NAVIGATING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

GODSPELL - come one! come all!

2009-08-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

MBCC Youth Presents:

GODSPELL

Friday, August 7, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 2 p.m.

All seats reserved - Tickets $10.00
For reservations call 310-628-0821

Manhattan Beach Community Church

Community Hall Theater

303 South Peck Avenue,

Manhattan Beach

California

It has been far too long!

2009-07-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have had quite a busy summer!!! Most likely when we launch the Manhattan Beach Community (CREW) Youth and Families webpage I will need to move my blog to another host... so I just haven't blogged in a while.

This Summer has been AMAZING. I took a cool class associated with UCC General Synod in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Our youth play (Godspell) while being frustrating and time-intensive is really going well. I got to visits with some friends while in Michigan. I have gotten to preach a vew times which has been so fun. So busy... but good is life so far!

updates will come more regularly in the Fall. Wait for it... wait for it...

My Newness

2009-03-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a while. But I thought a current update was in order... because so far 2009 is going really well. Which is a departure from 2008 and 2007, truthfully. At least for job stuff.

2008 was pivotal, though, for a number of reasons not the least of which was spending time having my western world rocked in Cambodia over the summer. I will never be the same after that transformative experience. Still can't put it all into words. Maybe in a book someday...

But 2009 is going well.

I have a NEW apartment. In February I moved into a fun apartment. I live alone for the first time in years which is GREAT (particularly considering I spent the last year living in a variety of spaces that gave me very little privacy or personal space at all). I live in the urban sprawl of El Segundo. I see and hear planes land. I have fun neighbors. I love it.

I have a NEW job. I also started my new job in February. I work as an Associate Pastor for Youth and Families at a church in Manhattan Beach, CA. I LOVE IT. I mean I am still easing into it. Coming to a new job and community where EVERYTHING is new is always a bit of a struggle. I am observing. I am hanging out. I am trying to figure out how to "lead" in this position. In some ways I am starting from scratch, which is a bit overwhelming. But God will show me, I have no doubt. And it will be shown to me in unexpected ways. And it will make me gloriously uncomforable, I am sure!!

Here is a picture of only some of the youth I work with at the Annual Dinner last night:

'Tis the Season

2008-12-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

It is time once again for me to list my Christmas story pet peeves. These are traditions that have been handed down through the years that do not portray a correct understanding of the Biblical narrative of the birth of Jesus. Here they are in no particular order:

1. The LOCATION of Jesus' birth.
There was no hotel. Seriously. Mary and Joseph did not get turned away from an "inn" like as in a hotel or Holiday Inn. There was no room for them in the "upper room" (the word is "kataluma" same Greek word used later by Mark & Luke describe the place where Jesus invites his disciples to partake of the last supper and it is also the place Luke describes Jesus' followers meet after Jesus' ascension when the Holy Spirit falls upon them - not the "same" upper room - but it indicates a place within a family dwelling - like a living room)... so because of their lower status (their age and family status) they were in the "lower room" of his family home. If you know anything at all about middle-eastern hospitality you would not think that Mary & Joseph had to find a hotel room in a city where he was from (there were there for the census - his whole family was from Bethlehem) nor would you think they were forced to have the baby in a stable in the middle of some field somewhere. There were no barns. Not one. During this time large families lived together in multi-level houses and the "upper room(s)" were always given to the more senior (older) members of the family and the lower rooms often housed the animals that where brought INSIDE for the night to be kept safe. THIS is the sitiuation Mary found herself in when Jesus was born. She was in the "garage" (for lack of a better image) but still a part of the family home of Joseph's family.

2. The Magi numbered more than three and did not arrive AT Jesus' birth.
There were not three wiseman (find that in scripture, ya can't! - read Matthew 2:1) and they were not there WHEN Jesus was born (but came later - read Matthew 2:11). Jesus was a "teknia" (the Greek word for child) when the wiseman (many of them in a caravan) came to visit Joseph & Maryin a HOUSE. They probably didn't follow a star but an astrological sign of something big happening (you don't think God can move the stars into any formation he wants?).

3. Jesus' Birth Date
Jesus was not born on December 25 (or probably even in winter). This is the date the Roman Emporer Constantine I decreed it to be on, and before that Jesus's birth was not celebrated on that date.

I am a fan of the History Channel...

2008-12-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

but it is not a fan of ME (well, the city where I live: Los Angeles).

This week I sat down to watch the latest in the Cities of the Underworld TV series on the History Channel with a few good friends who also happen to be fellow longtime "Angelinos"... and aside from the fact that I liked the other host better (Eric something) and that this season is not as well done (written or produced)... I have tried to stick with it... because if there is one thing I love it is CREEPY history shows. Love em. Not gonna lie! Can't get enough!

But this week's episode was on the city of LOS ANGELES.

I have several initial problems with this... not the least of which that there is no true "underground" in the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles... I will detail the rest of my complaints below...

Because what we did conclude is that the History Channel does not like Los Angeles very much. Or at least the producers/writers/creators of this show. They spoke of Los Angeles in an almost entirely negative tone. We have the worst air quality, traffic, history, etc. We have the worst past of corruption... we are the worst environmentally, etc. I didn't hear ONE nice thing come out of his mouth about "Angelinos"

Now... don't get me wrong: I am far from a Pollyanna. I will admit some of what he said was TRUE... L.A. does have a rather poor record of PAST police corruption (read any of James Ellroy's novels, which are set in the seedy underbelly of LA power, politics and police - Or see the movie, "The Changeling" -true story!). And I also don't dispute that Los Angeles was STUPID when it went to CARS (thereby kicking the public transportations feet out from under it - see the documentary 'The End of Suburbia" as a vastly better explanation of how this all came about HISTORICALLY, and honestly where I think he ripped off some of his ideas) and NOW we are paying a high price to get some semblance of public transportation back, again. And while LA has many notorious murders... I am still not certain I would term the outlying "desert" area where the Manson Family farm still resides is as "the underground of LA" (literally digging up graves). And so the fact that he titled this episode "the Land of Manson" seemed well, quite honestly, a little outlandish. I also don't think Manson lived "underground" and besides for many of us the Tate murders, while undeniably tragic, happened before we were born... so we don't experience Los Angeles through some warped Manson murder lens (the way Wildman suggests)... Furthermore... I don't think LA is a haven for UFO sightings (isn't that distinction given to less populous areas in say rural Colorado?)... and so that whole "battle of LA" sequence was just oddly out of left field. The host (Don Wildman) went around making mountains of out mole hills... and "ooh-ing and ahh-ing" over NOTHING... and so it made the premise of the show seem silly and strange to anyone who has EVER lived for even a week in Los Angeles. I didn't recognize Don Wildman's Los Angeles Underworld... and I have lived in Los Angeles nearly all of my life (almost 40 years). I don't think I recognized it because this version of Los Angeles lives only in the fertile imagination of the producers/writers/host of this show. I think this episode should have been on the Sci Fi Channel, not the History Channel. What I mean is that in past shows (on Budapest or Berlin or London or New York) it always made me want to VISIT those places and envy the host for getting to go to some really cool underground locations (particularly in Rome) but for this LA focused episode the opposite seemed true for the host. I realize Los Angeles is not for everyone. But it is for some. And it is a pretty cool place to live, actually. And while as with most larger cities we have a dubious past and a complex narrative - it doesn't qualify Los Angeles as the pit of despair. OK?

"The following website has been identified as malicious"

2008-12-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

So I have a link from my Facebook page to this blog. And that message came up when I tried to use the link. Is THIS blog "malicious"? That is so weird. I wonder why it says that...

This quote is cool.

2008-12-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

I was reading facebook again... needing to go home from a long day of work... and found this cool quote on the facebook page of my teaching partner, Amber, in Cambodia. I don't know who this person is... I don't know if this quote is legit. I don't have time to google. But I wanted to put it somewhere. 'Cause it is timely. I am not a pacifist. But I do think we need to pause and question violence as a means to an end much more than we seem to do now, as a society. I don't have time to process it. I just wanted to document it.

Here is the quote:

"... peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication... it's like telling someone murder is wrong and then showing them by way of execution... when justice is bought and sold just like weapons of war the ones who always pay are the poorest of the poor..."

-Derek Webb

Ode to Black Friday

2008-12-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

I haven't been blogging in a while... I guess it is because I am in one of those "wait and see" moments in my life... between what is now and what could be. Those of you who are job searching can relate, I am sure. It has been several years now for me. But I am hopeful that I may be at the end of my current journey and onto another one. But nothing is certain. So I wait and see...

but while I am waiting... I asked for a television from my folks for Christmas. The best price we found was at Target one of those "come early" and get it sales. I honestly have NEVER woken up early to go shopping before on black Friday. I never thought I would. But this deal was honestly too good to pass up. So we took a chance. My dad and I (my mom wisely stayed home) got up and were at the Target before 6am. And I have to say I was SUPER IMPRESSED. I don't know who runs Target's Black Friday sales day... but I want to shake their hand! While we waited in a long line some Target team members circulated flyers with maps of the store and the location of each of the "hot button" items. Wisely they dispersed them throughout the store so that people wouldn't be pushing and shoving at the electronics section over multiple items. When we arrived at the location where the tv's were they were ALREADY loaded into carts for us. We just took a cart and kept going. It was almost easy. Then we looked for the two other items on our list (sheets on sale for my parents - I am introducing them to "nice" sheets AND a stainless steel toaster for me). We went to the register (all of the registers were open) and waited behind ONE person... and then we were out the door. We were at the car WITH the TV at 6:20 (I seriously thought we would be there for hours trying to deal with the craziness). We saved so much money on the TV that my parents got me the other item I wanted for Christmas: the Italian stove-top cappuccino maker from Williams-Sonoma.

So... now all I need is a full time job... so I can afford the apartment where I will watch shows on my new TV while drinking yummy cappuccino's. So... buy it and it will come? I hope so!

AUSTRALIA: The Movie

2008-11-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

Last night my very good friend and I went to the chick-flick, Australia. How do I know it is a chick-flick? Gratuitous male shirtless scenes and lots of kissing. I mean don't get my wrong. I am fine with plenty of both... when Hugh bathed shirtless some may call it unnecessary... but I call it "getting my money's worth" (I am the one in the theater of the first X-Men bummed when Wolverine finds that darn sweatshirt to put on... I mean they could have had him shirtless that ENTIRE scene, don't you think?). I am not a fan of Hugh Jackman BECAUSE he is now named the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine... I have been a fan since the Wolverine days of old... OK... well... not that long ago... but still.

I digress... truly the movie was EPIC in every way. Baz Luhrmann is a genius as far as I am concerned. He skated "cheesy" a bit but always pulled it out (a fate that the movie "Twilight" was not so fortunate in negotiating- this teen movie was ALL CHEESE, sadly). I think we are a jaded movie-going audience... we are used to the more gritty side of life. But this movie is NOT gritty... it is gloriously beautiful even in its perfection. Sure Hugh Jackman's character is a little "too" much of a man at times. Sure Nicole Kidman's face & hair are a little too perfectly flawless at times. Sure the bad guy is a bit ONE dimensional. But those are the characteristics of a EPIC movie, right? So you go with it... the little native boy is wonderful and adds heart to this movie. The scenery is spectacular... the action is good. The humor is well done. I laughed... I cried... I clutched the edge of my seat... all good responses in a movie that is long (2 hours 45 mins) without feeling TOO long.

But what really got me was the story. It is true. Well, I am sure the storyline is not (the romance)... but the surrounding backdrop is historically accurate. Northern Australian city of Darwin had their own "Pearl Harbor" and I had never known about that. The same forces that came down on Pearl Harbor also swept down on this little harbor town in Australia. It was a severe bombing that decimated that region. And it is also the true story of the "Stolen Generations" it seems indigenous and mixed-race children were taken from their homes by the government and placed into institutions and missions, to "civilize" or Christianize them (this practice went on until the early 1970's).

I think for the history lesson alone it is worth the price of admission (oh, and the shirtless scenes with Hugh)... I think it is a nice movie to have in the theaters around the holidays. It is a nice story to escape into. I recommend it highly!

You are invited!

2008-11-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE INVITED!!!

For those of you who supported me this past summer when I went to teach in Cambodia (& visit friends doing amazing ministry work in Thailand)and read my blog... which followed the action... our team is going to be presenting at this luncheon and sharing our stories... come one! come all!

***UPDATE: I will be giving a 15-minute sharing time of what I learned about community from my Cambodian brothers and sisters in the Lord. And our team will share our stories!

For Bible Study on Thursday

2008-10-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

EPHESIANS 2:11-22

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

The challenge of Jesus by Paul:
1. Jesus tears down barriers of hostility and division... Jesus IS that peace and that blood sacrifice on our behalf... he declared PEACE already... so why don't we live like that? How does our flawed and impotent understanding of peace play itself out in the church and in our own lives?
2. If our gospel is divided along racial or cultural lines than our grasp of the meaning of the death of Jesus is called into question... How is our church today divided and what role do we play in this division?
3. The physical has been made manifest in the spiritual. Symbolism no longer cuts it. We partake of the circumcision in our HEARTS. We as a collective church are the TEMPLE. We no longer perform merely ritualistic acts nor go to a particular location to be close to God. What differences must we, as the church, overcome in order to become the beautiful Temple that Jesus intended to point to God in this world?

The symbolic beauty of shoes

2008-10-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken by my friend at an orphanage in Cambodia. I think it captures the curiousity of that adorable toddler along with the practice of taking off shoes before entering homes and other places.

