AGRICULTURE. La technique du bois raméal fragmenté, alias le BRF, convertit de plus en plus de cultivateurs dans le petit monde de l'agriculture biologique

L'humus forestier recréé pour fertiliser des terres

Cela s'appelle le BRF, bois raméal fragmenté, et dans le petit monde de l'agriculture biologique, tout le monde n'a que ces trois lettres à la bouche.

La technique du BRF consiste à recréer la composition naturelle du sol des forêts sur des parcelles cultivées. Dans les zones forestières, les différents éléments naturels du sol, composés de multitudes de feuillages, de branches et de mousses, facilitent la fertilisation.

Pour recréer l'humus forestier et toute l'activité microbienne qui s'y développe, il suffit de broyer des jeunes rameaux de différents bois nobles pour ensuite les disperser sur les parcelles. Seules conditions impératives, utiliser des rameaux très fins (moins de 7 cm de diamètre), mélanger plusieurs variétés de bois et les disperser rapidement après leur broyage.

Après quelques semaines, des champignons commencent à se développer, signe que le sol travaille.

Tenter le coup. Importé du Canada, ce mode de fertilisation est de plus en plus répandu et des démonstrations sur internet multiplient les convertis. C'est le cas de Jean-Marie Arsicaud, agriculteur à Berneuil. Il y a quelques mois, il se documente sur l'utilisation de copeaux pour sa chaudière à bois. Dans ses recherches, il découvre la technique du bois raméal fragmenté et décide de franchir le pas. « J'ai vu plusieurs témoignages de cultivateurs qui avaient réussi à faire pousser des potagers sur des terres très pauvres. Je me suis dit que ça valait le coup d'essayer. » Il a commencé par récolter des rameaux de bois de noisetier, de chêne et d'autres variétés pour les broyer. « Ce bois serait allé au feu si je ne m'en étais pas servi pour le BRF. C'est donc gratuit et ça évite de polluer la déchetterie. » Une fois l'opération terminée, Jean-Marie Arsicaud a fait appel à des professionnels afin de disperser les 10 tonnes de copeaux broyés sur sa parcelle de tournesol et de blé. « Je vais la diviser en trois zones. Sur la première je ferai comme d'habitude, sur la deuxième un mélange de fumier et de BRF, et sur la dernière je vais essayer le BRF seul. On verra bien ce que ça donne au printemps. » Gratuit et écolo. Le BRF a de nombreux avantages : il évite des dépenses en engrais et permet en plus une agriculture propre. Une fois la réaction engagée, il n'est pas non plus nécessaire de travailler la terre : comme dans une forêt, elle se développera et se fertilisera naturellement. « Si ça fonctionne, je vais pouvoir laisser mon champ jusqu'au printemps sans avoir besoin de labourer. Tout devrait pousser normalement, voire mieux que d'habitude. » Le meilleur moyen d'en être sûr est encore d'essayer, même à petite échelle. Au lieu de les jeter à la déchetterie ou de les brûler, les particuliers peuvent se servir des déchets de leurs jardins et les semer sur un petit coin de terre. Si l'an prochain, vos tomates sont plus belles que d'habitude, vous pourrez alors utiliser le BRF à plus grande échelle.

D'abord, octobre, c'est le premier mois d'automne. Septembre, c'est encore l'été, avec des après-midi à 26° en moyenne. Octobre est moins chaud, un peu moins chaud qu'un mois de juin à Paris, surtout la nuit. On peut généralement encore se baigner dans la grande bleue sans être trop courageux en début de mois. Ensuite, c'est un peu frais pour moi.

Selon mon antique "La météo de la France", Calvi, à quelque kilomètres, est la ville de France la plus ensoleillée en octobre. C'est d'ailleurs le seul mois où la microrégion apparaît en tête de classement, le reste du temps, on est distancé par Marseille ou Toulon, ou en hiver par des stations d'altitude, on ne peut pas être les meilleurs tout le temps.

En général, on a assez peu de temps crasseux et mou en cette saison, comme on peut en voir en fin d'hiver ou au printemps. Mais il peut faire franchement mauvais : octobre est avec novembre le mois le plus orageux en Corse. Et l'un des plus pluvieux, donc. Petite particularité locale due à la présence d'une mer encore chaude par rapport à l'atmosphère. Peut-être de beaux spectacles son et lumière en perspective. C'est beau, les orages sur la mer, c'est un montagnard qui vous le dit.

En général, la végétation retrouve une seconde vie après la sécheresse de l'été. Mais le risque d'incendie est souvent encore présent. Ca dépend des années, tout comme l'apparition de la neige, qui peut survenir en montagne au cours du mois, ou pas encore. Ou les coups de vent qui peuvent être violents en cette saison, ou absents selon les années.

Le séjour promet d'être assez agréable, d'autant plus que le lieu où nous serons logés, tout près de la mer, est généralement assez festif. Il y aura d'autres gens, vous ne serez pas obligé de me supporter tout le temps. Il y aura la fête du parc de Saleccia, et la mer, et des sentiers dans le maquis, et le festival du vent à Calvi fin octobre. En revanche, l'objectif étant de faire avancer quelques projets, il faudra travailler un peu. Tous ces détails ennuyeux seront passés en revue vendredi soir, au jardin*.

Quel travail, me direz-vous ? D'abord, gagner notre croûte. Un coup de main au jardin ou dans les oliviers en échange d'huile ou de légumes, par exemple. Ensuite, travailler à la mise en place d'un lieu d'accueil écologique pour nos futurs séjours. Bricoleurs bienvenus. Et puis débroussaillage, broyage, compostage, BRF... Et bien sûr notre activité favorite, rencontrer des gens et élaborer des projets compliqués.

Le gîte et l'essentiel du couvert (base de subsistance ovo-lacto-végétarienne, en gros) sont financés par l'association. Pour les extras (orgies de charcuterie, de vin, de chocolat et de miel du maquis), nous devrons mettre la main à la poche, de même que pour le déplacement. En s'y prenant assez tôt, le voyage revient dans les 150 euros aller-retour. Un jour, nous pourrons aussi offrir le voyage aux bénévoles...

Voilà l'essentiel. Pour en savoir plus, nous contacter ou venir vendredi.

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*réunion d'information sur le projet en Corse, vendredi 29 août à partir de 18h, impasse Gobétue, prévoyez votre pique-nique, on va profiter d'une des rares soirées d'été.

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Igår var som ni vet sista dagen för mig på mitt usla arbete. Jag blev otroligt överraskad av min chef som sprang och köpte 2 kanellängder, en med vanilj och en utan. Jag skämtade med honom, eller ja, försökte mig på en ironisk utläggning och sa något i stil med att:

-"ja, men, du har ju knappast köpt kanellängderna pga att jag slutar idag. Vi hade ju ingen som hade tagit med sig fredagsfika.

-"Ha, ha, du tror väl inte att jag bryr mig om fredagsfikat. Jag äter ju själv nästan aldrig av fredagsfikat."

-"Jaha, så det var till mig alltså"

Då kom en kör av röster från mina arbetskamrater:

-"Tack för att du slutar idag mmmmmm mums vad god kanellängd. Mmmm vad gott det var, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha........."

Min arbetskamrat som även hon slutar om några veckor sa:

-"Får jag bestämma själv vilken fredagsfika ni bjuder på när jag slutar? Får jag det, får jag det?"

Min chef bara tittade på henne och log utan att svara henne.

Jag fyllde då i med:

-"Jag hade ju velat ha en kladdkaka. Och jag är jättebra på att baka kladdkaka. Mmmmm vad gott!"

-"Jag hittade inga kladdkakor på Johnséns, de var nog slut. Ha, ha!"

Ja, ni förstår vilken humor vi har på mitt f.d. jobb. Ironi, dåliga skämt, kränkningar.... ha, ha! Jag fick dessutom en kokbok skriven av Mannerström, Gbg:s stolthet. Det blev jag faktiskt väldigt förvånad över. Jag har alltid kännt mig väldigt hmmm... icke uppskattad på jobbet men, jag fick minsann en present av jobbet. Och kokbok var helt perfekt. Jag får nästan alltid kokböcker av vänner och familj som present just för att jag älskar att laga mat. Det var mitt i prick. I och för sig tror jag inte att min chef tänkte särskilt mycket när han valde ut den för att vi har ett gäng av samma slags kokbok liggandes på vårat kontor. Jag vet inte om det har att göra med att vi sponsrar Mannerströms restaurang eller vad det kan vara. Men jag såg hans kokbok stå i ett slags vitrinskåp bredvid alla andra saker som jobbet satt sin logga på.

Jag blev med andra ord glatt överraskad. Och det var skönt. Inte för att jag behövde bekräftelsen men, jag ville hellre gå ifrån jobbet på min sista dag med en bra magkänsla än en dålig som jag hade förberett mig på. Jag har inte haft världens bästa chefer utan 2 av de sämre lämpade och de har vid alldeles för många tillfällen fått mig att känna mig osynlig. Men, nu fick jag i alla fall en bra magkänsla och igår fick jag också chansen att vara spydig mot min chef. Det var skönt. Jag fick honom att förstå att jag redan hade letat mig därifrån för flera månader sedan då jag redan hade sökt andra arbeten och studier och att jag nu kommit in på en toppenutbildning som jag tackat ja till.

Dagen rullade på igår och allt kände bara bättre och bättre. Snackade med en kompis som övertalade mig att följa med på Brassefest på Valand trots att min plan bara var att gå på middag och sedan hem. Och jag sprang iväg till Systembolaget och köpe skumpa, närmare bestämt en Rosé vid namn Törley's. Men, jag fick den aldrig upprdrucken då det blev som jag trodde.... att jag bara orkade gå på den middag jag var bjuden på och sedan släpa mig hem.

Missade en stor och viktig detalj. Under senare del av eftermiddagen igår under tiden som jag var på jobbet så fick jag samtal av ordförande i den BRF jag hyr min lägenhet från. Hon var jätteglad och berättade för mig att jag fått det bostadsbyte jag sökt, godkänt. Helt otroligt!! Helt fantastiskt. Jag slipper betala 5700 kr i hyra, den kommer ist. bli 2700 och jag kommer bo supercentralt och fint. I en mindre lägenhet än den jag bor i nu men det bryr jag mig faktiskt inte om för att jag är så tokigt glad för denna nya lägenhet. Plus att jag kommer ha ett ordentligt kök. Utan fläkt men det får jag skaffa själv för att som jag förstått det så ingår inte det. Fläkt är ju väldigt nödvändigt!! Särskilt när jag steker lax. Har en del erfarenhet från det sen min tidigare lägenhet som även den saknade fläkt och var en lägenhet på ynka 32 kvm. Denna nya lägenhet är inte så mycket större, endast 7 kvm större men den har i alla fall ett kök man får plats att gå runt i och sitta vid bordet. Väldigt mysigt. Och dessutom är det bara några meter till Slottskogen. Alltså det är helt otroligt. Jag är så lyrisk.

