Musings and Meanderings of Pastor Matt Hickman

Follow me at my new domain

2011-02-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

Current posts can be found at my newly merged blog: http://www.simplypastormatt.com/

A Response to "Neo-Anabaptism" and a Counter

2010-11-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

Two very interesting articles this morning: one, a reactionary take on the the author's perception of a rise in (and dangers of) "Neo-Anabaptism" and the second, a response by a Mennonite writer that both affirms the correct points and corrects/nuances the off-kilter points of the first article:

1) Tooley, Mark. "Mennonite Takeover." The American Spectator.

2) Good, Sheldon (Asst. Editor, Mennonite Weekly Review). "Are Mennonites Taking over The World?" The Huffington Post.

Mr. Tooley's article seems to me to be an incident of "echo chamber" journalism; repeating a biased claim, which gets repeated by those of like-mind and having been overheard is repeated again without anyone having checked the veracity or origin of the original claim.

The irony is that if Mr. Tooley would engage in further reading (assuming he's had some cursory engagement) of Anabaptist writings he, as the president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, would find that modern democracy owes a debt of gratitude to the Anabaptist resistance to the power of coercive government.

WONDERMINUTE (November 2010)

2010-10-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24

Photo: Firebugs, Eniko Gyuris,
National Geographic

Discovery begins with wonderment; a childlikeness that stops to observe and to be captivated by the wonders present in the world. It was this type of single-minded curiosity which recently led members of the Behavioral Ecology Research Group at the University of Debrecen, Hungary, to discover that insects called firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus) seem to display personality which is measurable.

"Boldness -- whether they are shier or braver -- could be defined, for example, as to how quickly they start after an alarm, or how soon they come out of their refuge," says Eniko Gyuris, a member of the Behavioral Ecology Research Group. "Explorativeness could be measured in another context, namely in which they have the opportunity to discover a new environment with novel objects."

Collecting the bugs from the wild, the researchers tested firebug responses in varying situations. One experiment gauged the reaction of individual firebugs placed into a circular arena which contained four colored plugs. The team recorded how long it took for the firebug to examine its surroundings, how fast the bug moved, how many objects were explored and other variables.

Each firebug showed unique responses to the trial and, whether bold and brave or tentative and shy, each firebug’s unique behaviors were repeated consistently across other experiments.

See: Even Bugs Have Personality [Twitter: @Discovery_News]

Mennonite church on 1-yr sabbatical from committee work

2010-09-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

Mennonite church on sabbatical - Winnipeg Free Press

"It's common for clergy to take sabbaticals -- time off for rest and rejuvenation. But can a whole church take one, too? That's what the Whitewater Mennonite Church in Boissevain is doing. Starting in September 2009, the congregation suspended all its committees and committee work for a year. "It's been a year of letting go of the assumptions of how we do church...

WONDERMINUTE (September 2010)

2010-08-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid Micah 4:3-4

Photo: Cadland, flickr.com

Let your mind wander around a mental map of town and odds are that you can summon the location of at least one residential fruit tree that goes unharvested year-after-year. The summer 2010 issue of Urban Farm magazine highlights the work of California resident Anna Chan, known in her community as The Lemon Lady. Chan’s mission is to harvest local, unpicked residential fruit and to put it into the hands of those persons in her community for whom fresh fruit is unaffordable. In her first year of harvesting, Chan gleaned an estimated $90,000 worth of fruit which she donated to local food pantries. Growers at area farmer’s markets were happy to add to the cause their unsold produce after market-day sales had ended. Chan cites community networking, respect and gratitude as the things that grease the wheels of her efforts.
From a wellness perspective, fruit juice alone does not provide the same nutrients nor fiber that fresh fruits provide. “Juice drinks” are another story altogether, wherein subsidized corn is turned into high fructose corn syrup and blended with water, coloring, flavorings and generally small percentages of actual fruit juice. It’s a difference between “energy-dense” (i.e., high-calorie) and “nutrient-dense” foods; with energy-dense foods being far cheaper in the short-term for the family on a tight budget. Consider how you might work to make fresh, whole foods available to families in need in our community by asking to harvest a neighbor’s fruit tree or supporting efforts to expand community gardens.

See Grist Online, “How the feds make bad-for-you food cheaper than healthful fare”

WONDERMINUTE (July/August 2010)

2010-08-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24

Photo: Vivian Stockman, Southwings.org

On our recent trip to serve with Sharing with Appalachian People (SWAP) in Hindman, KY, the high school students and sponsors from church and I had the opportunity to visit a reclaimed mountaintop strip mine. Denuding mountaintops of vegetation and stripping off mineral resources poses significant danger to the health of both humans and wildlife. Draglines, large, surface-mining machines, can move 100+ cubic yards of earth in a single scoop! But the people of the region can’t imagine life without coal. Coal is what brought many of the families to the mountains generations ago, and mining provides income to sustain their families today. A modest step—perhaps a lesser evil—that seeks better equilibrium between industry and ecology is mountaintop reclamation in which denuded areas are planted with conservation grasses to stabilize and re-cover the surface mine with vegetation.
The irony is that while the loss of deep forests has led to the decline of several species of neotropical migratory songbirds dependent on that habitat, the return of open grassland and additional forest-edge has meant an increase in other bird species which had experienced decline previously. Additionally, at this particular site, we found ourselves a stone’s throw from four individuals of a herd of resettled Elk. Once prevalent east of the Mississippi, Elk were extirpated from 90% of their pre-European-settlement range in the U.S. by the early 1900s.
I say “a lesser evil” when speaking of mountaintop reclamation because the plant species chosen for revegetation are non-native, European hay grasses; shallow-rooted and poor food for native animals. Were reclamation efforts to shift to using deep-rooted native grasses capable of breaking up compacted mine soil and, further, planting the next generation of forest saplings, I could bring myself, perhaps, to call the work “a greater good.”

See: Mountaintop Removal/Valley Fill Coal Mining Impacts on Birds [American Bird Conservancy]

Wonder-full World: The Vogelkop Bowerbird, Enchanting Artist

2010-07-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

View the amazing artistic sensibilities of the Vogelkop Bowerbird (Amblyornis inornata) of New Guinea as he prepares his bower to entice a mate; one of God's wondrous creatures! [BBC One video via YouTube]

The male constructs what amounts to a reception hall supported in the middle by a sapling, the trunk of which is wrapped in moss. An intricate woven roof of twigs and grasses shelter the Bowerbird's art gallery.

Photo: Uy Laboratory, Department of Biology, Syracuse University

The Primal Power of Play (video)

2010-06-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Amazing sounds of rats laughing, at play, in frequencies beyond our hearing! What an amazing world God has given us as home.

BP Oil Leak Video feed and Leak Estimation Counter [via PSB Newshour]

2010-05-29T19:25:00.001-07:00

WONDERMINUTE (June 2010)

2010-05-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24

An amazing number of God’s creatures can be found in one’s own backyard with just a little informed observation. This spring I have been amazed to see these migratory birds at our home just blocks from the church: Indigo Bunting, American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Palm Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Swainson's Thrush. A combination of a few trees of multiple heights, some dense shrubs, assorted flowers, a bird bath with a dripper and a couple of feeders with differing foods equal an extraordinary welcome mat for these neo-tropical migrants.

Birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians all depend on pathways through urban environments; wide-open lawns pose numerous risks. With the decline of hedgerows, fencelines and woodlots in cities comes the loss of natural corridors for animal travel and refuge.

Sara Stein, in her book Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards, suggests that if homeowners would cooperatively landscape property edges that the aggregate result would be a substantial increase in overall corridor area (see diagram; Stein). This concept could be incorporated into subdivision design from the beginning to benefit both humans and animals. You may be the very catalyst that starts a wildlife corridor landscape initiative in your neighborhood.

[Diagram: Sara Stein, in her book Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards. Purchase at Half.com]

New Rain Garden at Mennonite Church of Normal

2010-05-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

This spring, work will begin on a large rain garden planting in the stormwater swale in the SW corner of the lawn at Mennonite Church of Normal. The swale is already designed to capture runoff from parking areas to allow it to slowly percolate into the soil rather than flood storm sewers. The deep-rooted, perennial native grasses and wildflowers that will comprise MCN’s first rain garden boost the effectiveness of the swale, taking up additional water and releasing it slowly into the air; as well as filtering pollutants.

The rain garden planting will increased biodiversity on the property and expand habitat for birds and butterflies. Apart from the intrinsic beauty of the plants, they will provide some reduction of dust and noise for the Residential Community. Potential opportunities for missional connections with the neighborhood and broader community include use as an outdoor learning area for Headstart and as a demonstration site for rain garden workshops like those offered by Ecology Action Center.

Sod will be removed this spring and weeds will be shallowly cultivated throughout the summer. The prairie grass and wildflower seeds will be planted in the fall to take advantage of the natural effects of winter frost; both softening the seed coat and settling the seeds into the soil. The most labor is required in the first three years after which maintenance reduces to a once-a-year mowing.

#CONSCIENTIOUSOBJECTORS

2010-05-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Almost all male U.S. citizens age 18-25, are required by law to register with the Selective Service; the administrator of military drafts. In the event of a draft, a young man receiving a draft notice has the opportunity to make a claim for classification as a conscientious objector (CO). Peace and Justice Support Network of Mennonite Church USA offers a number of helpful resources on faith-driven conscientious objection to war.
[Source: Mennonite C.O. resources, PJSN, http://bit.ly/PJSNCO]

Pax Service: An Alternative To War (DVD)

2010-05-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to "make peace?" Between 1951 and 1976, some 1,200 young men refused to join the military. Their religious beliefs forbade their taking another human life. Instead, they volunteered to build homes for World War II refugees, taught African subsistence farmers modern farming methods, helped Greek villages preserve food for the winter months, and built a road through the Green Hell of the Paraguayan Chaco. They did this through an alternative service program called Pax, overall serving in 40 countries. This program features the Pax work in Germany, Austria, Greece, Paraguay and the Congo.

