Thoughts Transposed

Psalm from the Rooftop of Tehran

2009-06-23T16:13:00.000-06:00

John Piper Challenge

2009-06-02T10:58:00.005-06:00

I was challenged today by the blog entries of my coworker, Dave Clark. He led me to this lengthy (but inspired) clip of John Piper.

The Need to be Inspired

2009-05-29T08:50:00.005-06:00

Recently I'd lamented to a friend about how uninspired I'd been feeling. I made comments about needing to be refueled. Two days later I'd note how I'd achieved that fueling, only to, the very next day, complain about needing inspiration again. Need inspiration. Have inspiration. Need inspiration. This is/was an almost daily cycle. He finally turned to me and said, "Do you really need to be inspired every day?"

I don't know the exact intent of the question, but I was stooped for the answer and have been stooped for an answer ever since. It's actually an excellent question, I think. And, I've my mulling over my answer. My inability to come up with an answer has been bothersome.

Last night, I decided to bring the question up to a couple girl friends, who are also in the non-profit development (fundraising) or wealth-management fields. Do they always feel the need to be inspired? Or, perhaps better stated, what is the role of inspiration in their work and personal life? Although working in non-profit sector currently, we all have had past for-profit experience. The combination of experience within the two sectors was what I was looking for. I had a hunch that my work in non-profit development actually made the answer to that original question a "yes, I do".

If the answer was yes, then why? I was afraid my/our answer was because of some self-centered, entitled position, as if I am a glutton for emotional pick-me-ups and feel-good stories. While it is true that sometimes I just need to buck up and get my work done, regardless of whether or not I am feeling "inspired" is there warrant for this need?

Their responses to the question resonated with me.

Development work is inherently highly (highly!) relational. The work is about learning people's story, meeting them where they are at, finding out about another's passions and what energizes people. Then, energizing those people around a cause, around a need, around an injustice. Development workers, typically, love meeting new people, love deep conversation, love conversations that matters, love writing, love speaking, love simply communicating. They know that, in order for their message to have wide appeal, it can't be said the same way all the time. The message has to be tailored to their audience, whether that be one person, two people, or 100. Development workers are always needing to think outside the box. (Admittedly, this is probably also true for those in marketing and sales positions) It's creative work. The skill and personality of creativity and resourcefulness are inherent traits of the job. And this creativity and resourcefulness needs to constantly be fueled.

Our friend, sitting around the table, who works in banking incidentally couldn't relate in the same way. It's not an expectation of her employer on her and it's not an expectation of she has of the bank to be consistently inspired. She does seek out inspiration with the zeal that the rest of us at the table do. When she is inspired it's nice, it's refreshing... it's not a must.

So, I ask you, what is the role of inspiration in your life? Is it something you seek after or, do you find it uncomfortable?

Certainly there are ways that we each are creative and choose to express that creativity. Such is fundamental to our expression of the "imago Dei" stored within us from the creation. This is not the question at hand, though. My question speaks to be energy one uses to rub shoulders with other people's creativity and how that intersects with your vocation.

Lifeline Living

2009-05-28T16:39:00.002-06:00

As a fellow blogger said in posting this video, "What is the first thought that comes to your mind after watching this video?"

Mine...perfect Love casts out fear.

What Messes You Up?

2009-04-04T20:34:00.002-06:00

The e-zine "Wrecked for the Ordinary" turned me on to this video from Bill Hybels:

and it reminds me a phrase that often gets thrown around the office. Whenever an office mate says, "Man, it messed me up!" my ears perk. There are two rules for using this phrase in the office. 1.) Use it with care and caution; flippancy in using the phrase is like the boy crying wolf. And, 2.)to be "messed up" is a positive thing. It's cue to go out and buy this or that book, or watch this or that movie. It's a promise that the book or movie or what have you is so impactful, so disturbing, resonating to the core.

The positivity of being "messed up" stems from the assertion that, as the e-zine blogger put it, "we, as Christians, are called to step into circumstances that wreck us. As Hybels points out in the video, going into these places is what our hearts desperately yearn to do. In other words, we want to be wrecked, because we somehow innately know that the healing of creation is, at least in part, hinged on how broken we are for it."

Could it be that God desires to use our discontent to bring about redemptive change, to bring above His kingdom on earth?

Hybels' latest book "Holy Discontent" has also been on the lips of a few people in the office. This latest endorsement has pushed me over the edge; I now think I'll have to go out and buy the book.

Hilarious and True: Everything's Amazing and No One is Happy

2009-03-29T13:11:00.000-06:00

Relative Excusability

2009-03-22T18:58:00.000-06:00

“Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable." - G.K. Chesterton

My Second Blog

2009-03-18T15:38:00.002-06:00

I wish I posted to this Thoughts Transposed blog more often, but perhaps you didn't know that I actually write two blogs. Yes! As part of my role as Communications Coordinator, I update a blog of the developments of collaborative work in the south side neighborhood of Chicago called Woodlawn. I spend the majority of my blogging time updating my second blog. Check it out! Click HERE. and become a follower today!

Islamic Creationist Stirs Up Controversy

2009-03-18T15:00:00.002-06:00

This morning's Wall Street Journal cover story, "An Islamic Creationist Stirs a New Kind of Darwinian Struggle" caught my attention. The subsequent article was a provocative one.

This piece tells the story of Adnam Oktar.

As scientists around the world celebrate the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's seminal work on evolution, Adnan Oktar, a college dropout turned theorist of Islamic creationism, is working on the fifth volume of a 14-part masterwork that he says will bury Darwinism once and for all...

"Darwin and his theory are dead," says Mr. Oktar, founder and honorary president of the Science Research Foundation, an Istanbul outfit dedicated to debunking the Victorian-era English naturalist. Darwin, says his 52-year-old Turkish scourge, is "Satan's biggest trick on humanity."

I suppose it's not a big surprise that Oktar's work and influence has pushed the buttons of the outspoken atheist & Oxford University professor Richard Dawkins, who has worked with child-like fervor to ban websites that publish the work of Oktar, etc., etc. etc. The truth about their interpersonal dynamics is one in which you have to read between the lines.

I'm used to the Christian Creationist - Atheist Darwinist battle that is covered by the media each time a bigwig from either camp comes out with a new book or late night TV spew. For me, (and now I point to my own ignorance) my fascination with the dialogue was slightly renewed by the article. A light bulb went on as I realized the magnitude of this interfaith conversation - a conversation that is no less heated when you bring in other faith traditions.

While I am not, necessarily, a six-day creationist, I will admit (for better or for worse) to some strange satisfaction in knowing there are those of other faiths ganging up Darwinians like Dawkins, chiding the other camp to present more proof that this world isn't millions of years old and that divine, creative design was the generator of it all. I could let the whole how-the-world-began discussion go if it wasn't for all the other inherent convictions that spill forth from this one conversation.

What is your reaction to the article?

Back on the Scene.

2009-03-11T08:11:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite soul-filled voices is arriving back on the scene. Lizz Wright, my friends, has a new number out. (See video clip)

Lizz Wright on iLike - Get updates inside iTunes

Both Ends of the Atrocity

2009-02-16T21:39:00.003-06:00

While laid up sick on the couch this weekend, I had a chance to catch up on my DVD queue. Two movies were in line for me to watch and the irony of these films hasn't eluded me. The first was "As We Forgive", recommended to me by my executive director.

When I go to conferences, read books, blogs, magazine articles about reconciliation I wait for someone to dose out the real deal. All to often, I have been disappointed by the diplomacy that has often won out in the conversation. By contrast, this film is not for those that were enjoying diplomatic answers to their questions on reconciliation. The film strips the cliche from these words - "reconciliation" and "forgiveness" - and returns with a definition that's raw, straight, tough. Humanly speaking, there is no such thing as reconciliation nor forgiveness. As one blogger pointed out, it's only a living God that could touch hearts turned to stone by pain and give that heart the capacity to forgive. It's a supernatural phenomenon that can only be explained as such.

Secondly, I watched "Before the Rain"...

This was the first Macedonian film to ever be nominated for an Oscar. The film explores that start of violence in the Balkans with a fictional story that could, by all intents and purposes, be true. The story takes place amidst the political turbulence of the Balkans alongside contemporary peace in London, with three love stories that intertwine to create a powerful portrait of modern Europe. When a mysterious incident in the fabled Macedonian mountains blows out of proportion, it threatens to start a civil war, and brings together a silent young monk, a London picture editor, and a disillusioned war photographer. Told in three parts, and linked by characters and events, the film explores the seemingly uncompromising nature of war as it ravages the lives of the unsuspecting, and forces the innocent to take sides.

Perpetrators of civil war can be so convincing of the compulsorily cyclical nature of the battle. Manchevski, however, fights this notion with his own premise the circle is not round. A Macedonian reviewer made this observation about the film: "In every end [of each of the three stories] there is a change. A change which always makes the new beginning worse. In a way it is like a spiral. And Manchevski is smartly telling three stories. They are not [quite] linear...With the last episode he connects the three stories, and you can feel the message - his message [that war doesn't have to be cyclical]" Violence is like spirals and at the end of each, the persons involved have a choice in perpetrating violence or to believe in the possibility of the supernatural, making space for its intervention.

These two films are poignant showcases the potential before and after ethnic genocide.

1,000 Questions

2009-02-03T20:52:00.002-06:00

Each year that-big-church-down-the-road as my once-pastor called it, executes one of (if not THE) largest conference of evangelical believers across the globe in 85 locations. It's called the Leadership Summit, it's main site hosted by Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, IL, but satellited to 85 locations across the nation and globe. It's a HUGE operation (trust me, I used to work for their conference operations team) and generates some of the most creative thinking as it relates to the arts and...well, anything.

This video below was first played at this past year's Summit and has since generated quite a bit of (mostly positive) commotion. We, at Sunshine, have watched it many times, integrating it now into our Bridge Builders curriculm. I think it jerks more tears each time I view it. Here it is:

The frankness and transparency of this piece is refreshing and encouraging. Sometimes (well, most of the time) following Christ means grappling with more questions than answers. I'm thankful that I serve a God who can handle my questions and who meets me right where I'm at.

By A Photo Techie

2009-01-27T16:07:00.003-06:00

I'm surrounded by those with a great "eye" for photography. I've been told I have that I eye, too, (the banner of this blog, in fact, was taken by me) but it's not a skill I've honed. This photographer, however, has and he's sharing his work on Inauguration Day with us on the www.

Photographer David Bergman took this 1,474-megapixel shot of the nearly two-million strong crowd in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.as Barack Obama delivered his inaugural address. See for yourself, click here.

Rick Warren's Inaugural Prayer

2009-01-21T11:56:00.001-06:00

Duality of a Major Scale

2009-01-15T19:07:00.003-06:00

Bono recently began a writing gig as Op-Eds for the New York Times. I don't if it's because I have a thing for accents or because he's a rough-around-the-edges-rocker with a heart for the oppressed, but I like Bono in a I-want-to-be-his-niece kind of way. So, when he speaks I listen.

Cathleen Falsani who writes and writes the blog The Dude Abides turned me on to Bono's NYT ode to the New Year, where he discusses the duality of music in its interpretations. Put simply, how a song can take on a different meaning depending on the time and place. And, this is also the case for the song's singer.

Having done a duet with Frank Sinatra, Bono explores this concept using Sinatra's song "My Way" - the very song that played at the Irish pub he was recently at which united all in the room when it came over the speakers.

You can read Bono's op-ed HERE. And you can listen to him read it there as well, which I, of course, think is even better!

Our Addiction to Anxiety

2009-01-07T10:09:00.002-06:00

I've recently become a follower of an online magazine called "Wrecked for the Ordinary" - a magazine written by Jesus followers who are re-imaging culture with Christ in mind. I encourage you to check it out.

