Poll Finds New Optimism on Economy Since Inauguration
"Americans have grown more optimistic about the economy and the direction of the country in the 11 weeks since President Obama was inaugurated, suggesting that Mr. Obama is enjoying some success in his critical task of rebuilding the nation’s confidence, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll."
To read the rest of this story, click here.
Save the Children Responds to Children Affected by Italian Earthquake
"Save the Children has deployed emergency experts to central Italy, where a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck in the early hours of Monday morning and displaced thousands of people. The team will focus on assessing and responding to the most urgent needs for children."
Click here for more on the relief effort.
Astonishing Folly: Anti-Christian Britain
"As you may know, in Islamic countries such as Afghanistan, converting from Islam to Christianity is a crime punishable by death. While they don’t go that far, certain Indian states and Nepal erect formidable hurdles for would-be converts to Christianity.
And then there’s the United Kingdom."
Click here for the rest of Chuck Colson's commentary.
Michael Jordan elected to Basketball Hall of Fame
"Michael Jordan accepted a Hall of Fame jersey, looked at former competitors John Stockton and David Robinson and threatened to make another comeback.
'Every time I see these guys, I want to put my shorts on,' Jordan said."
Want to know more about his feelings? All you have to do is click here.
Advocate of livable cities sees the big, detailed picture
"Tim Beatley wants to bring nature back to city streets. He’s trekked through Copenhagen, Melbourne and other far-flung locales to see why people have left their cars in favor of walking, or planted gardens on their roofs. In Houston last week to speak at Rice University, the author and University of Virginia professor took a few minutes to talk with Chronicle reporter Maggie Galehouse."
Click here to eavesdrop on the interview with Professor Beatley.
World-Record Athlete Scott Rigsby Named Team World Vision Advocate for Children Living with Disabilities
"If you think running a marathon or completing a triathlon for a great cause is beyond your reach, don’t tell Scott Rigsby. The Ironman triathlete, also a double amputee, is teaming with World Vision to ask Americans to look beyond their limitations and set previously unthinkable goals---to help children with disabilities and living in poverty achieve theirs."
For more on how World Vision plans to work with Rigsby to aid disabled children, click here.
Audio Bibles Make the Final Four
"Rev. Billy Graham once said, 'One coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime. So who's coaching the coaches?'
Two influential Christian ministries have teamed up to do just that. This week in Detroit at the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Faith Comes By Hearing and Nations of Coaches will inspire about 700 coaches to lead their teams from a biblical perspective and then provide them with free Audio Drama New Testaments."
Click here for more on this plan to coach the coaches.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Good News From Mary April 6, 2009
Easter and My Struggle with the Brutality of God's Plan
Something about the story made me cringe every time I heard it, and since I grew up a Baptist, I heard it a lot: To satisfy His need for justice and His demand for holiness, God sentenced His own Son to death in the brutal agony of a crucifixion as punishment for the failures and excesses of humanity.
It’s all about food lately.
Lovey-dovey language — even your own — can be so corny it makes you want to puke. But researchers have found that it might actually serve a purpose: Pet names and code phrases pave the way to a playful, resilient, and satisfying relationship. One study on couples' "insider language" published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships reported that the more goofy names, made-up terms, and covert requests for nooky a couple used, the higher their relationship satisfaction tended to be.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
When It Came to Dirt, Dad Knew Best: Feed It, Then Brace for Bounty
MY father loved his lordly third of an acre in our suburban development, and sported grass stains on his khakis from April through October. When he died 10 years ago, we grown siblings sent him to glory with a couple of gardener’s talismans tucked into his coffin.
There was a little vial of the green paint he used to camouflage every frugal garden cheat — be it a piece of rebar staking a lily or a bit of plywood hammered in as edging. And there was his garden radio, the innards of a transistor set held together with rubber bands. Tony Bennett soothed him as he faced down the chickweed.
In hindsight, we should have added one more thing: a scoop of soil from Dad’s vegetable garden. You could taste the spicy, sublime earth in his lettuce, a revelation in those days when watery iceberg reigned at the A & P.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
Scientists find why scratching relieves an itch
Scratch an itch and you get ... aaaaaah. Now scientists have watched spinal nerves transmit that relief signal to the brain in monkeys, a possible step toward finding new treatments for persistent itching in people.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
Something about the story made me cringe every time I heard it, and since I grew up a Baptist, I heard it a lot: To satisfy His need for justice and His demand for holiness, God sentenced His own Son to death in the brutal agony of a crucifixion as punishment for the failures and excesses of humanity.
