Lido....oh oh oh oh! Shuffle?

I’ve been complaining that I haven’t had time to blog. Now here I am on a cruise, nothing to do and plenty of time, and somehow…not much to say. I’m sure I’ll find a way to fill up a lot of space though. I did get to catch up with some of the ex-counselor types from Camp Weed in Jacksonville the day we left on the cruise. Awesome to see them all and to chat. Loved getting Zach’s reaction that we were going on a cruise in the first place. He’s right in some ways- weird for us to just sit around drinking “bahama mamas” and sitting in deck chairs. Actually, we’ve rarely sat in deck chairs. We did spend one evening in the hot tub by ourselves enjoying a ‘goombay punch’ but not much more. The closest we’ve come is yesterday’s outing in Nassau, which was sitting on a white sand Caribbean beach in a lounge chair drinking a daiquiri and reading a book. And yes, there was a Lido deck on the ship where the pool, hot tubs and shuffleboard were located as well as were they held a hairy chest competition and a midnight buffet.

It has actually been a little disconcerting, after being very intentional for quite a while about being low-environmental impact, low consumeristic, and trying hard to get the kids out of a enjoy now pay later existence to really just kick back and enjoy the cruise. There are all sorts of issues that pop up- like leaving the kids for 6 days; the carbon footprint of a cruise ship on a fragile tropical environment (all though it could be seen as one heck of a ride-share program); the exploitation of local and native cultures; the propagation of stereotypes that you can only have fun if you are drinking; the constant drone of amusement to dull the senses of anything that might not be ‘happy’; and the general eating and drinking oneself into an unhealthy state, because, its all been paid for and it is right in front of you. I could go on, but then I risk really damning myself and getting depressed.

It has also been a great chance to talk to people from other places, albeit everyone seems to have an understanding about never talking politics or any unpleasant topics. It has also been good to see places I might never otherwise see- Key West, Nassau, Bahamas and the wide open Atlantic Ocean (how is it we settled the whole continent by sailing over on boats the size of double-wide?) Mostly, it’s been an incredible chance to spend time alone with my husband and be able to have a conversation where we can complete our sentences without interruption. We may not have done too many things…but we did nothing together, and that, as the mastercard commercial would say, has been priceless.

You always take the weather with you

So my husband is an official groupie of these New Zealand/Aussie guys- the Finn brothers and specifically Neil Finn. He also gets all the stuff they've ever done recorded or live and videos too. This goes for their bands Crowded House and Split Enz as well. I have grown to like them as well, but not in quite the hold up your lighter at a concert way. They have a song that is pretty short and the boys like it alot- it says "Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you". I've decided that has become the Lipscomb theme song. When we take big trips, meteorological things happen.
We first noticed last year when we got caught in the blizzard of the century in Albuquerque, NM. We went to Buffalo in August and they had record heat. And then last week we went to San Diego and they had a record rainstorm. Thankfully, everything seems to be getting less as we go along. The downside is that we seem only to have brought record drought to our homestate. Hmm.
I think if the drought gets much worse in NE Georgia, the city of Atlanta should pay to have several large icebergs towed/barge shipped down the Atlantic coast from Canada and up the Savannah river and then airlifted to Lake Lanier. Maybe that would make their Beluga whales happier....(they have lost two in the Atlanta aquarium this year). Well, its no sillier than some other ideas!
So, we're working on our marketing ploy- we'll bring some meteorological something to your town in exchange for a free vacation. We'll have to work on our slogan, but at least we've got a theme song!

Holy randomness- it's Back-blog!

I'm tired of being too busy to blog like I want to. There is a backlog of blog ideas (can that be my new word: backblog?) building up in my head and on my I-phone. So, I decided to just publish whatever I had- half finished or not (that explains the post below.) So, maybe you can finish the stories or weave together the random thoughts to try and figure out where I was going with that...in the meanwhile, I will have at the very least had one post in all of November. And since noone is really reading them anyway, I'm good! More randomness from my backblog coming soon to an overpopulated blogosphere near you.

Local Faith Options

So, I've been working since like July to try and make it so that 50% of the food we buy be locally grown. Now, next Friday I am expecting a delivery of 1/4 of a cow, and along with our milk, cheese, (most) vegetables, apples, rice, flour, butter, and even tea and maybe even coffee (locally roasted from a sustainable farm in Africa) I think that will bring us quite close to the 50% mark. Now, part of the problem with making that claim is that I don't really have a sure fire quantifiable way of confirming it. But, at least I feel I have made my best effort- and hopefully that will make a difference. (I did take the consumer challenge and still found out I need 2.7 earths to have everyone live like I do. But I think coffee skewed my food numbers, so I'm not convinced.....take it yourself and see http://www.consumerconsequences.com/. )



So I was catching up with my friend the Holly, and she was asking how the 50% local goal was going, and we were also talking National Episcopal Church stuff, and sharing thoughts on how all THAT was going. And at one point, she says- "So Smitty, what's the answer, what do we do?" And while she wouldn't bite on my invitation to move to Greenville and start an emergent church plant, she liked my answer of "Doing church locally".

You look like a monkey...

OK- so tomorrow is my 40th birthday. I haven't really stopped to reflect on it- I think I am just too depressed by the idea that I really can't consider myself in-touch, hip, cool or with-it anymore. I really can't begin to squeeze into the category of 'young woman' as it now fits me about as well as motherhood fits Britney Spears. I am supposed to be all sorts of grown up and wise and well, old now. I'm not feeling that old- my eyes are fine, I have no major health issues and my back seems to still react alright to lifting a 45 lb. kid into bed. I'm also still fairly current- I mean, I just got an Iphone! But, still, there's the look you will get from a college student if you say "I'm 40" that will say it all.

But I was thinking on a T-shirt I saw (or something like that) that said "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" It's not that deep or life-changing- just another way of saying that age is a number and old is a state of mind. I think I'd still be somewhere in my 30s- old enough to be seen as mature and yet not so old as to be discounted as out-of-touch. So, there it is. Fun fact about my birthday- it's a full moon rising in my favorite constellation, Orion- so its called the Hunter's moon. Also the Orioneid meteor showers are going on, but the aformentioned full moon and some much needed rain make those a little hard to see. Other fun fact- it's officially 2 months until Christmas. Start your engines!

The founding fathers- the new quote source

I made this comment sort of half heartedly last night while reading a book in which someone quotes Thomas Jefferson to justify their position on agriculture and society. George noted that it seemed like Jefferson had a lot of opinions on a lot of things, and I said that I suspected that much like people use select "proof text' scriptures to bolster or defend their opinion, many people in non-religious settings, or when the use of the Bible would be offensive, people turn to quoting the founding fathers. I am sure they were a diverse (at least as far as the definition of diverse would go for 1775) and complicated group of folks, and so you can likely find, and twist to your own devices, a quote from some founding father or another about your particular topic. And time and tide has dulled us enough as a nation to only remember that the person's name means they were important and yet we know little about their personalities. We forget little tidbits like Ben Franklin was a philandering lush and Jefferson a Bible-editing deist- or that George Washington shrunk from being president and Sam Adams was a hot-head. So, just as I do with those who would throw out a random Bible verse to back their argument, I also will think twice before giving much credence to a position backed by a random quote from a well-known name of the 18th century.

Cows coming home

So, I am seriously contemplating buying a cow. More acurately, splitting the cost of beef cow with some friends, so we can load up freezers and eat locally through the winter. There is a local farm that sells them, and thankfully also processes them. I am just not up for do-it-yourself meat processing yet. I think they have chickens too, but I haven't figured out if they butcher those too. Anyway- here's the website. And check out the cool design on this cow- must be genetically modified.

