Author: Staff

  • The Quickest Way to a Stagnant Life: Stop Trying New Things – By Ross Reck

    The Quickest Way to a Stagnant Life: Stop Trying New Things – By Ross Reck

    Mountain

    Many of us, if left to our druthers, would prefer to live our lives within the friendly confines of our “comfort zone.” And why not? That’s where life is easy, familiar, and totally risk free. Many people view their comfort zone as a sanctuary that protects them from all the dangers lurking out there in the in the world. The truth, however, is that our comfort zone is more like a prison than a sanctuary. And the longer we live within it, the more fearful we become of what’s on the outside—we stop trying new things, the size of our dreams begins to shrink, and life becomes stagnant and unfulfilling. When you think about it, that’s a hefty price to pay for a thimble full of security. So, do yourself a favor and break out of that self-imposed prison. Get out there and try some new things—make some new friends, go to some new places, try some new recipes, read books from a different genre, or take that class you always wanted to take. This will cause you to learn and grow while adding a dimension of fun and excitement to your life. It will also improve your level of confidence, broaden your perspective, and give you a lot more to talk about in your conversations with others. 

    References:

  • Abolish the Electoral College

    Shredder

    We signed a petition on Action Network telling Congress to Abolish the Electoral College.

    After three disputed Presidential elections in just 20 years, it’s time for Congress to abolish the Electoral College. Instead we should finally become a true Democracy and elect our President based on who receives the most votes, like every other Democracy in the world.

    Can you join me and take action? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/abolish-the-electoral-college-2?source=email&

    Thanks!

    References:

  • Catholic High School Fires Teachers

    On December 22 — just three days before Christmas — Regis Jesuit High School outside Denver fired two faculty members for allowing a student to publish a pro-choice essay in the school newspaper. The teachers, Maria Lynch and Nicole Aduini, were blindsided. Only six days before their termination, the school’s principal had actually thanked them in writing for their work in publishing the issue, which the school has since retracted. Silencing students and firing teachers is neither “pro-life” nor a Christian response to disagreement. As Lynch told the National Catholic Reporter, “Our students have tough questions, need to have the freedom to express them, and deserve open and frank discussions.” 1

  • Mormon to Lutheran

    Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace

    Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace by Katie Langston
    Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace by Katie Langston – Available from Amazon.com

    Katie Langston is an unlikely convert to Christianity. She grew up in a devout, conservative Mormon family in Utah, served a proselytizing mission to Bulgaria when she was 21, married for “time and all eternity” in the Mormon temple when she was 23. From the outside, she had a typical Mormon life. Inside, she was coming apart at the seams. From childhood, she battled “The Questions”—obsessive-compulsive disorder, though she didn’t have a diagnosis for it until much later—and lived inside a complex maze of anxiety and fear. This was compounded by Mormonism’s emphasis on “worthiness,” a designation of acceptability in Mormon practice, that brought her to the edge of despair as a young mother.

    Katie Langston
    Katie Langston

    Then, almost by accident, she had an encounter with the grace of Jesus Christ—and her world changed. In candid but not sensationalized ways, Langston explores little-understood Mormon practices and teachings while grappling with universal human questions such as the nature of faith, the complexity of family, the process of healing, and what it means to truly belong. This book is intended to be a bridge-builder, a way to help non-Mormons understand Mormonism and Mormons orthodox Christianity through the power of personal narrative. Most of all, it is a testimony of Jesus Christ, in the hopes that those who read it—Mormon, Christian, or neither—will catch a glimpse of the spectacular, life-changing grace of God.

    References:

    • Religion News, Jana Riess, April 27, 2021 – From Mormon missionary to Lutheran pastor – Langston ‘tried millions of ways’ to make Mormonism work, but she eventually found peace in the Lutheran Church (ELCA) and began to pursue a path toward ordination. Her parents and husband, who are still Latter-day Saints, were supportive, but ‘they were heartbroken.’
    • Grand Canyon Synod – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Ordination and Installation of Katie Langston at New Promise Lutheran in St. George

  • Excellent Advice for Those Who Want to Fail at Life

    Failing

    A friend of mine posted an Instagram photo on Facebook which contained the following message:

    3 Ways to Fail at Everything in Life

    1. Blame all your problems on others.
    2. Complain about everything.
    3. Do not be grateful.

    People who live by the above three principles spend most of their time making themselves and everyone around them miserable. These are the kind of people no one wants to be around because the experience is anything but pleasant. As a result, they travel through life pretty much alone. No one is there to help them along the way, pick them up when they’re down or offer encouragement when they need it. Their life is a lonely, dark, and pathetic journey with little or no love, fun or excitement. There really is no reason to live like this. If you’ve fallen into this kind of behavior pattern and want to turn the situation around, all you have to do is take ownership of your problems and do something about them, stop complaining and be thankful for the things you have. Remember the story of Scrooge in the movie A Christmas Carol. He had spent most of his life living the “3 Ways to Fail at Everything in Life.” He was always grumpy, and people were afraid of him, but when he turned things around, everyone embraced him, a smile returned to his face and life for him became good again.

    References:

    • RossReck.com