But what struck me was that each of these shoes represent a person loved by God. I think it is funny that the little boy is trying on shoes too big for his feet, that is also symbolic, don't you think?

Each time I went anywhere when I was in Cambodia I had to take off my shoes... and then there they were. Left with a pile of shoes at the door way of each house or business. Did my shoes represent me well? Whenever I saw a large pile of shoes I often wondered whose they were... and what kind of life they represented. Often they looked well used and well worn from tireless travel... and a life well lived.

Greed: The meltdown of our "get it even if I don't need it or have the money for it" economy.

2008-09-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

I must confess that the Stock Market confuses me. NYSE sounds like a jeans brand, to me. I don't know how to even merge onto the stock market... let alone know how to figure out what is happening, logistically, to our free market economy or this current free fall. I DO know that Bush's words seemed frightening (Crisis, etc)... and the FIRST bill his adminstration proposed with no accountability or transparency in the BAIL OUT package smacked of "give me more power to deal with THIS crisis" and we did that 5 years ago... and the jury is still out on the wisdom of allowing abject fear to convince us to give over power all power to any administration to make such quick, knee jerk reactions. Again, I don't know which current candidate is better prepared to handle this crisis. If I were either McCain or Obama I would be tossing aside my candidacy like it was a hot-potato. Seriously. Who wants to inherit this difficult job? Or this mess?

But I don't want to get too political. For politics these days seems both ugly and mean. On BOTH sides of the aisle. Just really, really ugly.

But what this current economic crisis DOES make me reflect on is: how do I spend my OWN money? I have school debt from my masters degree. Was that really wise? I can't even seem to get on the ball to save any money, myself, with my meager salary. I eat out a lot. I buy lattes. I buy work clothes. Do I need all of the "stuff" I spend my money on? I don't know. But I do know that we reap in a sense what we sow. And GREED should be the word for today... because GREED crosses party lines and affiliations. And it is something we are ALL guilty of, at least if we are honest with ourselves. GREED. What does God say about GREED:

Some of Luke 12 - Jesus thoughts re: Greed -

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

OUCH! Where is OUR treasure? In our savings account? In our investments? In our stuff? In our jobs? In our achievements? In being a wife, mother, father, husband, etc? In our houses or cars? Because wherever it is: there is your heart, also, whether you realize it or acknowlege it or not! OUCH. Where is my treasure? for there is my heart, also.

My Adorable Niece...

2008-09-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Just in case there were any doubts:

I can't give blood: so no more disasters of epic proportions, OK?

2008-09-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

This month I think we were all reminded of 9/11. I remember it well. My roommate was from New York and an early riser (much to my normal annoyance) and so she was awoken (and woke me up) to see the second tower seem to expode on live TV as everyone was scrambling to understand what happened to the first tower. It was numbing and weird. All of my friends got together that night and scrambled around to give blood. I don't think we found a place that wasn't packed that night, for all our good intentions... but by the following week we had all given blood as our patriotic duty. And for me it really was a sacrifice because: I hate needles!

Oddly, though, I found out I cannot give blood again for a few years. I have been in Southeast Asia this summer (as many of you know) and played with kids who have AIDS... and so I can't give blood. So I apologize in advance if you were asking me to give blood, because I just can't do it. I can't give blood. They wouldn't want my contaminated blood. Weird thought, huh? Am I contaminated or have we just become really, really cautious? I don't know. But if it means I don't have to have a needle stuck in my arm, it is all right by me!

Took my last malaria pill today. Weird.

2008-08-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Don't panic. I don't have malaria... but getting malaria pills is a precaution. So for those of you who don't know... often... when travelling to a country that has outbreaks of malaria (and lots of mosquitos) you should take some kind of malaria prevention medication... not everyone does this... but I did. And I even sprang for the good stuff and had no bad reaction to it and was really, really happy with it. The problem is that you have to take it every day. And when you are busy travelling... that can be hard to remember. But I did it. I started taking a pill-a-day the two days before I left and then had to take it 7 days after I returned. Last night was my last pill. So... a week since I have been home from Asia. Weird. Surreal. Another milestone over: done with my malaria pills.

"AHHH" - Auntie Erin

2008-08-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

As you probably know I am an aunt. Not by "blood" because I have no siblings but my best friends in the world (Jodi and Jeff) graciously have given me the title of "auntie" to their children. Well, they have ONE and ONE on the way (in case you didn't know!). I got to babysit my niece today while mommy went for a check-up with the doctor (all is well). I was told she didn't get much sleep the night before, so she was a bit cranky. But the good news was she was also very CUDDLY. She is a fairly free-spirited and independant child... which I can totally respect... but she is going through this cuddly phase... and I LOVE IT. And I hadn't seen her really for any length of time since I went to Cambodia/Thailand. So it was fun to get to hang out with her and see how much she has grown. And gosh does she learn quick... she soaks it all up. Everything. And she remembers. As some of you know I like my feet... (side note: which is why the Cambodian custom of taking off your shoes everwhere was one of those cultural hurdles I had to overcome... my pet peeve: DIRTY FEET.) OK... back to my point... So... I generally am wearing a cute pair of flip-flops or have a fun colored toes from a recent pedicure... and so my niece knows and looks down almost first thing at my feet and points and says "Piggies"... now that is NOT an insult. For her grandma (mimi) has played the "this little piggy" game with her on her toes... so she calls all toes piggies... and then she looks up at me and goes "ahh" because that is the sound I make when I drink an iced mocha and am happy... generally on the mornings I babysit her. And today I had brought one... she pointed and said "ahh"... she is VERY good at that! I also taught her to say "Starbucks" today. It is not very clear, but we are working on it! And then she cuddled. So cute. She would run around... play... and then just get pooped out and then she would want to cuddle... So I held her and rubbed her back in a soothing circular motion... and I think her mom does that too... because before I knew it her little hand was rubbing little circles on my arm as if mimicking my rubbing of her back. I just about melted onto a puddle on the floor, I tell you! She is cute. Life is so much more special because she is in it.

Some Random Pictures in Cambodia

2008-08-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

Random pictures: Clockwise
Starting from the top left...
Our Team walking through the wat made famous by the movie Tomb Raider
The girls on our Team in front of Angkor Wat
A "casual" picture of our team inside of Angkor Wat
Our Team at lunch at the FCC in Phnom Penh

Home in California

2008-08-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

August 12, 2008

So after the worst travel day in recorded history (well, my travel history, anyways)... I am home. I got in last night at 11:30pm. I can now drink water from the tap. Brush my teeth without needing bottled water. Shower without spitting out water (you can't swallow the water in Cambodia even a little bit). I don't need to coat myself in DEET (by the way, I didn't get any more bug bites while I travelled and at this point I seem to be healthy and free of Dengue Fever - Praise GOD). I blew dry my hair and put on make-up for the first time in almost a month (without sweating while I got ready). I had cereal with real milk for breakfast. I got in my air conditioned car to get coffee. When I was in line to get coffee the line was straight and no one cut in front of me (do you know anything about how people in Asian countries line up?... it is a free for all... get-to-the-front however-you-can kind of world there!)... when I walked out of the coffee shop noone solicited me for a tuk-tuk ride... and I didn't need to barter to get anything today... and while getting my coffee a woman was talking to her pampered pooch (who was wearing a doggy outfit) like it was human and understood her... which was just unsettling on many levels and had the realiziation that: I am no longer in Thailand or Cambodia. I am home. Glad to be home. But hoping I am not the same as when I left. We shall see... we shall see...

Bangkok - Round #2: Travel Update #11

2008-08-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Bangkok this Sunday morning at 6:30 am on the night bus from Mae Sot to Bangkok. Rough night, as you can imagine. But since we left all of the art supplies for the kids in Mae Sot that we had been hauling around... my load is much lighter. And I was ready to take Bangkok on again, determined to be the VICTOR! I arrived at the bus station. I needed to take a taxi to get to my hotel by myself. As I navigated my way through the crowds of "taxi" drivers... who all come up to you and ask where you are going... then quote a price... to my hotel I got quoted "ooh, that is far, how abou 350Baht (roughtly 10 dollars)"... "nope" I would say... you see... this is what I was talking about in my other Bangkok blog. These guys are SCAMMERS. Taxis are supposed to put on their "Meters"... and not charge you up front. And generally if they quote you a low price, it is because they want to take you to "their" hotel (where they get comission) or a shopping area (where they will try and scam you with fake gems or something). I successfully found the meter taxis... and you know what it actually costs to take a taxi to my hotel? 80 baht (A little over $2). I tipped the guy, of course. I think honesty should always be rewarded. When I arrived at my hotel (a 5-star that I got a HUGE deal on through priceline - thanks to Jeff & Jenny's suggestion of their priceline/Bangkok experience) I arrived tired and bedragged at my hotel. I was hoping that I could store my stuff for the 6 hours or so before I could actually check in. When I asked if I could check my stuff... the guy said "no, we don't store luggage"... quickly images of me walking around Bangkok with my luggage permiated my mind. But then he added "we don't want you wandering around... we will find you a room that is ready at no extra charge"... so at 7am I was napping in my air-conditioned 27 story view hotel room. Now I am at the mall with my Bangkok Starbuck's city mug in hand at a local internet cafe before my movie starts at the Siam Paragon movie complex. So... Bangkok - 1. Erin - 1. I think we are tied. But I won this round. Tomorrow coffee with Krista and Kristen before they are off to Phuket and before I catch my flight home. Can't wait to see you all when I get back. Thanks for reading my blog and sending me emails. I have appreciated knowing that so many of you care about what I am doing and are following me on this adventure. I hope to post pictures in the next week. So keep checking back! Peace out.

WELCOME TO THE MAE TAO CLINIC Mrs. BUSH: Travel Update #10

2008-08-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 9, 2008

We took a tour yesterday (Saturday) of the Mae Tao Clinic for Burmese refugees that hosted Laura Bush two days earlier. We know this because the "WELCOME Mrs. BUSH" signs were every where. It was a little surreal. For many Burmese this is the only hospital of any kind available to them. History lesson: basically on the border of Burma near Thailand (near Mae Sot) there are the "karen" people. Often the new military regime is after them... it is sort of like an ethnic cleansing. Incredibly tragic. I asked what I should call this country: Burma or Myanmar. Have you ever wondered what to call it? Well, I will give you a little lesson I got from the Burmese guy who picked us up from the bus station upon our arrival into Mae Sot. He said that "Myanmar" is what the new, sadistic military regime calls the country. But if you want to honor the PEOPLE than you call it "Burma"... So... join me in calling "Myanmar", Burma (despite what the title said as their team entered the Olympic stadiums in Bejing). Burma. Stand in solidarity with these people whose government perpetrates injustice to them on a daily basis, and whose youngest victims are the children. Who have no country and often no parents.

Here is where we (and Laura Bush) visited this week: http://www.maetaoclinic.org/

We also went to the safe house that Compasio has for 7 abandoned children of refugee parents. First what you need to know is none of these children have birth certificates. Seriously. So, we are not sure how old they are. Second, they are fascinated by their own pictures. You know that cute bunny, ruffly picture-book album your parents take out to embarrass you in front of a new boyfriend/girlfriend with that obligatory picture of you under the age of 1 naked on a blanket? These kids don't have picture albums of their childhoods. But they have scars. And they can tell you the stories of them. So we want to make new memories for them. And take pictures. Lots and lots of cute pictures (that I will post later). You know what else they don't have? Passports. They have no citizenship. Thailand will only tolerate them, and may deport them. And Myanmar government doesn't want them. On little girl who stole my heart still has a father who comes looking for her. Why? Because he can make money if she will go out in the streets and beg FOR him. Yep. He is really mad his daughter is in this safe house, because then she can't support him. How old is she? about 2-ish. Imagine. At 2 years old. You are just perfecting your walk. And your father is looking to you to earn money FOR him. Startling thought, isn't it? We played until we were warn out. And sweaty. And happy.

I go where Laura Bush goes: of course! Travel Update #9

2008-08-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

Krista, Kristen and I crossing over the "Friendship Bridge" on the border between Thailand and Burma (Myanmar) to get our passports stamped. It rained. It was quite an adventure! That is the Burmese border in the background.

Friday, August 8, 2008.

We spent the day in the town of Mae Sot. Yes, Laura Bush was here yesterday visiting the refugee camps and a clinic. What can I say? She follows me around... kidding :)

Actually... we are here visiting our friend Rachel who works with Compasio... and helps out with the children who are the remnants of the refugee situation which spills into this town. The Burmese leave the often hostile conditions in their home country... and come to a sort-of safe haven in this Thai town. Often, however, children left abondoned and on the streets. Rachel takes some of them in... and has a safe house of 7 children... we met several today at their school... where we taught them the hokey pokey, and other children's songs. They were adorable and stole our hearts away! We also went across to get our passport stamped on the Burma border. Cool. Another stamp on my passport. Love it. So fun! We have hung out with this church group that is here. Now we are watching (yes, LIVE) the opening ceremonies of the Olympics from our hotel room... the commentary is in Chinese... so we are not always sure what is going on, but it is beautiful all the same and we all keep saying "how are they doing THAT?" Tomorrow we get to hang out and baby sit the 7 kids at the safe house... I can't wait! And then I take the night train back to Bangkok. Don't worry... I won't be alone... I am hitching a ride on the same bus as that church group we met here. Then I spend the night in Bangkok. Then I go home. I can't believe my time here is almost over. Crazy. Cool.

