tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97844952024-03-13T10:21:18.566-07:00Field of DandelionsA blog by Danny BradfieldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger883125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-32604096210610038232012-02-23T12:08:00.000-08:002012-02-23T12:08:35.877-08:00Moving OnIn case you haven't figured it out by now, I haven't been blogging. Life is always changing, and it seems time for me to move on to something else. <br />
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One of the reasons I started this blog was to have a creative outlet at a time when I had limited opportunities to be creative. I have many more opportunities these days, and so my need to have a blog has diminished. And frankly, most of my posts in recent months have been somewhat boring to me, and if they are boring to me, then surely they must be boring to others. (One of my guiding principles when I write a sermon is that it has to at least keep <i>my</i> attention, if no one else's. I think the same principle applies here. This blog hasn't been keeping my attention, and therefore I certainly can't expect it to keep the attention of anyone else.)<br />
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If you still want to keep up with what I'm doing (and even have access to occasional essays I write), then you can find me on facebook (www.facebook.com/dannybradfield). I will "friend" almost anyone I've met or heard of prior to receiving a friend request, although I usually deny friend requests to people I've never heard of. However, anyone and everyone is welcome to "subscribe" to my facebook page.<br />
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Also, I post my sermons every week at <a href="http://dannybradfield.blogspot.com">dannybradfield.blogspot.com</a>. Check them out. Most of them are pretty good, if I may say so myself. (A few of them are duds; I'll leave it to you to figure out which is which.)<br />
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Finally, when my domain registration at fieldofdandelions.com expires, I think this blog will go back to its old address at fieldofdandelions.blogspot.com. The old posts will remain there indefinitely, I guess.<br />
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It's been a fun journey. Thanks for being my companion.<br />
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DannyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-61072365776973434782012-01-10T11:35:00.000-08:002012-01-10T11:35:50.758-08:00Church Design<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">During my post-Christmas vacation, I finished reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs. Different chapters focus on Jobs’ personal life, his love/hate relationship with Apple’s board of directors, and his personality flaws, but what I found most fascinating were the chapters that focused on how important important <i>design</i> was to Jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I’ve never been much of an Apple person. Actually, I’ve always been more of a “take whatever you can get” person. Which is why I have a cell phone has more buttons than I’ll ever use or need. I’m convinced that the only reason some of those buttons are there is to keep me permanently befuddled. But I keep it, because I'm far too afraid and intimidated to get a new phone, and have to learn all over again how to accomplish even the simplest tasks with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Steve Jobs insisted that all Apple’s products be as easy to use as possible, with as few buttons as necessary. This would make them friendly and non-intimidating. Jobs said that figuring out how to use one of Apple’s products should be “intuitive.” In fact, when an Apple board member visited an African village and showed his iPad to a child, the child picked it up and immediately figured out how to use it, even though he was illiterate and had never seen one before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">When designing Apple stores, Jobs insisted that the layout be simple, inviting, and open, so that a customer walking in would immediately perceive the layout and be reassured that this is a friendly, non-intimidating place to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Reading this made me think of Disneyland. When Walt Disney designed his magic kingdom, he wanted guests to feel that same reassurance. Thus the buildings are almost, but not quite, full scale. There is only one entrance, and only one way to go after you do enter: toward a charming (not intimidating) castle you see in the not-too-far distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Attending a worship service can be an intimidating experience for someone who’s never been or who has been away from the church for some time. One of the things I turn my attention to every now and then is the “design” of our church, especially the Sunday morning worship experience. From the moment a person steps out of their car, do they experience a sense of welcome? Is it immediately clear which way to go? Does the layout of our building provide a sense of reassurance? Does the bulletin give a clear indication of what is about to happen in a simple, easy-to-read format?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Of course, the absolute best way for a person to feel welcome and reassured is to be accompanied by a friend who has invited them to worship. Helping people feel “at home” when they come to worship is one way we can be a movement for wholeness in our community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-38514173967211419142012-01-05T14:32:00.000-08:002012-01-05T14:32:10.107-08:00Hike: Stough Canyon<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2n3gF7UmDXI/Tv9ZRYo6LzI/AAAAAAAAPiQ/ql6ZBdmR_oo/s576/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2n3gF7UmDXI/Tv9ZRYo6LzI/AAAAAAAAPiQ/ql6ZBdmR_oo/s200/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520003.JPG" width="150" /></a>As I mentioned, the weather was remarkably warm and clear in the days following Christmas. For those who are interested, here are some more details about a wonderful place to go on a day hike in Burbank....<br />