Why is it...

Why is it that I have these astounding, cool ideas for blogs like, in the shower, or while waiting to pick up the kids, but by the time I sit down at the computer, its all gone and I'm left with lame entries like this one? I suppose I should use Jot or some other form of leaving myself a note. Maybe it's God's way of sparing the world from some of my more inane ideas. Hmm.

Keeping up

Been trying to keep up with the latest exploits of the ECUSA House of Bishops... seriously, they should think about putting together a pilot for a sitcom. Although, they'd get no viewership since they'd put everyone to sleep with statements that are seriously about nothing, in a non-seinfeld and un-funny way. Where to go now? Good question.

Six Factors of Local Food Consideration

Okay- so as I mentioned in my previous post, I came up with these 6 factors that have influenced my decision to buy locally. They are probably the same for many of us, and I am sure someone more intelligent and on the ball than I am has probably written a book about it all, and would consider this plagiarism. In my own defense, these were things that really did factor into my decision making, and that I have been trying to become more educated about. So, after you admire the fruits of my youngest gardeners work to the left, I continue without further justifications....


I have divided them into two categories- selfish and altruistic. Each of these is sort of a question as to whether it is worth it to you or not- these figure in for people choosing to buy local or not.

The 3 selfish factors:

1) Health of family/self: locally grown food is better for you- no preservatives- nothing frozen or canned to take away raw nutrients. It has more vitamins, was probably left on the vine until ripe and is not subjected to the industrial food system- the system that combats problems like high susceptibility to infections in crowded feed lots by pumping meat full of antibiotics instead of just lessening the crowding. You also eliminate unregulated foreign and domestic but dirty processing plants. E-coli infections have heightened our awareness to where our food is coming from, and its not all pretty. Local stuff is just healthier- but is it so much more healthier to make it worth the downsides? Some granola friends would tell me there is no argument here, but I've known plenty of people who lived long healthy lives on bad diets.

2)Budget: this is a complicated one. In some regards, you need to have a decent income to eat locally. Fresh produce and meat aren't usually sale priced, and as I've said before, the produce stands don't take WIC vouchers. But, I think you are more likely to get things in bulk and if you have any inclination towards canning or freezing, you can eat off of those for awhile and actually lower your bill. By in large, though, if you are really committed to eating locally, I think you have to have the spending power and reserves to do it. I don't think I'm spending that much more for groceries, but I am spending some more. It may only amount to a 5% grocery bill increase, but you have to be able to say that is an acceptable increase in food costs for your budgeting purposes.

3)Time: this is another one of those plus minus categories. I have to take more time to go to the local produce stand rather than get my produce in the designated department of the supermarket. I drive 5 miles north to buy the local (almost) organic milk. I drive 5 miles south to the grocery store for cereal, toilet paper, etc etc. There's another place I like to buy most of my vegetables, and if I have my way, I'll find some place that sells meat in a 25 mile radius. But, I'll probably have to drive there as well. So, in addition to a bit more gas, I also have to consider if I have time to do several stops instead of one-stop-shopping. It can also take longer to cook fresh produce. New potatoes and corn on the cob take about 20 minutes to boil, versus the 5 minutes they take to cook in the microwave. Another place where you have to determine that it is worth it to you.



Now, on the Altruistic side of the coin:

1)Environment: When food is locally grown and sold, it means it isn't picked thousands of miles away, in bulk-industrial settings, using over-fertilized fields and then trucked or train transported those thousands of miles to us. Do I really need shrimp farmed in Ecuador when I can get them from the coast of the state I live in? How about tomatoes? Should I get them from the grocery, who has brought them in from Mexico when I can buy some grown in my own county? Buy local and you decrease your carbon footprint, your part in global warming and the amount of freon consumed.

2)Economy: for years we've been hearing about the death of farming in the U.S. I always thought it was odd, because I grew up visiting my great-grandfather's house, where we took water from the well to water the garden he planted until he was 90, or to wash the sandy soil off the watermelons, peaches, pears, grapes or multitudes of other things he grew. We feed the scraps to his chickens. (He never ate white meat though- only beef or pork, but he did eat eggs). It was the way so many in rural places lived. I had no idea of how fast that died (my family has always gardened, but never more had chickens or a large farm). Buying local keeps the money local. Taxes are paid, farms are kept, organic growers are able to continue, land is not bought by developers and turned into sub-prime mortgage subdivisions. Farming provides jobs in the summer for unemployed students. You help your neighbors in a very real sense. It also flies in the face of the artificially inflated or deflated prices you are likely to see at the grocery. Tomatoes are .49 a pound in July, but 1.49 in early May (if you're lucky enough to find them). This is as opposed to the 1.29 a pound they are year round in groceries. It's hard to say what impact supporting local farmers has on the larger system, but it certainly isn't bad for the economy.

3)Simple other-centeredness and changing the world: By buying local, you make a choice to go against the prevailing consumeristic tendencies and go back to the old way of living off of what is presented you- or forward towards a way in which we honor the world and take better care of it. You choose not to have strawberries in February or salmon in Florida. If everyone could choose to buy local, what a difference it would make in the system- maybe change it altogether! In some regards, this is a very modernistic idea of being "the right thing to do" and I have just enough should-ism in me to let it factor into my decision.

So there you have it- 3 selfish reasons, 3 altruistic (or big-picture if you like). These are some of the complicated datum swirling around in my head as I try to make a small difference- try to work towards better goals and being a true localterian. I challenge you to do likewise!

Subsidizing ourselves into obesity

So someone mentioned they were really digging my blog- and someone else tagged it who I totally didn't know was reading and suddenly my little anonymous blogging world is public! I had no idea- I was using the blog for a vent, making my husband read it occasionally, and generally getting my verbal brained ya-yas out. A person could get a big head from finding out that not only are people taking the time to read your insanely long rants, they actually enjoy them....whoa. Head rush.

I'm still trying to figure out the local food issue. I visited the organic/wholefoods/neo-hippie market today. Two things got me- one was their prices were insane! Still haven't reconciled it within myself why it costs more to eat food that is made with less ingredients. I mean I get the whole "organic" label and how much work it involves making sure you aren't using seed for your crops for your free grazing dairy cows that hasn't been genetically modified- (let's forget that you are busting your butt to make sure your cows are eating fresh grown pasture everyday making their milk so far superior to any industry milk alternative). The other thing was how much of their produce in June still came from Chile, Guatemala, Mexico et al. They don't have the excuse of being some large supermarket chain unable to change policy in the local arena either. They are a stand alone store. They may have like one other outpost somewhere near hippie heaven- Asheville, but I am certain they aren't a chain. I also discovered that eating local foods makes you a localvore- (although I like localterian better) and that growing your own food makes you a gardener, not a farmer. (A farmer sells his food for profit. )

Now that I have investigated things a little- I found out one factor in the price discrepancy. Enter the US government. For years, starting in the 1930's, the gov't has operated with a farm bill that loaned farmers money to cover their costs in lean years, which the farmers repaid in good years. In the 70's that evolved into flat out subsidies, not to be repaid, things that keep the prices low on commodity crops like corn, wheat and soy. The large manufacturing industrial food people like this system- they get all the high fructose corn syrup they need for a cheap price. So now, it's cheaper to make a twinkie with 39 ingredients than it is to make bread with 5 ingredients. And what's more, the organic food grower in central Iowa that produces a variety of organic produce with sustainable methods has to pay about $1500 to prove he really is being organic, while the mega corporate corn farmer next door gets paid $75,000 on top of whatever profit he makes, to turn out bushel upon bushel of soil depleting corn. The foods that make you fat are also the cheapest. Beef raised in a feed lot, fed with previously mentioned bushels of corn and treated with gallons of antibiotics and steroids is still cheaper than the beef of a grass-fed free range cow. Starts to make your head spin. Add to it that lots of products labeled Organic are coming from China, and its enough to make you go buy a goat. In the end- it costs more to eat less produced foods- enter the paradigm of the $.99 cheeseburger.