All wat'd out! Travel Update #8

2008-08-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

Yep. We took Chiang Mai by storm today. It really is a nice little city. Lots to see, but also a bit leasurely of a pace. We saw several of the wats (Buddist Temples) and even took a rather interestingly windy trip up to one on the top of the mountain (amazing views!). But I am pretty wat'd out. I have seen lots of images of Buddha's on this trip. Today I saw many people praying to them. Giving them food or flowers... or lighting candles. We saw many monks around. My Christian sensibilities don't always know what to make of this religous devotion to idols. It seems kind of futile. A gold idol cannot eat the fruit you give it, can it? But then I wonder what MY idols are? What do I revere and feed? What do I count as sacred that maybe does not deserve such reverence? Just the thoughts going through my head today. Tomorrow it will be on to playing games & doing arts and crafts with some cool kids at Mae Sot with our friend Rachel. I can't wait. But the 6 hour bus ride seems long... all the way there. Tomorrow bus ride. The next few days with the kids. I may not have access to a computer after that. So I will chat with ya'll later.

Chiang Mai - what a difference a day makes! Travel Update #7

2008-08-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

We just woke up on Wednesday, August 6 our time. We are staying at this really cute guest house in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Last night, despite the rain, we shopped at the famous night bazaar here. It was amazing. And taking a tuk-tuk in the rain: priceless. I really like this little gem of a city so far... and all of you who encourged us to come here for longer than we stayed in Bangkok, we thank you!! We will visit some wats today and the night safari, hopefully, tonight... and then the night safari (lions and tigers and bears, oh my! - well, probably not any bears... but probably elephants! :) Then tomorrow it is off to see our friend in Mae Sot, and bring the art supplies we have been carrying around to the children who live in the orphanages near the Burmese refugee camps.

Ode to my nose: Travel Update #6

2008-08-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

Well not so much an ode as an apology to my nose. You see I was told not to bring any perfume on this trip (it attracts the dreaded mosquitos). But in place of my normal perfume (Philosophy's Amazing Grace)... my poor western, sanitized nose has had to really endure a lot in these last few weeks... but NOTHING prepared it for the smell of tourist-laden Bangkok. Whew! The smells here are truly one of a kind and astounding. Hoping Chiang Mai will smell a little better... hoping to give my nose a break! So, sorry nose.... you have really been a trooper on this trip, though!

I got kicked in the bootay by Bangkok: Travel Update #5

2008-08-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Yes. Last night was nice malls and huge, plush movie theaters... today the gritty reality of tourist-driven Bangkok. Despite getting advice from my many friends who have visited Bangkok and despite having the Lonely Planet's Thailand guide at our disposal... we totally got taken for a ride today. We realized we had been paying way too much for our taxi rides. Live and learn, I guess. But we almost missed the Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha. You see as you walk around the great, white walls of the palace... these Thai men who look "official" totally scam you. They say "there is prayer today or there is a Thai religious holiday and you can't go inside"... and we believed him. Because it seemed totally believable and we were HOT... so hot and tired. My defenses were down and we got taken for a ride. So we took this taxi to the water front where we almost paid $20 for a boat ride. Scam. Total scam. After being frustrated with ourselves... my pride suffered the most... we regrouped. Found the proper boat (under $1) we got to the wats we wanted to see and found the Grand Palace. It was quite an adventure. It makes me distrust all of the people I meet in the touristy parts of the city. So many taxi's will say "I will take you to shopping" - which is another scam. They will take you to a place that supposedly sells jewelry cheap... or some such non-sense... and they get kick backs. Where is our Thai Kate Pieper when we need her? Well... Chiang Mai is next. It should be lush and beautiful... and a lot less touristy. Then it is on to the refugee camps and to play with the kids in the orphanage. THAT will be fun.

One Night in Bangkok: Travel Update #4

2008-08-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight we went to this amazingly modern and ritzy mall in the center of Bangkok. Yes, we left the dirt, noise, smell and bargains behind... and had a nice dinner and went to see the new Batman movie. It was wonderful. Such a needed break from the intensity of the last few weeks. What a GREAT movie, too. Batman: the Dark Knight. I could go into the interesting issues raised in the movie in regards to heroism or vigilantism. But I won't. Totally a non-thinking evening... so... Tomorrow we will see some more interesting, old, dusty religious stuff and probably take another crazy tuk-tuk ride... but tonight... was nice. A nice break. And sometimes you just need a break.

Leaving Pattaya: Travel Update #3

2008-08-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

We spent some really great time getting to know new friends and some AMAZING incarnational ministries that care for the women who work in the bars in and around Pattaya. Wow. I also was taught a lesson in grace. Grace. That which we give to others only because God first gave it to us. As I watched the men around Pattaya I realized that they need God as much as the women do. And God loves them. Grace. Painful grace. Wonderful grace.

Girl, Interrupted: Travel Update #2

2008-08-04T01:42:00.000-07:00

Krista, Kristen and I went out with Pet to the bar scene near the beach in Pattaya early before the men came... and... tonight... I met this girl. I couldn't quite hear her name because the music was so loud and her English was not very good and my Thai is even worse than her English! She was beautiful. She had this sweet, innocent face. She was all dressed up and sitting behind the bar with other young women who looked a lot like her. She served me a 7-up. She was 25. She had been married at 20. Divorced at 22. She has two children. They live with her parents far from Pattaya. How will she support them? She will work at these bars and hope men pay for her time. If she is really "lucky" a western man will really like her and maybe get her an apartment or give her a larger sum of money... and when he comes to visit for his vacations she will be at his disposal, in a certain manner. She has only worked in Pattaya for 4 months. Does she want to work here? No. All the girls will tell you they are not happy about this life. She works from 3:30 until Midnight every day. 7 days a week. She gets 3 days off a month. She sends money home to her family and feels obligated to work here to support them. These women, however, are the lucky ones, as they in a certain way "choose" this life. Lurking in the underbelly of Pattaya (not that "under" either) is women trafficked in from places like Russia or even Cambodia. And women who sell their children for sex. Yes. Mothers selling their daughters because it is easier for them to make money this way than do hard labor. And then juxtaposed here in the midst of this "den of iniquity" are several Starbucks, a Benihana's, a Sizzler, etc. Strange. The marriage of commerce that you find in Pattaya. Money talks here. But what is truly the price for the ravaging of the human soul? It should be priceless. But I fear it is a cheap commodity in Pattaya. But God can restore. God can heal. God can redeem. God loves to make whole what is broken. God loves to make clean that which is stained. I will pray for my friend at Friend's Bar #5. Will you join me?

Hello Thailand: Why are you in Pattaya? Travel Update #1

2008-08-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Krista, Kristen and I arrived in Bangkok tonight (Saturday) and took a very speedy taxi to the beach town of Pattaya. Do you know anything about Pattaya? We got a crash lesson while waiting for someone to meet us in the mall at a coffee shop. Men. Mostly western (American and European) men. Often OLD men. Come to Pattaya to find "vacation girlfriends." (that is my phrase)... so... I lost count of the number of old, grey-haired, white men who passed by us with YOUNG thai girls on their arms. Just so I am clear: Men come to Pattaya for sex with young Thai women. So... what is one question you never have to ask an older, white man who is walking around alone in Pattaya? - Why are YOU in Pattaya? ... we tried... we asked this German guy why he was in Pattaya and he laughed... and said "for vacation" with kind of a wink in his eye... so... Am I losing my faith in the male species? A bit. Sorry men who read my blog. I realize if men come here for this that they have serious issues sometimes with sex but often with loneliness and relationships. There is a very high suicide rate here among western men. So... while I realize this is sad, I can't quite see them with grace, yet. I see them and get angry. So... This place is where women (and girls and boys) sell themselves to men for money... out in the open... for everyone to see... they flaunt it... and walk around proud. It just really makes me upset. We met the most WONDERFUL Christian women named Pet who works with these women... reaches out to them... rescues them and gives them hope. We met her through our friends Randy and Edie Nelson who have an amazing ministry to the Thai church out of Bangkok but come to Pattaya regularly to support the outreach minsitries here.

The silly good news? I finally got my Starbucks today! Yep. Grande iced mocha! I was so happy, I can't tell a lie.

The serious good news? We also got to attend the True Friend's Church that reaches out to this community of women... and meet some of them and hear their stories. I got to meet a male prostitute at CHURCH. Isn't that cool? He began working as a prostitute on the beaches when he was 12. Can you believe that? They are helping him find a different kind of work and loving him with the love of Jesus. Isn't that incredible? This church... reaching out to the unreachable... touching the untouchable... reminds me of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus asks us to pick up those who have been battered by life. Help them. Give them hope and a future. This church? It is doing the work of God? These women and men who lead this ministry? They are amazing. It gave me hope. God is here. Even in Pattaya... God is working MIRACLES. Praise Jesus!

Graduation. Saying goodbye Cambodia. Cambodia Update #7

2008-08-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

Friday was our World Relief ESL Graduation ceremony. It was really sad. As we had the students fill out the "evaluations" on their last day of class (for some of the beginners that was a lesson in and of itself!) they all said they wanted ESL all year round. Hey. Maybe I am game for that :)

So it is now over. I really don't think two weeks is long enough, but it also felt like I lived a lifetime in those two weeks. I have seen and experienced so much. I have made some new friends. I have many places to stay if I ever find myself in Cambodia. Who knows? Maybe. I do know this is a GREAT program. The students really appreciated that we were there. Their progress was amazing. Many of them have families, work, volunteer with their churches/World Relief AND took either their lunch times or came in early morning to learn English. Such dedication. Such integrity. Such passion to learn. I now must process all of this...

On our last day we went to visit the Killing Fields outside of Phnom Penh (I can finally spell that without looking it up!)... A huge building full of skulls. Sad stories. Mass graves. Again, as it is rare, I was speechless. Truly.

I am really thankful that I get time to travel with friends (Krista & Kristen) in Thailand so we can have some time to debrief.

A: The Spiritual Mafia, the red light district, avoiding the Cambodian tatoo and being laughed at by kids: Cambodia Update #6

2008-07-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

Q: What experiences did I have in Cambodia today?

Yes. The Spiritual mafia... as I have begun to call them, are the Buddist Monks in Cambodia. I don't mean to offen all buddists. It is just the monks here are really interesting. First, the prayers they recite are from rote memory in a language they don't understand at all... and so when they "pray" they don't really know what they are saying, which I find really funny. We were at a restaurant and we saw a monk come up and one of the employees come out with money. The store gives the monk money for a "blessing" that is said out loud but that neither understand. It smacked of a maffia-like kick-back money to keep the neighborhood safe. It just struck me that way when I saw it. Money in exchange for "protection" - sounds like a scene out of one of the Godfather movies.

Yes. Each day we drive through the red-light district of Kampong Cham to get to our teaching sight. We see the monks walking in their orange robes... and then see the painted women out on the porches of the houses waiting for men to come. It is the embrace of the flesh meeting the denial of the flesh... all on this road we take each day. The juxtaposition is startling.

Yes. Today I finally road on a moto. I white knuckled it the entire way and wore a smelly helmet. But I did it... and I am proud of myself, because it was the last fear I had to overcome here before I left. And a "Cambodian tatoo" is what westerners sometimes get when they are unfamiliar riding on motos. The exhaust pipe is on the right side and it gets HOT. If you dismount from the moto wrong you get a painful burn on your right calf. I successfully avoided this today. Bravo me!

Yes. I was laughed at all morning. Normally we stay on our staff sight. Today I went into the field with the World Relief Hope staff to see the work they do in remote, small villages. They play games with them and use puppets to teach them about avoiding mosquitos and how to avoid getting HIV. Today the skit was about mosquitos, but the whole village stared at me. Cambodians make fun of tourists but out in the villages it is different because many of these kids have never seen a blond haired, blue-eyed person before. I also have short hair, which women in Cambodia rarely sport as a style. I am also "big"- yep, I can admit it... I should lose a few (more than a few) pounds, but that is not all they were talking about. I am TALL in this country... so the kept saying ''ooh, she's big" (not in English but the guy who drove me out told me). So I really had to put on my thick skin this morning. They basically laughed at what I looked like and all of my mannerisms, too. But seeing the children was all worth it. I held a baby girl this morning. How do I know she was a girl? She had no diaper on. How do I know she had no diaper on? She was completely naked. I just prayed she wouldn't pee or worse all over me, but then again, it might have been worth it to make the kids laugh... as I am SURE they would have laughed at me. Seriously, though, these kids were really living in extreme poverty. I was really amazed to see their village. But the smiles... the HOPE staff brought such joy and laughter to their day! I was just the oddity... but the HOPE staff does the REAL work of helping these families. I was blown away by the work they do. No words. And that is rare for me, isn't it?

"in the time of Pol Pot": Cambodia Update #5

2008-07-29T00:02:00.000-07:00

I have begun to be accustomed to this phrase the Cambodians use... or something similar. Today our early morning class (it begins at 6am!) discussed family words and shared their family trees. Of all the students in our room 3/4 of them had parents who were killed "in the time of Pol Pot"... mostly fathers... and for those who don't have parents killed... they will share a time of being "refugees at the Thailand border" ... and that was a startling realization for me. They all -our students and this country as a whole - share this gaping time during the seventies where people were WIPED out... mass murder... especially officials, police officers, doctors, teachers, anyone loyal to those opposed to the Khmer Rouge, at that time. I have read about it. But to hear their stories is quite different than reading about that time. It literally impacts all of them in very tangible ways. We in the United States of America talk about the tragic events of 9/11 in that way. This shared horrific experience... many of us watched it on TV... the images ingrained in our collective memories... but imagine... 9/11 lasting nearly 4 years... and all of us having relatives that died during that time or having been refugees to Mexico or Canada. Can you imagine? In Cambodia they don't have to imagine. It happened. And only now are a few of the perpetrators of what we now call "the killing fields" (mass graves all over Cambodia) are being brought to justice. Pol Pot died peacefully in his sleep. Pol Pot by the way is not his name. It is his nickname: "POLitical POTential"... this desire to wipe out the western ways and create a agrarian utopia. What happens when we as flawed humans try to create a perfect world on earth? People die. Casualties of idealism. Sacrifices to our egos. I feel for this country. It has been through so much. I hope you will join with me in praying for the future of the Cambodian people. I can see God is doing amazing work here through the faithful Cambodians who share the Good News and share their lives with their neighbors. I often ask myself when I read the passage where Jesus shares the greatest commandment: "Who is MY neighbor?"... and the answer today is: the Cambodian people that I live with, teach, work with and see on a daily basis. How will I love them today more than I love myself?

