New Video

Check out Christine Sine's new worship and meditation video based on Isaiah 58. She says many of the pictures are hers, from the years she worked at refuge camps in Thailand. It is a brief but very moving piece.

$2 per Day Challenge

Over at Mustard Seed Associates, again, there is something worth checking out. They have posted a $2 Mutunga Challenge, to eat on $2 per day per person for one week. There is a shopping list and sample recipes. Very thought provoking.

I'd like to try integrate some of these ideas, and the principles behind this, into life in some way - more than just a one week challege. Whether or not any of you, my blog readers, try the actual one week challenge or not, the idea is well worth seriously considering and even implementing in some way. We, as Americans that is, consume so much of the world's food supply and resources in general that it is rather nauseating. Even little steps of change on the individual level could make a huge difference when multiplied by tens of thousands. The power of the web, to get something like this moving in a bigger way is immense.

Lent at Mustard Seed

Reading the blog of the folks over at Mustard Seed Associates has helped me to tune into the journey of this season -- a time that commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness before this journey began. As they shared: "In the early church this was a time of preparation for those about to be baptized. Today it is more often regarded as a season of soul searching and repentance for all Christians as a preparation for the joy and celebration of Easter. Unfortunately for many of us our soul searching is as perfunctory as our sacrifices. We spend a little more time reading the bible and in prayer."

This Nouwen quote from their blog really also struck me as important:
According to Henri Nouwen, “Discipline is the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God – a time and place where God’s gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to.” This is the kind of discipline we all need in order to mature into the people God wants us to be.

The short videos they are posting by Christine Sine are also wonderful.

Check it out when you have a few minutes.