By Tina Schrag


NORTH NEWTON, Kan. -- Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Central States is
responding to a May 12 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at
Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa.

In the raid, 389 workers without documentation of citizenship or other
legal status were captured and detained. ICE had a caravan of buses ready
to cart the people away to the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa
for processing. Many children were left without parents, businesses have
shut down and it is unknown what the future holds for this small town in
northeast Iowa. Two churches and the school in Postville have become safe
sanctuaries for people who had a family member taken in the raid.

Saulo Padilla, MCC U.S. Director for the Office on Immigration, said, "The
church has the call to welcome the stranger and proclaim that any division
between immigrant and native is erased; there are no borders or boundaries
for us as followers of Jesus. When institutions and agencies side with the
powers of the world, the church is called to side with the oppressed, the
poor, stranger and the marginalized. If we fail to do this, we fail to be
the church."

MCC Central States is providing $1,000 to help cover housing and food
costs for families affected by the raid through Cedar Falls Mennonite
Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Pastor Susan Janzen explained, "Our faith in
Jesus Christ and commitment to following after him compels us to stand in
solidarity with the people of Postville and the other immigrant
populations in our community. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us
that on judgment day God will ask us how we treated and welcomed the
strangers among us. How we respond to 'the least of these,' which in our
context includes the immigrants detained in this raid and their families,
is a sign of our faithfulness to God."

Krista Zimmerman, the MCC Washington Office legislative associate for
Domestic Affairs, adds, "Immigration raids aren't the way to fix a broken
immigration system. Congress needs to enact comprehensive immigration
reform." MCC Central States encourages individuals and congregations to
write letters to their U.S. congressional representative and senators with
a similar message.

For a sample letter and more information on immigration from MCC please
visit http://mcc.org/centralstates/iceraid. To make a donation to support
the general immigration work of MCC U.S., please visit
mcc.org/donate/donate.html (select "Donate Online," then under
"designation," choose "other," and type "Immigration U.S."). Or send a
check to the nearest MCC center and designate it for "Immigration U.S.
Work."

Another World is Nececssary: Anarchism, Christianity and the Race from the White House
August 15-16, 2007
Columbus, Ohio

As election fever rises throughout the United States and the contest for the White House becomes more fierce, the masses will clamor for a new Commander in Chief to assume the seat of American power. This year, it seems as if the game has changed as a female candidate appears to fulfill feminist dreams and a viable Black candidate raises hopes for Black freedom and signals the weakening of racism. But is this really the case? For those who follow the One who confronted the powers and embrace the One who came as a Suffering Servant, these changes are not enough to leave this political system unchallenged. For those who envision an egalitarian world in which order and organization do not rely on the ever-present threat of state violence, bowing before the ballot box will not be an option.

Join us for this year’s Anarchism and Christianity conference as we explore alternatives to mainstream approaches to key issues raised in the current election, dream beyond the political options of our present system and imagine the other world we want to create. Get detailed info, and register to attend at http://conference.jesusradicals.com

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Soaring food prices threaten to increase globalhunger and poverty -- two issues at the forefront of Mennonite CentralCommittee (MCC) programs in many countries.In the last month, serious food riots have taken place in 10countries where MCC offers programs relating to food security.Unrest over food prices in Haiti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso,Indonesia and many other countries signals that more people are beingpushed into poverty, especially in countries where food instabilityand malnutrition are already daily realities, said Willie Reimer,director of MCC's Food, Disaster and Material Resources programs.The price of food staples such as wheat, rice, corn, soy, milk andmeat has risen dramatically in the past year. The United Nations Foodand Agriculture Organization reports that global food prices haverisen 40 percent over the last nine months, prompting fears that theworld's poorest people will buy less food or less nutritious food orbe forced to rely on aid."In North Korea, for example, a bag of rice that feeds a family forjust a few days costs more than 30 percent of a month's salary," saidReimer. "Fewer meals and a poorer diet will increase vulnerability todisease and illness."This spike in food prices is not just a short-term crisis -- highcommodity prices are projected to last for the next decade.The increase is driven in part by the growing demand for food fromemerging economies (especially in India and China), increased landuse for producing biofuels, a slump in food production because ofdrought and floods and high energy costs for producing andtransporting food.These factors, explained Reimer, are tied to longer-term problemscaused by inequities in the global agri-food system and economic and
political instability resulting from wars and conflicts.While higher commodity prices are good news for farmers in developedcountries, high food prices make it increasingly difficult for themost vulnerable people in the developing world to access food.The "bottom billion," the billion poorest people in the world -- 70percent of whom live in Africa -- are deeply affected by rising foodcosts. But the "new face of hunger" also includes more than 4 billionpeople with low incomes living in the 58 least-wealthy countries,including Haiti, Bolivia, Central Asian countries, Laos, Cambodia,Yemen, Burma and North Korea. These are people who suddenly can nolonger afford the food they see on store shelves. Prices have soaredbeyond their reach.MCC, working in partnership with local agencies throughout the world,is closely monitoring the impact of the food crisis and formulatingappropriate responses.MCC has a long history of addressing issues relating to food securityand food injustices. MCC food programs include direct foodassistance, water projects and agricultural supports. MCC also workswith community groups and governments to advocate for just trade and faireconomic policies.Most of MCC's food aid is distributed as direct food assistance. Foodis sent overseas in collaboration with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank(CFGB). CFGB arranges the purchase and shipment of food for its 13church-based members. MCC also has a relationship with the U.S.-basedFoods Resource Bank which provides financial support for agricultureprojects.Visit mcc.org/food for more information on MCC's response to the global foodcrisis.

