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<title>This Christian Life</title>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/</link>
<description>This Christian Life is a look into my life as a Christian. It is an attempt to explore publicly how I should live my life in order that others may learn from my humanity.</description>
<copyright>Copyright 2008</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:20:25 -0500</lastBuildDate>
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<docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs> 


<item>
<title>10 Perfect Foods</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Lately, an article appeared in our local paper about the "10 perfect foods". I'm intrigued by this, especially when it comes to trying to eat healthier, and watch what goes into my body. </p>

<p>There's a nice summary of them all in this article, "<a href="http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Health/Diet-Nutrition/10-Perfect-Foods" title="Visit Women's Day website to read article">10 perfect foods</a>", on the Women'sDay magazine website. </p>

<h3>10 Perfect Foods list</h3>


<ol>
<li>Almonds</li>
<li>Avocados</li>
<li>Broccoli</li>
<li>Eggs</li>
<li>Kale</li>
<li>Quinoa</li>
<li>Raspberries</li>
<li>Sweet Potatos</li>
<li>Teff</li>
<li>Yogurt (plain)</li>
</ol>



<h3>And the 5 almost perfect foods</h3>


<ol>
<li>Apples</li>
<li>Canned tomatoes</li>
<li>Oats</li>
<li>Beans</li>
<li>Dark chocolate</li>
</ol>



<p>Obviously, the quality of these foods and where they're grown makes a big difference as to how "perfect" they are. Buy local, organic and be more certain that your food is quality.</p>

<p>I'm eating more of these things!</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/28/10_perfect_foods/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/28/10_perfect_foods/</guid>
<category>Environment</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:20:25 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Little Reminder</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Today I woke up to this song on the alarm. I think I heard the lyrics  for the first time this morning.</p>

<blockquote>He takes care of his family, he takes care of his work,<br />
And every Sunday morning he takes his place at the church;<br />
And somehow he still feels a need to search,<br />
But life just goes on.<br /><br />

But there's more to this life than living and dying,<br />
More than just trying to make it through the day;<br />
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,<br />
And there's more than this life alone can be.</blockquote>

<p>Lyrics for "More to this Life" by <a href="http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/" title="Visit the Steven Curtis website">Steven Curtis Chapman</a></p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/21/little_reminder/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/21/little_reminder/</guid>
<category>Music, Poetry, &amp; Scripture</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:39:42 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Good Stuff and Not Too Much of It</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Found these two links on a website today. First, a short video on how we buy stuff, and how much of it we buy.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.faircompanies.com/main.aspx?uc=multidet&amp;id=159">Guide to responsible consumption video</a></p>

<p>Then, what we're buying... is it good?</p>

<p><a href="http://www.worldwatch.org/taxonomy/term/44">Good Stuff? - A Behind-the-Scenes Guide to the Things We Buy</a></p>

<p>A pretty large inventory of all kinds of things we buy, and how they stack up.</p>

<blockquote><p>Have you ever wondered where chocolate comes from, if antibacterial soap is good for your family, or how to recycle an old computer? If you've had these or other questions about the environmental and social impacts of the products you buy and use, Good Stuff is for you. It contains many of the tips, facts, and links you'll need to start making more informed purchases that benefit your health and the environment.</p></blockquote>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/15/good_stuff_and_not_too_much_of_it/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/15/good_stuff_and_not_too_much_of_it/</guid>
<category>Environment</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:37:22 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Charity Water</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>I was introduced to this organization earlier this year and have impressed with it ever since. Their website is also a source of inspiration to me. Great user experience. Great cause.</p>

<blockquote><p>charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. We also work to raise awareness of the water crisis through events, fundraising exhibitions and other public awareness campaigns.</p></blockquote>

<p><a href="http://charitywater.org/" title="Check out charitywater.org"><img alt="390x70_glasses.jpg" src="http://www.thischristianlife.org/images/2008/390x70_glasses.jpg" margin: 0 20px 20px 0;"/></a></p>

<p><a href="http://charitywater.org/" title="Check out charitywater.org">Go to the website</a></p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/12/charity_water/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/08/12/charity_water/</guid>
<category>Social Justice</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:41:37 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Still Small Voice</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>This has been my verse of inspiration lately. </p>

<p>Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.</p>

<p>Psalm 62:5-6</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/07/28/still_small_voice/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/07/28/still_small_voice/</guid>
<category>Music, Poetry, &amp; Scripture</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:06:51 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Worship in Complete Freedom</title>
<description><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>"You sit here in comfortable chairs. You stand up and sing praises. You're free to worship God whenever you want."</p></blockquote>

<p>This was the beginning of a noteworthy moment in the middle of an interview of a brave Iranian Christian evangelist. During this moment, the entire interview changed. You could sense it in the marked change in the interpreters voice to a quieter, more sensitive tone. He too could feel the change. </p>