In a recent article, writer C.Holland talks about her 2008 awareness of her addiction to anxiety and her 2009 "resolution" to work on "taking every thought captive" as Scripture states, and instead to heed Philippians 4:6. Ironically, I couldn't have penned a better article myself. My experience, almost down to the very "t" and very "i", has been the same, except that my adrenal system did shut down many years ago and it's been a road of recovery ever since. Yes, these things do happen!

I share this with you, because I know I'm not alone and neither is C. Holland. In fact, I think any Western or Eastern medical professional will attest to the spread of a rampant disease of anxiety addiction. Anxiety is not a newfound discovery, but as new medias emerge and we become evermore connected with each other (cell phones, emails, facebook, blogs, Twitters, LinkedIns, RSS Feeds, texting...) the anxiety, and potentials for anxiety, only grows.

I encourage you to read C. Holland's article. If it describes you... know you're not alone in the battle to slow down and trust God.

99 Random Things to Ponder in 09

2009-01-01T20:40:00.002-06:00

I think this might be the first year I attempt (with some amount of great seriousness) a New Years resolution. It might include some kind of L.A. Fitness, but since it's such a cliche resolution I won't elaborate. Instead, my friend over at the Green Room also borrowed this list of 99 things to ponder. Play along: bold what you've done in your comment, or on your blog (but don't forget to link back to Thoughts Transposed so I can check out your list!).

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars (leave it to childhood camps across the midwest).
3. Played in a band (no, but does 8 years of choir count. I think it should.)
4. Visited Hawaii and danced on a lava cliff with the roar of the Pacific below.
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (what is more than you can afford, really?)
7. Been to Disneyland/Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain (I may get to check this off with technicalities)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (the story of my life)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (preferred to ferry by it.)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (maybe. I can't remember. Feel like that would be a Dillon thing to do though.)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you weren't ill (once!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (ssshhhh!)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (mudslide in a bathing suit)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (does a commercial count?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving - May 2010!!!
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (never will)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - Jason Mraz
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Play along!

The World Couldn't Wait for OTR

2008-12-14T19:16:00.003-06:00

This weekend, now fading, I went to hear one of my favorite bands play in Chicago. (This time of year it seems "everyone" is coming to town. Between the box office and concerts, it's one big media buzz in this grand town.) Over The Rhine has been a favorite of mine for 6-7 years now (with last night's concert being the 6th that I've seen) and I think it should be/become one of your favorites, too. Six years is a mere sliver of time compared with the time this husband-wife duo has been making music. January 2009 will mark their 20 year of making and recording music and touring together. It's not simply that we share an am amateur, but...

...well, see for yourself. It was Karin's birthday yesterday and she asked her husband to do this steamy number for her. This is one great pick from the evening; lyrics aside, I think every part of this song comes together to make for a quality, catchy little number

YouTube rarely does any musician justice, but for kicks here's another:

My friend and I decided, that while Chicago's Double Door location where OTR played last night is a simplyh fine venue you for some bands, musicians, and DJs, it's not a great venue for OTR. This crowded, standing-room only venue is a hard place for this gal in heels to stand for 3.5 hours, pressed up against some big, sweaty guy. OTR played at the Old Town School of Folk Music last year. Much better venue for this kind of music that makes you want to take a seat, close your eyes and just listening. So much of their music is spiritual and meditative; the cramped, motorcycle bar-feel of Double Door simply doesn't cater to.

I Rest My Case - Apparently Not

2008-11-17T19:38:00.007-06:00

Back a week or two ago, I wrote you this story...

"She opened her Box for me to listen on an unseasonably warm October day. She held true to the stories told throughout the ages of being made for the gods by the gods with great and wonderful gifts. She left us with a box - a box filled with hope. Thanks for this website. :http://www.pandora.com/ you can crack open it's top and listen in..like I did, one particularly frustrating afternoon. Out of it came this tune from a voice I've fallen for...

Mr. Peter Bradley Adams was first with East Mountain South, who toured with Tracy Chapman in 2003.

It seemed to me, as I listened to his latest record "Leavetaking", there was a theme of rest and of sleep. Whether it was "Lay My Head Down" or "Los Angeles", which tells the story of the City of Angels, or "Teresa", which speaks of a modern-day saint, this man understood that with age comes responsibility and with responsibility comes inhibitions to refreshing sleep or an afternoon nap. Even, perhaps, a deep rest - a rest that knows there is, indeed, One who bears life's burdens and allows us the solitude we need in the midst of chaos and frustration.

So, when I saw Mr. Adams in concert last week I had to talk to him, sure that he would exclaim, "You are the first one to recognize that undertone. Yes!" And then, we would launch into some great philosophical, maybe even God-centered conversation. But, no. The conversation didn't go that way. So, as to not embarrass he or I, I leave the story of our inability to communicate in a loud bar by simply saying, I am "sleeping tight" these days. And, that's enough to make for a good story ending.

Making a long story short, this hasn't been the open-and-shut case I thought it would be. Thanks to a friend and, what I believe was probably, Google Alert, I (or was it Peter? Depends on how you look at it) got a second chance. This time the question was met with a far more desirable and indeed, thorough answer. :wink: Here's a little excerpt from him within our longer conversation.

Mr. Peter: you're totally right about the "resting" theme...one song you didn't mention is "Keep Us" which i think is the most pointed... It seems like all my love songs have that idea of someone being broken or worn down and being held up by the other. like the connection is almost... I've never tried to articulate it [the connection] (except writing the songs) but i guess it speaks to a kind of longing. a kind of melancholy...

So, I got my answer! Thought I'd let you all know. Thanks, Peter!

I am 'Obama' Video

2008-11-13T12:18:00.003-06:00

I encourage you to watch this video and I highly encourage you to comment. I will express my opinion on this in the comment section at a later time as well.

Obama vs. McCain Dance Off

2008-10-30T20:28:00.001-06:00

Two Different Kinds of "Smile!"

2008-09-29T18:41:00.006-06:00

No, I'm not talking Candid Camera. Not in the least.

I'm talking about two different encounters I've had with "Smile!" this week. Let me explain...

...Last Wednesday night at a concert, as my friend and I were ducking out before the encore to avoid the rush, a large man with a grizzly beard (yes, Mark, a grizzly beard) stopped me in my haste. A little startled, not the least by the foul order of beer on his breath and now beer breath in my face, I looked up.
"Put a smile on that beautiful face of yours," he said.

I wanted to slap him! I don't know one person who, when they get told by a random stranger to smile then, smiles in fact because of it. Not one! I hate it. It's the first way to make an enemy...in my book, at least. Don't you agree?

Fast-forward two days later. I'm getting on I-94 and, like the bottom of many highway ramps in Chicago, is standing a homeless man. I glanced over at his cardboard sign, if only to oblige him. The note on the cardboard startled me. It wasn't an ask for money or for a prayer. It was an ask for a smile. Not only did I smile, I laughed out loud. He smiled back, then laughed back. Before I know it, while sitting at this red light, blocked only by my window I was laughing out loud with this random, homeless stranger. It felt so good. Just to laugh. That's all he wanted. Not food or money or prayer. Just...simply...to laugh, to smile. It was a truly reciprocal gift.

Sunshine Prayer Request

2008-09-22T21:33:00.003-06:00

As some of you know...

Each of the staff members are asking their friends and family to pray for Sunshine. Over the past week we've had an inordinate amount of gunfire in our community - Chicago's south side community of Woodlawn. After literally dozens of close class, include a couple of our windows being shot out, yesterday evening a young man was shot and killed a block from us.

It appears this shooting and subsequent homicide are a part of a war among gang factions fighting for turf around our building (literally, we are in the CENTER of all the craziness!). This uptick in violence that could potentially last for some time.

This morning we prayed as a staff about the activity as well as discussed what we might do it intervene. Corporately we've agreed on several steps, which include hosting community meetings, beefing up our physical presence in the neighborhood, driving our program participants home at night, AND being frank with friends to pray. Specifically we pray for safety and for wisdom as to how and where to intervene.

Thank you all, in advance! :-)

GOOD!

2008-09-11T17:09:00.002-06:00

I first learned of GOOD magazine back in (I think) March when its founder, Max Shorr, came to a Young Professionals of Chicago event to speak about his young entrepreneurial nack and inspire others in the room to do the same. GOOD is an "integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good. We are a company and community for the people, businesses, and NGOs moving the world forward. GOOD's mission is to provide content, experiences, and utilities to serve this community. GOOD currently produces a website, videos, live events, and a print magazine. Launched in September 2006, the company has garnered praise for its unique editorial perspective and fresh visual aesthetic and is quickly positioning itself as a significant new voice in our culture." Like I said, it was the founder and his promotion of the magazine that I was first introduced to.

The popularity of the GOOD name has taken off in the last year. Stores like Whole Foods now tout the magazine's name and online social centers like Metromix are following the company and its events, of which was recently one in Chicago which, coincidentally (not!) I attended. Heck, the event cost was applied toward a "complimentary" subscription to the magazine and "free" open bar for the night. It was a win, win, win!

The company is continuing to expand its platforms to increase dialogue in public sphere about a variety of environmental, local & global issues. Today they released a new conversation platform called, GOOD.is. Click Here. The platform was built for the exchange of ideas. The main page now features 5 easy-to-navigate tabs for browsing.

While you're at it, check out pictures of Stephanie and I at the photobooth. Click Here. And, pictures on Flickr of the event. Click Here. You'll be sorry you missed it. That's okay. Hopefully, there will be more.)

An Olive Branch Grows

2008-07-31T11:45:00.003-06:00

This morning I was reading the latest edition of Sojourners magazine that came in my mail. The editions contains an article entitled, "An Olive Branch Grows in Africa", which interviews George Kit, a coordinator for the Nairobi Peace Initiative - Africa, who has been working on a listening project to reconcile Kenyans divided by ethnic and political differences, particularly poignant after recent outbreak of violence spurred by their presidential election. NPI's "listening project" entails go out to those people of both sides of political divide and listening to their stories, "to hear what sence they made of the particular violence that as going on." At times this has meant reporting plans of violence NPI has become privy to and stopping the violence before it even takes place.

The project has started to go beyond just listening and now the organization is utilizing a number of (pyschological) tools and exercises to help people analyze their own actions, their own contribution to violence, based on their stereotypes. Some of the exercises seek to mirror the terms and ways we can destroy each other and the pain and destruction that brings. Kit gives the example of an exercise in which they ask people to create painings. In the next step, they select which paintings look alike and form a group out of those paintings. Participants were to prepare a better picture of out of the compilation of paintings and finally, make a presentation of their work. People always get engaged in working together and have put together some wonderful pictures. They don't anticipate the next step...to destroy the paintings. If they don't do it on their own with coaxing then, the instructors will begin doing it for them. Participants become incredulous at the ease with which the instrustors destroy the pieces as if the paintings didn't take any effort to complete.

The exercise is to be viewed as a symbol of life, that people have built their story over a long period of time, and during crisis lives with great aspirations have been torn apart as if that life didn't matter. The kind of reaction and the kind of sharing that comes out of that exercise - that experience - begins to draw people out, creating an envirnonment of healing and reconciliation in which people speak frankly and honestly about the pain they have experienced when people don't take seriously the life they have worked hard to create.

The story of this exercise reminded me of an "excerise", or event, I underwent with similar results. It was at the Hyde Park Art Center several months ago. Every 3rd Friday of the month the Center holds a "Cocktails and Clay" evening wherein they open up their ceramics studio for folks to get dirty, make a creation, and have a few drinks. I went with my neighbor Christina and we encountered a few surprises throughout the evening. For one, the $15 is a suggested donation and doesn't include drinks. Their drinks are served in 8 oz. plastic cups and are $5-10 - a complete rip off. $25 later you walk into the ceramics studio. I, for one, was quite excited. I had been years since I'd found myself at the wheel creating a pot or bowl or pitcher.... Guess what? No wheels...we were simply given a large ball of clay and some water. The kind of thing your art teacher gave you and then, instructed you to create a pinch pot with. I was sorely disappointed...and so was Christina, who takes weekly ceramics classes and is quite skilled on the wheel.

