We now have another niece. Born on Wednesday morning. Praise God.
17 April 2008
03 April 2008
India Thriller with English Lyrics
I nearly fell over laughing the first time I saw this. Oh my. I should have posted this a while ago.
17 March 2008
Time to Relax
I have had the opportunity in the past week to spend some time relaxing and connecting with God. While working as and admin and at my corporate job, I got a little overwhelmed.
Anyways, I took two retreats to two different contemplative centers in a week. That is a good way to do it.
On Wednesday I visited St. Paul's Monastery in North St. Paul. It is a community of Benedictine Sisters that has been there for a while. Most of the Sisters that are in the Monastery are retired - the other ones are out teaching. They worship and pray 3 or 4 times a day, and eat meals together. It is very quiet, and peaceful. I am not Catholic, but pretty familiar with the faith. The highlight of the stay was my time with Sister Virginia. She is a Spiritual Director. What a gift and a joy it was to be with her, and talk through my struggles and questions of God's desires for my life. It is only $60 a night with 3 meals included, and another $30 for an hour with a spiritual director.
During this time when I am only working 4 days a week, and Lauren and I are determining what is next for us, We are seriously considering me spending my Wednesdays at St. Paul's as part of the discernment process.
On Friday night I arrived at Pacem In Terris. I was there from Friday night till Sunday at about 2pm. This is a Hermitage. It is about being alone with God. The advise you to bring only a Bible and a journal. (and personal effects). You are in the woods, and in a beautiful cabin with no electricity and no running water. It was great. I wrote a letter to my Dad (he died in 2001), and also prayed through most of the Psalms on Saturday - using the Coptic Book of the Hours (Available Online). It was great. I also put together a schedule for reading the Psalms - that divides them into 28 nearly equal parts with out dividing the psalms or any of the 5 books of the psalms. I am very happy with it, and will post it soon. The time there was great - even if I thought it was a little over priced ($90) because of the primitiveness. Next time I might just camp instead and save the money. But if you don't want to have to pitch a tent, and sleep on dirt - Pacem In Terra offers you a great way to remove distractions from you life and be still. (Watch out - I might have a career as a Christian retreat reviewer.)
It was a great week. A great time to refresh, and I am so thankful for Lauren for making it possible.
Anyways, I took two retreats to two different contemplative centers in a week. That is a good way to do it.
On Wednesday I visited St. Paul's Monastery in North St. Paul. It is a community of Benedictine Sisters that has been there for a while. Most of the Sisters that are in the Monastery are retired - the other ones are out teaching. They worship and pray 3 or 4 times a day, and eat meals together. It is very quiet, and peaceful. I am not Catholic, but pretty familiar with the faith. The highlight of the stay was my time with Sister Virginia. She is a Spiritual Director. What a gift and a joy it was to be with her, and talk through my struggles and questions of God's desires for my life. It is only $60 a night with 3 meals included, and another $30 for an hour with a spiritual director.
During this time when I am only working 4 days a week, and Lauren and I are determining what is next for us, We are seriously considering me spending my Wednesdays at St. Paul's as part of the discernment process.
On Friday night I arrived at Pacem In Terris. I was there from Friday night till Sunday at about 2pm. This is a Hermitage. It is about being alone with God. The advise you to bring only a Bible and a journal. (and personal effects). You are in the woods, and in a beautiful cabin with no electricity and no running water. It was great. I wrote a letter to my Dad (he died in 2001), and also prayed through most of the Psalms on Saturday - using the Coptic Book of the Hours (Available Online). It was great. I also put together a schedule for reading the Psalms - that divides them into 28 nearly equal parts with out dividing the psalms or any of the 5 books of the psalms. I am very happy with it, and will post it soon. The time there was great - even if I thought it was a little over priced ($90) because of the primitiveness. Next time I might just camp instead and save the money. But if you don't want to have to pitch a tent, and sleep on dirt - Pacem In Terra offers you a great way to remove distractions from you life and be still. (Watch out - I might have a career as a Christian retreat reviewer.)
It was a great week. A great time to refresh, and I am so thankful for Lauren for making it possible.
DJ Bob Brown in a Church Basement
Welp - I am sure it will attract a slightly different crowd that some of my old gigs, but I am playing what has been titled a "Resurrection Rave" on Easter sunday in the basement of my church - Solomon's Porch. I am the only dj, and will probably only spin for about 2 hours or so. We have neighbors.
All are welcome, it will be relatively early, and there will be some drumming/drum circles before and after. But we have a pretty decent sound system and I will bring some very good (though a little old) records for the dancing. So here is the data:
Resurrection Rave
8pm - 10pm Sunday March 23rd 2008
@ Solomon's Porch
46th & Blaisdell Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Come one come all - no statement of belief required for entry - and no tracts will be handed out ;)
All are welcome, it will be relatively early, and there will be some drumming/drum circles before and after. But we have a pretty decent sound system and I will bring some very good (though a little old) records for the dancing. So here is the data:
Resurrection Rave
8pm - 10pm Sunday March 23rd 2008
@ Solomon's Porch
46th & Blaisdell Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Come one come all - no statement of belief required for entry - and no tracts will be handed out ;)
29 January 2008
Human Trafficking
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/01/28/rogers.uk.sex.trafficking.itn
Here is a CNN UK report on the modern day slave trade.
There is an active group in my church that is working on making a difference globally and locally in the trade of human beings. They work with a group called "Not for Sale"
One of the main things that these groups are currently doing is working to raise awareness about the modern day slave trade. So I figure I can do a little bit by posting this video on my blog.
Most of the modern day slavery that we see in the UK and the US is related to the Sex industries - women forced into prostitution - not just by desparate circumstances, but by kidnapping and physical and mental abuse. This not something that happens only in third world nations, but it happens in the UK and even here in Minneapolis - we had a brothel busted in July of 2007, and our church has helped a liberated slave set up house in the twin cities.
If you want to know more you can read these websites:
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
Is an international organization that can help you get connected locally.
http://transformaai.blogspot.com/
This is the group from Solomon's Porch who are working to help around town.
Here is a CNN UK report on the modern day slave trade.
There is an active group in my church that is working on making a difference globally and locally in the trade of human beings. They work with a group called "Not for Sale"
One of the main things that these groups are currently doing is working to raise awareness about the modern day slave trade. So I figure I can do a little bit by posting this video on my blog.
Most of the modern day slavery that we see in the UK and the US is related to the Sex industries - women forced into prostitution - not just by desparate circumstances, but by kidnapping and physical and mental abuse. This not something that happens only in third world nations, but it happens in the UK and even here in Minneapolis - we had a brothel busted in July of 2007, and our church has helped a liberated slave set up house in the twin cities.
If you want to know more you can read these websites:
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
Is an international organization that can help you get connected locally.
http://transformaai.blogspot.com/
This is the group from Solomon's Porch who are working to help around town.
11 January 2008
Need a Smile?
I love this song - and recently I finally saw the video for Basement Jaxx's Romeo.
It made me smile - and maybe think that humanity has a bit of God's goodness it in. Fun and pointlessly beautiful.
It made me smile - and maybe think that humanity has a bit of God's goodness it in. Fun and pointlessly beautiful.
08 January 2008
Calling all Mac Nerds
Are you a mac-nerd?
Do you regularly check any Apple Rumor Sites?
Do you know that the Mac World Conference is Jan 15th?
If so you might really enjoy this game for the upcomming Mac World Steve Jobs key note on January 15th:
http://arstechnica.com/staff/fatbits.ars/2008/01/06/mwsf-2008-keynote-bingo
This way you can play along at home. I love all the specific rules/definitions of the squares.
Do you regularly check any Apple Rumor Sites?
Do you know that the Mac World Conference is Jan 15th?
If so you might really enjoy this game for the upcomming Mac World Steve Jobs key note on January 15th:
http://arstechnica.com/staff/fatbits.ars/2008/01/06/mwsf-2008-keynote-bingo
This way you can play along at home. I love all the specific rules/definitions of the squares.
04 January 2008
16 December 2007
04 December 2007
Two Jobs
I have officially been working two jobs for the past month. One is my corporate job - 32 hours there - and the other is the part time interim admin at Solomon's Porch.
It has been great to help get the books and other record keeping information up to date at the Porch and feels good to put together some systems for getting stuff done quickly so that this job can live a little less in the grey area. My head has been spinning a little bit, but I am better busy, than I am with free time - so it is generally a good thing for me.
Needless to say, my job search for another church has been a bit delayed. I talked recently to an existing church - and after a phone call and email was interested in the position. Upon reading their website - I found one of the "deal breakers" in their belief statement. It is something that many many wonderful churches have as part of their fait statement, but is just does not sit well with me. I am sensing less and less that there is a church out there who is looking for some one like me - or that I will find a church that matches anything I am looking for.
I believe the type of Christian community I would like to be a part of - wouldn't be looking out side of the community for their next pastor. If resume qualifications are what they are looking for - then they don't understand the work of God and purpose of the Church universal in they way that I do.
It has been great to help get the books and other record keeping information up to date at the Porch and feels good to put together some systems for getting stuff done quickly so that this job can live a little less in the grey area. My head has been spinning a little bit, but I am better busy, than I am with free time - so it is generally a good thing for me.
Needless to say, my job search for another church has been a bit delayed. I talked recently to an existing church - and after a phone call and email was interested in the position. Upon reading their website - I found one of the "deal breakers" in their belief statement. It is something that many many wonderful churches have as part of their fait statement, but is just does not sit well with me. I am sensing less and less that there is a church out there who is looking for some one like me - or that I will find a church that matches anything I am looking for.
I believe the type of Christian community I would like to be a part of - wouldn't be looking out side of the community for their next pastor. If resume qualifications are what they are looking for - then they don't understand the work of God and purpose of the Church universal in they way that I do.
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