Running Mentoring - Wow!

That's right, folks, we started our after school program, again... we have over 40 kids coming! Wow-wee - I'm looking forward to getting our mentors more involved this year, and can't wait to hear how God will be touching these kids lives!



These guys make me smile ;)

Wall Street Crisis a crisis of the heart

Julie came home yeasterday and today, and as typical - she shared with me all the drama of working in a low-performing Public High School... This time, there was a story of a teacher and students talking about the Wall Street Crash, housing industry... all very worry-some and negative.

I found this all interesting - Last night, I caught Charlie Rose's interview... with some real sharp cats talking about the state of American fiscal markets. Working and living in LA, none of this really surprises me too much, (recently, LA was called the 'capital of the poor'). Sadly, I watch high schoolers and college students live like there are no consequences to over-spending. Also, I live in a neighborhood where housing prices are ridiculous - and I'm continually amazed by the number of people buying without any real income or bad credit with enormous mortgages.

All this to say, the main thing I took from Charlie's interview was this: American markets haven't needed to be honest. So business has reported from a place of 'falsehood'. One interviewee likened it to Business reports/earnings have been Opaque vs. Transparent. Click here if you want to see the interview -

Opaque Versus Transparant; isn't that interesting, as a follower of Christ, I believe it is Jesus, his work and his Spirit, that lead me to be Authentic; That is to be Transparent versus Opague. Something to think about when I consider business, markets... and discipleship; am I modeling opaque or transparent behaviors?

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If you find markets and world economy interesting, you might look at this link. A friend of mine in Amsterdam, a Christ-follower, emailed this blog - which gives an interesting description of future world market issues.

Josh Garrels

Many of you know that my good friend, Josh Garrels, played in Julie and mine's wedding.

He just came out with a new album!

and if you don't know his music, you can find it online at www.joshgarrels.com

OR, if you live in the midwest, you can check him out LIVE!

Also, if you follow Paste Magazine, you might know this writer, who gave Josh a real nice review - click to check it out...

I've had the pleasure of watching Josh mature in life, Christ, and in music. I'm real proud of his new stuff, and it gets heavy rotation in our household. ( I know, iPod's don't rotate... but you know what I mean ;) (maybe, I should do an album review? ;)

"Josh Garrels....New CD Release show " on Saturday, September 27 at 8:00pm.

Event: Josh Garrels....New CD B-lated Release show
What: Concert
Host: Muncie Alliance Church...aka...Mac
Start Time: Saturday, September 27 at 8:00pm
End Time: Saturday, September 27 at 11:00pm
Where: Muncie Alliance Church...Mac

Truth and Justice

My interest in Architecture... is a daily fixation. Not something you probably expect. I'll explore more later... but first, Today, I had the opportunity to meet the new Dean of Religious Life at USC. We're working on a conference at USC through the Marshal School of Business. Our part will focus on Theology and Sustainability. I had the thought going into the meeting - This is like the days of old - How could my 'lowly' position of a Religious Director, a volunteer, be used to influence and befriend an institutional decision maker?
We had a good connection. We both use the word, "Dude", and for all his accolades, he's incredibly down to earth - and he was really impressed by many of the things we're doing in the neighborhood - and even encouraged questionable behavior, (I shared about Stephen and Chris sneaking up on the roofs of USC, in order to make a point.)

I had a unique opportunity to share with him about my love for Architecture. For me, architecture is about anthropology and social sciences. Helping and Serving. It designs space - which influences relationships. I've been thinking about created space a lot, lately, especially concerning - issues of Justice. How space and design functions can, ultimately, be matters of justice.
Cameron Sinclair, of Architecture for Humanity, speaks to this issue.
This sort of approach really does inform my faith - as I think about Leadership, Discipleship and multiplication - how does what I do create space for Truth and Justice in the lives of others?
Architecture for Humanity has certain values, do's and don'ts, in order to help them achieve their goals - some of which are really practical, and inspiring.

Continuing on my Architecture rant... I stumbled across these Wineries with massive pieces - The Herzog is quite famous here in California, but I've never been. Julie would love to tour Napa!