Purchase Pax Service: An Alternative To War (DVD) at Amazon

Mennonite Voluntary Service and U.S. Selective Service Sign Agreement

2010-05-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

On April 20, Mennonite Voluntary Service and the Selective Service entered into an agreement making MVS the first faith-based organization to become an officially recognized employer for conscientious objectors, should the draft ever be reinstated.

“I have appreciated the opportunity to learn about Mennonites, and we are proud that our first agreement of this kind could be with the Mennonites,” said Selective Service Director Lawrence Romo. “It’s important to respect each other's religions. It is a founding principle of the United States, and so it’s important to have a robust alternative service program.”

Romo and Mennonite Mission Network Executive Director/CEO Stanley Green signed and solidified this agreement during a ceremony at San Antonio (Texas) Mennonite Church. This is the first agreement of its kind to be signed by the Selective Service in 25 years, and makes MVS an official member of the Alternative Service Employer Network.

“The importance of this signing is that it ensures that, in the event of a draft, people who have convictions about war and come from historic peace church backgrounds can serve their country with their convictions intact,” said Green. “We believe it is just as patriotic to serve human need in our country as it is to serve through war."

[Excerpted from Mennonite Mission Network, http://bit.ly/MVSCO]

#ITSALLFUNANDGAMESTILLSOMEBODYGETSHURT

2010-05-26T13:26:00.001-07:00

Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children's Entertainment (T.R.U.C.E.) is a national group of educators deeply concerned about how children's entertainment and toys are affecting the play and behavior of children. T.R.U.C.E. says that “quality play experiences help children develop critical thinking, problem solving skills, curiosity, persistence, and creativity” which are the foundation of educational success.
[Source: T.R.U.C.E. Guides to Toys and Child Development, http://bit.ly/truceguides]

#BUGBITES

2010-05-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Biting insects are due to make their appearance and the best plan for avoiding itchy bites is to apply insect repellent before going outside; particularly at dawn and dusk. If you still get nipped, dab some roll-on antiperspirant directly on the bite. "The aluminum salts in the antiperspirant help the body to reabsorb the fluid in the bug bite. The swelling goes down and the itching goes away," says Ken Haller, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University.
[Source: http://bit.ly/bugbiteremedy]

#BIBLEVERSIONS

2010-05-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

To create an English-language Bible, the original languages of the Bible—Hebrew and Greek—have to be translated. Some English versions take a technical approach and aim to get the most exact translation word-for-word. Others strive to get the gist of the meaning from the original languages. Some show a balance between the two schools of translation. Zondervan’s Translation Comparison resource can help you learn more about the translation you use most often and perhaps help you find one that suits you better
[Source: Zondervan’s Translation Comparison resource, http://bit.ly/bibleversionscompared]

#SOCIALNETWORKING

2010-05-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

Meredith Whitmore writing for pluggedin.com suggests that, in regard to social networking websites, the question to ask isn't "How many friends do I have?" but instead, "Who is my truest community?" Whitmore advises narrowing down friend lists to those you “have meaningful contact with regularly, then do everything you can to help them thrive—and see them face-to-face instead of just on Facebook.” Weed out distracting online connections that keep you from attending to “physically present friends in need of ministry and fellowship.”
[Source: pluggedin.com, http://bit.ly/friendrevisted]

#FREEDENTISTRY

2010-05-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

The Illinois State Dental Society is sponsoring a “Mission of Mercy” event June 11-12 at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, IL. More than 300 volunteer dentists, hygienists and others from throughout Illinois will provide free basic dental care and oral surgery to all comers. The doors will open each day at 6 a.m., and no appointments will be taken. Not all dental services will be available. More information on the event is available by emailing mom@isds.org.
[Source: State Journal-Register, http://bit.ly/ILfreedentistry]

Virute Review: OWLY Graphic Novels by Andy Runton

2010-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Andy Runton has created a truly all-ages sequential art series (a.k.a. comic books) in OWLY.

The forest creatures are naturally wary of the title character, but Owly’s unexpectedly sweet disposition wins out. The art is nearly wordless; relying on facial expression, gesture, setting and symbols to carry the story along.

Far from simplistic, though, the stories offer realistic conflict and distress for Owly and his friends that are solved with virtues like: reconciliation, hospitality, honesty, bravery, compassion, kindness, friendship, persistence and more…

Owly (Vol 1): The Way Home "The first graphic novel in the series contains two enchanting novellas, wherein Owly discovers the meaning of friendship, and that saying goodbye doesn't always mean forever."*

Owly (Vol 2): Just A Little Blue "The second graphic novel in the breakout, all-ages series wherein Owly learns that sometimes you have to make sacrifices and work at things that are important, especially friendship."*

Owly (Vol 3): Flying Lessons "In this, the third graphic novel in the series, Owly and Wormy meet a new friend and learn that everyone has their own special strengths and it's okay to be different."*

Owly (Vol 4): A Time To Be Brave "The fourth Owly volume tells the story of a new visitor to the forest who is misunderstood because of how he looks, but things aren't always what they seem, and everyone soon finds out that the power of friendship can fix just about anything."*

*Volume descriptions from, and purchase available at, http://andyrunton.com/

So We're Back to Scrolls Are We?

2010-05-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

It seems that what goes around, comes around. This time though, I hope somebody remembers to back up the data (cf. Library of Alexandria).

[via ohgizmo.com]

Underwater footage of Gulf oil spill from ABC News

2010-05-25T12:44:00.001-07:00

Economics of Forgiveness: Loss, Gain or Investment?

2010-03-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Victim-offender relationships are often couched in terms of economic transactions (below, Keim & Liechty). Victims are "owed," and should "get even." Offenders should be made to "pay" for what they have done, or should be "repaid" in kind.

To follow this hard teaching of Jesus means I have to accept a loss, don’t I? If I forgive an offender who owes me a debt, then A=zip, zero, nothing, doesn’t it?

The Old Testament formula of “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” sought exact repayment, as an equation A=A. Other understandings sought symbolic repayment, such that if you steal my ox, you owe me the ox plus the value of lost labor; as an equation, A=B. Either way, the aim of justice was to bring matters between two parties back to a real or perceived zero, an evenness or balance.

What then do we do with Jesus who commands, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer” (Matt 5:38-42)? To follow this hard teaching means I have to accept a loss, don’t I? If I forgive an offender who owes me a debt, then A=zip, zero, nothing, doesn’t it?

There is a third way between vengeance and victim-hood. I propose that the primary theft by an offender is that of the victim’s own personal agency; their capacity to act or exert power. Forgiveness, which Jesus taught, is difficult and risky, but does not result in an outright deficit for the victim. By forgiving, the victim regains their capacity to act and exert power because they choose not to allow a perpetrator to continue to hold power over them. Third-way actions do not cover wrongdoing, nor do they guarantee equivalent compensation, but they do move both victim and offender back toward equal footing.

The wonder of third-way choices is that they hold the possibility of transformation for not only the victim, but the offender and those who hear the story. These choices inject moral capital back into the common economy of justice from which others are able to make withdrawals to fund their own third-way choices. We are able to borrow—to draw upon—the courage, resolve and creativity of others. These stories help to write our own stories because they stock our imaginations with alternative visions, other than flight or fight. If your imagination is largely stocked with fight stories, fight will become your default setting. Most of our decision-making occurs inside our imaginations before we are faced with actual choices of how we might respond to conflict.

This common economy of justice exists for the good of all, and the marvelous fact of the matter is that anyone may draw on the imaginative, courageous capital deposited by those who made third-way choices. Let’s fill up the bank account, shall we? What choice will you make today? What stories will you share to increase our common funding toward peacemaking?

Keim, Paul and Joseph Liechty. “Vengeance/Forgiveness Project: Reading Texts from a Talionic Perspective.” C. Henry Smith Peace Lecture, February 13, 2008: Goshen (IN) College

Tylenol & Other Product Recalls

2010-01-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

McNeil Consumer Healthcare (the makers of TYLENOL®)

Children's and Infant Tylenol Recall Press Release

"You may have heard that McNeil Consumer Healthcare (the makers of TYLENOL®) is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Children's and Infants' TYLENOL® liquid products that were manufactured between April, 2008 and June, 2008. All products manufactured met internal specifications. However, the company is implementing this recall because during this period, an unused portion of one inactive ingredient did not meet all quality standards. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, it was decided to recall all Children's and Infants' TYLENOL® liquid products listed below, which were made during this time.

Parents and caregivers who have questions or concerns should contact their child's health care provider or our consumer call center at 1-800-962-5357 (available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time). Consumers can find the lot numbers on the bottom of the box containing the liquid product and also on the sticker that surrounds the product bottle. The lot numbers of the affected products are listed below.

These actions do not apply to Children's TYLENOL® Meltaways and Junior Strength TYLENOL® Meltaways. The voluntary recall applies only to select lots of Children's and Infants' TYLENOL® liquid products

There are recalls on some McNeil adult products as well.