Jag har sånt otroligt flyt.

1. Jag slutade mitt jobb igår.

2. Jag åker till Israel på 3 veckors semester.

3. Dagen efter att jag kommer hem från Israel börjar skolan. (En vecka efter alla andra för att jag är så satans lat och hellre ligger på stranden naaaaaa :( )

4. Några dagar senare flyttar jag till min fantastiska nya lägenhet i stan.

5. Helgen efter, alltså veckan efter att ska jag åka iväg och paddla med mina underbara vänner och the mystery man (som även han följer med till Israel första veckan)

Är livet underbart eller vad?

Jag kommer ihåg när jag bodde i min första lägenhet ute i Askim, en förort till Göteborg och jag drömde mig bort till Majorna och Masthugget och centrala delar av Göteborg. Jag tänkte och filosoferade kring om chansen att bli en lyckligare person ligger i var jag kommer bo. Och bestämde mig för att jag kommer bli en lycklig person om och när jag får en lägenhet i Majorna, Matshugget eller Linnéområdet. Och nu har den dagen kommit. Ta mig tusan om jag inte blir lycklig nu! Ha, ha!

Igår, när jag var på middag. Så träffade jag några bekanta från några år tillbaka. De bor vanligtvis i Israel men, var på besök i vårat kalla land. Och de har fått barn. Och som om det bara regnade så fick jag hålla i deras barn. Oj, oj, oj, jag var så lycklig- igen !! Och jag fick komplimanger. Min kompis som hade middagen påstod att jag har en "natural gift" med barn. Och jag bara mös. Det var så mysigt att jag inte visste var jag skulle ta vägen. Det här lilla livet var bara 3 månader gammal och så galet söt att man bara ville äta upp henne. Hon var faktiskt ovanligt liten för att vara 3 månader men, hon kommer växa till sig när man minst anar det. Önskar att jag hade ett stadigt förhållande och en man som jag visste att jag ville dela mitt liv med och som jag visste att jag vill skaffa barn med. Men, det ligger långt bort idag. Gud, vad det här lilla livet vad underbart sött. Herregud! Jag brukar skämta och säga att jag ska få minst 10 barn. Det är kul att jag gör det för att för några år sedan (innan min biologiska klocka började ticka), brukade jag säga att jag vill ha högst 2 barn men att jag då var så trött på barn att jag knappt ville se de. Men då var jag ung. Nu är jag ju hela 25 år och saker och ting rör sig. Jag blir äldre och mer stadig i mig själv och är inte rädd för att åldras. Jag är inte längre rädd vid tanken på att bilda familj och dela mitt liv med samma person i resten av mitt liv. Att åldras tillsammans är numer en vacker tanke för mig. Och när jag tänker på det infinner sig en lugn och varm känsla. Var är han ?

Vincennes, près du RER, les espaces verts ont été intégralement refaits l'hiver dernier. Tout l'espace a été recouvert de BRF. BRF assez fin, a priori de bonne qualité. Curieusement, il a été planté pas mal de plantes méditérannéennes : lauriers roses, mais aussi, plus étonnant, de l'immortelle, qui semble supporter tout à fait correctement le BRF et le climat parisien.

Le résultat le plus visible, en ce début août, est la quasi absence de "mauvaises" herbes. On peut aussi noter que toutes les plantes semblent en excellente santé. On peut en revanche se demander ce qu'il se serait passé si l'année avait été aussi humide que l'an passé.

Vincennes fait aussi dans le plus coûteux, avec du mulch de luxe dans ses jardinières. Ce mulch-là a un effet bien plus propre que le BRF, mais je ne sais pas si ses qualités pédologiques sont aussi bonnes.

A Montreuil, on n'a pas les mêmes moyens, et le BRF est de moins bonne qualité. Cela n'empêche pas de faire d'assez belles choses. Ici, près de l'office du tourisme, à la Croix de Chavaux, on mélange plantes ornementales et plantes potagères. Remarquons que c'est une tendance lourde, puisqu'on a pu voir des blettes, des artichauts et je ne sais plus quoi encore dans une jardinière municipale à Vincennes.

Sous les jeunes arbres, le BRF remplace peu à peu le béton, même si celui-ci occupe encore largement l'espace. Ici, c'est du BRF de facture très grossière, probablement dans l'espoir qu'il reste là très longtemps. Les arbres plus anciens n'ont pas eu cette chance, ils ont du béton jusqu'au cou.

Le BRF est clairement en train de devenir un matériau indispensable de la gestion des espaces verts, permettant de réduire considérablement les coûts d'arrosage, de désherbage, et probablement de fertilisation. A condition de ne pas employer n'importe quoi, mais il semble bien que par ici, cela soit géré plutôt correctement.

• Befintliga medlemmar får sänkt avgift vilket leder till en lägre total boendekostnad. Samtidigt går marknadsvärdet på bostadsrätten upp, eftersom mäklare och bostadsspekulanter ofta beräknar maximalt bud baserat på hur mycket som går att låna på en viss total boendekostnad.
• Medlemmar som då säljer sin bostadsrätt gör en stor vinst och de medlemmar som bor kvar kan öka belåningen på sin bostadsrätt för konsumtion, exempelvis köpa en ny bil eller båt.
• De medlemmar som bor kvar sitter dock på svarte petter, då bostadsrättsföreningen förr eller senare blir tvungen att ta ut de fulla driftkostnaderna på medlemsavgiften - varvid avgiften höjs drastiskt och marknadsvärdet går ned. Samtidigt sitter både bostadsrättsföreningen och medlemmen med högre räntekostnader än tidigare vilket leder till en kraftigt ökad total boendekostnad!

Vårt råd är att se upp med bostadsrättsföreningar som finansierar sin drift på detta sätt! Vår analys, Boreda Brf Insikt, visar dig tydligt hur situationen ser ut i din bostadsrättsförening. Gör inga förhastade beslut utan granska ekonomin noggrant innan du köper bostadsrätt eller belånar din befintliga bostadsrätt ytterligare!

Vi hjälper dig att analysera bostadsrättsföreningens ekonomi, besök vår hemsida för mer information.

On se souviendra de la conclusion grandiloquente de la visite du jardin de notre ami basque : "Si pour produire de la Biomasse et de l’Humus, Korrotx est loin d’avoir des milliers d’hectares pour planter des arbres comme dans la nouvelle de Giono, au moins a-t-il une solide base de 300m² " pour propager ses idées. Par nos vastes réseaux au Sens de l'Humus, nous avons rencontré Agnès, qui propage aussi de la Biomasse, depuis une base de plus de trente hectares en région parisienne. Elle expérimente des techniques originales et nouvelles sur ce terrain où la terre a été maltraitée par des chantiers industriels.

Il est bien moins cher à priori de semer des forêts (ici 500 000 graines à l'hectare) que de planter des arbres qu'il faut entretenir longuement en pépinière, qu'il faut ensuite transporter... Mais d'après la bibliographie sur le sujet, les personnes qui ont voulu mettre au point ces méthodes dans le passé se sont heurtées à de nombreuses difficultés pour faire venir ainsi des forêts, notamment la concurrence des graminées, qui étouffent les petits arbres et rendent alors invalide la méthode du semis. C'était sans compter sur les possibilités par les Couvertures Permanentes du sol, concept oublié par l'agronomie, mais mise en place sur le terrain d'Agnès : pour éviter un enherbement étouffant par les graminées, elle teste différents mulchs, ainsi que des couverts végétaux vivants. Un peu comme nos amis agricoolteurs. Ces couvertures empêchent l'envahissement par les graminées, l'évolution vers la prairie, incompatible avec la venue d'une forêt.
Ainsi au bout de 2 ans d'expérience, les résultats dépassent les espérances, avec 15000 plantules d'arbres par hectare, au lieu des 10 000 prévus.

Les autres expériences que l'on peut voir en ce lieu sont les "pièges à graines", qui sont des amoncellements de matière suivant des lignes d'environ 1 mètre de large, qui piègent les graines et permettent à des haies de s'installer selon ces lignes. Ces matières sont par exemple des pierres, des broussailles, des traverses de chemin de fer, du gros bois broyé, du ballast, du béton concassé. Il n'y a pas de raison d'évacuer comme déchet tout ce qu'on peut tirer d'un terrain. Tout est réutilisé sur place. Pour obtenir des haies, Agnès a aussi testé des boutures de différentes variété de saules et de peupliers prélevés dans les marais limitrophes (résultat : pailler bien le sol pour que la terre reste humide, sinon ça ne marche pas).

Mais il n'y a pas que cela sur ce terrain expérimental. On découvrira aussi les bassins de retenue d'eau, bientôt dotés d'une éolienne de pompage, les arbres fruitiers, les sculptures, les bambous à musique, les Arbrassons, et les nombreux liens improbables entre ces expériences de foresterie et le passé industriel ferroviaire de notre pays.

On retrouve ce lien dans les essais de paillage d'arbres plantés, par exemple. Il apparaît que des arbres adolescents poussent d'autant mieu s'ils sont paillés, et d'autant plus que le paillage est large; et l'expérience montre qu'un paillage de traverses de chemin de fer broyées était une des couvertures du sol parmi les plus efficaces. Me détachant d'une approche scientifique rationnelle, je dirai que l'arbre qui pousse se nourrit mystérieusement de son ancêtre lointain et pluri-centenaire (les traverses ayant environ un siècle et sont taillées dans des bois nobles : Chênes, Hêtres, depuis peu bois exotiques) qui malgré sa contribution involontaire à l'histoire industrielle de notre pays, et nonobstant les traitements chimiques qu'ont subis les traverses, trouve le moyen de communiquer sa Vie au jeune arbre.

