Milt Reynolds: Thinking Out Loud

Unshopping Have you ever heard of "unshopping"? Neither had I! But the notion is intriguing. "Unshopping" can be seen as a way of counteracting the pervasive, persuasive, almost hypnotic effect of aggressive, biased commercials aimed at influencing us toward impulsive, emotional shopping . Here's one list of questions that can help a person "unshop": ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Before buying anything, ask yourself … · Do I really need and want this? Can I get by without it? · Is it made from renewable or nonrenewable resources? · Is it made of recycled materials and is it recyclable? · How long will it last and how will I dispose of it? · Can it be maintained and repaired? · Could I borrow it, rent it, or buy it secondhand? · Is it overpackaged? · Is it worth the time I worked to pay for it and its cost to the environment? Source: envirochangemakers.wordpress.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Justin Holcomb on Sex Trafficking How closely located is our church to active sex trafficking ? Who do we know that is involved in someway to sex trafficking? It may be nearer than we can bring ourselves to consider. Justin Holcomb describes the real-life experience of a young girl caught, and rescued, from this modern form of slavery . I did not realize that the average age of entry into prostitution is between 12 and 14 years. It is probable that at least 2.5 million people are trafficked annually. The U.S. State Department estimates even more: 12.3 million adults and children. Approximately 18,000 women and children are forcibly transported into the U.S., to be exploited for sex or labor. Pimps activily lure women and children into the sex industry. They target those who are lonely, desperate, the runaways, the homeless, those without parents. Justin lists six important ways that every church, including the small and rural churches, can help. The Number One way is to get