kristinsdóttir

“… ever since the rise of the Moral Majority, American evangelicals have arguably been the most politically powerful religious group in the country. But perhaps the most telling revelation of the Orthodox conversion trend is that this political power has not translated into a sense of spiritual power–or belonging …

The New Republic looks at the ”growing number of Southern Baptists and Presbyterians and Assemblies of God members [who] have left the evangelical fold, turning to a religion that is not only not American, but not even Western.”

(the pic?  a Ukrainian postage stamp)

Julian Krasstev’s beautiful icon of St. Zlata.  From  magazinche.com

Says Xenia, “From now on, I will try my best to stop product placement, both in the blogosphere and in my day to day life. I need to re-prioritize what I value. Lord have mercy.”

Her whole post is brilliant.

I don’t know if I can get the librarian-helper-enabler part of me to follow Xenia in her pledge.  But I think it is absolutely the right thing to do.

And, when I think about it,  a real helpful and caring Christian would not tempt others with unrelenting spending opportunities.

Sigh.

Lord have mercy!

(photo credit to beggs)

“[Tasty Bite Food Packets] are ’ready meal’ and ‘heat and serve’ stuff so you just put the pouches in boiling water for 5 or so minutes. What caught my attention is that they’ve got NO MSG, have an 18 month shelf life, and–of course–cook in the pouch.”  And they truly are tasty!

I got mine at Fred Meyer, but I see you can also buy them in 12-packs from Amazon.com.

Says Brenda Ueland, “when I walk in a carefree way, without straining to get to my destination, then I am living in the present. And it is only then that the creative power flourishes.”

Brenda Ueland recommended that everyone walk every day for an hour and a quarter.

(photo credit to Pensiero)

“To moodle is to engage in an act of divine laziness, that lovely inactivity that leads to moments of creativity and inspiration …”

(photo credit to the Children at Risk Foundation)

Brenda Ueland was a delightfully opinionated writer, the aunt of publisher Eric Utne, whose Utne Reader used to print excerpts from her unpublished letters.  In trying to track down one of those excerpts, on walking, I’ve come across this great little essay she wrote on the subject of listening to others.

“… when we listen to people there is an alternating current that recharges us so we never get tired of each other.  We are constantly being re-created …”

(photo credit to the Children at Risk Foundation)