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The trail begins at <a href="http://www.ci.burbank.ca.us/index.aspx?page=256">Stough Canyon Park Nature Center</a>, where there is a parking lot and restrooms. The parking lot gate closes at 5:00pm, so if you plan on being on the trails later than that, park along the street below the parking lot gate. <br />
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Parking below the gate would, in fact, be recommended in the summer, as evening hikes allow you to avoid the hot midday sun. However, it was a pleasantly warm winter morning when I began my hike. Actually, I hiked this trail two days in a row; the first day, my companions were my family, my brother-in-law, and my two nieces. Some of them weren't in a hiking mood, however, so I returned the following morning with my dog Saydee, who is always in the mood for a good walk.<br />
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I was worried about it being chilly. It was December, after all. I contemplated wearing a long sleeve shirt over my t-shirt, but upon stepping out of the car I decided it wasn't needed. In fact, after Saydee and I began running up the wide trails in the morning sun, my t-shirt soon came off as well. In the summer, when the sun's rays are harsh, I tend to avoid sunlight, or at least slather on a thick layer of sunblock. But the gentler winter rays of sunlight felt good as Saydee and I made our way to the top. And as you can tell, a little sunlight might be a good thing in my case...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhYcSJ_2DDo/Tv9YwJra21I/AAAAAAAAPgU/HlWlz_daauI/s800/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IhYcSJ_2DDo/Tv9YwJra21I/AAAAAAAAPgU/HlWlz_daauI/s320/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trails continue along the ridge, giving views of both sides of the Verdugo Mountains. (As a kid growing up in Burbank, they were known as the Verdugo Hills, but I guess they have since been promoted to Mountain status.) It is here on the backside that the trail Saydee and I followed nestled itself briefly into a few ravines where the sun's rays didn't reach, and there was a bit of a chill there, but the shade didn't last long. We were soon back out in the glorious southern California sunshine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bmVF5TASJ0o/Tv9Y39hgHhI/AAAAAAAAPgo/_vE5iGeNb0I/s720/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bmVF5TASJ0o/Tv9Y39hgHhI/AAAAAAAAPgo/_vE5iGeNb0I/s320/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On previous hikes in these mountains, I followed a side trail to the ruins of an old youth camp. A building foundation and chimney are all that remain. Saydee and I did not go to the youth camp on this trip, although from a few spots on the main trail I could see the chimney rising above the sage scrub. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One option for hikers here is to continue along the ridge of the Verdugo Mountains and descend through Wildwood Canyon, and then cut through the golf course to return to Stough Park. Because we (well, actually, I) had plans to see a matinee in Hollywood later that day, Saydee and I did not make the whole loop, but returned back the way we came. As we came down the trail, views of Bob Hope Airport (as a kid growing up, it was Burbank Airport) and the San Fernando Valley stretched out before us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HBv7SwjNuU/Tv9Y61nOdZI/AAAAAAAAPgw/OtSKazq_kQ4/s720/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HBv7SwjNuU/Tv9Y61nOdZI/AAAAAAAAPgw/OtSKazq_kQ4/s320/christmas-new%252520year%2525202011%252520029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-23841257974214736012011-12-31T11:04:00.000-08:002011-12-31T11:04:09.548-08:00Outside<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This last week of the year has given us some incredibly great weather, even by California standards. With our family taking some time to visit friends and family throughout the state, I've tried to find activities that would allow us to get outdoors as much as possible. Here are some "postcards" from our week...</div><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WefSPJ-t8hg/Tv9Y70fTW-I/AAAAAAAAPg4/YGTBv2SGjcE/s1600/christmas-new+year+2011+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WefSPJ-t8hg/Tv9Y70fTW-I/AAAAAAAAPg4/YGTBv2SGjcE/s400/christmas-new+year+2011+027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toyon (aka "California Holly") in the Verdugo Mountains. It is from this plant that Hollywood gets its name.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-botMV3Ha6FA/Tv9YwOVkboI/AAAAAAAAPgQ/n0vdAC_w1uA/s1600/christmas-new+year+2011+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-botMV3Ha6FA/Tv9YwOVkboI/AAAAAAAAPgQ/n0vdAC_w1uA/s400/christmas-new+year+2011+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trail in the Verdugo Mountains above Burbank on a beautiful day. Downtown Los Angeles is in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OAiAduF1efs/Tv9ZQNVt2gI/AAAAAAAAPiE/VVCzw2pGzyA/s720/IMG_0597%252520%2525282%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OAiAduF1efs/Tv9ZQNVt2gI/AAAAAAAAPiE/VVCzw2pGzyA/s400/IMG_0597%252520%2525282%252529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan and his friend (who we only see about once a year) on downtown Sacramento's Discovery Park Trail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-78852487817184807292011-12-22T09:14:00.000-08:002011-12-22T09:14:31.516-08:00Happy HannukahInspired by his best friend who is Jewish, my youngest son is curious to learn about his friend's faith. His best friend's mother gave us a menorah to use in our home, and we've been lighting candles. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdp2U0j-0Kc/TvNk6AZmSuI/AAAAAAAAPfw/EejJlYnV19o/s1600/IMG_0554+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdp2U0j-0Kc/TvNk6AZmSuI/AAAAAAAAPfw/EejJlYnV19o/s400/IMG_0554+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-73254813057410924372011-12-20T06:41:00.000-08:002011-12-20T06:42:25.877-08:00Winter SolsticeHere in the Pacific Time Zone, the Winter Solstice occurs late tomorrow night. The days are short, the nights long. What a good week for a festival of lights and celebration of Christmas....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MD3Tuu9VpIg/TvCdb9dOVOI/AAAAAAAAPfk/VqXdvgs7Km0/s1600/IMG_0544%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MD3Tuu9VpIg/TvCdb9dOVOI/AAAAAAAAPfk/VqXdvgs7Km0/s640/IMG_0544%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-39601105736968415192011-12-15T12:26:00.000-08:002011-12-15T12:26:16.122-08:00GarlandIt seemed a shame to me that every year, we decorate the inside of our church so beautifully -- especially the sanctuary -- but do nothing on the outside of the building. Were we reserving the joy of Christmas for ourselves only, keeping it locked away as if it were our little secret? <br />