Teens, Cell Phones and Porn Culture

2009-12-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Participation in 'sexting' was reported by one-quarter of teens recently surveyed in an Associated Press/MTV poll. 'Sexting,' the sending by cell phone of sexually explicit or suggestive photos or videos is becoming an epidemic among teens.

Photos or videos are shot and transmitted by teens wanting to 'celebritize' themselves or to gain or keep a boyfriend or girlfriend. The permanence of digital data and the ease with which that data can be retransmitted means that the sexually-charged images rarely stay on the device to which they were originally sent. A boyfriend may share naked photos of his girlfriend with the guys in the locker room as proof of sexual prowess. Teens may engage in "resend revenge" spreading explicit pictures to get even with someone. Teens may also become unwitting recipients of unsolicited sexual material sent by friends to their phones.

The images don't simply remain on phones either, but can be sent to e-mail in-boxes from cell phones. Teens who have sexually explicit images of another minor, or even of themselves, stored on their phone or computer can have child pornography charges brought against them.

Many cell phone providers are rushing to provide parental controls for teen phones, but the solution does not lie in the technology. Teens are using cell phones exactly for what they were created to be used for: the transmission of voice, text and visual communication between cell phone users. The problems are a pervasive porn-as-norm society, lack of discernment skills in teens and an ever-weakening emphasis on personal virtue.

Parents can help their teens by fostering frank and honest conversation about technology and morality. This certainly should include the pragmatic discussion of consequences, both legal and relational. Moreover, Christian parents should find opportunities to reinforce with their children biblical understandings about human sexuality. Consider these talking points:

God created human bodies with sexually-distinctive features and the capacity to enjoy mutual intimacy and called those created bodies GOOD!
Biblical teachings on human sexuality view sex positively within a marriage and condemn sexual activity that has pleasure and sensuality as the primary goal.
Jesus taught that two persons, a husband and wife, become joined as if they share one body and that they should not be torn assunder. Sexually intimacy bonds persons together in a real, but mysterious, way. In the case of serial sexual relationships, a piece of oneself is given permanently to every sexual partner and one likewise is shackled with the burden of pieces taken from one's partners.
Our deep longing for intimacy--being known and cherished--comes straight from God's own heart. As God-in-three-persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share a oneness of which we only catch a glimpse in human sexual relationships. We exert much effort in this life trying to fill that God-given longing with sensual pleasures that never truly satisfy. That longing is truly filled only by the One from whom it came.

These links are directed to helpful articles from The Center for Parent and Youth Understanding on sexting and texting acronyms:

Sexting

Text and chat acronyms

Budget and Financial Resources for Young Families

2009-11-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

Financial stewardship is an important component of the lived-faith of young Christian families. Anabaptist-Mennonites hold tight to the understanding that the "earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it" (Psalm 24:1). Jesus taught that, along with loving God with all we have, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). Mennonites believe that frugal, simple living and responsibile management of material resources frees up more of those resources for aiding persons in need.

Money Under 30 is a personal finance education blog aimed at 20-somethings, but don't let that stop you if you're not part of their target audience. 30 and 40-somethings alike who are serious about saving, reducing debt, home ownership, investing and more can benefit from the insightful resources written by David Weliver, this site’s founder and editor. David writes from both personal and professional experience. David encourages charitable giving, even in small amounts, as part of a healthy financial life.

Lutheran Social Services Financial Counseling Service offers free, confidential budget and debt counseling over the phone (888-577-2227) or on the web at their Online Counseling site. LSS counselors will "help you create a realistic spending plan and an action plan to improve your financial situation". This free service is sponsored in part by Mennonite Mutual Aid, an insurance and financial services organization rooted in Anabaptist-Mennonite Christian values.

Virtue Reviews: "Wink, the Ninja" and "Spoon"

2009-11-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

Wink! The Ninja Who Wanted to be Noticed

Author: J.C. Phillips

Virtues: assertiveness, creativity, diligence, enthusiasm, friendship, perseverance, self-confidence, self-discipline, self-worth, uniqueness

One Halloween, author Phillips, her husband and son encountered a neighborhood boy dressed in a bright red ninja costume trying to stealthily evade detection. When the family did their best to "not notice him" the boy-ninja got bored and started waving his arms around. Phillips' husband exclaimed, "Look, it's the ninja who wants to be noticed," and Phillip's first picture book was born. Wink, the boy-ninja-in-training, just can't fit in at the Summer Moon School for Young Ninjas. Wink's flair for theatrics, costuming and acrobatics clash with Master Zutsu's teachings of stealth, but Wink presses on determined to be the best ninja he can be. A chance encounter with a circus family holds the key to Wink finding his fit.

Spoon
Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Virtues: admiration, family unity, friendship, self-confidence, self-worth, uniqueness, nurture

Spoon comes from an illustrious family with various spoon relatives; serving and silver, plain and fancy, functional and frivolous. But little Spoon has a hard time seeing his own worth and wonderful traits. Spoon is envious of the traits of his friends Fork, Knife and the Chopsticks--they're so lucky! But could it be that Spoon's friends think the same thing about Spoon?

Fun with the Kids: Homemade Slime

2009-11-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Try this recipe for play slime on an "indoor-day"!

In a jar, shake: 2 tsp Original Metamucil (coarse milled) and 1 cup water for 1 minute.

Pour mixture in a saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes; stirring constantly.

Transfer to bowl and stir occasionally as it cools. Cook longer for firmer slime. Cook less for runny slime. ENJOY!

November is National Adoption Awareness Month

2009-11-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Jesus was adopted? It's true! Take a look at this passage from the first chapter of the the New Testament Gospel of Matthew:

"This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.

"Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet: "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.' " When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus." Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT)

This young couple was in a hard spot. Who would believe Mary's story? Even Joseph had his doubts. Being a man of virtue, the situation weighed heavily on him. The tenderness in Joseph's heart allowed God to work for the good and Joseph took Mary as his wife and assumed the role of father for the soon-to-be-born Jesus. It is no wonder then, with Jesus as Lord, that Christians have a broad understanding of what comprises a family. Jesus proclaimed that family is based on more than just biology (Matt. 12:45-50 & Mark 3:31-35) and Paul, who led and taught among the early churches, made clear that God's family stretches across boundaries of race, class and gender (Galatians 3:26-29).

Adoption was, in fact, a practice of the early Christians. Roman culture emphasized the worth of male sons as heirs and the populace took to this norm so vigorously that infant daughters, when born, would be taken to the refuse dump and left to die. Christian families of the time would rescue the baby girls and raise them as their own children.

November, in the United States, is National Adoption Awareness Month and is a reminder to us to examine our hearts to see if there might be room in our homes for a child in need of a family. There are many forms of adoption: through adoption agencies, international adoptions, private adoptions and through the foster care system. The Awareness Month places special emphasis on foster adoption.

Over 150,000 foster children in the United States are currently available to be adopted. These are children from infancy through adolescence who entered foster care through no fault of their own and for whom parental rights have been terminated. Adopting through the foster system is permanent. Adoption through the foster system is affordable. Would you prayerfully consider whether God is leading you to adopt a child or whether you might advocate or volunteer on behalf of foster children? See the following websites for more information:

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Illinois Licensed Adoption Agencies

Why We Do What We Do When We Do Worship

2009-04-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

Every worship service has an order of some kind or another that guides us from our busy schedules to a focused time of building our relationship with God and then back out again to serve in the world. As Christians, our primary purpose as a gathered body is to worship God. These are an example of the acts, or movements, of worship and what they mean for us:

Gathering: We enter, leaving our distractions behind, expecting to meet God in worship.

Praising God: We admire God directly through prayer and song.

Confession/Assurance: We name our shortcomings and acknowledge God’s grace and transforming power.

Witnessing/Testifying/Sharing: We share with each other how we’ve seen God at work in the world and ask for the help of others in bringing our concerns to God.

Hearing God’s Word: We hear the words and see the stories of the Bible; of God's persistent love for God's people.

Responding to the Word: We try to figure out together, with the help of God’s Spirit, how we ought to place ourselves in God's ongoing story. What does the Bible mean and what effect should it have on our lives?

Affirming Faith: We name the truth we know about God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit and God’s relationship to humanity and all of creation.

Praying Together: We bring to God prayers for ourselves, those dear to us, for our neighbors, for the church and for the world.

Blessing/Sending/Commissioning: We leave renewed in hope expecting to meet God in the world and are reminded of our "job description"--how we should serve as Christ's hands and feet in the world.

Further reading:
Yoder, June Alliman, Marlene Kropf and Rebecca Slough. Preparing Sunday Dinner: A Collaborative Approach to Worship and Preaching. Scottdale: Herald Press, 2005.

JUST FOR FUN: THE HERO FACTORY
Have you ever considered creating a costume for yourself and taking to the streets to pursue justice for the innocent as a full-fledged superhero? Give this web app a try and test-run your super-get-up before investing your allowance in bolts of high-tech fabric and kevlar thread. The app allows for various choices between guy and girl costumes, hair and skin color, shirts, pants, capes (I'd recommend avoiding capes--they cause problems), accessories and more. In my attempt to create a non-violent, Creation-caring, eco-superhero identity for myself I ended up with the ensemble to the right. Quite stylish, if I do say so myself.

