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June 09, 2008 By: Cathi-Lyn Dyck, Managing Editor Category: , , , , ,
I dunno. Every so often, a day–or series of days–comes along that just drags at a person. It’s been that way lately. My summer schedule is full to bursting. I’ve had to opt out of some paying work, and I feel like the family-and-community to-do lineup is a thousand miles long.
I suspect I’m turning into my mother. As I write this, my first inclination is to make a list. Take it all down to size, prioritize, tackle. I’m not the list person. She is. Problem is, listing it sometimes just clarifies the problems, not the solutions.
A long list of disappointments lately–a list that’s very clear in my mind–doesn’t help. I got a solid dose of the flaws in some of my family relationships. There’s the ongoing internal conflict in our church. We also just received a “no” from a potential pastor who had seemed to be all “yes” up till now. It was a financially costly “no” to the church, and we’re going to have to answer some angry questions. At times like this, the responsibilities of our young family, jobs, and even little things like home maintenance just get to be a weight, rather than the privilege they should be to the two of us.
So, what do you do with a “downer” day? Make a list? Stay in bed? Go into denial and eat chocolate? Tackle the future with both hands and feet?
I’m sure there’s an interesting range out there. Gimme your thoughts.
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May 07, 2008 By: Trina Category: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
By Trina Daniels
While visiting a church recently, a severely obese pastor delivered a sermon. I had a tough time listening to the sermon about the failure of “Christians to witness.” I fell into the sin of judging him based on his obesity. As I glanced around the congregation, the majority of the people were overweight. I’m only human and couldn’t help but wonder why there wasn’t a message being taught about taking care of the bodies God has given us.
Overeating seems to be one of the sins which most pastors, Christians, reverends, and priests overlook. If “gluttony is a sin,” why is “Christian America” one of the “fattest nations“? It’s a serious issue which is seldom discussed despite a growing number of “christian” based weight loss programs.
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April 04, 2008 By: Patrick Category: ,
So who is the most important person in the Bible? Well, besides Him, of course — and his Son and his Spirit.
It’s a curious question really, and maybe there’s not an answer. There are definitely people highlighted more than others, though that’s not necessarily a measure of importance. Saul takes up a good chunk of chapters, but in the long run he seems to be more of an oops than important. David steps in and his branch takes over the whole story.
I don’t really even mean honored. Isaiah, for instance, resonates to our day as being a great prophet. But, in the story he’s more of an observer and color commentator. He’s vital as a narrator, but not as a player.
How about Noah? He’s important. If he didn’t have that faith which builds boats then the story suggests humanity would have been wiped out.
David and Noah are important, for the Old Testament parts. As is Moses. We can’t forget Moses. Or Abraham. Abraham is a rather vital guy for all sorts of reasons. Maybe we could throw in Paul and Peter and John for the New Testament — both because they were major players and because if not for these three we wouldn’t really have much of a New Testament. Thank God for the writers, eh?
These are people we know. So they seem especially important, and for good reasons. But I’m thinking there are others. I’m constantly struck by the character actors in the text. You know, the men and women who show up, say a line or two, and then disappear.
Take this lady, for instance:
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September 19, 2007 By: Marty Category: , , , ,
Sustainable living encompasses a lot of complex issues. But is it so complex to actually improve your own individual way of living?
No. If it were, I’d be too lazy to do it.
I would venture to say that most of North America has some kind of sustainable infrastructure in place these days. Urbanites needn’t fear their lack of available dirt—in fact, you may want to have your soil tested for chemical residues and heavy metals before you try growing anything in it. You just don’t know.
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