Q and A on nutrition/diet

My friend asked me today: do you have a suggestion for someone that has a terrible diet at this point to get started on a healthy sustainable diet. Both good for me and environmentally/economically sustainable. A starter diet if you will. Weight loss and colon cleansing would be natural outcomes but even necessarily the central motivation....also, honestly there is no doubt I could use both.

And I answered: strait and to the point... the more cow you eat, the less susainable your diet... the more cow you eat.. including dairy.. the less fiber you are eating and therefore increasing your risk for heart related disease. the cow is not all america has cracked it up to be.

Refuse to eat high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils... these are the simplest ingredients to look for on any package and if they are absent... the product is most likely "healthy"... eat as much whole food as possible.. most of it raw. (a big salad every day.. minus the cheese/bacon/creamy dressings)

Regarding your appetite... focus on 64 oz of water and 40 grams of fiber (remember there is no fiber in animal food and dairy)... this takes care of appetite...trick is to ALWAYs have a snack with you. Eat Less More Often... Pay more, eat less (local farm market... right now you buy spinach/lettuce/organic free range eggs)

Regarding the organic issue: first things to tackle are corn and soy... environmentally, these are raping our land... so buy organic corn and soy as much as possible.

around our house these days....

boys all dressed for easter service


David Rowe hangs with Evan


st. johns



Evan with his new elmo roos and elmo book



some berry scones i made



brotherly love



experimenting... resorted to plastic... oh well. I'll build those cold frames one day



early march seeding



more david rowe



dudes make art here quite a bit.



here's evan making his morning smoothie

young farmers

read about this documentary in the sunday ny times.

http://www.thegreenhorns.net/home.html

if there is enough interest I would buy it and host a showing.

article {here}

Cathleen Hockman-Wert – co-author of the Simply in Season cookbook – will headline Sustainable Food and Farming Conference 2008, set for March 7-9, 2008, at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in western Pennsylvania.

“Growing and Eating Simply in Season” is the theme for this biennial event at the intersection of Christian faith and innovative farming that builds farms, families and community. The weekend will feature singing, worship, reflection, practical and inspirational workshops, and ample time for networking and sharing stories.

soon

He plants annuals,
packets the old lady gives him-
nasturtiums, poppies, sweet peas, petunias.
He loves folding the hoed ridge of crumbs of soil over the seeds.
Sealed, they cease to be his.
The simplicity.
Getting rid of something by giving it to itself.

-Rabbit, Run, John Updike

prosperity gospel or consumerist religion: we need a better handle on this stuff

something stinks
it smells like death
i smell it at my workplace
i smell it in the church
i smell it in my own life
I believe that it is tragic
It is a tragic misrepresentation of the The Way
It's what I like to call the "False American Gospel"

simply stated...

my life + Jesus = my better life

Or what some folks call "prosperity gospel" or "health and wealth gospel" ...

I think the widely accepted definition is tied directly to the green stuff...

yet i believe we need a broader definition than that

The American Evangelical Complex is becoming more and more aggressive with individualistic "blessing" language.

Concepts of success in business or personal life as external evidence of God's favor are becoming more rampant in society at large.

These "blessings" are often seen as a return for fervent prayer and good faith.

I would guess that scriptural support for the Prosperity Gospel is based largely on a verse from the OT (Deut 8:18) "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day"

However, I'm not so sure that what I am witness to is rooted in anything Biblical. It seems more deeply rooted in the American Evangelical Complex, and more specifically, our veracious consumerism.

To be more specific... Any American Christian needs a good self examination for this self-centered theology. We all need to ask ourselves questions like

"does following Jesus COST me anything?"