Spiderman, spiderman, does whatever a spider can...

My Cambodian lesson for the day: Mosquito nets are not just for keeping out mosquitos anymore!

Are spiders just bigger in Cambodia? Last night before going to bed Amber and I were confronted by a spider easily the size of a tarantula (different body, though) hanging out on our mosquito net over our bed. That thing was HUGE. It is without a doubt the biggest spider I have ever seen moving around in reailty... it spanned at least the width of my hand... I really thought it would turn and say "hi"to us... we screamed (of COURSE, wouldn't you?) and the Cambodian translator sleeping next door came out and ushered it out of our room... it sauntered actually... it seemed more "put out" by having something waved at it... it didn't travel fast... it kind of walked out slowly... as if to say "I'm not afraid of you"... needless to say... we tucked that mosquito net TIGHT around our bed last night... I guess it is good for keeping out more than mosquitos!

Reunited and it feels so good: Cambodian Update #4

2008-07-28T01:03:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was spent reunited with our entire team: Krista, Kristen, The Choi family, Steve, Amy & our honorary team member, Kate (she is our friend who is also the coordinator of all we do here for World Relief - we literally would not make it without her!) ... and Amber & I. It was nice to see "westerners" again which are in abundance in the very touristy town of Siem Reap... and it was nice to all be together again... have a weekend off... in air con rooms (yes, they abbreviate it here air conditioning = air con). We walked through 5 of the Temples of Angkor Wat. We took a boat ride through the area that is known for the floating village houses. We ate at GREAT restaurants (first time I felt full in a week)... and had COFFEE... like really, made with grounds coffee (we make instant each day at our sight... which is without a doubt - BETTER THAN NOTHING!). Michelle Choi and I decided we were twins separated at birth (and a few years!). We are so similar it is really funny! I so enjoy hanging out with the Choi family! We walked through the wat they filmed Tomb Raider in (must watch that movie again: Gerard Butler - oucha-ma-goucha he is cute!). And saw some of the amazing ruins... I kept thinking "I can't believe I am walking through Angkor Wat"- it really is the trip of a lifetime for me!

And for those who know my phobias: spiders, dirty feet and heights... I have conquered them ALL this weekend! I watched a few of our team mates eat deep-fried tarantulas (coming soon to youtube)! ISH! But I didn't vomit! (OK, but I did scream a little)... I hiked up these really narrow stairs on a five tier Wat (temple) without falling down or chickening out - think the stairs you see on one of the mayan ruins... steep and small... (AND I was really scared - REALLY - it was HIGH - and there is no "safety" bar or anything - this is not the US, people! - who will you sue here if you fall?). And my feet? They are a mess... all day... every day... DIRTY. And... its OK.

It felt weird, though, being in the lap of luxury. Spending money on food and shopping. Because wherever you are in this country you cannot escape the desperate poverty that the majority of the people in Cambodia live in. Our guide told us of how his family barely survived under the rule of Pol Pot. When he was 5 years old he was separated from his mother and put in a work camp. He remembers eating bugs and living, at times, in the jungle all alone. His story was really amazing... and it reminded me that how the Cambodians live is in stark contrast to the LUXURY hotels that surround Siem Reap now... You see there is a small percent of people who have power & money (and they are all pretty much corrupt) and they hold ALL the cards... and then there is under that: degrees of poverty. In the big cities a small middle-class is coming up... but it is still pretty slow economic growth here. Our "guide" for the day in Angkor Wat has what would be considered a "good" job... he got it because he can speak English (note: why teaching ESL is so invaluable for the volunteers and staff that we teach each day through World Relief)... and he makes $25 a day plus tip (yes, we tipped him well). Add that up. Could you live on that a week? Things are cheaper here, you say, true enough... but not THAT cheap. Imagine living on that salary and living WELL? You know how you do it? You own only a few pairs of clothes and one pair of shoes. You eat simply and with little fan fair most days... plus, as a guide you make deals with the restaurants you take your tours to (he gets free meals when he takes American tourists into a restaurant in Angkor Wat). You wheel and deal and make it through. But it is not an easy life, that is for sure!

Cambodia Trip: Update #3

2008-07-23T22:46:00.001-07:00

5 Degrees of Separation

Temperature degrees, that is! What a difference the rain makes! So... if you have read my previous blogs... did you sense a bit of irritation coming from me? Well, I won't go back and change my first two entries... despite their slightly edging-on-bitter tone... andI won't lie... the first few nights & days here were DIFFICULT. Where we stay (offices of World Relief in Suong) there is no air conditioning of any kind... and so at night and during the day our room is about 89 degrees with 80% humidity (how do I know the temperature exactly? - I borrowed my Dad's travel alarm which has temperature readings on it... thanks by the way, Dad, because it has not failed to wake us up at 5am any morning! - still not sure if that is a good thing or not :). Yes... it is 90-humid-degrees day AND night!!! It has been nearly unbearable... sleep has been tough... sweating all the time is tough... which makes everything sort of difficult... which makes my brain turn to mush... and my coping skills fail... you get the idea, right? But all that changed after the rain yesterday... last night the temperature in our room was 84 degrees... it was AMAZING the difference that made! It almost felt cool, by comparison. I finally got a good night sleep... I finally took a cold shower without sweating... I finally have some sanity returned! So... that is the latest.

Update: PRAY!!
But with the good (weather drop) comes the bad (mosquitos come out in FORCE)... and despite being drenched in DEET I have TWO mosquito bites so far... Mosquitos just love me... so I sort of thought this might happen... and I won't say I didn't panic a bit at first, but chances are nothing will come of them (many foreigners who live here year round use no Deet at all and are fine...) BUT there is a chance I could get Dengue fever (google it and see how much fun that would be)... so I would appreciate PRAYER. HEALING PRAYER. I really don't want to spend two weeks here not feeling well. I want to be able to visit the places I have planned on my trip and finish teaching the students next week. So PRAY!

Tomorrow our whole team gets back together (yey!)... and we go visit one of the 10 man-made wonders of the world (Angkor Wat) in Siem Reap. I will update you after that!

Cambodia Trip Update #2

2008-07-21T22:36:00.001-07:00

Now that we have had almost 2 days in our Suong location. Life is settling into a little more of a schedule, I am finding I am coping a bit better. The nights are still unbearably hot... and I take like 3 showers a day, but my students are AMAZING. I have one student who left school during the Khmer Rouge's reign because he and his friends had heard that the soldier's were coming to force young boys into the military. So he fled and never finished any secondary schooling. We have another student who is probably older than I am, but who never in her life has gone to school. We have heard the stories of how teachers are not paid in this country very well, so they are expected to charge their students (extort, is really more the reality) and generally are still not very good teachers, despite what you can pay. So the poor LITERALLY can't afford an education. Also the very poor need their children, often to work the fields. The government seems largey unconcerned with the plight of the poor in their own country. I have one student who is a very proficient English learner... he has hopes one day of changing this system. That he is such high hopes in the face of what seems like a system in chaos and despair just BLOWS ME AWAY. Each day we spend in the worship & prayer time with the Cambodian staff at our sight... I can't understand what they say... but I would never doubt the utter sincerity of their prayers and the furverence of their worship. They trust in GOD to do MIRACLES. Kind of challenging to my western, Christian mind, I would say!

My lesson for today: When a Cambodian looks at you like you are doing something CRAZY, chances are you probably ARE.

We decided to explore Suong and walk to a "western" market. Everyone offered us rides... they kept saying, "Teacher, ride with me" ... but we (Amber and I) wanted to walk... you see in California walking is a VIRTUE... it saves gas... it is good exercise, etc. However, in this weather and this area it is NOT at all smart. By the time we got there not only were we covered in a layer of dust from the road... but we were so sweaty we were soaking our clothes. All for a Coke. Not really worth it, I realized. So... that is my lesson for you all and myself today.

Side note: we have the most AMAZING cook at our sight. She seriously makes us these gourmet meals... with a cooler (yep, no refridgerator) and a gas burner (yep, no stove... it is like a camping stove)... and this TINY room... she prepares these AMAZING meals... and presents them like we are royalty. I truly feel loved and valued by her. I wish she knew more English... or I knew more Khmy... and we could tell her how much we appreciate her. She will get many jewels in her crown in heaven... and we can have long conversations there when we meet again!

Hello from Cambodia! Update #1

2008-07-21T00:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true. Our team made it through our 1 Night in Bangkok... and arrived safely yesterday in Cambodia... was it really just yesterday? I feel like I have lived a lifetime in the last 24 hours.

Here are some of the highlights (and low-lights):

1. It is HOT. Seriously. HOT. Sweaty and hot. Basically I am hot all the time... and sweaty... that expensive "quick dry, doesn't wrinkle travel shirt" I bought at REI... INVALUABLE. That quick dry shammy towel I bought... couldn't live without it! It never gets below 85 degrees... even at night... with as much humidity... but each day we driven 1/2 hour to teach a lunchtime class... and the car is air conditioned... seriously... when I got in today I thought I might CRY. It makes me happy now each day!

2. I had my first experience with a Cambodian, rest-stop toilet. I am thankful that I brought tissue paper and antibacterial stuff with me! I think I peed a little on my feet... which is OK becausse they are dirty like 100% of the time anyway. And I successfully flushed it... meaning... I figured out that how to flush it was to grab the scooper in the water bucket next to the toilet and put it to good use!

3. I have gotten to meet my students and the AMAZING Cambodians who do such wonderful work through World Relief. God is so here. I will learn FAR MORE than my students, I wager!

4. My busy schedule is nice now that we are in Suong: we teach one class in the morning (6-7:30AM), then join in the staff worship/prayer time, then we are driven to Kampong Cham city for lunch and an afternoon class... and then we will go back to Suong for an advanced evening class we will teach. Long days... and I keep going to bed so early... because I am truly exhausted each night. We have this AMAZING woman who cooks for us!

5. I am really startled by what I see here... can I be honest? Talking about coming to a "Developing" country is far more glamorous than the REALITY of it. I am struck by the juxtoposition of intense poverty here... and the amazing HOPE that this staff we meet with daily have... They need God "literally" to meet daily struggles... things that I take for granted. It is humbling. It is emotionally tough. I sort of had a "what am I doing here" moment last night when the thunderstorm caused the power to go out (think about sleeping in a humid, 90 degree bedroom with NO FANS)... but then the power came back on (the grace of God?)... and today we learned what an ANSWER to prayer the rain was for this struggling agricultural area... and I was truly convicted of my own selfishness.

I will continue to need your prayers to make it through. Pray for health... and safety... and mental energy... and emotional stability. Thanks!

2008-07-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a map of Cambodia. We will fly into Phnom Penh (the capital) and then from their go to our locations to teach. We will stay the first weekend in Phnom Penh to be oriented with World Relief staff (our friend Kate - see her blog link on my blog). Then Amber (my partner) and I will be going to our area in the Kampong Cham region (northeast of the capital - you can see the area on the map). Please pray for safe travels. Pray for good health. Pray for team unity. Pray for our students. Much prayer will be needed! Thanks!

Post Cambodia ESL Trip Update

2008-07-15T14:01:00.001-07:00

We (Krista, Kristen and I) are going to be travelling around Thailand after our ESL teaching time.

1. We will visit a ministry called Bridges To The Nations (their website link is on my blog). We will be a part of the Pattaya Project (you can see pictures on their website!). This project centers around giving women jobs outside of the sex-trade industry that is so prevalant in this beach/vacation hot spot south of Bangkok. We will be attending their True Friend Fellowship Worship Service on Sunday and get to meet many of the women whose lives have been forever changed by this ministry.

2. And we will also be explore Bangkok (of course!)... spend a day seeing the various wats and the Grand Palace...

3. We will then head up to the north and visit Chiang Mai (culture heart of Thailand)... where we will get to be tourists... and take in the beauty and culture of this amazing area.

4. Then we will take a 6 hour bus ride to visit our friend who is working with orphans and refugee children (Journey of Wonder blog link on my blog). I am all set with packs of crayons, stickers and colored paper. We will get to spend time hanging out with these really amazing kids.

Check out what we will be doing! I am so excited. I hope to keep you all updated as the time goes on... I can't believe I leave in one day!

A bug repellent shirt?

2008-07-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

So as my trip to Cambodia/Thailand approaches... I am beginning to think of what bring. I can't bring perfume (it attracts mosquitos), I have to bring clothes that are cool but still "cover me" (for teaching and to be respectful when entering temples/wats)... and I find myself looking at travel clothing... and I came across these "bug repellent shirts"... I mean they are UGLY... certifiable... but would I consider buying one to escape the dreaded Denghu fever? Should I get Deet and at what percentage? - REI just overwhelms me with their supply of bug spray... and what about "Skin so Soft" from Avon... will that be strong enough to fend of Asian mosquitos... these are the strange things I am pondering these days. Never thought I would think about this stuff... Hm.

