Helpful Aging Depends on Habits

Leading expert says healthful aging depends on current daily habits

When it comes to healthful aging, a preventive approach is the key to success. By implementing some simple healthy habits today, we can achieve a healthier future. “Our bodies’ health -- particularly as we age -- requires that we take precautionary measures to strengthen ourselves,” explains Donnica L. Moore, MD, women’s health expert and advocate, and editor in chief of Women’s Health for Life (DK 2009). Consider her tips for healthful aging as part of an improved wellness plan.



Sleep Smart: Sleep not only helps revive the body, but also the mind. Research shows that skimping on sleep can have serious effects such as an increased risk of developing memory loss, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Getting enough rest encourages a positive mood, healthy weight and better skin elasticity. If falling asleep is challenging, try lighting a soothing lavender candle or lowering the room temperature to help cool the body’s core temperature to a comfortable sleeping level.



Lather Up: Warm weather entices many people outdoors, but sun safety is essential. Aside from same-day dangers, like sunburn and heat exhaustion, overexposure to the sun can cause premature aging and, in some cases, skin cancer. To safely enjoy the summer season, apply -- and reapply -- an oil-free, anti-aging sun block every day for skin that is properly moisturized and protected from damaging UVA and UVB rays. Also, remember to wear a hat and sunglasses to help protect the scalp and eyes.



Shield Your Smile: The health of your smile is influenced by daily dental health routines, as well as dietary factors. Enamel loss can occur when acids from everyday food and beverages, such as fruit, yogurt, salsa, orange juice and sports drinks, attack the tooth surface. If left untreated, the result can be irreversible enamel loss, which can lead to larger issues such as cavities, sensitivity, veneers, dentures and even oral surgery. New Crest Pro-Health Enamel Shield toothpaste contains the active ingredient stannous fluoride, which binds to enamel to create a micro-thin shield against acid attack. It protects all these areas dentists check most: cavities, gingivitis, plaque, sensitivity, tartar, fresh breath and whitening.



Exercise and Energize: People who exercise frequently not only look better, but they feel better too. The short-term effects of exercise include better stress management and increased energy. Long-term benefits include easier weight control, stronger bones and muscles and a decreased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Consider tennis, golf, yoga and walking as these activities can be catered to any fitness level and age.



Aging is unavoidable, but the transition can be made easier -- and healthier -- by implementing a few small daily habits that have positive effects on the body and overall wellness.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

Insanity is Hereditary

""Insanity is hereditary. You can get it from your children." Sam Levenson .

Cooler Heads

A christian I know was angry with someone at his workplace over a perceived injustice. A colleague listened to his grievance and sensed that his temper still ran high. He gave him this wise advice to consider before confronting those involed: "Cooler Heads Prevail."

As we interact with others, disagreements are inevitable. The discerning believer understands his own heart and takes steps to deal with conflict dipolomatically.

Proverbs 17:27 tells us. "He also has knowledge spares his words." This means keeping in check a multitude of opinions that could ignite futher anger in others.Someone who displays wisdom will think before speaking, and then willshare only insights likely to be helpful.

The nest time you become angry, stop and prayerfully reflect for a moment. Ask God for a calm spirit and the right words to say.

The best time to stop an argument is before it starts.

Christian Parents - Faithful Grannies .com

Daily Prayer

Mothers and Wives


Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel. (Meaning, God is with us).- Matthew 1:23

Daily Prayer - Christian Working Parents

Father,
It's easy to lose the big picture, especially on a hectic day. Please help us to honor you as we raise our children. In the strong name of Jesus,amen.

8 Hot Tips for Keeping Seniors Cool This Summer

When the temperature goes up, seniors are more likely than others to suffer. Even healthy seniors are at risk during a heat wave. Check out these 8 great ways to keep your senior safe and comfortable! Share your own heat-busting tips with other caregivers by posting a comment.

1. Spend the day in an air-conditioned venue, such as a public library, senior center, or movie theatre. Fans won't help cool down your senior during extreme heat.

2. If you must go outdoors, take along plenty of water, plus a spray bottle for a spritzy cool-down. Seniors are at high risk of becoming dehydrated -- a serious health problem. Watch out for dark urine, which may mean your senior needs more water.