Talking with Your Child about Holy Week

2009-04-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

There’s no getting around the fact that the story of Jesus’ experiences from the Last Supper to the Crucifixion, which we commemorate during Holy Week, is a violent story and can be hard for children to process. Jesus is betrayed for money by a friend who then hangs himself. Peter lops off a guy’s ear with a sword. Jesus is brutally beaten and taunted and dragged before the masses to stand beside a murderer whom the crowd chooses to set free instead of Jesus. Jesus’ death by crucifixion begins with spikes being pounded in his hands and feet and what follows is a slow death by dehydration, suffocation and cardiac duress. How do you talk about that with your kids?

It is a helpful approach for us as adults to become knowledgeable about the various understandings of Jesus’ death (the cross as sacrifice; as a victory; as forgiveness; and as a moral example) as there are things to be learned from each—all of them represent views presented in Scripture itself. See my bibliography below for resources for personal study. The irony here, in asking how to talk about Jesus’ violent death with children, is that our children have already been, and continue to be exposed to violence—the question is not ‘if’ anymore, but ‘when’ and ‘how’? The difference is that the story of Jesus’ death, though violent, is a statement against the powers of violence and oppression.

Consider these statements when speaking with your child:
1. Jesus’ death shows that he was willing to die rather than deny what he knew to be true about God the Father.
2. Jesus’ death shows that he was willing to die rather than bring about God’s Kingdom through violence.
3. Jesus’ death healed the relationship between humans and God so that we might fully follow God both in this life and even after death.
4. Death happens to everyone, but Jesus’ death gives us the power to not fear death and to live now as Jesus lived—showing God’s love and mercy to others.
5. Jesus rose from the dead with a new, amazing and mysterious body and that means that God can bring that same renewal to humanity and to all of creation.

Make sure as well to ask your child about their own understanding of Holy Week, you may just be surprised to learn something yourself!

BRAIN NEWS: TODDLER BRAINS, TEEN BRAINS
Current research on brain function is providing surprising insight into the behaviors of children across a broad age span—from Toddler to Teen.

Why Toddlers Don’t Seem to Listen:
A recent news story highlighted research which seemed to show that toddlers do not plan for the future by anticipating situations, but instead call up past learnings on an as-needed basis. For example, you can tell your toddler till you’re blue in the face to get their coat on before going out, but they won’t recognize the need for the coat till they are outside shivering in the yard. What may be most helpful is to somehow trigger this reactive function in your child—highlight the conflict they are going to face: “I know you don’t want to put your coat on now, but when you’re standing in the driveway shivering later, remember that your coat is in the closet.”

Why Teens Can’t Multi-task:
Between age 11 and 17 brain waves reduce significantly while a teen is sleeping. Brain scientists speculate that a process called “synaptic pruning”—in which the brain decides which connections must be kept and which can be let go—is reflected in this reduction. The high degree of brain flexibility found in young children—so great that a damaged function of the brain can be learned by another section—decreases in teens because synaptic pruning is moving their brain toward processing multiple pieces of information related to focusing on single problems for longer periods. There is no great behavioral strategy offered, but parents may wish to try limiting their expectation of the number of tasks a teen can accomplish at once.

Links:
Why Toddlers Don't Do What They're Told
Teen Brains Clear Out Childhood Thoughts

On my desk:
Driver, John. Understanding the Atonement for the Mission of the Church. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers (reprint of Herald Press, 1986).

Green, Joel B. and Mark D. Baker. Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament and Contemporary Contexts. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Weaver, J. Denny. The Non-Violent Atonement. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001.

Fight or Flight? Conflict is Healthier

2009-03-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

Flight—more often than fight—is the bigger threat when it comes to dooming a marriage. Pop psychology urges couples to avoid conflict at all costs. But the emotional distancing that creeps in when couples begin to withhold concerns for the sake of so-called-peace can devastate a relationship.

David Code, an Episcopal minister, family coach and author, in a recent article in Christian Science Monitor said that recognizing ‘flight-mode’ can be tricky. Obviously, walking away from heated conversation counts as flight, but it can be far more subtle: working late, watching TV, and even spending time with the kids. When these activities are done as a way to avoid a spouse, it is then that they become problematic.

This is a difficult issue that affects many of us. The tendency toward flight in situations of conflict is for me a consistent challenge at which I work. We learn these habits from our families-of-origin, from social situations we face as children and in-tandem with less-than-healthy parts of our personalities.

But in avoiding the touchy topics that can spark conflict, couples communicate to each other less and less of their true thoughts, feelings and dreams, says Code. The good news is that we can eat, walk and talk our way to relationships of greater intimacy.

Have each family member share the ‘highlight’ and ‘lowlight’ of their day at mealtimes: This is a simple type of prayer exercise based on the Consciousness Examen developed by St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Ignatius was an immensely practical man and he asked his monastic brothers to engage in simple reflection on their daily lives as a way of seeing God at work. This prayer asks us to see and be grateful for God’s wonder in the concrete details: “I saw my first butterfly of the spring sunning on my windowsill.” It also asks us to be aware of our shortcomings and disappointments: “I got mad at the older lady ahead of me at the checkout because she paid in nickels.” Thank God for the ‘highlight’ and place the ‘lowlight’ into God’s hands, asking God’s help for the next time the situation arises.

Purchase a set of voice-activated walkie-talkies: these gadgets are like high-tech baby monitors with greater range. Place one near your sleeping child and then take a stroll together and talk in the yard or while ambling down the street. Stay close enough that you can sprint back in a hurry. Code points out that you’ll hear more on the walkie-talkie than the parent watching television on a different floor of the house.

“Sure, avoiding our partner feels easier in the short-term,” says Code, “so we may have to force ourselves to interact at times, but putting our spouse first is win-win.”

Code, David. “How Emotional Distance Ruins Marriage.”
Zagano, Phyllis. "A Popular Method of Prayer from St. Ignatius and His Followers."

GEOCACHING: FAMILY FUN WITH GPS
Every kid dreams of finding hidden, buried treasure with a secret map. Thanks to the Global Positioning System (GPS) hidden treasure is just an afternoon away. GPS which originated as a military locating tool, was made fully available for public use in the most accurate way in May of 2000. Prior to that date the accuracy was very limited.

‘Geo’ which means 'earth' and ‘cache’ which means 'a hiding place to store items' make up the word geocaching and precisely describe the sport. The premise is that someone hides a cache and makes available the GPS coordinates so that others may locate it. A cache typically contains small ‘prize’ items and a log book. Coordinates may be posted on Internet sites like geocaching.com. Once found, the seeker takes an item, leaves an item in its place and records their name, the date and their city name in the log book. Caches may vary in size from large, reusable plastic containers to something as small as a film canister—or smaller!

Caches can be hidden in the wild or in the city; easy to get to or nearly-impossible to get to. Some caches even require following clues form cache to cache till you find the prize.

Unlike many forms of entertainment that use the Internet, geocaching requires you to leave the computer behind and set foot into the world to find that hidden treasure! Remember to respect private property and ask permission before entering and remember to respect natural areas and avoid trampling areas off-trail. You can help your community as well by picking up trash while you hunt for the cache!

DICTIONARY DECLINE: CHRISTIAN, NATURE WORDS
Imagine helping your child look up ‘blackberry’ (the edible one) in the Oxford Junior Dictionary only to find that it had been replaced by ‘Blackberry’ (the communication device). Imagine no longer. Nature words are on the decline and being replaced by technological terms.

In: Blog, MP3 player, broadband, Blackberry (the electronic kind)
Out: Acorn, beaver, otter, blackberry (the purple berry you can eat)

Christian words are on the decline in the Oxford Junior Dictionary as well. Bishop, chapel and saint are not to be found.

NWF Green Hour Blog for Parents

IT'S THE SIMPLE (SILLY) GIFTS
It’s the Baby Mop all-in-one baby jumper! With static-charged, extra-cushy fringe your baby can earn his keep while keeping your floors dust-free and shiny! Machine-washable, flame-retardant. courtesy: kirainet’s flickr stream The caption states that you may at first have to call to the baby from across the room to get him started, but pretty soon he’ll be doing what he does naturally. Build a healthy work ethic in your baby!

ON MY DESK:
Peters, Jack W. The Complete Idiots Guide to Geocaching. New York: Alpha, 2004. (Normal Public Library)
Sherman, Eric. Geocaching: Hide and Seek with Your GPS. Berkeley: Apress, 2004. (Normal Public Library).

Creative Work for Justice: The Home Dome

2009-02-26T13:48:00.000-08:00

Twelve year-old Max Wallack, a young inventor, while on a trip to Chicago saw many homeless people living on the streets. "I felt very sorry for these people," says Max, "and ever since then, felt that my goal and obligation was to find a way to help them. As a contestant in PBS' Design Squad Trash-to-Treasure contest Max designed an emergency shelter for homeless people, refugees or disaster victims. Made entirely of trash, Max's prototype shelter “The Home Dome” is a yurt or igloo-shaped structure made entirely from Styrofoam peanuts packed into plastic shopping bags. The dwelling is anchored down when the occupant lies down on the attached bed. Max's creation does double-duty in providing care for those without shelter and in preventing materials from ending up in the landfill. As contest winner, Max had the opportunity to create a professional model of his Home Dome.

Creative work like the kind that Max engaged in by creating his Home Dome brings to mind the vision of Isaiah 25:
4 For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, 5 the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled. 6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Design Squad Trash-to-Treasure

Ideation Station

Creation-care: The Art of the Common Place

2009-01-19T23:52:00.000-08:00

Last week the world lost an icon of American art in the death of painter Andrew Wyeth. Wyeth was a frequent target of critique. His father, illustrator N.C. Wyeth, thought Andrew wasn’t much of an illustrator. Art critics said that he was an illustrator and not an artist. In the face of this, Wyeth nurtured a silent and centered focus on his art for its own sake. What Wyeth mastered was the conveyance of Place.

