Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado
I recommend ANY of author Max Lucado's books for anyone looking to read nonfiction Christian books of inspiration. He writes for the common man...so readable.....so inspirational!!
I just started this book but did not want to wait to recommend it to delay your finding it!!
After reading just one chapter i was enthused, impressed and energized, amazing!!( I read books out of order...that's how i read nonfiction..by interest and passion...so often reading numerous books at the same time....works for my bipolar personality...he he).
I chose the chapter that's called, "Don't Write off Anyone"(thinking of a friend i made while working on the Rosebud Reservation, as i go back in November this year). It is difficult befriending someone who struggles with alcohol addiction...it tests my faith and endurance and i must admit i had to pull back a bit as overwhelmed...but want to stay supportive of this person, so i read on!!
This book is written to inspire ALL of us to live our faith in real ways and with loving real people.
It is about walking our faith into the real world not just worshiping and reading the bible for ourselves. The whole point of this is to inspire us to be the real Christians IN THE WORLD outside ourselves to love others!! He uses biblical characters and stories to set the stage for these chapters of inspiration.
This book is such a fast read...Max writes in short chapters that help engage us and allows for short pauses in life when we can pick up one of his books to read a chapter, digest it and use it in life, even before finishing the book!!He is so understandable and practical that you almost feel foolish not to be encouraged to act out our faith with real people beyond our families, and our church family.
Its a great book to get re-energized in our faith, can be re-read and re-read, and to eventually passed on to others when done. It would make a great birthday or Christmas book to give as a gift.
Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy this quick read to uplift you and bring out your energy and creativity for loving the others Jesus puts in your path!!
ps all author royalties from the sale of this book go to World Vision and other faith based compassion ministries....so your purchase of this book is also a donation to those in need...a good start in living this mentality!!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Embracing the Heart, Engaging the Mind
The full title of this book is:
Embracing the Heart, Embracing the Mind
-Universal Stories of Resilience/65 Stories with Commentary by Joseph R Dunn, PH.D.
The author is a PHD in Psychology with masters degrees in Psychology AND Theology!! This is a book with both the human and faith responses. They are stories of wisdom. They are also stories of discovery, solutions and survival for the "ups and downs" of life. These stories are from around the Globe and have been passed down from generation to generation and told in many cultures. I collect multi-cultural story collections and will add this one to my library!
I have only just read a handful of the 50 stories offered but was so impressed with it that i re-ordered multiple copies to give as gifts. I just gave one for a high school graduation gift. It is the type of book you do not want to read through fast...rather savor the wisdom each story offers. I look forward to reading through it this summer. Another great summer read!! The stories are short and have commentary after each so real "food for thought". The eight story chapters have the following titles: Assessing Treasure, Touching and Transforming Relationships, Accepting Reality and Serenity, Choices: Changing what you can, Judicious Decisions, Stories of Folly, Addressing Anger, and Resourceful Solutions. Its Great!! I think i found it by browsing a catalogue from Alibris( cat #9780578011561), they also have a website of course .The publisher is Psychology Etcetera Press (PsychEtc.com)
Enjoy!!
Embracing the Heart, Embracing the Mind
-Universal Stories of Resilience/65 Stories with Commentary by Joseph R Dunn, PH.D.
The author is a PHD in Psychology with masters degrees in Psychology AND Theology!! This is a book with both the human and faith responses. They are stories of wisdom. They are also stories of discovery, solutions and survival for the "ups and downs" of life. These stories are from around the Globe and have been passed down from generation to generation and told in many cultures. I collect multi-cultural story collections and will add this one to my library!
I have only just read a handful of the 50 stories offered but was so impressed with it that i re-ordered multiple copies to give as gifts. I just gave one for a high school graduation gift. It is the type of book you do not want to read through fast...rather savor the wisdom each story offers. I look forward to reading through it this summer. Another great summer read!! The stories are short and have commentary after each so real "food for thought". The eight story chapters have the following titles: Assessing Treasure, Touching and Transforming Relationships, Accepting Reality and Serenity, Choices: Changing what you can, Judicious Decisions, Stories of Folly, Addressing Anger, and Resourceful Solutions. Its Great!! I think i found it by browsing a catalogue from Alibris( cat #9780578011561), they also have a website of course .The publisher is Psychology Etcetera Press (PsychEtc.com)
Enjoy!!
Daughters by Design by Paula Jarot
We met this mission couple that live and teach in Thialand and vacation in Wisconsin each summer and we have become friends. This book was written Paula, the mom of two Cambodian orphans that are now fully adopted and American cirtizens. This book is a great read...short readable chapters about the difficult path of adopting older children from Cambodia. I especially loved following how the girls personalities developed with the transition to a real family from an orphanage and to western living.The paper trail was extreme and only a woman of faith could endure it!! It is a story of fierce love and trust in the Lord!!
You can order it through Wine Press Publishing 2011 and comes quickly in the mail( disreagrd the warning on USA delivery). Enjoy!!
You can order it through Wine Press Publishing 2011 and comes quickly in the mail( disreagrd the warning on USA delivery). Enjoy!!
Monday, May 24, 2010
FIT FOR LIFE by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond 1985
This is not a new book but if you care about health and nutrition you will want to read this!!
It has great basic info about "how food works in your body" and the order in which you should consume certain foods each day. It is not a diet, a gimmick or a book selling gig. It is about real facts about foods and how your body uses them to serve you best.The first half of the book has nutrition info and the second has meal plans and possible recipes to implement the principles shared. Although,you do NOT have to use all the recipes to get the general benefit of the knowledge about how best to eat foods that this book will give you!!
The most important piece of information in the book is "The Energy Ladder". It is am a.m. to p.m. guide of which foods to eat and when during your day. It goes like this:
A.M.
Fresh fruit AND Fruit Juices
Fresh Vegetable juices and Salads
Fresh vegetables, Raw nuts and seeds
Grains, breads, potatoes,Legumes
Meat, Chicken,Fish, Dairy
P.M.
You start each day at the top and eat downward during the day- eating as many fruits and veggies early and saving grains, dairy and meat for later in the day.
THE AUTHORS SHARE THE THREE CYCLES OF YOUR BODY AND THE TIME THEY SHOULD OCCUR if you are eating properly:
1.ELIMINATION (4a.m. to noon) for cleansing and detoxifying
2.APPROPRIATION( noon to 8pm)
3.ASSIMILATION (8pm to 4 am)
Some other facts that caught my eye and were new to me were : never cook fruits as it makes them acidic and hard to digest( like for apple sauce or pie- they have a great recipe for no- cooking blended applesauce) and to make your own juice as concentrated juice is also very acidic. It also had a chart of how long to wait before or after eating fruit ,as the body easily digests fruit but when added with other foods it rots in our bodies rather that serving up the nutrients we are promised. In other words eat fruit early in the day and by itself or as snacks later in the day if using the times below for best nutritional and body benefits:
CHART FOR FRUIT EATING
2hrs after salad or raw veggies
3 hrs after combined meal without meat
4hrs after combined meal with meat
8 hrs after any poorly combined meal
Our usual version of a "hearty breakfast" first thing in the morning like cereal and milk or eggs and toast breaks all the rules and will sit in our bodies for up to three hours before giving us any energy at all..in fact it will make you tired!! It is all about getting energy from our foods , losing weight and having maximum nutrition benefits from our food ...I am all for that..who isn't??
It just makes sense!!
They also say tpo consume NUTS "raw" not "roasted" as roasting makes them acidic. ALSO MOSTLY CONSUME FOODS WITH "HIGH WATER CONTENT" SUCH AS FRUITS AND VEGGIES.VS OTHER "CONCENTRATED FOODS".
A typical meal plan looks like this:
Breakfast: fruit or smoothie
Lunch veggies or veggie juice, salad without meat or nuts
Supper: veggie soup, cooked veggies or starch, meat, salad or just a meat/ salad*
All of their salads are half lettuce and half spinach plus other ingredients.And most fiber comes from nuts and fruits and veggies vs flour based products.
I am amazed with all the reading on nutrition over the years i have done that i have never heard any of this??I don't think i will ever tire of reading about nutrition and how best to eat food for energy!
