PMC Adult Forum

Choices for Sustainable Living. 1-3-10 and 1-10--10

2010-01-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

How we format the discussions:

1. Moderator opens and closes every session

2. Facilitator presents special though provoking 1 minute opening for each session

3. A presenter for each article and guides us in questions

4. 1st session on each session-section presents material, invites questions and suggestions thought provoking questions for group review for 2nd Sunday.

5. 2nd session on each session/section is used for moderator to work with group on reflections, suggestions and further research. Possibly include recommending action items to church leadership on faith based doable group actions.

Sessions 1- A Call to Sustainability

We should leave the campsite as we found it . . .the next group of hikers deserved no less P. 11

Conflict between human needs and eco system needs P. 11

How far can we expect individual human responsibility to go, step by step P. 11

Male question/answer summary for P. 12

Discuss definitions of sustainability P. 13

Jared Diamond - Easter Island's End

Easter Island Video

Review of Easter's End -Civilization self-destruct P. 13

Why did the Easter, May, Khmer or Anasazi civilizations die like the dinosaurs? P. 13

Limiting eco-system on Easter is a great parable for planet earth 64 Sq Mi/7000-20,000 people 700 A.D to 64 sq mi/2000 1800; this is a 90% possible decimation. P. 14

Destruction of forest system for basic needs, heating and transportation and housing led to rats closing possibility for regeneration: their population took over. P. 15

With the disappearance of food surpluses, Easter Island could no longer feed the chiefs, bureaucrats, and priests . . . P. 15

They also turned to the largest remaining meat source available: human, whose bones became common in late Easter Island garbage heaps. Oral traditions of islanders are rife with cannibalism; the most inflammatory taunt that could be snarled at an enemy was "The flesh of your mother stuck between my teeth." P. 15

By around 1700 the population began to crash toward one-quarter and one-tenth of its former number. People took to living in caves for protection against their enemies. P. 16

In the meantime, any islander who tried to warn about the dangers of progressive deforestation would have been over-ridden by vested interests . . .P. 16

Only older people, recollecting their childhoods decades earlier, could have recognized a difference P. 16

Easter Island is Earth writ small. Today, again, a rising population confronts shrinking resources. We have no emigration valve, because all human societies are linked by international transportation, and we can no longer escape into space than the East Islanders could flee into the ocean. P. 16

Corrective action is blocked by vested interests, by well-intentioned political and business leaders, by their electorates, all of whom are perfectly correct in not noticing big changes from year to year. P. 16

Making other Arrangements - James Howard Kunstler

As the American public continues sleepwalking into a future of energy scarcity, climate change, and geopolitical turmoil . . .P. 17

According to the US Department of Energy, world oil production peakedin 2005 at just over 85 million barrels a day . . . Yet world oil consumption rose consistently from 77 million barrels a day in 2001 to above 85 million in '2007' P. 17

Natural gas doesn't deplete slowly like oil, following a predictable bell-curve pattern; it simply stops coming out of the ground where a particular well is played out. P. 17

Half of the homes in America are heated with gas furnaces and about 16% of our electricity is made with it. Industry uses natural gas as the primary ingredient in fertilizer, plastics, ink, glue, paint, laundry detergents, insect repellents, and many other common household necessities. P. 17

Meanwhile, the costs of agricultural "inputs" - from diesel fuel to fertilizers made from natural gas to oil-derived pesticides-have been ramping up steadily since 2001 . . . P. 18

Vice-president Cheney has called "it" the non-negotiable American Way of Life. P. 18

The keyto understanding the challenge we face is admitting that we have to comprehensively make other arrangements for all the normal activities of everyday life. P. 18

The popular idea . . .is that youjust go out and find some new technology to keep things running. P. 18

We are not going to replace the existing worldwide fleet of airplanesw . . P. 18

It is probably more accurate to say that the global economy is a set of transcient economic relations that have come about because of two fundamental (and transcient) conditions: a half century of relative peace between great powers and a half century of cheap and abundant fossil fuel. P. 19

The single worst impediment to clear thinking among individuals and organizations in America today is the obsession with keeping the cars running at all costs. P. 19

The most arrant case of collective cluelessness . . .is our failure to to even begin a public discussion about fixing the U.S. passenger railroad system. . . P. 19

In general, the circumstances we face with energy and climate change will require us to live much more locally . . P. 19

The Walmart way to do business will come to an end P. 19

We should anticipate a revival of maritime trade on the regional scale P. 20

If we use trucks at all to move things, it will be for the very last leg of the journey. P. 19

We have to inhabit the terrain of . . .differently, meaning a return to traditional cities, towns, neighborhoods and a productive rural landscape that is more than just strictly scenic or recreational. P. 20

It is harder to predict exactly what may happen with education and medicine, except that neither can continue to operate as rackets much longer . . .P. 20

We will be a less affluent society in the post oil-age . . . P. 20

We can state categorically that anything organized on a gigantic scale . . . will probably falter in the energy-scarce future. P 20

The real political action will likely shift down to the local level, as reconstructed neighborly associations allow people to tackle problems locally with local solutions. P 20

How "will we manage" to uphold a decent society in the face of extraordinary change will depend on our creativity, our generosity and our kindness . . .P. 20

Why Bother -Michael Pollan

What would be the point when I know full well that half way around the world there lives my evil twin, some carbon-foot doppelganger in Shanghai . . .who has just bought his first car . .So what exactly would I have to show for all my trouble? P. 22

Is eating local and walking to work really going to reduce my carbon footprint? P. 22

Climate change is upon us and it has arrived well ahead of schedule. .. Now truely terrifying feedback loops threaten to boost the rate of change exponentially . . .So do you still want to talk about planting a garden? P. 22

Whaever we can do as individuals to change the way we live at thyis suddenly very late date does seem utterly inadequate to the challenge. P. 22

Personal choices, no matter how virtuous cannot do enough. It will also take laws and money. P. 22

The Big Problem is nothing more or less than the sum total of countless little everyday choices, most of them made by us . . .For us to wait for legislation or technology to solve the problem of how we're living our lives suggest we're really not serious about changing . . .P. 23

Nothing was likely to change until we healed the split between what we think and what we do (Wendel Berry). . .P. 23

The dep problem standing behind all the other problems of industrial civilization is "specialization," which he regards as the "disease of the modern character. . . Specilaization is what allows us to sit at a computer and think about the climate change. Yet this same division of labor obscures the lines of connection-and responsibility-linking us to thier real-world consequences . . . P. 23

Cheap energy allowed us to leapfrog community by making it possible to sell our specialty over great distances . . .P. 23

If you do bother, you will set an example for other people. If enough other people bother, each one influencing yeat another in a chain reaction of behavioral chgange, markets forall manner of green products and alternative technologies will prosper and expand. P. 24

Not having things might become cooler. P. 24

A process of viral social change, and a change of this kind, which is non-linear, is never something anyone can predict or count on. . .P. 24

Going personally green is a bet, nothing more or less, though it's one we probably all should make, even if the odds of it paying off aren't great. P. 24

When a handful of individuals . . .resolved that they would simply conduct their lives "as if" they lived in a free society. P. 24

Havel himself suggested that people begin to "conduct themselves as ifthey were to live on this earth forever and be answerable for its consequences one day." P. 24

The act I want to talk about is growing some-even just a little-of your own food. P. 24

The single greatest lesson the garden teaches us is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum. and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we ca, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world. P. 25

You can't be Neutral on a Moving Train-Howard Zinn

It is that long-term change that I think we must see if we are not to lose hope. Pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy; it reproduces itself by crippling our willingness to act. P. 25

The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself, a marvelous victory. P. 26

The reading of the will P. 26

Tom Toles' cartoon The Reading of the will . P. 26

The reading of the will P. 22

Tom Toles' cartoon The Reading of the will . P. 22

Dear kids,

We, the generation in power since World War II, seem to have used up pretty much everything ourselves. We kind of drained all the resources out of our manufacturing industries, so there's not much left there. The beautiful old buildings that were build to last for centuries, we tore down and replaced with characterless but inexpensive structures, and you can have them. Except everything we built had a lifespan about the same as ours, so like the interstate highway system we built, they're all falling apart now and you'll have to deal with that. We used up as much of our natural resources as we could, without providing for renewable ones, so you're probably only good until about a week from Thursday. We did build a generous Social Security and pension system, but that was just for us. In fact, the only really durable thing we built was toxic dumps. You can have those. So think of your inheritance as a challenge. The challenge of starting from scratch. You can begin as soon as -- oh, one last thing -- as soon as you pay off the two trillion dollar debt we left you.

Your parents

Ch 12 A Hundred Ways to Pray

2009-11-29T13:59:00.000-08:00

This was a strangely comforting chapter; the group felt comfortable with the author's suggestions that "God has a thousand names," and that "prayers are about all of us reaching for hope."

Author's main speaking points:

The Hindus speak of the thousand names of God, and surely there are a hundred ways to pray. P. 165

We are all going to the same place, all seeking God. P. 165

All over the country, all over the world, people turn to God. Prayers are being spoken in cathedrals, in parish churches, in synaques, temples and mosques. P. 166

How to reach out for hope. P. 165

Oh, help! Please, God, oh, help! P. 165

You turn toward love . . .You turn inward . .P 156-66

The practice of prayer is a lifelong enterprise, sometimes easy, sometimes hard. P. 167

Yet so weird are we humans that we will go to war in disapproval of how another offers prayer. Are we crazy? We kill another because we don't like the way he prays or to what name for God? P. 167

I go to my center . . .and see what comes up . . . become aware of my absolute dependence on God. P. 168

Pray as you can, not as you can't. P. 169

All languages are understood by God . . . P. 169

She realized with a wash of humility that music was for him a form of prayer. P. 170

Margaret Poloma, University of Akron:

Four Kinds of Prayers:
1. Colloquial-talking to God
2. Petitionary-asking for things
3. Ritualistic-formal
4. Meditative or silent prayer

We are always beginners in prayer. P. 172

Deliberately finding things you are grateful for moves you out of self-centered concerns, offers peace . .. For now your serenity flows outward onto pthers, blessing them. P172

Make a gratitude list before you fall asleep. P. 173

Often I think we make too much of this word, "Prayer." It comes weigheted with rituals and formalities, a heavy duty dragging at us, something we're supposed to do right! P. 174

At the other end of the spectrum is the prayer that I call simply "being." It takes no words. P. 175

In suffering we run to the comfort of ritual, and especially to the customs of our traditions. P. 175

But whatever the ritual, the purpose is to focus and concentrate the mind. P. 176

Each prostration is a prayer. P. 176

There is great power in kneeling, as in full-body prostrations. P. 177

You fling all ritual aside. Intention is what matters. A ritual provides a form by which to hold the intention . . .a ritual performed without prayerful intentions is no more than a dry and dessicated, useless shell. P. 177

The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

Ch. 11 The Prayer of Touch

2009-11-28T17:55:00.000-08:00

The group had some struggles with this chapter; it was difficult to embrace the concept, considering the many historical incidents of zealous faith practitioners using 'The Healing Touch' to sway their flock. It was also difficult to connect with the concept that the science behind healing by touch appear solid and numerous enough to be relevant.

We understood that the author is reaching out across many different faith denominations and cultures to create a bridge-one that speaks to the concept that a prayer in one faith has great similarity to prayers in other faiths and cultures.

Here are some of the author's main discussion points:

All our most common prayers are verbal, but the voice is only one of several sensory organs and communications tools available to people. It is generally assumed by behavioral experts that as much as 70% of all communication is displayed with body language.

The largest organ of the body is skin. It is so sensitive that by touch alone you sense the other person's mood, his vibrational frequency or energy field. . .The simple act of placing two fingers in sympathy on a grieving woman's wrist is a wordless prayer. It heals. P. 149

There are many schools of healing touch . . .and then there is the simple touch of a mother reaching out to kiss away the hurt . . . t's only prayer made physical P. 150-51

I believe in spiritual healing . . .What left me skeptical was the idea that this gift could be taught. P. 152

The same thing happens when you pray and meditate, for the clearer your soul . . .prayer and meditation are your tools. P. 154

Saints are depicted with a Halo at their head. And ordinary people are known to shine with light. "She must be in love, she's radiant." P 158

He found that by merely watching a film with Mother Theresa's love, even if students considered her a fraud, raised their immune levels. P. 158

Nothing is impossible to God. Thought, intention, prayer, surrender, love - they are all one thing. Just as the healer merges his consciousness with that of the patient, carrying them both into a higher place, a spaciousness of healing love, so thought merges in prayer with the consciousness of the universe -with God, with love-and healing comes or answers to our need. P. 160

Here are some of the author's science references:

1. Piotr Rajski: Finding God in the Silence: Contemplative Prayer and Therapy

2. Dr. Laurence Johnston: The Science of Prayer and Healing

Ch. 10 The Mystery of Unanswered Prayers

2009-11-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

Why is it, that "Some of God's Greatest Gifts/Are unanswered Prayer." p. 133
Garth Brooks

The group read Garth Brook's lyrics aloud together, and there were many smiling faces recognizing the elemental truths in this song about 'unanswered prayers.' Sometimes it really is for the best God doesn't always answer our prayers. But, still ends up leading us to the best answer.

We watch the genocide and migrations of peoples, read of terrorism, torture, atrocities . . .see our children shot in schoolyards . . .P.133

How do we reconcile God allowing all these types of event to persist, reappear and even proliferate regardless of millions of prayers to the contrary?

We question God . . . We Doubt God . . . P. 134

Who is there that can grasp the will of the gods in heaven? P.134

How can mortals learn the way of a god? P.135

Do we really have "A loving and attentive God? P. 135

Viewed from the smallest and most selfish view, without the telescope of time, prayers go unanswered all the time. P. 135

Bottom line:

When your prayers go unneeded, it's not necessarily because you did them wrong. P. 136

"Let this cup pass from my lips," he begs in desperation P. 136

Jesus desperately wants to avoid having to do what God needs him to do.

His prayer on P. 136:

"Abba, Papa, Daddy, all things are possible to you; remove thius cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will."

For centuries people read to themselves out loud, and then prayed out loud . . Christ instructed his followers to pray quietly . . .remembering that the Holy One knows what's in our hearts before we cry out loud.
P. 136

What is it we really are saying in our prayers? And what is it that we are really willing do do, or NOT?

Sometimes there's a larger picture that we cannot see. P. 138

And this is why, as the years pass, we begin to understand with deep humility that we cannot even distinguish anymore what's good, what's bad . . . To a degree pain is built into us. P. 138

Human consciousness must involve both pleasure and pain. To strive for pleasure at the exclusion of pain is in effect to strive for loss of consciousness. P. 139

It is an extraordinary fact that on returning to life almost every person who has experienced an NDE reports having a spiritual encounter with a great light or with beautiful beings of light, and this light is also seen as intelligence . . .The blessed people, returning like messengers to tell us of the spiritual dimension, also uniformly report KNOWING that everything in the universe operates perfectly, by a perfect plan - even suffering, famine, torture, child abuse. INCLUDING OUR UNANSWERED PRAYERS. P139

"Pain we cannot forget . .falls drop by drop upon the heart. P. 140

I was shot by the sure and instantaneous realization that through adversity we are tempered by the fire of God's love. We are forged like a fine Toledo Steel into true steel, flexible as a willow wand and strong as the girder of a bridge. P. 140

The Four Noble Truths:

1. Life is full of suffering

2. The suffering is caused by attachments to those things we want.

3. That the way out of suffering is through living lightly -nonattachment.

4. That no-attachment is achieved through daily practice of meditation and careful self-examination, watching and guarding our minds, our speech, our action. P. 140

How does this Buddha view point resemble "Faith and prayers?"

