If you have been looking for blog entries from me across the last year or so, you will have come up empty. So sorry about that. Mea culpa. I was on a roll for a short span of time, covering some meetings and trips as part of my service on the congressionally mandated HELP Commission ( www.HELPCommission.gov ). The trouble was that the Commission's work reached a heightened level of activity throughout 2007. Then, the Commission, as we deliberated on our findings and recommendations, moved into a required "cone of silence." We needed a confidential period as we finalized the report.

That veil is lifted now. In fact, if you go to the commission's website (noted above), you can download the entire 200+ page report. I invite you to read it -- or perhaps just the Executive Summary. Or you can click here and download a .pdf of the transcript of our "release event" at the Brookings Institution in December. My remarks begin at the bottom of page 25. The challenge I put forward focuses on how the recommendations will pass what I call the "Francis test." You can read about the test for yourself.

Also, you can click here for a copy of the actual ONE page .pdf summary that nine of the Commissioners, including myself, used when we met with President Bush at the White House in February. As Food for the Hungry answers God's call to end physical and spritual hungers worldwide, we give thanks to God for the opportunities that He gives us to "walk with leaders" who can influence how hunger and poverty are addressed. Your prayers for us in this task are deeply appreciated,

From 39,000 feet,

Ben

HELP-Commission-Major-Recommendations.PDF