http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-garden14-2008aug14,0,872568.story
This is a great story about a skid row half way house for homeless people who have started some pretty serious gardening.
It is such a great story, about people given some help and encouragement actively changing their lives in meaningful ways. Lauren and I have done our first gardening this year, and even though it has been less than a smashing success, the feeling of going out side to get some basil, or mint that you have grown yourself is pretty darn fulfilling.
Maybe next year we won't get blossom end rot on _all_ of our tomatos.
14 August 2008
30 June 2008
Something to do with my free time.
Build a bike!
Why not, all the cool kids are buying/finding old 10 speed frames and converting them into single speed/fixed gear cruising bikes.
So I got myself a Bridgestone Kabuki - it just needed wheels, cranks, gears, tires, a better seat, brakes (maybe). I am trying to make it with all used parts - as much as possible. Certain things are a little harder to find. Any ways - I guess I should take some pictures.
I have learned a lot about fixing/maintaining bikes just this weekend, and it has been a blast. I can now clean and repack the bearings in a bottom bracket.
Why not, all the cool kids are buying/finding old 10 speed frames and converting them into single speed/fixed gear cruising bikes.
So I got myself a Bridgestone Kabuki - it just needed wheels, cranks, gears, tires, a better seat, brakes (maybe). I am trying to make it with all used parts - as much as possible. Certain things are a little harder to find. Any ways - I guess I should take some pictures.
I have learned a lot about fixing/maintaining bikes just this weekend, and it has been a blast. I can now clean and repack the bearings in a bottom bracket.
23 June 2008
Four Spiritual Laws vs. The 12 Steps
I have made it clear that I don't believe that the 4 spiritual laws are the most helpful way to be introduced to the story of God. If you haven't heard of the "4 spiritual laws," before you may just think that it is how Christianity works. Here is the basic story:
1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1~8, Revelation 3:20)
Many people think that this is the way to understand salvation that was announced by Jesus Christ. One thing to understand is that these "laws" were put together in 1965 - and are not some centuries old way of understanding the Good News.
Whether you believe these 4 Spiritual Laws true or not, I believe that there are several very severe flaws in using this as an evangelical too. One example is that speaking to a non-believer about Jesus and using the Bible to back you up won't get you very far in 2008. Many people also don't believe in Heaven or Hell - so this may be another dead end path.
That being said, the 12 steps are based on something very similar to the 4 Laws. These steps show prodigious results in both saving people from horrible demises in life from alcohol/drugs/sex/food/etc., and in bringing them into passionate relationships with God (as each person understands them - Jesus for many in the programs). Here are the steps (Taken from Alcoholics Anonymous):
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
So what is the difference that one produces dramatic change for many who would turn away from the 4 Laws but are caught up in the mystery of the 12 Steps? And what can we Christians learn about evangelism from the 12 Steps that is missing from the 4 Laws?
For me what jumps out is the practical and observable truth of the 12 Steps. For some one in the midst of an addiction it is painfully obvious that step one is true. Life is out of control. Most addiction councelors will say that a complete failure will bring a person to start a program of recovery. It is pretty hard to convince some one who doesn't believe in the Bible or Heaven or Hell that there is a desparate need to change their lifestyle. The 12 Steps also offer an ongoing change in a person's life. The 12 Steps require a life changing faith. The 4 Laws seem to only require an intellectual belief.
This is one of my largest criticisms of Christianity as I see it: People read the creeds, and "adhere" to statements of faith (if you are a Baptist - because they don't believer in creeds), but this faith has no real daily impact. The 12 Steps outline an entirely new way of life for the person. While I may believe in the virgin birth and the theory of "penal substitutionary atonement" it may not impact my daily life - not the way that my belief in gravity effects my life. With the 4 Laws, a simple prayer/statement fulfills your obligation to God, and the 12 Steps require a changed life.
Though one is harder, it is far more understandable how it could make a meaningful difference in my life today.
1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1~8, Revelation 3:20)
Many people think that this is the way to understand salvation that was announced by Jesus Christ. One thing to understand is that these "laws" were put together in 1965 - and are not some centuries old way of understanding the Good News.
Whether you believe these 4 Spiritual Laws true or not, I believe that there are several very severe flaws in using this as an evangelical too. One example is that speaking to a non-believer about Jesus and using the Bible to back you up won't get you very far in 2008. Many people also don't believe in Heaven or Hell - so this may be another dead end path.
That being said, the 12 steps are based on something very similar to the 4 Laws. These steps show prodigious results in both saving people from horrible demises in life from alcohol/drugs/sex/food/etc., and in bringing them into passionate relationships with God (as each person understands them - Jesus for many in the programs). Here are the steps (Taken from Alcoholics Anonymous):
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
So what is the difference that one produces dramatic change for many who would turn away from the 4 Laws but are caught up in the mystery of the 12 Steps? And what can we Christians learn about evangelism from the 12 Steps that is missing from the 4 Laws?
For me what jumps out is the practical and observable truth of the 12 Steps. For some one in the midst of an addiction it is painfully obvious that step one is true. Life is out of control. Most addiction councelors will say that a complete failure will bring a person to start a program of recovery. It is pretty hard to convince some one who doesn't believe in the Bible or Heaven or Hell that there is a desparate need to change their lifestyle. The 12 Steps also offer an ongoing change in a person's life. The 12 Steps require a life changing faith. The 4 Laws seem to only require an intellectual belief.
This is one of my largest criticisms of Christianity as I see it: People read the creeds, and "adhere" to statements of faith (if you are a Baptist - because they don't believer in creeds), but this faith has no real daily impact. The 12 Steps outline an entirely new way of life for the person. While I may believe in the virgin birth and the theory of "penal substitutionary atonement" it may not impact my daily life - not the way that my belief in gravity effects my life. With the 4 Laws, a simple prayer/statement fulfills your obligation to God, and the 12 Steps require a changed life.
Though one is harder, it is far more understandable how it could make a meaningful difference in my life today.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