So I am more committed than ever to eating local, but still trying to figure out where to find it all- meat in particularly. (And then, what do I feed my very picky kindergartner who mostly only likes pizza and chicken nuggets?) It's just hard to figure out what might make a difference and how my putting my family through the strain of giving up Jimmy Dean frozen, 1 minute microwavable sausage biscuits is going to make a dent in what is a ginormous and global issue. (I tag Susan for reintroducing me to the ginormous word). I am told to write my congressman- and ask at my local supermarket (where the manager told me he isn't allowed to sell locally grown peaches- just the ones that they truck in from California). I also keep running into great resources like www.whattoeatbook.com; it's a good blog about this sort of stuff- I should probably read the book too. I also keep balancing the reasons for eating local food and came up some reasons that might affect my decision, but I'll save those 6 localterian criteria for next post....

You just can't make this stuff up

So, I don't like to laugh at the misfortune of others- it just isn't polite. BUT every once in a while something happens in the news that is so outrageous that you just gotta guffaw. And, since no one was seriously injured or killed, I feel it deserves inclusion in my "only in the south" or "you just can't make this stuff up" categories. So, at some random trailer park in some small South Carolina town this guy gets in an argument with some 'friends'. He leaves the trailer in a huff. Across the street, he spies a track-hoe. You know, big bulldozer thing with caterpillar like tracks and a scoop. He figures out how to get his revenge on those who have wronged him mightily, and he mounts the machine like his trusty steed. Next thing you know, he's plowed through two different mobile homes before running away- only to be caught later. I think what makes this most humourous to me is that it all takes place on a road called "Ford Truck Trail." (I think its part of a larger planned community called "Manifold Acres.")

That's what really makes me smile- the road name. I've always chuckled at the way we name roads, especially in the south. There are the really obvious ones- Pineville-Matthews Road is the road that connects Pineville to Matthews. Pisgah Church Road is the road where Pisgah Church is located. Our house is off Farmview- you know the road with the big farm at the top that has an incredible view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then you get the historical names: Old Highway 11 for example, (the road that used to be Highway 11 before Hwy 11 got rerouted) or those named for famous people: the Washingtons, Jeffersons, Jacksons and MLK Blvds. Let's not forget my favorite- those named for a little known explorer, who strayed just off the beaten path and invented pecan logs- that Frenchman of reknown: Jean-Luc Front'age. All over the country, roads just off the beaten path bear his name proudly- Frontage!

Or place names based on ownership- Johnny Smith Road and Johnson Street (they run on land owned by the Smiths and the Johnsons respectively). But my favorites are those where you have to stop and think about where they came from: Old Brick Factory Road- can't you see the D.O.T. representative walking up to some old farmer- "Excuse me, can you look at this map and tell me what this road is called?" "You mean the one that goes down past the old brick factory?" "yep- I think there's an old factory down there- is that what they made? Bricks?" "Nope. They made tractors there, but they built the building outta brick." "Oh. I see." As he writes the name down on the map for generations to come.

Don't you wonder where some names come from? Who thinks them up? What about Possum Kingdom? Or the subdivision I passed called "Heaven Trees" where the roads were Angelic Ash, Holly Harps, or Majestic Magnolia? What do you make of Fallout Shelter Road? How about Ashley Phosphate? State Park Road? Two Notch Road? White Horse Road? Old Bent Bridge Road? Amanda's Autumn Lane? And let's not forget how we got here- Ford Truck Trail. I'm thinking it ran between Chevy Camaro Court and Plymouth Place. Or maybe it was the road that ran behind the Ford dealership, or better yet, it's where an old Ford Truck was found rotting in the weeds when they went to pave the road. Whatever the case- I hope life is a little quieter over there on Ford Truck Trail now they've caught the guy on the Track-hoe. Let me know of any more roads worthy of inclusion on the list- I'm telling you, you can't make stuff like this up- its too funny!

Food Farming and Religion

Was crusing around and found this link to a great NY Times article on food and religion. I particularly like the ending quote as I hope I am not qualified as either a bran muffin earthie or a home schooler- still, you gotta like the "trend".

The Restaurant Idea

So, part of the genesis for titling this blog came from the fact that I often come up with ideas, inventions, and well, yes, theories about things. George is a very rooted individual, not given to flights of fancy, and I think he gets tired of hearing my fool proof ideas- he likes that I have a place to vent them. He also doesn't want to admit that sometimes my ideas are really excellent and if he had invested in them, we'd be rich.

Take for example the idea I came up with about 4-5 years ago. I was trying to show my grandmother, who was bed-ridden in a nursing facility at the time, digital pictures of her great-grandchildren. I did at least, have a laptop, and could put it on a slide show and put it on her "lap" and let her see them. I say lap, because when you are lying in bed, you don't really have much of a lap- more of a mid-section. Anyway, I thought it would be awesome if we had a type of viewer, or screen, that was about the size of a picture frame, and you slid a CD or disk/usb in and the viewer then showed a slide show of your pictures on the disk. It would be about 8x10x3 inches- not very heavy- battery powered and very portable. Maybe some brightness, speed control features on the side. No sound, but just a picture viewer. George hears the ideas, nods, agrees it is a worthy idea and that's where it stops. Fast Forward to last Christmas, and all of the major electronics stores, and even my local CVS have this very product! Digital Picture Frames- retailing for about $100. Of course, other than my word for it, you have no proof I came up with this idea first.

So- here are two of my best ideas, born out of parenting frustrations, that have yet to be realized, and I'll claim whatever trademark/patent pending/intellectual property I can. So if you steal the idea- I can say I deserve a cut! Here goes: The first is more of a concept than a product. I just read a friend's blog describing the horrible experience of taking active children to a public eatery and trying to have even a snippet of adult conversation while keeping the steak knife out of the 4 year olds hands. What if there were a restaurant where you went in with your family, and we shown to your seats and handed menus (no counters for ordering or trays for carrying food to your table). The tables were comfy and maybe even had nice placemats or (gasp) a tablecloth (I'd be okay with a plastic covered table cloth even). While you looked over the possibilities of good, basic american fare- healthy sorts- not all chicken nuggets (but maybe some on the side for the wee ones). You know, quiche, salads, sandwiches, pasta, burgers etc. Then, once you glance at the menu, the kids can run off to the staffed kids play place! Just like at chick-fil-a or McDonalds- slides, ladders, general run and play mayhem. And there's a college student aged type person who moderates/mediates and generally keeps the mojo flowing amongst the tykes. Meanwhile, the adults sit in peace and quiet, talking and generally enjoying a minute or two while the food is prepared. When the food is ready, its brought to the table, the kids are summoned to come to the table and dinner is served. After 2.6 minutes, when the kids are done- they can go back to playing while the adults finish chewing their first bites. When the adults have had enough time, they pay the bill, leaving an oh-so-hefty tip for the good tasting, unrushed and fulfilling meal. What a concept, eh? I'd eat there at least twice a week.