Don't get me wrong. I want as much mercy as I can get. If someone else wants to take a punishment I deserve and I get off scot free, I'm fine with that. But what does this narrative force us to conclude about the nature of God? to read the rest of this story.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
It’s all about food lately.
Culinary shows like “Top Chef” and “Hell’s Kitchen” are all the rage. Tainted peanuts have us worried about what we eat and how to make it better. Books such as “The Omnivore's Dilemma” and “Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics” are bestsellers. And even first lady Michelle Obama is getting in on the act, planting a vegetable garden at the White House.
Not surprisingly, more and more laid-off workers, those switching careers and young people just starting out are contemplating jobs in the food industry.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
Cutesy nicknames strengthen a couple’s bondsLovey-dovey language — even your own — can be so corny it makes you want to puke. But researchers have found that it might actually serve a purpose: Pet names and code phrases pave the way to a playful, resilient, and satisfying relationship. One study on couples' "insider language" published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships reported that the more goofy names, made-up terms, and covert requests for nooky a couple used, the higher their relationship satisfaction tended to be.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
When It Came to Dirt, Dad Knew Best: Feed It, Then Brace for Bounty
MY father loved his lordly third of an acre in our suburban development, and sported grass stains on his khakis from April through October. When he died 10 years ago, we grown siblings sent him to glory with a couple of gardener’s talismans tucked into his coffin.
There was a little vial of the green paint he used to camouflage every frugal garden cheat — be it a piece of rebar staking a lily or a bit of plywood hammered in as edging. And there was his garden radio, the innards of a transistor set held together with rubber bands. Tony Bennett soothed him as he faced down the chickweed.
In hindsight, we should have added one more thing: a scoop of soil from Dad’s vegetable garden. You could taste the spicy, sublime earth in his lettuce, a revelation in those days when watery iceberg reigned at the A & P.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
Scientists find why scratching relieves an itch
Scratch an itch and you get ... aaaaaah. Now scientists have watched spinal nerves transmit that relief signal to the brain in monkeys, a possible step toward finding new treatments for persistent itching in people.
Click here to read the rest of this story.
Monday, April 6, 2009 Good News Now Stories
Experts find gene trigger for deadly skin cancer
"Up to 70 percent of melanoma skin cancers may be triggered by a gene mutation that causes cells to become cancerous after excessive exposure to the sun, researchers said on Monday."
Click here to read more about this discovery.
How To Get Your Kids to Enjoy Gardening
"Most kids love to play in the dirt, so gardening has a built in advantage as a fun activity. To get young children enthused about having their own special garden, start small.
Get them excited by letting them pick out what they will grow. A walk down the seed packet isle should tempt them with the pictures. Point them toward quick growing plants like, radishes, peas and cucumbers. Smaller children do best with large seeds like corn, beans, peas and sunflowers."
Click here to read more.
135-City 40 Days for Life Campaign Ends; Many Communities Eager to Keep Going
"From February 25 to April 5, 135 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland joined together for the 40 Days for Life campaign, an effort that features 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, constant vigil outside abortion centers, and extensive community outreach."
Click here to read more.
What Does the Bible Say About Organ Donation?
"Q: Recently, a friend had a kidney transplant that probably saved his life, and it's made me want to be an organ donor. Would anything in the Bible forbid this? - D.L. "
Click here to read Billy Graham's answer.
"Up to 70 percent of melanoma skin cancers may be triggered by a gene mutation that causes cells to become cancerous after excessive exposure to the sun, researchers said on Monday."
Click here to read more about this discovery.
How To Get Your Kids to Enjoy Gardening
"Most kids love to play in the dirt, so gardening has a built in advantage as a fun activity. To get young children enthused about having their own special garden, start small.
Get them excited by letting them pick out what they will grow. A walk down the seed packet isle should tempt them with the pictures. Point them toward quick growing plants like, radishes, peas and cucumbers. Smaller children do best with large seeds like corn, beans, peas and sunflowers."
Click here to read more.
135-City 40 Days for Life Campaign Ends; Many Communities Eager to Keep Going
"From February 25 to April 5, 135 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland joined together for the 40 Days for Life campaign, an effort that features 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, constant vigil outside abortion centers, and extensive community outreach."