My location: Kampong Cham, Suong Town

2008-07-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you notice on the map above Kampong Cham is located just northeast of Phnom Phen. My site is located in Suong, a small town east of the main city.

Here is a description:
Suong is a dusty roadside market town on the main highway through Kampong Cham province (Muslim Province). It is mostly rice fields surrounding the town and villages pop up in the middle of the fields. HOPE for Cambodia's Children, Light For Life, Way of HOPE, and Mobilized for Life, Trafficking Free Villages and Christian Response to HIV/AIDS, are all programs under the HOPE umbrella, of which Joke Von Opstal is the overseeing director with Cambodian nationals running the logistics and is in this area. She functions as the pastoral mentor of staff for the whole country and has been in country nearly 20 years and now has adopted 7 Cambodian children. I will be staying (eating, sleeping and teaching) in a World Relief base office building right off of a dusty, but well used road. Staff are always around (so, yes, we will be really safe - we are the third team to go to this location).

Update - NOTE: I have also been told by someone who was at this site last year that we have a very amazing cook (yey!!), an internet cafe in town, a local team that watches out for our safety diligently, western toilets (quite a luxury), and a nice local market nearby. :)

Return of Mortal Remains?

2008-07-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

As you have probably guessed... I am going to Cambodia/Thailand this summer. I can't wait! I think it is going to be the trip of a lifetime... and I am really excited... But taking this trip has forced me to learn about strangs things like "percentage levels of Deet" and "Deet v. Picardin" and "bug-repellent/UV filtering clothes (good through 70 washes)" and "quick drying towels with antimicrobial fabric" who knew this stuff existed? I didn't. Amazing... And there is, as you can imagine, much preparation when someone visits Asia. Immunizations to get. Things to buy. Travel plans to make. Amidst all this I have bought travel insurance. I was told to, so I did. And do you know what I was confronted with: my own mortality. Yep... right there on my coverage is a place that lists all of the things I am covered for in my overseas insurance... and one of them is: RETURN OF MORTAL REMAINS. I mean I am glad that if I die there, my body will be transported home. I guess it is better than a clause that reads "return of immortal remains"... that would be even strangers! It was just a weird thing to have to think about this week. My mortality. Just. Weird.

Two Facts about Cambodia

2008-07-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

Two facts about Cambodia:

1. It has the highest rate of HIV of any country in Asia

2. "The rich get richer while the poor get poorer" is a very true sentiment to describe Cambodia. Those in power use their influence for their own short-term personal gain, without thought to the Cambodia people or their nation's financial stability.

Cambodia 2008 Summer ESL Teaching Trip

2008-07-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

I am going to spend several weeks in Asia this summer. I am really excited! Thanks to everyone who supported me either with prayers or finances or BOTH! THANKS!

Details:

Our team leaves on July 17. We arrive in Bangkok after a looong flight, spend the night, and then take a little plane over to Phnom Phen, Cambodia. Where our team will be trained and given our assignments & locations.

On Monday, July 21 we begin teaching in our teams. We won't know exactly what that looks like until we arrive. We may teach early in the morning (please, God, let there be coffee!) and/or teach later in the evening. Our students will be adults, many of whom have jobs during the day, some work for World Relief (the organization we are going with).

During our weekends off we will travel to see the "Killing Fields" and Siem Reap. I cannot wait to travel the country, although I am pretty sure I won't be eating a friend tarantula when we stop in "Spider Town" - eek!

August 1 we will finish and be a part of this groups special graduation. How lucky we are!

August 2 - a few of us will travel back to Bangkok for a few days and then travel around Thailand going up to the northern part of the country to visit a friend who is working with Myanmar refugees near the Thailand border to Myanmar (Burma).

Pray for:

Safety - this week I received my shots (Hep A & Tetnus) and my vaccination pills for Typhoid and Malaria. But pray that we will be safe both from things that could happen (accidents, etc) as well as from those dreaded mosquitos.

Purpose - as many of you know I have been struggling to find a full-time job after Fuller and it has been tough financially, mentally & spiritually. I am grateful for this trip and I am hoping God will use this time to reestablish a vision for my future. Pray that I will be open to hearing from God.

Sailing on Newport, Rhode Island

2008-07-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

My mom and I on a schooner... apparently you are not supposed to call it a sailing "ship" or "boat"...

Boston - a very patriotic place to be over 4th of July weekend

2008-07-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

You never know who you will run into...

Or who will be entertaining you on the Freedom Trail... history comes alive!

Boston Freedom Trail

2008-07-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

I am walking the freedom trail...

Boston/Cape Cod Summer 2008

2008-07-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is me starting my day off right in Boston on the 5th of July... at the local hang out - Flour Bakery... and having a yummy coffee and an even yummier "award winning" sticky, sticky bun!

God and the girls!!

2008-06-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful for my super fun bible study group of girls! They are all so wonderful, challenging and encouraging. I realized when we began to meet about a month ago... that THIS was something I have been missing. Girl time. Bible community discussions. Fun food. I look forward to getting together with this beautiful, ecclectic, passionate and brilliant group of women each week. I am super duper thankful for them!

LA MILL COFFEE

2008-06-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today I met my good friend in ministry and life, Jon. I have known he and his wife for gosh, so many years! I just love bouncing theology and life off of him. He is wise and godly. I am thankful for both of their friendships. Shannon is beautiful, creative and compassionate. She and I are soul-friends!

Today I met just with Jon to go over theology from Colossians. It was a great discussion. But what was even more fun was being at this amazing coffee house on Silver Lake Blvd in LA. The coffee was AMAZING. I just love finding new places to adore. I am thankful for good coffee and good friends... and time to enjoy both!

I'm BAAAAACK!

2008-05-20T16:56:00.001-07:00

Off blogging for a year... while I struggled through the whole job hunting thing... which STINKS... by the way... but I am going to Cambodia this summer! And I am excited about it! I will post my updates here!

Sex God by Rob Bell

2007-05-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I love this book. Who knew that when Rob was an intern at our church youth group that he would turn out to be the voice of the emergent church? Crazy!

I appreciate, as usual, his thoughts. He has solid, biblical theology with true life stories that make it all resonate so well with me. He writes creatively and that is refreshing. He also writes as if he doesn't take himself to seriously, which is also very refereshing in this age of "hate" wars amongst Christians. I just think everyone should read this book (and Velvet Elvis).

the American church: food for thought

2006-12-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

American preachers have a task more difficult, perhaps, than those faced by us under South Africa's apartheid, or Christians under Communism. We had obvious evils to engage; you have to unwrap your culture from years of red, white and blue myth. You have to expose, and confront, the great disconnect between the kindness, compassion and caring of most American people, and the ruthless way American power is experienced, directly and indirectly, by the poor of the earth. You have to help good people see how they have let their institutions do their sinning for them. This is not easy among people who really believe that their country does nothing but good, but it is necessary, not only for their future, but for us all.

- Peter Storey, former president of the Methodist Church of South Africa

ARGH... once again, attacking the single person!

2006-10-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a long while. I am speaking this weekend at a women's retreat and so I started googling "singleness and the bible" and other issues. Came across an interesting book: Getting Serious About Getting Married: Rethinking the Gift of Singleness, by Debbie Maken. Apparently it is the latest thing. The problem is that while she makes some good points her corrective is WRONG. I have no issues with some of her comments on society: issues with lingering adolescence, a culture that doesn't affirm "men", a growing meliu of unchecked selfishness and consumerism which bleeds into relationships making people and sexually often disposable and subject to our individualistic whims (all of this in my own words)... but the reality is that I, as a single woman, have little power over these larger cultural sins which ALSO EFFECT MARRIED PEOPLE. All of these large cultural issues which create a growing single population ALSO create a growing divorced population. So: "just putting more effort into getting married" - is not the answer, sorry Debbie. I know you mean well. You stopped focusing on your career and all of your consumer things (big house, lots of stuff) and that is not BAD. I am glad you are happily married. But keep this in mind: your experience does not translate into an absolutism. I have married friends who are EXACTLY where God wants them to be. I have single friends who are EXACTLY where God wants them to be. I also know lonely, dissatisfied, unfulfilled and unhappy married AND single people. Marriage is the cure for loneliness in Genesis 1-3 because Adam was literally alone, except for God. So, yes, as human beings in the image of our creator we looong to be in relationships. However, marriage is not always the corrective for unhappiness and loneliness and often creates dissatisfaction. Many people think magically their lives will be better and more fulfilled if they "do their duty" and get married and have kids. Often it is NOT that answer.
I respect married people who trust in the Lord. I respect other single people who trust in the Lord. The Great Commission is to MAKE DISCIPLES not "get married"... Let's keep the main thing... the MAIN THING...

The Weight of the World

2005-12-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

OK. It should be called "the weight of this big book"!! :)

I really tried to trudge through this thing. I picked it up when it was sent to me three weeks ago through Amazon. First, much of it talks particularly of Europe, France in particular, which indeed is not at all helpful to our group. Second, much of the writing seems puffed up in itself. I don't feel like I am being presented something or told something or shared something in stories (much fo the book is stories) but I am being forced to hear something. What I can decipher from the cultural bias he has seems good. It is just too much work to try and figure this guy out. Seriously. I did like hearing some of the interviews with various kinds of workers who are trying to make it by on little. "Working Nights" on starting on page 300 was particularly stirring. I cannot even relate to working in factories or working long shifts like that.

Moral Legislation

2005-11-30T15:07:00.000-08:00

"Woe to you legislators of infamous laws...who refuse justice to the unfortunate, who cheat the poor among my people of their rights, who make widows their prey and rob the orphan" (Isaiah 10:1-2, Jerusalem Bible).
There are moments in every generation when a society must decide on its real moral principles. This is one of those moments in history: When our legislators put ideology over principle, it is time to sound the trumpets of justice and tell the truth.
In the early hours of the morning before leaving for their Thanksgiving break, the House of Representatives passed a budget bill that cuts $50 billion, including essential services for low-income families. Funding for health care, food stamps, foster care for neglected children, student loans, enforcing child support orders - all fell to the ax. If the House bill prevails, more than 200,000 people will lose food stamps, people already struggling to make ends meet will have to pay more for health care, and low-income students will find it harder to pay for college loans. When they return, the House also plans to pass a tax cut bill benefiting the wealthiest people in America.
Let's be clear. It is a moral disgrace to take food from the mouths of hungry children to increase the luxuries of those feasting at a table overflowing with plenty. There is no moral path our legislators can take to defend a reckless, mean-spirited budget bill that diminishes our compassion. It is dishonest to stake proud claims to deficit reduction when tax cuts for the wealthy that increase the deficit are the next order of business. It is one more example of an absence of morality in our political leadership. "Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss" (Proverbs 22:16).
The religious community has already helped influence the Senate - its version of the budget cut about $35 billion, with virtually no cuts in services to low-income people. The decision to protect low-income families in the Senate was a bipartisan decision - supported by both Republicans and Democrats. The House decision to sacrifice the poor was a victory of the extreme Republican leadership over all the Democrats and moderate Republicans who voted against the harsh and punitive House bill. Congress now faces a stark choice that requires moral clarity and outrage. The differences between the House and Senate bills have to be resolved in a joint conference committee, and the result brought back to each body for a final vote in mid-December. The convictions of the religious community must be brought to bear in these next few weeks - a final bill containing the House cuts that are an assault on poor families and children must not be passed. Budgets are moral documents that reflect our priorities. The choice to cut supports that help people make it day to day in order to pay for tax cuts for those with plenty goes against everything our religious and moral principles teach us. It is a blatant reversal of biblical values. It's time to act.
Contact your legislators Call your senators and representative during their recess and over the next two weeks and demand they refuse to pass a budget cutting services for low-income people.
And it's time for an altar call to Washington, D.C. Come to Washington: On Tuesday evening, Dec. 13 - as the budget bill is being debated in Congress - religious leaders, pastors, and church workers from around the country who serve the poor day after day will gather for a worship service and training session. The next morning, Dec. 14, we will kneel in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to proclaim the Word of God and to pray for people in poverty. We will pray for those in our own neighborhoods who are under assault, and we will call our nation's political leaders to repentance - recognizing the Bible's insistence that the best test of a nation's righteousness is how it treats the most vulnerable among us. We will pray for poor families and children and for the courage of our political representatives to protect them from the budget assault. And we also hope our prayers will shame those who would sacrifice the poor for political gain and the benefit of the wealthy - and hope to change their minds. Specifically, we will pray that the principle of the Senate's bipartisan bill to protect low-income people will prevail and the efforts of an ideological House leadership to neglect the poor will fail. This act of prayer is likely to result in peaceful arrests for those who are willing. Our prayer will be an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in the tradition of the civil rights movement led by black churches. We believe that this moral battle over the budget can still be won. The punitive House bill passed by only two votes: Hearts can still be changed. We must lift up another voice - a voice in prayer that speaks the truth of God's Word. "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you¿and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7).
We urge you to prayerfully consider joining us. For more information go to www.sojo.net/capitol. If you plan to participate, you must sign up on the Web site. If you cannot join us in Washington, I urge you to plan and join vigils at local congressional offices across the country in order to magnify our prophetic voice, and to send representatives or a delegation of faith leaders, service providers, and low-income people to join us in Washington. See tomorrow's e-mail for more details about how to organize a vigil near you.

