Sounds Good

Encouraging words can become a ministry
Ever hear of a greeting card ministry?
If your church group has collected bits of ribbon, lace, buttons and scraps of paper, and if you are geared toward mad scrapbooking skills, you can get one going.
Sue Banker includes photographs of cards inspired by stained-glass windows, doves and crosses as well as patterns and even scripture quotes in “Mailbox Ministry: Greeting Cards that Share the Faith.”
She includes anecdotes of times when some of these cards are truly needed in life. Put those crafting skills to work for the greater good.
Here’s a them to get you started:
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust. — Psalms 25:1-2

“Fit Soul, Fit Body”
Evict anger; transform fear; laugh.
Brant Secunda is a shaman/healer in the Huichol tradition of Mexico and Mark Allen is a six-time Ironman Triathlon world champ. Together, they have written “Fit Soul, Fit Body,” which offers visualizations and practices on connecting a healthy body and outlook. Here are a few ideas from the dietary section:
• Good looking food equals a good-looking body; make it look appealing on the plat and you will get more value from it.
• Eat real greens. That means dark, leafy spinach, kale, etc. It doesn’t mean iceberg lettuce.
• Dark chocolate is a bit of decadence that is acceptable.


Give thanks
Kevin Brown discusses the politics behind the food pyramid and advocates full-fat dairy and animal products in “The Liberation Diet.” I found the most helpful advice to be on giving thanks.
“When we eat together in thanksgiving, it changes our attitude about food and helps us gain control over addictions and overeating,” he writes. “Being thankful changes the way we think and focuses our minds on the positive instead of the negative, improving our health and wellbeing. Giving thanks shouldn’t be limited to one day of the year. It is designed to be given before every meal.”

Finding yourself
Do not for a minute think age has anything to do with the amount of time you spend looking for lost stuff. You might think teens are glued to their phones, unless you’ve been asked to drive that phone/homework/band T-shirt to unite with your child.
Tweens and twiftys (tween 40s and 50s) spend time looking for the remote, purses and car keys, so EZ-Find is a product for everyone. A wireless remote sends signals over a 60-foot indoor range, through floors, walls and cushions and sounds a 92 decibel alarm to find up to 25 personalized descriptions. It’s a little intimidating to get it all working, but it pays off by reducing frustration later.
ddoiron@panews.com