Sabbath vs. the Smartphone

Updated on Friday, June 3, 2011 at 9:23AM by Ed Lucas

The iMac is well used, but not so with the phoneNow, I might be the guy who does a range of electronic media jobs for JEM. And it might be true that last year’s JEMscape was quite different than this year’s because of all the new online presence we have now. I am thankful for the praise that has come my way because of it. But it is kind of paradoxical to me. 

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UCC Does Lent, JEM Style

The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ—deep in old Congregationalist territory—has decided to practice a “carbon fast” for the season of Lent, starting in early March. The links on their page didn’t work for me, but I can imagine what might go into the effort. The obvious component is to drive less and drive more wisely when that is an inevitability. I didn’t see anything about refraining from the use of home heating fuel, but that would indeed be a bold statement if I have any clue about the temperature in Massachusetts in the winter. (You gotta forgive me about the weather thing. I have this Ivory Tower called California from which I pontificate!) And it might just be the kind of bold statement that UCC has traditionally liked to make in a long history of progressive action.

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Grocery Store Guilt?

Have any of you seen this video? If not, take a look. I think it’s a rather creative way to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags.