On a small table next to the window in my dining room, there sits a dead plant. It hasn’t always been a dead plant. For several weeks now it has been a dying plant. Sometime in the last few weeks, the exact moment unnoticed by me, it crossed the line between dying and dead. Now it sits there, sadly shriveled up, its leaves brown and lifeless.

In what seems like a lifetime ago, many of the best resources available for churches were from Ecufilm, an ecumenical producer and distributor of resources. The "Faces on Faith" series, for example, brought laypeople face-to-face with some of the top theologians of the world long before Krista Tippett began bringing their voices to public radio.

Over time, sadly, Ecufilm produced far fewer resources and instead became a great source for videos from other companies. Now, though, they have released a new resource that fills a HUGE hole in the market. It's called Servant or Sucker: Wise/Compassionate Ways to Help the Poor. 

Okay, I admit that the title is corny, but I simply couldn’t resist. “Consider using children’s books that aren’t categorized as religious” didn’t have quite the same ring to it!

The environmental costs of the electronic gadgetry in our lives is enormous. Here is but a sampling of our current reality...

1. Video games and other devices are well known for being "vampire devices," wasting a lot of power when they are not being actively used.
   
2. Computers require a tremendous amount of heavy metals and other substances which are highly toxic. Those who are involved in the mining process (frequently in developing countries) are often negatively affected, and coltan—a critical element in today's cell phones—is linked to tremendous violence in the Congo. 
   
3. Millions of pounds of trash are created each year because these devices have a limited life span. (Of course, many are upgraded long before they truly need to be, just because consumers want the latest and best stuff.)
   

There are many things you can do to educate your congregation about environmental stewardship and environmental ministry as it relates to technology. Here are a few of my personal favorites...

Here's the final part of our 3-part series on great sources for progressive-friendly Christian education resources.

You can read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series on our website. We'll no doubt run this series again when more progressive-friendly sources are available, but here for now are a few more recommendations for resources worth checking out!

What a week! As I sat down to write this email, I had difficulty choosing a topic from an abundance of subjects worthy of reflection.

We have two reviews for you today which connect with this historic time, one below (Barack Obama: An American Story) and one (a short film called, "What Makes Me White") on our website.

Many individuals in your congregation have a spiritual story to tell, but often they may not wish to do that orally. A writer's workshop can be an effective tool for teaching individuals how to crystallize their beliefs, reflections, and stories...for themselves or for others. Here's an example of a process you might use:

Along with many others around the world, I had the joy of watching the presidential inauguration this morning. After the ceremony, I found my head and heart full of emotion and many words, some of which begged to be let out! I am sure that there will be many things written about and in response to the inauguration of Barack Obama. Here I offer up my two cents worth.

Along with many others around the world, I had the joy of watching the presidential inauguration this morning. After the ceremony, I found my head and heart full of emotion and many words, some of which begged to be let out! I am sure that there will be many things written about and in response to the inauguration of Barack Obama. Here I offer up my two cents worth.