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. P. 142

Karma says that everything we do or say changes our surroundings. Every thought sends a ripple around the world. When we pray, our thoughts create a shift and an effect. Intentions arouse energy, energy flows forth. P. 143

What Karma really means . .is that we continually receive lessons we need in order to open our hearts. P. 143

I used to think that my prayers were left unanswered because I had prayed wrong. It's a common misconception that derives from trying to retain control. P. 143

Fundamentalist Christianity affirms that our prayers went unanswered because 'we' sinned . . .The fault is yours. P. 144

I took delicious comfort in my self-pity, little knowing that a habit was developing that would carry me as an adult into immediate despair. P. 144

Thoughts are like arrows: Once released, they strike their mark.
Guard them well or won day you may be your own victim. P. 144

GOD HAS NO RELIGION (Gandi) P. 145

Everything in COMMERCIAL WESTERN SOCIETY, AFTER ALL, IS COMMITTED TO MAKING YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT YOURSELF. YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH . . . P. 145

No wonder some people believe that God would punish us by deliberately not answering our prayers. P. 146

But listen. The universal energy, the primal principle, God, creative intelligence, is composed of love, and it can no more stop loving than the sun can stop shining . . .When the disciples asked Jesus what sin had made the blind man blind, and he answered with the radical instruction: "He has done nothing wrong, and neither did his parents or any of his ancestors before him. P. 146

IT JUST HAPPENED.

THEY PROMISED ONLY LOVE, PEACE, JOY, COMFORT, HAPPINESS, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF PAIN. tO BE TAKEN CARE OF. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A THING TO EARN IT. p. 147

LIFE IS GOD'S NOVEL. LET HIM WRITE IT. P. 147

Our group agreed that, with this chapter, the author was beginning to clarify the basic fears and concerns we have about unanswered prayers. We agreed to revisit this, along with Chapter 12, next time.

Ch. 9 Loosing in Heaven, Binding on Earth

2009-11-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

In this chapter the author continues her Faith journey by making direct connections between prayers and science: We are asked to consider how individuals throughout history have changed their health and circumstances both, with prayers and knowledge of how the physical world of our bodies work:

That which Spirit commands takes form on Earth.

On Earth as is in Heaven

As Above, so below . . . p. 124

She connects us with that unique feeling many have experienced when there was a hair-raising sense that 'we were not alone, and we were watched over.'

"But as he prayed, he felt flooded with an extraordinary sense that everything would be alright." p. 125

The group discussed how several in the circle had battled, and still do battle, with parts of their lives that take daily intervention of will and prayer.

"You must make this one prayer every day of your life, because you are given a reprieve only one day at a time." p.126

"Night and day she began to pray, using that phrase to affirm life and health: I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness.....it flashed upon me that I might talk to the life in every part of my body and have it do just what I wanted . . .Then I asked the Father to forgive me for taking his life into my organism and there using it so meanly." p. 128

Mathew 18:19
"Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there, among them."

We discussed how unanswered prayers are often met by deep, patient faith, in an indirect manner that has a truer sense of rightness:

"Sometimes, in prayer, it is not the situation that changes. It is you. The the problem no longer holds us in its grasp." p. 131

We talked about her reference to scientist, Dr. Walt Weston's contention that the impact of prayers can be measured:

Healing and Prayers-Dr. Walt Weston

We shared a brief 2-page summary of Dr. Laurence Johnson's studies and observations.

He claims that science have indications that the strength of prayers are increased by the square of the numbers participating. Many of the group felt this data was unnecessary knowledge as part of their faith 'insight,' while others felt it allowed individuals to pray with a clearer intent and visualization.

Finally we talked about how we, and others, sometimes 'don't quite believe,' as we pray:

"At first he found this hard, for he did not quite "believe," But each morning he went off by himself, to sit alone in a chair and listen-merely listen; and as the years passed, he discovered to his surprise that dreams provided his pathway to "a wider intelligence." p. 129

The author wrote lengthily about the power and benefits of silent prayers with the work of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore as they healed themselves and created the foundation of a Silent Society. p. 130

The sessions ended with a health prayer shared in chorus-Mennonite fashion: Blessing of the Body by Joyce Rudd.

Ch. 8 Three Ways to Ask in Prayer

2009-11-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

She wants to be sure we understand that all prayers can be:

1. Directed

In this mode you are very specific and you can enhance the power of your thoughts and prayers by visualizing the desired outcome. P. 112

2. Undirected

In this mode you are simply thinking about the person you wish to aide, and you don't use words.
You simply send, or project a force of love and goodwill to surround the person. P. 113

3. Made in a surrender spirit

This is a difficult mode to understand; she explains it as: "Pray as if all depends on God, and act as if all depends on you." P. 114

She states that she has almost completely stopped using the 'Directed' from of prayer. P. 117

A good question for group is: How does a person know what is the best outcome for yourself or anyone else?

She spends some time exploring how prayers are answered by angels. P. 118

She states that " "In prayer we enter a space of lucid quiet, and in this state is deeply connected to love. It carries power." P. 120

And "that by clinging to our desires we increase our pain." P. 121

Finally she ends with Five Rules of Life:

1. IF YOU ARE HOLDING ON TOO HARD, YOU'VE ALREADY LOST IT.

2. THE MORE YOU GIVE AWAY, THE MORE YOU HAVE.

3. YOU FEEL POOR WHEN SAVING, RICH WHEN SAVING.

4. THE MORE YOU PRACTICE LETTING GO, WITH OPEN-HEARTED INNOCENSE, THE MORE YOU FIND THAT ALL YOUR NEEDS ARE MET.

5. WHEN YOU EXPECT THE BEST, THE BEST WILL COME.

And FIVE RULES OF PRAYERS:

1. YOU RECEIVE WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU AREN'T THINKING ABOUT IT ANYMORE.

2. YOU RECEIVE YOUR PRAYER WHE Y OU SURENDER UTTERLY TO THE ABSOLUTE, ACCEPTING WHATEVER MAY COME.

3. YOU RECEIVE YOUR PRAYER IF IT IS UNSELFISH, FOR THE HIGHEST GOOD OF EVERYONE CONCERNED.

4. YOU RECEIVE YOUR DESIRE IF THE PRAYER ENCOURAGES HARMONY, LOVE, JOY, LAUGHTER, AND WELL-BEING.

5. THE MORE YOU NOTICE WHEN YOU HAVE RECEIVED, AND GIVE THANKS-BE GLAD - THE MORE WILL COME TO YOU.

Walk in Beauty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Beauty may you walk.
All day long may you walk.
Through the returning seasons may you walk.
On the trail marked with pollen may you walk.
With grasshoppers about your feet may you walk.
With dew about your feet may you walk.

With Beauty may you walk.
With Beauty before you, may you walk.
With Beauty behind you, may you walk.
With Beauty above you, may you walk.
With Beauty below you, may you walk.
With Beauty all around you, may you walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of Beauty,
lively, may you walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of Beauty,
living again, may you walk.
It is finished in Beauty.
It is finished in Beauty.

http://www.aquarianzone.net/navajo.html

Ch. 7 October 25, 2009

2009-10-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

In this chapter the author leads off with a very humorous story about a clergyman who gets in real trouble, and desperately prays aloud to God for intervention; and each time God answers his prayers this person can't see it's divine intervention: It isn't exactly what this person asked for.

In Ch 6. She chose, for the sake of simplification, to use this list:

1. Petitions
2. Gratitude
3. Praise
4. Prayer of union

The clergyman was using the form of petitions.

The group discussed how very literal prayers sometimes seem inappropriate; for example,does one NOT ask for a parking place? Is it too trivial, and is it just our own repsonsibility to take care of the mundane stuff?

She speaks of the absence of 'Peace within' when prayers are not answered, and shares the quote from St. Paul, 1 Timothy 2:1

So that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

This seems to tangent remarkably well with the quality of prayers and attitudes at PMC: We are not demonstrative Christians, and our prayers are simple and full of grace.

In reference to the previously, often asked question: What about the terror a person feels 'that a prayer will not be answered by quoting Malachi 3:10

Two group members shared the very real disquiet felt when they forgot where their car was parked in a big city, and how they felt it was a legitimate prayer concern. It was noted that, whether the prayer was answered, just praying about the trouble tended to bring a quiet that often provided a pathway to resolution.

Put me to the test, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.

And again, in John 14:14, the author says:

Ask and you shall receive.

And with Mark 5:36

Do not fear - only believe.

That we must believe that the Spirit will care for us, trusting in the same way we trust our lungs to breathe and our hearts to beat. P. 98

She speaks of learning to rest in this assurance gradually, over time,with lots of testing, in the course of her life. How each prayer became a 'handhold in our climb to trust.' P. 98

In a deprecating manner, she says: " I'm always surprised, and enchanted as well by the lite-hearted delight that accompanies the gift, as if the universe were rocking with laughter all the time . . ." P. 99

The she discussed 'how to beware of the things you ask for in your prayers, and how God, in his Wisdom, and, perhaps,with his sense of delight, does give you, literally, what you ask for, just slightly different:

The 60 year old husband asked to be married to a woman 30 years younger than himself, and, instantly his wife opf 30 years, at 60 years of age, remained as she was, and the husband was 90.

The example of the Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenburg is probably troubling to many people:

Often, when we desire for something to happen so passionately we feel as if we know beyond a shade of a doubt that our desires represent the absolute truth, well, we push the goal away from us.

She speaks of: " It's the strength of our desire, like the bow wave of a moving motorboat, pushes away the goal; and just as we cannot rid ourselves of any vice or bad habit until we've completely accepted, owned and honored it . . .we cannot acquire a virtue until we no longer hunger for it emotionally." P. 102-3

Finally the concludes the argument with the statement: We're not alone! P103.

All we have to do is trust, believe that, despite everything, the universe is working out for the good. P. 104

It may be troubling to some that the author uses the terminology of 'the universe' where we would use the simple 'God,' however, again, it is appropriate to remember that she is writing for a wider audience that includes people across the whole planet, people who may be troubled by that three-letter word, or people who speak a language different from ours, or have found a faith where the formal words are different from ours.

The she moves into the field of miracles with yet another scientific reference to the commingling of science and faith by mentioning the reports of spontaneous cancer remissions associated with Dr. Yujito Ikemi at Kyushu University school in Japan. Evidently, even today doctors use the scientific notation 'SRC' for 'Spontaneous Remission Case.'

She cites Dr. Larry Dosset:

Larry Dossey, MD, is the author of eleven books on the role of consciousness in health, most recently The Power of Premonitions (Dutton, 2009.) He is a Former Chief of Staff of Medical City Dallas Hospital, and now a holistic medical practitioner, and cites several authentic studies on the power of prayers.

For doubters, the author cites:

Some 182,000 American women are annually diagnosed with breast cancer, and 46,000 of them die each year - 26.4 deaths per 100,000 of the total population. Everyone of them must have prayed P. 105

And in response, she says: God cares tremendously about our souls. God may be more interested in how events of a life affect someone than in events themselves. P. 106.

She says: A person may be sick and yet overflow with serenity and faith and joy, while someone else under similar circumstances will lose heart.

The she returns to the question of literal prayers with: Do we even dare to pray:

Would Jews for centuries have prayed for the return return to Zion had they known it would come at the cost of six million in the Holocaust? P. 108

And her friend who almost succumbed to suicide in the midst of life's challenges, only to find a whole new set of joys after 'surrendering.' P. 109

What is it that God teaches us through the pains we sometimes are forced to endure and walk through?

She says:

If you forge ahead and if your 'plan is selfish and purely self-serving, your pain will only get worse, no matter how much you pray.'

However, 'if it be for the good everything you need will be given ...sometimes 'afterward, when not thinking about it.' P. 110

The group had an enthusiastic discussion about how God is, or isn't, everywhere at all times, and able to be 'aware' of our concerns, prayers and needs. We left, an echoing question: Is God more concerned about our souls than our physical bodies and their journeys?

There was strong agreement in the group with the author that 'WE'RE NOT ALONE!' P. 103.

The group ended the discussion with a prayer from Treasury of Poems and Prayers:

BE NOT DISMAYED WHATEVER BETIDE

BE NOT DISMAYED WHATEVER BETIDE,
GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU;
BENEATH HIS WINGS OF LOVE ABIDE,
GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU,
THROUGH EVERY DAY,
OVER ALL THE WAY;
HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU,
GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
AMEN

Questions to reflect on as we prepare for Ch 8. Pleading and Petitioning:

Are specific, directed prayers useful and appropriate? Example, “Lord, don’t let me lose my job!”
Are non-specific, undirected prayers useful and appropriate? Example, “Into your hands, O God . . .”
Are prayers of surrender useful and appropriate? Example, “ I am yours, O Lord. Do with me as you will.”

Ch. 6 The four Stair-Steps of Prayer

2009-10-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

The group examined the author's simplified outline of prayers:

1. Petition or supplication
2. Gratitude or thanksgiving
3. Praise and adoration
4. Prayer of union

There was general agreement that the list was a huge simplification of the way most people pray and think of prayers. The group leaned towards a position that almost any prayer is composed of all four items of the list.

The author appears to agree with this assessment (P. 82).

It seemed to the group that the chapter might be more useful for people thinking about religion and prayers, than for people steeped in its traditions and practices.

The example of St. Theresa of Avila, who railed against God and Faith for twenty years before having a revelation, was very moving, and spoke to our concern for non-traditional believers who are joining a church, as for example, Portland Mennonite (p. 85-6).

The author spent a lot of effort explaining and differentiating between silent and verbal prayers; she mentions The Prayer of Quiet and speaks of it being "embodied in a still heart." P. 87.

In the end, the group seemed to concur with the author that "They are all just different ways of talking to God." P. 89.

She returned briefly to the issue of "Terror," as the theologically very real feeling a believer may have when God is not answering someone's prayers specifically the way the individual thought it ought to be answered. She concludes this examination of fear by stating: " Fear is simply part of being alive . . .Instantly I accepted it. . .I choose life." P. 91.

In our search for suitable prayer books, especially ones that meet the needs of young parents and children, the group examined:

Poems & Prayers For Children by Lynne Suesse, ISBN # 0-7853-7810-3. It's a beautifully illustrated book at a reading level accessible to most children; a suitable addition to our PMC library.

The group returned to its core comfort with a "found" prayer, I am Giving You Me, read in traditional chorus sharing:

I AM GIVING YOU ME

A: I AM
B: I AM

A: I AM GIVING
B: I AM GIVING

A: I AM GIVING YOU
B: I AM GIVING YOU

A: I AM GIVING YOU ME
B: I AM GIVING YOU ME

A: I AM GIVING YOU ME, LORD
B: I AM GIVING YOU ME, LORD

B: I AM GIVING YOU ME
IN THE TWINKLING OF MY EYE
AND THE SADNESS OF MY SIGHING;
IN THE LAUGHTER OF MY HEART
AND THE TEARS OF MY SOUL;
IN THE RHYTHMS OF MY FEET
AND THE SILENCE OF MY LISTENING.

I AM GIVING YOU ME, LORD.

A: I AM GIVING YOU ME

IN THE PROMISES I KEEP
AND THE INSULTS THAT I PARDON;
IN THE GOOD NEWS THAT I SHARE
AND THE CONFIDENCES I PROTECT;
IN THE REMEMBERING OF GRACIOUS THINGS
AND THE FORGETTING OF FORGIVEN SINS.

I AM GIVING YOU ME, LORD.

B: I AM GIVING YOU ME

IN THE MEANT SONG
IN THE QUIET PAUSE,
IN THE SPECIAL MOMENT,
IN THE NOD OF MY LIFE TO YOUR WILL
AND STILL,
I AM GIVING YOU ME
IN THE STUTTERED PRAYER
AND THE LINGERING DOUBT
AND THE DRY DAYS OF THE SPIRIT AND THE CONTRADICTED HOPES.