The second idea is also food centered. I salute Chik-fil-a and like eateries for the innovations in sauce dipping cups. Anytime you get honey mustard, bbq or polynesian sauce, it comes in this nice plastic cup that contains all the sauce in one place, but opens up wide enough for dipping into. Great for the nuggets. But, what about the ketchup for the fries? Well, for that you have to rip open about 4 of those little ketchup packets and squeeze them onto a couple of well placed napkins, making a ketchup pond for dipping into. Why, of why for the love of all things simple, can they not put the ketchup in one of those cool plastic dipping cups? I haven't seen anyone spread their ketchup on top of their fries in years- and as far as ketchup in the car for to-go orders? Fogettaboutit!

And remember- if these hit the market- I get a cut!

It's not easy being Green

So, besides the tip of the hat to the muppets and Kermit, and the inference to simple, earth-friendly living, this actually has to do with a little quiz I took. You answer 5-6 questions, and then you get designated a 'shade' of green. It's fun to think everyone is assumed to be green, just need to figure out which shade you are. Now, I really like what my shade says about me, I would like to think it is all true. I also know that no matter what shade you get, it is a little like a horoscope- all good news. I doubt anyone gets "You are Puke Green- everyone hates you and you smell." So, that being said, I just want it known that I'm not a big fan of the actual color of Olive Green. Too military drab green, too 1970's shag carpet green, too...well, I'm just not a big fan. I'm sure there are many for whom Olive Green is their favorite shade. Maybe if I change some answers I'll get a different shade.... for what it's worth- here's the descriptor, and click the link to find out your shade!

You Are Olive Green

You are the most real of all the green shades. You're always true to yourself. For you, authenticity and honesty are very important... both in others and yourself. You are grounded and secure. It takes a lot to shake you. People see you as dependable, probably the most dependable person they know.

What Color Green Are You?

Simple Living-talking tomatoes and cukes

So the conversations in our house have been really odd lately- hard to believe we all live together. Generally, we're feeling blessed and thinking about what we might like to have. George is talking about a new car (we have agreed to get a hybrid) or an I-phone, or maybe a flat screen TV and a Wii. Burke and Josh talk alot about buying Pokemon, legos, and any new toy they can think of- as well as making preliminary lists for the birthday present fairies. I have been trying to figure out how to live more simply, and in my exhuberance made this pledge to try and make all our food intake be 50% local by year's end. It is certainly a goal, but I've been thinking about buying a small chest freezer, or maybe a tiller, and a truckload of dirt so I can have a bigger garden next year, and I am buying loads and loads of fresh vegetables so I can say I buy local. Now, I could get high and mighty and say at least my wants are oriented towards the greater good- the goal of simple living- less is more, closer grown and using less gas. The bottom line however, is that each of us is simply talking about spending money on ourselves.

Sure, mine would be more of an investment, but you could argue the same for Pokemon cards (I imagine a complete deck from 20 years ago would fetch a pretty penny today). And in some regards, you have to spend money to save (having a chest freezer would definitely cut my buying of frozen veggies at the store) but in the end, I have spent money that could go elsewhere to people who don't have food at all, and for whom buying local is not an option, as local fruitstands don't usually take WIC vouchers. It puts me in a quandry of sorts and it is easy to just sit and be paralyzed by the competing voices. (Should I spend $7 for local peaches that can be frozen and enjoyed in November, as well as reduce my carbon footprint, but were probably harvested by illegal immigrant labor and grown using less than sustainable agricultural methods? Or should I spend that $7 and buy 5 cans of peaches and give them to the food bank for folks who need to eat, but then I contribute to the dependence on canned goods shipped across the country eating up fossil fuels, and most canned goods contain so much sugar and sodium that they will eventually increase the obesity problem among our impoverished neighbors, costing the health-care system and government many dollars? )

A great case in point came as I perused the local fruit and vegetable market- and I am blessed to have several nearby--and my eyes saw the sauces and salad dressing section. In my quest to be local, I have sought first to stay in my zip code, next my area code, and finally my state (we are one of the smaller states in area- so while probably stretching the definition of local to a degree, it is better than trans-continental). So, I saw a barbecue sauce that is very good, and made about 100 miles away. It supports our state and did I mention, tastes great? The problem is that it is Maurice's BBQ sauce. Anyone from SC should know about Maurices and also about the issues surrounding it. Seems Maurice Bessinger, who is the founder and namesake of the BBQ restaraunt and sauce company, is also a certified racist. He still flies the confederate flag over his main store, it is on the label of his BBQ sauce, and he has pamphlets in his stores about how slavery was good for the social order and also God ordained. I don't wish to buy his products under ethical reasons. But it tastes really good, and it is locally produced. His is not a nationally traded company and the profits, I feel certain, stay right here in SC. But do I just shelve all of the ethical issues, just so I can say I bought locally? Or do I take the high road and buy Kraft BBQ sauce that is part of one the major American conglomerate food producers and is probably made with ingredients from China?

Whatever the case, I seem to be in a quandry again- wanting to do the right thing, and yet, torn at the same time. So, instead of saying I'm talking apples and oranges, the former of which are not in season, the latter of which are not local, I will instead talk tomatoes and cukes. They are local, and I like them alot, and they don't tend to give me ethical issues when I grow them in my backyard, or get them from a friend. I will also just consider myself blessed to have the income that allows me to have these theoretical dillemas at all and I will consider myself blessed to have a house, and health, and a car. And until I can figure it all out, I'll just keep having fresh tomato sandwiches for lunch.

The need to update

Can it really have been almost two months since my last post? I mean, I wasn't building up a following or anything, so there's noone but me to be disappointed, but still. That is slack even in my world! So much has happened too- a quick weekend beach trip- so good to get the boys for a day on the beach- too bad we couldn't make it longer. Then there was the fast but long and very sad trip to Memphis. There were so many people to catch up with, and such a really bad reason for doing it. As my boss put it- the last gift that a dying person gives us is the reunion with our loved ones at the funeral. I felt blessed to be able to go, to be able in a small way to sit on the ash-heap and cry alongside- even if just for an afternoon.

Then 4th of July, and Burke off to overnight camp- what a trooper! Had a great time- like he was born for camp- his counselors were great- couldn't have asked for a better time for him. He will likely go back next year, although I will give him the choice. Josh had his big guppy meet and even got his picture in the paper. Then we were off camping at Grayson Highlands- what a beautiful weekend. And lastly, I've squirreled myself away to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Great ending to the series- small loose ends that haven't been tied up, but otherwise the big stuff was definitely settled. I was right on my earlier post that Gringott's would play a big role- and there was a horcrux there- but otherwise I missed the mark. Still- that was a pretty good call. I still am curious as to what happened in the 24 hours between when Voldemort killed Harry's parents and then turned into Vapermort, and when Harry lands with Hagrid at #4 Privet Drive for the 1st night of his 11 year hell. Also want to know what scene is depicted on the US cover? I guess some say it is Harry reaching for the wand of Voldemort that he uses in the end. It could be, its just that the great hall looks really odd- like the atrium in the department of mysteries. But then, that is because my view of the great hall at hogwarts, mostly based on the movies' presentation, doesn't look like that- but Mary DuPre's vision based on Rowling's description may be quite different. I did submit my question about the 24 hrs to the bloomsbury website for a web chat with Rowling on Monday afternoon- we'll see what happens.

Okay- there we are. Nothing deep. Nothing profound. Just a need to update.

