Fiction and Other Fiction

This collection of fiction is a collection of fiction

Preaching That Leads to Transformation

This article presents the results of a project to develop a process whereby the sermon would be enhanced for listeners at the North Street Church of Christ in Nacogdoches, Texas, so that preaching would be more effective in leading to transformation. The theology and methodology of John Wesley were utilized as a lens by which to think about and implement this practice. The intervention involved a six-week session with a focus group that represented a cross-section of the congregation. Participants in this group were asked to engage in a lectio divina exercise on a particular text daily, journal about the experience, listen attentively to the sermon on the same text on Sunday morning, and meet with a group of others who were engaged in the same practices for the purpose of discussion. Group members were to propose ways in which they might be able to implement in the coming week what they learned. Each was encouraged to choose one of those possible implementations and practice it. The following meeting would begin with a discussion of the implementation

Enrichment materials for the social studies program in Walpole, Massachusetts

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University. Note: pagination errors on p. 346, 347, and 376

Preaching that Leads to Transformation At The North Street Church of Christ in Nacogdoches, Texas

This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project to develop a process whereby the sermon would be enhanced for listeners at the North Street Church of Christ in Nacogdoches, Texas, so that preaching would be more effective in leading to transformation. The theology and methodology of John Wesley were utilized as a lens by which to think about and implement this practice. The intervention involved a six-week session with a focus group that represented a cross-section of the congregation. Participants in this group were asked to engage in a lectio divina exercise on a particular text daily, journal about the experience, listen attentively to the sermon on the same text on Sunday morning, and meet with a group of others who were engaged in the same practices for the purpose of discussion. Group members were to propose ways in which they might be able to implement, in the coming week, what they had learned. Each was encouraged to choose one of those possible implementations and practice it. The following meeting would begin with a discussion of the implementation. Evaluation of the process revealed that such preparation before the sermon, engagement with others about the sermon, and practicing lessons learned helped to bring about transformation in the lives of the participants. In addition, the process also revealed that the diversity of the group contributed significantly to the learning and growth of the participants. The thesis concludes with suggestions for the elders in how to utilize this process going forward

Organic Waste Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics Under Dryland Agroecosystems

Organic waste beneficial-use programs effectively recycle plant nutrients when applied at agronomic rates. Plant-nutrient availability, transport, and fate questions have arisen when organic wastes such as biosolids have been applied to dryland agroecosystems. What is the Nfertilizer equivalency of biosolids? What is the N mineralization rate of biosolids over periods of excess moisture or drought, and over long periods of time? Would biosolids, applied at an agronomic N rate for dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oversupply P? If overapplication occurred, what would the repercussions be in terms of excess soil P? Our objectives were to determine: biosolids N fertilizer equivalency; biosolids N mineralization during years of above and below average precipitation, and long-term N mineralization; which soil P phases dominate following years of biosolids application; and the potential increased environment risk of P when applying an agronomic N rate or excessive rate of biosolids. To address questions related to N dynamics, we utilized research results collected between 1993 and 2004 from a site in Eastern Colorado which received 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 dry tons biosolids A-1. To address questions related to P dynamics, results collected between 1982 and 2003 from a second Eastern Colorado site which received 0, 3, 6, 12, and 18 dry tons biosolids A-1 were used. During years of above-average and below-average precipitation, first-year biosolids N mineralization rates were estimated at 25-32% and 21-27%, respectively; long-term first-year mineralization rate ranged between 27-33%. Based on wheat-grain N uptake, we found that an application rate of 1 dry ton biosolids A-1 supplied about 20 lbs N A-1. Based on the Colorado P index risk assessment, biosolids applied at agronomic N rates would not force producers to alter application strategies. However, based on this risk assessment, biosolids over-application would force land application to be based on crop P requirements. Previous results showed a minimum of 3 cropping cycles were necessary to reduce soil P concentrations to levels considered less apt in causing environmental degradation. A future reduction in water availability may force some Idaho agricultural land to shift from irrigated to dryland conditions. And, coupled with the increased production of dairy waste, land applicators will need to find new means to protect natural resources under dryland conditions. Results from our studies can help improve nutrient use efficiency and minimize environmental risk associated with dryland organic waste land application

Fifteen Years of Wheat Yield, N Uptake, and Soil Nitrate-N Dynamics in a Biosolids-Amended Agroecosystem. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

Understanding N dynamics in biosolids-amended agroecosystems can help avoid over-application and the potential for environmental degradation. We investigated 15-years of biosolids application to dryland-wheat, questioning what is the relationship between cumulative grain yield and N uptake (N removal) and biosolids or N fertilizer rates and how many times biosolids or N fertilizer are applied? How are wheat-grain production and N uptake intertwined with residual soil nitrate-N? We found that biosolids or N fertilizer rates plus the number of applications of each material produced planar-regression (3-dimensional) models with 15-years of grain yield and N uptake data (all R2 > 0.93). To evaluate how yield or N uptake impacted residual soil nitrate-N, we completed linear regressions on yield, N uptake, and soil nitrate-N. We then correlated the slopes where P<0.10 for the yield and soil nitrate-N and the N uptake and soil nitrate-N. A significant negative relationship was found for biosolids application for each of these comparisons while the N fertilizer results were inconsistent. For the biosolids treatments, as yield or N uptake increased, residual soil nitrate-N decreased. Our findings show that planar regression models could aid biosolids beneficial-use management programs when considering agroecosystem N dynamics

Drinking Water Treatment Residuals: A Reveiw of Recent Uses

Coagulants such as alum, [Al2(SO4)3X14H2O], ferric chloride [FeCl3], or ferric sulfate [Fe2(SO4)3] are commonly used to remove particulate and dissolved constituents from water supplies in the production of drinking water. The resulting waste product, called water-treatment residuals (WTR), contains precipitated Al and Fe oxyhydroxides resulting in a strong affinity for anionic species. Recent research has focused on using WTR as cost-effective materials to reduce soluble phosphorus (P) in soils, runoff, and land-applied organic wastes (manures and biosolids). Studies show P adsorption by WTR to be fast and nearly irreversible, suggesting long-term stable immobilization of WTR-bound P. Because excessive WTR application can induce P deficiency in crops, effective application rates and methods remain an area of intense research. Removal of other potential environmental contaminants [ClO4, Se(+IV and +VI), As(+III and +V), Hg] by WTR has been documented, suggesting potential use of WTRs in environmental remediation. While creation of Al plant toxicity and enhanced Al leaching are concerns expressed by researchers, at circumneutral soil pH conditions these effects are minimal. Radioactivity, trace element levels, and enhanced Mn leaching have also been cited as potential problems in WTR usage as a soil supplement. However, these issues can be managed so as not to limit the beneficial use of WTRs in controlling off-site P losses to sensitive water bodies or reducing soil-extractable P concentrations