I AM GIVING YOU ME, LORD.

JESUS:

I
I AM
I AM GIVING
I AM GIVING YOU
I AM GIVING YOU ME

I AM GIVING YOU ME
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

I AM GIVING YOU ME
IN THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH
AND THE UGLINESS OF A WOODEN CROSS;
IN THE FULLNESS OF FOUR SEASONS

AND THE EMPTINESS OF A GARDEN TOMB;
IN THE WARMTH OF THE WEAK
AND THE REJECTION OF THE MIGHTY;
IN THE COMPANY OF GOD'S PEOPLE
AND THE SOLITUDE OF A PLACE APART;
AND SOMETIMES
WHEN A STONE WALL CONFRONTS YOU
I AM GIVING YOU ME
PRYING ON THE OTHER SIDE:

FATHER,
MAY THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR ME BEIN THEM,
SO THAT I MAY ALSO BE IN THEM
AND THEY IN US.

-Author unknow

We propose examining these questions in CH. 7:

1. Are prayers answered? Always. But never the way we expect
2. How do you feel about St. Paul, I Timothy 2:1 “So that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity?

Ch. 5 When Thought Can Touch

2009-10-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

We ended Ch. 4 with a Chant for Fear, and it appeared very effective and satisfying; Evy Kristensen led the group of ten with a prayer focused on gratitude.

The group of 10 people, a well mixed composition of elders and young parents,contemplated how "Your thoughts affects the world." p. 60

We focused on the key questions in Ch. 5:

1. How are you influenced by your own thoughts - by what you think?

2. Are you aware that your thoughts affects the world?

The child's heart-rendering prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy one meee" appears to be an effective mental mantra. Somehow it works for people as if they are cleansing their thoughts, or meditating.

We can't transform ourselves. But in prayer we can offer ourselves to be transformed p. 62

Comment:
The group struggled with accepting that there are many different forms of prayer, but accepted that prayerful internal dialogue throughout the day was appropriate and meaningful.

Her repetitions from St. Paul's letters to the Galatians:
"Love, Joy, Peace, patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control" appear to be a living example of how to guard your thoughts.

Research points to that whatever you think about for 17 seconds will be attracted into your path. P.63.

When the heart is aligned with the mind "You influence the world!" P.63

See Dr. Jahn's book Margins of Reality or www.princeton.edu/~PEAR http://www.princeton.edu/~pear/index.html

The group reflected on whether our 'thoughts" and prayers made a difference in ourselves, and our environs. There was a lot of resistance to the author's inclusion of research on positive thinking as an equal form of prayerful activity.

Are we encouraged that our prayerful lives have an impact on the world?

Are we encouraged that distance and space does not appear to be factors limiting the effectiveness of thoughtful intentions, i.e. prayers.

It is worth noting that the PEAR study found (p. 66-67) that:

1. Thought paired with love was more effective than thought alone

2. Two people working in pairs had a greater effect than one person

3. Two people of the opposite gender had about twice the effect of two same gender people

4. Two people in love have more than 7 times the influence of a single person.

5. The mind is non-local. It picks up information by telepathy, precognition ...so our every prayer, hope, longing, every thought and intentions sends out ripples to a universe ...

Comments:
If prayer is concentrated thought, distilled and sent out on beams of love into the stratosphere, if prayer is a passionate longing of the heart, then the task is to pay attention to your thoughts.

The group circled around the concept that, in today's frontal attack wave of marketing and information, there is no doubt our thoughts and prayers are being impacted, shifted and, perhaps changed from our basic beliefs.

We discussed how you change the thought habits of a lifetime and send out positive, believing prayers? It is difficult to say and understand how "your thinking attracts to you what you want to have."

The author quoted the author Norman Vincent Peale's book: The Power of Positive Thinking. We must expect the best and train our minds to believe in the power of the Holy One...the Belief itself draws our destiny to us.

The author also mentioned John Lester on Consciously Creating Circumstances. He grew up as a 7th Day Adventist and developed some systems thinking that tracks Neuro Linguistic Programming theories used in some management training programs.

The author discussed whether meditation and affirmations are prayers.
She believes they have a place but are not always prayers. However they can be positive and effective when delivered with humility. Matthew 18:19 P. 73

Comments:
The group enjoyed the biblical reference, but in the context of the author's scientific citations on the power of thoughts, some questioned whether it applied to inappropriate prayers.

The distinction appears to be how willing you are to trust that God knows better what is best for us and the world. P.74

She believes that each of us has some mission or purpose here on earth, and if we listen deeply, we will know what is the highest good for ourselves and others.

She states that (p. 77-8):
1. The will of God brings Joy. The Heart leaps up with yes!
2. There is, sometimes, a physical response akin to an electric charge . . .hair raising on your arm, or sudden tears. The will of God feels different from your ordinary whim.
3. Divine Love is a Force.
4. It will work out if you let yourself be led instead of trying to force matters.

The group reflected on what kind of sense we each had experienced when we "just knew" we were doing or saying the right words.

In conclusion, the author brought the process of examining how 'Thoughts Can Touch' to a conclusion with:

The difference between our pitiful attempts to consciously create circumstances and the state of absolute abandon to a spiritual dimension that constitutes true prayer-the touch of thought. P. 79

The group read the anonymously authored prayer "As children bring their broken toys . . ." as a concluding summation of the chapter.

Questions to reflect on for CH. 6 The Four Stair-Steps of Prayer

1. Can we each bring a prayer that fits the four models of prayers:

a. Petition
b. Gratitude
c. Praise
d. Prayer of union

10-4-09 Ch. 4 Looking Into Terror

2009-10-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

In this chapter the author explored her personal experience with feeling scared, and terrorized emotionally, when she experienced a sense of loosing her faith in God.

Most of the group participants were intimidated by this chapter, its questions and, most likely, personal memories of experiences similar to those related by the author: Will God answer my prayers? Does God even hear me?

We began our reflections on Chapter 4 by connecting our developing sense of what the author is proposing with reflections on what we learned in Chapter 3:

a. " I have so much to do," wrote Martin Luther, "that I cannot possibly get by on less than three hours of prayer a day." p. 42

Comment:
He prays to Jesus Christ and a Western God

b. The Dalai Lama prays for four hours every morning before his workday begins at 7 A. M. P. 42

Comment:
He prays to a variety of deities.

c. A Hebrew prayer
A prayer for the good of all..Lead me into the ways of Righteousness, that I may hurt no one; and help me bring the blessings of Love to Others . . . p. 44

Comment:
This age old prayer to Our God, on behalf of everyone; it could well be used in any one of our world religions; you will find this version and theme repeated: just replace the words with their culture's language and another honorific for who and what they believe in.

The group is a bit uncomfortable recognizing that there are historical as well as cultural commonalities shared by all the world's religions. Perhaps they reflect a common humanity and a shared cognitive processing.

We chose to work our way through this chapter methodically, and this worked until the group got comfortable with the author's narrative, and was able to resume our shared responses.

1. I could hear the murmur of the city like a hum .....It's what God hears. That's what it sounds like to God ...so many longings, so many hurts and fears and desires ...p.45

Questions:
Which prayer does God hear? Will he ignore mine?

In the midst of nine billion people, with a constant murmur of activities, work, fear, joys and prayer, how do we explain to a child that God hears each single prayer?

2. Joseph Campbell's notion of God from Mythology from India ...God as male and female ...God as Creation ...anyone understanding this becomes truly, himself a creator in this creation. p. 45-46

Question:
In this Eastern religious belief, people much like ourselves see themselves as co-creators and yet creatures of God and longing to merge and be with him?

In the Judean-Christian-Islamic tradition we stand apart from God, with free will to disobey or please God.

Is this where 'Our cultural terror' comes from? We are apart from God, and external to his being? Whereas in the Eastern tradition they view God as being part of each of us and all of us. And wherein we can find God within as a individual and common Higher Quest.

3. James Weldon's poem God based on a Hindu myth

I'm lonely-
I'll make me a world . . .

toiling over a lump of clay
till he shaped it in his own image . . . p. 47

We discussed briefly whether this creation story from one of the world's largest religions compared well with our own Christian.

4. Our God in the Western world for thousands of years has been an antagonistic God ...and is only now, for many westerners, beginning to appear as a Loving God ...I was caught by horror . . .p. 48-9

Question:
What if everything I've dared believe is wrong? It was custom for thousands of years, right down to the 19th century, to offer to God what was most precious to us, including sacrificial human offerings.

Group members collectively and individually expressed horror over the implied violence in stories from the Old Testament, but several individuals felt that we must respect the stories from the entire Bible. In the context of discussing how young parents can share such stories of violence and fear with children, the group, somewhat tentatively agreed that our faith must respect the merit of fear and punishment for individual and group choices that are wrong. We did not tackle how, explicitly to council, for example, young parents, on this issue.

We reflected on Isaih 1:11-17

What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? Says the Lord: I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of goats . . .your hands are full of blood . . .cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphans, plead for the widow.

5. Yes, I might sacrifice even my most precious child ...We send our sons to gallant war, we subject our daughters to abusive situations .. We're so afraid p.53.

We talked about what we allow ourselves and our country to do to calm our fears, and terror. The implications of being a Peace Church that makes comfortable utterances in support of universal peace, and yet, we recognized, individually we often fail to act or speak in support of our beliefs; because we are terrorized by fear for our personal safety and comfort.

6. I was glad to be back home . . .comforted . . .I had seen into terrors unimagined before . . .p. 54

Question:
We discussed how "The promise is NOT that we will have no hurts or pains, but that we won't suffer alone."

"Then the darkness is upon you, and there is God Himself . . .Luke 17:21 p.55

Comments:
The group was exhausted from exploring how do we experience this terror of being alone, being wrong, being tempted and needing to explain the rightness of our faith choices to our children. It was a relief to come to Tracey Marx's arrangement of Isiah 43:1-4 that she called A Chant for Fear p.56-58.

We read chant with alternate voices, in great Mennonite sharing fashion, and felt order restored.

Questions to reflect on as we prepare for Ch 5. : When Thought Can Touch:

1. How can we discipline, nurture and monitor our thoughts to stay in tranquility, hope, trust and Love (p. 56).

2. How are we even able to keep our faith as life and God deals us and our community such unpredictable and unimaginable hurt, damage and horror?

9-27-09 What God Do You Pray to?

2009-09-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

Moderator gave a brief recap of Ch. 2, What is Prayer?, and then Evelyn Kristensen led the group in exploring Ch. 3, What God Do You Pray To?

The group discussed how we evolve, grow and change as we move from childhood to adulthood, and during this time, in general, how individuals' perception and mental image of God changes significantly.

The author included a poetic quote from The Apache folk lore that equated God with the emotion of All-Encompassing love (p. 34):

It makes no difference as to the name of the God,
since love is the real God of all the world.

We explored whether our God, in general was a God of Fear and Guilt. And with which gender, if any, we felt comfortable 'seeing' God. A participant shared her personal, evolved perception of God as an entity with endless facets, like a diamond. One facet would reflect and answer to masculine approaches, another to feminine, and one would be as a child. Not all participants shared the common perception and imagery of God as a stern, gray-haired elder male.

The group also shared where God felt closest to each individual; there was common agreement that God seemed especially close in nature. However, most felt that God was with them everywhere.Further, the author states, in good Mennonite tradition, that "The voice of the divine is singing in everything, and everywhere we look . . .(p. 37).

The author mentions that "However God is seen, all the mystics and sages agree that this spiritual energy is merciful"(p. 35).

We discussed how troublesome it is for our faith when our prayers are not answered, and how doubt can emerge when inexplicable cruelty happens to us, loved ones or our community.

Finally, the group discussed, with the guidance of our excellent young parents, how we can, may and should teach our children to pray. There was a strong consensus that our young Mennonite parents are doing an awesome job walking with their young children as the latter discover who they are praying to, change with time, age and maturity.

The group agreed to consider two statements from the chapter (p. 42) as they review Ch. 3 and begin reading Ch. 3, Looking Into the Terror:

1. Sometimes my heart lifts up, rejoicing, and I am overcome with gratitude.

2. One day, when you are flushed with humility and gratitude, give in.

Schedule for PMC Adult Forum Fall 2009

2009-09-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

We are reading Sophy Burnham's book: The Path of Prayer: Reflections on Prayer and True Stories of How It Affects Our Lives.

We will meet each Sunday from 9 till 10 A.M in the Old Chapel and use one chapter as the basis fro exploring how prayers look, work and sound for Mennonites.

PMC and the Adult Forum know that your schedule is challenged, your time valuable and interests vary; we encourage you to acquire this excellent book for a moving insight into how people of faith and science view and use prayers in their personal lives. The book is available at Amazon.com for about $5 including shipping.

Consider purchasing the book, read it by yourself, at your leisure and come to the discussions as a chapter of particular interest to you is scheduled. In the meantime, you can follow the group discussions via our PMC Adult Forum Blog.

Here is the schedule of chapters for Fall 2009:

1. Confessions, Confusion - September 13
2. What Is Prayer? - September 20
3. What God Do You Pray to? - September 27
4. Looking Into the Terror - October 4
5. When Thought Can Touch - October 11
6. The Four Stair-Steps of Prayer - October 18
7. Pleading and Petition - October 25
8. Three Ways To Ask in Prayer - November 1
9. Loosing in Heaven, Biding on Earth - November 8
10 The Mystery of Unanswered Prayer - November 15
11. The Prayer of Touch - November 22
12. A Hundred Ways to Pray - November 29
13. The Prayers of Light - December 6
14. Some Prayers to Practice on - December 13
15. Surrender and Relinquishment - December 20

Should you, as an individual, after reading the book, have a passion for presenting on one of the chapters, please contact moderator.

9-20-09 What is Prayer

2009-09-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

We met in the Old Chapel and explored these questions after reading Chapter 2 of Sophy Burnham's book, The Path of Prayer. The group had fourteen church members and visitors participating.

These were the foundational questions:

1. What is it we do when we pray?
2. How do prideful people get to accept the need for praying?
3. Is praying about submission?
4. How do Mennonites pray?

After reviewing Chapter 1, considering its carrying messages, we agreed to summarize it with:

1. Rote prayers for children are a good foundational start
2. When we pray we feel better, stronger and healthier
3. With prayers we accept that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

Chapter 2 clarified that the root word for prayer is the Latin word 'Precare,' and it means to ask, beg, and request with a specific intention.

We discussed how prayers help us focus our emotions, thoughts and needs. It was also clear that prayers impart a specific kind of energy. The chapter related how Dr. ALexis Carrel, a Nobel Prize recipient medical doctor said: "prayer is energy, "a source of luminous, self-generating energy." (p26).

The group discussed whether prayers originated in 'the head' or 'the heart.' It was remarkable how individuals with many years of Bible study and a deep faith still felt a sense of awe and mystery in the process of daily prayers.

We spent some time exploring whether prayers are meant to be focused on thankfulness or whether they mostly should be concerned with specific requests and needs. There was a sense that God accepts both kinds of prayer.

Several spoke about the vulnerability they felt when praying, and it was likened to being completely open and receptive. Perhaps like 'An electronic super highway.'

An article in the Mennonite Weekly, issue July 13, 2009, entitled 'Praying to smite an enemy' unleashed some strong feelings. The concept of 'imprecatory' prayers wherein people literally express a specific intent to harm a person was discussed. The article mentioned how Pastor Wiley Drake of Buena Park Southern Babtist church in California had prayed publicly for the death of President Obama was mentioned. The group was stunned of this use of prayer involving violence; a former pastor in the group spoke to the Biblical reference to Psalms and the article referenced scholar Walter Brueggeman who likens these kinds of prayers to 'safe psychological venting.'