It's good to get out every once in a while

So I was trolling around in the blogosphere lately- and found this great article about Rob Bell, Mars Hill, Emergents and "Christian progressives". Really enjoyed the article, but then started reading the comments pages. There were 349 comments. Probably half were from two guys who actually started off agreeing about what a load of bunk Christianity is- but then they started attacking each other- one who didn't believe the Holocaust happened, and the other who saw all religious belief as an inherited mental illness. Occasionally someone would try and chime in with an attempt to get these two to actually discuss the article or even some attempts to rebuff their amazingly complex, strongly held and outlandish vitriol. The length of the comment entries, the number of them, and the passion with which they continued venting all sorts of fringe beliefs really alarmed me. I mean, here are just 2 guys with unlimited time and energy spewing all over just one blog. How many times is this repeated all over the web? And these are the guys who fancy themselves liberal intellectuals. What about those who would just rather stay on the porn sites? Or maybe all of the aryan nation holocaust denying sites? How about 4th amendment guys? I could go on- but my point is that while I am glad these folks are getting this stuff out in a somewhat productive way- what do they do when they are say, in the grocery store line? And how many people do they represent?

See, my local world makes me feel a bit intelligent- (at my local coffehouse I saw a sign warning people about an Allergey Allert). I love the internet and its ability to connect me with people all over the world- to level the playing field- to expose us all to a bigger world out there. My worry is that it also gives people who are seriously imbalanced a platform to feel intelligent, powerful, and like there are others who are like them- and if they choose to go grab an 18 year old girl and rape and kill her- there is probably someone out there to tell them how to do it, celebrate their 'conquest' and make them feel 'accepted' for their deviant behavior. Whew. All from leaving my bubble and reading what's out there.

A Facist Corporate Wasteland

So those are the words Cindy Sheehan, the face of the anti-war movement, you know the woman who camped outside President Bush's ranch for months, said about the U.S. as she 'resigned', put up the land for sale and returned home to California. She is quite disillusioned by the politics of the left as well as the right, and particularly that the Democrats have caved on many promises to end the war and bring the troops home. She also used phrases like "war machine" and alluded to the fact that as much as people scream about change, unless a large majority actually get off their butts and do something, it all stays the same.

So I read this very subversive little book called "Colossians Remixed" recently. I am still digesting it. It was quite a challenge to the status quo- and done from a solid Biblical base. I've always been frustrated by the fact that with current religion and politics, I have to choose between being pro-life and anti-gun (because somehow those are in different camps)- or I have to choose between Biblical basis with a focus on personal discipleship or social justice with a focus on changing the world for good. If you want to feed the homeless, clothe the naked, make sure the oppressed and migrant workers have a voice and dignity, then you can't also worship with those who want to spread the great news of God's love, call for personal moral accountability, and actually read the Bible. I have always hated that. So I'm either the social justice person in the evangelical circles or the evangelical in the social justice circles, and there's never been a middle ground....a via media for me. I have seen glimpses (St. Peters Jax comes to mind) and I have longed for more.

So this book actually talks about that type of faith. One that captures the imagination, introduces you to the Savior who changes everything when you follow him, calls you to a new life in community that is more than a passing cocktail party, and challenges you to go out and affect change whenever and wherever you can- from changing your lightbulbs to running a soup kitchen. I've picked up some of this in the stuff I'm hearing out of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I want more- to quote Shane Clairborne (again) "To be a people who stop complaining about the church they've experienced and start living the church they dream of."

How does this relate to Cindy Sheehan? Well, she sees the ways in which corporate greed, materialism, wealth, and let's please not forget the end-all descriptor, comfort, have captivated the American mind, nay even the world. A facist corporate wasteland. I mean, how long until church sanctuaries are "Brought to you by..." I mean it happens now- but just in the form of naming buildings after people. America, and the American church by large amount, have complied to feed this "empire of indifference" and "kingdom of comfort". We fight to "preserve the American Way" of choice and freedom- freedom to go be consumers. Its driving me insane. And, much like Cindy Sheehan, I am ready to 'resign' and just give up. Thanks be to God others are not giving up, and continue to push for a different way of doing politics, church, life.

I guess I need to stop complaining and start building. Now if I can find anybody else that is remotely more interested in that than maintaining the level of comfort to which we have all become accustomed. Then we'll be in...business? I hope not.

New motto by Elvis

I've decided my new motto for dealing with church politics- and it is a quote from an Elvis Costello song Red Shoes... "Oh, I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused."

While I am sure I have probably misquoted him, or taken the line out of context, I still adopt it as my background noise to help me negotiate committee meetings and just general news headlines involving my current denominational affiliation. We can always choose our reaction, even when we can't control our circumstances.

My Symphony

I've been digging this poem- thought I'd share:

"To live content with small means; to seek eloquence rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
To be worthy, not respectable and wealthy, not rich;
To study hard, think quietly talk gently, act frankly;
To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with an open heart;
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden, and unconscious grow up through the commonplace.
This is to be my symphony."

-William Henry Channing, 1810-1884

Do we wonder why lots of people in the world hate us?

So, I rail on excess consumption a lot. It is starting to bother me more and more. But here is an item that sort of shows my case in point. This is what a God-fearing "Christian" nation spends its extra money on. It is a toss up for me whether I find this more reprehensible or the carpeted pet steps to get your overweight dog into your gas-guzzling SUV to go for a ride. What does 85% of the world think of when they see this use of money? Is this how we represent a "Christian nation" to the world?

The Pet Stroller from Petsmart.

Here is a link to the whole page with the description that includes "For the pet parent who wants their pet to go out and about with them". Whatever happened to a collar, a leash and their God given four legs (or three for my dog, but still!)?? I'm particularly irked by the great mosquito netting, considering the numbers of children who die from malaria each day for lack of such covering. Yikes.

Fibonaccis Number and the Lego Bible

This link goes to a really cool site that talks about Fibonacci's number sequence as evidence of a greater plan. It's got the whole intelligent design thing going for it, but it is also just a cool video representation of a natural phenomenon that I find to be cool.

This link goes to a website that represents all the Biblical stories, Old and New Testament, with legos. My two first thoughts were "How cool" and "Who has that much time on their hands?"- these were followed by "Okay, maybe some of these stories ought to be left for the over 10 year old crowd"- like the taking of Jericho, complete with the pillage and massacre of all the residents. Fake lego blood is interesting though! There is a little ratings guide with each section, though, with symbols beside each story indicating N(udity) V(iolence) C(ursing) or S(exual Content). Yeah.

washing dishes in a fractured world

So, I have these great ideas for blogs while I wash dishes. I really need to reconfigure the kitchen so I can look out the window while I wash...oh well. By the time I usually get to blogging, though, the ideas are either past, or have jammed themselves inside my head like too many staples in a malfunctioning electric stapler. We'll take a stab at sorting some out though.

I was wanting to reflect on the Virginia Tech shootings. I could rail about the media, and its treatment of the situation; about how the administration is getting unfair heat about the whole 2 hour lapse; I could go on ad naseum about the gun laws (bet that would up my comment count); or reflect on the different ways people respond to these horrible incidents. I am saddened to be sure. Virginia Tech is closely associated with George's family- his grandfather was the first dean of humanities and at different times chair of the English dept. He brought Shakespeare and co. to a Polytechnical school- his daughter became a college professor, as did his grandson. There is a building at Tech named for him. George's mom and his uncles/aunt graduated from Blacksburg High- at least one uncle got a degree there. Both his grandparents are buried in Blackburg, and I've often thought it was one of the neatest mountain college towns I'd ever seen. The idea of it now being associated in most people's minds with a bloodbath is as saddening to me as the events themselves.