3. If your senior is not using her air conditioner because she's worried about her utility bill, or she doesn't know hot it works, explain that for safety's sake she must use her a.c., at least for several hours at a time, and show her how.

4. Encourage your senior to take a cool (not cold) bath or give her a sponge bath. If outdoors, apply a cold wet towel compress to her face and neck.

5. Make sure your senior wears loose-fitting clothing made from lightweight fabrics such as cotton, plus a hat. But bring along a sweater if you're going somewhere air conditioned.

6. Prepare light and healthy meals that don't require cooking, such as refreshing, protein-packed salad.

7. Cover windows that are exposed to direct sun light and keep curtains, shades, and blinds down during the hottest part of the day.

8. Know the warning signs of heat stress or stroke: Instead of sweating, your senior may not sweat at all. Her skin is more likely to be dry, hot, and clammy. Other symptoms may include confusion, nausea, rapid pulse, and high body temperature. If you're concerned, don't hesitate to call 9-1-1!

By taking minimal precautions and planning ahead, you and your senior can stay cool as cucumbers, no matter how hot it gets. Post a comment to let us know how you help your senior beat the heat!

Changing Senior Care

The Changing Face of Senior Care

: What Caregivers Need to Know Seniors are living longer than ever before. They are also becoming more proactive when it comes to making decisions that affect the quality of their lives. Here are some ways seniors are trying to stay healthier and happier as they consider many new options. Post a comment to share how you and your senior are dealing with the rapidly changing face of senior care!

1. Staying fit, getting stronger. A recent study shows that exercising may actually protect the body against the aging process. Encourage your senior to walk, swim, dance, or practice yoga or Tai Chi. Even seniors who start exercising later in life reap the benefits, such as suffering from fewer heart attacks or having more energy. Simple balance-enhancing exercises help prevent potentially devastating falls, while yoga stretches build strength and endurance. Let your senior decide what kind of physical activity suits her needs, and then get moving!

2. Eating better, staying healthier. A third of cancer cases could be prevented by avoiding smoking, exercising, and by eating better. It doesn't take much for seniors to stay healthier longer, and they seem to be more willing to make those relatively simple dietary changes. For example, your senior might actually prefer delicious and nutritious sweet potatoes, which are loaded with Vitamins C and A and very low in fat, to artery-clogging french fries if you explain to her why you are serving the healthier option. Put out bowls of refreshing blueberries and strawberries, snacks that can reverse some of the effects of age-related brain decline, instead of fat-saturated candy. Add more potassium to your senior's diet, with foods such as bananas, fat-free yogurt, and orange juice, to offset the harmful effects of sodium and reduce the risk of heart disease!

3. Going on line, knowing your options. Seniors can use online tools to compare costs of hospital stays and tests. They can also go online to find out if they are paying too much for their prescription drugs. For example, brand-name drugs used to treat heart disease often are no better than generics. Your senior may be able to switch to a generic drug or to a drug similar in quality to the one she is using that costs less. She can also use the computer to communicate with her physicians. You might want to investigate new care-management tools, like the Intel Health Guide, that can monitor blood pressure and glucose levels from home and report the data to health professionals. Seniors who are technologically savvy feel less isolated and safer.

4. Better designs, gadgets that help. Adaptive equipment for seniors used to be clunky, ugly, and embarrassing. Not any more! Support bars for toilets can be concealed behind a wall and used only when necessary. A kitchen can include attractive induction cook tops that won't burn if you touch them. Prettily designed night lights in dark hallways and at the top and bottom of stairways can help prevent seniors from falling. Skid-free rugs now come in a range of colors, shapes, and sizes. And a set of large-handle eating utensils, which many seniors find easier to use, can match the pattern of spill-proof dishes!

5. Changing health coverage, making sense. There are many more health care options for seniors than there were a decade ago! And your senior can switch from one health care system to another, if she meets the deadlines. Seniors may think they are locked into their current Medicare health coverage for 2009, but they have until March 31, 2009, to make a change, such as switching from a private health plan (HMO, PPO, etc.) to Medicare, or vice versa. If your senior has questions, contact Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) for her and ask for the telephone representative to dis-enroll your senior from her private plan. Or you can call your senior's private plan directly to make the change, as long as it's before March 31.