<p>The speaker's eyes began to well up with tears, and his voice narrowed. His humility was forefront. He spoke completely from the heart in a raw, passionate state. The entire crowd began to listen more intently as this moment's energy lifted with every sentence. </p>

<blockquote><p>"But we--my family--are scared for our lives every day--yet we can't stop living in Him. We are protected by him. All we have is from Jesus. Our lives are completely in his hands. I love you Jesus. I love you Jesus!"</p></blockquote>

<p>He was lifted out of his chair, pointing upwards as he exclaimed this.</p>

<p>The crowd--all of us--burst into clapping. I felt it too. </p>

<p>These things inspire me. They teach me. They haunt me. I think about how good we have it here. We <em>do</em> worship in complete freedom. We have nothing holding us back. This thought has come to me over the years, and I've always wondered if it will last. </p>

<p>I think we have no idea what Christianity is. We just pretend we do. We go through the motions of it, carrying on traditions of living that have been passed on for generations. We are way too comfortable with the things we have grown to want--worse, the things we can't live without. Things like cars, candy, television, 3 meals a day, computers, furniture, keeping things for ourselves, having one of everything. We don't help people... give to the poor or less fortunate. We don't speak to others about the persecution of Christians throughout the world. We don't read the Bible. We don't pray. We don't care for each other. We don't live passionately.</p>

<p>We forget. </p>

<p>We forget what we're supposed to do. Instead, we choose the complacent route.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/06/27/worship_in_complete_freedom/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/06/27/worship_in_complete_freedom/</guid>
<category>Spirituality</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:10:23 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Looking for a Rabbi</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Saw <a href="http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Authors/Author.htm?ContributorID=DobsonE&QueryStringSite=Zondervan">Ed Dobson</a> at The Sparrows today. Asked him about <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-41/1209734159109910.xml&coll=6">his new position</a> at <a href="http://www.cornerstone.edu/">Cornerstone University</a>. Told him I was going through a bit of a mid-life crisis, and was spiritually dry and that I was really intrigued by the new journey he was embarking upon to which he said, "Hmmm, ohhh" and "Nice to meet you. Take care."</p>

<p>I guess I was looking for a little more of something I can't quite put my finger on.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/05/22/looking_for_a_rabbi/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/05/22/looking_for_a_rabbi/</guid>
<category>My Life</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 14:43:14 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Can I burn newspaper without side effects?</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever wondered if you can burn newspaper without feeling guilty that you're polluting the environment with toxic inks? Well, I did, and asked some people at the Grand Rapids Press what the deal was. Here's my question and what they said.</p>

<h3>Question</h3>

<p>As a reader of the GR Press, I'd like to know a little more about the recommended uses of my newspapers. I mainly want to know if I can use it to start fires in my fireplace at home, without hurting the environment. I'm curious if you can tell me if the ink used in printing the press is toxic or otherwise harmful.</p>


<h3>Answers:</h3>

<h4>From Bob Pierce, Operations Director</h4>

<p>The black ink that we use is composed of a petroleum based vehicle with carbon black suspended in it .  The color inks are a petroleum/soy oil vehicle consisting of pigments and several other chemical binders.  I know of no known toxic characteristics.  Among other uses, recycled newsprint is used as a garden mulch, insulation, and animal bedding.  Unlike inks used to print on packaging materials and glossy stock, the inks we use are fairly basic formulations. I hope this answers your question.</p>

<h4>From Aaron Phipps, Assistant Production Manager</h4>

<p>Combustion of paper, as well as fire wood, can produce a group of chemicals called Dioxins which may cause adverse health effects (Dioxins has more to do with combustion rather than what is burned). A search on the internet turned up the following web page with information about Dioxins: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/dioxinqa.html</p>

<p>Using newspaper to start a fire will be less harmfull than the wood that is burned in higher quantities in the fireplace.</p>

<p>The ink is vegitable based, using soy oil and some other oils. There is still some amount of petrolium used but it is not the main ingredient.</p>

<p>The best recommendation is to recycle the paper so it can be reused.</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/05/22/can_i_burn_newspaper_without_side_effects/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2008/05/22/can_i_burn_newspaper_without_side_effects/</guid>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 10:55:02 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Sunday Mornings</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>I received this from a pastor friend of mine. This reality has been more and more apparent to me the last few years.</p>

<blockquote><p>Sadly, Sunday morning is a prime time when most of God's missing children are available and Christians least available.</p></blockquote>

<p>What would happen if we had a "stay home from church day" where Christians all over the world stayed home and made an intention of reaching out their neighbors. How many of us have good relationships with our neighbors? Good enough to know when they need support in their lives?</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/09/17/sunday_mornings/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/09/17/sunday_mornings/</guid>
<category>Christianity Meets Culture</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:22:50 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Until the End of the World</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Nate showed me this video. Someone combined a live version of Until the End of the World (<a href="http://www.lyricsfreak.com/u/u2/until+the+end+of+the+world_20141394.html" title="View the lyrics for this song">lyrics</a>, <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=19816329&s=143441&i=19816358" title="Buy it on iTunes">iTunes</a>) with scenes from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/" title="IMDB info on the movie">the Passion of the Christ</a>. Sweet idea. Sort of brings the lyrics of the song to life. In case you didn't know, Bono wrote the song from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Iscariot" title="Read about Judas Iscariot on Wikipedia">Judas'</a> point of view. Once you listen to it for the first time from that perspective, it will all make more sense.</p>

<p><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iuEyCmdgwL0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iuEyCmdgwL0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/09/05/until_the_end_of_the_world/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/09/05/until_the_end_of_the_world/</guid>
<category>Christianity Meets Culture</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:04:18 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fun, Food and Neighbors</title>
<description><![CDATA[<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image"><img alt="Block Party Food" src="http://www.thischristianlife.org/images/2007/medium_blockparty.JPG.jpg" width="240" height="221" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;"/></span>This year's block party was "the best one" according to neighbors. The local press covered the event with a <a href="http://blog.mlive.com/grpress_extra/2007/08/fun_food_neighbors_make_block.html" title="Read article on the Grand Rapids Press website">tasty article</a> about the delectably diverse food options at the party. There are also photos and more information in the article. Check it out!

<p>Unfortunately, we couldn't attend in lieu of a wonderful time with family from out of town. </p>

<p>Check out <a href="http://blog.mlive.com/grpress_extra/2007/08/fun_food_neighbors_make_block.html" title="Read article on the Grand Rapids Press website">the article</a> and photos!</p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/09/04/fun_food_and_neighbors/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/09/04/fun_food_and_neighbors/</guid>
<category>My Life</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:58:21 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Google Earth Outreach</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>This could be a great tool for a mission or organization looking to get their story out.</p>

<blockquote><a href="http://www.google.com/earth/outreach/"><img src="/images/2007/googleearth.gif" alt="Google Earth Logo" class="imageright0" /></a><p>Hundreds of millions of people use Google Earth to explore the world around them. The Google Earth Outreach program can give you the knowledge and resources you need to reach their minds and their hearts.</p>

<p>As a non-profit or public benefit group, you can use Google Earth to capture the work you're doing, the people you're helping, the challenges you face and the change you're helping to enable - all in the visual context of the environment in which these stories take place. By downloading your KML files, anyone, anywhere can fly in Google Earth from where they live to where you do your work. This virtual visit to the projects and people you support gets users engaged and passionate about what you're doing and builds support for your cause.</p></blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.google.com/earth/outreach/" title="Visit the Google Earth Outreach site">Read more about Google Earth Outreach</a></p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/06/27/google_earth_outreach/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/06/27/google_earth_outreach/</guid>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:25:11 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Memes</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Someone from work introduced this to me today. I've always wondered if there was a "word" for this. This is great! I feel like I've crossed a line in my understanding of social behavior. Can't wait to explore this more in the next few years.</p>

<p>Great <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme" title="See the Wiki article">article on Wikipedia</a> about it:</p>

<blockquote><p>A meme (IPA: /miːm/) is a unit of cultural information that propagates from one mind to another as a theoretical unit of cultural evolution and diffusion, analogous to the way a gene propagates from one organism to another as a unit of genetic information and evolution. Multiple memes may propagate as cooperative groups called memeplexes (meme complexes).</p></blockquote>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/06/07/memes/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/06/07/memes/</guid>
<category>Culture</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:13:30 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Power Made Me Weak</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Dealing with hard issues, or people that are trying to play a hard game that forces me to play the game--or lose--is tough. What's the correct response? Hide? Cry? Run?<br />
<blockquote><br />
Wouldn't it be strange if power made you weak<br />
And victory came to those who turned the other cheek?<br />
Wouldn't it be strange to welcome your defeat?<br />
Wouldn't it be strange?</p>

<p>Wouldn't it be strange to find out in the end<br />
The first will be the last and all the losers win?<br />
Wouldn't it be strange if Jesus came again?<br />
Wouldn't it be strange?</p>

<p>--Charlie Peacock</blockquote></p>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/06/06/power_made_me_weak/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/06/06/power_made_me_weak/</guid>
<category>Music, Poetry, &amp; Scripture</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:50:58 -0500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Darfur</title>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Go here.</p>

<blockquote><a href="http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/analysis/details.php?content=2005-11-25&page=1&menupage=Sudan#top">Video on Darfur</a> by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum</blockquote>

<p>How to help.</p>

<blockquote><a href="http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/">Committee on Conscience</a></blockquote>]]></description>
<link>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/04/12/darfur/</link>
<guid>http://www.thischristianlife.org/archive/2007/04/12/darfur/</guid>
<category>News</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:34:24 -0500</pubDate>
</item>


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