We also discussed praying in relationship to the movie shown at church the previous evening, 'Praying the Devil back down to Hell,' wherein the women of Liberia literally joined hands across Christianity and the Muslim Faith to bring an end to years of total civil mayhem.

The session ended with moderator asking group to consider, for Chapter 3, What God Do You Pray To? the two quotes (p30):

1. Each day we must begin again

2. Each day we must make contact with our higher self

The book is available from Amazon.com at a cost of approximately $5, including shipping; we invite regular group members to read each brief chapter as a preparation for each Adult Forum. The book lends itself well to many church members reading the book in its entirety, and attending each sessions as their personal time schedule and interest allows.

9-13-09 The Path of Prayer

2009-09-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

The Adult Forum group began reading Sophy Burnham's excellent book: The Path of Prayer:Reflections on Prayer and True Stories of How It Affects Our Lives.

The book is available from www.amazon.com with ISBN # 0-14-21-9626 for less than $5.

Some questions we explored:

1. Do you remember the childrens prayer: There are Four Corners on my bed…..

2. Is daily prayers ‘a duty, like wearing clean underclothes….?

3. Is praying a manner of speech?

4. Is prayer a central place in yours and your family’s daily lives?

5. Do you bargain with God when you pray?

6. Why does praying seem so often to begin with pain?

7. Is it close to the truth to say that “when we cannot take another step,
we’re forced to pray?”

8. How do prideful people get to accept the need for praying?

9. Is praying about submission?

10. How do Mennonites pray?

In her introduction she cites a 1996 Time/CNN poll that found "that 82% believed in the healing power of prayr and 64% thought doctors should pray with those patients who request it..." P. 2

She also cites studies funded by the National Institutes of Health on prayer; it appears from these studies that scientists can measure statistical changes in biological conditions and cells as effects of purposeful prayer. P. 3

The group had a passionate exchange on the merits of rote or formulaic prayers and agreed that there is a strong historical power imbedded in using prayers that have survived generations and hundreds of years. However, there was also general agreement that there was strength in encouraging children to learn how to pray with originality and authenticity. The concept of sending a brief "Flash' prayer was shared.

We briefly reviewed the old childrens prayer "There are four corners..." and agreed that it might possibly be traumatic for young children to worry about the line wherein it's alluded that 'God might take them away in the night."

Several group participants shared that praying is a deeply personal, and evolving, experience.

Everyone agreed that there were huge long-term benefits to teaching children to pray regularly and daily, and that it was a family 'rule.' A discussion over the 'R' word elicited the fundamental insight that parents might consider it a long-term mental and physical health benefit to require their children to pray daily when young, with the family.

The group had a lot of humorous chuckling, and a bit of discomfort, briefly discussing whether we bargain with God when we pray. We agreed that this insight needed to be explored in depth over the coming chapters.

Since this was the start of the series, group agreed to read chapters 1 & 2 for Sunday 9-20-09.

Technology and the Media, Healthy Children-Healthy Planet, Ch. 6., Bob Burton

2009-05-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

Crystal Miller reflected on "Whose passion" it is when we assign our children into activities. Do we choose as we, as adults, feel we know best, or do we allow our children some participation in the choices, scope of choosing choices, and, finally, in the limitation of options at any given time.

Bob Burton guides group in reflecting on which technology is most present in our homes.

Examples:

1. Email
2. On Line games
3. Ipods
4. TV
5. Data base
6. YouTube
7. Social networks
8. Web-surfing
9. Texting

Group discussed the many ways a home environment is controlled by the presence of a T.V., and whether it modulated our focus and choices by being on somewhere in the house, virtually all the time.

We reviewed whether the content of T.V and impact of high volume of adds required a time limit to T.V. exposure, especially for younger children. It was discussed and noted that some research appear to support notion of short attention ability with too much in-front of T.V. time for young children.

Group questioned why so many people appear to prefer to seek their enjoyment in front of a T.V., a computer or with an Ipod plugged in, rather than in the context of other human beings.

It was noted that the ability to develop imagination and visualize actively is not developed well with too much passive watching. Group briefly discussed benefits of group gaming on computers.

We examined the addictive behavior associated with many modern electronic tools and modalities. How much time is it healthy for an individual to spend 'plugged' or sitting passively in front of, to the exclusion of direct contact with other human beings.

Group agreed that, today, we tend to behave in a very prescribed manner today, in many ways, perhaps enslaved to a web of technology that may or may not enhance our lives, productivity or relationships.

Tine and Creativity, Ch. 5, Healthy Children-Healthy Planet, Mary Wenger, 4-26-09

2009-05-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Mary Wenger asked group to share their childhood memories of "Unstructured and Unsupervised play" by children a generation ago.

Examples shared:

1. Imaginary play
2. Ice skating together on a pond
3. Fool around in creeks
4. Kick the Can
5. Roller skating rink
6. Play in vacant lot
7. Drawing on sidewalks and in park dirt
8. Building forts
9. Going on adventures, single and in small groups
10. Board games

Group noticed that their childhood access and scope was shaped by the presence of many in-loco parents stay-at-home parents that assured everyone of a safe general environment. Children could walk or bike long distances to school, for example.

In today's environment, group took notice that:

1. Kids aren't outside much
2. Parks are empty.
3. Kids are on solitary computers
4. Kids are passively watching movies
5. Parents are absent from neighborhoods

Group agreed that parents are tremendously overpressured today, between handling complex working schedules, career choices and perceived needs for children to be optimally schedule. It was suggested that creativity comes from allowing children to be "bored," so they can generate their own solutions and inventions.

Group sounded self-conscious and concerned as we realized that our "collective' children, and we, ourselves, are spread too thinly; a concern was expressed whether we are providing our current children with a "childhood," and whether we have relinquished our parental responsibilities to our children, their peers and the media.

Almost, without having a clear response and sense of the magnitude of the scope of "How do we provide for our children?" group agreed that it was essential to carve out more family time for:

1. Supper together

2. Reading aloud together

3. Playing board games together

4. Walking together

5. Playing physical games like badminton, softball and soccer together

Group agreed, finally, that, in the face of too many competing opportunities it was essential families and individuals make weekly plans for best scenarios.

Food and Health Choices-Healthy Children-Healthy, Planet, Ch. 4, Jim Wenger, 4-18-09

2009-05-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

Mary Wenger opens with reflection on how she and her husband raised children in an affluent Northwest neighborhood, and how their children fought, as children will, against family choices and limits that ran against the main culture. She expressed gratitude for how her children have since indicated that they are thankful, in hindsight, for their parents' guidance.

Jim Wenger guides group in examining favorite and least favorite food choices; examples:

1. Spinach vs. Ice cream
2. Canned peas vs. pot roast
3. Frito dish vs. fish
4. Burned toast vs. macaroni dish
5. Onions vs. liverwurst

Group examined the "current' government food pyramid,with its emphasis on carbohydrates, inclusion of corn syrup and other sweeteners and similar unhealthy sources of food.

As a counter point, we discussed why parents are immediately inflamed and spurred to public action when their children are not "learning" in public schools, and blithely ignore the slow process of allowing school cafeterias and advertising to turn children into "Fast Food" junkies.

It was pointed out that healthy food choices are often an option only for wealthier parents, and that it hits poor children more broadly. However, in support of personal responsibility group compared cost of a public school lunch at $2.65 with cost and time involved for parent to prepare a lunch to assure child's health.

The term "Empty calories" was brought up as food items were examined; most foods in the current food recommendations are often "teaser' foods with negligible health values, and the high sugar and fast burn compositions assure providers that children will be perpetually hungry for "more."

A side discussion followed on impact on learning capacity; there is research indicating that the rise in autism and attention deficit and hyper activity modalities may be related to food consumption choices.

Group discussed the dangers with genetically modified foods, examined how they don't digest as well, and how they disrupt small agriculture practices. In the same context, we talked about excluding meat due to the forced growth and pen-holding industry practices that introduces large amounts of antibiotics into food chain.

The focus shifted to how families and individuals can improve their eating habits by changing their purchasing habits and vendor choices. An example was given of WalMart driving up the availability of organic produce by including it in their product line in response to consumer choices.

Group agreed that the food delivery and production system today has systemic problems that require both governmental and consumer pressure to change.

For example:

1. Toxins and trace elements that are health destroyers are allowed into the agribusiness model for profit support.

2. Public water supplies are not clean; EPA does not test for the presence of a soup of low-level toxins and by-products from sewers, garbage dumps and agribusiness practice run-offs.

3. Sub-divisions discourage, or don't allow, home gardens.

Group agreed that it is a personal, and public, challenge to make healthy food access more equitable, and that public policy and subsidies need to be redirected towards ensuring a more local, reliable and nutritious food supply. Rather than allowing the food supply to be a profit center for agribusiness.

Advertising-Ch.3, Healthy Children-Healthy Planet 4-5-09

2009-05-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Matthew Kauffman opens deliberations with Romans 12-2, and talks briefly about "What's Good and Acceptable."

Quote:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is pointed out that it takes an enormous amount of personal willpower and awareness to resist the data attacks by commercial advertising. Some data indicate that an individual,or a family, gets hit with 10,000 advertising "Hits" per year, and that we only have a limited number of daily family opportunities to counter attack and examine statements hidden in advertising hits.

Group examines the difference in perception between what a person "must" have vs. what one feels a need for after being exposed to advertising and peer pressure. It is clear that the current generation is exposed to an entirely different level of behavior modification. It was pointed out by a parent, that "When you take children shopping today, you can plan on throwing away $20 or more on nagging purchases stimulated by advertising hits on children."

Discussion centers uncomfortably on what advertising is "making" us do, and especially about the expert-driven research targeting on capturing young people's minds, and setting those "Brand Names" before they become adults.

A few group members question whether we have allowed commercial marketing and news reporting to merge into infomercials, that can't be relied on as factual and reliable reporting. This leads to discussion on whether we have, via public policy and law making, allowed corporations to advertise too much, and on items and in areas best left to professionals; for example, the unbalanced influence of pharmaceutical use driven by advertisements, rather than via medical advice.

Discussion on school lunch program, and how it is funded as an agribusiness subsidy program to, principally guarantee corporate farmer a floor price for their products, rather than providing quality nutrition for children.

Quote:

Public school cafeterias don't cook anything anymore: They just heat up prepared food.

A particularly vicious and sneaky advertising scheme involving girls' circles was brought up; evidently advertisers target small groups of girls and lure individuals with clothing and make-up gifts to "recruit" their fashion friends.

This session ended by group examining how individuals can, and must, counteract the avalanche of advertising:

1. Explain to children why you, and they, must make conscious purchasing decisions for certain family reasons.

2. Use "Humor" and phrase such as "Can you believe that add...."

3. Ask children to research statements delivered by adds.

4. Approach lawmakers to target especially unhealthy and invasive advertising targets and venues, such as cigarettes and alcohol.

5. Set a good example and don't model compulsive and unnecessary purchasing.

6. Help kids know how they can counteract advertising adds with peers.

7. Approach lawmakers and adult peers about changing the scope currently allowing corporations to operate the public with untruths and behavior modification techniques in infomercials and advertising.

Family Rituals-Silas Langley And Kurt Kristensen, 3-29-09

2009-03-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

We met in a circle of 17 members of the congregation, a good mix of people who have finished raising children and people who are in the midst of raising young ones.

Silas Langley opened with a brief prayer and a reflection on what we learned from Chapter 1 of Healthy Children-Healthy Planet, on Cultural Pressure. He had a young parent's humorous observation about the comfort, and danger of television use with children.

Kurt Kristensen began the discussion of rituals by asking group to hold hands and share something each was thankful for within their family.

Then individuals shared insights and memories of rituals that have been dropped or lost in their family:

1. Bi-annual family re-union.
2. Decorating the Christmas tree.
3. Collecting wild flowers for baskets for older people.
4. Taking annual bike trip to Captain Cook with the same foods each year.
5. Annual block party for neighboring families - changed to a backpack trip
6. Christmas with all siblings and their families gathering.

These reflections led to a sharing of rituals that have endured, for a variety of reasons:

1. AeppleSkiver as a special treat for youngsters and family.
2. Danish potatoes for children and their friends on Saturday mornings.
3. Popcorn instead of dinner on Sunday night

We discussed and examined what we thought has made some rituals endure:

1. Kids all buy into the activity, actively.
2. Family meals with interesting food, often suggested by each child, in turn.
3. Being flexible with joint mealtime as children age, but making it happen.

We discovered that the chapter included an old Mennonite Blessing as part of the introduction:

Thank you for the wind and rain,
And sun and pleasant weather,
Thank you for this our food
and that we are together.

We discussed the observation that any given ritual will have a different meaning and purpose for children and adults; and, that it changes over time.

We also acknowledged that in any given family it was important to have consensus between spouses, and the staying power to make certain rituals enduring parts of family's life-while other could be blessed and dropped as circumstances changes. The chapter was emphatic that:

A ritual cannot survive if only one person is the active participant, or leader, it needs active buy in from most of the family.

There was deep concern about the challenges of validating and keeping rituals in the face of teenagers' inclination to challenge and reject many family values and rules.

The chapter recommends a firm, long-term view and commitment by family leader(s). There was a sense that, despite the rebellion typical of the teenage years, many young adults have expressed a sense of sadness later, over the loss of some rituals.

We finished the discussion by examining the concept of Coming of Age rituals for young people as they moved through their growing and maturing years. There was a sense that:

1. Children and young adults need role models within their gender.
2. A formal celebration within family and church at the end of each growth period.
3. The Ship Mates mentoring program at PMC was exceptionally appropriate.

As usual the group ended the discussion by sharing what they had learned, or noticed anew. It was unanimously evident that the concept of maintaining, creating and encouraging rituals was an area most of us have let slip off the radar; group appeared to leave with a sense of re-commitment to rituals as an essential tool for maintaining healthy children.

It was noted that rituals aren't always big, overwhelming and complex affairs but can, in fact, be a number of small repeat behaviors used reliably in each family. These many small rituals tend to lend core to the lives of many active families.

Preston Smith moderates Circle on Cultural Pressures 3-22-09

2009-03-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

Preston Smith, a volunteer from Northwest Earth Institute modeled how the institute encourages discussion circles to facilitate insight using their course material.

Our circle was composed of 16 members from PMC's congregation, as well as visiting Elders. The group had a great balance of elders, young people currently raising children and young single people.

He asked each participant first to share 'What have you learned recently from a child?'

This brought forth a medley of interesting insights:

1. You should practice more!
2. Everything I do, she (the child) will do.
3. How to text message!
4. How a child can be proud of a lot of small accomplishments!
5. It's going to be O.K.
6. Being honest is important.
7. Have fun!
8. How we depend on eachother.
9. How people look different, but are still related.
10. That it's important to forgive, and forget.
11. It's cool to let kids help us.
12. They bring us all kinds of interesting information.

He shared how his own daughter in Kindergarten almost flunked, because she couldn't tell her colors, and now she is an architect. He discussed how his family had to set a firm clothing budget to prevent peer pressure from driving their children into becoming endless clothing consumers.

The group shared insight into how current issues, habits and arrangements make it difficult for families to defend themselves from attacks by the dominant culture:

1. No daily commonly shared family meal
2. Often families consist of one parent with children.
3. Peer pressure on children as well as adults.
4. T.V. is deadly aggressive and offensive.
5. Lack of community.
6. Advertising and in your face marketing.
7. Amount of things available to children and adults to do.
8. Too much discretionary funds at children and adults' disposal.
9. You don't really know the parents of your children's friends.
10. Affluence drives us to shop for 'wants' rather than genuine 'needs.'
11. Too many of us are in too much of a hurry.
12. People, and children, are bombarded with psychologically invasive marketing.
13. There's a lack of sharing, and availability, of generational wisdom.