The surprises continued. Pinch-pots weren't exactly the item of the evening; instead, crowns! We were to create crowns of any variety. Examples of the instructors creative crowns sat in the middle of the table. Crowns?!! Not exactly what I'd planned on. Nonetheless, I created the wickedest crown. I was quite proud of myself, particularly for somebody who hadn't dabbled in ceramics for years. I was so proud of myself I had convinced myself to sign up for their next ceramics class. Surely I'd be the best in the class (right?!)!

An hour later our session came to a close with the final surprise...to destroy the crown and place all the clay back in the ball. No!!! They weren't going to fire them. We couldn't come back in a week to pick them up. The $15 suggested donation was to keep the lights in the building on and pay the janitor to keep the place clean and pay the mortgage....

My point is not to knock the Art Center. I thought their antics were pretty clever. We hadn't asked if we would be able to bring home the final project. I could relate to the increduality that the participants of the NPI-Africa exercise felt. The lesson remains true....it's easy to feel self-pity for the plans and notions of ours that others may flippantly come by and destroy, but we don't often reflect on the plans of others we, too, are capable of flippantly destroying, making fun of, or failing to encourage.

Barack Obama - NAACP Speech

2008-07-15T09:24:00.001-06:00

Jason Upton - Burning

2008-07-11T14:31:00.005-06:00

EXTREMELY convicting, but hopefully, equally as encouraging to you.

"Some of us are intoxicated by the words of men. It's like we're addicted. When we don't hear it, it's like we can't even live. But, you know, God has a voice, too. He doesn't magnify it. He whispers it. 'You are my beloved'."

Jason just might be my favorite independent Christian artist. Thanks to Mark's suggestion, I'm going to start posting more music.

Refinished

2008-06-24T20:50:00.006-06:00

I love refinishing furniture. I don't do it nearly enough. There is something so satisfying in taking something that's old and turning into something new. So exhilarating. The transformation from lifeless, rugged, bruised, battered, good-for-nothing, and ready-for-Goodwill-or-the-garage-sale made into something noteworthy, unique, and to be proud of.

That's how I feel about my latest endeavor - the refinishing of my dresser. My dresser has untold stories. I know it does because half its hardware was missing when I got it. The remaining hardware was completely mismatched. I figure it's had a few owners and that the last few were sure they'd be the last. But, then, they found a friend who said, "no, don't throw it out. I'll take it." That same person then gave it to another friend who begged and pleaded with them, "no, don't throw it out. I'll take it" and on down the line. I'm the next in line. But, this time I was determined to take this good-for-nothing dresser and turn it into something people would say, "I'll buy that from you." A wanted piece. Don't we all want to be wanted. Dressers are no exceptions. Trust me. :wink:

So, Memorial Day weekend was baptism weekend for my dresser. It was the weekend it was stripped and sanded, stained, buffed, polish, stained, buffed, and polished again. Here he is:

Before.

And now.

It was fun breathing new life into Mr. Dresser. He's inspired me to do the same with other pieces of furniture.

Grandmothers on Facebook

2008-06-24T07:14:00.003-06:00

I've found Beth's Blog a valuable resource in my communications and development work with non-profits. I encourage you to check out her blog. She cracks me up sometimes with the things she says, the videos and anecdotes that she finds. Here is one from a couple days ago, I think those savvy in Web 2.0 will get a kick out of.

http://view.break.com/512971 - Watch more free videos

Amazing Grace Played on the Black Notes!

2008-06-04T11:45:00.001-06:00

Wintley Phipps....
Hallelujah!

I'm grateful to Peter Cockrell and his blog "Already Not Yet" who believes reformed theology and the charismatic experience must be brought together. He's not alone in his belief.

Exceptions to the "No Scroll" Rule

2008-05-29T19:58:00.003-06:00

So, I have no new direction with this blog. I'm afraid the solution is multiple blogs. But, in the meantime...

This evening I went to a presentation on e-mail marketing. It's something that I do at Sunshine and something that we, meaning Sunshine, and I could always use to improve.

One of the biggest lessons we have more recently taken to heart is the "no scrolling" rule. The rule simply states that whatever promotional, information, event-driven e-mail you send out should not required the recipient to scroll the page in order to view the most important information.

After the presentation, a couple of the other attenders and I spoke about what that has meant for our respective organizations or companies. Each of us seemed to have a story about how we overhauled our e-mail blasts, which accommodated this rule. BUT, each of us could also think of an e-blast or two that we enjoy that IS long and that we do actually spend the time to scroll through.

For me, the e-newsletter is ePistle. And now, I'm going to make a little plug for it. ePistle is published by the Evangelicals for Social Action. The organization is closely tied in with Sojourners. Putting aside any reactions to Sojourners or Jim Wallis (I'll have you know I'm a fan of the man, but like 75% of the stuff published by his organization.), ePistle presents insightful, multi-generational, relevant articles which apply the Christian faith to all sorts of everyday topics. The newsletter also takes readers the sites of non-profits that are taking a unique approach to a problem, blogs, upcoming conferences, speakers, motivators... Needless to say, I highly recommend that you check out ePistle.

The presentation attenders and I couldn't figure out what the common denominator was to these rule exceptions other than their content was "interesting" to us. Maybe you can help me out. Do you receive any periodic e-mails for companies or organizations that don't abide by the "no scroll" rule, but you have chosen to forgive them and, even more, fiercely condone the behavior? If so, why have you pardoned them?

Directionless

2008-05-02T15:56:00.002-06:00

I'm beginning to feel like my blog needs to take a particular direction. It all started when someone I know commented about a friend's blog, "Yeah, I'd read it more if it wasn't just an expose on their life and, if they had some significant contribution of thought to add." I'll have you know I don't remember who made this comment or whose blog they were speaking about (that's probably a good thing since that wasn't a very kind comment), nonetheless, it started me thinking about the blogs I follow, why I follow them, and so on. In all honesty, I get bored with the ones that aren't witty, or insightful, or controversial.

I feel like I need a blog related to faith, another one on non-profit development work, another one on Chicago findings, and one on good books. (And I'm probably forgetting a couple topics.) Do I establish separate "corners" to this blog? Or, do I start four more blogs? That's a lot of work. I don't know. :shrugs:

I always have some excuse NOT to blog and frankly, this person's comment has me all self-conscious and apathetic about blogging.

Any thoughts?

My Latest Favorite

2008-05-02T15:53:00.002-06:00

Birthday BASH

2008-04-21T20:38:00.006-06:00

I tell you, I am really am blessed to have such a great group of friends around me here in the city. I turned 24 this past week and since the gang is always looking for an excuse to party, my birthday and the birthday of the pal, Steph, was ample excuse for a double-night birthday extravaganza.

Friday was just ladies' night and started with an Italian dinner at my place in the ... East Pilsen Artist Colony (remember?!) and then on to some of the great bars of Wicker Park.

Saturday was WeeGees in Logan Square with a co-ed group of hipsters. Contrary to Friday night, pictures keep rolling in.

We have found that Scott really likes to blink in pictures.

College friend, Val, came in from Boston for the event! Ah! So cool!

And, I guess it's always safe to say that Josh, the resident pilot on hand, also flew in for the event.

I admit to just liking this one. Scott has been such a friend this year!

Birthday girls. Perhaps we are singing.

Brian, this one is for you.

How Are The Children?

2008-04-18T13:35:00.003-06:00

At a recent development conference the I attended in L.A. - a conference put on by the federal Department of Justice for grassroots faith-based initiatives, Rev. W.Wilson Goode, from the Amachi Organization in Philadelphia and former major of the city, gave a lunchtime keynote address that knocked the ball out of the park. Reverend Wilson has accumulated much success in his days as a leader of a non-profit, growing a small organization to a substantially large organization today which mentors children of convicts. It's people like Rev. Wilson who have "been in trenches" of non-profit grassroots work who have the great ability to encourage those who aren't yet quite out of the "trenches" and who are still wearing the zillion office hats.

Rev. Wilson was asked to speak on ten lessons that he has learned in his time in non-profit management. To emphasize his points he told several great stories; there are a handful that I still remember.

He told the story of the Masai tribe in Kenya that is known throughout the region for their fierceness. However, their traditional greeting amongst themselves (equivalent to our "Good Morning...Afternoon...Night") is the question, "How are the children?" The question alludes to the notion that the well-being of the tribe's children meters the well-being of the entire tribe. Even those who do not have their own children traditionally answer "The children are well".

Rev. Wilson made the point that, unfortunately, if you took that same question and applied it our tribe of Americans we could not honestly reply, "The children are well". There are still too many children "coming from homes of dope rather than homes of hope" to be able to affirmatively respond.

So, while our recent war in Iraq may show that Americans and the Masai share a drive for militia might, we haven't yet adopted care for our communities, and the institutions that make them up, that translates into an intimate, individual heartache for those around us.

Just How Many of You?

2008-04-14T12:02:00.000-06:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
32
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

David Cook - Little Sparrow

2008-04-04T00:07:00.001-06:00

He can do no wrong!

Old Spice

2008-03-30T06:58:00.001-06:00

Oh, Mark, this is too much.

Little Will Farrell spoof for y'all. It's great...

David Cook - American Idol Top 10

2008-03-27T17:07:00.001-06:00

Keeping you posted on my favorite!

Stuff I Like

2008-03-27T16:23:00.002-06:00

If you haven't yet, you must check out the comedic blog, "Stuff White People Like".

Adam Sternbergh of the New Republic said it well, "A few observers have already pointed out, rightly, that Stuff White People Like isn't about white people in general, but rather about a very specific demographic sliver of left-leaning, city-dwelling white folk--in other words, people like me. These people have previously been trapped and tagged alternately as yuppies, or Bobos, or ...Basically, they embody the uneasy marriage of urban affluence and liberal (and/or progressive, and/or alternative, and/or "indie") ideals. For example, there are plenty of white people in America who fairly obviously don't like (#15) yoga or (#46) The Sunday New York Times or (#28) not having a TV. But it's much funnier and, at least on its face, more original to say "White People" rather than "Yuppies..."

Click here to read the rest of the article.

If you aren't in a mood to feel exposed, I wouldn't click on the link. But, if you are or, if your able to see truth even in large sweeping generalizations then, click away. Your in for a laugh.

My personal favorites:
#88 Having Gay Friends
#62 Knowing What's Good for Poor People
#12 Non-Profit Organizations
#80 The Idea of Soccer

Traditionalism Re-Emerges

2008-03-25T19:53:00.002-06:00

Recently there have been a couple of lengthy articles in notable periodicals which spoke of the growing trend within the Protestant church toward traditionalism. The Church is renewing itself, this time not by dissing tradition as it did 100 years ago, but by embracing the liturgical and sacramental tradition of former generations. It seems Protestant congregations, particularly those in America and particularly those which reaching a demographic of 20-40somethings, are reevaluating their abandonment of traditionalism. Allow these authors to create context...

The first was printed in the U.S. News & World Report. Click Here.

To piggy-back onto this was a recent article in the Boston Globe. Click here.

Heightened social awareness, owed to globalization, media coverage, and perhaps the prophetic (a word I'm using casually) voices of Christian leaders like N.T.Wright, Jim Wallis, Fredrick Buechner and so forth, within the church has us looking to the previous church leadership who did it perhaps did "it" better - the people who lived among the people. The Catholic, Episcopalian, and Anglican priests and monks. Men and women whose adherence to scripted prayers (like the Book of Common Prayer), to following the Lenten calendar, to frequently partaking of the Lord's Supper did not prevent them from, necessarily, engaging with the social needs around them. An important fact for young Americans bent on being a civicly aware people.

