Friday, November 30
Chapel Song
On Fridays the students on the Guam campus plan and lead chapel. And it usually includes an "action song." I've been accused of hiding behind the camera so I don't have to participate. Whether the intention is there or not, it's probably best that way. However, you'll spot Cheryl in the 2 minute 26 seconds video clip. Her partner is Hollie Schaub, the wife of a US Navy officer stationed on Guam, who helps PIBC with student ministries and field education.
Thursday, November 29
Random
~ This poor guy was going to buy himself a ride but after he finished building his sound system he found that he couldn't afford the car to go with it.There's a whole NY Times article devoted to a group of pedaled mobile boom boxes. -- Link
~ Adobe and Yahoo have teamed up to experiment with advertising embedded in .pdf documents. -- Link
~ Someone with vision is offering Oral Roberts University $70 million if the school will clean-up its financial and leadership problems. He's already advanced them $8 million of it -- should be ample motivation to get movin' on that little project... -- List
~ The culture has taken a downward turn since our departure from the mainland. Nordstrom's is getting rid of the live in-store music -- not that I shopped there much -- just that Nordstrom's is a bit iconic representing customer service and shopping "experience" in American retail. -- Link
~ Google Chat now has a group chat feature. -- Link
Random
~ Once again it looks like the TNIV is becoming an orphaned translation, at least on the web. It appears that Zondervan hasn't updated their TNIV site since last spring. And the International Bible Society hasn't done anything with their TNIV site since about 1932.
~ The mainland zoos are saving the rare birds of Guam. -- Link
~ Jules Glanzer, my church planting colleague from Texas (1990ish), has been named as the new president of Tabor College, his alma mater, in Hillsboro, Kansas. He is currently the dean of George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. -- Link
~ November 2007 pastoral changes in the Evangelical Covenant Church -- Link
~ Stan Friedman is featured on TitusOneNine. -- Link
~ But why would anyone WANT TO mount a flatscreen television to the tow hitch of a pickup truck? -- Link
~ There are indicators suggesting that overall the volume of spam is on the decline. Google is elated. But Yahoo thinks the volume of spam is still rising. -- Link
~ Jens & Karin Schulz, our PIBC colleagues from Germany, have started a blog -- in German. -- Link
~ The number of new Southern Baptist seminary graduates who are 5-point Calvinists is now at 29% (compared to 10% of the SBC ministers on a whole). Some SBC leaders are troubled by the trend because historically Calvinists in the convention have baptized fewer people and served smaller churches. -- Link
For better and worse, Southern Baptists have always had a strong pragmatic streak.
~ The next Dalai Lama could be chosen by a vote. If Hilary doesn't make it back into the White House she might consider that gig. -- Link
~ The mainland zoos are saving the rare birds of Guam. -- Link
~ Jules Glanzer, my church planting colleague from Texas (1990ish), has been named as the new president of Tabor College, his alma mater, in Hillsboro, Kansas. He is currently the dean of George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. -- Link
~ November 2007 pastoral changes in the Evangelical Covenant Church -- Link
~ Stan Friedman is featured on TitusOneNine. -- Link
~ But why would anyone WANT TO mount a flatscreen television to the tow hitch of a pickup truck? -- Link
~ There are indicators suggesting that overall the volume of spam is on the decline. Google is elated. But Yahoo thinks the volume of spam is still rising. -- Link
~ Jens & Karin Schulz, our PIBC colleagues from Germany, have started a blog -- in German. -- Link
~ The number of new Southern Baptist seminary graduates who are 5-point Calvinists is now at 29% (compared to 10% of the SBC ministers on a whole). Some SBC leaders are troubled by the trend because historically Calvinists in the convention have baptized fewer people and served smaller churches. -- Link
For better and worse, Southern Baptists have always had a strong pragmatic streak.
~ The next Dalai Lama could be chosen by a vote. If Hilary doesn't make it back into the White House she might consider that gig. -- Link
Wednesday, November 28
Random
~ These are my kind of billionaires. Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad built a $33 billion fortune selling affordable furniture to the masses. Yet the self-made Swedish tycoon drives a 15-year-old Volvo, flies coach, tries to avoid wearing suits and often eats meals at lower-tier restaurants. Apparently, he's not the only frugal billionaire. What's the point of having money if you're going to waste it?
~ Steve Bilynskyj would rather be left behind -- me, too. I was created to live in this world and I like it here. It has great potential. -- Link
~ January 1st is the deadline for submitting TNIV revision suggestions. -- Link
~ During my walk this evening I was listening to one of the free downloaded University of California Berkeley lectures. It was a class on the history of computers. The professor spent the first 3 or 4 minutes of the class trying to get his presentation up on his computer. Finally he gave up and I could hear writing on the chalkboard throughout the rest of the lecture. Ah, the paradox of technology.