6. Driving safely, staying independent. Often seniors are reluctant to give up driving because they don't want to depend on other people to get around. A new website, http://www.seniordrivers.org, provides tips and info to keep senior driving skills sharp. It includes video clips and tip sheets covering tricky situations seniors might encounter. It also shows how seniors can cope with giving up the car keys and still remain active. And the future looks promising. For example, a new windshield is in the works that uses lasers, infrared sensors, and a camera to help objects stand out that otherwise could go unnoticed. This and other car-related gadgets currently under development will help keep your senior (and others on the road) safer while driving!

7. Finding the right doc, feeling better. The model of health care for seniors, which used to mean going to a doctor for one specific medical problem, has changed dramatically. Now seniors are treated for a variety of conditions, many of them chronic. They need coordinated care and access to a primary doctor who can either figure detect problems, before they require acute and expensive treatment, or send patients to a specialist. Just as important, your senior's physician should be addressing her social needs and issues as well as her medical condition. If the doctor doesn't consider the whole picture, encourage your senior to change to a different one. What if her doctor tells your senior that she needs hospital treatment? Check out "Hospital Compare," www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov, to see how hospitals nationwide are rated, including patient satisfaction information.

8. Leaving a footprint, not the carbon kind. Seniors no longer view themselves as the "invisible generation." They know they have acquired wisdom to impart! Suggest to your senior that she writes (or dictates to you or a family member) a Legacy Letter in which she expresses her hopes and dreams for the world future generations will inherit. Your senior might prefer working on a scrapbook, an oral history, or a compilation of "Words of Wisdom." She can share her own past experiences with friends and family members, providing a valuable contribution to those younger than herself!

Ninety is the new seventy! Danish researchers report that the very old, even those who live to be 100-plus, are increasingly enjoying healthy, independent lives. This is good news for your senior and for you!

Tell us if and how your senior is participating in her care-related decisions by posting a comment.

New to Senior Care?

New to Senior Care? What You Need to Know

If you are new to the senior caregiving community, you are not alone. Adults over 80 are the fastest growing segment of the population, and most of them will spend years dependent on caregivers like you! Fortunately, there are resources and support services to help make the transition to your new job go more smoothly. Share your own tips with other caregivers by posting a comment!

Here are some tried-and-true "survival" suggestions from experiences senior caregivers:

Join a support group. Feeling stressed out, irritable, or isolated? Support groups can be lifesavers. Get together with other senior caregivers to share your concerns, in a safe environment, and to pick up useful tips. "Unless they have spent time in the care trenches," writes Molly Shomer, Head Coach of ElderCareTeam.com, "our usual buddies just don't get it....What every caregiver needs is a group of people who are walking the same bumpy road with the same incomplete road map."

How do you find a support group?

Word of mouth. Talk to other senior caregivers for referrals. Don't be shy! You're all in the same caregiving boat and need each other.
If your senior suffers from a specific disease, check out the local branch of the disease-related organization. For example, contact the American Cancer Society, the National Parkinson Foundation, or the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and ask about their support groups for caregivers.
Online support groups. While in-person groups are preferable, since they double as a way to socialize with peers, the internet in as easy, quick way to "meet" other caregivers. The Family Caregiver Alliance has online support groups. You can post a comment on Care.com's Senior Care Scoop blog to let other caregivers know that you would like to start of join a support group!
Take a break. Most likely you will be spending a lot of time with your senior's friends or family members. Make sure that you also find the time to be with your friends and family, who share your interests. Experienced caregivers point out that as newcomers, you need to make it clear to your employer from the start that you will need breaks and vacation.In fact, this information should be written into your contract. Otherwise, given the physically and emotionally draining nature of caregiving, you may burn out! Taking time off to focus on your own needs and to be with people your own age can lift your spirits and leave you feeling less stressed and more energized.