One particular moment in the reporting of the incidents and aftermath stands out to me. A reporter was on the campus, reporting live about memorial services and makeshift shrines. In the background someone can be heard yelling on a loudspeaker. Thinking perhaps another incident was underway, the anchor in the studio asks the reporter what is happening- what announcements are being made or broadcast. The reporter quite deftly answers the question by saying that "an evangelist has set up across the quad from us here and is speaking into a megaphone, and that is the source of the noise." Bullhorn guy has shown up in Blacksburg. He probably would consider it a great success that he intruded on the major news carrier's live feed. This was the news outlet that was advertising Deepak Chopra's advice for the grieving, after all (or maybe it was that Deepak was going to be there?). Bullhorn guy has decided that with all this national attention, souls need saving in Blacksburg. Maybe this brush with mortality will scare more people into his brand of Jesus fearing religion. Maybe he thinks this shooter's manifesto is somewhat right in its denunciation of charlatans and rich kids- of hedonists and loose women- perhaps this is a tool of God to get everyone's attention- or better yet, a judgement on the lifestyles of those evil college students. For people who are so scared of going to hell and the being forever subject to the devil, I would think they would be better acquainted with said Evil One and the marks of his work in our world. (Please don't hear me say I think the Devil possessed this boy and made him shoot 60 people- he had some choices- but I do think he was imbued with all the characteristics of one who is tormented by mental illness and has given in to the evil impulses we all have felt as fallen creatures of an earthly existence). I do believe Evil exists, and its purpose is always counter to that of God's and that it was in full force on the campus of Virginia Tech Monday morning. The greater question now becomes how should we respond? Putting aside all the what-ifs and might have beens, where do we go now? I guess I shouldn't be so hard on bullhorn guy since he actually went to the campus to share what he thinks is God's message. But I just finished listening to a sermon about how we, as Christians, we are the message- Jesus was the Logos- the WORD of God- and as his body, his incarnation to the broken world- we are the message- how we love, care and respond- that is what will speak to this situation. If we ask "where is God?" He most often answers by asking "where are you?" (stolen from "New Exodus" sermon series- Rob Bell and Don Golden, June 11, 2006)

Where are we indeed.

I really like this quote

I am so excited because I believe that there is a bubbling up of new imagination in the church and in people that are rethinking the way we do our careers, rethinking the world together, rethinking what it means to be church and refusing to allow the distorted images of what it means to be church to define us and go, “we’re going to stop complaining about the church that we’ve experienced and become the church that we dream of- let’s figure out how to do it together.” Shane Claiborne, www.thesimpleway.org

For Amber Waves of Grain

Really- I mean seriously- how is it we are importing wheat gluten (tainted with pet-killing crap) from China while we pay MILLIONS to wheat farmers in North America to NOT, I repeat, to not grow any wheat? Why is noone asking this question in a big fat public scream in your face kind of way? Why are we far more concerned that the Bush administration fired 8 lawyers because of political bent, (which is perfectly acceptable thing to do as long as you TELL congress you are going to do it)? I mean, they aren't really in trouble for firing the lawyers, they are in trouble for not following the proper procedure in firing the lawyers and then lying about what they did.

Really- this is more important? This should captivate the national media? Or maybe finally finding out who the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby is the most worthwhile pursuit these days.....Meanwhile, China owns us heart and soul? I mean- its cheaper to import wheat by-products from China while paying people here big money to not grow wheat than it is to just let American farmers grow wheat and sell it to ourselves???? And we are so enslaved to the bargain mentality that as the country of the free and the brave we will go out of our way to buy-one-get-one-free ice cream dishes while we will knowingly underwrite an empire built on the backs of its people who are starving, working with child labor, and throwing out beautiful baby girls to avoid government penalties? Cheap plastic crap at a low price makes this system justified? Sure, that purse looks great with those shoes, but can you really live with yourself knowing what the human cost of you saving a few bucks of your throw-away income is all about? I am mystified, mortified but most of all petrified- as I don't have the slightest idea, besides railing at the wind, of what to do about it, or how to extract myself from this system (as I type on my laptop which was assembled in China!) I know why they call social change campaigns "movements"- because I won't be able to live with myself for long if I just sit still in this place. And please don't tell me to run for office- I'd rather run for the hills.

A few loose ends

I had a couple of more small thoughts on ol' Harry Potter- and an option for a future blog to be named later concerning HP fans and Biblical scholarship (got you curious, don't I?), and then we'll be done with this topic- or else I might get co-opted into on of those online editorial HP sites...

1) Why does Tom, the barman at the Leaky Cauldron, say "Welcome back" to Harry when he and Hagrid show up at the bar for what is in Harry's mind, his first time? Either its a generic "welcome back" to the wizarding world, or this is a comment that Harry has been there before- perhaps in that 24 missing hours between his parent's death and his arrival at 4 Privet Dr.
2) I stay with my theory that the 7th book will return to the 1st book in a lot of ways. Take this bit- A great deal of description is given about Grigott's wizarding bank in Sorcerer's Stone. Especially how an average person would get lost in the maze below ground and die trying to escape. Also, Dumbledore says he has a scar above his left knee that is quite useful, as it is a full map of the London Underground. Since most wizards have no need of public Muggle transportation (the subway Underground) could it be he was referring to a map of Gringotts? I think this is true, since the UK cover of Deathly Hallows shows Harry, Ron and Hermione landing in a treasure trove with a goblin (or maybe a house elf) holding a sword (Griffyndors?) and riding on Harry's back. Why wouldn't Voldemort put at least one treasure (horcrux) in a deeply exclusive vault inside Gringotts? Since the goblins are at best neutral, and have been dark-leaning in the past, it wouldn't be surprising that they wouldn't care if Voldemort used their bank like any other. After all, how did Quirrellmort find his way in there and out when he tried to steal the stone? And with Bill Weasley(and Fleur) as a Gringott's employee there is a way in the door for sure.
3) The US cover of Deathly Hallows bears out at least one of my friend Susan's ideas about the plot (and all points should be given to her for parsing this out of editorials and the like). It seems to show Harry, being chased by the outstretched hand of Voldemort, having passed behind the veil in the atrium in the Dept. of Mysteries. There is an atrium/coliseum around him, with shadowy figures of those who's voices Harry heard before, his loved ones who predeceased him. It appears as if Susan's theory of Harry going through the veil is indeed a good one- now if we can figure out what he has in the little amulet/bag around his neck. Judge for yourself- here is the picture.

OK, that's enough for now. I'm still working on my aforementioned Bible-HP correlation.

Ending Where It Began

I have a confession. I resisted a long time-but I am a Harry Potter fan. I have read all the books, I've seen the movies. I am even contemplating staying up 'til midnight, July 21st so that I can get the last book in the series-The Deathly Hallows. I know. It's a little extreme. There are lots of people in my situation though- and I suspect many of them actually want the book themselves but say they just go to the midnight release so "the kids can get one". I have resisted letting my boys get into Harry Potter because of the dark overtones and violence. I don't think it will affect them as much now- but as it is written for 10-12 year olds in mind, I think I'll wait until they are a little closer to that age.