This whole conversation topic is of interest to me because my church, Grace Chicago, began just five years ago almost as case and point of this increasing desire on the part of Jesus-believers to returned to a, albeit reformed, traditionalism. Our Sunday church service intentionally follows a narrative movement. Each week the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is retold a different way. Those who follow Jesus in faith and repentance meet the risen Lord in the sacrament of communion. The liturgy leading up to communion is anticipatory of Jesus’ redemptive (final) work in history. In a similar way, our music is a collection of eclectic styles and traditions alongside Scripture readings, homily, and other spoken words.

Also, as a church community we observe the Church calendar with its seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter. We do this to help each other remember the redemptive rhythm of God’s presence in our lives. In any given day we metaphorically travel through these seasons as we grapple with grief, doubt, and temptation, and also celebrate joy and hope.

I can't help but think the depth, the beefiness, the profoundness of the liturgies of an earlier church coupled with a greater emphasis on the graciousness of the person of Christ has and will continue to minister to the current generation, and perhaps the next generation or two. It seems our generation feels a void left by disillusionment with the mainstream evangelical and mega-churches and by a Catholic Church that, on-the-whole, denies the necessity of a meaningful personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

With No Further Ado...

2008-03-25T19:48:00.002-06:00

check out: www.sunshinegospel.org
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My American Idol Pick

2008-03-24T15:35:00.001-06:00

I was just explaining to someone this evening that I don't follow seasons of American Idol with any particular rhyme or reason. But, I've chosen, for whatever reason, to pop in on this season. And here is my pick...

This Time

2008-03-20T22:15:00.001-06:00

For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle - as we did in the OJ trial - or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.

We can do that.

But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we'll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.

That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, "Not this time." This time...

The Corner

2008-03-18T09:06:00.003-06:00

...of Roosevelt and Michigan the other night. Sometimes I just can't help myself; driving can't be a hindrance to taking a good picture.

They've Chosen Innocence

2008-03-17T16:40:00.007-06:00

(a thought in process...)

I've become so aware, when I speak with people about my job, of what keeps me continually engaged and motivated in my work. It's the people - the people of the Woodlawn neighorbood. The single mom who comes into our office to pick up an application for her child to join our after-school program, so often exclaiming that this is the very thing she'd hoped would come to town. The older gentleman with the fuzzy hat and a warm smile, excited about learning new things in our technology class. The smart yet spunky fourth-grade girl who I read with every Tuesday afternoon. It's these people, and many more, whose constant, admittedly interruptive, "hello" keeps me energized.

However, it's more than just their presence and their various personalities that I so enjoy. My love and admiration for them is more about a choice so many of them have made (perhaps a subconscious choice). They have chosen innocence.

Now I know this may confuse many of you or, seem ironic to those of you who know of Woodlawn's demographic. Woodlawn is a predominately low-income (some would use the phrase "economically marginalized) place. A neighborhood struggling to break cycles of poverty and violence. A place weary of waging battle against institutional racism. A place of much transience and much vulnerability. These things are true about the community but, what's also true is that so many of these people possess a will (power) that marks them.

See, I've come to believe in the last 18 months that innocence is a choice - a choice not to be confused with naivity, ignorance, inexperience, or immaturity. Innocence is not not limp or wimpy, as it's so often meant to connote; rather, it's silently strong and posseses perseverance. Innocence is a daily decision - a decision which tightly bundles hope and forgiveness with life experience.

Unfortunately, many of the young students in our programs have seen things their eyes were never supposed to witness. That man has been told words and had experiences that those who have never undergone racial oppression will ever be able to relate to. That mother may indeed be juggling responsibilities too great for the resources she has. But, in so many of their eyes there is great innocence. Perhaps this innocence is better understood as a faith that there is some thing, some place better than the present place. That it all (whatever "all" is. I'd let them fill in the blank.) will pass and it will "all" work out.

I'm convinced it's this innocence that Jesus needed a drink from when he called the children to himself after a long day of teaching. The very same innocence spoken of only moments later when Jesus exhorted the adults around him to make note of. These children possessed innocence.

The people of Woodlawn have taught me that no matter the sights I see, the experiences I've had or will have, or the injustice I encounter, I too have a choice. Each day I have a choice. Woodlawn is teaching me that life is much sweeter if I choose innocence.

2008-03-12T10:07:00.001-06:00

So many people claim to believe in the Resurrection, and yet it means so little to them. It has no effect in their lives. It is not enough to celebrate Easter and say “Christ is risen!” Indeed, it is useless to proclaim it at all, unless at the same time we can say that we too have risen.

The long passage of time has brought with it a temptation to keep on speaking about Good Friday without being moved by it. We hear about Christ’s death, and we sit there bored, as if we were reading a newspaper. In fact, we would find a newspaper a good deal more interesting.

- C. F. Blumhardt in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (Orbis, 2005)

The 3-Dimensions of U2

2008-03-08T23:40:00.003-06:00

If you haven't heard about it already, let me be the bearer of some cool news. National Geographic put together a 85-minute, 3-D film of U2 concerts which are playing national surely, at the IMAX near you.

http://www.u23dmovie.com/images/multimedia/downloads/U23D_Trailer_484x272.mov

I highly recommend that you spend the $16 to see the film. It's an experience, for sure! (And, I highly recommend you take a nap before going or, plan to take a nap afterwards. A bit of over-stimulation!)

The film makes you feel like you are a front-row fan at the concert and at times, could even touch Bono with your own two hands. Combine this with the inherent amazing acoustics of IMAX theatres...you've got a great date night planned!

Hillary Clinton and Josh Groban

2008-03-07T09:37:00.004-06:00

I can't help myself. These are just too much.

http://www.chicagolive.com/user_submitted/chris_rocks_hillary_clinton/

http://www.chicagolive.com/user_submitted/a_very_groban_christmas/

Alive

2008-03-06T17:13:00.002-06:00

I can't take credit for finding this clip. A friend shared it with me on his blog. Pearl Jam was on Storyteller this week and Vedder told the background story to "I'm Alive." He expresses himself in such an eloquently raw manner. In the same way many have found resonance in this song as they've applied it to their own life, I think some would be surprised to find the real story behind the song brings about a similiar resonance.

U.S. Senate Report: Over 400 Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007

2008-02-18T18:00:00.003-06:00

This article is thanks to Papa Dillon. I've been meaning to post it for awhile. (And frankily and as unpopular this might be, this has been the position I've aligned myself with for the last 3 years or so. This is only one (albeit strong) evidence ...

See U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works

East Pilsen Artist Colony...

2008-02-18T16:58:00.004-06:00

...no joke, this is the official title Metromix has given my neighborhood. I rather like this place. So, for those of you who live many miles from here, I thought I'd post pictures from the weekend to give you an idea of where I live. Come visit!

This Valentine's Day...

2008-02-14T16:30:00.002-06:00

...I'm reminded
You're Gonna Miss This Lyrics

When A Kid Is An Angel

2008-02-12T22:35:00.003-06:00

I know how kids can be. Particularly little kids. I nannied for 4 years for an infant and a growing 3 year-old who became a 4 year-old who... Understandably and I could objectively argue, these two kiddoes where, probably, the most well-behaved tots I know of. Heck, they rarely were embarrassing in public (what I have always believed to be a good thermometer of how cool a kid is). One of the two kids responded to discipline (pretty good odds, I'd say. That's 50%) They always ate the food I made them and rarely complained about having to finish their "whole" plate. They were athletic. Witty. Photogenic. Good dressers (they picked out their outfit each morning and whether they were two or five they always came up with stylish combos.)

BUT while they were kids to brag about, they, like any child, had a little devil in them. There was always the bedtime hour when they wouldn't go to sleep until ALL five books were read and even then, they got up for water and the bathroom ten times over two hours. And, the baby, she had colic (monitor was put in my room when I lived with them). They didn't poop in manageable little turds but in a messiest of rainbow shades. They splashed water ALL over the bathroom each evening during "bath time". And, I occasionally had to send the neighborhood kids home because my kids were being mean and hitting other children. They were periodically, in need of AA. Otherwise known of when you're five as an "Attitude Adjustment".

While I still babysit every now and then, it's been awhile since I've been around two + kids for a consistent, extended period of time. So, I suppose that means that when I am now around kids, I mentally tend toward turning them into angelic beings. Their smiles...their innocence...their simple lives...These things perhaps turns the age of five, in my imagination, into a grand utopia and their every behavior (good or bad) is simply "cute".

While I'll acknowledge my tendency, for today the five year-old will retain his/her angel-ness in my mind. You see...

It was a tough day at work (enough said), when this 5 year-old child, off from school because of some stomach ailment, came into the Sunshine office with his mother, who needed to make some photocopies. He was shy. And wore blue, plastic sunglasses. (Hey, the glare of the florescent lights makes sunglasses handy.) I asked him his name and his age. And with one hand over his mouth and a slight, shy tilt of his body away from me, he answered.

His Mom and I talked for a few moments about how she'd heard about our center. About their late night run to the E.R. because of his stomach aches and how she took him out of school and took off work herself because their stay lingered on until the wee-hours of this morning. She made her copies. In between her copies and my encouragement to return back to Sunshine for our adult technology classes and open access to computer with Internet, the little kid interrupted.

He looked at me and said, "You know, you're really pretty."

Kids can be charmers, I know. Especially little boys. But, in that moment, with me (internally) bumming about my day and counting the minutes until I could go home, those were the warmest, most encouraging words I could be told. It was his innocence, the simplicity of childhood, that made those words all the better. They were raw. No hidden agenda. No date to gain. No need to woo. No favor to be had. No status to gain. No popularity contest to win. None of the manipulative reasons we assume almost inheretly as part of adulthood. I didn't have to question his sincerity. None of it.

So, I don't know if it's faltery if it comes from a kindergartener but, I do recall Jesus allowing the little children (which I like to think of as kindergarteners) sit on his lap after a long day of teaching - a day, I can only imagine was bummy. And, I can only imagine that the simplicity of their lives, the potential they held, the innocence in their eyes is something that soothed a man undoubtedly deeply affected by the pain of this world. And while we know He had gentle words for them (and a lesson in faith for the adults around Him to learn in it), I have to think they had a few profound words of encouragement for the man too.

Evangelicals (Even) a Liberal Can Love

2008-02-11T16:28:00.000-06:00

by Nicholas D. Kristof for the New York Times (2.3.08)

At a New York or Los Angeles cocktail party, few would dare make a pejorative comment about Barack Obama’s race or Hillary Clinton’s sex. Yet it would be easy to get away with deriding Mike Huckabee’s religious faith....Scorning people for their faith is intrinsically repugnant, and in this case it also betrays a profound misunderstanding of how far evangelicals have moved over the last decade. Today, conservative Christian churches do superb work on poverty, AIDS, sex trafficking, climate change, prison abuses, malaria and genocide in Darfur.

...Helene Gayle, the head of CARE, said evangelicals “have made some incredible contributions” in the struggle against global poverty. “We don’t give them credit for the changes they’ve made,” she added. Fred Krupp, the president of Environmental Defense, said, “Many evangelical leaders have been key to taking the climate issue across the cultural divide.”

Read the whole column here.

For those of you who have read the 2006 bestselling book, "Who Really Cares?", I think this is a solid recap of the book's premise and apt translation to the current electoral process.

2008 Chicago Auto Show

2008-02-09T21:55:00.000-06:00

What Would Jesus Do?

2008-02-09T02:35:00.000-06:00

...not post this ad on Craigslist. Once I got past the anger, I found humor in this.

Those Random Interactions

2008-02-09T00:46:00.000-06:00

Inherent to living in the city is the almost compulsory interactions with strangers - interactions you likely wouldn't have with such frequency if you living in such a great concentation of people. This very fact is perhaps one the greatest things about living in the city.

Sometimes the interactions are awkward. Sometimes they are encouraging. Sometimes they are baffling. Sometimes they are disturbing. Sometimes they are hilarious. And, sometimes they are simply frustrating. I was realizing today that, in any given day, I have at least one interaction with a stranger and more often than not my interaction falls into one of the categories. I think that maybe I've become so accustomed to these extra-ordinary events that I don't even make note of them later in conversation however baffling or frustrating or hilarious they may be.