Don't get down on yourself. It is normal for a new caregiver to experience a mixed bag of emotions. You won't always get along with your senior! Remind yourself that:

Your job is highly demanding, without many opportunities to let off steam. No wonder you may feel frustrated or stressed out on the job.
Try and emphasize the positive, rewarding aspects of caregiving, such as the difference your assistance has made in your senior's life (it has!), or what you like about her.
Self-care is essential to successful caregiving. Follow the same rules you apply to your senior: Eat healthy, wholesome meals, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, don't put off going to the doctor for check-ups, and pamper yourself.
Accept limitations, yours and your senior's. Even if you have negative or angry feelings toward your senior, give the job a chance. Your relationship will change as you get to know each other better. Talk to other caregivers, take breaks, and pat yourself on the back for the good job you are doing. Remember: There is no such thing as a perfect caregiver!
Be clear about your responsibilities. Don't get stuck doing things for your senior that were not included in your contract or agreement. How can you avoid pitfalls?

Put it in writing. Make sure your tasks are clearly stated so there is no confusion -- and arguments -- later on.
Set limits. Are you supposed to take your senior to the hairdresser, shopping for clothes, or to a medical appointment, in addition to basic caregiving? Are you expected to drive your senior where she needs to go? Find out your employer's expectations before you agree to the job! And if you work for specific hours each day, make sure the appointments are scheduled for much earlier so you won't have to work longer than planned if the doctor of service provider is late.
Talk about overtime and paid vacations. How much extra salary do you make if you put in extra hours? Do you get personal or sick days and decent vacation time? If it better to ask these questions now, so you won't be disappointed later, when it may be too late to do anything about.
Does your employer expect you to be a housekeeping aide as well as a caregiver? Perhaps you didn't think you were supposed to clean your senior's living space or shop for her food. As a new caregiver, you have to define for yourself and your employer what type of senior care you want to provide.
Senior caregiving is exciting and challenging. It can be both gratifying and overwhelming. As a newcomer to the field, take advantage of the many valuable resources that are available to you.

What's worked for you? Share your advice with new senior caregivers by posting a comment!

Thank You, Lord, For My Children

Thank You, Lord, For My Children
by David Pekrul
5/03/2009 / Poetry

Thank you, Lord, for my children,
And letting me watch them grow,
Into adults with whom I can be so proud,
And pray that You'll let me show,

That I will be there to encourage them,
To strengthen, help and support,
To show them the love of the Father,
And give them a good report.

And please let them know that I love them,
By pointing the way to You,
So they won't be caught in the Judgment,
And say that they never knew.

And Lord, in your wonderful mercy,
Please sanctify, set them aside,
And honour the things they've committed to You,
'Till, there by Your side they abide.

www.myhiddenvoice.com The poetry of David Ronald Bruce Pekrul
If this article is used in any publication, please send a copy of the publication to David Pekrul at
170 Carr Cres.
Okotoks, AB
T1S 1E3
Canada
E-Mail: dpekrul@gmail.com

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

Christian Work At Home Grandparents - Thank You Lord

How to be a Fashionista after 50

Like the internet, and jet skis and cappuccino and jet airplanes, we boomers invented fashion. RIGHT?!? So why have later generations tried to improve upon it? Or maybe the question really ought to be, why have later generations rejected it? Cindy LaFerle, author of an award-winning essay collection on motherhood and midlife issues called “Writing Home,” has discovered the remedy for all our troubles, and generously dispenses her advice now to the masses: How to be a Fashionista after 50.

By the time we reach midlife, most of us have discovered that fashion history repeats itself. What goes around comes around…even if we can’t always button it across the middle. This occurred to me during a recent visit to the local mall, where I was haunted by the ghosts of my high school wardrobe. Everywhere I looked, there were racks of ruffled gypsy skirts and gossamer peasant blouses; rows of strappy “gladiator” sandals; and stacks of jeans stitched with beads and sequins.

My inner teenage girl desperately wanted to buy everything in sight, including a totally cool military jacket that must have been inspired by Paul Revere and the Raiders. But the voice of common sense – the voice belonging to my inner middle-aged mom – told me it was time to shop for something more mature. Something “age-appropriate.”

Ever since I turned 50, I’ve been grappling with the concept of age-appropriate dressing. I mean, with Goldie Hawn posing for magazine covers in miniscule tank tops, and Mick Jagger prancing around in the same hip-huggers he wore back in 1968, what do fashion editors mean when they tell us to dress our age?