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I suggested to someone that we should add some decoration, some garland perhaps, to the front exterior. A day or two later, a box of garland appeared in my office. A few days after that, some lovely bows were brought in to adorn the garland. I purchased some hooks, and spent some time figuring out how far apart they should be in order to fit perfectly. (6 feet 10 inches, in case you are wondering.) <br />
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Then I spent 3 hours going up and down a ladder, measuring the distances, putting the hooks in, and hanging the garland. I'm very happy with the result, and am glad that we are able to now share some of the Christmas joy with our community through these decorations that all can see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekXtLCiXVSI/TupWpLfEaiI/AAAAAAAAPfU/e4Twd98H0xo/s1600/christmas+decorations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekXtLCiXVSI/TupWpLfEaiI/AAAAAAAAPfU/e4Twd98H0xo/s320/christmas+decorations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-8870048662122424362011-12-13T01:55:00.000-08:002011-12-13T01:55:00.196-08:00Red Leaves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4skBS9p4N0A/TuZOHxStJLI/AAAAAAAAPfE/3-qx3ebN1jY/s1600/IMG_0488+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4skBS9p4N0A/TuZOHxStJLI/AAAAAAAAPfE/3-qx3ebN1jY/s640/IMG_0488+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Here in southern California, we don't get the colorful displays of fall leaves to the extent that other places do, which makes dramatic displays of color like this stand out all that much more. The fact that these leaves waited to turn a brilliant red until just a few weeks before Christmas makes it even more special, I think.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-42634535847184660452011-12-08T01:25:00.000-08:002011-12-08T01:25:00.701-08:00Scarcity Vs. AbundanceLast week, I wrote about the <a href="http://www.fieldofdandelions.com/2011/12/youre-invited-to-dinner.html">Wednesday Night Dinners</a> I started at my church. My reflections were influenced by a book I was reading: <i> The Abundant Community</i>, by Peter Block and John McKnight. Well, I've finished the book now, and it has led me to do some more reflecting on the dinner gatherings that I've come to find so meaningful.<br />
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At these dinners, the group that attends basically creates its own entertainment. We're not paying someone else to provide us with their idea of a "good time," which is what happens when we go to a movie, a theme park, watch a DVD, or even eat at a restaurant (especially a chain restaurant where the meal you order in Long Beach is exactly the same as the meal that is being served to hundreds or thousands of other diners in restaurants all over the continent).<br />
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It's nice to pay someone else to entertain us once in awhile. However, paying someone else to entertain us is an idea based on <i>scarcity</i>. We can only experience as much entertainment as we can afford. Also, when we pay someone else to entertain us, we are living out the belief that our own gifts aren't good enough to share. Our own gifts aren't good enough, so we have to pay someone else who is "gifted" to entertain us.<br />
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Creating our own entertainment, on the other hand, is an idea based on <i>abundance</i>. Every person has gifts, and is empowered to share them. The amount of entertainment we can experience is limitless, as long as we are willing to share our gifts. <br />
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Christmas is approaching. For some reason, we believe that the best gifts are ones that can be purchased from someone else, gifts created by someone we don't even know. Thus, our generosity and gift-giving is limited by the money in our bank accounts. Christmas shopping is an exercise in <i>scarcity</i>. We can only give so much before we run out of money.<br />
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Why is it that we think that paying for a gift that was made, created, or cooked by someone else is preferable to - and more meaningful than - a gift that is made, created, or cooked specifically for us by someone we love?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-83859272051009473022011-12-06T02:10:00.000-08:002011-12-06T02:10:00.271-08:00Brothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEkNKK1AplI/TtBKoa2yiuI/AAAAAAAAPSo/KxIrj7r9CEU/s512/thanksgiving%252520%252520vazquez%252520rocks%252520024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEkNKK1AplI/TtBKoa2yiuI/AAAAAAAAPSo/KxIrj7r9CEU/s400/thanksgiving%252520%252520vazquez%252520rocks%252520024.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-24575532355223853942011-12-01T01:21:00.000-08:002011-12-01T01:21:00.507-08:00You're Invited to DinnerSix months ago, I announced that from now on, I would be cooking and eating dinner at church every Wednesday evening - and that anyone who wanted to join me was welcome.<br />
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A few people accepted my invitation. Throughout the summer, there would be seven to ten people joining me for dinner on Wednesdays. I put out a basket and invited those who had come more than once to put a few dollars in to help pay for the food. The money received almost covered what I spent.<br />
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The meals were simple: quesadillas, hamburgers, spaghetti. Later on I would get creative, trying new recipes, like the time I made Turkey & Vegetable Chili Verde from scratch. Delicious, fun to make, but still simple. The only beverage I provided was ice water, although our church does have a vending machine with reasonably priced beverages. We ate on paper plates with paper napkins.<br />