He indicated that there is a bit of good sense in:

1. Slowing down our lives.
2. Being confident in what we do, and the choices we make, in the face of peer pressure and marketing bombardments.

There was a bit of discussion about the perceived benefits, and danger, of frequent T.V watching and computer gaming use:

1. Some research supports a connection between the increasing incidence of attention deficit and similar mental shaping of children's ability to learn, and the amount of time spent in front of a T.V or computer screen.

2. Life is stressful for families, and often the only thing parents can do to cope is to plant a child in front of a T.V, or a computer; much like a pacifier.

Elder members of the circle spoke about the pleasures of repairing good things, including clothing, rather than just buying new stuff and throwing away perfectly good clothes. There were a lot of smiles exchanged on the subject of passing 'down' clothes to siblings or extended family; one lady spoke about how she and a small group of other ladies do regular exchanges of clothing items.

There was general agreement among members that families today are under intense and calculated attack by merchandising groups, and that the pace of modern two income families, or the stress of one income families, left many parents overwhelmed and unable to protect their family's values in both short-term and long-term aspects.

Daniella Dennenberg from Northwest Earth Institute 3-15-09

2009-03-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

Ms. Dennenberg spoke about the vision of the founders of the Northwest Earth Institute

Jeanne and Dick Roy had a vision in 1993 that they could develop a series of simple courses that could help families and individuals make profound changes to how they lived, took responsibility for their lives and made new commitments to accept their new insights.

As of March 2005, these courses have been offered in all 50 states, to over 65,000 change agents. She indicated that by 2009 they had reached over 100,000 in North America.

Their critical question is: What is it that we should, or should not, do? Their small discussion circles of 8-12 people encourage a sharing of insights without judging or calling for consensus.

They foster an attitude that calls for each of us to consciously treat other people as we, ourselves, would want to be treated.

In her analysis of where we get our value notions, she illustrated how human beings everywhere on the planet share basic concepts like: Compassion, Don't do harm, Respect differences, Have empathy for the suffering of others, Be willing to give and honor individual and collective wisdom. Her rhetorical question was: How often do we live, individually, in small cohorts, and as nations and large groups, according to these values.

She referred to Ghandi's message that "My Life Is My Message," and discussed how we can model such passion and committment with life choices. Currently, she indicated, there is a huge disconnect in this area with many people.

She encouraged us to:

1. Teach for Change
2. Present Information for listeners to ponder
3. Encourage critical thinking so individuals can make informed choices

Rhetorically, she asked that we focus on: What's Within My Span of Control to Do?

After our productive lives have passed, she suggested that each of us should be able to say: I told the Truth.

The discussion touched on 'Intentional Lives' and Intentional communities that focused on a daily striving for a practical balance in all of our lives.

She asked us to be open to suggestions from children: Let a Child Help YOU.

How Missionaries Touch Africa-Viktor Nakah 3-8-09

2009-03-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

Bishop Nakah spoke to an All Church assembly on issues facing Christians in Africa, and, specifically, in Zimbamwe. Dr. Victor Nakah is president Theological College of Zimbabwe.

The Theological College of Zimbabwe is an institution of the Church which is involved in the strategic ministry of developing Christan leaders for the Church and society.

The purpose of the college is to develop Christian leaders committed to effective leadership and ministry in both the church and society.

Contributions for the work of the Theological college of Zimbabwe should be sent to the treasurer; checks should be made payable to "Friends of TCZ" and mailed to:

Carol Spoonhour, treasirer
Friends of TCZ
832 Silver Lake Rd.
Lewisberry, PA 17339
email: cspoonhour@juno.com

A tax-deductible receipt will be returned to you.

He spoke passionately on a number of areas involving peacemaking between his country's warring tribes.

Conditions in Zimbabwe has deteriorated drastically in the last 10 years, in the aftermath of shaking off English colonialism, redistributing large farm areas and moving native people into positions of leadership. White population has dropped to less than 1%. Before, under British rule, 95% of all property belonged to 5% of the population.

The country currently has a 95% unemployment rate and its infra structure is falling apart at an accelerating pace. The country has been ruled by a controversial leader for the last 28 years.

Still students keep coming to his missionary college; they persevere though they can only afford one meal per day. 98% of all the graduates from the seminary end up as working and practicing pastors. He spoke about mass starvation among the 5 million people.

Bishop Nakah had a deeply personal view on peace making: he believes God has blessed us, so we can be more deliberately a blessing unto others. He stated that God uses time of plenty to create ways and means to facilitate and serve. Times of Crisis, as Zimbabwe and the world faces, forces us to rethink our priorities and to refine our faith to appreciate God better.

He believes we all must do our part to help the world and all its people come out of our current crisis better.

Bishop Nakah raised a noticeable warning to North American churches to be careful that we don't get stuck in our comforts.

He asked for contributions from PMC and individuals to support his seminary's work to continue to develop Christian leaders in Africa.

Young Adults and Mennonites-Peter Epp and Shanda Hochstetler

2009-03-07T17:37:00.000-08:00

Peter and Shanda are two of PMC's sweetest young members, and, regardless of their unpretentious demeanor, they are natural leaders.

Adult Forum leaders had asked Peter and Shanda to give us some insight into how young adult Mennonites in general might be faring, feeling and coping.

They stipulated that they were presenting on data, as well as personal background, and that they were not attempting to speak for other young people.

Shanda comes from very conservative mid-west Mennonites.

Peter comes from Old Russian Mennonites in Canada; his father was a pastor.

Here are some interesting points they spoke to:

1. When they joined PMC they deeply appreciated the mix of older generational members and younger generational members in leadership positions, and the inclusion of women.
2. They deeply appreciated the outreach extended to them by John and Beulah Hess-Yoder, when they invited a group of young people to their home.
3. They have appreciated the sense of extended-family atmosphere at PMC.
4. They appreciate that PMC elder people show a respectful interest in caring for and mentoring younger people.
5. As a generalization, they indicated that, in many respects, PMC, represents an abnormality in MCC congregations, in how it serves its members; especially with respect to young people. Shanda indicated that many young females have left their traditional Mennonite congregations.
6. In 1989 45% of all MCC USA members were over 45, and in 2008 54% were over 45.

They spoke to the issue of whether church, and, especially the Mennonite Church, had become irrelevant to young people.

They raised the question of whether our church, and MCC USA, is being split in generational groups.

Peter and Shanda gave an excellent, data accurate presentation on the historical development of the Mennonite Church, how its old agrarian practices and beliefs have changed, or not, as North America has become pre-dominantly urbanized.

It appeared from the data they presented, that a schism emerged after young Mennonites struggled with WWII national service, or not, and became dispersed across the country, away from their roots.

Peter and Shanda spoke about their involvement with YAF - Young Adult Fellowship - and how annual retreats have pulled young Mennonite leaders together from across the country. There is a deeply sensed need that many young Mennonites are looking for ways they can assemble an inclusive and welcoming sense of community.

The YAF retreats considered these and other issues:

1. A church should work at being a welcoming place for all young people and their families.
2. A church should acknowledge that many young people feel stressed by having too many options in their lives, and are looking at ways to have respectful and an inclusive sense of community within a faith-based community.
3. A church and its groups of young people should accept and agree that it is essential to learn and practice disagreeing well.

It appears from the presentation by Shanda and Peter, that neither PMC and MCC USA provide equitable financial resources for young Mennonites to congregate, serve and explore how to live and work as part of a Mennonite tradition.

Many of the Adult Forum attendees felt strongly that MC USA and PNMC should budget for annual YAF retreats to help young Mennonites nurture both local and national congregations, and make church a meaningful part of all generational members of the Mennonite Family.

Here are suggested ways we can Actively help Young Adult Fellowship (YAF) achieve its goals:

1. Talk to young adults, especially ones who might see things differently from you.

2. Encourage a young adult to attend the next YAF retreat. Help them with funding if you can afford it, and they can't.

3. Encourage PMC and PNMC to make sending a delegate to the next YAF retreat a priority by budgeting for it and seeking a young adult to go each year.

4. Encourage PNMC to make young adults a part of a staff member's job description.

5. Continue working to make PMC and the broader Mennonite Church welcoming to all, supportive of young adult searches for identity and vocation, and respectful in its approach to conflict.

OCCV-America's Health Care System is Broken

2009-03-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Emily Jamieson from OCCV presented on How Christians should Look at Health Care For Everyone as a Christian Right Way to Live as a Community of People.

Ms. Jamieson comes from a Mennonite tradition and is working as a volunteer presenter for the non-denominational OCCV.

Here are some facts from her presentation:

America is the world's wealthiest country, and yet:

1. It has 42 million people without access to health care.
2. 10 million of those 42 million without access to health care are children.
3. Average total annual budget per person for medical costs is $7,000
4. Life expectancy is America is the 34th in the world
5. Infant mortality in America is the 29th in the world.
6. 621,000 Oregoninas -or 16.8%- have no health care coverage.
7. Over $100 of each covered person's health insurance premiums go towards covering costs for uncovered people to seek help at the emergency rooms.
8. Federal law says that all people present in America have a legal right to seek health care services at a emergency room.
9. Medical emergency is the #1 reason for families filing bankruptcy today.
10. Medical emergencies is the #1 reason for families breaking up today.

She spoke about the biblical teachings asking Christians to treat all others well, and said there is a correlation with how we treat others to how close to God we are. She quoted Luke 10:25-37, and spoke about all of us needing to be Good Samaritans.

The group had a discerning discussion about how difficult it is to stretch personal resources to help numerous other people in need, and she cited Ezekiel 34:3-4 for how we need to hold all our groups and communities accountable: God Judges us for our Lack of support of our society-We are All Shepherds.

She stated that: God is a Compassionate Healer, and asked us to say quietly:

Who Would Jesus Deny?

She spoke eloquently to our needs to help provide equitable and fair care for all people present in our country, including foreigners, low income, children and disabled.

It was interesting to see that, according to OCCV data, there are 3.7 million people in Oregon, and that a third, or 1.5 million are Christians.

She spoke about the imperative need for individuals and groups to work with their elected representatives in Salem to help further all health care issues. However, she did not clarify OCCV's precise legislative platform, and left that up to individuals.

PMC individuals and families can scroll down through earlier postings to find data on contacting their representative or senator.

How to Access your Congressional Delegation

2009-03-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

You can reach the Washington office of any Senator or Representative by calling one of these toll-free numbers: 1-866-220-0044 , or 1-800-828-0498

These numbers connect to the Capitol switchboard; then you must ask for the legislator by name. If you don’t know who your U.S. Representative is visit: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/

POSTAL MAIL TO CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON DC IS SLOW REACHING LEGISLATORS BECAUSE IT IS HELD UP FOR SECURITY CHECKS. IT IS BETTER TO SEND POSTAL MAIL TO THE OREGON OFFICES.

OREGON’S SENATORS

Senator Ron Wyden

223 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-3703

(202) 224-5244; fax: 202-228-2717

Web site: http://wyden.senate.gov

Webform for email: On his website, click Contact, scroll down to email form.

Oregon offices:

Portland: 1220 SW 3rd Ave., Suite 585, Portland OR 97204;

Phone: (503) 326-7525; Fax: 503-326-7528

Eugene: 405 E 8th Ave. Ste. 2020, Eugene OR 97401; Phone: (541) 431-0229

La Grande: SAC Annex, 105 Fir St, Suite 201, La Grande OR 97850; (541) 962-7691

Medford: Federal Courthouse, 310 West 6th St., Room 118, Medford OR 97501;

Phone: (541) 858-5122

Bend: Jamison Bldg., 131 NW Hawthorne Ave., Suite 107, Bend, OR 97701;

Phone: (541) 330-9142

Salem: 707 13th St, SE, Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301, (503) 589-4555

Senator Jeff Merkley

B40B Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-3753
Website: pending

Email: senator@merkley.senate.gov

Oregon office:

One World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St., Ste 1250, Portland OR 97204

Phone: 503-326-3386

OREGON’S REPRESENTATIVES

E-mail can be sent to any Representative by going to this web address:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and following instructions there.

District 1 - David Wu
2338 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-0855 Fax: 202-225-9497

Web address: www.house.gov/wu. Form for email: On his website, click Contact.

Rep. Wu's local Oregon office: 620 SW Main St., Suite 606, Portland OR 97205

Phone: 503-326-2901; Fax: 503-326-5066

District 2 - Greg Walden

2352 Rayburn H.O.B., Washington DC 20515.

Phone: 202-225-6730 Fax: 202-225-5774

Web address: http://walden.house.gov

Form for email: On his homepage, click Contact Information, then click Email Greg.

Rep. Walden’s Oregon offices: Medford: 843 E. Main St., Ste.400, Medford OR 97504 Phone: 541-776-4646. Toll-free from 541 area code: 800-533-3303. Fax: 541-779-0204. La Grande: 1211 Washington Ave. La Grande OR 97850; 541-624-2400. Fax: 541-624-2402.

Bend: 1051 NW Bond St., Ste 400, Bend OR 97701. 541-389-4408. Fax: 541-389-4452

District 3 - Earl Blumenauer
2267 Rayburn H.O.B., Washington DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-4811 Fax: 202-225-8941

Web address: http://blumenauer.house.gov

Form for email: On his homepage, click Contact Earl.

Rep. Blumenauer's local Oregon office: 729 NE Oregon St., Suite 115, Portland OR 97232.
phone: 503-231-2300 Fax: 503-230-5413

District 4 - Peter A. DeFazio
2134 Rayburn H.O.B., Washington DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-6416 Fax: 202-226-3502

Rep. DeFazio can be called toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-944-9603.

Web address: http://www.defazio.house.gov

Form for email: On his website, click Contact Me, then on email link.

Rep. DeFazio's local Oregon offices:

Eugene: 405 East 8th Ave #2030, Eugene OR 97401; 541-465-6732.

Coos Bay: 125 Central, Suite 350, Coos Bay OR 97420; 541-269-2609.

Roseburg: 612 SE Jackson St., Rm.9, Roseburg OR 97470; 541-440-3523

District 5 – Kurt Schrader
1419 Longworth H.O.B., Washington DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-5711 Fax: 202-225-5699

Web address: http://schrader.house.gov

Form for email: On his homepage, click on Contact Me, then on email.

Rep. Schrader’s local Oregon office: Salem: 494 State St., Ste 210, Salem OR 97301; 503-588-9100; fax: 503-588-5517.

Toll-free phone: 1-877-301-KURT (5878)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE WHITE HOUSE

President Barack Obama
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20500

Phone: 202-456-1111 (tape-record comments); 202-456-1414 (switchboard); Fax: 202-456-2461

Website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Form for email at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

2-8-08 Better People-Not Just Better Workers -Clariner Boston

2009-02-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

Clariner Boston is the Executive Director of Better People, a non-profit organization whose focus is to work with people who have a legal history.

The program was founded by state representative William 'Chip' Shields.

The organization uses a cognitive behavioral therapy program (MRT) to help participants change the way they think and act; it is a very structured approach that makes participants look at the way their thinking processes have allowed, or led, them to make choices in the past. Choices that led them onto the slippery slope of allowing themselves to break or violate laws or conventions. And, eventually, placing them in situations where formal legal actions and constraints were placed on them.

Their mission is 'to significantly reduce the rates of recidivism in the Portland area.' They help their clients change their lives to become more productive citizens, and, in this manner contribute to the health and safety of our communities in the Greater Portland area.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age, and be able to document that they have been clean and sober for at least 30 days. They must attend twice-a-week cognitive behavior therapy classes, and be responsible for a $25 fee.