For instance, Wednesday. In a grimmy, slushy, straight-out-of-an-action-thriller creepy parking garage next to Columbia University down on Wabash, I encountered a rather large, stumpy Polish man who, after locking my keys in my car, proceeded to ream me out for his own mistake, blaming it on me. with his broken English, I could not tell you exactly why he believe it was my fault but, it was simply, in his mind, my fault. I should have told him this was going to happen. 30 minutes later. still can't get into my car. he walks back in to the front office and proceeds to argue with me about my payment for parking. he argued this time that, because I wasn't a student at Columbia I should not have received validated parking and therefore owed him another 20-some dollars. I proceeded to respond (in a contrastingly calm demeanor) that he was ridiculous. it was not his decision who should receive validated parking but, rather, it was Columbia University facility security that had cleared me. (Nevermind the fact that he locked my keys in the car and, if I had it my way, I shouldn't have to pay anything for my inconvenience.)

But, then, backup one week. Last Friday. It's early morning and I've not prepared enough time in the morning to dig myself out of the 5-foot snow drift in front of my car nor the 18-inches which accumulated overnight behind my car. In fact, I don't even own a shovel. (I did last year and I don't know where it is now. Because I believe I've only misplaced it, I won't go out and get another one. Poor reasoning. I know.) AND, I had planned a road trip for later in the day on Friday and had a ridiculous number of bags to schelp out to the car.

I figure it was best to tackle this project like any other - one step at a time. I brushed off my car. Trudged through the snow to the auto mechanic's shop and borrowed his shovel and just when I was about to embark on the biggest step of all for a weakling such as myself, a maroon Jeep (Grand Cherokee!) pulls up. A Hispanic neighbor (I'm presuming) of mine jumps out and, without any mastery of the English language, charades to me that he is willing to shovel me out. There was one shovel, though, and two of us. A dynamic which immediately threw me into a personal dilemma - the feministic bursts out of me every now and again at, I will admit, very inconvenient times. I had to watch as this gentleman who, thank God still values chilvary (and hence, retains the "gentle" in front of his name in my book) literally bails me out. I had nothing to repay him with! A true gift. I could only thank him and proceed on to work.

Backup another couple days. Tuesday of last week. I was driving home at 11 p.m. down Lake Shore Drive in the cold and the snow dump. Despite the cold and the weather, I figured this would be as good a time as any to make my grocery run. No one would be in Dominicks, right? And, I had the energy. Why not? Sure enough, it was just as I thought. Only the folks stocking the shelves and I took up space in the store.

While I retain that this was a good idea, I will be honest...it was a bit eery. The quiet. The florescent lights. No beeping of any kind or overhead music. And, I had this feeling I'd run into someone I knew who, would incidently have had the same random idea as I. I was jumpy, needless to say. It was at that moment, when I was walking down Aisle 2 - the soup aisle - that I receive a tap on the shoulder. I jumped, naturally. And spun around. (Quickly doing a count of the number of people I knew who could POSSIBLY be shopping at this store at this time in this ungodly weather.) I turn around and it's a Dominicks' employee hoping only to...let's say, strike a fancy with me. But, the scared look on my face was not the pretty one he'd seen walking fown Aisle 1 a couple minutes earlier. So, he promptly ran (no joke!) away with a quick wink. And I...was completely weirded out.

Like I said, it's the daily interaction with strangers in the city which make for great stories. Keeps life interesting! and keeps me beholden to city life.

Dreadful to be Alone with the New Testament

2008-02-08T14:08:00.000-06:00

Edith Stein in Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (Orbis, 2005)

"The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament."

- Soren Kierkegaard, “Kill the Commentators” in Provocations (Orbis, 2003)

Made it on a Winter Weekend Get-Away

2008-02-05T21:09:00.000-06:00

Living in the Midwest it's always a challenge to add pizzaz to the dreary months of November through May. If it's not rain, it's snow, not snow, it's wind, not wind, it's clouds and fog. Fortunately, Chicago offers lots to do...indoors. But, sometimes, you just have to get away.

That, my friends, is exactly what I did, albeit not to a dry, sunny place but, to another cloudy place - Roberts, WI - that was made sunny by time well-spent with friends.

Little broomball for folks...

...little hot air balloon festival in town.

And, a winter weekend getaway, is not complete without this....

that's right. a nap.

(I can't take credit for any of these pictures. While I brought my camera, I soon decided to leave the task to others who had big cameras, with lots of lens, and wore the thing like it was a 5th apendage.)

AND....on a completely unrelated note. Care of my friend, Anna. This Really? What the heck is this gal thinking. I would think this was all tongue-and-check but, the t-shirts? there is a line to tongue-and-cheek and I think she's crossed it. What do you think?

Muhammed Yunus - Banker to the Poor

2008-01-29T17:41:00.000-06:00

In conjunction with my previous post...

I'm currently reading the book "Banker to the Poor" by Muhammed Yunus, founder of the the Grameen Bank in India and a man committed to the proliferation of micro finance organizations restoring so many in extreme poverty around the world. Mr. Yunus was formerly an acclaimed economic professor in Bangladesh before the outstanding famine of 1974 hit Bangladesh. Experiencing people of mere skin and bones arriving in the great city, strew on sidewalks and train station platforms, incapable in their hunger to find energy even to beg, shocked Yunus out of the classroom and into the countryside were the famine was so widespread. In the countryside, Mr. Yunus became (first) an anthropologist, studying in a new way his people in a time of crisis. His interviews and relationships led him to begin the Grameen Bank, the first of its kind, creating small loans for ingenious peoples who simply lacked the capital for their skill to create gain.

Last year Yunus was awarded for his own ingenuity by obtaining the Nobel Peace Prize. This man understood the power of microfinance long before it gained its modern-day popularity.

I first learned about Muhammed Yunus through the Chicago Council on Global Affairs of which I am apart. He is coming this month to speak on his experience and knowledge of microfinance, bringing it into the context of urban Chicago in a way many others have failed to articulate.

Crain's Business is onto the trend and have put together a presentation, which includes a clip on Mr. Yunus, on the intersection of globalization and microfinance (one concept more complex than another).

You can find this presentation on the Crain's Business website.

Bringing Hope to the Far Stretches of Uganda

2008-01-23T09:21:00.001-06:00

This past weekend I attend an event at The Barn in Barrington. The event was sponsored by the npo Bright Hope International which, is also located in Barrington. Bright Hope's mission is to bring hope to those who live on only a dollar each day - those who live in the extremest of poverty. More specifically they provide for the physical, economic and spiritual needs of people living at the lowest economic level through personal, empowering, holistic, local church partnerships.

One of Bright Hope's partnerships is with Eagle's Nest - a Christian education & relief endeavor which has sites in several regions of Uganda. Bright Hope brought in Pastor Butch, director of Eagle's Nest, and his wife to speak this weekend on their ongoing work. The video above is Part I of a two Part video series on the heartbreaking direction of many people in Uganda due to the destruction caused by the Lord's Resistance Army (militia) in the North as well as natural disasters, like floods, which have destroyed many people's crops.

I first learned about Bright Hope through my parents. My mom volunteers time at the organization and is continually excited to bring to my attention partnerships
of all kinds which Bright Hope is apart of. Fair trade is core to many of their global partnerships and, while they help indigenous euntrepreneurs distribute their goods more widely they also import some of the goods at their store, also located in Barrington. I encourage you to take a look at this video and also take a Saturday trip out to the Bright Hope store, stocking up on birthday or holiday gifts.

2008-01-21T09:22:00.001-06:00

You've all undoubtedly heard it by now (or felt it by now)...a cold, Artic blast has overcome Chicagoland and the Middle West. I live in an old (I believe I was told) 1860's duplex which likely has many chilly stories to tell. Its drafty windows, cracked panes, and dirt tell me this.

While most of the time, I take pride in the quaint, historical touch these windows offer our pad, the past two days have not been one of those times. I've plastic-ed the windows. Piled what blankets I have on my bed. Bundled up in long-sleeved shirtS and hoodie. Still...chilled to the bone.

Yesterday afternoon, though, all bundled on the couch and catching up on my latest novel read, sunlight twinkling through our frozen windows, I was brought back in memory to Calvin College. I rememeber a handful of times in college when temperatures dropped this low. I mostly remember housemates and I hundling together in the the living room - the warmest room in our house - trying, albeit not our hardest efforts, to get Monday's work complete.

There was one other place, though, you could find me on a dry, icy, yet sunny day at Calvin - the foyer of the Science Building - glass windows surrounding me, sunglasses on, and textbook in my lap. On cold days, windows are generally the one thing people stay away from but, at the time this newly-constructed building with sealed seams was an incubator - the sunlight warming the place like the beaches of Florida, the cold banned.

So, needless to say, I wish I could be back there today, either in the living room with friends or the incubator-like foyer of Calvin's lastest build.

Alas, a story!

2008-01-14T22:13:00.000-06:00

i was riding the CTA red line this afternoon and on my way home sat next to this large man who seemed rather anxious, for several stops, to get off the train. once we'd passed a couple stops and he didn't get off, i started becoming anxious along with him.

all of the sudden (with these four words you know this is going to be a great story), in between stops, he gets up, unlatches the emergency exit bar on the rear door (the bells didn't go off which was half my disconcert)and proceeds to straddle the two cars, each foot supported only by a three each lip on each car. he stared down at the cables and chains that jiggled and straped below. i look around the car. i wondered: does anyone think this is as absurd as i do? i was certain I was going to witness this man's suicidal death. no one else saw him. truly. only i. i wondered if i was to reach out and save him. shoudl i give him some interventive therapy? question his choice? was this one of the pavlovian moments where they are many people surrounding a person in distress and everyone, hoping the next person would act, doesn't reach out in care?

just when i thought i couldn't take it any longer, he comes back into my car, sits down, and proceeds to call his buddy on his shiny verizon cellphone. everyone else still not giving a s**t. And I...completely perplexed!

Still Thinking...

2008-01-13T19:34:00.000-06:00

I've been away for some time now, all the while thinking about what my next entry should be about. my friends who are compelling, humorous writers are observer types. i, on the other hand, don't know if i'm too focused to make the 10-degree head tilt required to soak in the world around me OR, if I am so unfocused that I blindly go through life.

I'd like to stay off the spiritual for at least one entry. I'm not planning on analyzing why I'm so opposed.

Although a single, city girl I am, indeed, the last thing I'm willing to talk about right now is dating. It nauseates me. Distracts from my mystery. (Ha!) And for all the cloud-nine moments dating in Chicago leads to, the whole process is generally ... painful. What does not lead to success leads to experience...that's what someone recently told me. Still trying to figure out how that softens the pain.

I would talk about my intense fondness for my new neighborhood - the South Loop/Pilsen neighborhood - but I have yet to be able to describe in words how exactly this neighborhood is the only fulfilled aspect of my 5-year-old dreaming about urban adulthood

I'd discuss work. But, work is inherently a rollercoaster ride I only subject family and close friends to. How kind of me, right?

I'd discuss some great mishap but, I'm fortunate enough to have stayed mishap-free for 30 days and would rather relish it as opposed to reach back and remember any of it.

I'd discuss New Year's resolutions but mine remain the same each year...which is revealing enough.

I'd discuss my recent vacation to see a dear friend in Toronto. But, I don't welcome the scoff I'd get for taking a trip in early January to Toronto over somewhere like Clearwater, Florida. Nor, do I want to describe my friendship...some things are too precious to put into words.

I could discuss my latest movie rentals. But, they were each sad and the analytical reflection that ensued afterward is, once again, too personal and too painful for a blog.

So, I'm speechless (am I ever, really?)...and still without a blog entry.