I capitalized ‘Place’ because I want to convey that the subjects of Wyeth’s art were not shallow ‘some-places’ but locations imbued with deep identity, emotion and worth. These places for Wyeth were his hometown of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and his summer home in Cushing, Maine. The content of Wyeth’s art is mundane, not in the popular sense of ‘boring,’ ‘plain’ or ‘tedious,’ but in the original sense of the word—“earthly,” from the Latin mundi for ‘world.’ Intimacy is discovered in the detail of individual grass blades, bark on exposed tree roots, gradients of cloud shading, the texture of lone rocks and the movement of light through window panes. Even in Wyeth’s portraits and modeled compositions it is clear that the people reside in a Place.

Spring Beauty by Andrew Wyeth (1943)

In Wyeth, one finds a childlike captivation with the immediate space which he occupies. Herein, is the point for parents. The single most important virtue at the heart of creation stewardship—or caring for God’s world, creatures, plants and people—is wonder. Wonder leads to exploration. Exploration leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to relationship. Relationship leads to thanksgiving. Thanksgiving leads to care. Red bird becomes Cardinal. Yellow weed becomes Tall Goldenrod. Dirt becomes Catlin-Saybrook Silt Loam (in the case of our church’s front lawn). In the Genesis creation story, God almost playfully presents Adam with animals “to see what he would call them” (Genesis 2:19). Isn’t it amazing that God wants us to participate in the care and nurture of this glorious, exceptional world!

Here’s an exercise to help your children come to know the Place in which they live. Give your child a hula hoop and a magnifying glass and ask them pick a spot and to catalog what they find within the diameter of the hoop. Leave the cataloging method wide open: drawing, writing, photographs, etc. Join them in their exploration and try to restrain your “explanation reflex” so that their curiosity can run free.

BONUS REVIEW: Spore

Spore, from Sims creator Will Wright, is a multi-genre, single-player computer game with enhanced Internet content. The impetus for the game story is the theory of panspermia—the idea that a meteor crashing to earth brought the original ingredients which lent to the creation of life forms. The premise is that the player begins with a one-celled organism which the player may physically alter in the Creature Creator module, based on game challenges and creature needs, after having accumulated DNA points. The player moves their creature from unicellular water-dweller, to land-walking creature, to tribe member, on to civilization and eventually launches into space.

The Cost: $49.95 as a direct download from Spore.com or in-a-box at most retailers.

The Worldview: Evolution is the mechanism by which intelligent life develops.

The Irony: Behind the evolutionary process is you, the Intelligent Designer!

Violence: Your choices early in the game determine whether your race will be warmongers or peacemakers. That’s right, you have the option to be peacemakers and court friendship with other races with your music and dance talent. The catch is that by the space stage even the “peacemakers” end up having to shoot anonymous space pirates who raid colony planets.

Final Analysis: The engine that drives the game is the Creature Creator. The bulk of gameplay is creature design and, as well, the most consistently enjoyable part. For $10 you can buy Creature Creator separately and play it apart from the evolution story line and internet content. My two-year old daughter even enjoyed helping Daddy “create” new critters by picking out colors and shapes. Intuitive controls make this easy to learn.

On my desk
Corn, Wanda. The Art of Andrew Wyeth. Greenwich: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 1973. (Normal Public Library).

Moyer, Joanne. Earth Trek: Celebrating and Sustaining God’s Creation. Waterloo: Herald Press, 2004.

Common Stories, Common Vocabulary

2008-12-06T19:04:00.000-08:00

This week my niece Shelby discovered my mother’s Nativity scene. These same plastic figurines in muted pastels, ensconced in a wooden cattle stall, have been a fixture in our family for almost three decades. Shelby took to the figurines quickly and began the narrative play of a toddler. Wobble-flying the angel toward Mary she said in a sing-song voice: “Hi there, I am your fairy godmother here to take you to the prince!” That’s funny to be sure. The part that’s disturbing is that many church-goers are as biblically under-informed as Shelby, who is just beginning to hear and learn the stories.

The consequence of the growing trend toward biblical illiteracy is that we as believers find ourselves unable to communicate with each other about the things of faith. The biblical stories are the basis for the common vocabulary of the church. Educating our children about the stories of the Bible not only prepares them for a full life of faith conversation, but it’s a great way for us as parents to increase the balance in our own story-banks.

Many find that getting started is the hardest part when it comes to reading the Bible with their children. Here are some strategies for dealing with two common fears:

1) “I can’t seem to re-tell the story in my own words”—That’s okay, because there are numerous resources out there to help. Begin by selecting a book of children’s Bible stories that you are comfortable reading aloud. Give yourself time to get used to reading these prepared stories. Then try retelling in your own words a story with which you are most familiar. With practice, you should begin to find that telling the story becomes easier.

2) “My kids are going to ask me questions I can’t answer”—Kids appreciate honesty and come hard-wired with lie detectors to know when you’re making things up. A truthful, “I’m still trying to figure that one out too,” goes a long way with kids and assures them that it is okay to ask questions. A sage piece of advice from children’s author Madeline L’Engle is “Don’t answer questions children haven’t asked.” Trust the stories to speak for themselves without a lot of added explanation and let children come to the questions in their own time.

Two exceptionally helpful resources to have on hand are an Atlas of the Bible (allows children to see that Bible places are “real” places) and a basic Bible Dictionary (defines terms like “Sheol” and gives brief bios for people like Abimelech).

Let yourself become a little childlike as you read the biblical stories and know that God’s own Spirit guides the understanding of scripture. Maybe this Christmas before the gifts are grabbed pause to read the story of Jesus’ birth out loud with your family. Family traditions must always have a first time, so grab your new-found Bible story book because there’s no time like the present!

On my desk:

Moore, Eva. Read and Learn Bible (American Bible Society). New York: Scholastic, 2005.

VanNess, Patricia W. Transforming Bible Study with Children: A Guide for Learning Together. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991.

The Genealogy of Jesus

2008-12-02T15:46:00.000-08:00

I have always found biblical accounts of family trees to be a sure-fire antidote for sleeplessness. They drone on, verse after verse, with “this man begat this son, and that son begat this son and he bore another son.” But there’s a genealogy in our Bible that bears further examination because of how it is different from the others you may have read.

At the beginning of the book of Matthew (the first of the four books called Gospels, and the first book of the New Testament) we find the list of Jesus’ ancestors. Mixed in with the same old “so-and-so was the father of so-and-so” are the names of five women:
Tamar (Genesis 38),
Rahab (Joshua 2),
Ruth (the book of Ruth),
“the wife of Uriah” (Bathsheba; 2 Sam. 11 & 12),
and Mary the mother of Jesus.

That women show up is uncommon but not unheard of; there’s a genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:4 in which four women are named. What makes this one significant is that the women who are named found themselves in very difficult situations and—with exception of Mary—are all Gentile women.

Now ‘Gentiles’ simply meant ‘the nations’ and was the name given to those peoples who did not belong to God’s chosen people—the Israelites. Even though—and precisely because—these other nations had all the advantages of wealth, power and military prowess, God chose a people with no power to be his chosen people.

God’s promise to Abraham: “I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:17-18

God revealed his will and word to the Israelites and held a special relationship with them so that they might bless the nations. But over time, God’s chosen people tried to gain power on their own and become like the other nations, neglecting their special relationship with God and forgetting that they were to be a blessing to the Gentiles.

But the account of Jesus’ ancestors makes an exciting and bold statement that God’s plan includes the Gentiles—and has since the beginning! Matthew, the writer of the book ,is helping the people to understand that the plan of God has been brought about through history in unanticipated, “irregular” and even scandalous ways. Jesus, as we learn from the Gospel stories, came to fulfill both the hopes of God’s people and Gentiles.

Apples and Oranges: Literary and Visual Violence

2008-11-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

Sufficient research has been conducted to show that the viewing of film, television and video game violence poses a considerable risk to the cognitive and social development of children and youth.

Research also shows that separate areas of the brain operate when imagining violence while reading about it versus being provided a stimulus of visual violence. Imagination and realistic* experiences are processed differently. So I, a pacifist pastor, am going to play Devil’s Advocate and say that there is moral-formational value in accounts of conflict and even violence in literature for young people.

Human beings are narrative creatures. We ourselves are shaped, and we shape the world around us, by story. And in the life of any given human, it is not simply one story, but a composite of stories that makes that person who they are. This composite most definitely includes fiction—stories which are not literally true but can function as a vehicle of truth. It is on fiction that I want to dwell here.

Good fiction serves as a proving ground for the moral formation of young people. Because of the limitations of our physical bodies, geography and time, no one of us can experience in one lifetime the sum total of events and circumstances which could prepare us for every ethical or moral choice. But a steady diet of good fiction can take us around the world, through the universe and back and allow us to vicariously entertain alternative solutions and possible moral choices through the viewpoint of story characters. Questions like ‘What would I do?’, ‘Could I do that?’, ‘Is that right?’, ‘What would happen?’ form of sort moral-ethical calisthenics program.

Significant in this workout is narrative conflict within which, I suggest, violence serves a necessary training function—surprisingly not toward violence, but against violence. Notice that I keep using the word ‘good’ in relation to fiction. There is a lot of bad fiction out there—both poorly written and lacking in instructional value. Good fiction, in terms of the treatment of violence within the narrative, should adhere to the following criteria in order to be of formational value:

1) Characters should have depth and complexity. No real person is simply bad or simply good, but instead contains both the capacity for great good and great evil. This includes holding out the possibility of redemption for characters who do evil.