Les plantes ne semblent pas affectées par toutes les pollutions qu'ont subit le terrain ou les matériaux introduits. La manière dont elles traitent ces pollutions pourrait être étudiées de manière plus détaillée par des études bio-chimiques poussées.
On oublie en ce lieu l'idée de créer un espace préservé de toute pollution humaine. La modification de la planète par l'évolution technique est un fait intégré, ce qui diffère d'une vision de certains écologistes de délimiter un carré de nature à préserver. On fait confiance dans la capacité de plantes à nettoyer, épurer, et restaurer silencieusement, patiemment, ce que les
humains ont altéré. On leur laisse le temps.

Tous les ans, Agnès voit son terrain évoluer en formes et couleurs, il n’y a pas de phases d’évolution qui ne soit pas intéressante et elle trouve cela très beau, même si cela va à l'encontre de la conception de beaucoup de paysagistes qui voudraient figer un effet voulu dans le temps et l’espace, ou pire griller les étapes pour atteindre sans attendre le stade adulte d’un jardin…

Agnès parle très, très doucement, prend du temps pour faire visiter ces lieux, et on oublierait presque que ce site est né avec beaucoup de difficultés, que son avenir n'est pas garanti. Il dépend du bon vouloir de l'Etablissement Public Réseau Ferré de France propriétaire des lieux, des pourparlers sont en cours entre les responsables et Agnès. Si c'est cet Etablissement Public qui avait financé les travaux depuis 2003, aujourd'hui c'est Agnès qui finance sur ses fonds propres, depuis début 2008.

Elle aimerait transformer ce site en véritable pôle agroforestier, pour cela il faut au moins 100 ans de labeur sans labour, de liberté d'action et d'observation. Ce site fragile est soumis aux spéculations diverses, foncière mais aussi celles des agriculteurs conventionnels. Tout est en place, mais tout reste à faire, des centaines d'années pour voir un chêne adulte, des milliers pour recréer un sol...

C'est pourquoi nous, au Sens de l'Humus, on s'associe avec les Esprits de la Forêt naissante pour la soutenir de toutes nos forces...

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Photos :

Vues d'ensemble

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Piège à graine artistique et traverses créosotées fragmentées

]]> http://liljeros.wordpress.com/?p=145 Mon, 05 May 2008 13:46:33 +0000 liljeros http://liljeros.fr.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/bostadsratt-vs-aganderatt/ I en smått förvirrad ledarkrönika i dagens Svd skriver Merit Wager om förträffligheten med det nya förslaget om ägarlägenheter. Bostadsrätten som boendeform kan förvisso kritiseras men Wagners beskrivning kan i bästa fall passa in hos en missnöjesbloggare där verkligheten beskrivs efter känslomässiga schabloner utan någon som helst verklighetsförankring. Av denna anledning skall jag först och främst förklara bostadsrätten som konstellation och boendeform.

För det första är en fastighet ett markområde eller som man i inleder jordabalken 1 kap. 1 §:

"Fast egendom är jord. Denna är indelad i fastigheter. En fastighet avgränsas antingen horisontellt eller både horisontellt och vertikalt. Om fastighetsbildning finns särskilda bestämmelser."

Står det ett hus på denna fastighet är huset en tillhörande fast egendom:

"Till en fastighet hör byggnader, ledningar, stängsel och andra anläggningar som har anbragts inom fastigheten för stadigvarande bruk, på rot stående träd och andra växter, naturlig gödsel." (2 kap. 1 §)

I vardagligt tal kan man tro att det endast är huset som avses när man talar om fastigheten men så är det alltså inte. Det är av denna anledning som ägandeformer följer de fastighetsbeteckningar som de olika fastigheterna registreras i (fastighetsregistret).

Man kan alltså äga en fastighet med tillhörande fast egendom i form av fritidshus, villa eller flerfamiljshus. Äger man en fastighet med tillhörande flerfamiljshus är det brukligt att hyra ut dessa till hyresgäster. Hyresrätten som boendeform är reglerad i 12 kap. jordabalken. Här i regleras även lokallägenheter vilket oftast används till näringsverksamhet och vilka inte får användas för att bo i. För bostadslägenheter gäller särskilda regler som skall skydda hyresgästen och hyran bestäms genom bruksvärdessystemet istället för fri hyressättning. Denna reglering skyddar även fastighetsägaren, t.ex. får inte hyresgästen hyra ut sin lägenhet hur som helst.

En annan variant är bostadsrätten där man äger en del i en bostadsrättsförening. Bostadsrättsföreningen är en särskild form av ekonomisk förening som i första hand skall främja medlemmarnas ekonomiska intressen. Närmast liknas därför en bostadsrättsförening mer ett företag än en förening då vinstintresse finnes, även om vinstens huvudsakliga syfte är att säkerställa fastighetens framtida underhållsbehov. Bostadsrättsföreningen är därmed fastighetsägare. En blivande bostadsrättsägare ansöker därför om medlemskap hos föreningens styrelse och om denna bifalles - vilket den oftast gör - samt när man överfört köpeskillingen till den som överlåter lägenheten, äger man en del av bostadsrättsföreningen genom ett andelstal. Som medlem och bostadsrättshavare har du rätten att nyttja en specifik lägenhet men också rätten att överlåta den till någon annan och ta betalt för denna överlåtelse (köpeskilling).

Förutom den köpeskilling som bostadsrättsägaren betalar för andelen i bostadsrättsföreningen, och rätten att nyttja lägenheten, betalar denne också en avgift till föreningen. Medlemmarnas avgift i föreningen täcker föreningens eventuella lån, skatter, driftkostnader, löpande underhåll och reparationsfonder. Hög avgift betyder ofta att föreningen har stora eller dyra lån, kanske på grund av stora reparationer eller för att när man vid en ombildning från hyresrätt valde att låta medlemslånen ligga relativt lågt och föreningslånen relativt högt i förhållande till den totala mängden lånade pengar vid köpet av fastigheten. Hög avgift kan också bero på att föreningen har dyra driftkostnader, såsom t.ex. gamla energislukande tvättmaskiner, ej värmeisolerade vindsutrymmen, dyra entreprenörs- och förvaltningsavtal etc. För en blivande bostadsrättsägare kan det därför vara intressant att studera dessa förhållanden för att därefter slå fast vad ett rimligt pris för bostadsrätten skulle kunna vara. Tyvärr verkan inte detta vara så värsta vanligt förekommande utan man köper bostadsrätten genom att jämför med andra försäljningar i området och nöjer sig med detta (jfr. bruksvärdesprincipen).

Som säkert läsaren börjar förstå drivs en bostadsrättsförening som vilket företag som helst, jfr. exempelvis med aktieägare i ett aktiebolag. Skillnaden ligger i att att man inte har några framtida mål vad det gäller tillväxt förutom att främja att värdet på fastigheten ökar genom kontinuerligt underhåll och långsiktiga beslut. Precis som ett företag tillsätts en styrelse på föreningsstämman. På föreningsstämman kan man bland annat avsätta nuvarande styrelse eller ifrågasätta frågan om styrelsens ansvarsfrihet som vid vilken demokratisk process som helst.

Merit Wager verkar vara en mångsysslare och torde därför ha en ganska bred kunskap om det mesta, detta kompetensområde verkar dock inte innefatta bostadsrättsföreningar. Vad jag förstår har Merit Wager aldrig bott i en bostadsrätt, än mindre ingått i en styrelse i en bostadsrättsförening. Det märks. Hennes ifrågasättande tycks mer bygga på skvaller, myter och rena dumheter.

För det första framhåller hon det fina i att äga, något som ofta lyfts fram i olika debatter numera och framför allt när man snackar boendeformer. Som jag förklarade ovan äger föreningen fastigheten och i denna förening är bostadsrättsägaren delägare. Detta verkar inte Merit Wager förstå utan försöker påskina att "maktfullkomliga typer" despotiskt och auktoritärt med diktatorfasoner styr dessa bostadsrätter med järnhand och att medlemmen inte har nåt att säga till om. Det finns säkert en och annan styrelse som lämnar en del övrigt att önska men om nu inte medlemmarna klarar av att ifrågasätta styrelsens tillkortakommande på den årliga föreningsstämman kan man fråga sig om de klarar av att äga sitt boende överhuvudtaget. Dessutom så kommer marknaden visa vad man tycker om en styrelse som inte sköter om fastigheten på ett för alla parter bra sätt. Merit Wager är själv egenföretagare och driver bland annat websidan egenforetagarna.se som skall verka för enmansföretag utan anställda och styrelse. Det kanske är av denna förekommande anledning som man kan antyda vissa kunskapsluckor hos Wagner vad det gäller styrelsearbete, stämmor och demokratiskt beslutstagande.

Att driva en bostadsförening är inte helt funktionsfritt, naturligtvis, men att okritisk anamma dess vedermödor och förkasta boendeformen till fördel för en ägandeform som av naturliga skäl blir etter värre är för mig obegripligt. För det första finns den mängd juridiska komplikationer när man äger saker som man inte fysiskt kan avskilja. I en bostadsrättsförening ansvarar medlemmen för lägenhetens ytskick eller det man med blotta ögat kan se i lägenheten och föreningen för resten. Vid vattenläckor, t.ex. från grannen ovanför, finns reglering hur detta skall skötas mellan förenings och respektive medlems försäkringsbolag. I en föreslagen ägarlägenhet får dessa båda parter sköta en vattenläcka bäst de vill vilket naturligtvis ger framtiden än mängd juridiska stämningar på dagordningen. Var gränsen till respektive lägenhet skall gå är till exempel inte så lätt.

För det andra finns det inte en gemensam och strukturerad målsättning att renovera och underhålla hela flerfamiljshuset för framtiden i ett hus där det finns lika många småpåvar som lägenheter. Om en av dessa fina ägare fullständigt ger blanka fasiken i att bry sig om fasad, stammar eller grundförstärkningar så kan vem som helst räkna ut hur huset kommer att se ut om 50 år. Förvisso nämnde man i utredningen att man skall införa samfälligheter till dessa äganderätter vilka skall sköta om gemensamt underhåll, men då är det återigen en styrelse som skall tillsättas och ta beslut "över medlemmarnas huvuden".