Longing for the High Places

2007-11-08T18:11:00.000-06:00

I was talking with one of my bestest friends this afternoon and she was talking about her life our West, where mountains are many and great stretches of plain are few. The more she talked the more I desired to hop on a plane to Streamboat Springs, Colorado, my family's home away from home. I became nostaglic over this summer's trip where this is the sight rounding the bend as one drives down the Mt. Werner towards the town. :sigh:

Consider This

2007-11-07T09:48:00.000-06:00

"Perhaps where you live you don't see a whole lot of poverty, so you're not directly confronted by the need to consider the poor. We can sometimes bring our definition of 'poor' to its lowest and absolute form, which in turn can affect how responsible or involved we feel we should be in bringing answers. When we start thinking about the poor as anyone who is less fortunate than ourselves, we'll never have difficulty finding people to consider."

-Brian Houston, Hillsong Church
Sydney, Australia

Decision of a Renaissance Woman

2007-11-01T21:19:00.001-06:00

Halloween 2007

This is what happens when you don't speak up soon enough: you become the devil and your friend takes the angel costume.

Expectations

2007-10-31T10:17:00.000-06:00

As I am sure it is with all humans, the notion of expectations has been one I've increasingly grappled with in growing older, particularly within relationship. My personal trend is toward high expectations of others and even higher expectations for myself. With each of life's hard knocks my expectations of other have lowered of others and with each new to-my-knees moment my expectations of myself have (slowly!) been lowering.

After a breakup with a boyfriend about a year ago, conversation with friends and family seemed to center around the concept of "no expectations". A concept which I have no acquaintance with and honestly, I don't think any of you do either, no matter how much pain life's thrown onto your shore. (I have met people who seem remarkably good at having no expectations but, as I've grown closer in my relationship with them, I've only found such to be a mask or a substantial denial.) Anyways...after reading one of Jason Upton's blog entries, I've begun to think the conversation of high expectation - low expectation - no expectation may not exactly be the terms with which God approaches the topic "expectation". So often I think we leave God out of our conversation about expectation. Without God any one take (high, low, or no) leads to hopelessness, I think.

I like the angle Upton takes to the topic...

"Tonight Samuel and I read the story of ‘Jacob and Esau making peace'. The verse that stuck out to me the most tonight is Genesis 33:10, where Jacob says to Esau "And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God." Jacob was preparing to meet a very angry and bitter Esau, but instead was received with Love and forgiveness. I believe one of the practical ways God reveals himself to us is by countering our expectations with the "last thing we expect." Expectations are one of the ways we feel in control of what is going on around us, but also one of the great blinders over our eyes from seeing God. Sometimes it is a fearful experience when things don't turn out the way we plan. Other times (like with Jacob) it is a great relief when things don't turn out the way we plan. Either way, these are often the moments in life that we see the face of God most clearly.

Today I had an experience like this. I went to the U-haul store to pick up some boxes for my wife Rachel. The clerk at the register's name was Anton. As he was taking the money I owed, I noticed his two pinky fingers were bent inward. The only other person I know that has bent pinky fingers is my friend Brandon Hampton, and he says it helps him play the guitar. All of the sudden I sensed that I was to tell Anton that God had made his pinky's that way for the purpose of being a great guitar player and they were not a deformity. Let me just say that Anton was a very large African American man who did not look like he was having a great day to begin with. I was a little worried that he might think I was calling his fingers deformed and beat me right there at the u-haul store. I told him anyway. His face got real sober and he looked up at me and said "that is really strange, because I have been learning how to play the banjo." All of the sudden he got this HUGE smile on his face as if to say ‘I need to keep playing because playing the banjo is part of my destiny." Seeing Anton's smile was like seeing the face of God. I walked out of that U-haul store with the sense that I had been face to face with God.

None of this happened today because of my expectations. My circumstances today did not at all point toward seeing the face of God. God surprised me by letting me see and experience something I was not able to expect. God's nature seems to force humanity to expect nothing but surprises."

Changed Color But Not Yet Fallen

2007-10-29T21:39:00.001-06:00

Far too often busyness has kept me from enjoying the fall season. It's busyness, I suppose, and the reality that in the midwest the period between 90 degree weather and snow flakes is so fleeting. If you were to take only a long nap you'd miss it! Too many times flakes have covered the ground before I've been able to fully appreciate the crispness of fall and the changing color of the leaves.

Stephanie and I were determined not to let this fall season slip by. We decided it was important enough even to skip our Sunday church service to take a fall roadtrip to Galena, IL - a quaint, historic town which lies on the boarder between Iowa and Illinois. Legend has it glaciers never formed over the area hence, the rolling hills and valleys which break the miles of flat plain.

Yesterday was a most ideal fall day. Few clouds in the sky. Crisp but not chilly. Sunny. Leaves had changed color but not yet fallen to the ground.

Galena sits up on a hill. Coble stones still line the streets and the people have preserved the homes of Ulysees S. Grant and Ronald Reagan. The first bank still stands and a river runs right in front of the town.

We also made a stop in Elizabeth, another small town just outside of Galena which prides itself on the Apple River Fort. The fort, which has only two huts and measures 50 feet by 70 feet, was home to 50-70 adults (nevermind their children) for several weeks in 1832 at the start of the American-Indian War. The fort was built in defense of the Indian group led by the famed chief Black Hawk - an immensely resourceful and civilized group justifiably enraged about loosing their home to Anglos bent on conquering and colonizing land further and further West.

Illinois state grant money has allowed for the fort to be recreated to its actual measurement. Stephanie and I visited on the last day of live history, a time when a cast of characters describes and lives out the fort's activity.

And finally, we were blessed with a picturesque drive home.

Clear Off The Road

2007-10-29T21:24:00.000-06:00

The story behind how these pictures of St. Ignatius Cathedral and the Chicago skyline is short and dangerous. Simply, I took them while I was driving. I know you're now going to want me to call you whenever I plan on driving. I am worse than a 16 year-old with a new license. What can I say?!

But, while these pictures might now insight terror in you, each time I look at them I smile. I smile because I am living my little girl dream of being a young professional who plays on the weekends under the shadows of the skyskapers.

Jason Upton - Dear John (Born)

2007-10-29T12:16:00.001-06:00

With contemplative beauty Upton brings hope into a world which carries so much hopelessness.

Stop Looking at the Ground - Look Up!

2007-10-24T21:17:00.000-06:00

And then, there are those moments...

...like last night's sunset.

Larry Himmel in front of his destroyed home

2007-10-23T17:35:00.001-06:00

Prayers go out to those in California!

CCDA

2007-10-15T17:52:00.000-06:00

The conference I attended this weekend was the Christian Community Development Association's annual networking conference. Urban ministries from all over the country came to represent. :-) Association member organizations ascribe to eight components - relocation, reconciliation, redistribution of resources, leadership development, listening to the community, as well as church-based, wholistic approach towards empowerment. The Association was founded by John Perkins and his wife, a pastor and ministry leader in Mississippi, who believed these components foundational to Biblically-sound ministries within multi-ethnic urban centers who inevitably encounter the pains and joys of seeking racial righteousness. Perkins is still alive and well, continuing this time with his morning Bible study each conference day, a ritual of his at the conference. As with most conferences, there were a few great quotes each of which, this year, came from Perkins.

"We wouldn't have so many eager leaders if they knew what their true responsibility is to be."

- in speaking about how Godly leader's first priority is in bearing the people's burdens.

"It's okay to be mad at God; He can take it."

- in his examination with the prophet Habakkuk's conversation with God.

"Plan like Jesus is going to return in 1,000 years, and behave like He's coming tomorrow."

"When God calls, He gifts the person with the relations for the call."

"Those who are called are not in competition with one another, but are

about the success of all the ministries and churches in the town."

"I can't fix everything, but I want to be concerned about a lot."

- in retort to those who say he is impassioned by too many good causes.

St. Lou - City of Many Stories

2007-10-14T22:14:00.000-06:00

First, I must begin on a completely unrelated note to this entry. I periodically read back through my blog entries and every single time I do I am appauled by my horrid grammar and the gross number of missing words. This evening's review was no different. Seeing as my writing is what puts food on my table, I am wondering if I should begin to prepare for the imminent famine which surely is just around life's corner. Thank God I have editors for my professional work. They are getting their Christmas presents this year!

Okay, the real topic of this entry: St. Lou. I was there this weekend for a conference and to see some family. Now, I'm back with so many stories that, once I've conquered the flu virus I'm battling and have unpacked a bit more, I'll write to you about. In the meantime, it's just pictures.

1.) Courthouse of the Dred-Scott Decision + the Arch
2.) St. Louis Art Museum at night
3.) Cherokee Row (a.k.a. Main Street U.S.A.)

2007-10-11T07:34:00.000-06:00

"God never just sends one sign: He keeps on confirming His course for us with one vision after another. But the reading of His signs is essentially a task for faith, a task for people who are willing to persist in seeking out the correspondence between the external and visible realities of their lives, and the interior weather of their souls, striving always to bring the two into line in order that the kingdom of God might come. For the interior journey is necessarily an exterior journey, the path to God necessarily the path of deepening human relationships. Marriage stands at the very hub of this exciting spiritual dialectic, for it is, as Paul points out, a cameo dramatization of the relationship of the whole church with its Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

- Mike Mason, "The Mystery of Marriage"

This, my friends, is why when someone retorts to me, "You don't need a man, Lauren" I cringe. Because this person clearly does not understand our urban increasing, evermore independent, cyber-ridden, cynical, commitment fearing and increasingly hopeless world. These people don't seem to remember that the very man in Scripture who said that it "better to be alone than to marry" was the very same man who spent chapters more making marriage comparisons to the relationship between Christ and the Church. And, they also have forgotten the verse about iron sharpening iron and how when that iron - the person - is the one we sleep with, eat with, have friends with, work with, have sex with... the irons are sharpened in ways no homeless man in the local shelter can sharpen or your married girlfriend who comes over occasionally for a glass wine and nail polish can sharpen. And, this person who makes this retort has also forgotten Adam and Eve and the Creation story and how even though Adam supposedly had everything He needed to be happy, with the company of God ever-present, a world without sin, and as many animals, flowers, trees, and bushes a man could want Adam, in fact, still was not entirely content. Furthermore, such discontentment was not some sinful, fatal flaw but something created into him and foreseen before him by his Creator.

Okay, I'll get off my soap box, now. But, now I know you'll think twice before making such a comment to me.

2007-10-09T21:04:00.000-06:00

With this huge heat wave covering the nation the last few weeks, I've heard many people, news reports, etc. blame all this on global warming. In fact, Time magazine this week put out a special, extra edition specifically dedicated to detailing global warming. But, has anyone thought that this might just be an answer to my prayers and those of many others that endure year after year the misery of midwest winters - gray skies for 275 days, slushy streets, extreme cold? I've been praying to God that He would extend the sunshine & warmth as long as possible. So, the way I see it, He's just lavishing good gifts on this sista.

Jesus - Defender of the Damned

2007-10-02T20:56:00.000-06:00

I picked up this book other day - "Defending the Damned" by Kevin Davis. one of those impulsive, while-the-other-books-are-undergoing-the-scanner-I'll-pull-this-one-off-"needs to sorted" cart moments. (That can't be proper grammar.)

Davis is an award-winning journalist based in Chicago, who has written for the Chicago magazine, Tribune, Sun Times, and the list goes on. He spent five years studying public defenders at the Cook County Courthouse on California & 35th, not far from where I live. Yes, public defenders. You know the ones. The lawyers assigned to those who cannot afford to pay for a defender.

Davis was intrigued by these particular lawyer's motivation - lawyers who plead the case of individuals who, 9.8 times out of 10 are guilty, often committing their crime in broad daytime within sight of several witnesses. Davis' investigation began with several of his own, looming questions. Are these defenders conscious-less, morally-seared individuals, only a rung or two above their clients on the humanity ladder? Were they as appalled and deeply disturbed by the stoic recounts of their clients' grotesque crimes, some as heinous as the rape, murder, and dismemberment of months-old babies? How can they defend clients on trial for such "horrible acts day after day, year after year, while keeping a safe emotional distance and preserving their sanity? What motivate[s] them to come to work in such a dark place?"