In “Steal This Style,” a new and invaluable guide for middle-aged women, author Sherrie Mathieson insists that we can borrow from the closets of our daughters and nieces. But we must do so with restraint…and a finely tuned sense of personal style.

“Unfortunately, reinterpreting what the younger generation is wearing leaves the margin for error wide open — and that may be the reason we are reluctant to change,” Mathieson warns. “On the other hand, we can easily age ourselves by resigning ourselves to wearing the same old, same old.” Using real women as models, Mathieson illustrates her point with “before and after” photos. I’m ashamed to admit that I recognized myself in a few of the “before” shots. But as Mathieson reminds us, even the best of us can fall into fashion ruts. And we need to be rescued.

After becoming a mother in my early thirties, for instance, I went through the obligatory matron phase. Totally focused on my parenting duties, I schlepped around grocery stores and school parking lots in oversized T-shirts, baggy tunics, and ankle-grazing denim jumpers – outfits that made my Grandma Ruby’s housedresses look seductive. It took years to correct those fashion mistakes. I have a family album of photos to prove it.

Thankfully, a stylish friend in her eighties reminded me that reaching maturity doesn’t have to be synonymous with looking foolish or frumpy. Echoing the iconic late fashion designer Coco Chanel, my friend believes that achieving a style of one’s own can take a lifetime, and that a woman should never stop trying. Or, as Sherrie Mathieson reminds us, “AARP’s invitation to join when you hit fifty doesn’t mean you automatically become a charter member of a crazy hat club or a purple boa society.”

Today I have no desire to revisit my youth. I don’t miss the insecurities or the acne or the go-go boots. But I do miss the fun I had with fashion when I was 16. And since I don’t have daughters, I have no other closets in my home from which to borrow shoes or inspiration. Most of the time, I rely on experts like Mathieson for fashion advice.

Last week, though, my twentysomething son asked if he could tag along on a visit to the local mall. Stopping at one of his favorite clothing stores, I pointed out that some of the merchandise bore an eerie resemblance to outfits his dad and I had worn at his age. (I didn’t even flinch when my son called the style “retro.”) He wandered off to look for a new track jacket while I admired a gorgeous display of hippie jewelry.

“That was neat stuff,” I told him as we left the store and headed for the mall exit. “But it’s probably way too young for me, and I’d look silly in most of it.” My son rarely has an opinion about women’s clothing – mine or his girlfriend’s. But this time he repeated verbatim what I always told him whenever he asked for my opinion on his clothes.

“Hey, if you like it, that’s what matters,” he said, shrugging. And that was all the encouragement I needed. Next week, I’m going back for that cool military jacket.

Author of Writing Home, an award-winning essay collection on motherhood and midlife issues. She also writes “Midpoint,” a weekly column for The Oakland Press in suburban Detroit.
Her blog is: http://www.laferle.com.


Source: Boomer Cafe



http://sharethis.com/wahmchoices

Make Mother's Day Memories

Mother's Day Memories
By: Patti Luzzi

Grab your digital camera and extra batteries, and cook up some memorable moments while Mom enjoys time to relax

Moms love flipping through photos of their precious little (or not so little) ones, so why not take photos of the day and make a Mother's Day memory book? Buy a good-quality scrapbook at a craft store, along with some photo mounting squares. Then, each year you can add to the book, creating a unique record of the holiday--and a family heirloom.

Source: Grannies Kitchen
Mother Days Recipies

Dream Your Dreams

Never STOP.

Dream your dreams. The buzz is still circling about Susan Boyle. This everyday lady had the best kept secret and talent. Like the old saying goes never judge a book by its cover. How many times do we find ourselves doing just that?

My grandmother use to tell me when you are on an elevator look to your left and then your right who knows you may be working for or with this person some day. Which goes back to the Golden Rule. Do onto others and you would have others do onto you.

Now even more during these economic times we need to follow our dreams and treat others the same respectful way.

All the best Susan!

Don’t neglect your hugs

Don’t neglect your hugs!
Encouragement, Fellowship

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

I heard a story about a young woman named Linda who was traveling alone up the rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. The first evening she found a room at a small-town Inn in the mountains and figured she’d continue her journey bright and fresh, early the next morning. But strangley, when she called down to the front desk and asked for a wakeup call at 5 AM the clerk sounded puzzled by her request.