The MRT Freedom ladder program has 13 steps participants must 'grow' their way upwards and through before graduating. At step three they can begin using the organization's day labor list of employees.

Better People staff help applicants with placement, behavior modification and application, interview and resume process in an alternative manner that makes them market themselves in a positive manner.

She spoke about how the development of moral conventions often is absent for generations in certain dysfunctional families, and how her program re-creates the proper family developmental building of morals to a point where graduates don't do 'wrongs' simply because they know it isn't 'right.'

Her comment illustrating a graduate's thought process was a good illustration of how individuals can begin the formative behavior of taking personal responsibility for their own behavior: "I have to think before I act, so I don't get stuck in my old behavior.'

It was heart-breaking to hear her illustrate how applicants have described 'back-sliding,' with: One wrong decision can take you back to where you were.

She illustrated the process of how children learn to make good decisions: Children often don't do what we ask, or tell, them, to do; rather, they do what we do.

The program is funded by major and minor donors, and place graduates with companies that pay, currently, at least $9/hour as well as benefits.

The largest measurable impact appears to be on recidivism with people on parole.

She concluded the presentation by briefly discussing how the program also accepts applicant who have an official sex-offender record. A participant asked for clarification, and she illustrated it by citing examples of individuals who had become prostitutes, Madams and Johns as a result of poor choices.

Healthy Children-Healthy Planet: 7-week Series starting 3-22-09

2009-02-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

On March 22, 2009, 3-22-09, PMC's Adult Forum starts a 7-week series using Northwest Earth Institute's Discussion Course entitled:

Healthy Children-Healthy Planet.

Information about the course can be viewed at:

http://www.nwei.org/discussion_courses/course-offerings/healthy-children-healthy-planet

Spacing will be limited to approximately 36 participants and the cost of the course book is $20. We will honor couple participation with a one-book purchase.

Please review the link, email me directly, or chat with Allan or me at church.

When you confirm and give us a $20 check or cash, we will confirm your participation. The check can be issued to 'PMC' with a note saying 'Adult Forum.'

Books will be available at the Adult Forum introduction on 3-15-09 by Daniela Dennenberg from Northwest Earth Institute. You can also order a book directly from her at the Northwest Earth Institute.

Thanks for considering this resource as PMC explores ways we can support our young people, our children and their families in the context of sound practices, spiritual groundedness and personal responsibility.

How to Stay informed about OREGON Legislative Process

2009-01-29T19:34:00.000-08:00

Oregon's Senator Hass has informed me that the legislature has created an efficient tool for its citizenry to stay informed about the legislation in process while its in session.

You can access the link below and subscribe to automatic email notices from one ore more committees of interest to you.

Our legislators are remarkably attentive to communication that is professional, brief and supportive with thoughtful input and attempts at solving or modifying complex.
proposals.

Once you have an issue identified, it is effective to have your legislators' name and contact information. A fax or email is effective, and a phone call directly on an issue of deep concern is always listened to when it's brief and respectful.

Subscribe at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/learnmore

Get Legislators' contact information at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/

Co-housing - Introduced by Silas Langley

2009-01-19T10:32:00.000-08:00

Silas Langley, a PMC member, presented on the subject of co-housing; he and his family have chosen to live in a co-housing arrangement. The concept combines affordability, livability and generational blending.

Here are some links that may help you understand Silas' personal look at community housing in Oregon and Portland.

http://www.cascadiacommons.com/

http://www.cohousing.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohousing

In his presentation Silas stated that: "I can't imagine living any other way." He compared it to the 'other' choice: The American Nightmare where people live in big house and accumulate oceans of 'stuff.'

In his outline Silas spoke of how co-housing encourages interaction between residents, families and different age groups. He spoke of the smaller energy and space foot print co-housing developments use, and illustrated the features that differed from condominiums. The latter are essentially owner apartments placed in traditional mega-buildings that tend to isolate people.

Both condos and co-housing involve ownership and a supervising member board, and both involve shared ownership of green space. land and responsibility for upkeep. However, the intentional design of co-housing, in Silas' experience is a defining criteria.

All decisions in co-housing steering groups are by consensus; it respects privacy of residents in their individual, smaller foot print units while encouraging regular interaction by common use of Great Room, washers and driers and kitchen.

Many co-housing units are designed from scratch, a process that allows great participation and ownership in design. However it also takes patience, specialists and lots of meetings. Other units are created by complete or partial transformation of existing houses, apartments and landscapes. His own unit used a hybrid process by transforming an existing neighborhood, changing streets and adding features. It contains 26 housing units.

Most co-housing projects have 7-67 living units, with 20-30 as an average viable model.

The co-housing model was originally developed by Danish architechts and later brought to the USA. See link:

http://www.cohousing.org/cm/article/related_denmark

The concept of cohousing was brought to the United States by a pair of architects, Katie McCamant and Chuck Durrett. They brought it here from Denmark, where they discovered it in doing some architectural studies when they were in school. They wrote a book entitled Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves in the late eighties. The idea spread all over the United States. See link:

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/greenbuilding/archives/134741.asp

Both Silas and his wife spoke about the low stress atmosphere co-housing represented for families raising children: Kids can run around without fear-there are always other adults acting in place of parents, and the interaction between younger and older people is more meaningful.

He indicated that most co-housing units are not created on any religious model, though there are a few. See link:

http://www.cohousing.org/cm/article/religion

He spoke of the greater availability of open community space and green environment. It was apparent that the concept involved no garages or individual shops, however they have a common shop and only need one set of most power tools. Their own unit is situated up against a wet lands and bird sanctuary area.

Both he and his wife, Rhonda, spoke about the sense of community they had there.

When questioned about the process of buying into an existing unit, he spoke about how, occasionally, they have an incident where someone simply doesn't fit the model. He explained that the purchasing process involves a lot of informational exchanging and presentation, but a current owner can legally sell a unit to anyone. At their project there is a significant waiting list of people who want to buy in.

He referred to Cascadia Commons as a way to have a small, old-fashioned community in the middle of a big urban environment.

Panel members were very enthusiastic about the information, and moderators realized a return to this issue, in depth, is needed. The approach to family living 'In an Old-fashioned-Modern-Way' seemed striking to older Mennonites present.

Moderators of PMC's Adult forum are working with Silas and Rhonda to arrange a PMC visit to their community.

1-11-09 Shariff Abdullah: Creating a World That Works

2009-01-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

Mr. Abdullah is a communicator, writer and philosopher who works, speaks and writes on community, the environment and peace locally and world-wide. He states that his role is that of a witness.

He can be contacted at:

http://www.commonway.org/?q=node/33

He showed a powerpoint presentation illustrating the underlying fundamentals that impact our world's ability to change, become more peaceful and, ultimately, support current and future populations in a healthy and sustaining manner.

He indicated that there are 12 fundamental challenges of catalytic ideas:

Education, violence, water access, food access, energy access, health access, economic fairness and politics of power . . .

Here are some of his facts:

50% of the world's population live on less than $2/day

Two (2) billion people live on less than five (5) gallons of water per family per day.

He spoke about the irony of the western world flushing their toilets with drinkable water, as opposed to using gray water.

Unless we can, in his analysis, acknowledge and overcome such and similar imbalances all our changes will be, essentially cosmetic, and our MESS will continue to escalate: We need a change of consciousness where we begin to feel obligated to address the world's inequities and imbalances.

He claims that we fail as a society and a civilization, when we have no response to, or address, deep and ongoing misery. As an illustration he spoke of the ongoing cruelties visited upon civilians in the civil war in Sri Lanka where he has just returned from.

In his presentation he repeatedly described the consequences of individuals, societies and countries allowing themselves to remain 'stuck' in a mindset that is based on the narcotic obliteration of pain, and our sense of 'rightness' by a pursuit of 'stuff.' He called it a 'consensual lie.'

He says there is, increasingly a hunger for 'the sacred' to connect to the divine in each of us, and for all of us to do some 'good.'

At one time in his presentation, he wondered aloud what led innocent little children in our culture to become so disconnected, they become mass murderers; he mentioned Kip Kinkel and Timothy McVeigh.

Kip Kinkel Link:

http://parentingteens.about.com/library/specials/blkinkel.htm

Timothy McVeigh link:

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/mcveigh/dawning_1.html

In his analysis, we suffer from a 'preoccupation with self.' He spoke about the spirituality of the Dahlih Lama love, compassion and active concern for all others.

Dahlai Lama link:

http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/cultures_buddhism_dalai_lama.html

As a way to underline the enviromental consequences of the lack of a balanced life style in the west, he mentioned James Lovelock and his Gaiia Hypothesis that describes the entire Earth as a living coherent organism. This scientist indicates that our global warming crisis over the next 100 years may lead to a liveability for less than 200 million above the arctic circle. The point of No return, according to this theory, was 50 years ago.

The Gaia Theory:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis

http://www.gaiatheory.org/

He also mentioned Dr. James Hansen, a NASA scientist who agrees with Dr. Lovelock, but says that the point of No return is about 2020. As a way for the audience to switch their point of view, or the lense thru which each of us interprets data and meaningfulness, he showed us the Appollo picture of the Earth taken from space. He asked us if we could see any 'country or nation' divisive lines on that picture.

Link to Dr. Hansen You Tube interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhkR5Eq5u6o

Mr. Abdullah suggested that we all need to work for a world that works for all of us, not just some of us. In this context he mentioned Mr. William McDonough's statement that:

We can love all the children of all the species.

It appeared that the thrust of this view point calls for a world governance to overcome the misguided singular actions and positions taken by individuals and separate countries. He calls it a 'Cathedral of Peace.' That resonated well with PMC's mission of supporting any and all actions that promotes 'The Peace of The City' we live in.

He mentioned the grandeur and time committment involved in building a cathedral; some of our enduring cathedrals have taken almost 1600 years to build. That's indeed a committment for a civilization.

Sacred cathedrals and destinations:

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/

The presentation went into the divisiveness of many of our past and current movements and religions; for example, he indicated that nationalism behaves like a disease. And, that all our great religions have a record of breeding and establishing division and separateness. There was some concern expressed by the audience about how this observation would impact us as christians vis-a-vis other people of different faith.

In his Appollo view he showed the relative 'smallness' of the Earth and Saturn among the background of the universe and examined the Earth-centered world view we have been basing our lives, beliefs and faiths upon. We discussed the changes in the world when scientists proposed that the earth was revolving around the sun, and not the other way around.

View of the Earth from Space:

http://digitool-demo.exlibrisgroup.com:1801/view/action/singleViewer.do?dvs=1232243168449~286&locale=en_US&preferred_extension=tif&frameId=1&usePid1=true&usePid2=true

In his concluding remarks he urged the audience to 'Rise above sense of country' and to respond to this universal 'yearning for change' he senses in all the world today. He spoke of people in Sri Lanka calling Mr. Obama 'Our president too.'

Sri Lanka civil war link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Civil_War

In the audience discussion part there was agreement that we all could take many small steps and pay forward many skills and beliefs to help the next generations survive and prosper.

Resource for Voters - VoteSmart!

2009-01-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

This is a brief summary for how you as an individual, can use VoteSmart as a resource portal to check the votes by your elected officials, and for reaching each with your phone, fax or email to comment on a position. This portal allows you to search for all your public representatives by typing in your zip code.

Often christians, and other church goers, wonder how to best reach and make their voices heard by their elected officials.

During the last two decades we may have reached an extreme in the spectrum: individual churches, groups of churches and combinations of political groups, parties and evangelicals have formed a variety of PACs and made their opinions and positions clear in very aggressive manners.

This has left many christians bewildered and caught between their faith-based stands on one side and their regional and national church or large groups of evangelicals on the other side.

It is difficult for individuals to decide their political positions and selections at a time when our news media appear more like propaganda and crisis issues are a perpetual signature.

The institutional conflict between churches being chartered as non-profit institutions also present a challenge: Churches are discouraged from using their format and buildings for direct political influence generation.

What would Jesus do? is a good basis, and history indicates that our state and national representatives are listening when you, as an individual, make a brief, rational and documented statement on a position; especially if your concern is accompanied by a solution suggestion.

A particularly effective approach is to create a 1-page fax template on your computer, with a heading showing your name and contact information. Then make your comment and suggestion fit the brief 1-page format and fax it to your elected representative.

Do not be afraid of quoting verses of the bible along with other data and resources.

Current Events 1-4-09

2009-01-10T12:29:00.000-08:00

Moderator, Kurt Kristensen, shared several current articles with participants from www.commondreams.org
Participants shared articles from recent Oregon newspapers.
Discussions focused on whether our current general public news media could be trusted anylonger, or whether it had degenrated into propaganda defined by large corporations influenced and collaborating with governmental sources.

An Op-Ed newspaper article discussed the current situation between Israel and Palestine and group questioned the blatant anger against the Israel military regime. Several participants brought up that the U.S.A and a huge American Jewish group of people has been supporting Israel's military machine. Group appeared uncomfortable with questioning whether Israel had a moral right to both attack and defend itself. The analogy of the Irish long-term conflict was mentioned, and one person questioned why 'wars appeared to be patriotic.'

It was brough up that public data from YES Magazine that civilian conflicts in this century had gone up from 15% to 90% of all war casualties in the current Iraq war. The unmanned drones were mentioned as a cause of killing civilians indiscriminately. One participant brought up that the new system of the US military having 'imbedded' and 'trained' newsreporters, tended to deliver propaganda, rather than news. Thus glorifying the theater of war.

It was questioned how we got into a mindset in the US that appears to allow a perpetual war for any and sundry reasons. We compared the public mindset that allowed the Holocaust during WWII with the civilian masacres seen in recent conflicts in the Middle East.

It was mentioned that our current volunteer military in the US tends to institutionalize the military as a jobs program that benefits huge corporations in all states, and that it attracts a higher proportion of low-income people than during the years of the draft. It appears that this, combined with the imbedded newsreporters have created a condition where the public is not getting a reliable insight into military operations, funding and justification: Thus, perhaps, the military industrial complex domination and manipulation of our economy-as warned of by President Eisenhower many years ago.

Future Events: January 2009

2008-12-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

1-11-09
Creating a World that Works: Shariff Abdullah

1-18-09
Cancelled for church-wide event

1-25-09
Community Housing: Silas Langley

Moderators, Allan Classen and Kurt Kristensen, are always listening to the congregation, inviting members to bring forth suggestions for new Adult Forum presenters and themes. We especially treasure when individual congregation members volunteer to present on an area of personal passion and knowledge.

Whereever, and whenever, a congregational member has a concern, suggestion or point-of-view as a result of participating in an Adult Forum, we encourage direct and immediate contact with the moderator-in-charge of the presentation.

Thematically, the Adult Forum moderators work hard at collaborating with the pastoral staff to align our presentations and themes with those being discussed in sermons or at other Sunday School opportunities. We particularly encourage members of the congregation to bring to the attention of Pastor Rachel ideas for church-wide Adult Forum presentations.

We have had an average attendance of 18-26 for each Sunday in 2007-8 and our church-wide Adult Forum event averages have been 65-85.

Future Events: 1-4-09 Current Events

2008-12-15T09:55:00.000-08:00

This Adult Forum is designated as a 'Current Events,' and the intention is for moderator and panelists to examine a select number of articles that appear to touch directly on areas of concern.

Members of the congregation attending this Adult Forum are encouraged to print out an article that have touched or disturbed them at a faith, personal, social or political level and bring it to the forum on 1-4-09.

Moderator will encourage individual panelists to share concerns and questions they may have from reading each article.

Moderator will have a number of articles for sharing and discussion to augment articles brought by individuals.

Panel discussion will be encouraged to consider patterns, overall concerns and how we, as a Faith-based group, ought to be considering the information we find in 'Current Events' in our news media.

Individuals are encouraged to bring along addresses, phone and fax numbers and email for contacts that may be reached with individual and group consensus.

12-14-08 Dialoque and Cooperation-Farooq Chandiwalla

2008-12-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

Mr. Chandiwalla is a muslim; he was born in Pakistan. He lead the Adult Forum in a concluding panel discussion on issues of dialoque and cooperation between Christians and Muslims.

He is a member of the Muslim Educational Trust in Portland, Oregon; their web URL is:

http://www.ceoexpress.com/default.asp

In the preceding Adult Forums audiences of 24-36 have been attentive and passionately engaged in the issues confronting muslims and christians in today's world. The developing sense has been that, both, as local issues, and as a basis for the Iraq war, the perceived conflicts and distrust must be explored to lead to a world where peace making is the norm.

He was came to America via Canada in 1976-78, and pursued a career in data analysis at PSU. Heworks for Food Services of America in this area of expertise.

His central question to the panel:

What can WE do? And how MUCH control do WE have?

He encouraged people to examine all the facts shared with the public by media and governments, and to look at news reports through different lenses, and shared an international news portal with listeners:

http://www.ceoexpress.com/default.asp

His presentation used a 1-page over-view showing the human, political and religious facets as they impacted and distorted the process of peace and war making:

1. Political

a. Arrogance
b. Greed
c. Power
d. Control
e. Group agendas
f. Divisions
g. Ideology
h. Corporate
i. Economy
j. Global
k. Leaders
l. Good
m. Bad
n. Broad view

2. Individual

a. Wants to do good
b. Justifies bad actions
c. Arrogance
d. Selfish
e. Religious understanding subject to interpretation
f. Victims of Religious leaders
g. Victims of Political leaders
h. Narrow view

3. Religious

a. Love
b. Peace
c. Unity
d. Patience
e. Encourage doing good
f. discourage doing bad

He reflected on two important concepts:

1. Attitude:

If it is to be, it is up to me!

2. Words of Wisdon:

Watch your thoughts,
they become your words.

Watch your words,
they become your actions.

Watch your actions,
they become your habits.

Watch your habits,
they become your destiny.

He stressed, and the audience agreed, that it is essential for the process of peace to happen, that we have an ongoing personal dialoque. It appears that, throughout history, we have been, individually and collectively, responding and reacting to patterns of political and religious manipulations by leaders who manipulate populaces for personal gains.

The group briefly noted that US and world-wide news media is increasingly owned and controlled by a very small number of influential corporations, and that, what was perceived by large number of people as reliable news appeared, in fact, in analysis, to be propaganda.

This raised the question for the audience:

How can we, as individuals, and as a church, ensure that our news is reliable?

He encouraged us to question, examine, reexamine and confirm the truthfulness of the public data being used as the basis for our involvement in all local, national and global affairs.

The recent terrorist incident in Mumbai, India, was a clear lense for Mr. Chandiwalla, since he was born in the muslim based area of Pakistan. He shared the historical basis British leaders used in 1947 to divide their colonial areas into Hindu based India and muslim based Pakistan. According to him the land mass of Kashmir that spread between India and Pakistan might better be considered an autonomous area by global power brokers. He also raised the issue of 'Endless Wars' by touching on how power brokers like Britain and the US appear to leave behind simmering issues assuring that conflict will continue.

Finally he discussed the fact that enormous numbers of young people in the age bracket 18-24 across Asia and the middle East have no avenue of progress socially and economically, and thus have become, and are increasingly becoming, a source of disruption and discontent to be used by people like Osama bin Laden.

He briefly outlined the larger pattern of how Osama bin Laden came from a rich and powerful family in Saudi Arabia and still ended up sharing the views of the marginalized youth group to become the focus of the global disruption we now know as 'terrorism.' In this context he cautioned that, based on his reading of data, Mr. Bin Laden was deeply influenced by dangerous and corrupt Egyptian criminal elements.

He warned all of us never to ignore people who are unhappy with their social, political or economic circumstances. It appeared that he was referring to the current confrontational tactics of US and Western powers vis-a-vis poor people in general but, muslims in particular.

Early in the presentation he stated as a hyperbole that the larger groups of world Muslims and Christians composed 50% of the world's population, and he cautioned that these two groups must have deep and ongoing dialoques on religious, social and political issues, all the way down to personal and small group discussions similar to the panel discussion and series culminating with his presentation at PMC. However, he also stressed the need for not ignoring the voices emanating from the multiple other religious groups in the world. It appeared that he certainly was referring to such groups as Hindus and other Asian movements.

He showed the panel, with an example from Pakistan, how it appears to him that all the world's historical movements have been driven by citizenry being manipulated for gains by our leaders. He indicated that, regardless of ideology, that all our historical struggles appear to be driven by power to control, acquire and hold assets he referred to as:

1. Female

2. Wealth

3. Land and resources

Finally, he returned to the news we all rely on, and cautioned us to be mindful of using the phrase and argument:

"I heard it on the News!"

as a basis for objective decisions.

Members of the group had a very positive sense of Mr. Chandiwalla's data, and suggest that we bring him back for ongoing discussions.

The Holy Rascals-Cathy Zheutlin 12-7-08

2008-12-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Cathy Zeuthlin is a film maker with a long background in the national and international peace movement.

She can contacted at:

http://biznik.com/members/cathy-zheutlin

She is active in Portland, Oregon's Interfaith Council:

http://www.ifcgp.org/

In her youth she was motivated to be a 'cultural worker' in support of, first feminist isues and, later, peace movements in the U.S and in Russia. She filmed global peace marches both in the USA and in Russia as part of a global nuclear disarmament movement.

While she raised a family in LA and Portland, with her Lithuanian-born husband, she became intriqued with personal health issues and began practicing cranial massage procedures.

Her fascination with wise people with differing faith and backgrounds led her to start the 'Holy Rascals' documentary that she shared previews of with the audience. The project appears to be collaborated with 'The Wisdom Keeper Project' that seeks to find a common mystic ground for all faiths. See links for Holy Rascals and Wisdom Keepers:

Holy Rascals

http://wisdomkeepersproject.org/

http://wisdomkeepersproject.org/holy_rascals_01.htm

Wisdom Keepers

http://www.wisdomkeepers.org/about.html

http://thewisdomkeepers.com/about.html

It was not clear from the presentation how the Holy Rascals documentary group and team is collaborating and getting inspiration from the several other groups that share the quest and name of 'Wisdom Keepers.'

Ms. Zheutlin spoke quietly to the deeply troubling issue of how believers of different faiths are all questing for their personal spiritual identity. The outcry of 'Who Am I Really?' stood out as a painful cry amidst interviews with Rabi Shapiro and Thomas Keating and other panelist in the Holy Rascals documentary. They urged all of us to 'Walk With The Mystery' in our search for something bigger than ourselves.

She spoke gently about modern people's adversion to pain and suffering, and indicated that the histories of most world religions showed that prophets and other holy people had to embrace and own their personal pain and suffering to reach peace and clarity. She referred to it as 'Holding the Wound.'

In Qs & As the audience discussed briefly the numerical size and number of world religions; she agreed there was cause for humility. See link:

http://www.adherents.com/

One member of the audience asked how we can be humble and respectful of other religions while still believing we have a right to 'spread the truth' of our own chosen religion. She spoke about the concept of 'inclusivity vs.triumpahlism. See links:

http://www.interfaithstudies.org/globaltheology/inclusive.html

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Triumphalism

The Holy Rascals Documentary is a work in progress and appears destined to become an important part of a world-wide discourse as we increasingly live as neighbors in economic settings-while bringing to the physical neighborhood religious, cultural and political traditions that bring out both the best and worst in many people. The film is destined to become an outrageous and stimulating source for communities and small groups.

Peace Theology of the Qur'an-Mike Branch 11-30-08

2008-12-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

Mike Branch is an American-born citizen and business person who converted to the Muslim faith approximately 16 years ago. He is active in the Muslim Educational Trust and serves on its advisory board.

His passion is to work to promote a better sense of understanding between people of different faith, primarily between Muslims and Christians. He promotes a concept of 'Breaking Bread' together where people sit down for common dinners to share their spiritual thoughts and insights.

He acknowledged that the majority of U.S. muslims are foreign born, and urged the audience to help the muslims feel comfortable with practicing their religion amidst our western culture. For example, he mentioned that it is very painful for muslims to be in a U.S. hospital and not have assurance of acccess to muslim religious leaders as a matter of routine.

On the concept of 'Neighbors,' he defined it as 'Anyone else,' and spoke to the conflicting idea that 'people can love God while also hating their neighbor.' He urged people to 'develop peace and justice within ourselves, so we can end violence within our families and between oneanother.' He said we ought to 'speak the truth' even if it goes against our own self interest, because 'we will be called into account.'

In distinguishing between individual muslims and the broader Islam Regious movement he called the audience to acknowledge that Christianity also has its ultra-right extremists, just as Islam has its militant adherents.

According to a muslim's faith, he indicated that 'killing even one person is like killing all humans.' He urged the audience to consider the cocnept of Forgiveness.

He briefly mentioned that the group of young muslims in North Portland who were charged under the Home Land Security Act as terrorists, in his opinion were framed.

See link:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/dec2003/port-d09.shtml

During the Q & A period he was asked to share his opinion about the way muslims had issued death threats agains the Danish cartoonist who had made fun of the muslim faith. His first remark indicated that 'had the cartoonist lived in an Arabian country he would have been killed.'

This revelation brought sharp critiques from the audience; several members of the audience felt this violated the concept of 'right to free speech,' and stood in remarkable contrast to his professed passion to further neighborly behavior. There was a sense that, perhaps, the urge to create respect for muslims' practices and beliefs was not entirely a balanced cultural concept. Especially in the context of muslims who were born outside western lands and cultures, and have chosen to immigrate to western countries for economic survival.

It appeared that several members of the audience held muslim immigrants ought to accept, for example, the Western cultures' practices of free speeech, even where it meant familiarizing themselves with the concept of humour, and its practice in the public forum as pointed cartoons. After all, even Jesus has been featured somewhat disrespectful in many cartoons and public opinion pieces.

The Muslim Educational Trust and other associated groups can be accessed at the following links:

How Little We Know About Religion-Oregon Editorial

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/04/how_little_we_k.html

Religions of The World

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/

Muslim Unity Foundation

http://www.muftrust.com/index.html

Islam Books:

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Audio_Visual/Islamic_Books_12760.html

http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/product_info.php?products_id=787

Muslim countries of the World:

http://members.tripod.com/arabicpaper/country.html

Europe.

http://www.muslim-ed-trust.org.uk/

Portland, Oregon.

http://web2.userinstinct.com/36667323-muslim-educational-trust.htm

The Pluralism Project

http://www.pluralism.org/research/profiles/display.php?profile=73551

Religious practices in UK

http://www.islamfortoday.com/christian_re.htm

Our Sister Church in Colombia-Linda Rush 11-22-08

2008-11-22T18:32:00.001-08:00

Linda Rush spoke on her year-long service with our sister church in Colombia.

She outlined the importance for local residence of learning to speak English; it opens employment and educational opportunities. She described how most of the local schools are run by the Catholic church, and how, since 1990, the Colombian constitution has broadened the ability of non-Catholic denominations to exist and serve.

Though there is a demonstrated high enthusiasm among her church and local schools' clientel to learn English, there is a lack of personal and sustained enthusiasm; she started with 35 students and ended with 10.

The local school year's vacation period is November thru February. There are two (2) elementary schools and two (2) high schools. She indicated that schools have small budgets.

The area around Anolaima has an ideal climate for fruit growing, and many festivals feature this theme. It is, in Colombia, referred to as 'The Land of Milk and Honey.'

However, the area is also lives under the cloud of the narcotics trade; illegal growers operate para-military operations and threaten locals in many insidious ways. Locals are very cautious about what they do, say and how they travel.

She urged congregation to NOT support the pending US trade agreement with Colombia since it would displace many local agriculturally employed families.

See link:

http://www.mcc.org/us/washington/

She discussed how she supported her mission during the past year, with approximately 1/3rd of the funding from personal funds and remainder 2/3rd from a combination of donations and in-kind contributions.

In Q & As members asked about other ways to support her in her return 2nd year; she indicated that Anolaima based sources had provided her with a new apartment and some direct funding, but, that she was still looking to raise 1/3rd from PMC congregation, family and friends.

She expressed interest in the mechanisms for bringing Anolaima students to Oregon for brief educational opportunities could be facilitated.

Some questions to consider as PMC continues its outreach to Anolaima as well as locally, in the Portland area:

1. Are we meeting the needs of our sister church in Anolaima?

2. Could they use more 'helpers?'

3. Do they need additional funds? In kind contributions? Building needs? For what needs?

4. How, in conjunction with this issue, are we supporting our afternoon sister church group at PMC?

5. How can we get to know oneanother better, PMC, Anolaima and our afternoon sister church?

Linda Rush indicated that her year of service was so rewarding that she is planning to go back as soon as possible; she is putting her house in Portland up for rent.

General and Historical links for Anolaima:

Maps

http://www.maplandia.com/colombia/cundinamarca/anolaima/

Global Anababtist

http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A562.html

http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/I4415.html

http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/C6522.html

Education in Colombia

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Colombia-EDUCATION.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Colombia

Time stamps

http://timezone.tangui.eu.org/en/-anolaima/what-time-is-it

Pictures and You Tube

http://unjobs.org/duty_stations/colombia/cundinamarca/anolaima/photos

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/677472

http://www.cundinamarca.gov.co/agonzalezd/Municipios/Tequendama/Anolaima/

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/anolaima/3225976022

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anQUJpefHk8

http://www.youtube.com/anolaima

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62065942@N00/2793474783/

Articles and News

http://www.justapaz.org/spip.php?article51

http://mcc.org/news/news/article.html?id=241

http://www.portlandmennonite.org/community.shtml

Phone

http://www.assistbook.com/South%20America/Colombia

You can call people in Anolaima using this service:

http://www.rebtel.com/en/Home/

It allows you to set up a local Portland, Oregon phone number for people you want to call on a regular basis: You just dial a local call! It also allows you to set up your own local number in Anolaima that people in Anolaima can use to call contacts in Portland at the cost of a local call.

Vegetarian Life Style-Marsha Rakeshaw- 11-16-08

2008-11-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

Marsha Rakeshaw is a Certified Humane Educator; she spoke eloquently about the conditions and consequences of large numbers of people subsisting on Factory Farming food(CAFO).

She examined how we have slowly become accustomed to eat food produced by large corporations in mono-culture growing conditions, and how animal husbandry is plaqued by cruel and illness inducing conditions.

By her definitions:

1. A Vegetarian eats no products originating from any animal.

2. A Vegan further limits food sources by eliminating such items as eggs and honey.

3. Raw Food Eaters do not eat any processed food at all but may eat raw meat and fish.

She showed data that illustrated how the daily protein requirement of 110 grams per day per human being could be produced for more people in a healthier manner by using vegetarian approaches. Her data indicates that heart disease, diabetis and cancer are all driven by the meat diet. Additional she discussed how our industrial practices are polluting the ocean and adding mercury to fish.

According to her there is increasing land degradtion and water pollution simply due to our reliance on a meat based food source:

70% of all grain goes towards feeding animals meant for human consumption.

50% of all water consumption is allocated to animal husnabdry.

Her description of how chicken are raised as 'Battery' chicken and 'Broiler' chicken with high usage of growth hormones and under incredibly packed conditions was 'inhuman,' for lack of a better word.