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At the end of summer, the number of dinner guests began to grow. Soon we were 15, then 20. One week we had 25. Some of those who came said they wanted an opportunity to cook, so I got to enjoy some Wednesday dinners without having to plan, shop, and prepare the food, which was nice. And the money in the basket soon began to surpass the amount that was spent.<br />
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As we begin our seventh month of Wednesday night dinners, I'm surprised to discover that each week is more enjoyable and satisfying to me than the previous week. I'm surprised, because I've been trained to expect just the opposite from life. Normally, satisfaction decreases over time. The new clothes I bought six months ago don't bring me nearly the same level of satisfaction today that they brought me when they were new. The DVD I bought over the summer now sits on a shelf collecting dust. I can say the same for just about everything I've ever bought. They quickly become old, tired, boring, or obsolete, and never bring me the long-lasting satisfaction that I crave.<br />
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But Wednesday night dinners remain fresh, exciting, and deeply satisfying. I figure this is true for several reasons:<br />
<ol><li>It's REAL. So often we seek to amuse ourselves with things that are VIRTUAL: TV, internet, tabloid magazines. But the people we encounter there aren't real. They're not there with us. We can't interact with TV and movie personalities, and we can only interact in a limited way with people via the internet. This leaves us dissatisfied.</li>
<li>It's ORGANIC. By that I mean it's something we create ourselves. We're not dependent on someone else (TV producers, fashion designers, or corporate advertisers, for example) to mass-produce entertainment for us. This is something we've created. It's unique, and it's ours.</li>
<li>It's DYNAMIC. The shirt I bought six months ago, it's still the same. The DVD I bought: the story never changes. But an experience that is real and organic will always be changing, different every time. It's dynamic, not static. New people show up, and the old people have new stories to tell. The menu changes from week to week, and so does the location where we eat: outside on the patio when it's warm, inside when it's not. In conversation around the dinner table, we listen and respond to what's going on in our lives and in our families: births, deaths, lost jobs, new jobs, new relationships, and the joys and challenges of raising children or caring for parents.</li>
</ol>This is community at its best. This is LIFE at its best. It's much more satisfying than anything I could buy. And it just keeps getting better.<br />
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So: Who wants to join me for dinner? <br />
<br />
(For those seriously interested in coming, yes, the invitation is real. Weekly updates are posted at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch">www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch</a>. If I'm organized enough, I'll even post the menu there. Everyone is welcome.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-86853866552629507492011-11-29T07:13:00.000-08:002011-11-29T07:13:28.063-08:00Vasquez Rocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMy7l09npPw/TtBKljhe7NI/AAAAAAAAPSg/VxOn4OmD5VU/s640/thanksgiving%252520%252520vazquez%252520rocks%252520021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMy7l09npPw/TtBKljhe7NI/AAAAAAAAPSg/VxOn4OmD5VU/s640/thanksgiving%252520%252520vazquez%252520rocks%252520021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The day after Thanksgiving found my family and my sister's family climbing around at <a href="http://parks.lacounty.info/Parkinfo.asp?URL=cms1_033383.asp&Title=Vasquez">Vasquez Rocks</a>. Does it look familiar? You've probably seen this place before even if you've never been here, as numerous movies and TV shows have been filmed here. Often it is used to portray another planet (as in Star Trek), and there are many camera angles that do not include green foliage as in my photo above, giving the rocks a desolate, other-worldly appearance. (Look closely, and you can see someone standing near the top of the rock formation.)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-63896539840776205312011-11-24T01:11:00.000-08:002011-11-24T01:11:00.060-08:00Hiking Zuma CanyonToday is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, an official holiday to remember all the blessings we have and to give thanks. There will be parades, football, and family gatherings. We will feast on turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.<br />
<br />
And then we will realize that all the blessings we have aren't enough, and we will rush to the stores to start shopping for Christmas. (There's a sermon there for sure, but you can be thankful that I'll save it for another day.)<br />
<br />
Being thankful is an act rooted in the present. Living in the present can be a challenge. Our minds are filled with memories and regrets of the past, as well as hopes and anxieties for the future. <br />
<br />
This is a challenge for me just as it is for most people. One of the best ways I know to overcome this challenge is to go for a walk, preferably in nature.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uhx5juXeDW8/TskXu4_rqGI/AAAAAAAAPQA/P2zZIuBIlFY/s640/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uhx5juXeDW8/TskXu4_rqGI/AAAAAAAAPQA/P2zZIuBIlFY/s400/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Last Saturday my friend David and I went hiking in Zuma Canyon, near Malibu. Turning inland at Zuma Beach, we quickly arrived at the trailhead parking lot. Surprisingly, it was almost empty.<br />
<br />
