So Kayla has recently encountered the Christian subculture, and I've been worried about the effects. She has been reading some Christian books (mainly Christmas books) and recently went to Sunday School at a traditional church (although when Kayla calls it church I remind her that we are the church! Dang it!)
Just moments ago my fears were realized. Kayla dropped a book and said, "Oh Jesus!" Shocked to hear my daughter talk like that I looked up. Andrea notified me that the dropped book in questions was a book about Jesus. Kayla was not using the name of Jesus in vain, but simply worried about Him since he had fallen to the ground in the book. Kayla then exclaimed, "It's okay, Jesus!" Kayla then picked up Jesus into her little hands and carefully carried him to Andrea, informing us that "Jesus needs Mommy."
Friday, January 26, 2007
Poem
So lately I've been wishing I had a more artistic background and felt more confident about my creative abilities. Recently I submitted a couple articles to a certain website and randomly attached a poem I wrote a while back. I thought the articles were good but that the poem would be quickly discarded. They they sent me an email with a link to the poem on their site. Weird. Now even though I do make fun of this website from time to time, I am encouraged that someone thinks I can write poetry. Good times...
On the Hill
This morning as I sat on Bernal Hill overlooking the City to with my friend Adam, my mind kept flashing back to my time on top of Mount Arbel next to the Sea of Galilee. From Arbel one can see the Sea of Galilee and pretty much the entire Galilee region, the land Jesus lived much of his life. It is logical to guess that Arbel could have been a place Jesus went to pray. It's an peaceful location with a wonderful view, really the best view of the area.
As I sat this morning in the dark, watching the city of San Francisco wake up, I asked God to help me flow in the Spirit, to follow the leading of the Spirit in every decision and moment I encounter. I was struck with gratefulness inside of me, grateful to be able to sit in my Father's presence and pray, grateful to live next to such a wonderful hill with green grass and amazing views, and grateful to be able to live in a wonderful city such as San Francisco. I am grateful.
As I sat this morning in the dark, watching the city of San Francisco wake up, I asked God to help me flow in the Spirit, to follow the leading of the Spirit in every decision and moment I encounter. I was struck with gratefulness inside of me, grateful to be able to sit in my Father's presence and pray, grateful to live next to such a wonderful hill with green grass and amazing views, and grateful to be able to live in a wonderful city such as San Francisco. I am grateful.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Graffiti Super Huddle - Oh yeah
As a part of our ongoing "Barrio Libre" project I'm connecting with others who care about this wonderful city. If you're local let me know if you'd like to join me at this...
Painting over graffiti is a simple and practical way to join with our Creator in the restoration of Creation. It's a great activity for groups that we host from out of town. I'm actually going to be painting tomorrow with some friends at 10 AM if you want to come join us!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Hooked
I just finished Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge our Misguided Drug Rehab System. My brother actually loaned it to me, thinking the San Francisco context would draw my interest. He was right. I couldn't put it down.
In an attempt to see if San Francisco's supposedly improved and revolutionary drug rehab system really works the author follows the journeys of five individuals who seek help from a system that advertises "treatment on demand." Supposedly any person seeking help can be placed in a rehab facility within 48 hours. The individual stories were riveting, and you truly begin to care for these people, but at the same time the stories didn't really surprise me. I've heard many such stories over the last couple years. What was shocking was the system in place in a city that has an incredible need to have a well oiled machine of a rehabilitation system in place. Instead, the system is a mess. Addicts have a hard enough battle ahead of them without having to also find themselves in the midst of a battle between competing methods and philosophies of rehabilitation. A major problem is that there is no cohesiveness to the multitude of programs and counselors along the way. In fact, the methods are so different that they are often actually working against one another. There is no one case manager to oversee a person's road to recovery. Instead, there are several. There are mental health agencies, judges, intake centers, policemen, psychologists, therapists, counselors, live in facilities, drop in facilities and more, and none of them talk to each other. It's a mess that takes the difficulty of getting clean from incredibly difficult to almost impossible for the more hard core addicts. The author does a wonderful job of pointing out how much of the rehabilitation work focuses on external behaviors without getting to the deeper inner issues that plague these individuals and drive them back to drug abuse.
I am reminded that our personal responsibility to love and care for the people around us through relationships is only one part of the total equation. As followers of Jesus we are called to help the systems in place that need helping. I am also reminded to be full or compassion and grace towards the addicts that I see every day. Their lives are a living hell so devoid of the love and joy that their Creator wishes for them.
