Speaking to Atheism

As a Christian believer, I've recently been troubled by my Progressive friends who are now avowing themselves as "atheists" - no belief in God. Some of these people are well-regarded academics - with international reputations. "Father Jake" an Episcopal blogger has been wrestling with this question as well. He has much more Theological "horsepower" than I. Reading today's journal entriy I found it quite helpful:

Red here:
http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-can-we-say.html

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Oh! to live in Arizona!!!!!

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Technical support Grumbles

Buy a GREAT BIG 4 TB external hard drive unit for work. the Biostats unit has a massive dataset to work work.   The reseller says that:

• Works with Windows XP - no problem
• Can be set up as 4 -1TB drives.

$1000 unit arrives.  Does not work on my Windows XP.  I contact LaCie.  find out to my chagrin  that:

• No way this works with Windows XP except the rarely used 64-bit version.
• Even if I set it up on a Windows 7 64-bit machine, with 1 TB partitions, it STILL won't work on XP!
  

Before spending the remnant of this wasted day on the phone with Bangalore working out a return, I am frantically setting up a PC as Windows 7 X64.

Wish me luck!

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[Fwd: April 27, 2010 - Writing to Save the Day - Henri Nouwen (or Why I blog!)

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Writing to Save the Day

Writing can be a true spiritual discipline. Writing can help us to concentrate, to get in touch with the deeper stirrings of our hearts, to clarify our minds, to process confusing emotions, to reflect on our experiences, to give artistic expression to what we are living, and to store significant events in our memories. Writing can also be good for others who might read what we write.

Quite often a difficult, painful, or frustrating day can be "redeemed" by writing about it. By writing we can claim what we have lived and thus integrate it more fully into our journeys. Then writing can become lifesaving for us and sometimes for others too.

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Share your thoughts on this reflection. These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.

Read the latest Nouwen release: Home Tonight. Watch Home Tonight with Henri Nouwen video.

Visit HenriNouwen.org for more inspiration!

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Prayer request follow-up

A week ago I asked for prayers for an infant named Jude who was in the ICU for breathing problems. I am happy to report that he continues to improve and as of this morning was in a regular hospital room and hopefully home soon.

Many thanks for the good thoughts. I know his parents appreciate it.

BEN

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Prayers needed

On this day of Christian Resurrection special prayers are needed for a little boy from our church.

His name is Jude and he is in serious condition in the Pediatric ICU at a Sacramento hospital. He is not able to breathe on his own since early this morning. Please pray for him, please send good thoughts, in short send any type of positive energy towards this boy. He is not even a year old and his parents are good friends of mine. When you read this please take a moment to prayer for Jude. I believe that prayer ad positive energy helps, especially in these cases.

Thanks,

BEN

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The Dignity to Give and Receive - Thoughts from Henri Nouwen

This Easter, with much of the world in need, these words are especially pertinent.  Haiti, for example, where Rea DOl, headmaster of the SOPUDEP School in Pétion-Ville, Haiti and since the earthquake, unofficial "Mayor" of the area maintains dignity with the charity needed to keep her area viable.  There is a system of barter and order in place so that what relief comes in is distributed fairly.  In Pétion-Ville, those who receive also give, by supporting the injured and orphans there.

This Easter, whether our jobs are cut by furlough or layoff, or whether we are still lucky enough to be fully employed, let s look for ways to receive and to give, to bring peace in our lives and in our world.

-------- Original Message --------

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The Dignity to Give and Receive

"Nobody is so poor that he/she has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich that he/she has nothing to receive." These words by Pope John-Paul II, offer a powerful direction for all who want to work for peace. No peace is thinkable as long as the world remains divided into two groups: those who give and those who receive. Real human dignity is found in giving as well as receiving. This is true not only for individuals but for nations, cultures, and religious communities as well.

A true vision of peace sees a continuous mutuality between giving and receiving. Let's never give anything without asking ourselves what we are receiving from those to whom we give, and let's never receive anything without asking what we have to give to those from whom we receive.

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Share your thoughts on this reflection. These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.

Join our Lenten book discussion, starting February 17th.

Read the latest Nouwen release: Home Tonight. Watch Home Tonight with Henri Nouwen video.

Visit HenriNouwen.org for more inspiration!

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