Merit Wager fortsätter herrelöst (sic!) och beklagar sig över de beslut som styrelsen tar om "städdagar och 'gemensamma regler' för grillning och tvättstugor och planteringar med mera". Ärligt talat vet jag inte riktigt hur Wager har tänkt sig att sköta en gemensam tvättstuga - vilket hon antagligen inte vill ha överhuvudtaget - eller gemensamma utrymmen som gården. Att en styrelse ber om hjälp bland medlemmarna i en förening för att en gång om året plantera lite blommor är kanske inte hela världen men om man nu tycker detta är så fruktansvärt så får man väl helt enkelt strunta i det eller ta upp saken på nästa föreningsstämma. Kanske tycker majoriteten samma sak och man får hitta på en annan lösning eller helt enkelt be styrelsen fara och flyga. Om man inte får gehör får man i sista hand helt enkelt vara lite flexibel och flytta, antingen till en annan förening med en mindre ondskefull styrelse eller till en egen fastighet.

Ytterligare argument som framförs är att det skulle skapas fler bostäder att hyra genom att man fritt får hyra ut sin lägenhet i en reform till ägarlägenheter. Om detta kombineras med en fri prissättning skulle vi så småningom se hyror som vi idag bara kan fantisera om. I diskussionen om boendeformer jämför man gärna med andra länder men då i negativa ordalag. I sann janteanda menar man, liksom Wager, att bostadsrättsformen är dålig därför att Sverige är ensam om den i Europa. Jag undrar om Merit Wager har varit i London där en tvåa på 30-40 kvadrat med svensk trettiotalsstandard inte sällan kostar över 15.000 i månaden att hyra. Varför? Därför att marknaden mer eller mindre är oreglerad och fri prissättning råder. En person som hyr i andra eller tredje hand har ingen som helst möjlighet att ifrågasätta att det droppar vatten från grannens lägenhet ovan, mer än att flytta förståss. Nu är ju Londons bostadsmarknad en av de mer extrema i Europa vad jag har förstått men det är bra att ha detta i åtanke när man hyllar sina grannar. Huruvida det ser ut i Finland, Belgien och Tyskland vet jag ärligt talat inte och jag tvekar på om Merit Wager känner till nåt om dessa länder heller, mer än vad hon hört av andra.

I en bostadsrättsförening måste man ha styrelsens tillstånd att hyra ut lägenheten och är man inte nöjd med styrelsens beslut överlag i denna fråga får man ta upp saken på stämman och kanske kan man få föreningens samtycke till att anta en annan policy vad det gäller uthyrning av medlemmarnas bostadsrätter. Anledningen till att man i vissa föreningar är restriktiv till medlemmars uthyrning beror på att man ofta har en policy som skall främja det gemensamma boendet och när människor bor i föreningen de själva inte är delägare i skapas inte den gemensamma föreningskänsla som skapar mervärde i förvaltning och långsiktighet. Eller med andra ord; det som inte Merit Wager verkar ha en susning om. Att det finns en mängd föreningar som inte bryr sig om att medlemmar hyr ut sin lägenhet år från år var tydligen inget att orda om.

Samtidigt som man idag längtar tillbaka till de pyramidiska strukturerna innan 90-talets omstruktureringar ondgör man sig över de organisationer som strukturerar upp för det gemensamt bästa i sann demokratisk anda. Kanhända skall man inte blanda ihop dessa åsikter med varandra men visst känner man ibland att man i vissa fall silar mygg och i andra sväljer kameler utan den minsta kunskap vad man orerar om. När inte ens byggbolagen tror på att det kommer att byggas fler lägenheter genom införandet av ägarlägenheter så undrar man egentligen vad det hela handlar om. Kanske det bara låter bra; det är fint att äga. Tjoho.

Helt klart är inte en bostadsrätten en boendeform som passar Merit Wager. Underligt nog trivs hon alldeles utmärkt i att inta äga alls då hon bor i en hyresrätt vilket ger oss en alldeles fantastisk och underbar logisk kullerbytta - hur var det med de auktoritetstrogna? Hennes beskrivning hur allt sköts per automatik i hennes hyresrätt ligger ljusår från komplikationerna att äga sin fastighet. Alternativt tycker jag nog att Wager skulle ta och köpa en egen fastighet långt bort från andra människor som inkräktar på hennes privatliv, men då kommer förståss ingen och byter hennes kylskåp med jämna mellanrum.

Först skall vi dras med Göran Skyttes krönikor på lördagar och som grädde på moset nu dessutom Merit Wager. Hur ser egentligen kravprofilen ut för att bli ledarkrönikör på Svenskan, räcker det att man har en blogg?

Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om merit wager, ägarlägenhet, bostadsrätt, bostadsrättsförening, brf, bruksvärdesprincipen, jordabalken, alliansen, politik, bostadspolitik

To find out what BRF is all about, and to read some real reviews, head on over to Run the Earth, Watch the Sky.

What did come through loud and clear was how gracious God is. The definition for grace that we learn in Awana is "God giving me a free gift I don't deserve."

We didn't deserve salvation at all. Yet God's plan right from the start, knowing just how vile we would be, was to send His Precious Son to take our punishment in order to provide a way for us to be redeemed.

At the time of the events documented in Leviticus, that Son wouldn't come for hundreds (thousands?) of years yet. Rather than letting all those people get what they deserved, God provided a way through these sacrifices that they, through faith, could trust in the Son who would one day come and be the Sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

God carefully explains how each sacrifice must be carried out, and even gives alternatives - with so many options no one could say they couldn't meet the standard. He provided for everyone. He even allows an offering for those who sinned unintentionally. Sin is sin and it must be dealt with, whether it was premeditated or truly unintentional. God is so good!

In the past when I've read through the offering requirements, I've wiped my brow with a loud "Phew!" and felt so relieved that I live in the age of grace! How cumbersome to live under the law and have to offer sacrifices for every little sin! This time, however, I was struck with a new and sobering thought. It's not a new thought, but in light of the Old Testament sacrifices, I saw it in a new way.

Grace does not mean license to sin, but that is exactly how we treat it. Not having to offer careful sacrifices and knowing that Christ already paid the price for all my sins can make me a little lazy about it all. Even an unintentional sin in the Old Testament times required a sacrifice. My sins, unintentional or otherwise, seem to require only a shrug of the shoulders and an "I'll do better next time" or worse yet, "It wasn't my fault". Sin is still sin. Grace is Christ dying in my place, and I need to do a much better job of not taking it for granted!

God didn't sacrifice His Son and His Son didn't willingly do it just so that I could do whatever I want and still be forgiven without the inconvenience of all those sacrifices. He did it so that I could be forgiven and submit to His Holy Spirit in order to sin less! Studying the Bible is the only way I begin to understand just how much sin is in my life, yet how many of us really make it a priority? We take His grace for granted every day of our lives.

Book Review Friday has been a huge blessing in my life. It keeps me accountable. I have so far to go, but I am reading the Bible more than ever before. I am learning more about sin, and God is showing me areas in my life that up to now I thought were just fine. That's a scary thought. We think we're doing just fine, when we're not! That's why we need His Word. It is the way He has provided for us to know truth. Reading the same portion over and over again may sound like drudgery if you've never done it before, but I'm now convinced it is the only way to go. I am understanding more than I ever have before and so I am learning more than I ever have before. It's terribly exciting. If you're not on board yet, what are you waiting for? Just do it.

This little letter came alive for me this week! It was almost as if I was in that cell, watching Paul write, Onesimus standing by nervously waiting to deliver it, and then watching Philemon read it and struggle with his feelings and what he knew was right.

The New Testament epistles have never seemed much like letters to me: short on "How've you been? You wouldn't believe the weather!" and very long on deep doctrinal teaching. I have tried to imagine the believers wading through it all and compared it to me settling down with a newsy note from a far away friend.

This letter is so much more personal than anything else I remember reading, but in sharing his heart Paul is teaching some pretty neat stuff.

I didn't get past the first six words without being stopped in my tracks. Paul identifies himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ. Had I been writing, I think I might have reminded him about those dirty Romans who threw me in prison again in an effort to squash the growth of the Christians, and urge them to continue the fight, to stop the oppression, to do everything they could to get me out! Paul, instead, recognizes the sovereignty of Christ, that Christ had a purpose for him in prison and he was there because it was where God wanted him. The Romans did think they were calling the shots, but God used them to accomplish His will. God put Paul in prison, not the Romans!

I have often written verses 4 and 5 in letters and cards as words of encouragement. How wrong of me to leave out verse 6! Did you notice what it said? Paul prays regularly for Philemon and the group of believers he leads, thanking God that they exhibit love and faith toward Christ and each other, and he prays "that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (emphasis mine)

Did you catch that? It is so important for us to be studying all of God's Word, obeying all of His commandments, following all of His principles in our lives. We can tell everyone we meet about our wonderful Lord and Saviour and how they need to repent of their sin and trust only in Him, but if our lives don't back up what we say, our sharing will not become effective. Empty words is all it is.

So are we saved by faith, but evangelists by works? No! Every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus makes our witnessing effective. We place our faith in Him. We study His word. We pray and ask for His leading. We obey and follow, and He works out those good things in us. I yield, He works. I don't yield, He still works, but I miss out on the blessing and growth and intimacy with Him. We see it in every book we study. Very cool.

Paul has great joy and comfort from Philemon. I can't imagine suffering what Paul suffered, and I can't imagine how thankful he must have been for a brother like Philemon. When we are going through times of suffering or testing, it is such an encouragement just to hear that other believers haven't given up, are keeping on. How Paul must have felt to hear of Philemon's bunch and their faith! Unfortunately, most of the time I feel like a drain on my fellow believers. I need to be more refreshing!

Now Paul gets down to his real reason for writing. He writes on behalf of Onesimus.

Onesimus, it would appear, was a slave who was in service to Philemon and in some way caused trouble. Somehow he ended up with Paul (was he sent as a messenger? did he run away?) and through Paul's teaching, became a Christian. So now, he who was once unprofitable to his master has been made a new creation and is profitable to all the believers. How many times do we forget what we were before Christ redeemed us? Nothing more than an unreliable slave.

Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him, seeing that he could now be a help to him, but preferred to see him restored back to his master. He plays every card he has: he pleads on the grounds of his authority, his experience, his friendship, and finally pulls out all the stops by reminding Philemon of everything Paul has done for him.

This is the part that I love. Paul had every right to command Philemon to take Onesimus back, but he didn't. He gave him the opportunity to choose to take him back. What a difference! Imagine being in Onesimus's shoes. Would you rather be accepted and forgiven because the one you had wronged was forced to do so, or because they had truly forgiven you in their heart and asked you to come back?

Imagine being in Philemon's shoes! Has someone ever deceived you and destroyed your trust in them? How easy is it to forgive? How easy is it to trust them again?