"is my life marked by suffering with Christ rather than blessings from Christ?"

"is Christ's victory manifested in my abundance or among the least of these?"

This isn't about Joel Olsteen
or Mega Churches
or Rod Parsley
or Jim and Tammy Faye

American Christianity created these folks, these entities... they are the ugly personification of our greed.

It's about what we see in ourselves

I have felt this way for sometime, but I have recently been placed back into a work setting where this is again becoming so real to me.

I've heard a saying that we hate most in others that which we see in ourselves.
I need a re-evaluation of my own Christian context.

and kevin peterson got me fired up with his most recent blog posting...

Kevin posted a fantastic video you should go watch

check your vital signs for this invasive consumerist disease
_______________________________________________________________

No Salvation Outside the Poor

a new book in the mail today...

books by this pioneer of the liberation theology movement contain statements that are “either erroneous or dangerous,” according to a formal Vatican notification, “and may cause harm to the faithful.”

sounds like a good read

Jesuit theologian Jon Sobrino has this to say about his new collection of essays No Salvation Outside the Poor: Prophetic-Utopian Essays

"The third chapter gives the book it's title: Extra pauperes nulla salus (No Salvation Outside the Poor). This is new, scandalous, and of course countercultural. The reader is left to judge whether it is rational or reasonable. For me, writing about it is always perplexing and discomforting. But I also hope that others will criticize, improve, and complete the task. Anyway I shall keep the title as a wake-up call, to take absolutely seriously the helplessness of our world and seeds of salvation - often ignored, misunderstood, and unappreciated - that are to be found on the underside of history."

Read this important letter.

IRAQ: An open letter to the U.S. Administration, State Department and Defense Department regarding Turkish bombing of Kurdish civilians

We are members of Christian Peacemaker Teams, presently living and working in the Kurdish north of Iraq. We have closely watched the news reports that detail the Turkish military invasions and bombings of Kurdish territory over the last five months. We note that the United States has provided intelligence for those attacks and has chosen to open Iraqi air space for those incursions.

We have had regular contact with the United Nations, the ICRC, and local Kurdish NGOs that have assisted the casualties from those attacks. Those attacks killed at least three civilians and injured at least six. CPT has visited two of the families who had a member killed or injured. Additionally, reports indicate those bombings have damaged or destroyed homes, schools, mosques, and hospitals.

CPT visited mayors of communities to which some of the 600-800 displaced families, approximately 3000 individuals, fled for refuge. Those mayors shared photos and videos of the damages in the villages and encouraged us to visit some of the families who are now unable to return home.

The bombings killed hundreds of sheep and cows, animals upon which families depend for a living. Other animals are uncared for because families are afraid to return as flights by Turkish military continue. Farmers now wonder how they can do spring planting.

As CPT talks to Kurdish people, we hear a call for the United States to abide by the standards to which it holds other countries: Do not kill or injure civilians and an occupying power is responsible to protect and care for the civilians who are under its control. The United States identifies the Kurdish Regional Government as a model of democracy, but it is clear that democracy is not served by opening air space to an outside military to attack civilian targets. These civilians had no voice in this decision.

On a larger scale, we have observed a dramatic change in the Kurdish population from unapologetic support for the U.S. military presence in Iraq to anger at the way in which the United States has dumped one of its most loyal allies in the Middle East. Kurdish people have experienced the Anfal assaults under the Saddam Hussein regime and fear U.S. support will encourage Turkey to move even more aggressively against Kurdistan.

Therefore, CPT in Iraq deplores the decision by the United States to aid these attacks on a civilian population. We beg you as U.S. officials to reverse this decision that assists Turkey in violence toward civilians. We encourage U.S. pressure on Turkey to pursue diplomatic solutions to the PKK/Turkey disputes and other underlying issues. We call on the people of the United States to learn more about these events and advocate for the safety of these Kurdish people.

Sincerely,

Peggy Gish, Anita David, Michele Obed-Naar, and Cliff Kindy

"It is better that the United States be liquidated than that she survive by war." - Dorothy Day

(the above caption is Peggy involved in the training Muslim Peacemaking Teams)

Christian Peacemaker Teams are to be remembered during this season. Many people are doing the work of peace around the globe even now. We remember Art and Peggy Gish

The following is an email I received last week. Peggy is in Iraq and her husband art is serving in Hebron.

23 December 2007
IRAQ REFLECTION: The Light shines in the darkness

by Peggy Gish

"--The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light." (Matt. 4:16A)
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
(John 1:3)

As we celebrate God's light and hope breaking into the world, I write from a
place so tangled in violence that people talk about it as if there were no
good solution to or way out of the violence. Each year in Iraq, the
hopelessness and darkness seem to increase.