The trail we followed was a sinuous loop, meandering clockwise (more or less), in and out like the outline of an amoeba or an oak leaf. As a crow flies, we didn't go very far, and only at the end did we rise above the canyon floor to reach a low ridge. This was fine with me, as I have learned to appreciate the beauty of a riparian woodland, and have outgrown the need to climb to the top of a mountain just so that I can say I made it to the top. I still hike to the tops of mountains once in a while, but for me it's the journey that matters more than the destination.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJsuZPShNrE/TskXzMrhB_I/AAAAAAAAPQA/vuyeB7DG5RY/s640/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJsuZPShNrE/TskXzMrhB_I/AAAAAAAAPQA/vuyeB7DG5RY/s320/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_GjcUD7-nQ/TskXytnvAsI/AAAAAAAAPQA/K-em8ulnJPE/s640/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_GjcUD7-nQ/TskXytnvAsI/AAAAAAAAPQA/K-em8ulnJPE/s320/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Hiking through Zuma Canyon, I am at times nearly overwhelmed by the abundance around me. (<i>Zuma</i> is a Chumash word that means "abundance.") My thoughts remain in the present as I notice the sounds of crickets, birds, and the soft whisper of the gentle breeze. I see green grass and green leaves, new growth now appearing as the vegetation revives following its summer dormancy. I feel the soft leaves of various types of sage, velvety smooth, then smell their wonderful aroma. It's the best smell in the world. I could live off that smell.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUiYITlLOkw/TskX0XZgLqI/AAAAAAAAPQA/w1XFZ3ljoHc/s640/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUiYITlLOkw/TskX0XZgLqI/AAAAAAAAPQA/w1XFZ3ljoHc/s400/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLUMIxprUgY/TskXyYe0dWI/AAAAAAAAPQA/aWqkwgzljZs/s640/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="293" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLUMIxprUgY/TskXyYe0dWI/AAAAAAAAPQA/aWqkwgzljZs/s400/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
At times, in sycamore groves, yellow and brown leaves rain down on us. Unlike the scrub plants at the edges of the canyon, sycamore roots go deep to a year-round water source, and they lose their leaves in fall/winter. And at the "end of the trail," (so designated by a trail sign), there is even a trickle of water flowing over the rocks and sand.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvO85WnzAMk/TskXyJiyttI/AAAAAAAAPQA/1HMYaurUcbM/s512/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OvO85WnzAMk/TskXyJiyttI/AAAAAAAAPQA/1HMYaurUcbM/s400/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520015.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
At the trailhead there are picnic tables nestled in a grove of towering sycamores, diffused and dappled sunlight giving the area an open, friendly feel. Sitting here at the end of the hike provides the perfect opportunity to give thanks for the present moment and its blessings.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlvYCpAifxg/TskXvslXmFI/AAAAAAAAPQA/aBv2wJWgGgU/s512/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlvYCpAifxg/TskXvslXmFI/AAAAAAAAPQA/aBv2wJWgGgU/s400/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520001.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<em>Thanks to </em><a href="http://www.eastwesthike.com/2011/11/trancas-zuma-canyon.html"><em>ADKinLA</em></a><em> whose trip to Zuma Canyon a week earlier inspired my own visit. More info about Zuma Canyon can be found </em><a href="http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=376841"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-11363387112499461462011-11-22T01:31:00.000-08:002011-11-22T07:06:50.707-08:00Green Hearts<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RkdVE5i5mAE/TskXxcH00cI/AAAAAAAAPQA/Bsh7vKXyz24/s640/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RkdVE5i5mAE/TskXxcH00cI/AAAAAAAAPQA/Bsh7vKXyz24/s640/Zuma%252520Canyon%252520009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><br />
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo was taken on a hike in Zuma Canyon this past weekend. <br />
I'll share more photos and a description of the hike later this week.</td></tr>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-41686896504196758812011-11-17T00:59:00.000-08:002011-11-17T00:59:00.676-08:00Authentic LivingAs a child, I worked hard to please my parents and my teachers. As an adult, I find that I am still working hard to please others. And as a pastor, I often feel that the way to do that is to make sure I live within the expectations of how a pastor is supposed to think and live.<br />
<br />
On the one hand, living to please others and meet their expectations can have social benefits. I'm currently reading the biography of Steve Jobs, a man who, despite his greatness, didn't give a shit (to use his language) about what other people thought. Thus, he was often rude, tactless, and offensive.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, always living to please others and meet their expectations can be incredibly confining. It can lead one to feel trapped, captive.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, I sat down and wrote a few paragraphs that reflected the real me - not the me that I feel compelled to present to the world. I found it to be a liberating experience. I was able to be authentic and real. Here is some of what I wrote:<br />
<br />
I eat, sleep, fart, feel lazy, dream, stare too long in the mirror, relieve myself, have sex. I have questions regarding God that I doubt will ever be answered; questions about eternity, questions about sex and sexuality, questions about meaning and purpose and good and evil. I have questions about the existence and nature of God.<br />
<br />
I find exploring these questions to be fascinating. The questions always lead to more questions, and yet I feel that simply by asking them, I learn more about God and more about myself.<br />
<br />
Pastors are supposed to be better, holier, and more spiritual, but I do not feel that I am a better person than anyone else. I am happily married, but I'd be lying if I told you that beautiful women don't cause my head to turn; or even, sometimes, beautiful men.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure what is good or moral 100% of the time. I sometimes recognize that both sides of an ethical debate are valid. However, most of the time, I think I <em>do</em> have a pretty good idea what is good or moral. Faith helps. Scripture helps. But even when I do know what is good and moral, there are times when I'm not sure I <em>want</em> to be good and moral....<br />