Why Buffy the Vampire Slayer Matters...

2005-11-28T07:54:00.000-08:00

Hey check out this new book that is getting rave reviews. A cultural study of the TV Show Buffy the Vampire Slayer called: Why Buffy Matters. So interesting to anyone doing cultural/media studies!

Inventing Popular Culture - Comments

2005-11-27T16:56:00.000-08:00

This book quoted a lot and was hard to follow in some points. I found some fascinating stuff in different parts and will endeavor to discuss those...

Page 16
" the invention of popular culture as mass culture was in part a response to middle-class fears engendered by industrialization, urbanization, and the developement of an urban-industrial working class..." This is a response to people wanting to better themselves and others wanted to continue class distinctions. Residential separation (suburbs to urban areas) kept compounding this separation. The middle class asserting itself as the mass culture to be distinct from the lower class mass culture meant a weakening of social authority and a dismantlement of cohesion in culture. Popular culture in this framework seems to be the new elite. We will create our own middle class culture to differentiate ourselves from the lower/working class.
Page 18-19
Matthew Arnold defines the "inequality" of races and cultures as on sort of a continuim. There is a basis that our human natures have in common between aristocracy, middle class and working class and that is evolutionary in nature. Therefore the lower class are just not as "far along" as the upper class. Education for the lower class is to help them function and civilize them to be overpowered by the elite and middle class. Their role is "subordination, deference and exploitation." So for him having a culture spring out of the populace or "working class" is in itself anarchy. It is taking power from the power elite. As disturbing is this is I think much of it still pervades our culture.
Page 48-starting
Democracy's practice of hegemony is not only to rule the society but the dominant classes in democracy leads it through this exercise and therefore universalizes the upper class. In other words we all experience what the upper class experiences. They are our voice. They lead us through the understanding of the collective. Which makes sense as why racism, classism and exploitation of the poor is not mentioned. If the upper class doesn't experience it or think it is important then it is not mentioned. I found this so true! Even as many Christians come into the moral elite this also becomes true. The voice of those in the lower classes are not heard and definately not collectivized. We lived through a modern world in the west dominated by experiences of the white upper class male. Now many people want a voice in postmodernity.
Page 81 - starting
The discussion of the roots of cultural identities being in the "collective memory" I found fascinating. We confirm what we remember through the memory of others. However, this is not an exact science. Post event information and eyewitness testimony play a fascinating role in constructing meaning from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Gospels do what memories do "bring the past into the present." But they do so from the collective identity of those telling the story. The Gospel authors believed Jesus was who he said he was. That framed their memories and arguments and stories. This was an internal process. However, since we have devices to record things now... memory is a more external endeavor. Our memory is not so much internal as a picture, video or sound played back for us. It is outside ourselves. So is this memory really a part of ourselves?
Page 100-101
Then to the argument of cultural views on art. High art vs. low art. I have always found that so interesting. There are certain films or books that are popular culture in nature and they are somehow not seen as fully "artistic." It seems unless it is created by people of the dominant class it is not really art. Art is funded by the elite and has deference to politics. Michaelangelo was bound to the Medici family who were basically the mob of their day. Shakespeare's "historical" plays payed homage to Queen Elizabeth and her family line and not always historically accurate to be pleasing to her grace.

Comments from Globalization & Culture Reading

2005-11-20T22:04:00.000-08:00

Chapter 2 takes into account the fact that we are ALL imigrants. And that homogenous groups are less common as economic relations across cultural boundaries have begun to extend beyond the workplace to trade and retails... investments and credit... and overlap with socioeconomic differences. North American in particular has relationships that extend between migrant labor and various types of employers. There is a historical significance to such networks. (Page 36)
My personal question/observation is that I wonder if migrant labor helps migrants who live in our economic system. Should I pick up the day laborers that wait in Fair Oaks to do work for me (I don't own a house but let us say that I was a Christian living in Pasadena and I owned a home). How can my actions help migrant workers in Pasadena?

Page 41 "Stamping out cultural diversity has ben a form of disenchantment of the world." Even the notion of differences in culture has changed in the last few years. I hadn't considered that the modern factory notions of: standardization, rationalization and control, would also be felt culturally not merely in the work force or in our economics. That is fascinating. Does that mean that for our US economic wiki that we need to take into account differences in regional US response? Cultural differences that may affect how people respond to poverty as Jesus Followers?
In the section on "clash of culture" he quotes Huntington who calls the West "universal civilazation" and everyone else "The rest." Commenting on how the East has attempted modernization with westernization and therefore is different than us.

Also of note for us is the portion of the reading of the McDonaldization of the world beginning on page 49. However, this deals with world corporations it also deals with a common culture based on common goods through large corporations that dominate the US market. When I was younger and would visit my grandparents in the 1970's in South Carolina, they had different grocery stores which sold different products... they had different clothing stores with some variations in fashion. I remember feeling like I was in a different place shopping with my grandparents. Now, however, the same Walmart, Starbucks, Target, Fast food and clothing stores make shopping when I visited friends in Louisville, KY seem like the same city that I came from. We are becoming a one world culture and we are far less distinctive by region in the US.

From chapter 6. Brings in notion of westernization, modernization, capitalism and globalization. I liked that he brought out modernity as a separate factor. We have termed this "individualism" as it refers to how people spend money and value others in our poverty spectrum.

Q & A to N.T. Wright on the Historical Jesus

2005-11-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

What advice do you have to help the conservative believer understand the value of the search for the historical Jesus?

A "conservative believer" must be someone who believes that Jesus was truly human as well as truly divine. (Anything else is radically unorthodox.) That true humanity was a first-century Palestinian Jew. If God decided to become a first-century Palestinian Jew, anything I can do to find what makes first-century Palestinian Jews tick is part of my 'conservative believer's' theological quest and personal pilgrimage. From my own books, I would recommend The Way of the Lord and The Challenge of Jesus. And perhaps The Lord and his Prayer.

My key analysis

2005-11-14T08:00:00.001-08:00

Chapter 3 of Global Transformations
Page 184 – This discussion on welfare I think is relevant to our economics discussion. “erosion of the employment prospects for the low-skilled workers as a result of trade places a significantly higher burden on the welfare system… thus global trade has had contradictory impacts in so far as it has increased the demands on the welfare state while undermining the political basis for funding it.” This strikes me as critical to our web-blog if we want to tie in global trade to U.S. economics. It seems we burn the lower skilled in our country twice. We trade with other countries to get cheaper goods for the upper and middle classes. And then the upper and middle classes tend to vote politically against any aid or assistance for those that don't have low skilled jobs as a result. How interesting and enlightening! Makes me go "hmmm"....

Week 7

2005-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Analysis and Reading
Global Transformations… chapters 3 & 4

Does anyone else have to look up GDP, MFN or WTO while reading in the abbreviations section? Or is it just me? I was a literature major in college and not an economics major… and despite the fascination with this subject… reading this book makes me think I made the right choice! But… I digress….

Pg. 149 – It opens with an interesting thought on global trading which shows how technology has affected trading. We can get a book across the world to us in days. In the West “seasonal” fruit has become almost non existent. I have actually already noticed that in the last few years. However, a good point here would be is having strawberries all year round worth the extra resources it takes to get them here? I am thinking of oil in particular. They are probably flown in on a cargo jet. Would growers in South America be hurting if North American’s didn’t by their strawberries in January?
Page 153 – “Regular trade needs institutional structures to secure property rights in exchange.” It seems this would indicate the need for politics and diplomacy. I mean I can physically by Cuban cigars but I don’t have the “right” to them in our country. There needs to be agreements that are beneficial and reasonable for trade to work, I would think. It also makes me think that as this part of the chapter gives a brief history of trade. Merchant towns would be pivotal to this growth and they would need to be near the influx of transportation of products. This would also need some sort of banking system. In general global and intercontinental trading (ie: money) is at the root of much of our homogeneity as a world. It was not until trains came about in our country that people starting looking at time tables. Industry and trade is what shapes how we view money, our culture and how our culture compares to other cultures. When we share trade, we also share the best and worst of our culture. So what starts as money becomes a social endeavor.
Page 161 – Makes the connection I mused about above. How trade is a significant determinant of the incomes within countries and has impact on key domestic politics. This economic shift then brought about two different types of countries during and after the industrial revolution: countries with natural resources and countries that specialize in manufacturing those resources. “This international division of labor had profound effects on the fortunes of different sectors and groups in industrial and developing countries.”
Box 3.1 – assumption of standard economic theory: when a country opens up for trade it then has to deal with a world price that may be different than a domestic price for whatever resource/good it has to sell or buy. Thus countries will specialize in whatever they have in the most abundance or whatever they can get the best price for. This continues to lead to the stratification of wealth. This causes also countries to major on what they have a comparative advantage in and almost stop production of what they don’t have good competition in. Therefore countries become dependent on other countries for the goods they cannot provide for themselves. I think this has the potential to be disastrous in the future if we are ever cut off from other parts of the world.
Page 173 – “Trade competition in the world economy has led to diverging income levels… many of the poorer states confront declining terms of trade… the new international division of labour embodies a polarization of economic fortunes in the global economy and new patterns of stratification.” I doubt that this reflects illegal substances traded. Every day people make money off of the sale of illegal substances, weapons and human trafficking, I would imagine. It seems to me that many of those trades happen on the first level at the poorer nations who are trying to find some way to make up that stratification difference. Some of the poorer developed nations are were child prostitution and slavery runs rampant and American business men often reap the “benefits” of it as they travel.
Page 184 – This discussion on welfare I think is relevant to our economics discussion. “erosion of the employment prospects for the low-skilled workers as a result of trade places a significantly higher burden on the welfare system… thus global trade has had contradictory impacts in so far as it has increased the demands on the welfare state while undermining the political basis for funding it.” This strikes me as critical to our web-blog if we want to tie in global trade to U.S. economics.
Page 210 – International banking and the world trade stock market stuff so confuses me. However, this section I think hits us. It is the global banking and lending system’s effect on the continued stratification of the global financial system. Basically what that means is that poorer countries rarely have access to international banks or banking/lending institutions. They rely on aid given to them by richer nations. However, many of the richer of the poor can get access to international banking systems.

Terrify No More

2005-11-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

"While I served in the Global War on Terror, the actions and statements of my leadership led me to believe that United States policy did not require application of the Geneva Conventions in Afghanistan or Iraq.... Despite my efforts, I have been unable to get clear, consistent answers from my leadership about what constitutes lawful and humane treatment of detainees. I am certain that this confusion contributed to a wide range of abuses including death threats, beatings, broken bones, murder, exposure to elements, extreme forced physical exertion, hostage-taking, stripping, sleep deprivation, and degrading treatment. I and troops under my command witnessed some of these abuses in both Afghanistan and Iraq."

- Captain Ian Fishback of the 82nd Airborne Division in a letter to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), as printed in The Washington Post.

Who would Jesus torture?
by David Batstone

Christians of strong religious faith and sound moral conscience often end up in disagreement. Human affairs are a messy business, unfortunately, and even at the best of times we only see through a glass, darkly.
It is hard for that reason to call Christians to a universal standard of behavior. At this moment, however, we cannot afford to dilute the message of Jesus into meaningless ambiguity. There are certain acts that a follower of Jesus simply cannot accept. Here is one: A Christian cannot justify the torture of a human being.
The practice of torture by American soldiers is a hot topic at the Pentagon, in the Congress, and in the White House at the moment. The U.S. Senate already has passed 90-9 a bill that prohibits "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment" of prisoners in U.S. custody. The lead advocate of the bill, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), was tortured by his captors during the Vietnam War. According to The New York Times, the Pentagon adopted a policy last Thursday to rein in interrogation techniques. The new policy uses much of the same language as the McCain amendment - drawn in large part from the Geneva Convention - to adopt standards for handling terror suspects.
Remarkably, the White House opposes the Pentagon initiative, and threatens to veto any legislation to which the McCain bill gets attached. Vice President Dick Cheney has urged Republican senators to allow CIA counterterrorism operations internationally to be exempt from the ban on mistreatment of prisoners, major newspapers reported.
On Nov. 3, Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff for then-Secretary of State Colin Powell, said during an interview on NPR's "Morning Edition" that memos from Cheney's office practically encouraged abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Though in "carefully couched terms" that would allow for deniability, the message from Cheney's office conveyed the sentiment that interrogations of Iraqi prisoners were not providing the needed intelligence. Wilkerson said soldiers in the field would have concluded that to garner better intelligence they could resort to interrogation techniques that "were not in accordance with the spirit of the Geneva Conventions and the law of war."
Republican senators are among the strongest voices in the growing chorus of criticism. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said, "I think the administration is making a terrible mistake in opposing John McCain's amendment on detainees and torture." And Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and co-sponsor of McCain's measure, agreed: "I firmly believe that it's in the best interest of the Department of Defense, the men and women of the United States military that this manual be their guide."
When the existence of secret CIA detention centers became public this week, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) called for investigations - not about whether they violate laws governing human rights - but about how the information was leaked. But members of their own party are keeping the focus where it belongs. The Washington Post quoted Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) as saying, "Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees. The real story is those jails."
Admittedly, Christians of good faith part paths when political conflict leads us to consider what constitutes a just and righteous war - or if any war can be just. Though we may not consent on the means, we do consent on the need to confront the spread of evil in the world. Yet we can all affirm scripture when it says, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17, 21). When we confront evil with its own means, those means mark our own character.
In that regard, the practice of torture so fully embraces evil it dehumanizes both the torturer and its victim. No just cause can be won if it relies on torture to succeed. Democracy and freedom cannot result from a war fueled by torture, which is why so many Americans were shocked and angered by the disturbing incidents that took place at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
All the more so, Christians must oppose torture under any circumstances. Consider this: Who would Jesus torture? I cannot imagine Jesus finding a single "exemption" that would justify such an abuse of any individual made in God's image.
Though I bristle whenever I hear someone refer to the United States as a Christian nation - it is such a loaded phrase - many in the Muslim world see us as such. How tragic it would be for Muslims to identify the message and mission of Jesus with torture and terror. We must not allow that to happen.
Action Alert: "Do not repay evil for evil...." (1 Peter 3:9).
Despite strong bipartisan support in the Senate, Republican leaders in the House - including Speaker Hastert - are using a procedural loophole to block an up or down House vote on Sen. McCain's anti-torture measure.