Oh, and I learned that if I ever need some heroin or cocaine the best place to get it is just down the road on 16th Street and Mission...
In an attempt to see if San Francisco's supposedly improved and revolutionary drug rehab system really works the author follows the journeys of five individuals who seek help from a system that advertises "treatment on demand." Supposedly any person seeking help can be placed in a rehab facility within 48 hours. The individual stories were riveting, and you truly begin to care for these people, but at the same time the stories didn't really surprise me. I've heard many such stories over the last couple years. What was shocking was the system in place in a city that has an incredible need to have a well oiled machine of a rehabilitation system in place. Instead, the system is a mess. Addicts have a hard enough battle ahead of them without having to also find themselves in the midst of a battle between competing methods and philosophies of rehabilitation. A major problem is that there is no cohesiveness to the multitude of programs and counselors along the way. In fact, the methods are so different that they are often actually working against one another. There is no one case manager to oversee a person's road to recovery. Instead, there are several. There are mental health agencies, judges, intake centers, policemen, psychologists, therapists, counselors, live in facilities, drop in facilities and more, and none of them talk to each other. It's a mess that takes the difficulty of getting clean from incredibly difficult to almost impossible for the more hard core addicts. The author does a wonderful job of pointing out how much of the rehabilitation work focuses on external behaviors without getting to the deeper inner issues that plague these individuals and drive them back to drug abuse.
I am reminded that our personal responsibility to love and care for the people around us through relationships is only one part of the total equation. As followers of Jesus we are called to help the systems in place that need helping. I am also reminded to be full or compassion and grace towards the addicts that I see every day. Their lives are a living hell so devoid of the love and joy that their Creator wishes for them.
Oh, and I learned that if I ever need some heroin or cocaine the best place to get it is just down the road on 16th Street and Mission...
Sugarlump Theology Salon
For my Bay Area friends...
The Sugarlump Theology Salon
WHEN? Feb. 15 at 7-9 P.M.
WHERE?
Sugarlump Coffee Lounge
2862 24th Street @ Bryant
San Francisco CA 94110
(415)826-lump
http://www.sugarlumpcoffeelounge.com/
TOPIC: How Mass Collaboration changes everything. Contextualizing
Ecclesiology in an era of a participatory world view and a culture of mass
collaboration.
DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Dr. Linda Bergquist, adjunct professor at Golden
Gate Theological Seminary, missional strategist and lover of theology.
You can prepare for this discussion by downloading a sample chapter of the
book Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
(http://www.wikinomics.com/book/) and also I Corinthians 12.
Wikipedia defines salon as "a gathering of stimulating people of quality
under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another
and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through
conversation and readings".
The Sugarlump Theology Salon is a gathering of Christian theologians and
thinkers in the San Francisco Bay Area who meet in order to share and
discuss their ideas and get peer feedback from one another. In the tradition
of "The Inkling" (the literary group of C.S. Lewis's and J.R.R. Tolkien that
met in a pub for readings and criticism of their own work) we meet in a
coffee house (the San Francisco equivalent of a pub) called the "Sugarlump
Coffee Lounge".
We will determine the topic for the next monthly Salon following our initial
discussion.
Please R.S.V.P. Two days prior to this event by contacting Derek Flood
derek.flood@yahoo.com
The Sugarlump Theology Salon
WHEN? Feb. 15 at 7-9 P.M.
WHERE?
Sugarlump Coffee Lounge
2862 24th Street @ Bryant
San Francisco CA 94110
(415)826-lump
http://www.sugarlumpcoffeelounge.com/
TOPIC: How Mass Collaboration changes everything. Contextualizing
Ecclesiology in an era of a participatory world view and a culture of mass
collaboration.
DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Dr. Linda Bergquist, adjunct professor at Golden
Gate Theological Seminary, missional strategist and lover of theology.
You can prepare for this discussion by downloading a sample chapter of the
book Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
(http://www.wikinomics.com/book/) and also I Corinthians 12.
Wikipedia defines salon as "a gathering of stimulating people of quality
under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another
and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through
conversation and readings".