I won't give away what Davis discovers (haven't yet finished the book myself). You will have to buy/borrow the book for yourself. However, from page one of the "Author's Note" I was struck by how this author was describing with secular words a secular world which has remarkable parallels to the spiritual world. Simply put, Jesus. As someone who has a fondness for seeing justice served (unless it is pointed at myself, of course) I've been regularly challenged by the notion of Jesus as our advocate - our lawyer - before the Father. For me, however, the word advocate or lawyer has always conjured up some images of a handsome man in a clean-cut suite, addicted to work and enamored with the intricacies of words and their meanings. And, because there many different kinds of lawyers the parallel between the fleshly, occupational lawyer and the seen-by-few, now-in heaven Advocate for Jesus Christ, in the past, has only retained its challenge only for so long. The endearing "warm fuzzies" of Jesus' compelling, tear-jerking closing comments to the Father on my behalf have ended once I begin the mental debate over Jesus as our property rights lawyer or international courts lawyer or... but, never has my list included Jesus as our/my public defender.

If you think about it, though, that's exactly what he is - the advocate for the damned. Served in a dark place. Saviour of those who've committed heinous crimes. Misunderstood by the media and the general public. Quickly stereotyped by a world who knows little if not anything about the case He is defending or the motive of His defense. Whose closest friends are beer-drinking, work-crazed, justice-bent, quirky men, some of whom have been raised in Chicago's Gold Coast while others pulled themselves up by their bootstraps to be something more than their coal mining father.

Having grown up in the church my entire life, attending one Christian school after the next, and now working in a ministry, the Christian cliche is just about all I can present in my explanation of the Person of my faith. So, I'm finding "Defending the Damned" to be a manual of new words, illustrations, and explanations of Jesus to a world who can't quite understand the humanity of my God.

A Simple Shake Made Way Too Complex

2007-10-01T20:22:00.000-06:00

I met a gentleman today - 6' 4", muscular, 30-something, basketball player type. Shook his hand in introduction. He responded, "You trying to break my hand?" I laughed. smiled. explained that I ain't going to give him a "fish" handshake. (noooo way. "fish" handshakes are my pet peeve.) he kept insisting that I try the shake again. I was mildly offended by his question and by his preceding insistence that I redo the introduction. don't know what this says about me. because I'm good at majoring on the minors, I've been processing this short incident all day. I'll admit it was the woman inside of me that was peeved. problem is: my feminist lens needs to be squeegeed these days. maybe you women out there can help me. is my reaction such because he was a man, making the comment feel chauvinistic? because he was older & the comment felt as if it was some kind of parental discipline? or, maybe its embarrassment? maybe I did shake his hand too hard. difficult for me to accept the later to be true. and I predict anyone who knows me and my physical frailty might find such a rational equally as surprising. anyways... thought writing - blogging - about this would help me with the processing, but...it hasn't. :sigh:

An Un-Safe God

2007-09-30T20:00:00.001-06:00

A memorable quote from one of the greatest children's books.

Susan: I'd thougt he was a man. I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."
Mrs. Beaver: "That you will, dearie, and no mistake. If there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else silly.
Lucy: Is he... safe?
Mr. Beaver: Safe? Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Of course he isn't safe... but... he's GOOD...

C.S.Lewis, "Chronicles of Narnia"

Russian Stork

2007-09-29T16:15:00.001-06:00

Ha! Uncle Dave...

http://meta-dad.com/2007/09/25/make-a-baby-win-a-car/

Balanced, For Once

2007-09-24T20:49:00.000-06:00

I had one of those weekends...the rare one, where you actually manage to balance social engagement with r & r. Between the ZZzzzzs and the mindless TV watching, the answering of e-mails and getting stuck in Chicago traffic, I managed to get to the Cubs game!!! That's right! I did. Hit a few of the games at the beginning of the season (pun totally intended) and even some in years past. But, I have never seen the Cubs win, so witnessing the 12-7 win on Friday night pushing them, then, to a 2.5 game lead in the division was phenomenal! Now, of course they are in a 3.5 lead and playoffs tickets went on sale yesterday, only to be sold out in 30 minutes. Here we go again folks!

Then, on Sunday, (after visiting Bethel Community Church in Jefferson Park, where I awed by the community's massive amount of warmth, depth, and diversity...but that's for another entry) I decided the place I really wanted to be was outside...with a book...a magnificent view...and friends on hand if I decided I wanted discussion. Matt and Scott's roof deck! Bingo. One little phone call, a short ride, and two books in tow I made it up to their roof for an afternoon in the sun with a couple great authors to keep me company. Oh, and Scott & Matt below if I so pleased. Here is what my Sunday afternoon sight beheld...

A balanced weekend well-done!

(We won't talk about the Bears loss...no, we won't!)

Chicago's Intriguing South Side

2007-09-20T16:08:00.000-06:00

Can I just tell you how cool the South Side of Chicago is? It is. The organization I work for is holding a benefit dinner in October and, instead of naming the tables "1", "2", "3," I thought I would name them after landmarks on the South side. Not landmarks from across the city, but just those located on the South Side, which speak to the great impression African-Americans have made on our city and our country.

In my reflecting I feel blessed to have spent my childhood on the north side of town in Rogers Park, which offered much religious diversity, and now to be experiencing in my adulthood the South Side where, except for the burgeoning Nation of Islam, tends to be a fairly churched community. In fact, some of the largest congregations in the history of the nation were formed of African-Americans that worshipped together on the South Side. Homes of some the nation's great music heroes - homes of folks like Ida B. Wells, Phyllis Wheatley, Louis Armstrong, the Chess Bros.- scatter the Bronzeville neighborhood in which I live. Martin Luther King Jr. gave some of his greatest charges from inside the churches. And Jesse Jackson (all comments aside) headquarters his Rainbow-PUSH coalition right down the street from me. The nation's great abolitionists (as well as those who were a far-cry from) took up residence on the South Side. Blues and Jazz music gained its fame right here in Bronzeville, with its rugged jazz artists forming what would be the basis for America's rock n' roll obsession.

So fun! Come down here. We'll take a tour.

Jefferson Street

2007-09-20T15:48:00.000-06:00

So, it's official. The year of solo living is coming to an end. An apartment has been found!

Kim and I found a place in east Pilsen neighborhood... or west South Loop, depends on who is talking to me or who I am talking to. I would really like to gloat about this new place but, a. you would think less of me and b. I'd be more fun if you came to visit. Needless to say, it's like Kim explains, "Well, the apartment trumps the neighborhood" (or lack thereof). We have approximately 20 neighbors between the 5 buildings and 2 coach houses on our block. (This is supposing everyone is single, of course.) So, while we don't live in a neighborhood per se, we do have an auto body shop across the street, which aside from being convenient in the event of a fender-bender also provides our little "neighborhood" with Mafia history that, I believe, every true neighborhood needs. There are two coach houses. Can you say that about your street? A convenience store....Spanish is a must, however. And, easy convenience to two highways, one shopping district, one university campus, many uppity bars, and more Hispanic restaurants than anyone could want. (Or, is it Latino? In college Spanish we spent a day learning the politically correct term for such culture groups, but my merely satisfactory grade in these courses testifies to the fact some things never stuck.)

That's all for now on this topic. I'm sure with Kim, one of the "bestest" story-tellers ever, I'll have more fun and inspiration in the future. No pressure, Kim. If going gets slow, we'll start creating stories. :wink:

Flying - Confessions of a Free Woman

2007-09-15T06:46:00.001-06:00

Last night had me at the Gene Siskell Film Center with Kelley (who lives in the city now!!!) getting in on the first part of a three part film series by Jennifer Fox. Her latest film project recently concluded. A project which spans nearly every continent, women ages 20-99, logged 1600 hours of footage, and took nearly 5 years.

In this film project, Jennifer Fox lays bare her own turbulent life to penetrate what it means to be a free woman today. Employing an ingenious new camera technique, called "passing the camera", Fox creates a documentary language that mirrors the special way women communicate. Over intimate conversations around kitchen tables from South Africa to Russia, India and Pakistan, she initiates a groundbreaking dialogue among women, illuminating universal concerns across race, class and nationality. Part delectable soap opera, sociopolitical inquiry, and narrative experiments, FLYING sweeps us up into an addictive international adventure chronicled with sincerity, innovation and elegance.

I encourage you to check out the trailer. http://flyingconfessions.com/about_trailer.php

The film plays this weekend (& Tuesday). A six-hour film, it is broken up into 6-one hour chapters, of which 2 hours are being shown at a time.

I guarantee you will walk away and want to discuss this modern day femininity with your girl friend. Kelley and I did!

I had one overarching feeling when I left the theatre though. That is, how thankful I am to my own parents for how they exemplified in every aspect of their life that marriage does not bring happiness, adventure, or personal pursuits to a grinding halt...that love & excitement are only just beginning when you find each other...and that one's exploration of themselves does not end when you get married and have children. So often women's upbringing determines how they think about and play the dating game. I'm thankful I got off on a empowering, positive footing. Their marriage and their mindset I'm realizing gives me an amazing amount of hope.

Resurrection - Nicol Sponberg

2007-09-13T17:44:00.001-06:00

Featured Artist for this year's Sunshine Gospel Ministries' Benefit Dinner

Saturday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center - Prentice Hall Ballroom

Strip Tease at the Y

2007-09-11T08:22:00.001-06:00

No, this entry is not going to be a silly or embarrassing story from inside the YMCA's women's locker room. Although...

Rather, this morning's excursion to my local YMCA, where I have a membership, resurrected in my mind a debate that took place at the end of this past winter. To understand this debate you must understand two dynamics.

1. This "Y", far above others that I know of, remembers well the "C" in its abbreviation. Bulletin boards support the local churches and post their latest news items. All Christian holidays are observed, while the same cannot be said about the other religious holidays. Headlines on the bulletin boards read "Praise the Lord" and "Hallelujah". Refreshing I must admit.

2. The "Y" offers free, one-hour classes in its upstairs gym beginning at 8 a.m. and carrying through, without a break, until 8 p.m. Gospel Aerobics, Therapeutic Aquatics, Tighten N' Tone Abs... The classroom is surrounded by large windows where passersby can stop and observe the workout. (Great P.R. move, I might add.)

This past winter a new class was introduced. "Introduction to Strip Tease" As you can imagine, quite the controversy arose despite the classes rapid (attendance) success. Some argued strip tease is a great thing in the context of marriage and that more classes should be held in this sexual regard, where women in the Church can feel comfortable exploring their sexuality. Others, begged to differ, stating that such an argument may have clout if there weren't windows around the perimeter of the classroom and if the class wasn't held during after-school hours. As it were, kids of any age, men and women of any age, could watch the class just as if it was "Gospel Aerobics". Covering the windows was, of course, a fire hazard.

For the first time in awhile, I did not form an immediate opinion. Or, rather, I would always play Devil's advocate with those who tried to impose their opinion on me.

I very much agree that there is a glut in the number of classes held for women - Christian women - where they can feel safe to explore their sexuality and even bump the bedroom excitement up a notch. And, I didn't feel the "C" in YMCA was jeopardized simply by the installment of such a class.

But, the fact that any man and any child could observe this class substantially changed the argument. And, I feel, does immediately jeopardizes the "safe" aspect of the course.

Needless to say, I just picked up the Fall schedule of courses at the "Y" and guess what class is not on the list?

If your local YMCA offered this course, what stance would you take?

To Be 10 Again

2007-09-10T22:25:00.001-06:00

Friday night I entertained four little girls whose ages, if you averaged them, equalled ten. As predicted, Saturday morning came way too early and with way too much exhaustion. But, it was undoubtedly worth it.