Analysis of Global Transformations

2005-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Section 1.3.2
"International law recognizes powers and constraints, and rights and duties, which have qualified the principel of sovereignty in a number of important aspects; sovereignty per se is no longer a straightforward guarantee of international legitimacy. Entrenched in certaint legal instruments is the view that a legitimate state must be a democratic state that upholds certaint common values..."

I have always found the Human Rights issue fascinating. We certaintly didn't have any concept of this historically before the 20th Century. Noone cared how Rome treated those they subjugated through warfare. However, we live in a time where there are actually organizations that cross politic boundaries to speak on behalf of prisoners of war. I do believe there are some boundaries meant to be broken down. The Apostle Paul talks a few times in his letters about "no slave nor free... Jew nor Gentile" and he was a part of the most powerful superpower in the world: Rome. His words were definately subversive. But he didn't talk directly about power structures. He spoke about the interpersonal relationships within the house churches he wrote to. He wanted them to realize that the barriers that had kept them apart were now no longer as powerful. Jews and Gentiles could be unified in love. That seems to be a high value of Paul's in respect to church life. And in my study of the O.T. profits as it looks at money issues for our Economics group it seems often times God was the most upset at how we treated one another. How we treat God's creation is how we treat God. I find human rights to be a secular idea that has its roots in the good news of a reversal of power as found in the Kingdom of God. People valued despite the differences between "us" and "them." I think this is an affront to the United States of America. We have a huge entitlement complex. We talk about human rights but then we, to, commit crimes that go nearly unpunished at both Abu Ghraib and in Guatanamo. I mean how outraged is the "Christian nation" of the U.S. when people from other countries are being abused, some by our own hands? During the Vietnam War Jane Fonda was villified, called a traitor and not an American because she dared to care about and speak out for the women and children of Vietnam. We valued our American soldiers more and so we didn't care what they did to the people of Vietnam, ultimately. Now, atrocities were perpetrated on our soldiers. And I am not saying we should not value American lives. So this seems like a dilemna. Nations have self interest at heart. We have power love at our core. We go to war to "win" something. There are no self-less acts between nations in this global power structure. How do we value eveyone? How do we participate in the most powerful nation in the world and still value those around the world who are trampled on by its power and the power of others daily?

Research from Global Transformations Reading

2005-11-07T07:42:00.000-08:00

Research:
1. Political Globalization as defined by these dimensions: political power, authority and forms of rule.
2. Modern Nation-State: "inner world" vs. "outer world" (two different sets of choices)
3. Many Easter Civilizations developed in relative isolation, which has kept their influence from spreading as in the West
4. Political rule/power needs war-making ability to be sustainable.
5. The historical growth of Europe which brought global power expansions also brought about the need for an enhanced demand for organizations that can be able to operate on a larger scale.
6. Global Politics captures the idea of how political relationships stretch over space and time. How choices made can affect a wide-reaching population.
7. Shift from international to cosmopolitan law, humanitarian laws which have been enacted that can transcend power of nation-state and can transcend political boundaries.
8. Current shift from purely state-centric politics to a more complex form of multilayered global governance. The potential for a universal political organization is possible (also called "new medievalism")
9. Military Globalization, an argument that all states are now enmeshed in a world military order.
10. Currently there seems to be a return to a traditional pattern of multipolar power politics but with a "firepower gap" that still favors the U.S.

Quote of the Day from Google.com

2005-11-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all.
- Peter McWilliams

Analysis of Current Research

2005-10-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

I found this cool website called CLUE.

Blurb from website: "The Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) is an interfaith association of over 400 religious leaders throughout Los Angeles County who come together to respond to the crisis of the working poor. According to a recent study by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, over 30% of Los Angeles workers have incomes so low that they cannot provide their families with basic necessities without government assistance. Over 60% do not have employer-provided health insurance. When these workers receive government assistance, their employers are effectively subsidized by our taxes - the majority work for companies with over 500 employees. During the 1980's and 1990's, the United States underwent the largest "wealth transfer' in our history; the assets of the top 1% of our country rose 17% and the assets of the bottom 40% dropped 80%. In the words of the prophet Amos, the corporate and public policies of our nation have created a situation in which the wealthy "tread upon the poor" and "sell the needy for a pair of sandals.'"

I have so far been looking at in both class lectures, readings and research global and personal foci for the issue of economic justice. I found it interesting that this particular website was ecumenical and also local for the Los Angeles Area. I also found it interesting that in general when I looked at the board of directors for CLUE I found few churches I recognized, none from the caucasian suburbs nor any from conservative evangelicals with church bases in the Los Angeles Area. Why is economic justice in general such a split? It seems that the political divide in our political world of "liberal" and "conservative" is just as strong in this issue. In general conservatives that I have spoken with, most of whom are Christians and Republicans, see not much wrong with American Society in terms of economics. Most think that if you just pull yourself up by your bootstraps American helps you. You can make the American Dream a reality. People don't need a "hand out." Since they are financially well off and their parents made living in America work, even at times as immigrants, then anyone one can do it. Therefore people on welfare and who are poor must be lazy. I am not saying that people don't abuse the system of welfare. I am also not saying that the system of welfare that we created does even a remotely good job of dealing with the issue of poverty. However, if most evangelical Christians are not willing to see the problem then they are reluctant to particpate in a solution. If God is good and he rewards us, then maybe those without a "reward" just need to be better. I realize that is a blanket statement and a generalization. However, since I have begun researching this I have gotten into many discussions with Christians over the last few weeks. I think point one is to look at this issue of poverty as both a personal issue: ie, how do I spend the money God has given me? We also need to view this as a bigger problem: ie, why are people in a rich nation such as the U.S. without the ability to earn a decent living? We need to be willing to see how these both the microcosm and the macrocosm need to intersect in order to bring about change. It is this theological duality that needs to be eliminated. Jesus is not only Lord of my heart or my personal savior, He is also the savior of the world and redeemer of all the principalities and powers of this society.

Current Week Research

2005-10-30T16:31:00.001-08:00

BOOKS:

Economic Justice And Democracy: From Competition To Cooperation (Pathways Through the Twenty-First Century)
SBN: 0415933455
by Robin Hahnel

Economic Justice
ISBN: 0137418442
by Stephen Nathanson

Economic Justice: Selections from Distributive Justice and a Living Wage (Library of Theological Ethics)
ISBN: 0664256600
by John Augustine Ryan, John A. Ryan, Harlan R. Beckley

How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black America: Problems in Race, Political Economy, and Society (South End Press Classics Series)
ISBN: 0896085791
by Manning Marable

Unlevel Playing Fields: Understanding Wage Inequality and Discrimination
ISBN: 0070009686
by Randy Albelda, Robert W. Drago, Steven Shulman

WEBSITES:

Economic Justice website for clergy and laity to help the issue of poverty based in Los Angeles

Alliance for a New Economy based in Los Angeles

National Coalition for the Homeless - Promotes an end to homelessness in the U.S.

Living Wage Resources - Promotes a living wage for all employees

Calvert Foundation - Promotes socially responsible investments

More Mom Stuff

2005-10-30T16:31:00.000-08:00

She is doing so much better!! thanks for all of your prayers... She is home and doing very well.

I hope someone lifts you up today...

2005-10-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

Mom developments

2005-10-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hey all

My mom was taken to the emergency room last night and has a blood clot in her abdomen area. The diagnosis seems to be that last week when she was on a catheter they accidently tore a hole that caused bleeding in her stomache lining and intestinal area. Please pray that everything turns out alright.

Analysis Week 4

2005-10-23T00:20:00.000-07:00

I think what struck me the most this week as I did research was the term Joel Bakan uses to describe what greed looks like at the higher levels of corporate power. He calls corporations in todays free market economy "pathological." That is a term you would use for a serial killer. Someone who plans and executes events which precisely fit their notions of what they want regardless of what victims lie in their wake. Since we have talked about "the powers" in class I found that particular phrasing helpful. It is almost as if corporations just sort of feed off their own identities. They perpetuate greed and will not be stopped until everything crumbles around them. Enron's shady economic practices and government ties would have gone nearly unnoticed and unchecked if they hadn't gone belly up. And I imagine that it doesn't seem like evil is happening up in the corporate headquarters. Selling out must be nearly normative.
I also was Ted Nace's book and the issues he addresses. He calls corporations the gangs of America. He says they bully to get there way. Legislationg seems to favor big corporations more than it does the every day working American. He questions the democracy of this and the irony that while we are a very individualistic culture in general, the greater governmental assistance goes to large corporations who get tax breaks for all kinds of things along with the rich. On his website (that I did not include in my resources) you can read a chapter online and you can even download a copy of the book in PDF format. His book seems to go through a logical, systematic and historical look at the rise of corporations and reduction of individual democratic rights. He even has two interesting chapters entitled; "Fighting Back: A Movement Emerges to Challenge Corporate Hegemony" and "Intelligent, Amoral, Evolving: The Hazards of Persistent, Dynamic Entities." It seems he began this research in grad school where he saw first hand corporate, legislative maneuvering in energy projects that threatened natural resources near his rural hometown. It is funny to me that most conservatives are for "trickle down" economics which primarily focuses on the rich and corporations and that conservatives also tend to laugh at any form of environmental reform. I have always wondered why those two things went together. His thoughts helped me work through that a little bit more.

Week 4 Resources

2005-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Corporation : The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power
by Joel Bakan
ISBN: 0743247469
The modern corporation, according to law professor Joel Bakan, is "singularly self-interested and unable to feel genuine concern for others in any context." (p. 56) He concludes that the corporation is a "pathological" entity. Also made into a movie.
Gangs of America: The Rise of Corporate Power and the Disabling of Democracy
by Ted Nace
ISBN: 1576752607
"Gangs of America" stakes out the historical origins of the status of the modern corporation as a preferential legal entity enjoying rights and freedoms superior to that of the individual.
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
by John Perkins
ISBN: 1576753018Americans should be aware of how our nations powerful influence and economy is being misused and misdirected to undermine and hinder the development of nations around the world.
Shapeshifting: Shamanic Techniques for Global and Personal Transformation
by John Perkins
ISBN: 0892816635
John Perkins' wonderful shapeshifting brings great insight for an industrial civilization consuming and polluting itself toward catastrophe.

CCD Position Paper No. Four
Rich and Poor: Socioeconomic Inequality in these United States
by Lowell Noble
Found On John M. Perkin's Foundation website (go to download articles and click on title)

Website devoted to studying US poverty from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Website called The Finance Project which focuses on welfare reform and helping low-income and the working poor.

Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego and the Death of Enron
by Robert Bryce
ISBN:1586482017
Description of book: "Along the way, Austin Chronicle reporter Bryce reveals the political history of "The Crooked E" with its ties to the Bush family and Senator Phil Gramm, who, without shame, sponsored legislation that directly benefited Enron and allowed the company to conceal its debts. All of the high-level players at Enron are profiled, and you get an excellent sense of their personalities and plenty of gossip about the sexual infidelities that ran rampant with this group of executives. Most importantly, Bryce unveils the intricate accounting schemes that allowed Enron to switch from a healthy cash flow business into one that put all its emphasis on trading revenues while ignoring the massive expenses that would ultimately pull the company into bankruptcy. Bryce's account is a prime example of how greed, arrogance, and influence lead to corruption, deception, and ruin. "

Michael Moore's website. I know many people think he is a bit obnoxious and extremist. However, I watched Bowling for Columbine this past week and he has some interesting insight into the economic issues often behind acts of violenc.

A corporate watch website called Corpwatch. They had several helpful links and articles.

How Not to Hinder God

2005-10-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Devotional Moment from Episcopal Priest Barbara Brown Taylor. She is giving a sermon on the place in Acts where Peter has just had some pretty crazy dreams concerning his long held belief about the sanctity of the Jewish dietary laws:

Acts 10: 34-35.
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.'"

"I wish there were some way we could understand how important dietary law has been to the people of Israel... imagine anything that, for you, is the dividing line between Christians and other people - the one thing that makes us who we are, that is not negotiable, that we cannot let slide without letting slide our whole identity as the people of God. And when you have figured out what that is, get ready to LET IT GO, because that is what Peter did. He had to. God gave him a vision that changed everything he had ever believed about who he was and how he was supposed to live." (excerpt from Bread of Angels)

AMEN

My Mom is Home

2005-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Update that my mom is home from the hospital. She will begin extensive heart rehab but otherwise all looks well. Thanks for you many prayers and concerns for our family.

Update on Mom

2005-10-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hey
Thanks for your prayers! Today my mom had an angiogram. They determined that last Thursday she had a heart attack which lead to her stroke. The amazing thing is that the medicine the doctors used to treat her stroke actually helped her heart. However, there was heart damage and so she will go into heart rehab again. But I am really thankful that all has turned out this well. She is reading and sitting up in a chair. This is good news!!