People we talk to from south and central Iraq tell us stories of Iraqis
living with continual violence in the form of explosions, fighting between
militias, coalition force operations, killings by police death squads,
kidnappings. To these hardships, they add the stories of human suffering
from structural violence, such as a broken health care system and oppressive
or corrupt economic practices. Iraqis fear that the recent decrease in
violence is temporary and not indicative of a substantial strengthening of
society and governmental unity.

People in the Kurdistan Regional Government are thankful for more security
on the streets, but realize that for them this security has come at the
price of restricted freedom and human rights. Just as in the rest of Iraq,
life is hard. People have little access to electricity or water, health
care or government services. Kurdish Iraqis live in fear that terrorism
will move into their region. They realize that the U.S. is here primarily
for its own interests, not theirs, but also believe that presence might
protect them from Turkey and Iran.

So, what is the good news of Advent for the Iraqi people? How does the
light break into the darkness here? Has God forgotten them, or is God
entering into their world?

These are questions we ask as we live among the people and walk with them in
their struggles. We do not see corrupt and violent institutions or
international powers dramatically turning around. What we see are some
people willing to speak out when it is risky to do so, people giving
themselves to help others in need or to rebuild their society.

Sometimes we see light breaking through in institutions and people who have
a vision of another way of getting out of Iraq's chaos. These ways include
revealing the truth, working for reconciliation, and using the power of love
and nonviolent confrontation to stop the cycles of violence.

We hold on to the faith that the power of God's light is stronger than the
darkness. Wherever people are open to God's Spirit of love and truth, God
will enter their midst and work among and through them to break down the
walls of hostility. We pray that we can be witnesses to the light breaking
in and will find ways to be part of God's work of healing and establishing
justice.

riley's 3rd christmas

This is my delight, thus to wait and watch at the wayside
where shadow chases light and the rain comes in the wake of the summer.
Messengers, with tidings from unknown skies, greet me and speed along the road.
My heart is glad within, and the breath of the passing breeze is sweet.
From dawn till dusk I sit before my door,
and I know that of a sudden the happy moment will arrive when I shall see.

In the meanwhile I smile and I sing all alone.
In the meanwhile the air is filling
with the perfume of promise.

Rabindranth Tagore

* * *

looking, watching, waiting...

The past few months have been quite a ride...
As many know I finished my prerequisites at Columbus State for Nursing School. I applied to Mount Carmel College of Nursing and did not get in. It was very discouraging to me, but Kerri and I resolved to keep our head up and find "plan G". So I decided to heavily seek full time employment and found some good leads and apply to other programs. I had to choose between two very good jobs and chose to work with Franklin County MRDD. After a months worth of tests, interviews, and waiting, I got a call letting me know that they would not be able to hire me after all. My driving record was uninsurable. 8 points. I felt like a felon. Pretty devastated about the time that I wasted, I tried to make the best of what I had: a small income doing some painting on the side. That business is growing slowly and I really enjoy the work... but that's not the whole story.

If your still reading, I will continue with something that Kerri and I decided to move forward with. It was a crazy notion that God may be prompting us to adopt internationally. wow... I thought we were doing our part by raising three wonderful children already, I thought we were already in WAY over our head. Yet with no idea of how we will ever be able to navigate this (financially, yes, but more so Mentally!) we move forward in what we feel like is obedience.

Well we are finding out that adopting children from another country requires a lot of our available everything. We have begun some new things... such as new spending habits and financial disciplines... we have been developing new systems and daily rhythms in our home to help make this transition healthier and smoother for everyone involved (all 8 of us!)... we have been selling posessions we thought we could never do without... we were required to buy a life insurance policy, something I never thought I would own... we have been rolling coins, writing thank you letters, and filling out loads of paperwork.

Whatever spare time I have left, I have been looking for a job with benefits. The insurance we carry now is Christian Care Medishare. It is good for our ethics, but it is going to make our adoption much more complicated. The coverage they offer for adopted children with health complications is limited, and all children adopted from Liberia have at least minor health complications of some kind.

I you are STILL reading, think for a moment about what contacts you might have in your workplace. A referral could really speed up this job search and get us health coverage sooner! (oh, but don't forget, I am fairly restricted because of my driving record...AHHHHH!)

It's Buy Nothing Day!

I'm proud of her

House Visit

Greg Rosser is scheduled for a house visit this Monday, November 12th, from 7:30-9pm. Greg is a mentor of mine. I would not be where I am today (wherever that is) without his influence. Although Greg is a student of Spiritual Formation, I consider him to be a teacher. So come and meet my friend Greg on Monday night.