Interesting article today from a group of sleep researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, revealing that sleep actually has the capacity to preserve unpleasant emotional memories.

Here’s the article.

Really?

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. - Ephesians 4:26,27

Who’d have ever thought?

Image credit: Chris Gladis

I read these words yesterday:

‘But I know sometimes faith can be a rope that hurts to hold. And I want to tell you, “Don’t let go.”’

I think that’s a song waiting to be written.  I should write it.  It’s a notion so often overlooked in modern Christianity – that faith, belief, walking with Jesus can be a very very very painful endeavor sometimes.  The Western church (and I’m making broad generalizations with a fat brush, here) seems to focus more upon the niceties.  ’Come join our fellowship and life will be peaches and gumdrops’.  That, or we revert to the opposite extreme – ‘Come be a Christian, and even though your life will still be rubbish, at least when you’re a corpse you’ll go to Heaven where eternal life will be peaches and gumdrops’.

There has to be a … Read More »

A study published at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Occupational Psychology Conference in Chester, in the UK reveals what we already know.

Shutting your phone off and ceasing the constant urge to update your Twitter or BookFace status, or otherwise stalk check up on your friend activity is directly linked to reducing your stress level.

Who’da thunk it?

I’m personally so completely invested in my RSS feeds, that I wonder if I’d be able to actively abstain from such things.  Even as I type this out, I’m plugged in (streaming Thrice on Pandora).  Maybe we need a techno-fast?

I mean, I’m pretty certain I survived before I had a phone for an appendage.

Articles:  Original Item found via Lifehacker

Photo by Phil Campbell.

“…Bilbo drew his hand over his eyes. ‘I am sorry,’ he said. ‘But I felt so queer. And yet it would be a relief in a way not to be bothered with it any more. It has been growing on my mind lately. Sometimes I have felt it was like an eye looking at me. And I am always wanting to put it on and disappear, don’t you know; or wondering if it is safe, and pulling it out to make sure. I tried locking it up, but I found I couldn’t rest without it in my pocket. I don’t know why.” ~ The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien

Science fiction or not, this passage came screaming back to memory in light of an interesting development in my own life. It’s sad to say, but I’m afraid I can really … Read More »

Whew!  2011 was quite the year, wasn’t it?

In this post-Christmas week, we tend to take stock of what has passed by.  There’s a sense of hope and newness in anticipation of the coming year, or maybe an increased dread over how much we’ve spent on presents recently.  Perhaps we’ve experienced a significant loss in the past year.  Or a new beginning.  Or a revitalization.  Or a decline.

Either way, the peaks and valleys of 2011 deserve to be revisited prayerfully, I think.

Have you had a severe low mark this past year?  No matter how painful the valley was, it can be turned – used to give others hope.  Take Psalm 84:6 to heart:  [As they] pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.  The implication is that we “pass through” the valleys … Read More »

Heads up!

Christmas Day there will be NO morning service (we want you to be able to spend time with family) BUT we will have a Christmas Eve service at 5:00pm on Saturday the 24th.

Also, Saturday the 17th at 6:00pm (at the Starks’ house) you are invited to our 53rd Annual Meximas feast! Bring your favorite Mexican dish and enjoy this time of fellowship!

And finally, on New Years’ Day we will hold our monthly Calorie Chapel potluck. So bring some food or drink to share and hang out after the service as we eat (again!) and ring in 2012.

Check out the Calendar for more details.

Here’s a pic of Paul teaching from the word this morning at IronWorks. Loving it!
Going through Joshua 3 this morning. Good discussion, good coffee (so important), and great guys.

I am terrible at maintaining a true, and sustained prayer life. (This is Dave. Not the pastor, btw. Put down the torches.)

I seriously find so many things to take the place of actually speaking to my King. Even in the liturgical sense- the Lord’s prayer, praying the Psalms, etc. – I am usually so far out of practice. While we were dating, and even as recently as last night, my wife and I have made a point of praying together every night before putting the day to rest. On the phone, miles apart when dating and preparing for the wedding… and now the tradition has carried into our first year+ of marriage.

I think this is a very good thing. It help us to remain grounded, and forced me (as the man) to … Read More »

You should go read this.

Go ahead.
I’ll wait.

Done? Good. You’re welcome.
Have a conversation today. Don’t be like me, and have it online only. Talk to someone in person. Like, with your face visible to theirs. And your voice reaching their ears without any digital transcription.

Talk about life and death and faith and the fight for it all. Talk about God, because He owns all those things and then some.

Remember to breathe. Remember your life is ending at the rate of sixty seconds per hour and there’s nothin you can do about it, other than make it count. Remember that the people you (and I) ignore in favor of our toys and online ‘presence’ are the ones God has entrusted you to do life with. No matter who they are, you are connected to them – even for … Read More »

Check out the calendar in the News section at the top menu, or go HERE to view the whole thing!

This is a test post as we’re creating the new CCAugusta.ORG!

Be excited, if you must.