Update on my mom

2005-10-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend she was taken out of the critical care unit (where she went after her stroke and the initial agressive treatment on Thursday night) and is now in a regular room at the hospital which is a good sign of her recovery. On monday she will have to have both an MRI, so they can see the extent of what the stroke did to her brain, and also an unexpected angio-plasti (she has had heart issues before), they are doing it as a precaution. Pray that all turns out well.

Week 3 Analysis

2005-10-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

I found some really great stuff this week. I am glad we are pushed to find ten resources as it forces me to really get creative in my searching. I found a few in particular that I think are helpful to our group. I focused this week entirely on general economic issues such as welfare and the working poor, these topics interest me. If big business (Walmart or whatever) has a seemingly singular focus on itself and if it's CEO's are getting rich at the expense of the rest of us. Then generally those working at big companies in the lower level positions are the working poor. The welfare system is how we have chosen to handle the issue of poverty in the last 50 years or so. These two factors seem to play much into economic poverty in our country. Factor one: big business is out for itself and seeks to have profit go to the top small percentage of those who work at the higher levels. Factor two: welfare is a system that is fairly dehumanizing and does nothing to truly end poverty in our country. Since much of our discussion of evil this week reveals itself in systems that dehumanize. These are two nearly unchecked "systems" which seem to me to be dehumanizing.

This guy I had never heard of named Dr. J. Larry Brown gave an address that I posted called: Poverty and Inequality: Albatross or Opportunity? I found this to be such an interesting article. He says that in the middle of the last century a war on poverty was waged. The problem was that instead of dealing with systematic issues or making the war AGAINST poverty. We, instead, in the U.S. made it a war against THE POOR.
Here is a direct quote from that article, "For a period of time we really were gearing up to fight a war against poverty. But it got way-laid by two factor. One was the Vietnam War that ate up needed resources and distracted our leaders. The other was faulty ideology. Instead of fighting a War on Poverty, we fought what Bill Ryan called a War Against the Poor. Rather than taking steps to see that policies were changed to give poor people true opportunity, and rather than focusing on private and public structural barriers to meaningful participation in our democracy – major outside factors, in other words, that hamper the poor – we instead decided that we needed to change the poor. They needed to be counseled, constrained, educated and dealt with (as if they are children)..."
This article was a revelation for me. We do view the poor as the problem rather than as a result of some larger problem which is systemic in our country. With the statics of those who are poor increasing, we need to start addressing the larger issues in our country that prohibit everyone from resources they need and access to a voice to talk about their disparity of circumstances. We DO treat them as if they are children. We pity them rather than attempting to give them a more just world. This along with the book "Nickle and Dimed," which I recommend reading regardless of this project, really give a human perspective to the injustice of having working poor people in a nation of such enormous wealth. It seems to me that much of the words of the minor prophets which are words from God are dealing with this very issue: hording wealth and flaunting it. We have a system failure not simply people who should work harder. That is startling and therefore maybe should be a focus in our economic policies as a nation.

The second person I found on this issue from the perspective of large investment/big business was financial analyst John C. Bogle. I posted his soon-to-be-released book and two articles from his website. His book is going to be released in November. This is what is said about his upcoming book: "Bogle argues for a return to a governance structure in which owners' capital that has been put at risk is used in their interests rather than in the interests of corporate and financial managers. Given that ownership is now consolidated in the hands of relatively few large mutual and pension funds, the specific reforms Bogle details in this book are essential as well as practical. " His book deals with the soul of capitalism. I found it at first because the title seemed so appropriate. He seems particulary interested in reestablishing small business' which redistribute wealth and financial security. This is in line with my thoughts on some of the previous Walmart statistics. He is a financial analyst who advocates for distribution of wealth and he thinks this will stabilize our economy. If American Capitalism only benefits the rich then we need to do something about it. This seems like a huge sort of structural issue. How can we tackle that from a grass roots kind of thing?

Week 3 Resources

2005-10-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

1. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
by Barbara Ehrenreich (ISBN: 0805063897)
2. The Working Poor: Invisible in America
by David K. Shipler (ISBN: 0375408908)
3. Tyranny of Kindness: Dismantling the Welfare System to End Poverty in America
by Theresa Funiciello (ISBN: 0871135787)
4. The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism
by John Bogle (ISBN: 0300109903)
5. The Political Economy of Inequality
edited by: Neva Goodwin, Kevin Gallagher, Laurie Dougherty (ISBN: 1559637986)

Two articles by John Bogle on this website: http://www.vanguard.com/bogle_site/bogle_home.html

The Ownership of Corporate America -- Rights and Responsibilities
Remarks by John C. Bogle Founder and Former Chairman, The Vanguard Group20th Anniversary Meeting of the Council of Institutional InvestorsApril 11, 2005Washington, DC

What Went Wrong in Corporate America?
Remarks by John C. BogleFounder and Former Chairman, The Vanguard Groupat the Community Forum Distinguished Speaker SeriesBryn Mawr Presbyterian ChurchBryn Mawr, PAFebruary 24, 2003

Other Articles:

Economic Injustice: America's New Leading Export
By Jason Miller
Metaphoria, July 2005, Volume 12 Nr. 26, Issue 161
weblink: http://www.metaphoria.org/ac4t0507d.html

Poverty And Inequality: Albatross or Opportunity
By Dr. J. Larry Brown
Tri-State CAA Conference, Cape Cod, MA on May 19, 2004
weblink: http://www.centeronhunger.org/pdf/MassCap.pdf

Website on Assets and Social Policy:
http://www.assetinstitute.org

Prayer Request for My Mom

2005-10-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

Hello to all my friends from around the country possibly reading my blog... just a prayer request. Tonite my mom suffered a minor stroke (it is her third total in the last 10 years). There is the possibility this may prevent her from driving and doing her favorite pasttime: reading. She is in the I.C.U. at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Please pray she recovers fully from this. Thanks!

Devote from Sojourners: Golden Parties

2005-10-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Golden Parties
Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14"It appears that Ms. (Paris) Hilton’s blond ambition knows no bounds," says a May 2 article in The New York Times. "She commands anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 to appear at a party for 20 minutes. ‘If it’s in Japan I get more,’ she said.
"Why would the Israelites’ worship of the golden calf in Exodus 32 seem bizarre to us? We get daily updates on the latest golden supermodel or partygoer. The worship of the self has a "rich" tradition. Moses interceded to get God to reconsider allowing disaster to befall an unfaithful people (Exodus 32:11-14). Who will speak for us?"They made a calf at Horeb," remembers the psalmist, "and worshiped a cast image" (Psalm 106:19).
This kind of idolatry abuses the poor who struggle for basic needs. But, the psalmist reminds us, there is another way: "Happy are those who observe justice."At God’s banquet, the key word is everyone. Paul says, "Let your gentleness be known to everyone" (Philippians 4:5).
In the gospel reading, Jesus says, "Go therefore into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet" (Matthew 22:9).In that party called "the kingdom of heaven," many are called—the mentally challenged and the Oxford scholars, the unemployed and the Paris Hiltons. "Many are called, but few are chosen," Jesus says (Matthew 22:14). The nice part: We invite everyone and leave the choosing to God.
Boundaries and Crossings. by Robert Roth. Sojourners Magazine, September/October 2005 (Vol. 34, No. 9, pp. 48-49). Living the Word.

Boot Camp for the next 8 weeks

2005-10-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

Hey all... Pray for me

I start a new fitness program for the next two months.

Check it out: http://www.bootcamp-fitness.com/

EEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments to my group copied onto my blog

2005-10-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

Justin:
Creative use of Fitzgerald. Yes, I agree we have become people about the quick money and pleasure as seen in the Great Gatsby. I also liked the article that told me a bit about the injustice in Iraq which startled me to see how much hasn't improved since we have "liberated" them. It still so much seems about power and oil this whole war/ American imperialism. The new urbanism stuff you found is especially helpful. I started with some of the founding thoughts on it and you took it more from a grass-roots who is doing now and why approach which I liked.
Michael
Thanks for pointing out which articles/books would help whichever one of us in the group's personal interest/niche. You cited some good racism stuff, especially the two articles from GlobalExchange. I also liked that you cited articles that pointed out the greater and greater disparity between the poor and rich. I think that should be a focus for us. Maybe even for media to see what consumer products focus on which demographics.

Those are my comments for now...

First Week of Research Stuff

2005-10-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

Done with Resources:

1. http://www.mparchitects.com/index2.html
He is the pioneer of New Urbanism. He is the expert. He has several papers on the effect of New Urbanism onto cities. He is wanting to create communities where people can live, play and work and deal with the car/oil issue. He wants people to walk around instead of drive around. We should be able to shop near where we leave and get to work, etc.
2. http://www.endofsuburbia.com/
Such an amazing documentary which traces the roots of suburbia and links that with the big companies making money off of having people use cars. I watched this in a screening at Fuller last year and highly recommend it. It deals with the oil crisis which is to come and probably in our lifetime. It deals with the creation of suburbia and its myths. You can easily springboard issues of both consumerism and racism in this discussion.
3. http://walmartwatch.com/
They keep an eye on walmart's ethical practices. There are good charts and specific articles that deal with how Walmart's presence in a community. It talks specifically about ethical development and tax practices. It breaks down some of the arguments for big business.
4. http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html
This site deals in detail in articles about how despite the great low prices companies like Walmart give us they also come at a cost to smaller businesses and jobs that go overseas. I think the link to unemployment is a huge issue for our discussion of poverty/economics in the U.S.
5. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/
This is a series of articles dealing with the effect Walmart has on technology and unemployment. One article cites a particular city in Ohio and an electronics plant which had to shut down and throw over a thousand people out of jobs because Walmart was buying cheaper overseas. Vast unemployment and job relocation is of critical importance in this discussion as well as completely turning around the dynamics of many small towns and cities. There is also a program with a dialogue between Walmart employees, former employees and other economic and sociological experts about how Wal-Mart has been able to take advantage of the rise of information technology and the explosion of the global economy to change the balance of power in the business world.
6. http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/wmtstudy.pdf
This article was fascinating. I did not know that Walmart actually got grants and tax breaks to subsidize their business. Walmart, it seems, has received more than $1 billion in economic development subsidies from state and local governments across the country. Taxpayers have helped finance not only Wal-Mart stores, but also the company’s huge network of distribution centers, more than 90% of which have gotten subsidies. And that is just for starters. Very helpful look at what low price super stores really "cost us."
7. http://www.walmartfacts.com/community/article.aspx?id=1331
I felt it only appropriate to show the Walmart charitable side. This is a website where they highlight their community involvement and how much their stores create jobs, etc. It shows how it does by products made in the U.S. and calculates that rate per state when you click on the map. This is clearly propaganda. However, I don't want to dismiss the positive effect big business may have on the community.
8. http://www.apa.org/pi/urban/povres.html
This is a fascinating resolution I found on the public interest website. It is a resolution on pverty and socioeconomic status that was adopted by the American Psychological Association. It talks about the personal and communal effect of poverty and unemployement. It talks about the various poverty rates throughout the US until 2000. It talks about a wide range of issues from environment to children with regards to the effect of poverty.
9. http://www.povertyinamerica.psu.edu/
The bad news is that statistically speaking there are more people in poverty this year than there were last year. It also talks about the uneven distribution of poverty within various states and cities across the country. It also talks about the effects Katrina will have on the increase of poverty in the South, which was already some of the most poverty stricken places in our country.
10. http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/
This site gave me a bit of hope that people are thinking about this stuff and trying to come up with viable solutions to poverty and unemployment. It also has an interesting "Vacant Properties Campaing." To make good use of abandoned properties to help the entire community.

New likeable quote

2005-10-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am taking a preaching class and reading this book stumbled across this quote:

Q: Why do actors seem to make such impressions upon your audiences, while preachers frequently leave our congregations cold?

A: Actors speak of things imaginary as if they were real, while preachers too often speak of things real as if they were imaginary.

- Archbiship of Canterbury in an exchange with actor Thomas Betterton

I love Sushi!

2005-10-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

hello bunnies

2005-10-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

A little more about my life. Each day I wake up and the first thing I have to do is give my two bunnies their raisin treats. They have really become quite desperate for them. I have two bunnies. One is a boy named "Spike" and the other is a girl named "Willow"... unfortunately I cannot make them be friends but we all seem to do alright. Spike I bought at a pet store and Willow I rescued from neighbors who moved a few blocks from here. I found her last Easter walking to church. She was much abused but is still the sweetest bun ever! She enjoys timothy hay and destroying old books. Spike is quite opinionated and bossy. He enjoys chewing anything and resting inside his huge cardboard ring... it is the cutest sight ever. His head sticks out the front and his bum sticks out the back. I am a sucker for animals. I love nearly all animals. However, I can't quite bring myself to be a vegetarian.

no more "must see TV" on Thursday nights

2005-09-30T23:33:00.000-07:00

I know this is silly. But I miss must see TV on Thursday nights. Alias was a stink bomb of a season opener and a poor choice moving it to Thursday nights. Will & Grace was funny but being a "live" season opener show made the lighting, sound and camera angles that of a B-rated soap opera. It made me sad. It also made me realize how old I am getting. I am starting to wish for the 90's again! Oh... those were the days... when MTV actually showed music videos and Chris Farley was still making us laugh on SNL. Wow. Where has the time gone?

My first blog

2005-09-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

I am tired because I was up late reading and don't have a lot to say. Despite being uninteresting I thought I would still try and get my first blog out of the way. There. It is done. Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore...