Fingerprint Friday: Hard Work

By MAD21

My husband and I spent nine hours working in our yard last Saturday. We had intended on only spending a few hours and then going on to do other things. But just like a bowl of pasta, it was never ending. Once we got started, it just kept going and going... and going and going. Two hours turned into three, five turned into nine... then we realized it was starting to get dark and our kids needed dinner and baths. So we had to stop.

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Don't Season Your Hopes Yet!

By Pat

It was over. Jesus was crucified. Dead. It was witnessed by many, so it couldn't be denied. Their lord, their hope, was gone. What a sad day it was for those who loved Jesus. His body was removed from the cross on which it hung, and it was given to Joseph of Arimathea so that it could be put in it's final resting place. The tomb. And in accordance with Jewish custom, Joseph and Nicodemus proceeded to wrap, along with myrrh and aloe, with burial linens. This was a form of preparing the body for burial, a "seasoning" ritual. They then placed the body of their beloved Lord in the tomb, where he would stay forever. Or so they thought...

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Balancing Life: A Father's Perspective

By Kevin (Shooting the Breeze)

Being a dad can be a balancing act sometimes.

Actually, it is not just a balancing sometimes; it is a balancing act ALL the time!  On any given day my attention is being pulled in at least four different directions: toward my wife, toward my children, toward my job and toward myself. 

All these aspects of my life are important BUT they are not of the same importance.  I have to choose how I prioritize these different important aspects of my life.  I must be living with the right priorities in place in order to find a happy balance in my life.

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Works For Me Wednesday: Free Mulch

By MAD21

I'm always on the look-out for a good deal. And finding ways to take care of my yard that are economical (and ecofriendly) is no different.

The family we bought our house from had done over $4000 worth of landscaping just before they found out they had to move due to a job transfer. It's a lot more that I would have ever done myself (too much money, I hate to weed!), and it's a lot to take care of, but it is beautiful, and I kind of feel obligated to take care of something they had put so much time and effort into.

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An Amazing Young Man

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Last May I wrote an article about Michelle Tolentino and whether Compassion's model works. Last weekend I attended our regional retreat for the Northeast Compassion Advocates and had the opportunity to hear another testimony. We were fortunate to have in attendance Miguel Figueroa Casina who is currently in a Masters program at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I wish I could record here his entire testimony (covered over two days) but will try to do it justice in the following:

Miguel is a former sponsored child from Bolivia. He entered the program when he was eight years old but was actually on a wait-list until he turned twelve. His earliest memories of the project he attended were going to a breakfast program with his siblings and cousins.

His family of eight lived in a dwelling that measured 12' x 12' with two beds. They did not have running water. He remarked "I was the running water ~ I had to run two miles each day to get fresh water." He remembers sweeping the dirt floor to keep the dust down.

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