Starbucks is trying to get back to its roots. And part of that involves bringing back the original logo [click pic for more info]. But Mark Dice, founder of a watchdog group called "The Resistance", explains why he's calling for a boycott against Starbucks over this logo. "We wanna send a message to Starbucks that they can't put a half naked, half mermaid type figure with her fins, or her quote unquote legs, spread open like a prostitute," says Mark.What do you think? Is this logo too hot to handle? Is it grounds [sorry...couldn't help it] for divorce? Or perhaps we should be boycotting coffee for a more significant reason...
Like modern day slavery. Look for the Fair Trade logo on coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, fruit, and some clothing items that are most likely to be produced and distributed slave-free.
"By sharing stories, we have begun the process of turning strangers into friends," filmmaker Jehane Noujaim told the U.S. studio audience gathered to experience Pangea Day. The live global film fest broadcast simultaneously worldwide highlighted 24 short films meant to promote dialog and cooperation on universal themes such as food, home, water, laughter, sorrow, hope, landscape, despair and joy. Click the pic for reaction to Pangea Day and the triangular play button below to watch one of my fave films shared. This one from a guy in India [Sumit Roy] who created the entire thing on a cell phone!!! Enjoy the great ending.
Jay's broken neck is stabilized. He can move all his extremities [so he's not paralyzed]. And when he's not sedated and being forced to rest, he's wide awake making plenty of demands of those nearby. Rolling his eyes when those nearby can't guess what he wants!!! He's received over 300 visitors to his CarePages website [click the pic for more on that] and has heard his family read each of the 188 messages of support you've left for him. Thank you!!! Please keep praying for Jay's strength, healing, and comfort. And thank God that the injuries Christopher sustained [the 10 year old boy and only other person hospitalized in the accident] are not life threatening and that he is getting better too. Click below to watch a short video of the news coverage from the prayer vigil held at his St.Charles high school. FYI, the clip shows a picture of Jay's upside down car at the accident scene.
CarePages is a website devoted to connecting, sharing, and encouraging. Which is exactly what we need right now. Because on Saturday May 10 @ 8:45am, my 18 year old brother-in-law Jay was driving his Buick Park Avenue to bowling practice but missed a stop sign and collided driver's side first with an Oldsmobile Cutlass. The other car was carrying a family of 5 including 3 triplet boys. One of whom [Christopher] was hospitalized. As was Jay[for more read this Saginaw News article].
Jay is in critical care with a broken neck and torn aorta. Which was miraculously repaired following surgery. For more on that, follow the directions below. Our God who knows the number of hairs on our head and when a tiny bird falls from the nest [cf. Matthew 10:29-31!!!]is already comforting us. Along with the many Mariettas, we solicit your prayers for both Christopher and Jay.
Click either pic
Register [only requires name and email address]
Type "jaymarietta" [minus the quotation marks] into the "Visit" search engine
Choose to receive Jackie's email updates
Thank you for leaving encouraging comments and support!!!
Rocky Twyman, an active member of an Adventist church in Washington DC, started the "Prayer at the Pump" movement asking God to lower gas prices. Twyman knows his approach to gasoline prices is simplistic so he's quick to point out that anyone praying for cheaper fuel also has an obligation to do something more active about the problem. "People have to walk more, leave those cars at home, and carpool, man," he said. "We have to become more practical." Click the triangular play button to watch the short interview from April 25, 2008.
Can you correctly match the alphabetically arranged countries below with the converted prices for the average US gallon? Note: one US gallon = 3.78 liters [rounded off to 4]. One liter of gas = 1.53 Euros [as of 4/26/2008]. Answers below right.
A. Belgium B. France C. Germany D. Italy E. Netherlands F. United Kingdom G. United States H. Scotland
Three pastors' wives from the Florida Hospital Adventist church in Orlando [where I spent 5 years as a kid] decided they were tired of having their latest household fiasco show up in sermon illustrations. So Vickie McDonald (married to senior pastor Andy), Tami Cinquemani (married to associate pastor Jeff), and Amy Achata (married to youth pastor David) made a parody video to get their point across, revamping Carrie Underwood's popular "Before He Cheats" with their rendition of "Before He Speaks." And if I'm not careful, Jackie may be ready to join them!!! Press the triangular play button. Enjoy!!!
Yoko Ono has filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed that challenges the theory of evolution saying they used the song "Imagine" without her permission. The film uses part of the song that asks listeners to imagine a world without religion or faith in an afterlife. "Expelled" executive producer Logan Craft says the lyric reflects the views of many advocates of unguided evolution and insists that its "fair use" is protected under the First Amendment. Isn't it ironic that the lawsuit is about a song with the lyrics "Imagine no possessions"?
And while all that is entertaining, I find Brian McLaren's [not so] unrelated question more intriguing: Why are so many religious people arguing about the origin of the [human] species, but so few are concerned about its extinction? Genocide. Stupid poverty. No clean drinking water. Child prostitution. Modern day slavery. Which one interests YOU more?
My friend Jeff recommended this DVD to me and I'm happy to recommend it to you. It was nominated for five Academy Awards® in 1953, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Richard Burton. The visual aspects of the film are stunning and it may be worth viewing for that alone. But the story of the Roman Centurion who gambles and wins the robe Jesus wore to the crucifixion subsequently transforming his life is even better. Enjoy!!! [And click the pick to purchase the DVD for >$8]
Made to Worship written by Ed Cash and beautifully sung by Chris Tomlin was named song of the year at the 2008 Christian Music Awards. But according to the Barna Group, more and more Americans don't know why we worship. In fact, only one third of the people surveyed even know Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Fewer than half of Americans surveyed can name the first book of the Bible. And 80% of born again Christians believe the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible [which it’s not. That bad theology came from Ben Franklin].
All of which makes me think that EVERY time we gather for worship should be like opening night of a 52 week evangelistic series explaining why we're there. Because one of those Americans could be visiting for the first time. Even if they—and in some cases the "regulars" inside—don't know why. Revelation 12:10 &12 says it this way: "11They [us] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb [Jesus]. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!" Who and why do YOU worship?
Happily married to my high school sweetheart Jackie for nearly 11 years, I have two children. Joshua is 8 and Lydia is 6 years old. My job as a pastor is to talk about Jesus.
Starbucks is trying to get back to its roots. And part of that involves bringing back the original logo [click pic for more info]. But Mark Dice, founder of a watchdog group called "The Resistance", explains why he's calling for a boycott against Starbucks over this logo. "We wanna send a message to Starbucks that they can't put a half naked, half mermaid type figure with her fins, or her quote unquote legs, spread open like a prostitute," says Mark. What do you think? Is this logo too hot to handle? Is it grounds [sorry...couldn't help it] for divorce? Or perhaps we should be boycotting coffee for a more significant reason...
Like modern day slavery. Look for the Fair Trade logo on coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, fruit, and some clothing items that are most likely to be produced and distributed slave-free.
