Forget the doggy in the window...

Forget the doggy in the window - the question now is "how much is that used cooking oil out by the dumpster?" Today's New York Times has a great article about grease stealing! Of all things! While I understand the frustration of restaurant owners and contracted grease-picker-uppers, I have to admit it kind of makes me glad that used fryer oil is such a hot commodity. After all, there's a constant supply, and it's about time we started to get a little more creative.

Over and over again I hear people say things about "defending our way of life," though really I think they're saying they want our lifestyle defended -cheap food, goods and fuel, an abundance of whatever we want, however we want, whenever we want it.
Politicians and others seem loathe to even suggest that there might need to be a change in the American lifestyle. But honestly, America, are you kidding?! The rate of consumption in our culture is simply not sustainable. Perhaps it's time we ALL started getting a little more realistic. And creative. If not for the sake of our neighbor (which is where Jesus would point us, I believe), then for the sake of ourselves.

Book Group Picks Title for June

The "new" Book Group here at Shepherd of the Valley met for the second time last night, for very fun and stimulating conversation. We discussed Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis, which everyone seemed to enjoy a great deal - I think it's a fun read, and helpful for conversation among Christians of differing traditions. (At the end of May we discussed The Irrresistible Revolution by Shaine Claiborne).

And a new book was chosen to discuss in June (on Wednesday, the 25th, at 7p.m.): The Centered Life, by Jack Fortin. While the first 2 selections are available at your regular Borders or Barnes & Noble, this one will most likely need to be ordered, from amazon, or from Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA.

This book examines the "myth of the balanced life" and is designed to help individuals and communities of faith connect Sunday to Monday. It's not a long or complicated book, but it might change the way you think about how your life is organized and where God is calling you in your life (Marting Luther's understanding of "vocation").

Order a copy and join the conversation!

ELCA has new web site!

The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) has a new web site up at elca.org. It's much more inviting than the last one. Of course, those of us accustomed to finding things on the old one may still go back to it, since it's still up at archive.elca.org - helpful.
ALSO, Kelly Fryer, author of a bunch of helpful books, has a FABULOUS post on her blog about the new ELCA presence on the web.

A long time coming...

Read this article in today's New York Times. It reminds me of how short my own attention span is when it comes to world events, even when I have a close tie to them.
I lived in Northern Ireland for a year from August 1995-1996, and have been back several times since, including a 3-4 month visit in 2001 and for a week last summer.

Peace is not to be taken for granted in our world. Keep praying.

May 10 is World Fair Trade Day - and Mothers Day offers a perfect opportunity to stock up on Fair Trade coffee and chocolate. How we shop and what we purchase makes a difference in the world - we are far more connected than most of us realize.