Sin in Silence

It makes us uncomfortable to think about it, let alone talk about it, but statistics show that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence at some point in their life. Chances are you know somebody who has been affected by it - I know a handful of people. The destruction and pain is heart breaking - and it is an issue that I believe the church must acknowledge as real.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I admit, I don't know a whole lot about the issue, but I do know that it happens far too often to stay unspoken and unexplored. I invite you to watch Sin in Silence, a documentary about women who, in defending their lives found themselves in prison. Or if you don't have time, consider reading the article at Her.Meneutics.



If you are interested in learning how the church can help a good read is Healing the Wounds of Trauma. If you feel so moved, consider hosting a Swap for Good or sharing this documentary with a friend.

If you know someone who is experiencing domestic violence, don't let them suffer in silence. Know your local resources. Call the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 799-7233 for help or the 24 Hour Women Crisis Line at 503-235-5333.

Waiting for Superman Review

If you don't live under a rock you probably know that there is a problem with the education system in America. Drop out rates are unacceptable and it seems like no matter what legislation is passed, the problems do not seem to go away. Davis Guggenheim's Waiting for Superman acknowledges this issue and skims through the basics of the problem and possible solutions. If you are interested in education or just want to be more aware of some of the many issues in public schools today, this is a great start. The documentary doesn't go as deep into the issues as I would like, but it does provide a basic Education 101 look at the achievement gap, low-test scores, tenure, bad teachers, etc.

This movie did leave me inspired to research more about teacher unions and how they impact what happens in the classroom and beyond. It seems ironic that an organization that is meant to protect teachers can be the very thing that holds education from moving forward.