I think some of the things that interest me about the series include the nice mix of real life teenage angst, a well constructed magical world (that uses lots of Latin spells) and just enough mystery to keep you interested. Trying to figure out a mystery appeals to lots of us- and the fact that there are clues in 7 different books makes it more of like a conspiracy theory- and nothing gets me hooked like a good intrique story. So, I've formulated a little theory of my own.
So there are seven books, and they are circular in nature. Book 4 is in the center- Goblet of Fire is the book where Voldemort regains a physical body, the one he lost in Book 1, and will have something happen to in Book 7- The Quidditch World Cup and the Tri-wizard tournament both are things that only happen every once in while- not every year. It of course has characters and elements from other books- but the whole Barty Crouch story and so forth is pretty stand alone. Book 4 is a pivotal, centering book in the middle of the chain.

Books 3 and 5 (Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix) were all about Sirius Black. His reunion with Harry, his history, his family, and his demise. Lupin is also a major player in these 2 books. Again, other things were at work, but this just focuses on the major themes. Books 2 and 6 are all about Tom Riddle/Voldemort. Chamber of Secrets is all about Hogwarts when Tom Riddle was there, parselmouth, the Big snake and Voldemort trying to regain power through his horcrux. Half Blood Prince spends considerable time focusing on parselmouth, Riddle's history, his family, his big snake and again, his horcruxes (and the destruction thereof).
So that leaves us with Books 1 and 7- Sorcerer's Stone and Deathly Hallows. It will end where it started. Many think that is Godric's Hollow- where Harry's parents were killed and where Voldemort lost his bodily form. I do think Godric's Hollow will be significant- and that Harry will find and/or destroy a Horcrux there. I think Bill and Fleur's wedding will remind Harry of something he saw in a picture of his parents wedding (where Sirius was best man) and something he can find at Godric's Hollow. But mostly, (and this is my big theory here) I think the story will end up on Privet drive. PRIVET Drive? Where nothing magical ever happens? Where the dreaded Dursleys live?

Here's my thoughts- the first book starts on Privet drive, focused on the Dursleys- seeing the magical world through their eyes. Almost all of the major characters have been there at one time or another to pick up Harry- and Dumbledore has admittedly put strong enchantments around the house for Harry's protection. Rowling has already let us know that Petunia will play a significant role in Book 7- and also that Harry having his mother's eyes is important. There is something about the family connection that will play a major role. In the first chapter, there are two important passages I picked out. One is that the Durselys and Potters hadn't met "for several years"- at least since before they had children (as they had never seen Harry). But since Dumbledore knew of the Durselys existence, and location, there must have been some interaction at some point. And I am guessing that it was not so positive since Petunia and Vernon BOTH hated magic and anything to do with it. Vernon also asks Petunia if she'd heard from her sister lately- as if maybe Lily communicated with Petunia every once in awhile- they obviously knew Lily and James had a son- they had a nephew, even if Vernon couldn't remember his name. There had to be communication of some sort (which may explain Vernon's discomfort at the report of owls all over England).

The second passage is right at the end of chapter 1, as Harry goes to sleep on the doorstep of # 4, Rowling describes Privet Drive this way "A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen." So, I think at some point before Harry was born, Lily gave Petunia something significant- a Griffyndor or Ravenclaw relic perhaps, - or something else- because it would be so far out of the magical world- safe from Voldemort's followers and the Dark Lord himself- and Petunia has it squirreled away in some hygenic box deep in a closet. Maybe she gave it as a present when Dudley was born and Petunia regarded it as 'too weird and magical' to have out. As Harry seeks it out- he will find something in the last place he expects it to be- #4 Privet Drive. The other piece that plays into this theory is that Rowling has said someone non-magical in book 7 will accomplish the feat of performing magic late in life- and it will absolutely not be Petunia- but how about Arabella Figg? The squib neighbor of the Dursleys who has revealed herself to Harry and has been watching him for years on Dumbledore's behalf. Will she protect Harry- reveal some spell or apparate- maybe repel the dementors? So, while I don't know what or how- I think I am onto a where- Privet Drive- very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen.

Now, if I can just find where I left my innertube...

So I found myself trolling all over MySpace recently. It’s really an amazing thing. To be able to get a little glimpse into other people’s lives- clicking from one profile to another. Way more info than you ever got from a phone book-some of it in the TMI category. I got started because of a young adult I know who does some missionary work. I was trying to see if she had a blog (she seemed a very likely person to have one) and instead I found her MySpace page. She does have a blog there, but as I am not a registered user, I couldn’t access it. She happened to have been a counselor at the camp I was director for. From her site, I started jumping from old counselor to old counselor- it was great. I have been wondering what has become of everyone and where they are. It was exciting to see who was married, had kids, still lived in their hometown, who had albums coming out, who was getting what advanced degree. Still, there were some I happened across that made me wonder- that had me concerned for their health and well being. I mean, sure, who wouldn’t have a few party pictures on their site at 25? But, when that’s all there is….well, it worries me they have no depth, no grounding- and I feel somehow saddened by that. I do remember though that this is a social site and what someone puts up can’t sum up their whole life. Still, you learn a lot from interests, music, pictures, friends and comments put up there.

This little sojourn also makes me nostalgic and missing the time when I thought I could relate to and maybe even influence young people. This is a recurring theme lately- a look back on what I used to do (and who I was) and a look forward at where I’m heading. I don’t see a future that looks anything like the past. That is fine- and I shouldn’t count God out of it, he may put me back in youth ministry yet. For now, though, it has been 5 years since I did any full-time youth ministry, and I think that chapter of my life is closing. It does make me a little sad and longing for what I used to do/be. It seems easier to go back to that rather than coming up with a new direction.

I guess it also touches this thing I have with current culture. As I get older, I have shifted out of the mainstream and am now more in the safe shallows. If life were a water park, I’d be moving from the “Twister Flume Tunnel of Zoom” into more of the “Lazy River” attraction. I know what’s going on in the culture, for the most part, but I just don’t want to engage it. I understand the trends and fads, I just don’t like them. Is it sad I have better relationships with 5 year olds than I do with 15 year olds now? Maybe it is just my own little sliver of fragmented postmodernism that keeps its own self out of synch. But sometimes I do long for one last ride in the cool zone- I mean, I toyed with the idea of starting my own MySpace page- catching up with all those ex-camp people and saying hey- and then I realize that would be a bit pathetic. From what I can tell, MySpace isn’t inhabited by many over 35 year olds; I would be a visitor at best. No, I’ll continue to lurk and catch a glimpse of what life as a 28 year old is like these days, but keep my old self out of the way. But, I do think I will buy the new CD coming out by a few of them…it’s really good!

Prayer

So, I've been thinking about prayer. I know, it'd be a better use of my time to just actually pray. I try to pray each day, to be intentional about some time to talk to God. That doesn't count the random thoughts that fly through my head that might be remotely considered prayers. I still subscribe to the old formula of addressing God, asking a few things, saying Amen. That's not to say I haven't had some really powerful prayer times that involved me sitting on a mountaintop watching a thunderstorm come in, or sitting on a floor in a dark chapel with music and candles around. There have even been really cool times watching my kids that have been filled with the presence of God- and the thankfulness in my heart has felt an awful lot like prayer and praise.

Still, I think there is something about regular prayer that invites routine and dare I say it, structure. Some of my most satisfying prayer times have involved me writing my prayers, much like a letter to God, and then just sitting there for awhile- listening, stopping, being. I try to follow the A.C.T.S. formula of prayer:
A-Adoration (telling God how good he is-and what cool stuff he makes)
C-Confession (those places we screw up; and asking for forgiveness)
T-Thanksgiving (well, you know, being thankful)
S-Supplication (asking for help, guidance, healing, etc)
followed by quiet, listening time. That's what works for me- when I can find the time to do that!

