In general, if you were to count the number of words exchanged between morning-person-me and my not-morning-person-husband, the ratio is a rough estimate of 10,000:0. The other day, I woke up and argued for and against the merits of assisted suicide, referencing three blog articles, and adding in my own opinions in bullet form + addendums to further elaborate. All while he was blinking himself awake. (Sorry, honey!)

The story and video of Brittany Maynard, the 29 year old with a terminal illness choosing physician assisted suicide to end her life with dignity, did take the internet by storm this week. Check it out along with other Life-Changing posts of this week.

A Christian author, Kara Tippetts, wrote an open letter to address and challenge Brittany Maynard’s decision, which I hesitate to post here because I really did not like it.

You have been told a lie. A horrible lie, that your dying will not be beautiful. That the suffering will be too great.

And here’s why I didn’t like it, Jessica Kelley articulated my opinions precisely. Can Christians Support Brittany Maynard’s Decision?

When God took on flesh and bones, he didn’t orchestrate the death, disease, or suffering of anyone.  Rather, he treated those afflicted by such things as casualties in this war-torn creation.  He treated them with dignity, compassion, and respect.

In other, non-assisted-suicide related posts.

MUST READ POST #1 – Simplicity, Sustainability and other trends in 2014 – by the Tall Skinny Kiwi

I think you should shift from the same old famous faces to unknown, ordinary people doing influential and transformative ministry in their spheres

MUST READ POST #2 – Survival of the Fittest Church – by Kathy Escobar. I am inspired by approximately 137% of Kathy Escobar’s posts.

Where stopping on the side of the road to help the man bleeding is more important than the next-great-sermon-to-prepare-or-listen-to. Where spiritual poverty & humility & mourning & meekness & peacemaking lead to blessing. Where it’s worth it to leave the 99 to find the one. Where restoring basic human dignity and offering tangible love and connection trump programs & budgets & the law. Where mercy is more important than sacrifice.

One more Kathy Escobar post on SheLoves – Thank You for Sharing

“Thank you for sharing” is a tricky but intentional skill that is central to a life of downward mobility. In the trenches of real life, we will hear so many hard stories. Stories that will compel us to want to find a way to make better. Stories that will break our hearts. Stories that will test our faith. Stories that will make us cry. Stories that will fuel our hope.

Norway ‘Child Bride’ Sparks Outrage As 12-Year-Old’s Wedding Blog Goes Viral – on the HuffingtonPost

39,000 children around the world are forced into marriage every day.

Misplaced Identity and Belonging – by Marilyn Gardner

We can do better. Especially people who hold to Biblical values of justice and loving our neighbors. Who are the disenfranchised in your towns and cities? Who are the immigrant kids who are lost between worlds? Who are the parents who are struggling to get by even as they watch the values they hold dear trampled on by the dominant culture? Can we reach out? Can we forget ourselves for a moment and extend a hand to the ‘other‘?

6 Heretics Who Should be Banned from Evangelicalism – by Andy Gill

Lewis also rejects the Penal Substitutionary theory of the atonement, which states that Christ “diverted” God’s wrath toward us and took it upon himself.

What Not to Say to a Dad with Four Kids – by Peter Chin

No, a pastor with four kids automatically meant that I was also a card carrying representative of the Quiverfull movement, a wannabe Korean Duggar family, and that I probably didn’t even support child vaccinations either.

What changed your life this week? You’ll notice I installed a fancy schmancy Disqus comment system on my blog – yay me! Please use it, I would love to hear from you!