The audience discussed how we as Christians can accept such cruelty.

She described similar conditions for cows and how it leads to infected milk that is full of anit-biotics and growth hormones.

The legal description of 'Range-Fed' beef and chicken was revealed to be more or less a sales description that has been quickly undemined by commercial interests.

Under a scenario of an increasing world population, she showed the contradictory numbers of our life-styles an economics for 1992:

1. 1.2 billion hungry people

2. 1.2 billion obese people

3. 6.3 billion vegetarians

Bottom line is that:

1. Meat is an inefficient use of grains

2. CAFO production methods have lowered family incomes (fewer family farmers)

3. CAFO productions have increased incidents of illness and sickness

4. Spiritually, accepting 'Thou Shall Not Kill,' leads to automaticity by accepting cruelty in general. She spoke on the dehumanizing impacts on low-income workers in meat-slaughtering plants.

5. Mono-culture driven products are produced relentlessly by CAFO practices using fertilizers produced from hydrocarbon based natural gas, and it delivers increasingly fewer minerals and nutrients.

6. CAFO factories and producers are aware of the deceptive practices used in the industry and generally restrict the populace' ability to see, inspect and question how our food is produced.

In general,in her role as a certified humane educator, she urged the audience to consider food as a sacred family responsibility where individuals can learn, maintain and share wholesome gardening and food preparations.

As a long-time vegetarian she stated she felt strongly about the spiritual consequences of accepting a food system that is based on cruelty to other sentient beings:

Would you eat your dog?

Would you eat your cat?

Would you eat any pet?

Would you eat a dolphin, or a whale, with a demonstrated higher brain capacity than a human being?

The web has several sources for families needing further resourses:

www.choosemogo.org

www.vegan.com

www.vegetarianfriends.net

www.all-creatures.org

www.hsus.org/religion

www.brightergreen.org

www.coolfoodscampaign.org

http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2005issue1/vj2005issue1notesci.htm

http://www.awarenessmag.com/marapr07/ma07_raw_vegan.htm

http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/category/food-matters/vegetarian-lifestyles/

Universal Health Coverage: What Would Jesus Cover?-Moses Ross 11-9-08

2008-11-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

Moses Ross is a single father of a young daughter; he was a Hillary Clinton delegate, and is passionate about healthcare as a universal right. He spoke about a personal incident where his daughter needed medical care at a time where he did not have inusrance: The emergency room was billed at $3-4,000.

From a Faith basis perspective, he lead the discussion by repeatedly asking his audience: What would Jesus cover?

Key words used in the presentation were:

1. Mandate, 2. Obligation and 3. Right.

He quoted Mathhew 25-34

"It is our obligation to take care of the least of us."

The concept that we, as a people, are obliged to make sure that our government acts to carry through our beliefs in the political arena was discussed with the question: How do we do it?

Can we even, as a country sharply divided between a 50% ultra conservative populace and a 50% quite liberal populace even reach a consensus that gets close to what Jesus asks us to do?

He spoke for completely eliminating the insurance companies from the delivery system and discussed the advantages of a low administrative cost single-payer system very much like what the Catholic Hospitals used to provide:

A Service of God.

His analysis pointed out that the hybrid systems proposed during the 2008 presidential race all maintain the corporate insurance companies and their high cost admnistrative costs and limited and unpredicable coverage limitations.

The audience discussed how the quality of medical care is spiralling downward for all but the super specialized proceedures: 1. Doctors are limited to about 15 minutes, 2. How best practices is limiting care delivery to what is rigidly defined by the AMA, 3. How most policies are entirely focused on acute services rather than long-term pro-active holistice care, 4. How our medical support is increasingly losing primary physicians and is becoming dehumanized and depersonalized and, finally, 5. How the coverage is nolonger aligned with 'The Common Good.'

He spoke of the need for 24-7 coverage; the audience agreed that the law-suit inducing separate walls of providing, for example, Workers Compensation, as a contested medical delivery system rather than simply treating the person back to health and productivity leads to less care and higher costs.

The consensus of the audience was that, when there is a will to align medical coverage with our faith and social responsibility, gradually a Single-Payer system will emerge; simply because it is less costly and singularly humane.

We are Children of God; we Serve Him because he asked us to care for the Least of us.

Mr. Ross can be reached at:

http://campaignwindow.com/mosesross/more/index.cfm?Fuseaction=more_48695

Robert Marino-Systems Colliding

2008-11-02T15:10:00.000-08:00

He spoke passionately about his personal experiences and research on how it appears we have lost our ways, individually and as small and larger groups.

Our relationship with nature has become a competitive rather than a collaborative process, and, in his view point, we are behaving similar to drug addicts by continually consuming and buying stuff we don't really need.

He spoke of the pain he perceives people are experiencing by their alienation from nature and one another. He stated that there are many signs that our lives, as a race, individually and as societies are becoming unmanageable.

His narrative wove a complicated mesh of interrelated issues together; he is concerned about the long-term effects on people and countried we have hurt,snubbed or waged aggression against. How we have damaged others.

Several Oregon and westcoast positive initiatives were mentioned, including The Western Climate Initiative as solid local actions we could take:

http://www.grist.org/news/daily/2007/08/23/1/

His analysis of how the carbon molecule, an infinitesimally small item, has become the strongest force for change in our disconnected economy was remarkable. He stated that we need to end the dependence on oil, but that there is no such thing as a clean coal economy or safe nuclear plants. He used a metaphor describing how we have had the technology for twenty years to create a solar economy, but have allowed other factors to misdirect us.

One brief story about how his grandfather lived in New York during the Great Depression was particularly powerful: We just helped eachother out in the tenement, and we hardly noticed the depression pass by. Mr. Marino and others in attendance spoke about how we rarely know our own neighbors anymore today.

A central thesis to his presentation was the notion that people of the Caucasian majority race has blanked out people of color, and that we need to pay attention to these issues during the dramatic change over from a carbon economy to a Green economy. He stated that there needs to be both social and environmental justice practiced: We can't leave our neighbors behind-again, and he referred to work done by the Portland based Center for Diversity and The Environment:

http://environmentaldiversity.org/

This touched on such recent climate issues describing how poor people without airconditioners perished in heat waves propagated by climate changes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_heat_wave_of_2003

In his closing arguments he urged people to shed racial arrogance, get close to one person of color and seek forgiveness for the atrocities we have committed against other people in order to 'Own and Control' everything.

Mr. Marino is a Tri-Met Busdriver working on his MBA at Bainbridge Graduate Institute; he desires to put his skills to use in the service of social and environmental justice.

Christian Faith-Gerald Shenk

2008-10-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

On 10-26-08 Gerald Shenk made an ALl Church presentation on Christian Faith and Peace Making; it was a compelling insight into all the issues that have driven us into a series of small, constant wars on behalf of America and American's need for safety.

You can access professional data about Professor Shenk at:

http://www.emu.edu/personnel/people/show/shenkng

His Iran experiences at:

http://www.emu.edu/seminary/features/Iran

His journey with on waging peace: Mennonites Wage Peace on Islam

http://www.emm.org/news/feature/2006/october/mennowagepeace.html

Professor Shenk spoke eloquently about how, in his examination christians have abandoned the basic tenents of Jesus Christ's teaching and allowed our organized religion stewards to collect our donations and then adopt ongoing support of all war efforts on our behalf.

He stated that 'Peace is in the heart, deeper than dogma.'

He encouraged each person to take a personal inventory of his and her views on peace and examine the tendrils from the teachings of Jesus that support individual decisions on peacemaking, rather than leaving it to government and organized institutions.

He spoke passionately about our need to find common ground in our nation on this issue, work through forgiveness and move to restoring trust among people in the world.: Do all the things that lead to Peace!

He refered to this as : Doing Righteous Tasks.

Members discussed several powerful issues, including Islam's treatment of women and how some verses in the Koran implies a right to take over a society. Other items mentioned included a reminder that it has been 50% of 'US' who have silently allowed the current state of increased war-making by America's policy makers.

He concluded with:

Why do I have to care about these people? Because I love them! Being faithful in all small ways.

Professor Shenk is a Mennonite Seminary professor with deep personal commitments to waging peace; he has gone to both Bosnia and Iran to reach out to all and anyone who are 'Waging Peace.' He walked and talked like a passionate, dignified and solid Mennonite; one we can all safely quote to our children and young people on ways to be reponsible peace disciples.

Menu For The Future Series Summary

2008-10-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

This series on How we eat, Where we get our food from, and Why we ought to care about the choice of our food sources and their preparation was a solid and inspiring resource presentation. Many members attending spoke of literally changing their shopping and cooking preparations week by week as they were presented by hitherto unknow insight and data.

First of all, anyone checking this summary is recommended to contact the non-profit organization who prepared the reading series! Buy the booklet and study it with your family and friends:

Northwest Earth Institute
317 SW Alder St. Suite 1050
Portland, OR 97204
email: CONTACT@NWEI.ORG
www.nwei.org

Here are some 'one-liners' from the seminars:

1. People appear to stay healtheir when they eat more local and fresh food.
2. Food eating 'fads' are heavily subsidized industry driven consumption motivators.
3. Parents are often too exhausted today to make informed nutritional choices.
4. There is a huge education deficit issue on nutrition; parents need to frontload children.
5. The huge mono-crops we see today are not sustainable.
6. Wide-spread concern for impact of decline in bee population.
7. GMOs are being introduced by huge corporations in ways that may not be sound for long-term health. Nor does it bode well for immune systems.
8. The Old Testament speaks directly to sound eating practices and nurturing the earth.
9. We need to move towards Less packaging, Less Processing and less travel by our food.
10. Great concerns expressed over 'Farmers' Cancer,' i.e the health impact of the industrially used and applied insecticides on farmers.
11. Analysis shows a few huge world corporations buying up all food production sources; example, Coca Cola owns Adwala Juice.
12. Corporations have no incentive to produce healthy food; just easily marketable products that they can sell.
13. Members talk a lot oabout relearning to garden and put fresh foods away in cans.
14. World-wide ownership of mono-seeds and patents of GMO crops are turning our food supply into a vicious down spiral.
15. Many members outraged about the quality of our public schooll lunches.
16. Discussion of the corporate farms to 'pretend' they are organic. Beware of marketing.

Deciding question: Who are YOU supporting with your food dollars?

How is Our Food Impacting Our Lives?

2008-09-21T19:29:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, September 21, 2008, Joe Blowers led a group of 22 church members in the first of five Sundays discussion about the impact the food we eat have on our lives.

Joe began his presentation by reading from Psalms to illustrate our faith connection to us as stewards of the environment.

The group recalled how their relationship to food, food preparation and access stirred their memories when they reached back to their childhood. As would be expected from a Mennonite group, many grew up on farms or had parents that had annual gardens for both sustenance and enjoyment.

There was general agreement that our food system today, in general, does not work well with respect to health. Everyone agreed that there is a need for the pendulum to swing back. However, cost of going completely organic was a clear concern.

One member spoke movingly about the pleasure of being able to stay home to cook and care for her family. Her husband also remarked that it was remarkable how small their family's garbage and disposal footprint was.

The consensus was that we all need to question where our food comes from, almost to the point of making sure that the hens that produce our eggs are 'happy hens.'

Many in the group, including the presenter, spoke about their committment towards eating more vegetarian food menus.

A particular concern about public school cafeteria food was shared by two teachers and a former employee of a school cafeteria; the teachers spoke about how the cafeteria food was less than optimally healthy and appeared to impact student's ability to learn optimally. That discussion was interestingly poignant when a member of the group spoke about how cafeterias had tried to get students to eat from the healthy choices-only to see most of that food ignored and end up in the garbage.

After the presentation the group visited several area gardens to see first-hand how other people are gardening and safe-guarding their health by growing a large portion of their food.

This series is based on a sound text book, with moderator soliciting questions and thoughts from group after they have pre-read focused articles examining food issues from different perspectives.

Sami Rasouli-Anti-War Muslim Peace Maker

2008-09-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, September 14, 2008 PMC was treated to an All-Church assembly featuring Muslim Peace Maker Sami Rasouli. He spoke about the impact on him, his family and Iraq of the war in Iraq.

He showed moving pictorial representations of the war's impact on innocent civilians, and discussed, from his personal perspective as an Iraqi immigrant and succesful bussiness man in the US for 30 years, how the war created an ethical imperative fro him to return to Iraq to work for peace.

His movement, the Muslim Peace Makers resulted, with the aid and training of Christian peace makers already working from the same ethical paradigms.

In Mr. Rasouli's observation the American forces occupation has not been a positive experience for the region, and their continued presence, in his opinion, does not appear condusive to long lasting peace.

His passionate, personal appeal for individuals of all faiths to work for peace was very moving; he and his co-workers are currently working on providing clean-water filtration systems for Iraqi schools.

This Blog is a link showing his views::

http://www.mpt-iraq.org/?q=node/22

Church Collaboration and Ideas

2008-08-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Church members, families and individuals attending PMC are invited to contact Adult Forum moderators about subjects, themes, ideas and speakers they would like to hear at a Sunday morning Adult forum session, or for a church-wide informational and inspirational presentation. Please send suggestions to:

pmcinfo@teleport.com

With a a subject header saying: Adult Forum Suggestion

Or, you can simply leave a comment on this Blog, at the end of this post.

PMC Adult Forum Use

2008-08-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

It is the intent of PMC and the Adult Forum committee to use this Blog in two ways:

1. Archival
After each presenter and each Sunday the moderator responsible for the presentation will post a summary of the information presented, useful contact names, URLs and emails. This will enable church members, current and future, who have an interest in the subject, to get access to some useful data and insight.

2. Current Discussion and Comment Platform
The Adult Forum Committee will work with PMC staff, church families and the Blog technology to facilitate access and moderate comments. In the start-up mode we will assume that anyone posting a comment will use respectful and positive language. We hope to see a healthy discussion and encourage poster ALWAYS to follow a criticism with a positive solution-and perhaps approach moderators for a scheduled opportunity to deepen the discussion on a subject matter.

3. During the 2008-9 church year all use and technology questions regarding the use and set of issues regarding the Adult Forum Blog should be addressed to Kurt Kristensen.

Adult Forum Committee 2008-9

2008-08-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

During the 2008-8, September 2008 till June 1, 2009 the Adult Forum Committee will be:

Kurt Kristensen-Lead Moderator
You can contact Kurt at:
kurtk@poetspeak.com
503-625-2340

Allen Classen-Moderator
You can contact Allen at:
allan@nwexaminer.com
503-241-2353

Silas Langley-Moderator
You can contact Silas at:
silaslangley@yahoo.com
503-526-8623

The PMC's Adult Forum is one of several opportunities church families have to share, examine and discuss issues, feelings and concerns they may have in a Faith Environment. Rachel Ringenberger Miller, PMC's Associate Pastor, is the pastoral staff member of the Ministry team, Christian Faith Core Ministry Team (CMT), responsible for PMC's Sunday School Adult Forum; Allan Classen is the Adult Forum committee representative on the Adult Education Committee where he represents the Adult Forum Committee.

You can contact Pastor Ringenberger Miller at:
pmcrachel@teleport.com
503-234-0559

The Adult Forum's 2008-9 over-riding umbrella theme will be:

Are we Walking our Faith?

Moderators will invite speakers and church members with passion and expert knowledge to present for approximately 45 minutes; each session will conclude with a respectful moderator led opportunity for each attendee to ask a question or offer an opinion.

Each Adult forum session will be conducted with the utmost concern and discipline to respect differences of opinions.

Commitee members encourage all church attendees who are knowledgeable and passionate about an issue to enquire about an opportunity to speak.