I think Paul is very wise in handling this the way he does. He gives Philemon the information he needs: "Onesimus is not who he once was. I trust him; please give him another chance." He gives Philemon the opportunity to make the right choice on his own.

Paul isn't all talk. He is willing to take personal responsibility for Onesimus's wrongs, and gently reminds Philemon that he has been on the receiving end of Paul's kindness many times. I can't imagine Philemon hardening his heart against that! It is easy to demand what we are owed by an enemy, but how different our feelings when it is a friend who is beholden to us.

What an example of discipleship God has provided through this letter from Paul. He gently and wisely pushes Philemon to the right response, all the while standing by Onesimus, doing everything he can to support him and encourage him in his new faith. He could have stood back and said, "We'll see how real it is. Give him a little time." It sounds harsh, doesn't it? But too many times that's what we do, either consciously, by folding our arms and looking down our noses, or unconsciously, by just being so busy doing our own thing that we don't even think they might need help. New believers need older believers. God made it that way. It's why he tells the older ones to teach the younger ones. It's not his plan for the older ones to sit back and watch and the younger ones to struggle along figuring things out on their own. I think I'm heading down a rabbit trail, and feeling mighty convicted, I might add, so I'll just turn around and head back now.

These discipleship principles are also excellent parenting principles. When my children were very young, I mostly commanded. They were too young to understand reason, their childish hearts would nearly always choose the wrong path. Now that I have a couple approaching the teen years, I am giving them more opportunities to make the right choice. Believe me, I usually step in as soon as the wrong choice is made. The day will come when training days are over and they will face the consequences of their actions, but that day is not yet here. Giving them opportunities to choose for themselves under my watchful eye helps them learn to apply all that we have taught them. I know from my own experience that choosing the right thing for myself breeds a better attitude than being forced to do the right thing without the opportunity to do it on my own.

I also know from a parent's perspective the effectiveness of expressing confidence in my child's ability to make the right choice. If all my kids hear from me is that they are a bunch of good-for-nothings who never do anything right, they are likely to believe it and never do anything right. I'd also be guilty of provoking them to wrath.

Paul takes the better road and tells Philemon that he has every confidence that the believers will do what is right, not only restoring Philemon to them but doing more than anyone would expect. My kids respond to me far more respectfully when I tell them I know they can do what I ask them and can't wait to see how well they do.

Finally, we see Paul's faith. He knows that this little church in Philemon's house is praying for him, and he trusts God to answer their prayers. He looks forward to being released from prison and asks Philemon to prepare a guest room for him. What a thing to look forward to: from the desolation of a prison cell to a carefully prepared guest room! Perhaps some of the believers had become irregular in their prayers for Paul, or maybe it seemed like God wasn't listening and they had given up. Wouldn't this letter be a great reminder to keep on praying and trusting and looking for God's provision?

This book taught me many lessons in contentment and trust in God's sovereignty, effective witnessing, how right relationships refresh us, about forgiveness and restoration and wise leadership, about praying for each other and having faith to believe that no matter how bad things are today, God has something wonderful in store for those who trust Him.

This would be a great little book to memorize, don't you think?

La première remarque qu'on se fait avec ce broyeur, c'est que c'est vraiment brutal. Il vous arrache les branches goulument et les recrache en copeaux jusqu'à plusieurs mètres de distances. Il faut quelques minutes pour s'y habituer.

Ensuite, on constate que c'est vraiment fatiguant. Pour une demi-heure de broyage le premier jour, c'est trois jours de courbatures. Mais on apprend vite à s'économiser, et puis, il doit y avoir des muscles qui poussent, on arrive à y passer un peu plus de temps.

Toujours est-il qu'à moins d'être masochiste, il ne faut pas compter utiliser un tel engin plus de deux ou trois heures par jour. Parce qu'en plus, de temps en temps, on prend une branche dans la figure (penser à se protéger au moins les yeux), ou un bon coup sur les doigts (avoir des gants bien épais). Et puis, ça fait du bruit, aussi (un casque sur les oreilles est indispensable).

Coté rendement, notre petit engin produit un mètre cube de broyat à l'heure, en consommant à peu près un litre d'essence (c'est pas mal, ça fait des comptes ronds, c'est facile pour les calculs). Mais pour faire tourner à bête à plein régime, il faut trois personnes : une qui enfourne, une qui lui passe les branches, et une qui les approche du broyeur. C'est donc surtout la main-d'oeuvre qui serait à prendre en compte si on cherchait à rentabiliser la chose.

Côté utilisation du broyat, on s'aperçoit qu'il en faut rapidement des quantités importantes quand on traite des arbres adultes : un demi mètre cube en moyenne par arbre. Sur de jeunes arbustes, les quantités nécessaires sont nettement moindres. Une partie a été mise en précompostage, à destination du potager.

Une autre bonne nouvelle est la bonne résistance au vent. Malgré un bon coup de Libecciu, ce qui avait été épandu est parfaitement resté sur place. Comme le vent était une de nos grosses inquiétudes ici, on est plutôt soulagés.

Reste maintenant à convaincre autant de monde que possible de nous imiter.

Esther: Audrey's statement as to why she cares about the Church of the Brethren finds deep resonance within me. I too am happy that our forebears rejected hierarchy, asserted their right to interpret their faith for themselves, reclaimed the Love Feast and adult baptism, and especially that they returned to Jesus' teachings of pacifism. I am also proud of our church's historical leadership in the Christian community by initiating Heifer Project, CROP, Volunteer Service, international student exchange, SERRV, and various other outstanding ways of making peace, not war.

Sometimes I grow discouraged and feel that the Brethren today are not living up to the tremendous heritage that we have, but I'm glad that Audrey reminds me of the amazing people who are a part of our denomination and that we are doing many things, such as working to preserve God's creation, addressing poverty and homelessness, working for gender and racial equality, and above all, trying to love our enemies.

I appreciate very much Audrey's witness re: who the Brethren are to seminarians in the San Francisco Bay Area, many of whom have not heard of us. I have tried to do a bit of the same thing in the peace movement and in the interfaith community in this area. Usually, in peace groups I don't have the opportunity to share much beyond our peace stance and our struggle to control consumerism in our lives, but I try to emphasize God's command that we love even our enemies. I do not find as much explicit support among the Brethren as I would like for my interreligious dialoging, but it is clear to me that my felt mission to move in this sphere arises from my grounding in the Church of the Brethren. And although I do not usually get the chance to talk at much length in these gatherings, I believe that by simply standing with people of other faiths who are living under a cloud of suspicion and harassment from our government and from our dominant culture, I am able to convey the message that I represent Christians who consider them also to be children of a loving and merciful God.

In summary, I care about the Church of the Brethren because of our history, our present, and most of all for the promise that we can grow still closer to the heart of God, as revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus, and act as leaven in spreading that love to a world that is starving for it.

Kendra: I cannot count the number of times I have told someone that, for me, the Church of the Brethren was as much of an ethnic identity as it was a community of faith. Like my blood, my genes, my ancestry and my socio-economic status, the COB is who I am.

I can directly contribute many of my values, behaviors and traditions to my experience of being raised in the COB. Just yesterday, I was explaining to my partner what it means to me to remove my hat, and the hat of our son, when we sit down to eat together or with others. While I blur the gender lines of this tradition, I maintain the recognition of sitting down to share food as being an act of holy communion. Removal of one's hat is a holy act of submission to and participation in that communion. This tradition is meaningful and important to me, even in a land where no one else does this, even in a heart where I don't understand or practice the other scriptural guidelines for head coverings for men or women.

Growing up in the COB, there were numerous occasions when I witnessed people whom I deeply respected practicing this tradition. To this day, my continued practice of this tradition places me faithfully among those beloved as their sister. It places my heart where I want it to be, in service to God.

Does it dissolve the meaning and significance of a religious tradition if I practice it in this way, as a woman? No. This is the love and community of God being expressed through a unique filter; this is how the colors look; this is how the light of God's love fractures into my own unique variety of hues, as it shines through me. My church family taught me how to shine my light. It shines for them as much as anyone. This is God's love manifested through me. I don't think any one of us can fully express all the colors of God; it takes all of us, and the colors combine and manifest the good news together in ways we don't always understand.

I care about the Church of the Brethren for the same reason I care about my bones, my family, my friends, my education, my world...because I love myself, and I care for and am grateful for everything that has created me as I am.

Carla: I care about the Church of the Brethren because growing up at Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren taught me to be the person that I am. It was there I learned that if we follow Christ, we must love our friends and our enemies. That we must consider how our choices affect not only ourselves, but others. My work as a social worker at a homeless shelter, my commitments to feminism, environmentalism, racial equality, lgbt interests, and eradicating poverty, and my love for community and deep relationships with others all flow directly from my church experiences. My deeply held beliefs and values were shaped by the Christianity I learned at church, and could never lead me to the conclusion that I should judge other’s sins more harshly than my own. I’m so grateful to the church, and I care deeply for the future of the Church of the Brethren.

Alexander: I care about the Church of the Brethren because it has long surfed the edge of the moral margins of Christianity. Not content to wade around in the popular shallow end of faith-justified violence , it has walked above the changing ideological currents supported by the message of Christ to treat all equally in peace and war. Now I hope that the church remains buoyant in this flood of BRF.

Audrey: I care because we are the Church of the Brethren. I am the Church of the Brethren. I, along with the thousands of others who are the Church of the Brethren, am one of the current stewards of an inheritance, inherited from our ancestors of blood and belief. We are taking care of this church as its future is sung into being by the many voices of its past and present. Its spirit is our spirit.It is our right and our responsibility to claim this church as our own, to hold it accountable to the good news Christ heralds for us, to mold it into a reflection of ourselves that we will rejoice in sharing with others. It is not up to any one of us to revive, renew, or reclaim the church alone, but it is up to each one of us to join in that movement and do it together, along whatever paths the Spirit opens for us.

The Church of the Brethren is me (and you, and him, and them). How could I not care about it?

My copy of the Brethren Revival Fellowship’s (BRF) newsletter arrived in my campus mailbox the other day. A mild sense of dread came over me as I pulled out the familiar envelope, stuffed with the half-sheet-sized booklets, well-suited for leaving in stacks in church narthexes. I looked at the packet, wondering what this month’s issue might condemn me for. My views on abortion? My interfaith work? My support for my same-gender-loving brethren? My own steps toward pastoral ministry as a woman? My scandalously worldly clothing? How might this issue’s spotlight label me a sinner – or, worse!, un-Brethren?