2) Consequences of violence need to be portrayed. “Cartoony” violence—where an anvil dropped on the head incurs only momentary dizziness—doesn’t pass muster. Real consequences are physical and emotional injury, shattered lives and even death.

3) Violence for violence’s sake should be marginalized and critiqued within the story. Furthermore, alternatives to retaliatory violence—bargaining, truces, mercy, reconciliation and the like—should be presented with equal consideration.

I have to be honest and say that no story comes to mind which I have read that completely abides by these criteria; most incorporate one or two. With this in mind the important take-away nugget is that parents need to be involved in their child’s reading life. This means both reading what your child is reading and taking the initiative in helping your child process what they are reading in light of faith values.

* I consider visual violence to be more akin to a realistic experience. Video games in particular are increasingly designed from a first-person perspective—as if through one’s own eyes.

On my desk:
Guroian, Vigen. Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child’s Moral Imagination. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

On the web:
Plugged in Media Reviews
Science Daily: PG-13 Films Not Safe For Kids, Researchers Say
Science Daily: Was Orton Right? New Study Examines How The Brain Works In Reading;Offers Key To Better Understanding Dyslexia
Science Daily: Media Violence Linked To Concentration, Self-control
Science Daily: This Is Your Brain On Violent Media
Science Daily: Why An Exciting Book Is Just As Thrilling As A Hair-raising Movie

Movie Review: Fireproof

2008-11-13T16:32:00.000-08:00

I’ll confess that I’m a movie snob. Unless a film has been lauded at a festival, awarded Oscars or has achieved cult status, I’m likely to pass it by. So when my wife Deb suggested that we take in a movie starring Kirk Cameron—former childhood television star and male lead for the cinematic and theological bombs that were the Left Behind movies—I gulped. But we have a deal: whoever picked the movie the last time agrees to see the movie choice of the other spouse the next time. So with silent protest I went with Deb to see Fireproof.

At this point, I’ll eat crow, and recommend this movie to every married couple I know. Yes, it’s low-budget. Yes, the dialogue is over-the-top and the delivery, at times, wooden. Yes, some of the characterization is stereotypical. But this film has much to offer in terms of content.

The film centers around the marital struggle of Caleb and Catherine Holt. Caleb is a fire department captain and Catherine is a hospital public relations staffer, both of whom, after years of marriage, are ready to call it quits. Though they live in the same house, they don’t live the same life. They each have their own schedules, their own agendas, their own food, and their own checkbooks. Caleb is absorbed by and righteously indignant about his work as a “life-saver” and lets himself be overtaken by pornography addiction. Catherine has a burgeoning career with growing connections and influence and she catches the eye of hospital doctor for whom she makes little attempt to hide her attraction.

Caleb calls his father to let him know that Catherine has hired a divorce lawyer and his father decides to intercede. He passes on to Caleb a 40-day “love dare” which he asks Caleb to complete before he calls it quits. Caleb decides he has nothing to lose and so he begins to work through 40 daily tasks beginning with Day 1 which instructs him to say nothing negative to his wife. Day 2: Do something unexpected as an act of kindness. 3: Buy something that tells her you're thinking of her. 4: Call to check if she needs anything. 16: Pray for her. 17: Listen to her. 18: Study her again. And it continues on the same trajectory through the movie.

There is an evangelical plea in the film, and the salvation message presented is that of forgiveness, hope and redemption. In addition to the positive message about marriage, there is a strong, well-handled presentation and rebuke of internet pornography addiction.

I urge every couple in our congregation to go see this movie. The 40-day “love dare” gave me a lot of food for thought. It made me realize, even as a young married person, how much I take for granted about my wife and our relationship. Left to my choice we'd have seen Beverly Hills Chihuahua. So if you see the movie and like it, thank my wife for the recommendation, it was her pick.

Open Commenting Enabled

2008-11-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

You may now post your comments about my blog entries, even if you do not have a Google account. Below each entry you'll find the comment section. Click the "# comments" link to leave a message. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions.

Pastor Matt

Open Commenting Enabled

2008-11-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

Bible Background: Epistles

2008-11-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

Several of the books in the New Testament are epistles (a Greek word, epistole, meaning 'letter') of teaching, counsel and encouragement written by the Apostle Paul to specific churches located around the Mediterranean Sea. Paul, once an enemy of the followers of Jesus, became Christianity's first prominent pastoral theologian after seeing a vision of the resurrected Jesus who asked him, "Why do you persecute me?"

The Mediterranean
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Letter to the Romans (Rome): From a cluster of settlements in the mid-eight century BC situated around seven hills in Italy, came a city-state, then a republic, and then an empire. The city of Rome was the hub of the empire's consolidation of the entire Mediterranean region and thus a melting pot of religion and culture. Paul wrote this letter around AD 56 before he had visited the Christians at Rome face-to-face.

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Letter to the Philippians (Philippi): The city of Philippi rested on a fertile plain in the province of Macedonia along a Roman military and commercial highway. Gold was mined from the mountains outside the city. Paul either wrote this letter from Ephesus in AD 54 or from prison in Rome AD 61-63.

1 & 2 Letters to the Thessalonians (Thessalonica): An important Roman city in its region, Thessalonica was a trade center situated along a road connecting Rome to its eastern colonies as far as Byzantium. Both letters were likely written by Paul in AD 51.

1 & 2 Letters to the Corinthians (Corinth): Corinth was a city well-situated for ocean trade. It surpassed Athens as a hub of exchange between Romans, Greeks, Jews, Syrians and Egyptians. It was well known for the value it placed on the accumulation of wealth and was known widely as a city of immorality and frivolousness. The city's Temple to Aphrodite promoted sexual behavior that was opposed by Christians. Paul wrote the first letter to this church around AD 55 and the second around AD 56.

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Letter to the Ephesians (Ephesus): The city of Ephesus was a seaport situated at the intersection of two major overland routes, thriving commercially, and religiously as well due to the Temple of Artemis which housed a statue carved from a meteorite. Likely written by Paul, from prison in Rome, to a cluster of churches around AD 62.

Letter to the Colossians (Colossae): Colossae was a city in the valley of the Lycus river, a branch of the Meander, in southwest Asia Minor. Paul did not directly found this church or know the Christians there, but they were influenced by his teachings. He wrote this from prison in Rome around AD 61.

Letter to the Galatians (Province of Galatia): Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia (in what is now modern Turkey) which was settled by Gaulic or Celtic (from central and western Europe) migrants in the third-century BC. The letter was written by Paul to a group of churches, some of which he had visited, and the date of this letter is less clear--written anywhere between AD 48-55.

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Taking Back Childhood: Filters and Evaluation-Free Affirmation

2008-11-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

In this last installment of entries on Nancy Carlsson-Paige’s book Taking Back Childhood, I want to highlight two concepts from the latter half of the book. The first is helping to nurture within your child “filters” through which they can, on their own, critically assess media. The second is learning how to give descriptive, rather than evaluative, feedback so that children do not become solely dependent on external affirmation of their self-worth.

Learning to Filter: Marketers and advertisers exert considerable energy manipulating children in an attempt to get parents to purchase products. A parent takes their child shoe shopping and no amount of rational arguments about the relative worth of one shoe over another will be successful if the less-preferred shois decorated with bold, colorful television cartoon characters. The same battle occurs over cereal, school supplies, ketchup, clothing, bandages, underwear, bedsheets, eyeglasses and canned goods. You can begin to see how pervasive this marketing strategy really is. Using open-ended questions, a parent can help their child begin to understand how advertising works. Consider this sample dialogue from the book:

Miles: Mom, you know Berry gets Doritos and corn chips in his lunch.
Lori: Those taste good, don’t they? Sometimes it’s okay to have them, but snacks like apples and oranges are better for you.
Miles: And they’re Star Wars Doritos!
Lori: That’s funny. Star Wars is a movie and Doritos is food. Why would they mix them together? One is a movie and one is food.
Miles: I know why, Mom. Because they want you to buy the Doritos.
Lori: But Doritos aren’t healthy. They’re okay once in while, but they’re junk food. Why do you think they put Star Wars on food that isn’t good for you?
Miles (suddenly thoughtful and quiet): I don’t know.

Descriptive, not evaluative: This was an eye-opener for me. Carlsson-Paige suggests that when we respond to children in evaluative ways that we train them to base their self-worth on external affirmation. Consider this example: a child presents a drawing to Daddy and Daddy says, not knowing what the blob on the page is supposed to be, “That’s really pretty. I like it!” That comment is evaluative and the perception of the child is that the worth of the drawing is based on Daddy’s opinion. Look now at the possibilities opened up by descriptive comments:

Child: Look Daddy, I made you a drawing!
Father: Oh, you made a green circle with a purple line coming out of it.
Child: Yeah, it’s a boat and that’s the paddle, just like when we went fishing!
Father: Neat, you drew a boat for me because you enjoyed going fishing?
Child: Yeah!

It seems like genuine two-way communication is enabled by both of these notions. I’ll confess that I’ve tried to be conscious of how I speak in these ways to our two-year-old daughter and it’s tough! I slip up and want to say things like, “Oh you look so pretty in that dress,” or “I think you did a good job.” I do, though, think that these ideas merit some continued attempts on my part.

The New Testament writer Paul, in his letter to the church at Phillipi, speaks of our hearts and minds being guarded in Christ and concludes with a list of qualifications regarding the things about which we should think:

Philippians 4:7-9 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

By helping train young children to think critically and to view their self-worth through the eyes of God (instead of fickle humanity), we begin to see a ground work develop upon which mature spirituality and discernment can be built.

Ways to Pray: Praying with Clay

2008-10-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Clay being formed by the hands of a potter is an image that shows up frequently in the Bible when the writers want to talk about the relationship between God and people. As a lump of clay is molded and shaped for a specific purpose, so are we as individuals shaped by our relationship with God and with the body of Christian believers that makes up the Church.

Isaiah 64:8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Here are two approaches for praying with clay (store-bought or homemade) which you can use and you may come up with your own ideas later on:

1) Use the clay to create a symbol which represents your prayer request or perhaps your reflection on a scripture verse or an image of God. Ask God's Spirit to work with your hands to help you understand.

2) Experience something of what it might be like to be God-the-Potter by shaping the clay into a representation of yourself-as-God-sees-you. Ask God's Spirit to help you understand your God-given gifts and attributes.

Pay attention to what makes the clay special. Does the clay move easily sometimes and resist at other times?
After spending time making your "mini-me," reflect on how God might be molding your life--do you yield easily to God's shaping or do you resist?
What has this exercise taught you about God's love for you?

Did you know that you can learn to know when it is God that is shaping you and not peer pressure or pop culture? Pay attention to both inside-signs (like emotions, stirrings, dreams and thoughts, etc.) and outside-signs (affirmation or caution from fellow Christians, a clue from the Bible, something you hear in worship, etc.). My experience is that when both inside and outside clues line-up that God is in the midst of your searching. But I'll be honest and tell you that you won't always have clarity and certainty beyond the simple fact that you are loved by God and that God desires good to ultimately come from your life.

New Feature: Ways to Pray

2008-10-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

Somewhere along the way, Christians became convinced that the ONLY way to pray was with heads bowed, eyes closed, hands folded and speaking English from the King James Version of the Bible in sombre tones.

By simply reading the Bible itself you can discover all sorts of prayer types and numerous ways to pray presented there. From thanksgiving to lament, from praise to confessing, with hands raised, on your knees, in a closet, in worship, with song, with groaning and tears--the take home message is that God desires our prayers in any mood and in many ways.

It is in this spirit that I'm happy to include a new feature, "Ways to Pray," which will appear occasionally. A previous post on coloring-as-prayer began to address this topic. The Ways to Pray feature will always have the words "Ways to pray" as part of the heading.

Taking Back Childhood: Power Sharing

2008-10-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

The basic understanding of power in our North American society is either you have it or you don't. This plays out in parenting when we either exert power over our children or give our power away to them, neither of which helps them to develop as healthy, whole individuals. If force is used to get children to comply, societal models of coercion are reinforced. If kids are simply allowed to run the show, we are not teaching them alternatives: "skills of dialogue, cooperation, negotiation, and joint problem solving."

In reality, power exists on a continuum between having all the power and giving it all away. Nancy Carlsson-Paige, in Taking Back Childhood, asks parents to stop and think about whether there might be a way to share power with children in any given situation. Knowing that a child's reaction to a situation and, equally, a parent's reaction to a situation have little to do with the actual situation but with emotions, addressing these emotions can help resolve the situation in a peaceful, nurturing way. A child may feel insecure or afraid, hesitant or perhaps angry; what approach could take their need seriously? A parent may feel overwhelmed or embarrassed, challenged or helpless; what can we as parents do to deescalate our internal states?

David, a thirty-six-year-old father, had assumed most of the responsibility for caring for his three-year-old son Mark after the recent birth of their second son Lucas. Lucas had colic so Sadie, David's wife, had been tending to Lucas almost constantly. David prepared for Mark his favorite breakfast, bagel with cream cheese. But this morning Mark started fussing: the bagel was too hot, the cream cheese wasn't right. David tried to reason with him saying, "The bagel doesn't feel hot to me." But Mark cried harder, "It IS hot!" David persuaded Mark to feel the temperature of the bagel together with their hands. But Mark kept on crying, and with tears streaming down his face said "I don't want a baby brother." David hugged him close and Mark cried harder, "I want Mommy." David held him lovingly and simply said, "Yes, Mark, it is really hard to have a baby brother." After a while, Mark relaxed, and tears lessening, said "I feel better."

Carlsson-Paige points out that David had two opportunities to exert power over Mark: 1) he could have said, "The bagel is NOT hot--now eat it."; or 2) he could have criticized Mark and made him feel bad about his feelings toward baby brother. Instead, by keeping his own parental anxiety in check and by taking Mark's feelings seriously he allowed Mark to open up about what was really bothering him.

I attempted to use a power sharing framework with my two-year-old daughter in one instance last week. My wife was washing some dishes and our daughter was standing on a chair watching Mama work. She asked Mama if she could play with some bubbles. My wife placed a blob of dish suds on the counter. The time eventually came to be finished with suds and to begin bedtime routines. I told my daughter that it was time to get down and she began to fuss. I paused, and asked myself how I might share power with her. I asked her, "Would you like to take some bubbles with you in your hand?" She said, "yes," and I placed a bit of suds on her fingers. She promptly got down with a smile and went to grab her pajamas. The suds evaporated along with the tension.

The basic notion expressed in this power-sharing concept is that negotiation and joint problem solving are okay. They don't diminish parental authority. They don't create "terror children," but in fact encourage children in learning how to self-regulate. The virtues of cooperation, honesty, and mutuality--engendered in children by using this discipline concept--go a long way toward helping them, as adults, to take seriously the reconciliatory, peacemaking teachings of Jesus Christ.

Challenge by choice

2008-10-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

This week I volunteered as a facilitator on the high ropes course at Menno Haven Camp and Retreat Center, one of the two Mennonite camps that our congregation supports. The course element for which I served as a belayer was the Leap of Faith. The basic task of the Leap is to climb, wearing a harness with ropes, as far as you are able up telephone pole and perhaps, after mounting the plastic disc at the top, leap off and ring a bell on rope.

Participants must agree to abide by the Full Value Contract. The contract addresses safety, teamwork, communication and growth, but the foundation of the contract is the concept of Challenge by Choice. Each person is given the freedom to assess their comfort level and choose whether or not to participate, but are encouraged to go as far as they are comfortable and then one step beyond.

One young man who was in our group let me know of a disability he has which limits his coordination and control over his legs. He confessed that he didn't think he could participate. I reminded him of the goal of getting one step beyond comfort. The young man waited till last and finally approached the ladder. Each step up was physically excruciating. It was apparent when he reached his comfort level. I reminded him of the goal and, encouraged by his peers, he went two painful steps beyond comfortable. To see his joy and to see how his peers rallied around him was wonderful.

Have there been times recently that you have reached your comfort zone and then just stopped because to go further might be awkward or come at some cost to you? I know I have. In fact, just yesterday I was on a guided nature hike and the young man from the university who was leading the hike was surprised, in light of my plant and ecology knowledge, to find out that I was a pastor. I told him that there is a growing interest in ecology and stewardship in our congregation and that's when I hit my comfort zone. I was on the verge of inviting him to church, but froze; afraid of rejection. I went away thinking, "I should have."

The good news is that when we are "confronted by comfort" and are anxious or fearful about taking that one-step-beyond we are empowered to call on the aid of Jesus Christ. The New Testament writer Paul had some good insight about comfort zones, realizing that not only can we do hard things when Christ gives us strength (Philippians 4:12-13), but that through our weaknesses the strength of Christ is plainly shown to others (2 Corinthians 12:9).

And good times were had by all...

2008-10-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

Every now again there's something about indulging the impulse to pit your wits against a computer game. There are some poor choices out there that do not align with Anabaptist-Christian values--games which promote violence, theft and aggression--but I'm happy to commend a good choice. The folks at Big Idea Productions, makers of Veggie Tales and other films for families, have created bigideafun.com. Various games starring your favorite characters from Big Idea can be played right in your internet browser (you may be prompted to download the Shockwave plug-in). The site features no outside advertising or objectionable material so it's something your parents can feel better about you playing--they may want to play, too! So, after your homework is done, challenge a parent to beat your high score on my favorite game Doom Funnel Chasers! Ever shoot a duct tape ball at a black hole? No? Well, you can now!

Taking Back Childhood: Media-Linked Toys

2008-10-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

In the introduction to this three-part blog-series on the book Taking Back Childhood, I noted that television and movies have become strongly linked to children’s toy product lines. Initially, the linkage would have been limited more to the portrayal of cartoon characters like the Care Bears or the Smurfs.

(As an aside, don’t think for an instant that the resurgence of toy product lines from the 1980’s in today’s store aisles is simply a happenstance. We, the children who originally played with those toys, now have children of our own—adults are certainly preyed upon by toy marketing as well.)

Today, though, stores are stocked with action figures and other merchandise linked to movies which have ratings for age groups older than the target audience in the toy aisles. Take for instance the recent Batman film The Dark Knight. Squeaking by into a PG-13 rating, the movie is filled chaotic personal violence, psychological horror and disturbing acts of terrorism. But you will note in the picture featured here of Dark Knight action figures, that the packaging says “4+”.

A general problem with media-linked toys is that they “script” children’s play. Open-ended, unscripted play nurtures children by allowing them to shape “raw materials” like blocks and clothing into props which support stories which they themselves create. Media-linked toys are created with a primary purpose of acting out the narrative found in the cartoon or movie. In the case of The Dark Knight, that “script” is one that promotes weapons violence, vengeance and deception as the ultimate tools for countering the ultimate evil.