Click here to read more.
What Does the Bible Say About Organ Donation?
"Q: Recently, a friend had a kidney transplant that probably saved his life, and it's made me want to be an organ donor. Would anything in the Bible forbid this? - D.L. "
Click here to read Billy Graham's answer.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009 Good News Now Stories
Eco-friendly palms gain popularity
"The palms that First Congregational Church ordered for Sunday's services were farm grown in Central America using environmentally friendly methods."
Click here to read more.
Sleep Clears Way for New Learning
"Want to learn something new? Try getting a good night’s sleep or taking a long nap.
Sleep is now recognized as being critical for learning and memory, and now a new study in fruit flies offers clues as to why."
Click here to read more about this research.
Keys, Self-Centeredness, and Stations
"Lent is winding down, but it’s still cold, and early Monday mornings are stiff with the desire to stay in bed.
I left my keys in my husband’s car last night, but didn’t realize it until all the children were in jackets and headed to the van for Mass this morning."
Click here to read more.
Easter Lilies - Selecting, Caring For and Re-Blooming Your Easter Lily
"The palms that First Congregational Church ordered for Sunday's services were farm grown in Central America using environmentally friendly methods."
Click here to read more.
Sleep Clears Way for New Learning
"Want to learn something new? Try getting a good night’s sleep or taking a long nap.
Sleep is now recognized as being critical for learning and memory, and now a new study in fruit flies offers clues as to why."
Click here to read more about this research.
Keys, Self-Centeredness, and Stations
"Lent is winding down, but it’s still cold, and early Monday mornings are stiff with the desire to stay in bed.
I left my keys in my husband’s car last night, but didn’t realize it until all the children were in jackets and headed to the van for Mass this morning."
Click here to read more.
Easter Lilies - Selecting, Caring For and Re-Blooming Your Easter Lily
"Easter Lilies, (Lilium longiflorum), with their large, white, trumpet-shaped flowers and wonderful fragrance are a traditional Easter time treat. More than likely your Easter Lily was grown by one of a handful of growers located along the border of California and Oregon, an area labeled the “Easter Lily Capital of the World”. Ninety-five percent of the 11 ½ million Eater Lilies grown and sold originate in this capital. "
Straw Bale House Survives Violent Shaking At Earthquake Lab
"It huffed and puffed, but the 82-ton-force, earthquake-simulation shake table could not knock down the straw house designed and built by University of Nevada, Reno alumna and civil engineer Darcey Donovan."
Good News for April 5 (posted by Mary Beth)
The key to spending less: Write it all down
"I now carry a stack of tiny, cream-yellow Post-It notes in my wallet. Every credit and debit card I own now has a Post-It affixed to the front; on the left side I enter a date, and the right side how much I spend and the reason. I even bought a mini clip pen to carry in my billfold so I'd never be without a writing tool (or an excuse) to track my purchases."
Click here for more on how one person copes with a recession.
Jewels of the road: It's not all unremitting asphalt from Boston to Virginia - there are bits of glitter to glean
"So the recession has clipped your wings, and you're planning on driving south for April vacation instead of flying. Good idea.
Unfortunately, to go south from here, you have to travel an awful stretch of featureless interstate, bland roadside service areas, and forgettable stopovers in perfunctory cookie-cutter hotels. It's bad enough if you are an adventurous couple with a thing for road trips. But with a carful of antsy kids, it can be excruciating."
Find out how to avoid the bland and find the gems. Click here.
Spring Holiday Recipes to Enjoy - whether you're cooking for Passover or for Easter
Special occasions call for special dishes. If you're planning a holiday meal, check out these delightful recipes for Spring favorites.
Click here to start cooking!
Texts work with rival Web: Medical bookstore keeps a hold on customers in a digital age
"In the age of Amazon.com, it’s hard being a family-owned bookstore. But Majors Books has managed to survive for a century by offering special services to its customers, opening the store to events and adapting to the online world.
It resembles a model that the American Booksellers Association believes other independent bookstores should follow if they want to survive in this digital age of Kindles and iPods, where books can be purchased and downloaded in seconds."
Read about how Majors Books is bucking the trend. Click here.
Obama’s promise to increase U.S. aid for agricultural development a victory for the poor, says World Vision
"International relief organization World Vision welcomes President Obama's announcement at the G-20 summit that he intends to double U.S. assistance for global agricultural productivity and rural development. President Obama also called for a comprehensive food security strategy to alleviate chronic hunger that affects one-sixth of the world’s population."
Click here for the rest of this hopeful announcement.
He Talked to Us on the Road: The surprising rewards of Christian travel
"Less than a decade ago, one could find several books combining travel and Eastern religions, along with scads of interfaith volumes on 'looking for God in America.' But only in the last few years have Christian publishers such as InterVarsity Press and Lion Hudson jumped in with titles on uniquely evangelical pilgrimages. Treks to historically Protestant pilgrimage sites like Iona, Scotland, and Taizé, France, are booming, while evangelicals throughout Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, see their continent's growing interest in pilgrimage as a missional opportunity and a sign that their neighbors' hunger for God is gnawing away at them."
Find more reasons to take a pilgrimage by clicking here.
Make Good Friday and Easter Spiritually Meaningful and Memorable for Your Children
"For Christians, the upcoming Holy Week is an important time to pause and reflect on all that Christ has done on our behalf. It’s also filled with many teachable moments as you explain to your children the significance of Good Friday and Easter. How crucial it is for our kids to know that these holy days are about much more than chocolate, the Easter Bunny and jelly beans!"
Click here for ideas from Awana about teaching your children why we celebrate Easter.
"I now carry a stack of tiny, cream-yellow Post-It notes in my wallet. Every credit and debit card I own now has a Post-It affixed to the front; on the left side I enter a date, and the right side how much I spend and the reason. I even bought a mini clip pen to carry in my billfold so I'd never be without a writing tool (or an excuse) to track my purchases."
Click here for more on how one person copes with a recession.
Jewels of the road: It's not all unremitting asphalt from Boston to Virginia - there are bits of glitter to glean
"So the recession has clipped your wings, and you're planning on driving south for April vacation instead of flying. Good idea.
Unfortunately, to go south from here, you have to travel an awful stretch of featureless interstate, bland roadside service areas, and forgettable stopovers in perfunctory cookie-cutter hotels. It's bad enough if you are an adventurous couple with a thing for road trips. But with a carful of antsy kids, it can be excruciating."
Find out how to avoid the bland and find the gems. Click here.
Spring Holiday Recipes to Enjoy - whether you're cooking for Passover or for Easter
Special occasions call for special dishes. If you're planning a holiday meal, check out these delightful recipes for Spring favorites.
Click here to start cooking!
Texts work with rival Web: Medical bookstore keeps a hold on customers in a digital age
"In the age of Amazon.com, it’s hard being a family-owned bookstore. But Majors Books has managed to survive for a century by offering special services to its customers, opening the store to events and adapting to the online world.
It resembles a model that the American Booksellers Association believes other independent bookstores should follow if they want to survive in this digital age of Kindles and iPods, where books can be purchased and downloaded in seconds."
Read about how Majors Books is bucking the trend. Click here.
Obama’s promise to increase U.S. aid for agricultural development a victory for the poor, says World Vision
"International relief organization World Vision welcomes President Obama's announcement at the G-20 summit that he intends to double U.S. assistance for global agricultural productivity and rural development. President Obama also called for a comprehensive food security strategy to alleviate chronic hunger that affects one-sixth of the world’s population."
Click here for the rest of this hopeful announcement.
He Talked to Us on the Road: The surprising rewards of Christian travel
"Less than a decade ago, one could find several books combining travel and Eastern religions, along with scads of interfaith volumes on 'looking for God in America.' But only in the last few years have Christian publishers such as InterVarsity Press and Lion Hudson jumped in with titles on uniquely evangelical pilgrimages. Treks to historically Protestant pilgrimage sites like Iona, Scotland, and Taizé, France, are booming, while evangelicals throughout Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, see their continent's growing interest in pilgrimage as a missional opportunity and a sign that their neighbors' hunger for God is gnawing away at them."
Find more reasons to take a pilgrimage by clicking here.
Make Good Friday and Easter Spiritually Meaningful and Memorable for Your Children
"For Christians, the upcoming Holy Week is an important time to pause and reflect on all that Christ has done on our behalf. It’s also filled with many teachable moments as you explain to your children the significance of Good Friday and Easter. How crucial it is for our kids to know that these holy days are about much more than chocolate, the Easter Bunny and jelly beans!"
Click here for ideas from Awana about teaching your children why we celebrate Easter.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)