I understand why many of my progressive brethren cannot stomach reading the BRF’s publications, either online or in print. Sticks and stones can break bones, but words can hurt, too. Yet, I try to stay tuned into what our BRF brethren are saying, what conversations are relevant in their communities, what angles they are taking with their rhetoric. I see this as part of my ministry to the Church of the Brethren: bracing myself and reading their newsletter, so that my fellows don’t have to.

But I have certainly learned much about my faith from the BRF, for which I am grateful. I appreciate the relative effectiveness of their strategies. The editor in me loves the layout of their newsletter, and the theologian in me loves its title (‘Witness’). I admire their determination to claim their right and responsibility to shape the Church of the Brethren as they see fit; I wish to do the same, though bringing a rather different theology with my claim.

And this month, especially, I appreciate them. Their newsletter is not nearly so gut-wrenching as I had initially feared. It witnesses well to their strategy of rousing their people and staking their claim to redefine our church. (I use the term ‘redefine’ not as a slight: the sustenance of a tradition requires constant redefinition in a constantly shifting world.)

The theme: WHY WE CARE ABOUT THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN. The (single) author of the text, BRF icon Craig Alan Myers, elaborates the reasons for his fellowship with the denomination across nine pages and in five major categories: the church’s fellowship; its doctrines; its practices; its people; its future. (He refers to the church as female, which seems unnecessary, so I will discontinue that practice in further conversation here.) And within his reflections, there is much I say ‘Amen!’ to. I will explore some of that in my following post.

I wish to thank Myers and the BRF folks for printing this article. Taking this summer’s dialogue between Myers (representing BRF) and Jim Lehman (representing VOS) as precedent, I see this newsletter as an invitation to open the conversation further. I am glad to know what the BRF folks value about our church, and I’d like to hear what VOS and Womaen’s Caucus and On Earth Peace and Messenger and all the other Brethren folks value about our church. We are already having these conversations “Together” around the country, so why not start putting our values in print, just as the BRF does?

Since the BRF newsletter uses the term “WE” as those whose care is represented in the text, I would feel strange just printing my own reasons why “I” care about my church. Thus, I invite every one reading this, Brethren and non-Brethren alike, to contribute a sentence or paragraph or manifesto explaining WHY YOU CARE ABOUT THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN. Post a comment here on the blog or email your thoughts to me at womaen <at> gmail.com so I can post them for you.

Who are we? Why does it matter if we exist? What about us is worth sustaining, and what is superfluous to our mission as a church?

Thanks for putting your time and love into the church - especially by writing here to add your voice to the harmony singing our future into being.

Chapter 1 talks a lot about suffering. I don't want to suffer. I don't understand why we have to suffer. I know what the chapter says, I know that we suffer so that Christ will comfort us and when we see others suffering we will be able to comfort them because we have already been through it. I also understand that our goal in suffering must be to conduct ourselves in simplicity and godly sincerity, as Paul did, rather than with fleshly wisdom and that it is only through God's abundant grace that I could ever do that.

I know all that in my head, but heart asks why God couldn't have worked things out differently. Why couldn't He have made it so we could do all those things without suffering? Yes, I know how immature that sounds, but it is always the question I find myself thinking. Yes, I also know that I need to trust God. I need to remind myself that His ways are higher than my ways. I don't mean to question God, and I'm really glad that life works His way, because my ways don't work so good most of the time.

Just wanted to share that with you all.

Chapter 8 talks about giving. It sounds like the Corinthian believers were doing really well when Paul wrote this letter. They were abounding in everything: faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, love ~ everything except giving. It seems from 8:10 & 11 that these believers had set out to give, but had either changed their mind or delayed following through on that decision. Paul held up the churches of Macedonia as an example for them, churches who during a time of great affliction had abundant joy, deep poverty and great generosity (8:2). I don't often think of those three together. They didn't have much, but they still gave beyond their ability. Wow. They first gave themselves to the Lord, totally surrendered to His service. That commitment led them to give to Paul and his fellow workers, a gift that was given with an expression of urgency that it would be received and used to minister to the saints. Wow again.

Most of us do not have unlimited resources. There is always a need in my own life. It can be very tempting to say I can't afford to give. I say we can't afford not to. Why is it so hard for us, we who live in one of the richest countries in the world, to part with our money? I don't know. I do know that while I would never consider bowing to a buddha or an allah, I worship at the shrine of comfort every day of my life. The lust of the flesh for me is just that: the temptation to choose my actions based on my own personal comfort. Giving beyond my ability definitely compromises my comfort standards. (Who am I trying to kid? Giving according to my ability makes me uncomfortable.)

What really stood out to me was that these Macedonian believers had first surrendered themselves to God. If we place ourselves wholeheartedly at God's disposal, we will give of ourselves to help those in every kind of need and trust Him to provide for us in every way, even financially.

If you would like to be stretched in your thinking about how much you can afford to give, I highly recommend Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle. I have a copy, so if you live nearby, ask if you can borrow it.

So that's what I bring away from 2 Corinthians. Not even a scratch on the surface, I know. I'll just have so much to look forward to next time I tackle 2 Corinthians.

I can’t believe how far God’s people will sink when they trust their own judgment rather than God’s Word.

The Levite had a concubine (problem), allowed his host to offer her to the perverted men (problem), didn’t check on her again until morning (problem) and when they had killed her he carved her into twelve pieces and sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel (big problem). And yet nothing is said of his sin, only that they were going to get revenge on the tribe that was responsible for the murder.

Did you catch that? I didn’t on the first few readings, but last night I noticed that Gibeah, the town full of perverted men where it wasn’t safe to be out at night, where if you had an overnight guest, male or female, they beat on your door until you let them know them carnally, belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. The travelers could have stopped in Jerusalem, but because it wasn’t occupied by Israelites, they chose to journey on rather than stay with foreigners.

HOW COULD A TOWN BELONGING TO THE ISRAELITES BE FULL OF PERVERTED MEN WHO WOULD DO THE THINGS STATED IN JUDGES 19:22 - 25????

That’s what happens when God’s people have no leader and everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

Judges is a thorough study in natural consequences. The last two chapters sum it all up well. The Israelites kept on trying to work things out in their own way, and look at the devastation it caused. If only they had done things God’s way!!

In the end, when their own bad judgment, both as individuals and collectively as the children of Israel, had caused them to kill off thousands of their own people in a vengeful war between tribes, they cried out to the LORD and asked how it could be that a whole tribe was facing extinction. I don’t know how you read that, but it sure sounded to me like, “LORD! How could you let this happen!”

When will we stop blaming God for our own stupid choices?

When we do things our own way and they don’t work out, we have no right to blame God. He has given us all the information we need to make the right choices. It’s our own fault when we don’t take His advice, and why shouldn’t we have to sleep in the bed we made?

And yet, through all of this wickedness, God is still working His eternal plan. That still amazes me and makes me dizzy when I try to reconcile it in my mind.

What am I taking away from this book? Shannon said it well in her comment on my last review:

It was an eye opener and got me thinking that we should be scared to death NOT to obey God EXACTLY as He wants us to. Because he is merciful and longsufferring we can confuse the lack of consequence of our sin to actually be blessing.

I don’t want to find myself there. I want to call a spade a spade, and see sin in my life as exactly that: sin against a holy God. I don’t want to find myself as above or independent of God’s rules and do what is right in my own eyes. I also know how easy it is to find myself there. The Israelites didn’t go from “We will serve the LORD!” to chopping up a dead concubine overnight (although it seems that way at times as we’re reading). One small bad choice leads to a slightly bigger bad choice and next thing I know, I’m in up to my neck. AND I NEVER WANT TO BE UP TO MY NECK IN SIN AND NOT EVEN HAVE A CLUE. To mistake God's mercy and patience for a stamp of approval!!

Judges also taught me that something I’ve been taught (in several gatherings, by several teachers) isn’t really true. I’ve been told in the past that I need to be living for God, a clean vessel fit for the Master’s use so to say, so that He can use me. Now I see that that’s just not so. Most of these characters we read about in Judges weren’t clean vessels. And I’m not talking about still having a sin nature but trusting in God, I’m talking about deliberate disregard for His commands. Lifestyles that make me shake my head (and wonder if I can even read about them to my children) and wonder how anyone can do those things and have the gall to face God and ask why He’s not blessing like He should. And God still used them. God’s will was still done, but they missed out on the life that God intended them to live. Like I said in an earlier review, God uses us, but when we disobey Him we miss out on the chance to please Him and give Him glory. That’s a chance that I don’t want to miss. Either way, I have a part in His plan. I might as well choose the pleasing part!!

And so, to answer the question about whether to read the “questionable” parts of scripture to our kids or not. I used to agree with Shannon, and skipped the parts that contained subject matter that I felt was inappropriate for my kids. We had set out to read through the Bible, and I became so discouraged that we didn’t even get through Genesis. It seemed like I had to skip most of it. The Bible is full of unsavoury characters, it seems.

I asked a few people their opinion on the matter, and in the end decided to just read through. (We will, however, be skipping Song of Solomon. They can read that on their own just before they get married!!) I realized that I was imagining what my kids would be thinking as we read, based on my knowledge of the subject, not theirs. They don’t even pick up on most of the things I’m concerned about. When someone does, I answer their questions honestly with only as much information as they need. We operate on a need-to-know basis. It is my opinion that they don’t need much, and it has been my experience that ‘not much’ is enough to get the point across. As they get older they will understand more, but they will also be better able to handle that information. The world we live in is so yucky and kids are exposed to so much filth that it is easy to pull back too far in the other direction. (I'm not saying that everyone who chooses not to read certain scriptures to their kids has overcompensated. I'm saying that I think I was.) Rather than present the facts in a beneficial way, we avoid them altogether. Now we choose to read through, and present appropriate amounts of information from a Biblical perspective when a question comes up. And so far, it's working. We have older ones who are understanding a lot more (and they are just as embarrased as I am that people would behave that way), and younger ones who don't even seem to notice that there was something to notice.

We are a little behind in our family reading of Judges, but when we get to chapter 19, we will be reading it. They need to see that when someone continues to make bad choices, they will end up where they never dreamed they’d be.

(I sure wish I could answer a question in short answer form. I really do. In fact, this was my short answer form. You should have seen the essay.)