It has great basic info about "how food works in your body" and the order in which you should consume certain foods each day. It is not a diet, a gimmick or a book selling gig. It is about real facts about foods and how your body uses them to serve you best.The first half of the book has nutrition info and the second has meal plans and possible recipes to implement the principles shared. Although,you do NOT have to use all the recipes to get the general benefit of the knowledge about how best to eat foods that this book will give you!!
The most important piece of information in the book is "The Energy Ladder". It is am a.m. to p.m. guide of which foods to eat and when during your day. It goes like this:
A.M.
Fresh fruit AND Fruit Juices
Fresh Vegetable juices and Salads
Fresh vegetables, Raw nuts and seeds
Grains, breads, potatoes,Legumes
Meat, Chicken,Fish, Dairy
P.M.
You start each day at the top and eat downward during the day- eating as many fruits and veggies early and saving grains, dairy and meat for later in the day.
THE AUTHORS SHARE THE THREE CYCLES OF YOUR BODY AND THE TIME THEY SHOULD OCCUR if you are eating properly:
1.ELIMINATION (4a.m. to noon) for cleansing and detoxifying
2.APPROPRIATION( noon to 8pm)
3.ASSIMILATION (8pm to 4 am)
Some other facts that caught my eye and were new to me were : never cook fruits as it makes them acidic and hard to digest( like for apple sauce or pie- they have a great recipe for no- cooking blended applesauce) and to make your own juice as concentrated juice is also very acidic. It also had a chart of how long to wait before or after eating fruit ,as the body easily digests fruit but when added with other foods it rots in our bodies rather that serving up the nutrients we are promised. In other words eat fruit early in the day and by itself or as snacks later in the day if using the times below for best nutritional and body benefits:
CHART FOR FRUIT EATING
2hrs after salad or raw veggies
3 hrs after combined meal without meat
4hrs after combined meal with meat
8 hrs after any poorly combined meal
Our usual version of a "hearty breakfast" first thing in the morning like cereal and milk or eggs and toast breaks all the rules and will sit in our bodies for up to three hours before giving us any energy at all..in fact it will make you tired!! It is all about getting energy from our foods , losing weight and having maximum nutrition benefits from our food ...I am all for that..who isn't??
It just makes sense!!
They also say tpo consume NUTS "raw" not "roasted" as roasting makes them acidic. ALSO MOSTLY CONSUME FOODS WITH "HIGH WATER CONTENT" SUCH AS FRUITS AND VEGGIES.VS OTHER "CONCENTRATED FOODS".
A typical meal plan looks like this:
Breakfast: fruit or smoothie
Lunch veggies or veggie juice, salad without meat or nuts
Supper: veggie soup, cooked veggies or starch, meat, salad or just a meat/ salad*
All of their salads are half lettuce and half spinach plus other ingredients.And most fiber comes from nuts and fruits and veggies vs flour based products.
I am amazed with all the reading on nutrition over the years i have done that i have never heard any of this??I don't think i will ever tire of reading about nutrition and how best to eat food for energy!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith&Bruce Lourie
There are so many toxic chemicals we get exposed to and our body absorbs in our daily lives. This book talks about the 7 worst chemicals and where we get exposure to them. Most are easily avoided if we just know there is risk. The links to many illnesses is unnerving as we all use some of these things. You know I have always read food labels and cleaning supplies for additives but seldom do I do so in personal care products like: shampoo,lotion,and cosmetics. The list will surprise you and everybody should know about these things. This book is a must read is you care about the quality of your health and that of your family members.
The damaging effects of "hormone-disrupting chemicals" in toxic plastics is now linked to diseases such as: Parkinson's ,Alzheimer's, Breast and Prostrate Cancer,Asthma,Autism,ADHD,Obesity and Reproductive Disorders/Infertility, Learning Disabilities, and Diabetes. Think about how many of these diseases have really increased in our lifetimes!!
We need to re-examine everything we touch and put on our bodies and try our best to avoid what we can to make healthier choices.We probably can't eliminate all of them, but we can surely improve out "consumer smarts" about them and make our own decisions about which ones we will try to stop using or change to make better choices. I have come to the conclusion in the full range of additives in our lives that the fewer and more natural the ingredients in things the safer they are..that is one simple rule we can all remember when shopping.
The average woman uses 17 personal care products everyday they shower, apply lotions, use make up and do their nails!! I counted up mine just for fun and it was over 20!!
The book lists 7 chemicals that are frequently used in products that we should avoid as they use toxic plastics in the packaging or actual ingredients.They are:
1.Phthalates- often listed as "fragrance","parfum", in items that have strong smells-such items as cosmetics,lotions,shampoos,soaps, also in shower curtains, raincoats,air fresheners,plastic food containers, and brands like Pantene,Tresseme,RightGuard,Jergens,Dawn,Glade,Gillette,Rubbermaid
2.PFC- nonstick cooking containers and utensils (ieTeflon/Dupont/3M),Gortex,Scotchguard,Stainmaster, newspaper ink- thus any recycled paper,boxes,ie pizza boxes,microwave popcorn bags,fast food wrappers, store cash register receipts
3.PBDE- flame retardants in children's clothing, bed linens,some mattresses, electronics
4. Mercury- tuna( esp While Albacore canned tuna), batteries,fluorescent light bulbs,thermostats(last two esp for disposal).
5.Triclosan(also called Microban,Nanosilver,dichchlorophenoxy phenol)-antibacterial items,cleaning products and tools,cosmetics,cutting boards, knives, i.e (Reach toothbrush, Colgate Toothpaste,Clean and Clean Facial Cleanser,Dial hand soap,Gillette Shaving gel,Dawn dish det.,Right Guard deodorant)
6.Pesticides/herbicides-lawn chemicals, fresh produce, 2-4-D,DDT,DDE,DEET
7.Bisphenol A(BPA)- plastic food containers(don't microwave these!),canned food and soda,
baby bottles and 'sippy' cups,children's toys, plastic water bottles,plastic drinking
glasses/cups,hockey visors,faces of laptops/ and cell phones like Blackberry,
headlights,eyeglass lenses,kitchen appliances, Cd's DVDs, #7 plastics
These pollutants are not only found in personal care and cleaning products, food containers and household items, but also in our environment as they make their way into our water and air.The book lists that over one billion pounds of pesticides alone are used every year in the USA! And more than five thousand ingredients are allowed to be used in our personal care products in North America.
Some of the tips I took away from this book to avoid these chemicals were: avoid canned foods(esp acidic ones),avoid heating plastic containers in the microwave(use glass), buy Organic if possible- esp for fruit, veggies and meats (ie for grapes,peaches,strawberries,apples,spinach,nectarines,celery,pears,cherries,potatoes,peppers, and raspberries, chicken and beef ), stop accepting plastic bags and plastic food containers,and Styrofoam to go containers, read the labels of personal care and cleaning products and avoid these 7 toxic plastics by reading the ingredients of the items we buy and in general just buy less plastic everything-toys,dishes,etc..., eat fewer big fish and more smaller fish, eat hormone free meat, avoid buying "slippery clothes-use clothing with natural fibers(non synthetics) like wool, cotton and hemp that are chemical free and naturally fire resistant, use natural products for insect repellent and for cleaning products like baking soda and vinegar or bar soap and water,, stop buying bottled water and use the microwave less.
This is a real challenge and not easy to read all of this, but if we care about our health we need to be informed.The FDA obviously is not doing a good job of really testing the safety of many items on store shelves.
Some good brands to buy and stores to shop who have made a commitment to reducing the use of these chemicals in their products they make or sell are :IKEA furniture,Greener Lifestyles(Seattle),Essential(Montreal based),Sony, Philips, Panasonic/Matsushita,Samsung.The good plastics that are safe to use are #1,2,4& 5("4, 5, 1 and 2 all the rest are bad for you").
Some websites to get more information and become an advocate for unsafe chemicals removal in our lives are: safemama.com,momsrising.org/NoToxicToys,healthytoys.org,www.safecosmetics.org,
www.foodnews/walletguide.php, seafoodselectionpocketguide at edf.org , , stoptoxicimports.org, National Geographic Green Guide
This information can surely change the way we live!! Here's to more informed shopping and healthy living for us all!!
The damaging effects of "hormone-disrupting chemicals" in toxic plastics is now linked to diseases such as: Parkinson's ,Alzheimer's, Breast and Prostrate Cancer,Asthma,Autism,ADHD,Obesity and Reproductive Disorders/Infertility, Learning Disabilities, and Diabetes. Think about how many of these diseases have really increased in our lifetimes!!
We need to re-examine everything we touch and put on our bodies and try our best to avoid what we can to make healthier choices.We probably can't eliminate all of them, but we can surely improve out "consumer smarts" about them and make our own decisions about which ones we will try to stop using or change to make better choices. I have come to the conclusion in the full range of additives in our lives that the fewer and more natural the ingredients in things the safer they are..that is one simple rule we can all remember when shopping.
The average woman uses 17 personal care products everyday they shower, apply lotions, use make up and do their nails!! I counted up mine just for fun and it was over 20!!
The book lists 7 chemicals that are frequently used in products that we should avoid as they use toxic plastics in the packaging or actual ingredients.They are:
1.Phthalates- often listed as "fragrance","parfum", in items that have strong smells-such items as cosmetics,lotions,shampoos,soaps, also in shower curtains, raincoats,air fresheners,plastic food containers, and brands like Pantene,Tresseme,RightGuard,Jergens,Dawn,Glade,Gillette,Rubbermaid
2.PFC- nonstick cooking containers and utensils (ieTeflon/Dupont/3M),Gortex,Scotchguard,Stainmaster, newspaper ink- thus any recycled paper,boxes,ie pizza boxes,microwave popcorn bags,fast food wrappers, store cash register receipts
3.PBDE- flame retardants in children's clothing, bed linens,some mattresses, electronics
4. Mercury- tuna( esp While Albacore canned tuna), batteries,fluorescent light bulbs,thermostats(last two esp for disposal).
5.Triclosan(also called Microban,Nanosilver,dichchlorophenoxy phenol)-antibacterial items,cleaning products and tools,cosmetics,cutting boards, knives, i.e (Reach toothbrush, Colgate Toothpaste,Clean and Clean Facial Cleanser,Dial hand soap,Gillette Shaving gel,Dawn dish det.,Right Guard deodorant)
6.Pesticides/herbicides-lawn chemicals, fresh produce, 2-4-D,DDT,DDE,DEET
7.Bisphenol A(BPA)- plastic food containers(don't microwave these!),canned food and soda,
baby bottles and 'sippy' cups,children's toys, plastic water bottles,plastic drinking
glasses/cups,hockey visors,faces of laptops/ and cell phones like Blackberry,
headlights,eyeglass lenses,kitchen appliances, Cd's DVDs, #7 plastics
These pollutants are not only found in personal care and cleaning products, food containers and household items, but also in our environment as they make their way into our water and air.The book lists that over one billion pounds of pesticides alone are used every year in the USA! And more than five thousand ingredients are allowed to be used in our personal care products in North America.
Some of the tips I took away from this book to avoid these chemicals were: avoid canned foods(esp acidic ones),avoid heating plastic containers in the microwave(use glass), buy Organic if possible- esp for fruit, veggies and meats (ie for grapes,peaches,strawberries,apples,spinach,nectarines,celery,pears,cherries,potatoes,peppers, and raspberries, chicken and beef ), stop accepting plastic bags and plastic food containers,and Styrofoam to go containers, read the labels of personal care and cleaning products and avoid these 7 toxic plastics by reading the ingredients of the items we buy and in general just buy less plastic everything-toys,dishes,etc..., eat fewer big fish and more smaller fish, eat hormone free meat, avoid buying "slippery clothes-use clothing with natural fibers(non synthetics) like wool, cotton and hemp that are chemical free and naturally fire resistant, use natural products for insect repellent and for cleaning products like baking soda and vinegar or bar soap and water,, stop buying bottled water and use the microwave less.
This is a real challenge and not easy to read all of this, but if we care about our health we need to be informed.The FDA obviously is not doing a good job of really testing the safety of many items on store shelves.
Some good brands to buy and stores to shop who have made a commitment to reducing the use of these chemicals in their products they make or sell are :IKEA furniture,Greener Lifestyles(Seattle),Essential(Montreal based),Sony, Philips, Panasonic/Matsushita,Samsung.The good plastics that are safe to use are #1,2,4& 5("4, 5, 1 and 2 all the rest are bad for you").
Some websites to get more information and become an advocate for unsafe chemicals removal in our lives are: safemama.com,momsrising.org/NoToxicToys,healthytoys.org,www.safecosmetics.org,
www.foodnews/walletguide.php, seafoodselectionpocketguide at edf.org , , stoptoxicimports.org, National Geographic Green Guide
This information can surely change the way we live!! Here's to more informed shopping and healthy living for us all!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Through the Eyes of a Ragamuffin by Rich Mullins
What are the benefits of youth vs wisdom?? Rick Mullins included this excerpt in his book about his life and the columns he wrote for Release magazine, regarding the benefits of being young vs benefits of growing older (ages 18 vs. 40, from his experiences).It hit a chord as i just celebrated my 58th birthday, although I could probably add another column for 50's:
*" At 18 if you have oversized aspirations the whole world sees you as a dreamer...at 40 you
get the reputation for being a visionary,
*at 18 if you have thrown in the towel you are called a loser...at 40 you are called down to
earth- a realist,
*at 18 time fits you like a pair of pants big enough to swim in ...at 40 time fits so tight you can't
button your collar,
*at 18 if you play in the rain, howl at the moon,paint,invent, or compose songs or poems you are
accused of being childish...at 40 you are praised for being childlike,
* at 18 your sails are full...at 40 your rudder runs deep,
*at 18 people misjudge your character flaws as being mere bad habits that they might change...
at 40 people misjudge every bad habit as being a mark of weak character and they dismiss
you as being a lesson in reprobation or just accept you as a friend,
* at 18 no one knows as much as you...at 40 you begin to understand the wisdom of Solomon in
his saying 'So stay alive...a living dog is better than a dead lion'.
Rich Mullins has some deep faith walk reflections in his columns he wrote for Release...this was just one of his lighter ones. I enjoyed this short devotional book which only takes a few hours to read and recommend it as good food for thought. Rich Mullins during his successful christian music career decided to finish his college degree in music education and chose to work for 2 years on an Indian Reservation teaching music to Native American children in the southwest, before his death in a car accident in 1997. He is the author of many well know praise and worship songs used in churches all over the U.S.
*" At 18 if you have oversized aspirations the whole world sees you as a dreamer...at 40 you
get the reputation for being a visionary,
*at 18 if you have thrown in the towel you are called a loser...at 40 you are called down to
earth- a realist,
*at 18 time fits you like a pair of pants big enough to swim in ...at 40 time fits so tight you can't
button your collar,
*at 18 if you play in the rain, howl at the moon,paint,invent, or compose songs or poems you are
accused of being childish...at 40 you are praised for being childlike,
* at 18 your sails are full...at 40 your rudder runs deep,
*at 18 people misjudge your character flaws as being mere bad habits that they might change...
at 40 people misjudge every bad habit as being a mark of weak character and they dismiss
you as being a lesson in reprobation or just accept you as a friend,
* at 18 no one knows as much as you...at 40 you begin to understand the wisdom of Solomon in
his saying 'So stay alive...a living dog is better than a dead lion'.
Rich Mullins has some deep faith walk reflections in his columns he wrote for Release...this was just one of his lighter ones. I enjoyed this short devotional book which only takes a few hours to read and recommend it as good food for thought. Rich Mullins during his successful christian music career decided to finish his college degree in music education and chose to work for 2 years on an Indian Reservation teaching music to Native American children in the southwest, before his death in a car accident in 1997. He is the author of many well know praise and worship songs used in churches all over the U.S.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Messengers of the Wind by Jane katz
This is a book about cultural values. It is written autobiographically about the cultural struggle of Native American grandmothers , mothers and daughters growing up "Indian". These "First Americans" talk of valuing the wisdom of the elderly, having hope in our children, trying to be self sufficient, and valuing the earth. It is about real American history with sadness and loss, the struggle to maintain one"s heritage and somehow the persistence to maintain an inner spirit of courage to survive and move forward for the sake of our children and the future of the culture.
I believe along with Romona Bennett, one of the women who was interviewed for her story, that we are losing a lot when not living as extended families. I loved her vision of the benefits of full families living together under one roof or very close by. "You have old people who know all the rules necessary for social order, and the best methods of making and doing things...they have the wisdom and can teach the little ones. Children have strong legs and bright eyes, they are quick and helpful. In the middle years...people are stronger and able to do the heavy work. You have a good team." She continued to say, "That was what was really good about Indian societies. Everybody knew the rules of social conduct, so there was no confusion. Everybody was useful and part of the future, so there was no need for unemployment insurance or welfare, juvenile detention centers, prisons, or nursing homes. These Indians had extended families- the finest form of social security there is."
Think about this one house or community where we all live together or close by to be the help we may need to help us all be self sufficient. Isn't that in essence what Christian community should be as well?? I loved growing up with my maternal grandma and grandpa living in the flat above us. My grandparents owned the house my parents could not afford and because of this i really got to spend time with my grandparents while very young. Of course we moved on with the American dream and bought a house on another block when we could afford this. But you know what, my grandparents moved to that same block and bought another house to remain close. That was very German and later i realized my parents had also purchased their house in a German neighborhood as well. There is a lot of German roots in my family.
The oh so many stories in this book are so inspirational yet sad with what the American greed and selfishness did and continues to do to the Native American population who were in essence peace filled, environmentally sound, self sufficient, and willing to co-exist. But we had to have everything for ourselves- buying up or stealing the precious lands that gave them self sufficiency for farming, fishing and hunting for their food, clothing and shelter. Without work and pride of self sufficiency also came substance abuse. These stories really inform the reader as to the realities these Native American people lived through and are still living through. Why didn't we learn this in our history textbooks and why aren't we working to correct these wrongs and help our first citizens who live well below the poverty line today and right here in the USA?
I guess the question is for each of us is.... do our lifestyles still reflect this greed and individual achievement as the forerunner in needing to own everything or perhaps could we learn a bit about co-exisiting and sharing from this rich culture. Learn about living on less and sharing more- living more simply and more naturally with both man and planet earth to embody a real American spirit and lifestyle we can be proud of. I for one was charged to try to keep evaluating what it is we call the "American Dream" and does that dream include all who live here??
I believe along with Romona Bennett, one of the women who was interviewed for her story, that we are losing a lot when not living as extended families. I loved her vision of the benefits of full families living together under one roof or very close by. "You have old people who know all the rules necessary for social order, and the best methods of making and doing things...they have the wisdom and can teach the little ones. Children have strong legs and bright eyes, they are quick and helpful. In the middle years...people are stronger and able to do the heavy work. You have a good team." She continued to say, "That was what was really good about Indian societies. Everybody knew the rules of social conduct, so there was no confusion. Everybody was useful and part of the future, so there was no need for unemployment insurance or welfare, juvenile detention centers, prisons, or nursing homes. These Indians had extended families- the finest form of social security there is."
Think about this one house or community where we all live together or close by to be the help we may need to help us all be self sufficient. Isn't that in essence what Christian community should be as well?? I loved growing up with my maternal grandma and grandpa living in the flat above us. My grandparents owned the house my parents could not afford and because of this i really got to spend time with my grandparents while very young. Of course we moved on with the American dream and bought a house on another block when we could afford this. But you know what, my grandparents moved to that same block and bought another house to remain close. That was very German and later i realized my parents had also purchased their house in a German neighborhood as well. There is a lot of German roots in my family.
The oh so many stories in this book are so inspirational yet sad with what the American greed and selfishness did and continues to do to the Native American population who were in essence peace filled, environmentally sound, self sufficient, and willing to co-exist. But we had to have everything for ourselves- buying up or stealing the precious lands that gave them self sufficiency for farming, fishing and hunting for their food, clothing and shelter. Without work and pride of self sufficiency also came substance abuse. These stories really inform the reader as to the realities these Native American people lived through and are still living through. Why didn't we learn this in our history textbooks and why aren't we working to correct these wrongs and help our first citizens who live well below the poverty line today and right here in the USA?
I guess the question is for each of us is.... do our lifestyles still reflect this greed and individual achievement as the forerunner in needing to own everything or perhaps could we learn a bit about co-exisiting and sharing from this rich culture. Learn about living on less and sharing more- living more simply and more naturally with both man and planet earth to embody a real American spirit and lifestyle we can be proud of. I for one was charged to try to keep evaluating what it is we call the "American Dream" and does that dream include all who live here??
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