As Christian parents in the Anabaptist tradition, peacemaking is a virtue which we should seek to instill in our children. Open-ended play helps children to potentially develop a myriad of creative, non-violent response options when play conflict arises; whether between the children themselves or between characters in their stories. The scripted, and especially violently scripted, media-linked toys hamper children’s interpersonal skills and cement in them a narrow and simplistic view of the world—one which does not likely include reconciliation with enemies.

Ugly is the New Beautiful

2008-10-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

A very specific, very narrow definition of beauty has been incorporated into toy lines for some time now. From Barbie to Bratz, girls and boys both come to learn harmful societal values about body image and self-worth which stick with them into teenage years and beyond. But I am happy to announce that ugly is the new beautiful! Uglydolls, a line of stuffed toys, is a runaway success with an unlikely story.

David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, both having an interest in toy design, met in a class at the New School for Design in New York City in 1997. Horvath was attracted to Sun-Min, but no sooner than Kim began to return his affection her visa expired and she had to return to Korea. Horvath was crushed, but clung to his two dreams of designing toys and reuniting with Sun-Min. David took his drawings to a major toy company, but was rejected and told that his characters would not translate into the toy medium.

Discouraged, Horvath wrote a letter to his beloved Sun-Min which included a drawing of an ugly little orange creature named Wage. Sun-Min put her design skills to work sewing a plush version of Wage as a Christmas present for Horvath--an ugly doll created with love. Upon seeing the toy, the owner of the Giant Robot toy store where Horvath worked ordered 20 dolls which sold out immediately. Kim and Horvath eventually married and their Uglydolls took off and have received numerous toy design awards. The persistent success of these toys is due in part to the emotional chord struck in the many who seek a new definition of beauty.

Christians attest to a standard of beauty which is not simply based on physical beauty, but which is grounded in a beauty that originates with God. True beauty is discerned only in the light of God's beauty. When we cling to a very narrow image of "beautiful"--like that which many toys are happy to define for us--we become numb to the true beauty of the people and things around us which lift our hearts to see the beauty of the Creator. The Old Testament writer Isaiah described a vision of the ugly, beautiful Christ who was to come:

Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?... There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look...But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us... (Isaiah 53:1-5 The Message)

So the next time you wonder whether or not something is beautiful--think ugly! It may just serve to remind you that beauty rests in the eye of the Creator.

Sources: Media excerpts from Uglydolls About Us page

We Interrupt This Blogcast...

2008-10-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

An unusual offering made its way to the shelves of local comic book shops. IDW Publishing, known for its comic book translations of television and video game properties, has released comic book biographies of both major party presidential candidates. Presidential Material: Barack Obama and Presidential Material: John McCain can be purchased separately or as a back-to-back flip comic.

The comic masthead attests to biographical presentations "based on true events or the prior reporting of true events" and while they do claim accuracy they acknowledge artistic expression. That being said, upon a first reading it seems that they do a reasonable job of showing the merits of each candidate without glossing over less-than-pleasing bits of their personal histories.

I'll not go into a theological debate in this forum about voting or not voting, but I will say that even abstention from voting ought to be informed abstention. These comics would be an enjoyable way to introduce teen children to the candidates if televised debates have yet to grab their attention. Perhaps you'll learn something new as well.

These comics can be purchased locally from Jim at ACME comics, Uptown Normal, IL.

For several perspectives on Anabaptist-Christians and voting, including Goshen College history professor John D. Roth's "Polls Apart: Why Believers Might Conscientiously Abstain From Voting" (pdf download), visit Goshen College: Faith and Politics.

Coming Soon to the Church Library

2008-10-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World
By: Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed.D.
Hudson Street Press, 2008, 304 pp
ISBN 9781594630439

The deregulation of children’s television programming during my childhood has culminated in what I consider no less than a crisis for those of us who today are parents to young children. With its genesis in the early, seemingly innocent pairings of cartoons and toys—like G.I. Joe, Transformers, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite and others—the media-merchandise machine assaults our children on all fronts. From TV to toys to clothing to snack crackers and shampoo, marketers prey on the susceptibility of children to make a profit. These products hawked to our children at every turn promote violence and highly “scripted” play. These result in stifled creative-thinking and the emergence of significantly disruptive and alarming behavior in the home and classroom.

Nancy Carlsson-Paige, a professor of early childhood education and conflict resolution, offers practical help for “21st-century parents” in her book Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World. The premise of the book is that to counter the effects of the media-merchandise machine parents and educators need to assure that three critical elements are present in the life of children: creative play, a feeling of security, and meaningful relationships with both adults and other children.

Carlsson-Paige’s single concise chapter on child development theory is worth four other whole books. Her keen insights about the behavior and needs of each developmental age-grouping provide practical nuggets that parents can grasp a hold of and use daily. Ideas from Taking Back Childhood will provide the basis for the next three blog entries. Additionally, this valuable book has been added to our church library.

Take a Child Outside Week 9/24-30/08

2008-09-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

Take a Child Outside Week is an initiative of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in cooperation with partner organizations across the U.S. and Canada. The aim of the week is "to help break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world" so as to encourage "better understanding and appreciation of the environment...and a burgeoning enthusiasm for its exploration." You can find a variety of activities here.

As Christians we confess that the earth is the Lord's and read in scripture of how creation, alongside humanity, gives praise to the Creator. Becoming acquainted with the world around them, your children can begin a lifelong habit of nurturing the earth--God's marvelous gift to us. The work that we do now to care for creation is a testimony to the hope-to-come that is the full redemption of creation by God. A significant part of that work should be care for our own bodies. Healthy habits like outdoor exercise can serve as a prayerful expression of thanks to God.

Micropayments: You Can Virtually Buy Anything

2008-09-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

An allowance can go a long way these days. You can virtually buy anything: new clothes and accessories, new hair styles, new pets, new body parts and looks—no, seriously you can virtually buy anything. For pennies on the dollar young people participating in virtual 3D socializing websites, like IMVU, can personalize an avatar* buy purchasing items using virtual credits paid for with actual money—by credit card, PayPal, or with gift cards bought at department stores.

The idea of “micropayments” has been floating around for some time, and likely gained traction with the successful move made by Apple to sell single song downloads for $.99 rather than forcing people to purchase whole albums. In a market flooded by illegal, bootleg copies of computer and video game system software, some manufacturers are turning to micropayments as a way to generate revenue.

For instance, registration with IMVU is free and new users are given 500 free start-up credits to begin customizing their avatar. Purchase of further credit is 1000 credits for $1. IMVU reports that “the core of IMVU users are young adults, 18-24. However, many users are older. In fact, 7% are over 35. The minimum age is 13 years old.” While giving assurances that the experience for teens differs from that of adults in that teen users are only exposed to age-appropriate content, parents should always maintain an awareness of their children’s activity online.

With some coaching and guidance, the use of micropayment transactions could serve as a lesson in wise stewardship for young people.

Luke 16:10 "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.

Further reading: "Old Web idea of micropayments finally finds a home" By Barbara Ortutay

Musings and Meanderings of Pastor Matt Hickman

Follow me at my new domain

A Response to "Neo-Anabaptism" and a Counter

WONDERMINUTE (November 2010)

Mennonite church on 1-yr sabbatical from committee work

WONDERMINUTE (September 2010)

WONDERMINUTE (July/August 2010)

Wonder-full World: The Vogelkop Bowerbird, Enchanting Artist

The Primal Power of Play (video)

BP Oil Leak Video feed and Leak Estimation Counter [via PSB Newshour]

WONDERMINUTE (June 2010)

New Rain Garden at Mennonite Church of Normal

#CONSCIENTIOUSOBJECTORS

Pax Service: An Alternative To War (DVD)

Mennonite Voluntary Service and U.S. Selective Service Sign Agreement

#ITSALLFUNANDGAMESTILLSOMEBODYGETSHURT

#BUGBITES

#BIBLEVERSIONS

#SOCIALNETWORKING

#FREEDENTISTRY

Virute Review: OWLY Graphic Novels by Andy Runton

So We're Back to Scrolls Are We?

Underwater footage of Gulf oil spill from ABC News

Economics of Forgiveness: Loss, Gain or Investment?

Tylenol & Other Product Recalls

Teens, Cell Phones and Porn Culture

Budget and Financial Resources for Young Families

Virtue Reviews: "Wink, the Ninja" and "Spoon"

Fun with the Kids: Homemade Slime

November is National Adoption Awareness Month

Why We Do What We Do When We Do Worship

Talking with Your Child about Holy Week

Fight or Flight? Conflict is Healthier

Creative Work for Justice: The Home Dome

Creation-care: The Art of the Common Place

Common Stories, Common Vocabulary

The Genealogy of Jesus

Apples and Oranges: Literary and Visual Violence

Movie Review: Fireproof

Open Commenting Enabled

Open Commenting Enabled

Bible Background: Epistles

Taking Back Childhood: Filters and Evaluation-Free Affirmation

Ways to Pray: Praying with Clay

New Feature: Ways to Pray

Taking Back Childhood: Power Sharing

Challenge by choice

And good times were had by all...

Taking Back Childhood: Media-Linked Toys

Ugly is the New Beautiful

We Interrupt This Blogcast...

Coming Soon to the Church Library

Recommended Reading: Roxaboxen

Take a Child Outside Week 9/24-30/08

Micropayments: You Can Virtually Buy Anything