [...]
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July 20, 2008

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6 tam said:

wow. humblings stats.

thanks brad…awesome organization to hi-light!

tams last blog post..“Now speak”
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July 20, 2008

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7 Kristin said:

Toms’ shoes is such a great organization!
What a great idea to fast from your shoes, how’d that go?

Thank you for being a part of the 40 day fast!
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July 20, 2008

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8 ThisIsKristin » Blog Archive » Bloggers for today said:

[...] Brad, speaking about TOMS shoes, and fasting from his shoes for the [...]
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July 20, 2008

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9 Geo said:

I wear TOMS and they are comfortable! Toms is a great company and changing the world.

Geos last blog post..Good evening ride
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July 20, 2008

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10 steven.russell said:

Awesome post.

Humbling stats.

I’d like to hear about your shoeless day.
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July 20, 2008

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11 seven said:

I’ve heard of Toms before… my former roommate bought a pair. I love that they’re providing shoes to people without them. I just wish they weren’t so ugly… I know it’s totally shallow, but I wouldn’t buy a pair, because I’d never wear them.

sevens last blog post..Micaiah Ann Has Arrived!
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July 21, 2008

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12 Amy said:

Thank you so much for sharing and for being a part of the 40 Day Fast.
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July 21, 2008

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13 » A Day Without Shoes – BradRuggles.com said:

[...] Yesterday for my day of the 40 Day Fast I decided to fast from my shoes for the day. I walked all day with nothing to protect my feet and even managed to sneak into a Big Boys. Although I did cheat and slip my flip flops on when I went in the restroom. [...]
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July 25, 2008

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14 Jason Ruggles said:

thats awesome Brad!
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July 28, 2008

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15 Erika said:

The pastor at Aaron’s church did something on Toms shoes one day or something a while ago. Thats really neat that you found out about it too! haha. o! and mad props to you! i dont know if i could ever go with out my shoes. thats tough.