Double Sabbath Rest this Week

With the winter weather here in Charlotte this week end, my schedule slowed down considerably. Saturday there were no deliveries at the cupboard due to the weather. Churches were canceled all over Charlotte on Sunday, including the one I attend. My busy-ness was able to come to a near complete stop. I just didn't feel like doing much of anything. I got to sing loud to old music I love. Got to spend some time with Deb cuddling. Took some time just to be with Kyril. Spoke on the phone to Bene for longer than I have at one sitting. I slept in till 8:30 on Sunday ... unheard of for me. Might as well been noon! Even my email seemed to have slowed down. Only one cupboard phone call .... amazing. I have enjoyed my little double sabbath rest this past week.

Blog More - Done!

Alright. My first of the three Pre-New Year's resolutions is now complete with this post. I have blogged more (than last year in the first 30 days of January). Still working on blogging often and regularly.

So let's renew that resolution and let's make it blog even more.

Here are a couple series that I will be working on .

1. Markers on the Road. The first was "No Longer".

2. He/She said - They will each start like this first post did "John the Dwarf said,"

3. Book reviews - The first was "The book of the Shepherd"

4. Of course there will be blogs about Common Heart like this one "The Common.org and Common Heart."

If you would like to subscribe to my blog you can do it here, and you will receive each of my notes along the way in your email box.

TheCommon.org and Common Heart

One of the most exciting things to me about Common Heart is how we connect people who would probably never meet. Rich & poor, black & white, Latino & Anglo, church folks and folks that have given up on church, meet and develop relationships that benefit each other spiritually. It’s all about living in God’s love and being a part of his grand mission. For years, through Common Cupboard, we have used groceries to open doors and hearts.

Late last year we discovered a web based tool, TheCommon.org. (No, I did not name it. Hard to believe, I know.) This is a cool program that would enhance any community of people. Churches use it. Community organizations, YMCA’s and non-profits all use it throughout the country. What it does is connect needs with the abilities to meet those needs.

So let’s say that you know a elderly couple on a fixed income that has some plumbing issues. You can post it on the site and people with the ability to help will see the need, and can respond. Or, let’s say you have an unused exercise bike, you can post that in the marketplace and give it to someone who will use it. Or, maybe your church has a workday around the building with many projects You could start an initiative on TheCommon.org and keep in contact with those who will be coming out to help with the specific projects,

Well, Common Heart is in the process of launching this tool for our volunteers from 20 local churches. It will give us the opportunity to use many different ways to open doors to God’s love as it connect more people in very practical ways.

A cool benefit of TheCommon.org is that communities can blend, share their needs and abilities with other communities. So if your church had a community on the site, it could blend with Common Heart. Now the needs of folks from both communities will be shared with people in either community with the abilities to help. I think this is so cool. So let’s imagine just 6 communities of 50 -75 members each in our area that all blend with Common Heart. Now the needs of the folks we serve will be sent out to a possible 350 or so people who may be able to help and connect in a way that will demonstrate God’s love. Our ability to activate and equip people to serve just increased amazingly.

To sign up for Common Heart’s community go to Sign up for TheCommon.org. Or, if you would like discuss how your church or community could be using this cool resource, contact Keith at CommonHeartMC@gmail.com.

Here is are links to a couple video about TheCommon.org.

TheCommon.org - In Book Form

TheCommon.org - Coffee Shop

John the Dwarf said,

"I can imagine someone embodying all Christian virtues. Rising every every morning at dawn, he would begin immediately to keep God's commandments. He would be patient, reverent, and selfless in God's love. With genuine humility, he would control soul and body. He would pray regularly and sincerely. Injury would not upset him. This virtuous person would never consider revenge and retaliation. He would not attempt to inflate his ego by criticizing others. He would live in lowliness of spirit, as one crucified. His hands would be busy with work, and he would not complain of deprivation. He would sense the nearness of death"

By Way of the Desert, compiled and modernized by Bernard Bangley

Wikipedia article on John the Dwarf.

Moral Roots of Liberals & Conservatives

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we're left, right or center. In this eye-opening talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most.

I found this video to be very enlightening. Thought I would share it. What do you think. If you want to do something fun and personally enlightening take some of the tests at this site. YourMorals.org