The Sugarlump Theology Salon is a gathering of Christian theologians and
thinkers in the San Francisco Bay Area who meet in order to share and
discuss their ideas and get peer feedback from one another. In the tradition
of "The Inkling" (the literary group of C.S. Lewis's and J.R.R. Tolkien that
met in a pub for readings and criticism of their own work) we meet in a
coffee house (the San Francisco equivalent of a pub) called the "Sugarlump
Coffee Lounge".
We will determine the topic for the next monthly Salon following our initial
discussion.
Please R.S.V.P. Two days prior to this event by contacting Derek Flood
derek.flood@yahoo.com
Friday, January 05, 2007
Seven Reading Schedule
If you are interested in reading through the Scriptures with our community we call Seven here in San Francisco, the readings will now simply be posted at the Seven website. We are currently in Matthew.
Trust?
Our community has been reading through Deuteronomy for a while now. It's actually a fascinating book, filled with clear rules for the Hebrews as to how to live as God's people. The people are continually told that if they will obey and follow their Creator, if they will trust Him, all will be well with them. If they choose other ways things will not go well. They are also continually reminded of all God has done for them. In a generation they had witnessed miracle after miracle of God's provision. Food falling from Heaven, seas parting, etc. I've always wondered how they could be so stupid...to see those kinds of things and then fail to trust that God's way is the best way. But then today I sit at my computer, fretting and worrying that God will not provide for me. I can look back at incredible stories and see God's faithfulness and provision over and over, but something inside me sometimes waits for the sky to fall, distracted from the tasks at hand. I struggle with trying to be responsible and proactive in seeing that my family has money to pay rent and buy diapers without slipping into hours of worry and fear and endless searching of craigslist for the well-paying very part time gig that I am perfect for. My hope is that as my life goes on I will become better at living in this tension and the trust I seek to have will slowly grow, day after day, year after year.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Creativity Jesus Dojo...
CREATIVITY JESUS DOJO:
Rediscovering Creativity Workshop
Do you aspire to be more creative in 2007? Perhaps you can remember a
time when you had more freedom of expression. Many people have experienced
profound personal transformation through practices that combine
spirituality and creativity. This seven-week workshop will explore how to cultivate
your artistic voice and talents more fully. Through daily personal exercises
and group process we will help one another tap into our creative potential,
using Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, as a guide for inspiration
and discipline. Sponsored by ReIMAGINE! A Center for Life Integration. We are
a collective of artists and activists that fuel initiatives to integrate
spiritual formation, creativity, community-building and social action. We
believe personal integration comes through revolutionary thought,
experiential learning and transformational relationships.
Team facilitated by Mark Scandrette and Adam Klein. Mark Scandrette is a
writer, poet and life coach (and author of the forthcoming book on
integrative spirituality called SOUL GRAFFITI ). Adam Klein is a poet,
athlete and mechanical engineer.
Wednesdays 6-8 P.M.
January 17-February 28
Location? Golden Gate Community Inc. 21st @ Shotwell.
Cost:$30 which includes a light dinner each week. (Scholarship
information available upon request) Text for the workshop will need to be purchased by
each participant.
To register email peeps@reimagine.org by January 12th.
For more information call 415-235-9552
Rediscovering Creativity Workshop
Do you aspire to be more creative in 2007? Perhaps you can remember a
time when you had more freedom of expression. Many people have experienced
profound personal transformation through practices that combine
spirituality and creativity. This seven-week workshop will explore how to cultivate
your artistic voice and talents more fully. Through daily personal exercises
and group process we will help one another tap into our creative potential,
using Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, as a guide for inspiration
and discipline. Sponsored by ReIMAGINE! A Center for Life Integration. We are
a collective of artists and activists that fuel initiatives to integrate
spiritual formation, creativity, community-building and social action. We
believe personal integration comes through revolutionary thought,
experiential learning and transformational relationships.
Team facilitated by Mark Scandrette and Adam Klein. Mark Scandrette is a
writer, poet and life coach (and author of the forthcoming book on
integrative spirituality called SOUL GRAFFITI ). Adam Klein is a poet,
athlete and mechanical engineer.
Wednesdays 6-8 P.M.
January 17-February 28
Location? Golden Gate Community Inc. 21st @ Shotwell.
Cost:$30 which includes a light dinner each week. (Scholarship
information available upon request) Text for the workshop will need to be purchased by
each participant.
To register email peeps@reimagine.org by January 12th.
For more information call 415-235-9552
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