If God is good and ruler over all, why did the earthquake happen in Haiti? Did God stand by and let the earthquake happen? Did God allow the mass destruction to occur that millions of victims are struggling with today on that small island in the Caribbean?

These are tough issues many are wrestling with. What do you think about these questions? (more…)

Last week CNN reported that Oxfam was concerned for the safety of their staff now deployed in Haiti.  They said that both the unstable environmental conditions as well as crime and violence threaten those aid workers now on the scene. Each of us has a role to play in supporting the relief efforts much needed in Haiti, not just in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake but in the weeks and months and years going forward.  Yes, we can certainly donate money to organizations skilled in responding to human tragedies.  But even more needed is the ongoing gift of prayer for each and every worker on the ground there. (more…)

What I remember about seventh grade is finding myself in a new school about five times as big as I’d ever known—I was stumped by algebra, and the girl who wanted to help me get through that class was my only friend. Neither of us were cool, and she didn’t care, but I longed to be accepted by the in-crowd. But every attempt to connect with them ended up in some awful embarrassment. It was a painful time of learning how to make friends and how to be a friend.

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Als ich letzten wieder mal am Flughafen war, sah ich all die Schilder, die vor der Schweinegrippe warnen. Und was man Alles tun muss um sich zu schützen.

Soviel Angst und Furcht steckt dahinter. Ich dachte kurz darüber nach wie stark diese Furcht und Angst die Gedanken der Menschen beeinflussen wollen. Gleichzeitig dachte ich darüber nach, wie man sich vor dieser angsterfüllten Beeinflussung frei halten kann. Ein Wortspiel half mir dabei. Schweinegrippe ( swine flu) = Schweineinfluenza ( swine influenza)= Influence =der Einfluss, Beeinflussen (Influence). (more…)

For many Filipinos, the day typhoon Ketsana hit was memorable.  Everyone remembers where they were, what they were doing, and who they were with.  Although it has already been three weeks since the storm hit, some parts of Metro Manila are still flooded in knee-high waters that may not recede until December. Ketsana was immediately followed by Parma, though bypassed Manila and hit the provinces of northern Luzon instead.  This category-5 typhoon caused a lot of landslides in Baguio and its neighboring areas. (more…)

Hearing about H1N1 or the swine flu? People are confused and afraid. And when we’re afraid, we tend to change our behavior to try to protect ourselves.

People who would normally hug each other keep their distance. A simple handshake becomes a source of distrust and fear. But I won’t do it! I won’t let fear turn me into someone I’m not! (more…)

October is Abuse Awareness Month.  As director of a domestic violence intervention program, I work daily with men who have been abusive to the women and children in their lives.
One of the ways that abusive behavior hides itself is by deceiving us into believing that verbal or emotional abuse is not a bad as physical violence, and isn’t really abuse.

Name calling, put downs, intimidation, and threats, however, are forms of aggression that have an impact no less than a slap, push, or hit. Identifying abuse for what it is, and then doing whatever is necessary to correct it, is a critical step in its elimination. Identifying behavior as abusive is freeing for both those affected by this behavior and the abuser because it pinpoints what needs correcting.

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With fears circulating rampantly about swine flu, this is a good time to know your immunity from contagion.

“What?” You might ask. “You mean I have to hurry up and get a shot?”

If you’re worried about that, you can relax. That’s not the kind of immunity I’m talking about.

I’m talking about your spiritual immunity.

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by Daniel Koku Atidzon

I didn’t know it yet, but on April 1st, 2009, I was about to witness—for the first time in my life—a case of robbery. I was walking back to my home after seeing a friend off—an old schoolmate who had visited for the day. It had been a good day for me, too; just that morning I had attended a job interview at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). Now it was late,—around 10:30 or 11:00 PM—my friend was gone, and I found myself about 500 meters away from the house in question. (more…)

by Emily – Christian Science Sentinel, June. 30, 2008

There I was, watching all my friends climb up and walk across the ropes with no problem.

I’d never enjoyed being in high places very much. So when I was at camp two summers ago, I wasn’t planning to get too far on the ropes course. (This course involves all kinds of challenges and team-building exercises in the woods. Campers put on harnesses as they complete challenges high off the ground.)

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