For young, progressive Catholics in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (founded in 1956 to help college students help the poor), the new pope is inaugurating a new era: one where the issues that matter to them are back in the spotlight, says this article from The Atlantic. (Photo by John Ragai, used by Creative Commons license. […]
Health is a process, not a thing or state. It is ongoing, dynamic, and ever changing. Health is a direction, not a destination, a once-and-for-all property. Congregational leaders are the key stewards of the congregation as a unit in itself. (Photo by Antti Nissinen, used by Creative Commons license)
Here’s a free, downloadable booklet from the folks at New American Dream. You’ll find excellent suggestions for raising healthy children in the midst of consumer culture. (Photo: crimfants, Creative Commons).
The postmodern church will not be afraid of economics and will have learned the biblical truth that you cannot serve God and money, but sometimes you can serve God better with money than without it. The church’s theology of giving will not be based on guilt, or scorn for possessions, or some abstract principle of “unto the least” makes us increasingly intolerant of inequality. (
Read this compelling New York Times op-ed by Sam Polk about how he learned that loving money isn’t the answer. Polk left Wall Street and founded a non-profit organization called Groceryships that helps hungry families buy healthy food and learn how to change their eating habits in the process. (Photo: Andrew Magill, Creative Commons)
Click here to read this short New York Times article about why we are driven to accumulate more than we can consume–even when doing so is proven to make us unhappy. (Photo: reduse.org, Creative Commons)
Mom and church leader Janet McMahon shares her story of learning to opt out of consumer culture and the surprising gifts that accompanied the lesson. Check out her story! (Photo: reduse.org, Creative Commons)
In his singleminded vision and uncompromising pursuit of justice and reconciliation, Nelson Mandela is revered as one of our age’s greatest leaders. In this article, Duke University’s Faith & Leadership magazine offers a compilation of essays it has published about Mandela over the years. (Photo by Ted Eytan, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Gratitude does make a difference! Check out this recent article by Diana Kapp in The Wall Street Journal. (Photo: USAG-Humphreys, Creative Commons)
Now there’s nothing wrong with setting goals that will lead to positive changes in our lives, but I’ve noticed how self-centered my resolutions over the years tended to be. I resolve mostly to do things that will enrich MY life, firm up MY finances, improve MY health and promote MY happiness. Narcissistic resolutions are perfect for people of our me-first age, but methinks not so much for followers Jesus. (Photo by Erephas, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