Milkshakes, movie animation of some of American's great children's stories, girl chatter, and uncontrolled giggles, and sleeping on the floor brought me back to when I was 10. I remember the church ladies, unmarried at the time, who cooed over us, who made my friends and I milkshakes, sat up late, and got stern with us just when the fun was getting started. I now remember the pajamas that did not match, top and bottoms. The immense amount of time it took to go through the bedtime routine. How looking at these ladies brought up in my little adolescent mind all sorts of questions about growing older. What would I be like? Where would I work and live? I now remember life being a museum and everything open for touch. No questions were kosher and boys were the furthest thing from my mind.

And now...I live in Chicago. Same city as before. Life, unfortunately, has lost its marvelous museum affect. Boys are all too present in my mind (I'd trade anything to go back). I work for a non-profit telling my altruistic self each day that I am not on a solo effort to save the world, nor one soul, and instead doing "the Lord's work". I am the one cooing over kids now but still look up to those 20 years older than me with the same wonder and questions that I did when I was 10. My bedtime routine has shortened (thank God!) and so has my morning routine, in fact. I've dropped the acne but gained other horrid things. I've now been told there are certain kosher questions...

...yet I keep forgetting which ones they are.

Oh, it would be great to be 10 again... perhaps only for a day.

AhAhAhChooooo!

2007-09-10T08:43:00.000-06:00

Weather.com says that my itchy eyes and frequent sneezes are due to my weed allergy. Uh, yeah! A friend of mine asked me this weekend, after I'd sneezed 5 times in row, what exactly in the air was I allergic to. Not knowing, I later went on a search. No, folks, it's not hayfever, trees, grass.. nope, its weeds! Great.

The Harder Way

2007-09-01T07:34:00.000-06:00

"At first glance legalism seems hard, but actually freedom in Christ is the harder way. It is relatively easy not to murder, hard to reach out in love; easy to avoid a neighbor's bed, hard to keep a marriage alive; easy to pay taxes, hard to serve the poor. When living in freedom, I must remain open to the Spirit for guidance. I am more aware of what I have neglected than what I achieved. I cannot hide behind a mask of behavior, like the hypocrites, nor can I hide behind facile comparisons with the other Christians."

- Philip Yancey, "What is So Amazing About Grace?"

Spiders, Coffee Houses, & Lots of Ya Ya

2007-08-20T20:08:00.000-06:00

What is with this Chicago rain! Heck, I don't remember a summer where we had 3 weeks of straight rain in August. Forecast predicts another 5 days of this. Where is my August!!! :pounds first on table: I hate winter and it lasts sooooooooo long. So!!! I demand that every day in the summer months must have sunlight. I stockpile sunlight like Joseph stockpiled grain for the Israelites 20-some centuries ago. Except I hit famine about December and he seemed to have thought farther ahead. Like 7 years ahead. And...

...to make matters worse, the moisture has brought an insurgency of spiders. That's right. Before I leave out my back door each morning for work I have to dig myself out with a broom. Fanning the air like some crazy lady. Wrapping the webs around the bristles (and up the handle). The more unfortunate scene, though, is when I come home. The spiders have worked just as hard as I during the day, yet this time I don't have a broom around.

Yesterday morning, I woke up to a spider bite on my wrist and a black, fury, quarter-size buster on my toilet seat. (When he walked he became even bigger!) Goooooood Morning!

******
I had one of those random weekends. Ended up driving the up the lake shore on Saturday night with Josh and his friends because we couldn't think of anything cheap and casual to do.

(And to field any suspicion from those friends in other States who will view this & read this & suddenly call me for an "update" on my life....I know you want the "juice". There is none. But, still do call.)

We made it from my apt on the south side to the Baha'i Temple in Evanston.

And Sunday I ended up at the coffee shop, where I hoped to get some reading in with anonymous people chatter keeping me company.

******

Today I drove out to our printing company in Lisle and while I was waiting for my order to complete, I browsed through the recent invitation orders the company had been filling. Most of the invitations were wedding invites to take place on farms in Wisconsin (huh?!), but there was one in particular that caught my attention. It was for a "Celebration of Friendship". What? I asked Kelley, my printing lady (she's 25, but she can still be called "my printing lady" cuz...that's what she is) what a celebration of friendship exactly is. She didn't know. She just prints these things, you know, no questions asked. Maybe you know what a "Celebration of Friendship" is. Sounds a little ya ya sister-ish, sit on the floor, cross our legs, prick our fingers, and pledge to never leave each other-ish.

Uh, Yeah, We're Kind of a Big Deal

2007-08-18T06:47:00.001-06:00

Dad and I take a spin around Steamboat with the new wheels.

Back from the Wild Blue Yonder...

2007-08-14T19:43:00.001-06:00

...where I did fly high.

Back from (almost) a week's vacation in Colorado. Nothing like family, blue skies, mountains, and old friends to bring perspective into life. I was admittedly a bit sluggish today at work. The 1:15 a.m. flight arrival may have had something to do with it. Not wanting to be back to the riggers of work may also have had something to do with it. In any regards, it's like my Mom said today, "I've decided, Lauren, that if we can't simply enjoy the priviledge of going away and come back happy, then we shouldn't have been allowed to go in the first place." I suppose she's right (like she often is).

(Don't mistake the look of rest in my eyes as fatigue. It's the look of tranquility found after many hours in the sun.)

Maybe it's because I'm not that long out of school (okay, it's going on two years) but my new year is still every August. The plane rides, long afternoons by the pool or lake, and the strolls through nature gave me ample opportunity to look back on my year. And without getting into the details of it (God knows my friends would kill me for rehashing again the year's emotional rollercoaster) I have to simply concur with my friend, Anna, who remarked as she sent me off with a hug, "Let's hope that when we meet again it will have been a happier year". Amen! This can be said for the both of us.

This year has had had its mountain-top (ha!) highs and its lowest of lowest vallies. I need the Lord to give me (and her too) a break. No drama for 12 months, please! Although I've determined that wish will only come true if I work retail, stayed away from all boys (I'm positive they'd say the same about me), lived back at home, and crocheted behind the TV during off-hours, whereby the action of TV stars would become my drama. But...where's the fun in that?!? I suppose, then, this year will have it's fair share of drama. Nonetheless, there are degrees to these things.

In other news...I don't like my hair in these pictures. I think Anna's right. I might need to grow my hair out again. UUUuuuhhhhhh, the process! It's takes soooo many months. :sigh: The price of beauty.

Just Can't Handle All the Fun that Can Be Had in the Windy City

2007-07-23T15:32:00.000-06:00

There are few things more fun in life than having friends come to town for a visit. Side-splitting laughter, fine food, the excuse to do new, wild things in the city, and the chance to pull away from work and deeply connect with another gal. It is something to be cherished. In Chicago, like in many cities, there are so many people yet a seeming increase in isolation. So, the opportunity for laughter bumped right next to deep conversation - the kind that has one crying in no time - is a rarity worth savoring.

Cheers to the friends who have come to Chicago for a visit this summer and have me one "happy camper!"

Nostalgia

2007-07-18T06:12:00.001-06:00

Girls, (you know who you are)
I was thinking about you last night and all the good times we spent together on good, slippery roads, singing this song at the top of our lungs, and waiting for the day we would be kissed. A lot has happened since those days (like getting that first kiss...or heck, getting married!) but some things never change - I will always travel slippery roads with you again. Love, Me.

Kiss me out of the bearded barley, Nightly, beside the green, green grass, swing, swing, swing the spinning step. You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress...We'll take the trail marked on your father's map.

So Many Things!!!!

2007-07-13T14:13:00.000-06:00

As I am sure you other bloggers have experienced, when you stepped away from postings for any length of time, returning becomes harder and harder, and the number of possible topics to write on just increases to overwhelming volumes. This is exactly what has happened with me in the 9 days I've been away from my blog. I'm bucking this massive obligation or expectation that I put on myself to say something profound or funny or informative upon my return. So, instead, a recap of the number of items I could talk about in greater detail, but am deciding to cut short.

* Peter and J are my new favorite band, ever since I heard them play on NPR on Wednesday morning. They are coming to the Elbo Room this Saturday night. Guess who will be there?...Correct. You. You will be there.

* One of the special perks of being in ministry work is that when the youth are given a Bible lesson whether it's by a fellow staff member or guest speaker, I too get the pleasure of hearing free, spontaneous teaching on God's word. None of this send in your $5 for a CD of the sermon bit. I get preached to almost daily and yet, I'm surprised by it and inspired by it so often.

* I love basketball. Watching basketball. Yes, and I'd forgotten how large this love of mine is until last night when I watched Dave coach our Sunshine Warriors team. They kicked butt by the way, and by the time the second quarter came around, they were playing a tighter and tighter game. Here's a snapshot. No offense to any mother out there, but I, personally, have a fear that I'll be a "soccer Mom" someday. I have some time though to decide if I want to embrace or reject this notion or alter this possible this image.

* You should read Lauren Winner's "Muddhouse Sabbath" if you ever thought the idea of resting on the Sabbath was too idealist, boring, merely about rigorous discipline. Although she's converted to Protestantism, Winner looks back on Shabbat-keeping with longing and true insight.

* I love summer! And this late fall, when I think I'll kill myself living along in dreary city, I'll be moving into a new apartment with a great friend, who will commiserate with me...and a whole lot more.

* Did I mention I love the summer?

The 4th!

2007-07-04T23:07:00.000-06:00

Old-time college friends reunite at Chicago's Caribbean Festival of Life in Bronzeville.

It's been 2.5 years since my friend, Shiko, and I have seen each other. Now back in the same city, we're livin' it up the right way in Chicago.

With what appeared to be representatives from all the African countries (ok, a slight exaggeration. but, we at least had Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa present) we got an escort in the back of a white van (with the windows painted white as well) to the Globe for some soccer. When we pulled up and emptied out, the look on bystanders faces was priceless.

The guys on the other side of the van didn't look like they were in a picture taking mood. Instead, with great savyness, offered to take our pictures.

He Will Always Take Me (You) Back

2007-07-04T17:42:00.000-06:00

The reason why I stand

The answer lies in you

You hung to make me strong

Though my praise was few

When I fall I bring your name down

But I have found in you

A heart that bleeds forgiveness

replacing all these thoughts of painful memories

But I know that your response will always be

"I'll take your back always,

Even when your fight is over."

You satisfy this cry

Of what I am looking for

And I'll take all I can

And lay it down before

The throne of endless graces that now radiates what's true

I'm in the only place that

erases all these faults

That have overtaken me

But I know that your response will always be

"I'll take you back...always.

Even when your fight is over."

- Jeremy Camp

The Reason I Own A TV

2007-06-27T09:35:00.000-06:00

This may come as a surprise coming from a young 20-something who majored in film, radio, and tv, but I have thought (sometimes more serious than others) about getting rid of my tv. And if you were that fly on my way, it would be even more surprising, since then you could contend that I do, in fact, have my tv on at least 2 hours each day. (Now whether I am concertedly watching the tv is another matter.) However, there is, in fact, only a small percentage of television shows out there worth watching or even worth previewing. For all the money I spend each month on cable television, I've wondered if purchasing season dvds after their release would be more cost effective or even time-effective. Who knows?

But then, there are those shows very much worth watching, which won't later come out on dvd, that turn my tables towards keeping my tv. Oxygen's latest series called "Who Cares About Girls?" was one of those segments. (Thank God, really, for any special that can refrain, for one hour, from showing commercials.) The shows and special features can be found on the Oxygen website.

Lisa Ling (gotta love this 33 year-old gem of a journalist) carries viewers threw a series of stories about young women in various parts of the world whose vulnerability is being taken advantage of. National Geographic went on tour with Ling in putting together these documentaries. I highly recommend that you take some time out to listen to these girls' stories by visiting the website, and also learn more about how you can help in the intervention to give these girls back their childhood.