What works for you? What is your best time of day-place you pray? Tips? Feedback? LL

TiVo stands for Television InadVertantly Operated

Or maybe some other catchy acronym to describe how since we hooked up TiVo it has become a possessed self regulatory independent electronic beast in our bonus room. Disclaimer: We received TiVo and a year's service as a Christmas present from George's brother. While we like the idea, its not a gadget we were dying to get, but since everyone seems to love it enough to use it as a verb, we thought we'd try it out. It started innocently enough- set it up one night when the kids were out...nothing says loving like sharing a booklet of technological instructons. Then came the experiments to make sure it worked- TiVoing a few kids shows, a series we might like to watch (which explains why its been cancelled) and the like. All is well. What we want Dvr'ed is getting recorded.
The odd part comes when we start looking over our "Now playing" list and seeing all these random programs being recorded. Nickolodeon shows, Disney shows, Full House on Nick at Night, NFL today in March. I mean the list is long- two 'pages' of shows recorded in just two days. The one show that we designated with a "Season pass" (so it will record the episode each week) is working fine, although it can't seem to figure out when they pulled the show and put a cop drama in its place. Somehow, when we ask it to record one show,and one show only, it does so, but then starts acting of its own free will. Its this weird HAL/2001 thing- "I think Dave liked this show, so I'll record another just like it." The weirdest part is I can't find ANY setting to turn this function off (and I have looked at every option in every menu). It appears to be operating on its own. So, until we figure it out, we'll just have to keep deleting the random Dora the explorer shows, the Tanner family love fests of Full House and random Anime features from cartoon network. At least it hasn't started accessing Lifetime, celebrity poker shows, C-span, or some porn channel--Yet. Small favors. Anyone have any ideas?

What if?

There's a link and piece of this missing- but it was for a cool article about a Christian organization that rebuilt mosques in Serbia.

If we're such a "Christian Nation"...

I mean, would we be hurting, maiming and taking over in countries that don't want us- can you see why the rest of the world hates "Christians" if they equate US foreign policy with God's agenda? I mean- the average Muslim, who's never heard the gospel and knows the name of Jesus about the same as most Christians know the name of Jeremiah, if this person's first interactions with a "Christian nation" are having your town bombed, having soldiers come in and take away half your neighbors and relatives (and then guard them with such respectful guards as we had at Abu Graib)- who wants any part of that? And when some lucky middle easterner gets the chance to come to the US and say, study- do they not marvel at a culture that spends more on pet products each year than their home country brings in as a GDP? Can you imagine coming from a place where everyone struggles to have enough to eat, or have clean water and access to health care, only to come here and see an ad for carpeted doggie stairs so your overweight dog can crawl into your kingsize bed and watch "Desparate Housewives" with you?? Do we really wonder why they hate us?
So here comes the over simplified, rosy eyed dreamer in me (I'm giving you fair warning here). What if....
-instead of spending millions on bombs and ammunition, we spent those same millions to give everyone clean drinking water and access to electricity?
-instead of increasing troop numbers, we increased work teams that could rebuild a foreign country much like we've been rebuilding the Gulf Coast the past year and a half.
-instead of insisting on a particular type of government we actually let the people decide what they want- even if we don't like it.
-instead of just saying we're a Christian nation and continuing to export raunchy Hollywood films, TV, cigarettes and alcohol as well as army troops, instead we prayed for our enemies, sent them food and water and materials for shelter and the technology they need to catch up with us.
What if that was the way we showed God's love to this world? Am I dewy eyed enough to think there wouldn't be corruption- sure there would be- and I imagine people would still want to kill us for a little while anyway- until they figured out what we were about. I mean, I haven't heard too many stories of Red Cross workers getting shot up while handing out blankets. (Yes, I'm sure it happens- but then, it happened in New Orleans too). I imagine that if we did something that radical it would cause some major chaos-and would be so hard to do-I get that. And I have heard all the arguments for a strong military presence and deterrents and all that jazz. It's just that while I understand all of that stuff- it just doesn't seem to be working- and I'm ready for a new way of doing things- so I'll keep dreaming, and praying that God will send us some help in making his dream into our dream- and making his dream a reality.
"I asked God to make the world a better place. He responded by saying "Let's start with you."

Whatever happened to Pebbles, anyway?

Interesting article in USA Today about todays 18-25 years olds and their life's goals.

The reason this is interesting is the voice given to this generation concerning its ambitions and aspirations. I guess my bitter Gen-xity comes out here. I am a Gen xer, who speaks fluent boomer (and silent gen, I might add) as well as a smattering of Gen Y. The ironic thing to me in this article is not so much the overwhelming numbers of 18-25 year olds who want to strike it rich and be famous, but the fact that this is a major article. In the mid 80's, I have no doubt this was the general idea with the college student of the day- I mean, just look at the Top 40 for pete's sake- "I want to be rich (I want money, lots and lots of money)" "Do you want to ride in my mercedes boy" "I've got the brains, you've got the looks, lets make lots of money" "Money, money changes everything" "Material world and I am a material girl". It was the greed decade, remember? But who gets the credit for that? THE BOOMERS! It's the whole "Wall Street" thing (you know, the movie with Michael Douglas) instead of "Risky Business" (Tom Cruise is technically a boomer, but he played a teenager in the 80's- which would make him Gen X). The ME generation and their 30-something Yuppie-ville got all the hype for being materialistic and fame driven. And now, the Gen-Yers get the moniker on them- (funny enough that they are their parents' children). And so, Gen X slides by, unnoticed and ignored, marginalized at best as a latte drinking, clove cigarette smoking bunch of communist wannabes- when I have no doubt that we all wanted fame and fortune just as much as these college kids today.

Hey, wait a minute. We are vindicated in the silence of the media. I should just shut-up, because we come out looking good! In fact, if we could dig up articles from the 90's, when the second half of Gen X was in college (when they started realizing they existed) you'd see these glowing reports of how giving and service oriented we were as young people. So, here we are, this huge population bubble (contrary to popular belief, Gen X is as big if not bigger than the boomers. Its just that birth rates went down (at the same time as Roe V Wade was passed, go figure)- it doesn't factor in immigration) waiting to change the world, and whining about it along the way. But maybe we'll actually do one better than our parents, and see someone from our cohort in the White House one day. Until then- I guess we'll just make money, invest it in socially responsible equity funds and hit the Starbucks for a latte while we blog.

I love it when this happens

I love it when I'm stewing over several things- money, wealth, power- what is this "Emerging church" thing, how do I behave as a follower of Christ in a culture basted in money and power- and along comes a quote that sums it up for me nicely. Here it is, by none other than one of my fav. people- Rob Bell


“How do comfortable Christians in the suburbs join the God of the oppressed? Is it even possible? I live in a city where one in five people live in poverty and on 28th Street they just opened a new Hummer dealership... I need this seminar because I need to know what following Jesus looks like in an empire where so few have so much and so many have so little.” -Rob Bell

I hear John Williams "Empire Strikes back" playing in my head....

...And a Happy New Year?

From the internet- gotta love it~


"Please accept with no obligation implied, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, nonaddictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion or secular traditions of all.
And a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling,and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Britain great, (not to imply thatBritain is necessarily greater than any other countryor is the only “Britain” in the Western Hemisphere),and without regard to the race, creed, color, age,physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable provided there is no alteration to the original. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishesfor her/himself or others, is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expectedwithin the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, which ever comes first, and warranty is limited to repair of this wish or issuance of a replacement wish at the sole discretion of the wisher."