It’s Stochastic! - random and predictable brain spew

Caring for Your Introvert - Magazine - The Atlantic

How can I let the introvert in my life know that I support him and respect his choice? First, recognize that it's not a choice. It's not a lifestyle. It's an orientation.

Second, when you see an introvert lost in thought, don't say "What's the matter?" or "Are you all right?"

Third, don't say anything else, either.

Be sure to read the rest

I love this. My husband and I are both introverts but learned to fit into an extrovert's world when we were in church ministry. Now that we're not doing that anymore, we're rediscovering ourselves and in the process finding a lot of freedom (as well as increased frustration and angst lol)

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Stomping Girl Wines - Logos - Creattica

I love this logo. (by Paul Jobson http://www.pauljobson.com/)

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scraping off my plate...so to speak

One of the more common weight loss tips is to use a small plate and/or not to eat everything on your plate. This obviously comes down to portion control - assuming that if you're overweight, you're probably not doing well understanding what makes a healthy portion size or you lack the self restraint necessary to limit your portions. Another common tip is to drink more water because very often, the feeling of thirst can be (strange but true) confused with the feeling of hunger - esp. for people who tend to overeat and don't do well reading hunger cues anyway.

I personally have found these tips to be useful in weight loss but I have also found them very accurate in life choices. I have been going through a pretty severe bout of depression for a long time...brought on by circumstances for sure, and possibly problems with my thyroid (waiting for the results on that one) but one of the main contributing factors (which is also an element in the circumstances I mentioned) is that I have too much on my plate and much of it is not satisfying or healthy.

So, to use the weight loss truisms - I need a smaller plate. i.e. I need to err on the side of underestimating my bandwidth and I need to make sure most of what I put on my plate will be good for me and enjoyable. I also need to drink more water. i.e. I need to incorporate activities that are purifying, cleansing and healthy for my whole self even if they don't seem to be "productive".

There are other weigh loss tips that would apply - things like, don't deprive yourself just make sure you don't overdo the treats and be choosy, eat as close to the earth as you can and reduce or eliminate the "fake foods", surround yourself with support, etc. But the top two are what I'm going to work on for now.

As a result, there will likely be quite a bit of "plate scraping" over the next month or so and I hope that the people affected by this understand and bear with me as I try to get myself back to a healthy place.

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Three Proven Steps to Advance the World’s Women, on International Women’s Day - Nicholas D. Kristof Blog

March 08

Three Proven Steps to Advance the World’s Women, on International Women’s Day

On the occasion of International Women's Day, here are three interventions that have a good record in improving the lives of women around the world.

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Greatest Enemy - ReflectionOf.Me

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possibly the worst...article....ever

OK, it might not be the worst ever but I just read an article in Relevant (I know, serves me right) that might just be the worst I've ever read in that magazine. Not only is the position of the article one I don't like (it's an article about birth control), the quality of the piece is pretty bad and incredibly inconsistent with the voice and tone of the magazine. I got the impression that it sort of slid by the eyes of the editors...or maybe it was intentional, it will definitely stir the waters. Too bad because the issue of birth control is a good topic for young Christians to think about and discuss.

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Filed under  //   media  

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"I'm sniffly because I have lots of bless-you's" - Aliyah (4yr)

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Filed under  //   aliyah   kids say  

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Here I Stand | F.Y.I.

Some people have recently said some things that lead me to think there is confusion about me and what I do so I want to take a minute to clear things up.

I lead a group of people who minister to and love the very poor and homeless. And as long as that is all I talk about, then most folks have no problem with me or my work. But when I talk about gay issues, or gender issues or imply the church ever did anything wrong, folk become very concerned. And tell me that if I stray off homeless issues, they won't support me. Or even be associated with me. In fact, some have actively tried to stop me. One guy called churches that I work with and told them I was a false prophet and heretic. (As we say in the South, "bless his heart".)

Let me be loud and clear about something. The same thing I see in Jesus that leads me to have concern and love for the very poor and homeless puts me squarely on the side of anyone who is on the margins.

Let me be even more clear:

I have only one desire, one mission, one calling. It is to reach out to those-

who are broken
who are hurting
who are marginalized
who feel forgotten
who are passed-over
who are weeping
who are unloved
who have been so hurt they are afraid to love
who have been told they are outside of God's love
who have been hurt in the name of God
who are not sure there is a god
who want to give up
who are so lonely they ache
who have only seen God used as a weapon
who have serious questions they are afraid to voice
who are afraid to hope anymore
who have been told their sexuality or gender separates them from God
who  have been been made to feel less than fully human -

and to tell those people that God is on their side.

Jesus called them the poor in spirit. And he called them blessed.

And said they get the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you have this God thing figured out, if you%u2019re convinced that you do all the right things that make your God happy, if you have no questions, no doubts, no fear %u2013 you aren't poor in spirit you are rich in spirit.

And Jesus doesn't have much of anything to say to you.

Sorry. I know that isn't what you wanted to hear.

But that is what I am here to say, and shout, and live out.

READ THE REST

This gets a big loud pentecostal holler from me.

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Women, Humility, and Worth | onehandclapping

Great post from Julie.

My thoughts: I never experienced lack of confidence until a couple years ago when I went through a horrible, demeaning, insulting and abusive "realease from ministry" - the abuse was typified by a refusal to even speak to me like an adult and instead going "through my husband" even though I was usually the one who was "in trouble" (mostly for doing things like asking questions). Ever since then I have struggled in a most profound way, ultimately to the point of seeking therapy and having to be on medication for anxiety and depression. I'm still not out of the woods.

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Filed under  //   christianity   gender   justice   sexuality  

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I have given in

There are 2 male celebrities who would make me a bit tongue-tied were I to meet in person...David Tennant and Nathan Fillion. Of course, I like Tennant because of Dr. Who and I like Fillion because of Firefly. So it's possible that I really only have crushes on their characters. But this picture I recently saw of Tennant proves to me that I think I just have a thing for slightly geeky looking lanky men with aquiline features...good news for my husband I guess (who also has a bit of a crush on Tennant fyi).


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