<br />
If these words strike a chord with you, then welcome to the conversation. Together, let us continue asking questions and exploring what it means to be human.<br />
<br />
If what I've written here offends you or disturbs you, then I invite you to take some time to explore who you really are, deep down, and to ask some questions that you probably have never dared to ask yourself before. And why haven't you? Are you afraid of the answers? Are you afraid of discovering who you really are? <br />
<br />
Join the journey. It may be risky. But that's what <em>living</em> is all about.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-29291012105954057972011-11-15T01:33:00.000-08:002011-11-15T01:33:00.095-08:00Baptism Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-__sIiAMhY/TsFcYt3evTI/AAAAAAAAPF8/m32CvnH55bw/s512/el%252520dorado%252520baptism%252520walk%252520050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7-__sIiAMhY/TsFcYt3evTI/AAAAAAAAPF8/m32CvnH55bw/s320/el%252520dorado%252520baptism%252520walk%252520050.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Some youth in my church had been asking me about baptism. I needed to schedule a class to talk with them about this, and what better classroom than the outdoors? So invited them to go on a walk with me, at one of my favorite places: El Dorado Nature Center.<br />
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We arrived, and two of the youth (who happened to be brothers) looked at the spot at the edge of the parking lot where the pavement ended and a dirt trail disappeared into the woods. "Are there bears in there?"<br />
<br />
"No. I don't think there are any bears anywhere in Long Beach. The biggest thing in there might be a coyote."<br />
<br />
"Will it hurt us?"<br />
<br />
"No. We probably won't even see a coyote. But if you're quiet, there is a good chance of seeing a rabbit or a turtle."<br />
<br />
Almost immediately after starting our walk, the kids spotted a squirrel. Then the path crossed a bridge over a pond, and they eagerly pointed to some ducks. We also saw egrets, turtles, butterflies, and a hawk. We even saw some trees with orange leaves, surrounded by a forest of leaves that prefer to remain green. (Yeah, that's how nature does fall here in southern California.)<br />
<br />
But for me, the best sight of all was watching the kids get so excited over spending a few hours in nature. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwVTdD-rfl4/TsFcA2SyOiI/AAAAAAAAPF8/ejCmwzxZ6OQ/s640/el%252520dorado%252520baptism%252520walk%252520008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwVTdD-rfl4/TsFcA2SyOiI/AAAAAAAAPF8/ejCmwzxZ6OQ/s640/el%252520dorado%252520baptism%252520walk%252520008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-66292675431663570082011-11-10T01:29:00.000-08:002011-11-10T18:52:24.186-08:00Stop. Breathe. Be Aware.I was in a foul mood, but unsure why. There was an uneasiness that had settled in the center of my chest. I found many reasons to be discouraged, but few reasons to be optimistic or hopeful.<br />
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Finally, a voice inside my head said, "Stop." <br />
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I did stop, and took notice of my foul mood. I hadn't even realized I was <em>in</em> a foul mood, but now I realized that it had been hovering over me for hours, like a cloud casting a dark shadow over my day.<br />
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I'm not normally in a foul mood (at least, that's what I like to think), and so I began to wonder what was going on. Why was I in a foul mood now? Where did this particular foul mood come from?<br />
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For the first time that day, I paid attention to my state of mind. I examined it carefully and gently, much like I once examined my crying baby, searching for the cause of his discomfort. After a few minutes of searching, I found the source of my discomfort.<br />
<br />
I had started my day checking email and facebook. Someone had posted a link to a video of a race car crash in which a driver was killed. I rarely click on such links, but I did this time, and watched the video.<br />
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The video showed a horrific scene of carnage and destruction, but at the time I didn't realize how disturbed it had left me. Hours later, when I finally stopped and took notice of my mood, I discovered its cause. This made it easier to deal with. With new understanding, I was able to treat myself and the mood I was in with kindness, which in turn eaased my suffering and helped lift my mood; and this, I'm sure, helped make me more pleasant to be around, bringing joy not only to my day, but to the day of those around me.<br />
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Are you in a foul mood? Is your fuse short today, for some reason that you can't quite figure out? Are you feeling on edge?<br />
<br />
Stop.<br />
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Take a breath.<br />
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Acknowledge the mood you are in. Gently examine it and seek to understand without judging. Treat yourself with kindness, and allow your foul mood to slowly melt away into contentment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-9041180783674339822011-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:002011-11-08T07:31:07.214-08:00Buddhist Drums, Lutheran ChurchOne of the most surprising and exciting activities I'm involved in is serving on the board of directors for the <a href="http://www.scinterfaith.org/">South Coast Interfaith Council</a>. Last Sunday, the Council held its annual Music Festival, which this year took place in an old Lutheran Church near downtown Long Beach. Before the concert began, I snapped this photo of the sanctuary, with taiko drums set up for one of the acts.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4BJIf7Y0KY/TrlK-YZx_1I/AAAAAAAAPDQ/VsjEekA6rIw/s1600/MusicFestival%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B4BJIf7Y0KY/TrlK-YZx_1I/AAAAAAAAPDQ/VsjEekA6rIw/s400/MusicFestival%2B001.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-67222990065072768422011-11-03T02:49:00.000-07:002011-11-03T11:24:27.207-07:00Be a Blessing, Not a ComplainerPeople who use social media like facebook, twitter, etc. know that it can be a mixed blessing. This is true for a number of reasons; one of them is that social media can be a tool for positive blessings, and it can be used as a tool for negative whining and complaints.<br />