Onward and upward. I’ll be looking at my life a little differently, from a slightly different angle, thanks to Judges. Can’t wait to hear what we’re reading next.

Last week I talked about Gideon and how excited I was to see how God accomplishes His will through me, in spite of me and totally independent of my ability or willingness or lack thereof. He does His will and I can cooperate or not, but in the end it is His will that is done. Mind-boggling stuff. The question that was ringing in my mind after I typed up that review was, "So why worry about sin, then?"

If God's plan gets carried out whether I do my part or not, whether I change my sinful behaviour or not, why bother? Doing my part and changing sinful behaviour are tough things to do. Lots of individuals and whole churches are dropping the personal holiness stuff in favour of humanitarian group effort. They're doing good stuff, so why worry about the little details of personal choices? Don't sweat the small stuff!

Jephthah (and just about every other person we've read about in Judges) has been a big reminder to me that the small stuff is worth sweating. Small stuff leads to big stuff. You can't read This Book without figuring out that God cares about the small stuff. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for all sin, big and 'small', and how can I continue on in what God certainly considers worth sweating?

But that's a rabbit trail. I didn't set out to talk about that.

I want to talk about Jephthah's vow and how God made it relevant to my life, since of course I would never sacrifice my child's life to prove my faithfulness to God! Or would I?

I read these chapters to my kids. We read chapter 11 carefully, and then I asked if Jephthah did the right thing by keeping his promise. "Yes!" one said. "He made a promise to God! He had to keep his promise!" said another. Two more looked at me, unsure what to say.

It is true that it is very important that we keep our promises to God. A promise made to Him is not to be treated lightly.

It is, however, also true that we must be very careful what we promise God. And when we find that we have promised something that He did not ask from us, and does not line up with what He has said we should do, what honours God more: keeping a promise that we shouldn't have made in the first place, or admitting that we made a mistake and doing the right thing in the end?

We had a really good talk. We agreed that we need to know God's Word so that we will promise the right things. We also agreed that we need to be willing to admit when we are wrong and not keep a promise that God wouldn't like, even though we made it to Him.

I think Jephthah's daughter was a very smart girl. She knew what she was about. She agreed to comply with her father's (CRAZY) promise, but asked that it be delayed for two months so that she and her friends could go wander on the mountains and bemoan her sad fate. Two months for Dear Old Dad to rethink his decision to follow through. Two months to see what life would be like without his only child around the house. Two months for her friends' friends and relations to talk about Jephthah and what he should do. Two months to change his mind and do what would honour God (by valuing life and obeying "Thou shalt not kill") instead of what would honour Jephthah (who likes to admit they are wrong? especially when they've made it a 'spiritual' thing?)

While I was busy being shocked and dismayed at Jephthah's lack of discernment, God gently reminded me that I came very close to sacrificing not only my four beautiful children, but also the opportunity to be blessed with any more.

How? By doing what Jephthah did. I was busy "serving God", using my talents and abilities at every opportunity (except for where He had asked me to use them - my home), making big promises to God to prove my faith and faithfulness and never taking the time to really get to know Him and what He really wanted from me. Where would I be now if I had continued in that direction? Where would my marriage be, what would my children be like?

PRAISE HIS NAME He got my attention. He showed me how empty all my promises were when I wasn't willing to do the one thing He asked me to do. Serve my family. My husband and children needed me. The church bulletin, the missionary correspondence, the Sunday morning choruses, the Christmas choir, the Awana grade one class and story time, I could go on... Possibly self-appointed 'ministries'. I wasn't serious about God's Word, so how can I know for sure? I'm not necessarily saying I shouldn't have done them, but I am saying without a doubt that I shouldn't have done them first, and I definitely shouldn't have done them if my family responsibilities were neglected in the process.

(I can also tell you from experience that if you're not sure if you are neglecting your responsibilities, you can ask God to show you whether or not you are and He will let you know. Even if you think you're fine, it doesn't hurt to ask.)

Did God work through me? Did He use me in those years? Yes! Of course He did. It all makes sense now. He used me just like He used Gideon and Jephthah and Samson and so many others whose stories God has preserved for us. He worked through me in spite of me, but I wonder what life would have been like if I had served my husband and children FIRST instead of fitting them in the gaps. God used those men to lead the children of Israel to victory in unbelievable ways, but He also left them to suffer the natural consequences of their sinful choices. I am awed once again by how small my thinking is compared to God's. He can reconcile those two statements, while the effort leaves my head spinning.

The very same thing is happening all around us today. Too many children are being sacrificed because their parents are too busy keeping promises they shouldn't have made in the first place. We're letting our kids down. We can't train our children up in the way they should go when we're too busy doing our own thing. Don't have time to read the Bible and talk about it with your kids? I used to say that. Not any more. I know that when I don't have time, it's because I've squandered our time on something far less important. We can't be the helper our husband needs when we're busy serving our own interests. Ladies, it's time we put our husbands first. God says I should serve my husband, and so it honours Him when I do. I'll spend the rest of my life learning this one, but better that than spend the rest of my life not even trying!!

As always, thoughtful reading of God's Word leads me to careful inspection of my own life. I see areas of victory and know it is none of my doing. The glory is all His. I see areas that need protection, areas that are under constant attack and I need to guard my heart and my home to gain the victory. I see areas of failure and sin where I need to be on my knees before my Father confessing and praying for His Spirit to do through me what I can't do myself.

I'm still making plenty of mistakes. But I don't feel like I'm going in circles or backwards anymore. I'm not trying to improve the situation by making more mistakes. I'm learning what God says and He is showing me that doing life His way is the only way that works, that fulfills the purpose for which He created me: to please and glorify Him.

Jephthah led the Israelites to victory, but the Israelites didn't set up a commemorative feast to remember Jephthah's contribution to their history. What they did commemorate was that he sacrificed his daughter. Not the best thing to be remembered for. I don't want to be a Jephthah. I can't be making promises to God that endanger the well-being of my children, and then be too stubborn to admit I made a mistake and apologize. I need to know His Word so that the small stuff won't become the big stuff and in the end God's will is done in spite of me. I want to be faithful to His Word.

I don't know if I'll ever get over being excited about Book Review Friday. I hope not.

Pourtant, notre propre pratique du BRF n'est pas si merveilleuse. Oui, nous avons vu le sol se transformer sous nos arbres fruitiers, ces arbres s'épanouir, chasser leurs parasites et donner plus de fruits. Une vie nouvelle s'y est développée, à la suite des champignons bénéfiques. Mais à quelques mètres de là, plus loin des arbres, l'expérience s'est révélée très mitigée, le résultat sur le sol se montrant même parfois inquiétant.

Sur la partie du potager, le mycélium tant attendu n'est jamais venu. Bien au contraire, suite à l'incorporation du BRF dans le sol, celui-ci s'est révélé plutôt hostile à la vie : très peu de plantes, sauvages ou cultivées, y ont germé au printemps, les vers de terre ont déserté le secteur.

La surface est restée croûtée, nécessitant le secours d'un paillage supplémentaire. Seules les plantes mises en place après germination en pépinière y ont survécu. Sans que l'on puisse ensuite déceler une différence significative avec les autres zones du jardin : plutôt du retard dans la croissance (ce qui est normal), un peu plus de résistance au mildiou pour les tomates, mais globalement, une production plutôt plus faible que celle des plants voisins, et un sol qui reste aujourd'hui encore très lourd.

Il ne fait aucun doute que le BRF peut faire des merveilles dans certaines situation. Peut-être même dans la plupart des situations. Mais il peut aussi, dans certains cas, échouer lamentablement. Ou pour être plus précis, il nécessite parfois des précautions d'utilisation qui rendent son utilisation délicate, et donc la mise en place de protocoles adaptés indispensable.

Le BRF soulève de plus quelques autres objections, qu'il convient de prendre en compte, notamment la question de la gestion des zones boisées utilisées pour sa production. Tout cela nous conduit à poser pour nos expériences et recherches d'informations une série de questions auxquelles nous devrons trouver des réponses, ce que nous commencerons à faire lors de notre projet en Corse.

Il conviendra d'étudier notamment :

1. Les limites de l’utilisation du BRF en termes de sols, et les techniques appropriées à mettre en oeuvre sur les sols posant problèmes : il est évident que certains sols (par exemple sols argileux, calcicoles ou hydromorphes) peuvent poser problème lors de l'utilisation du BRF : dans les sols mal aérés, les champignons décomposeurs du bois, qui sont strictement aérobies, ne peuvent pas agir efficacement ; dans un sol fortement calcique, le bois se couvre d'une gangue de calcium qui empêche sa décomposition ; dans un sol trop longtemps privé d'arbres, les champignons lignivores ne sont tout simplement pas présents...

2. Les limites de l’utilisation des ressources et le cas échéant les moyens de les accroître, et les risques encourus : si le BRF devient une incitation à planter des arbres et des haies, c'est parfait. S'il devient un prétexte à piller les surfaces boisées existantes, c'est une catastrophe. Il faudra donc définir quelles sont les nuisances causées par des élagages massifs, quelle est la fréquence acceptable des interventions, quelles sont les quantités de matière que l'on peut prélever sans dommage...

3. Les opportunités d’utilisation en fonction des types de culture et des techniques utilisées. L’opportunité éventuellement de réserver le BRF à certaines cultures, en fonction de la réponse à ces 3 premières questions. Le BRF réagit généralement très positivement avec les arbres, son utilisation dans les vergers et sur les cultures de vivaces semble favorables. Mais nous avons reçu une objection d'arboriculteurs nous signalant que certains parasites pouvaient transiter par le BRF et contaminer les arbres. Il faudrait définir dans quelles conditions cette contamination est possible.

A l'inverse, l'utilisation du BRF en grandes cultures semble plus délicate. En tout cas incompatible a priori avec le labour. Mais serait-elle possible avec des techniques de semis direct ? Et quelle filière serait-elle alors compatible avec une réduction des transports et une gestion acceptable de la ressource ?

4. Les essences utilisables ou pas, et les méthodes à appliquer concernant les essences non utilisables directement en BRF. On sait bien déjà que les résineux, par exemple, posent problème dans le cadre d'une utilisation en BRF. Il est recommandé de ne pas en avoir plus de 20% dans le broyat. Il semble aussi, pour les régions méditerranéennes, que certaines essences, fortement aromatiques, posent problème. Il faudra donc évaluer, pour toutes ces essences à utilisation délicate, dans quelles conditions il est possible de les utiliser : en mélange, avec précompostage à froid, avec compostage à chaud (ce n'est alors plus du BRF, mais du compost de broussailles), ou encore dans un autre type d'utilisation, par exemple production d'énergie.

