Before You're 30

In less than a month I'll be hitting my 27th birthday.

Last week I came across this article by Jason Boyett at Relevant Magazine's website.  9 Things To Know Before You're 30.

I read through the list and had to smile.  Some of those lessons I wish I'd learned in my early twenties.  For one or two I'm still paying the price-tag of the lesson.  And some, to me, seem to just be slowly coming naturally as I'm open to God working in my life and as I'm growing and changing as a person as well.

My question is this - what lessons do you wish you had learned earlier?  is it one on the list, or something totally different?  what's the best lesson you've learned?

Worth Checking Out

In today's edition:

Today's post from Donald Miller on knowing your work style seemed timely, since I'm definitely in the middle of a period of frustration with my job again.

I loved this post:  We are the Morning People

The recent knife attacks against Chinese school children, that are raising the issue of mental health in China continue to both sadden and fascinate me as they unfold.

Chocolate and Depression

This article made me chuckle.  Seems they've finally done research that confirms that depressed people (both men and women) eat more chocolate than people who aren't depressed, but the jury is still out on why.

So Sad

This article made me sad... that someone would poison young girls simply because they're attending school.

Interesting Article on the Olympic Torch Relay

I found this article on the Olympic torch relay to be fascinating.

A Teachable Moment in Hutterite Country

Interesting Article on Depression

I found this article on the change in approach to treating depression in the UK to be quite fascinating.

Peru's Sacred Glacier is Melting

I found this photo essay about Peru to be quite fascinating.

Praying today (again) for that country, and the opportunity to be there.

Great Interview with Rob Bell

I'll admit that I am a huge fan of Rob Bell. Not so much the Nooma videos, but his longer dvds, and I listen to the sermons from his church, Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan on a pretty much weekly basis. I've also loved the two of his books that I've read, and am planning to spend time with another of his books very soon.

With that bias in mind, here's an interview that Youthworker Journal did with Rob Bell that I quite enjoyed.

Catching Up on the News

I read quite a few news stories this morning, and the following ones caught my attention for a variety of reasons, funny or more serious.

Canadian Young Adults Greener, Better Traveled, and More Free-Spirited Than American Counterparts - this one just made me smile, since I hold dual Canadian/American citizenship, and I'm not totally sure which category I'd fall into!

Wall of Smoke Leaves Calgary Area in a Haze - I've definitely noticed the smoke, particularly on Wednesday, and the smell that came with it. I'm not complaining too much, though, since it's brought beautiful sunrises and sunsets as well.

Christian Group Condemns Zoo's Elephant Sculpture - I didn't know quite how to respond to this one. I do visit the zoo often, and to be honest, anyone who knows anything about world religions would be able to recognize that this statue is modeled after Ganesh, even if the zoo claims that they had all the religious symbolism removed. I knew immediately the first time I saw it that I was looking at an image of a Hindu deity, and I'm not even all that familiar with Eastern religions. I mostly think the statue is kind of ugly, and I certainly won't be posing with it anytime soon for a picture. However, I would object to the suggestion that the grounds of the zoo become a place for educating the public on world religions, and I cannot imagine a cross and all the other things that the article suggests erecting on the zoo grounds as well. I have to wonder why we as Christians can't be content with the fact that the very scriptures we seek to proclaim talk about all creation crying out and speaking of it's creator. Seems to me that hundreds of animals, beautiful gardens, and park-like grounds that are all constantly "speaking" of their creator means that we've got one slightly ugly sculpture outnumbered anyway. The whole thing makes me think of that famous quote from St. Francis of Assisi "Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words." I just kind of wish Christian groups would stop making a fuss about things like this, and do things like getting involved somewhere. If you're concerned about the zoo, become a volunteer. They have tons of volunteers. Get involved and teach kids about the beauty of the animal world that cries out about it's creator.

Indonesian Baby Weighs in at 19.2 Pounds - Mostly, this one caught my attention because of the picture of the "little" guy between two other babies in the nursery. He's so large that the picture was, to me anyway, truly comical!

