Solar Power in remote villages

This is an interesting article from cnn.com. It centers around the use of solar power to bring light and technology to remote villages in India. I'm conflicted. On the one hand it presents excellent opportunities for individuals by offering lighting after dark which has never been an option for them. That's awesome. On the other hand it presents opportunities for the United States to infiltrate another region and try to westernize it. That's not awesome. The article speaks to the use of solar power to run the villages only tv and dvd player. Great. Let's dub our finest films from Hollywood and ship them over to them. Great. I wonder what Adam Sandler films might sound like in their language?!?!

I read a book not too long ago that talked about the amount of stress that we have in the American culture which translates into sleep disorders, addictions, etc. Studies and statistics actually linked this back to the advent of artificial light. Apparently artificial light throws off the body's ability to differentiate between day and night. There is a chemical in the brain which is released at sundown which causes the body to downshift for sleep. There is another chemical the brain releases at dawn (or when light is introduced following sleep) which causes the body to upshift for the day. The studies showed that artificaial light actually prevents the brain from releasing that chemical. That's why we can't sleep , there are sleep disorder clinics, and multiple prescriptions to aid in sleep. And additionally why there are "uppers" and market for caffeine to get us going in the morning. Nice cycle. Apparently the only sorts of cultures that don't deal with this are those without artificial light (bedouin tribes and those in India according to this article).

So, thanks to solar technology, these villages can look forward to the microsoft monopoly and pc world, working third shift, 7-11 and slurpees, Starbucks kiosks and Monster energy drinks, and the need for over the counter sleep aids. You're welcome, India!

Is that a stretch, maybe. Maybe not.

Acts 9:23-43

We had great discussion tonight on the passage above. Lots of discussion surrounding healing and wholeness and leading others by the hand and being led by the hand. Great thoughts everyone. Here was one of the "jumping off points" for discussion:

Barnabas took Saul “by the hand” to the Apostles to present him to the church. He spoke on Saul’s behalf. In this action, Barnabas brought about: reconciliation, guidance, forgiveness, healing, hospitality, etc.

How has someone played that role in our life?
In what ways are we playing the role of Barnabas for another?

The third story about Tabitha closely mirrors the story of Jesus in Mark 5. In both of those stories (here in Acts and Jesus in the book of Mark) there are instances of taking someone by the hand. Someone raised the issue of "who do we take by the hand" (kids and elderly...for different reasons) and what does that tell us. Someone else raised the fact that sometimes we need to be led by the hand.

If you have any thoughts to share, and to continue the conversation, please leave them here. Thanks!

Just around the river bend...

Hopefully you can imagine the title being sung by Pocahontas, but you don't want it to be sung by me. Anyway, that song came to mind for two reasons: 1) I have a 4 1/2 year old princess for a daughter, and 2) I just have this feeling that we're right around the corner from something. Have you ever had that feeling? Have you ever felt that something big was going to happen, but you didn't know what, and you certainly couldn't explain that feeling in the pit of your stomach to anyone else? Have you felt that way? Yeah, me to. Right now.

I don't know what God wants to do, or is going to do, in and through the life of this fledgling community that is called Journey. I have visions sometimes of what could be, and I just pray that they are a part of what God is thinking. We so desperately want others to experience Jesus in a way that connects with their life on a very real level. We want to reach those who are burnt out on church or burnt BY the church and just don't like the church. We want to be a home and a community for those that have not felt loved by Christians. I think God knows our heart and is going to break something wide open . I just don't know what yet. I can't wait to see.

Ephesians 3:14-20, "14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ , 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Yeah...

Acts 9:1-22

Okay. I've not been the most dedicated blogger here. I love the concept. I fail on execution. From here on out, this will be a place to continue the conversation from Sunday night. View this as a place to add comments that you wish you had made during the dialogue on Sunday night. Or a place to add a thought that popped into your head since Sunday night. Whatever the case, share those here and continue the conversation this week.

Tonight we talked about Acts 9 and the life change of a man named Saul. Here are some of the thoughts that we talked about tonight. If you are continuing to think about this and mull things over in your mind, feel free to jump in and add to the conversation...

1) "Life begins with an encounter with Jesus and we're either being prepared for it, or, we are living in the assurance of it."

2) God uses our past to His advantage for the His purpose.

3) Ananias said, "Brother, Saul..." and considered him a friend and brother instead of a persecutor and threat. Are there people in our lives who we need to offer hospitality, fellowship, and acceptance to even before Jesus transforms them? Even if they aren't transformed?

4) Are there people in our life who we have been viewing as beyond God's love, yet could be the next Saul through the transformation of Jesus? Do we realize that God can (and wants to) transform all people?