The Bleating Of The Sheep And Other Essays

Christians willing to look with honest eyes at challenges we face as believers in corporate church life today will find an advocate here. We are faithful people attending Bible-believing churches, yet there is a disconnect between wanting to please the Lord and achieving full stature in the body of Christ through the church. Excellent intentions fail to materialize into spiritual development. Our efforts sputter into lackluster Christian experiences, a far cry from the abundant life we were promised. Doing more or trying harder to reach goals is not the answer. Goals must be re-examined in light of scripture. Confounding bigger with better, casting a blind eye to the schism between Evangelicals and Pentecostals, settling for less, tolerating toxic doctrines that misrepresent the heart of God to the people, subsisting on spiritual junk food -- whatever erosion and error we permit will define the ultimate quality of our lives in Christ. Carol Demong (as Carol Nelson) has published a young adult Christian novel through David C. Cook, and has published numerous articles when she worked as a staff writer for Bridge Magazine, an Oregon-based Christian periodical. She has an M.A. in English literature and curriculum, and has taught writing and literary analysis in a variety of contexts. Since her recent retirement from the University of California at San Diego, she has begun writing full-time. In addition to the essays presented here and the articles and novel mentioned above, she has written Bible curriculum for women's studies, as well as short stories, poetry and other essays. She is a member of the San Diego Christian Writer's Guild. She lives with her husband and grandson in the vicinity of her extended family in Southern California. Other interests include playing the piano, research, and cooking.

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This report is part of an ongoing examination of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan and the broader region. It takes a close look at the link between developing a comprehensive Central Asia strategy and U.S. initiatives to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. It is based on a field visit by the committee's majority staff to Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan in October 2011, as well as extensive staff meetings with experts and policymakers in Washington, D.C. Central Asia is critical to the outcome in Afghanistan. The Northern Distribution Network and Manas Transit Center play vital roles in supporting NATO and U.S.-led coalition operations. Going forward, the challenge for the United States is to strike a balance between its short-term, war-fighting needs and long-term interests in promoting a stable, prosperous, and democratic Central Asia. Given the U.S. strategic interests at stake, this report provides constructive and timely recommendations for the Obama administration as it works to use our resources to achieve core U.S. policy objectives.