5. La question de l’utilisation du BRF en relation avec d’autres sources d’engrais ou amendements. Peut-on coupler efficacement d’autres méthodes avec le BRF (en fonction par exemple des ressources locales), peut-on vraiment à long terme n’utiliser que le BRF, etc. Avec le BRF se pose éventuellement un problème de manque d'azote. Il est sans doute intéressant de l'utiliser avec des déchets azotés, pouvant être des déchets ménagers, ou des boues d'épuration, ou des lisiers ou fumiers. L'intérêt du BRF étant sans doute, par son effet structurant sur les sols, de permettre une bien meilleure valorisation des engrais, quels qu'ils soient, et donc une diminution des pollutions par lessivage.

6. Le bilan énergétique. La question de l'énergie se pose aujourd'hui de manière inquiétante, et certains indices laissent penser que ce problème pourrait s'aggraver rapidement. Les broyeurs le plus souvent nécessaires à la production de BRF consomment de l'énergie. Inversement, le BRF assure une économie d'énergie s'il permet de supprimer certains travaux des sols fortement consommateurs de pétrole, une réduction de la taille des machines utilisées, une diminution des intrants d'origine fossile, une relocalisation de la production, etc. Il faudra donc évaluer tout cela pour s'assurer que le BRF est bien rentable sur le plan énergétique, et, si c'est bien le cas, évaluer le gain réalisé, et les moyens de l'améliorer en fonction des situations.

Ca nous laisse du pain sur la planche. Nous tenterons de répondre à toutes ces questions dans les mois qui viennent, pour certaines en expérimentant directement, pour d'autres, en épluchant les recherches déjà publiées (il y en a déjà pas mal).

Photos :

Utilisation en paillage autour d'un jeune olivier, parc de Saleccia, Hte Corse.

Précompostage de BRF de chêne et broussailles, Pigna, Hte Corse.

]]> http://estloiretenvironnement.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/compost-de-broussailles-et-brf/ Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:17:53 +0000 arfie http://estloiretenvironnement.fr.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/compost-de-broussailles-et-brf/ Compost de broussailles, Bois Raméal FragmentéRendez vous de l'Environnement le jeudi 25 octobre à 20H, batiment de l'ADIAF, accueil de l'Arboretum des Barres, Nogent sur Vernissonprésenté par Etienne BONVALLETresponsable de l'entreprise « Equipe Jean Pain »

Jean PAIN est l'inventeur autodidacte des "METHODES JEAN PAIN", procédés permettant à partir de broussailles et de rémanents Forestiers de produire un compost de très haute valeur fertilisante, de capter de la chaleur par contact avec la masse en fermentation et de produire du biogaz.

EQUIPE JEAN PAIN a été créée en 1980, par Etienne BONVALLET collaborateur technique et neveu de Jean PAIN, pour développer les travaux de Jean PAIN en matière de compostage et de valorisation des rémanents issus de l’entretien et de l’exploitation de la forêt. La première mission d’EQUIPE JEAN PAIN a été de réaliser un broyeur-déchiqueteur capable de produire un broyat adapté à la production de compost de ligno-cellulosiques, BRF,et bois énergie et d'assurer l'appui technique à tous ceux désirant appliquer cette technique."

Cette soirée est gratuite, accessible à tous. (Pensez à la lampe électrique… et à la petite laine…)N’hésitez pas à faire circuler cette information à vos contacts.

Cette technique a des applications pour les particuliers mais aussi offre des perspectives très utiles pour les collectivités. Aussi, n’hésitez pas à en parler à votre maire, aux élus de vos villes et villages.

(I do want to say that if you read my very long BRF reviews, I hope they encourage you. I don't always read all of the reviews because sometimes we are so excited and have so much to say, I just don't have time to take it all in! Writing out what I've been mulling over really does help to cement it in my mind, so I write it all. Read if you have time, don't bother if you don't! I just think it's exciting that we are still serious about God's Word, months after Shannon started this. For some reason I just wanted to say that.)

It has been a busy couple of weeks around here, and I don't feel at all confident about putting my thoughts on paper. Brain overload. I'll try to explain a few things that became so clear to me. Expect lots of exclamation points. This is exciting stuff.

Chapter 9 continues the Freedom in Christ Is Not Freedom to Offend discussion. If anyone had a right to personal benefit, it was Paul, but he declined his rights to serve Christ. We do not live in a "you first" culture, and it is so easy to slip into the mindset that we see everywhere we look. It can happen so subtly. In verse 15 Paul says that he would rather die than do anything that would take away from the message he preached. He wanted God to be glorified, and that should be my sole purpose as well. Any personal benefit I receive, any blessing that comes my way, is the icing on the cake, not the point itself. (Have you listened to Ten Shekels and a Shirt yet?)

I can't get verses 16 - 18 out of my head. They are making me rethink my motives, my goals, why I do what I do. The answers I'm coming up with are showing me I have lived for me and not for Him. Paul says that He must preach the gospel - it is what God has called him to do and woe to him if he doesn't. He also says that he can do it willingly (with a good attitude because he wants to honour God) or against his will (with a bad attitude because it doesn't bring enough honour to himself). He carries out his responsibilities with a good attitude he honours God and that is his reward - the knowledge that he did it without bringing offense to Christ and did not abuse his authority from God. Here's what got me: If he does it with a bad attitude, his work is only a stewardship. A stewardship is something you don't get to keep. You work away at it for the time allotted and then you give it back. God's Word would still be preached, but Paul would not have 'the reward' of knowing that he had brought honour to Christ through his preaching. I need to get my attitude in check ALL THE TIME because the reward I really want in this life is not all the tangible and measurable things I work so hard to gain. It is knowing that I have honoured Christ. Because that's what it's all about! I have some changes to make! Big stuff! Worthy of many exclamation points!!!

The free from all but servant to all discussion continues through chapters 10 and 11, too. How many times have I heard the "those who run in a race" verses taught? How many times have I read them myself? How many times have I really understood them? Zero, before this week! Context! It's been a while since I mentioned that, but it still comes through loud and clear every week. I've had the wrong mental image for these verses. When I picture an athlete in training, I picture someone so focused, so determined to reach that goal, that they are oblivious to those around them. They are serious about doing what they need to do to win: they change their diet, they change their workout schedule, they change their leisure activities all to help them reach that finish line first. The difference now is that I see that these verses are sandwiched in an explanation of how we should never abuse our freedom in Christ and so ause problems for fellow believers or use our freedom for personal gain. When Paul says we should "run in such a way that you may obtain it" he is talking about the "prize" of sharing the gospel and glorifying God. That kind of training should take all the attention from our own interests and make us run, fight and discipline our bodies on behalf of others. Otherwise, when I have preached, I become disqualified! More big stuff! God's work will be accomplished, but I don't have to have a part in it. God wants to use me, but not if I disqualify myself.

My mom and I have talked about chapter 10 before. Very sobering. All who followed Moses out of Egypt enjoyed the same deliverance, the same miracles, the same teaching and the same provision from God, but not all of them pleased God. Everyone was doing the same thing, but not everyone pleased God. That gets my attention. We can do the right things but God is not well pleased if our hearts are not right. Attitude! Yikes! Do you know what it was those wicked Hebrews were lusting after in verse 5, that made them become our examples, so we wouldn't sin like they did?

Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!" Numbers 11:4-6

Fish, cucumbers and melons are not evil things, are they? The problem was that God had given them manna. Miraculous provision every morning. But they didn't want it. We lust after evil things when we want what God has not provided. Yikes again! More for me to work on! Now read 1 Corinthians 10:13 ~ another very well-known verse ~ but think of it in terms of context. I can be content! I can be satisfied with what God has given me! He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear! Praise the Lord!

It has taken me too long (hours, in between all the other demands of the day) to type this far, but I can't stop here!

The rest of chapter 10 talks about meat offered to idols. This is clearly a cultural issue of the day, so how does it relate to me? Chapter 11 is just downright confusing ~ so do we wear hats or not? Is it wrong for a woman to have short hair? It has become obvious to me that Paul is still talking about unity. The Corinthian church had division, believers arguing over issues and doctrine.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 1 Corinthians 10:23 - 24

That is the point. I have much freedom in Christ, but I must not use my liberty as an excuse to offend another believer. If a certain action offends a fellow believer, I must not do it, whether I think it's wrong or not. Whether I am eating or drinking, or whatever I am doing, I do it all to the glory of God, and it glorifies God when I put my fellow believer's feelings before my own.

As he shifts from meat to head-coverings, it seems very clear to me that Paul is still dealing with cultural situations, and God is showing us how to deal with our culture, whether it is meat offered to idols, hairstyles or headcoverings. If you were recently saved out of the idol worship scene, eating meat offered to those idols would probably be very offensive to you. If eating that meat offends another believer, then don't eat it. Simple as that. Has nothing to do with my right to eat it or whether that idol has any power over me. It's all about honouring that other believer, and in so doing, obeying God. The Corinthians had obviously forgotten that wearing headcoverings and long hair are outward symbols of an inward attitude. Paul reminds them of this. The head-covering is a symbol of authority, that the woman is respecting her husband's God-given authority. I also know from another time I studied this passage that the prostitutes of the day had their heads shaved. So if a prostitute became a believer, she would probably be ashamed of her shorn head while her hair was growing out, and a believing woman would not want to shave her head so as to look like a prostitute. It would also be offensive to the newly saved prostitute that a believing woman would want to look like a prostitute. It all comes back to honouring God and honouring each other. It does seem clear to me that a woman should want to look like a woman. I'm not entirely clear on the head-coverings yet, but I do know that it doesn't say I should have my head covered at all times to show my submission, or even whenever I go to church, but when I pray or prophesy. My submission (or lack of it, as the case may be) shows in the way I interact with my husband, whether or not my head is covered. And women in these parts don't cover their heads to show they know how the chain of authority works, so it doesn't really say anything when I cover my head to pray. It does seem to me that my hair could be my covering if I were to pray or prophesy. The clincher for me is verse 16: if anyone is arguing about these things, remember it is JUST A CUSTOM. Remember, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God, and seek not your own profit but the interests of others. I will keep reading, learning to obey what I know is ri