Last, but not least, in my younger days, I experimented with Graffiti. Thinking back to my talk with Varun, I couldn't help but think - I can't encourage this - but it is darn creative... and seems to inspire others to truth and justice....

Experiments, Crazy Iron Chef

Some one asked if I put pictures of me and a 'stach on here to get more comments... Regardless, here I am deep in decision making with a goatee, one Brian Powers. My little 'stach experiment was fun...



Speaking of Experiments. Have you every tried this? Julie was swimming three days a week during her off time, and she started having hearing problems. The docter said it was ear wax. She tried this candle thingy with a towel on her shoulder. She said it had a minimal effect. The ear drops the doctor gave her, she said did work, but was... crazy feelin'!


Speaking of Crazy. Julie was a Mad Iron Chef! Here is Amy and Dave - with napkins tucked in ;)



Genisis sporting the napkin proper.

So, "Julie, an iron chef?," you ask. Judge for yourself

Judge for yourself: Ingredient - Mango

appertif: Mango, Buffalo mozzerella, basil - capresse salad

Main Dish: Mango Chutney Turkey Burger (After Julie conconted this one based on a similar Apple Turkey Burger, she had me make the patty's - this got a little slimmy - and we had 12 patties left over - that a large recipe!)

Dessert: ...?.... think you can guess?.... Mango Cheesecake with a lemon-lime-basil syrup drissle!

Elevator Heart

Elevator Heart: by Gman

Elevator Heart
Always kept low, held down
Free me from heavy fearful sounds
Heart over flow the lips for a new start
Rise Elevator Heart

Gravity, Always brings me down
The quips and snips - like personalized Blips and Beats
Gravity, Always brings me down
Dragged down by the voice of others

Defy Gravity!
Recognize the tension in my body, relax
Defy Gravity!
Your Work Free's my Heart
Defy Gravity!
Your Spirit, my guide as I step out

Defy Gravity,
Elevator Heart
Soar in His Sacred Freedom

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I like writing speed poetry. At USC, we would have a speed poetry night, where someone would throw out an idea, and everyone would get 10 minutes or so, and then share. It's a great way to get into the discipline of writing, and getting immediate feedback.

JR, on sunday, asked everyone to write a poem at Kairos in a similar way. He was speaking on the Psalms - and ask everyone to write their own Psalm. This is what I wrote.
This past week, I'd been thinking about about how easy it is to push down my heart. Difficult situations would happen and I recognized something. As I allowed my Heart to come up, sharing candidly, then the Spirit really seemed to move!
(In another way to think about it, this notion relates to Emotional Intelligence.) There is an obvious reference to the popular song, Defy Gravity, from the play Wicked. This idea of "Defying" gravity and faith just seem to go together like hand-and-glove. - don't you feel like you're floating when faith takes over, or when negativity just rolls off your back? (For the music heads out there, not as obvious, but if you know the group UNKLE, there is a line in the poem that I use that's from them. I have to give credit where its due.)

Olympic Fever!

We have a friend -

Peter Marshall

- Hopefully You'll be hearing a lot about him -
Because He'll be swimming in the Olympic Trials in the next two Days -

This brings to attention - Julz and I have Olympic Fever!

This may explain the skin outbreak we're having.... well, actually, that is from mosquito bites (straight craziness, as we've never - yes, never - had mosquito in LA) - We had a really wet rainy season this year - and it's been crazy hot and humid... atypical...


Back to our Fever!

If you have USA Network, he swims the backstroke.

Monday and Tuesday Evenings

Last but not least, Julie has been working on a number of projects during her off time.

She is really proud of our "cork wall" that is going in our kitchen. She has been saving Wine and Beer (when possible, i.e. Chimay) Corks for the past 3 years. Pictures will follow.

Another project is this little Cactus garden (did I say it was humid here?... a'typical, though)

So she loves this - below a prepotted picture - also, the table cloth comes from Kitsch Kitchen in Amsterdam - very mod and summer-y!

(It should be stated that a few folks shared with Julie that she is displaying "Nesting" behavior - not surprising since this has been her first real School Break in 3 years - it could be noted, for clarity, that we don't have any little chics for all this nesting... we'll let you know if and when :)