<br />
Not long ago, I noticed that the posts and status updates of some of my social media friends were really bringing me down. Every post seemed to be a complaint about life, about the government, about society. Eventually, I began to "hide" the updates from the most consistently negative of my friends, as they were starting to make me depressed.<br />
<br />
Then there are those friends whose social media updates are a breath of fresh air. Postive. Uplifting. A blessing to the world wide web. Occasionally there would be a prayer request for a hospitalized family member or for getting through a particularly difficult situation (which is certainly fine), but generally speaking, they were free of complaints.<br />
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Politicians and government in general get a lot of the complaints. We sure do like to criticize and ridicule our elected officials! The elected officials, likewise, like to criticize and ridicule each other. I wonder, though: are the politicians following our lead, or is it the other way around? We complain about the partisanship and bickering in government; we complain about anyone who thinks differently than we do. If elected officials are there to represent the people, then perhaps their partisanship and bickering are an appropriate reflection of the people they represent.<br />
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What I'm saying is that if I want my representatives in government to act more civil toward those with whom they disagree, maybe such behavior needs to start with me.<br />
<br />
Last week I spent a little time in downtown Long Beach, and in walking the streets I passed by the Occupy Long Beach camp. A part of me really wanted to engage these folks in conversation, and let them know that I think a lot of the stuff they are trying to bring to society's attention are the same things that God wants brought to our attention.<br />
<br />
However, they seem more "anti" than "pro." There is a certain level of anger and even animosity that made me slightly uncomfortable as I passed by. So I smiled and said hello, and kept walking.<br />
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It's similar to the situation of the <a href="http://www.fieldofdandelions.com/2011/01/peaceful-protest-it-depends-on-how-you.html">lobster protesters</a> I've written about before. <br />
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I know, some things are worth getting angry about. I just think the ratio of positive thoughts and constructive action to complaints and snarkiness needs to be greater than it is. Starting with me.<br />
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<i>Update: <a href="http://www.gazettes.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-rudd-epitomizes-community-work/article_04f58048-058c-11e1-b317-001cc4c002e0.html">Here's a news article</a> about a local Long Beach resident who, I think, exemplifies what I'm talking about here.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-18940526331986407412011-11-01T04:51:00.000-07:002011-11-01T04:51:00.264-07:00Breakers at Dawn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I kind of took a little break from blogging, but I'm back now.<br />
Here's a photo I took on an early morning walk in downtown Long Beach the other day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn3f37sbpUw/Tq80vP7imKI/AAAAAAAAPAI/almhEZQCiXU/s1600/edgar%2527s+visit+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn3f37sbpUw/Tq80vP7imKI/AAAAAAAAPAI/almhEZQCiXU/s400/edgar%2527s+visit+032.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-80578270401814260902011-10-18T09:35:00.000-07:002011-10-18T09:35:38.736-07:00Watching the Waves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xkSe0JO8hAI/Tp2qnIUBEKI/AAAAAAAAO_0/HU7aCepS2Rc/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xkSe0JO8hAI/Tp2qnIUBEKI/AAAAAAAAO_0/HU7aCepS2Rc/s640/017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-40057302113830078182011-10-13T12:52:00.000-07:002011-10-13T12:52:49.079-07:00Jesus and the 99%Am sick & in bed today, so please forgive the lack of eloquence here. However, I was reading a book by Corssan and came across this: "The Roman Empire was characterized by an abysmal gulf separating the upper from the lower classes. On one side of that great divide were the Ruler and the Governors, who together made up 1 percent of the population but owned at least half of the land. Also on that same side were three other classes: the Priests, who could own as much as 15 percent of the land; the Retainers, ranging from military generals to expert bureaucrats; and the Merchants, who probably evolved upward from the lower classes but who could end up with considerable wealth and even some political power as well." On the other side, Crossan goes on to say, were the Peasants, the ARtisans ("below the Peasants in social class"), and then the Degraded and the Expendable classes.<br />
<br />
Jesus, as a carpenter, was in the Artisan class, in "the dangerous space between Peasants and Degradeds or Expendables." The gospels clearly set Jesus' ministry & message of the kingdom of God as an alternative to the kingdom of the Rulers, that 1 percent who oppressed the other 99 percent.<br />
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Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
Now back to resting and drinking my fluids.<br />
<br />