She awoke bright and early as she intended, and suddenly realized the reason for the clerks reaction the night before. A thick fog covered the mountain tops — it was not the kind of weather in which you’d want to take a Sunday drive. Not wanting to look foolish, however, she got her things together and went to breakfast. There, she met two friendly truck drivers and who invited her to join them. “So, where are you headed?” one of the truckers asked. “Whitehorse”, Linda replied.

“You’re not planning on driving that little car are you?” he said chuckling and pointing outside at the only little car among several eighteen-wheelers in the parking lot. “This pass is dangerous in weather like this!” “Well,” said Linda, “I’m determined to try.” “Well then — I guess we’re just going to have to hug you,” the other trucker suggested. “What?!” Linda gasped, “I don’t think that would be appropriate!”

“Not like that!” the two truckdrivers laughed heartily. “We’ll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. In that way, we’ll get you through the mountains.” All that foggy morning, Linda followed the two red dots in front of her and had the reassurance of a big escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains.

Just as Linda did, we often feel confident that we can get by on our own, without any help from anyone else — and before we know it, we’re lost in the thick fog of the mountain of life. Rivka and I have seen so many people leave the fellowship of believers and go off on their own, becoming bitter against a brother or sister, or pastor and believing they’ll be better off doing their own thing. Many of these have sadly never come back to the fold. But this is yet another way the enemy of our souls seeks to draw us away from the Lord. As brothers and sisters in Messiah, we need to be closely knit with one another, helping eachother and giving and receiving compassion and love. We need one another!

Let’s get back into fellowship. Let’s make it a priority to be “hugged” by our family in the Lord who know the way and can lead safely ahead of us, and strive to reach out and “hug” others by gently encouraging them along from behind!

Too Old

As God adds years to your life, ask Him to add life to your years.

Grandmothers

Grandmothers
(This one is for Grandmothers!)

Grandmothers are mothers who are grand,
Restoring the sense that our most precious things
Are those that do not change much over time.
No love of childhood is more sublime,
Demanding little, giving much on demand,
More inclined than most to grant the wings
On which we fly off to enchanted lands.
Though grandmothers must sometimes serve as mothers,
Helping out, or maybe taking over,
Each has all the patience wisdom brings,
Remembering our passions more than others,
Singing childish songs we long remember.

WAHMChoices.com

Thunderstorm Thoughts

To realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm.

Christian WAHM

Thursday, April 16, 2009
And Then She Opened Her Mouth To Sing...

Need a lift today? Here is a story that is worth your time. Susan Boyle is a 47 year old church volunteer from West Lothian, Scotland. She decided to be a contestant on the TV show Britain’s Got Talent. When Boyle walked out on the stage nearly everyone assumed she was one of the delusional dreamers that provide comic relief and even cruel sport for Simon Cowell and the other judges. Susan is a frumpy spinster who admits she “has never been kissed”. She lives alone with her pet cat Pebbles. You would not give her a second glance if you saw her in public.
She announced that she wanted a career in the mold of musical theater star Elaine Paige. The audience snickered. It would have been like me announcing I wanted to be a defensive lineman in the National Football League. You would look at my scrawny upper body and chuckle or feel a little sorry for me. Susan Boyle looked that unlikely. Then she began to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. Check out the video of Susan Boyle auditioning for the show on April 11th.
Boyle is the youngest of nine children. She suffered oxygen deprivation during birth that resulted in learning disabilities. Not surprisingnly her classmates teased her because of the classroom struggles and her appearance. She stopped her pursuit of singing to look after her sick mother who died in 2007. Her performance on Britain’s Got Talent was the first time Boyle had sung after her mother's death.[
When I listened to Boyle’s performance I was uplifted. My eyes grew misty. But a little later I felt sad. Sad because I wonder how many gifted people I marginalize because they don’t fit my “profile”.
I wondered how often we make the same mistake in the body of Christ that the show judges made in their initial judgment of Susan Boyle. We look at the outward appearance and make our decision. You don’t look the part. You don’t fit my preconceived notion. We are looking for someone better looking or more outgoing or more engaging. You could tell from the judges sideways glances that they had already made their judgement about this unassuming woman.
And then she opened her mouth to sing.
God has given all of us a vital role in the body of Christ. Lord, forgive me that I have judged your people before I took the time to see how you have gifted them to serve You. Paul realized that every part of the body is vital.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12, NLT)
Later in the passage Paul summarizes his analogy.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
It is so easy to value the wrong things. So natural to gravitate toward the funny and the attractive. I am guilty. I am sure that God has put people like Susan Boyle in my midst and I looked right past them to someone that is more in my image. I pray that I will be sensitive through His Holy Spirit to look for the gifts and talent in every part of the body of Christ. You will never know how God has gifted one of His Children by simply judging their appearance. Straight-shooter and toe-stomper James says it this way:
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? (James 2, NLT)
Feel free to be direct, James. But I need to hear that straightforward truth. I pray that I can begin to see the body of Christ and those He puts in my path as God sees them. Valuable. Worthy. Precious in His sight. I am humbled by Susan Boyle today. And blessed by her.
Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award winning television sports director, author, and Christian speaker. He is the author of When Bad Christians Happen to Good People and Bring'em Back Alive: A Healing Plan for those Wounded by the Church. You can reply by linking through daveburchett.com.