New Jersey Woman Celebrates 100th Birthday by Showing up for Work As Usual - How inspiring! This lovely old lady is still going strong. And imagine all the changes she's weathered since her life began in 1909! Even the very fact that she survived the 1918 flu epidemic is fascinating to me (being the history geek that I am!). Think young!

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate - Because Joel Stein almost always has a line or two that makes me laugh. My favorite line this time? "Feder really sees the good side of life-threatening disesases."

A TIME magazine interview with Chuck Colson - Colson is definitely not my favorite voice, but he has demonstrated a consistent integrity, and a commitment to social justice issues through his prison ministry. Would I likely go about things the same way? No. Do I agree with a lot of what he says? No. But do I respect his integrity and believe that if more of the "Christian Right" in North America lived in this way, they'd have a better reputation? Yes. As such, I found it interesting to read his responses to the interviewer.

Dancing Away Mental Illness

I found this article on the usage of the tango as part of a treatment plan for various mental illnesses to be quite fascinating.

Catching my attention:

This post at Hope's blog grabbed me today, because of the lyrics she quoted (though I admit to not particularly enjoying the song) and because of a conversation I had earlier this week about St. Maximillian Kolbe (that video is most definitely worth watching.)

This article about rebuilding from an earthquake in Peru, two years on.

These lyrics. More on that coming sometime soon.

News...

A few headlines catching my attention tonight...

US Girl Burnt in Voodoo Ritual

Huge Blaze Leaves One Dead After CN Train Derails Near Chicago

UN Calls for Peru Clash Probe

Fascinating Article

I found this article on sleep at Time Magazine's website absolutely fascinating. Apparently, if you're sleep deprived, it is easier for your brain to percieve negative emotions like anger and fear than positive ones, and if you've had REM sleep, it becomes easier to percieve positive emotions.

Definitely an interesting set of thoughts for someone who struggles with both emotional balance and sleep issues.

In the News...

It's been a little while since I've posted news headlines that were catching my attention, but as I was scanning the headlines just now, on my way to bed, the following caught my eye:

Self-Monitoring device for HIV being developed

And there's something about a mass shooting at a wedding, stemming from a blood feud that is grabbing at me as well...

Turkey PM Condemns Wedding Attack

Blood Feud

Headlines

I'm still being struck by stories about fires:

Man Critical after Calgary Apartment Fire

And these two made me chuckle:

Chewing Gum may Raise Math Grades (for the record, I chewed gum all through university, and still often do, and agree with those who say it helps with focus. also, my last year of high school, when I managed to squeak through a math grade that wouldn't steal my scholarships for university, the math teacher was the first one in years who let us chew gum in her class!)

The Power of Flowers (a reminder that I need to go out and buy some fresh flowers for my bedroom sometime this week or weekend)

Fire in the news again

Fire in Polish Hostel Kills 21

Catching my attention today...

A few articles that caught my attention this morning:

Where is the church-led economic recovery?

The End of Excess: Is This Crisis Good for America?

Medics Can "Mend a Broken Heart"

And this one, because Joel Stein is really quite funny. Paul Rudd: Everbody's Buddy

Good Article on Lent

I liked this article on Lent at Relevant Magazine.com today.

I also LOVED this post at Ragamuffin Diva tonight. Because boy do I know what it is to avoid Jesus when he asks if maybe we should stop and deal with my wounds and heal a while.

News, and a Word I'll Use

Two articles that caught my attention this morning:

Canadian Among 3 Aid Workers Kidnapped in Sudan

17 Oil Workers Missing off NL Coast


And, the Dictionary.Com Word of the day:

Tetchy: peevish, testy, irritable.

This is a word that I'll be able to put to use :)

News today...

These are the headlines catching my attention this morning:

16 Dead after German School Shooting

10 Die in Alabama Shooting Spree

Tanzania "Witch Naming" Underway