Source: John Dominic Crossan, <em>Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography</em>. p. 21Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-143822147264496682011-10-11T07:47:00.000-07:002011-10-11T07:47:19.207-07:00Singing in the SunThe stage was set up in the only logical spot given the layout of the grounds, and it was a good spot, except that the sun behind the stage made it difficult to get decent pictures of the performers. But with a little creativity, it also created some unique opportunities for photos.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKCM_Cat8S4/TpRSSTmalcI/AAAAAAAAAz0/nf_P9It_1cw/s640/rocktheloch%252520021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKCM_Cat8S4/TpRSSTmalcI/AAAAAAAAAz0/nf_P9It_1cw/s640/rocktheloch%252520021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This week, the planning team for our regional church's first-ever outdoor music festival met to evaluate and consider the possibility of hosting a similar event next year. Based on the success of this year's event, it appears that next year is a "go."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-51788965327331903412011-10-06T08:34:00.000-07:002011-10-06T08:34:25.475-07:00Thinking About ChristmasA few weeks ago, I started to write a post about how I have decided to let Santa bring my family a new TV for Christmas this year. But before I say any more, here's an assignment: Grab a pencil or pen (go on), and write down a list of your ten favorite things. And by ten favorite things, I mean, if you were moving to a new city and were only allowed to take ten things with you, what would you take? What ten things that you own would you not be able to live without?<br />
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OK, put that list aside for a moment. Grab a new sheet of paper, and describe the one or two or three happiest places you've ever been; places where your soul was at rest, where you felt free and alive and peaceful.<br />
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Now take both lists and put them side by side. How many of the things on your first list did you have when you were in the places you listed on your 2nd list? How many of those things are what <em>made</em> those places so special to you? Was it those <em>things</em> that put your soul at rest, that made you feel free and alive and peaceful?<br />
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Now, about that TV...<br />
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There's just, oh, one or two of fifteen problems. One, Christmas is still three and a half months away. Well, it was when I first started writing this. Now it's only two and a half months away. A month ago, I was finding it hard to wait for a new TV, because I saw all those beautiful, large screen TVs in the stores, and I wanted one NOW.<br />
After all, compared to our giant box of a TV with its cathode-ray tubes and un-sharp picture and off-color images and permanently-on captioning (the color and the captioning the result of having broken the remote which is the only way to adjust such things), the wall of new TVs at the Big Store down the street sure do look <em>cool</em>. "Let's go get our TV!" My wife said to me. "Yeah, but then what will Santa bring us?" <br />
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"Oh yeah."<br />
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I went to the public library the other day, intending to return a giant monster of a novel that took me all summer to read. (I mean that literally. I renewed it once, then tried to renew it again but was told someone else had placed a hold on it. So I turned it in and immediately placed a hold on it myself, so that I could get it back and finish it.) I didn't intend to check any new books out, but on the shelf I saw "The 100-thing Challenge." <br />
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Perhaps it goes without saying, but it's about a man who decided to live a whole year with only 100 "things" in his possession.<br />
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Reading the book reminded me of the lists I've made for myself, the same lists I assigned you at the beginning of this essay. And I remembered then that none of my "happy places" made my list #2 because of anything that was on my list #1.<br />
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Not even a fancy TV or any other electronic device.<br />
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In fact, at the top of the list of happy places is a cabin with a bare plywood floor and a canvas roof - more of a tent, really than a cabin - where I spent several summers while counseling summer camp back when I was in college. Everything I had with me while I lived in that tent-cabin came with me in a duffel bag. <br />
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In the month since I first started writing this, it has dawned on me that we don't really watch TV all that much. At this moment, I can't even remember the last show I watched on the TV. I think it was some DVD movie from Netflix that none of us remembers requesting and which was incredibly boring, despite having some big name actors in it. (Incidentally, it is also the last DVD movie we'll be watching from Netflix, since we, like so many others, have cancelled that service.)<br />
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I mentioned this to my wife. Together, we then decided that Santa could bring us something else for Christmas, something that isn't really a "thing," but more of an event, an activity that our family can do together. Santa has already paid for this, in fact, and it's just waiting for Christmas day. And, unlike the TV, this gift might actually make our family happy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9784495.post-19460246874235220352011-10-04T03:21:00.000-07:002011-10-04T03:21:00.171-07:00Storms Are Coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q2SbFsYnUSU/Too1iF5vBLI/AAAAAAAAO8k/1oFau1WQV6o/s1600/rainbow+160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q2SbFsYnUSU/Too1iF5vBLI/AAAAAAAAO8k/1oFau1WQV6o/s640/rainbow+160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>You may have noticed that posts have been appearing here less frequently. Well, I've been taking care of sick family members for two weeks, and making trips back and forth to the hospital to visit my mom the week before. So I've not been writing much.<br />
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But I have been taking pictures. The other day, I stepped outside the house and the rainbow above me took my breath away. There wasn't really any rain reaching the ground - just a few drops - but our first real storm of the season is expected to arrive tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2