Through Gates of Splendor

Through Gates of Splendor
By Elisabeth Elliot

In 1956, five young men, including Elliot's husband, traveled into the jungles of Ecuador to establish communication with the fierce Waorani Tribe. In a nearby village, their wives waited to hear from them. The news they received --- all five missionaries had been murdered --- changed lives forever. A lasting story of God's grace and great courage. 269 pages, softcover from Tyndale.

Help Kids Go Green

How to Help Kids ’Go Green’



Kids are increasingly aware of the issues impacting their environment, and are even more engaged and excited about making their world a greener place. Parents can involve their children in “going green” with a few simple steps, and show them how they, too, can make a big contribution to Mother Earth.  

Families can celebrate Earth Month all year long by turning everyday tasks into fun and productive steps for children that illustrate how they can help make our planet a greener and healthier place. It doesn’t take a lot of effort -- helping your kids “go green” can happen at home, at school or even through play.  

The first step is to learn about the issue and start a conversation with your child in a way that makes sense to them.  Parents can utilize eco-themed toys or movies as a fun way to start a dialogue with their kids about the importance of protecting their planet. Look for a green theme in products, toys and shows they already love, like the new “Barbie Presents: Thumbelina” DVD. Thumbelina, the star of the DVD, harnesses the magic of nature to save her home in the wildflowers from developers, and sets out to prove that even the smallest person can make a big difference. The movie can ignite a conversation between parents and children about the small things they can do as a family to help give back to their environment.  


“One of the most powerful ways my daughter Lola can learn about protecting the environment is through play,” explains Sophie Uliano, eco-expert, blogger and author of “Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life.” “’Barbie Presents: Thumbelina’ offers an inspirational message as well as an engaging product line that allows us to do green activities together, such as gardening and recycling in a fun fashionable way.”


Inspire your kids to start thinking “green” with a few of these simple eco-tips that can make a big difference:


* Plant a garden at home -- Carve out a small patch in your yard just for your child to plant a garden. Incorporating toys like the Thumbelina Solar Garden Activity set are a great way to introduce kids to gardening.



* Turn recycling into a game -- Turn this chore into something fun that the whole family can participate in by creating a fun sorting game or by decorating different recycling bins with recyclable materials.

 

* Choose reusable goods for everyday eats -- Take a reusable water bottle to sports or dance practice and pack lunch in a fun reusable lunch box or bag.


* Conserve water -- Talk to your kids about how much water they save by taking a shower instead of a bath and by turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth.

* Save electricity -- Assign a “Power Captain” of the household -- someone responsible for turning off the lights whenever the family leaves leave a room or the house; give the Power Captain points or small rewards for every light they turn off.

Before you know it, your kids will be on their way to an eco-friendly lifestyle. Encourage them to spread the word to other family members and friends to join the green movement. Together everyone can help preserve a green, clean and healthy Earth for generations to come.

For more eco-tips on how you and your family can protect Earth, visit www.epa.gov/kids.



Courtesy of ARAcontent

He Is Risen

The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice. But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice. ~Henry Knox Sherrill