~ College application or sales pitch? -- student branding -- oh, brother... -- Link
~ Quotable: "Luther wasn't just interested in teaching the faith; he was interested in teaching the young." -- David Neff, pondering whether Martin Luther would have approved of rapping the Creed
~ GDrive is coming! GDrive is coming! More Google rumors -- Link
~ Why is it that one uke is never enough? (I only have two) -- Link
~ John Morehead has been interviewing, Irving Hexham, the Canadian scholar who focuses on new religions. Fascinating. -- Link
~ California's DMV has a virtual driving school with all the stuff they've posted on YouTube and MySpace -- perhaps some of the best spent taxpayer money -- Link
~ Steve Bilynskyj would rather be left behind -- me, too. I was created to live in this world and I like it here. It has great potential. -- Link
~ January 1st is the deadline for submitting TNIV revision suggestions. -- Link
~ During my walk this evening I was listening to one of the free downloaded University of California Berkeley lectures. It was a class on the history of computers. The professor spent the first 3 or 4 minutes of the class trying to get his presentation up on his computer. Finally he gave up and I could hear writing on the chalkboard throughout the rest of the lecture. Ah, the paradox of technology.
~ College application or sales pitch? -- student branding -- oh, brother... -- Link
~ Quotable: "Luther wasn't just interested in teaching the faith; he was interested in teaching the young." -- David Neff, pondering whether Martin Luther would have approved of rapping the Creed
~ GDrive is coming! GDrive is coming! More Google rumors -- Link
~ Why is it that one uke is never enough? (I only have two) -- Link
~ John Morehead has been interviewing, Irving Hexham, the Canadian scholar who focuses on new religions. Fascinating. -- Link
~ California's DMV has a virtual driving school with all the stuff they've posted on YouTube and MySpace -- perhaps some of the best spent taxpayer money -- Link
Monday, November 26
Random
~ Fresno's Chinese underground -- sorta -- Link
~ More underground activity in Fresno -- A homeless contractor known as the "mole man" dug a multi-room 200-square foot home underground in Fresno that surprised police when they recently stumbled upon a hidden entrance. -- Link
~ Bob Smietana, in a last ditch effort to save the world of daily print journalism from extinction, has accepted a position as religion writer for The Tennessean in Nashville. Congratulations, Bob. -- Link
~ Sean Meade came through with an invite for GrandCentral. Thanks! I now have a Stateside (Phoenix, Arizona) phone number. Unfortunately GrandCentral doesn't forward calls to Guam numbers, yet. So for the time being I will use it strictly for voice mail. It was a little tricky setting it up from Guam but with the help of our son Kent who received the confirmation call for me it worked.
~ Brian Jones is writing a book and has an online survey designed for those who preach. He is planning to use the proceeds from his future book to fund a project to help AIDS children in Africa.
~ There is a great future in the business of disaster relief. Natural disasters have quadrupled over the last decade. -- Link
~ Happiness Lodge, one of our PIBC students, continues to amaze me with his insights about his own Chuukese culture. -- Link
~ On December 8th there will be a celebration in Nanjing, China, in recognition of the printing of the Amity Printing Company's 50 millionth Bible, which was printed on September 11th. I can remember when people were smuggling Bibles disguised as Mao's little red book into China. -- Link
~ Economic Indicator -- 6,000 people have applied for 300 lower-skill jobs at a new Wal-Mart, the first in Cleveland, Ohio. This is more disturbing than the slow housing market.
~ I listen to lots of sermons these days -- from students and "professionals." The sermons that I consistently return to for my own edification are by my friend Steve Bilynskyj. They are never showy, cute, or gimmicky -- but they're always simple (in spite of his PhD in philosophy from Notre Dame) and authentic to who he is -- always biblically deep -- and always well presented. -- Link
~ More underground activity in Fresno -- A homeless contractor known as the "mole man" dug a multi-room 200-square foot home underground in Fresno that surprised police when they recently stumbled upon a hidden entrance. -- Link
~ Bob Smietana, in a last ditch effort to save the world of daily print journalism from extinction, has accepted a position as religion writer for The Tennessean in Nashville. Congratulations, Bob. -- Link
~ Sean Meade came through with an invite for GrandCentral. Thanks! I now have a Stateside (Phoenix, Arizona) phone number. Unfortunately GrandCentral doesn't forward calls to Guam numbers, yet. So for the time being I will use it strictly for voice mail. It was a little tricky setting it up from Guam but with the help of our son Kent who received the confirmation call for me it worked.
~ Brian Jones is writing a book and has an online survey designed for those who preach. He is planning to use the proceeds from his future book to fund a project to help AIDS children in Africa.
~ There is a great future in the business of disaster relief. Natural disasters have quadrupled over the last decade. -- Link
~ Happiness Lodge, one of our PIBC students, continues to amaze me with his insights about his own Chuukese culture. -- Link
~ On December 8th there will be a celebration in Nanjing, China, in recognition of the printing of the Amity Printing Company's 50 millionth Bible, which was printed on September 11th. I can remember when people were smuggling Bibles disguised as Mao's little red book into China. -- Link
~ Economic Indicator -- 6,000 people have applied for 300 lower-skill jobs at a new Wal-Mart, the first in Cleveland, Ohio. This is more disturbing than the slow housing market.
~ I listen to lots of sermons these days -- from students and "professionals." The sermons that I consistently return to for my own edification are by my friend Steve Bilynskyj. They are never showy, cute, or gimmicky -- but they're always simple (in spite of his PhD in philosophy from Notre Dame) and authentic to who he is -- always biblically deep -- and always well presented. -- Link
Home Depot!!!
It's been fun watching the locals discover Home Depot.
People wander through the store eyes straining to take in the overwhelming inventory.
I overheard one woman speaking to her husband, "I just can't believe that there is so much to
choose from."
One man was telling his children -- who were securely strapped into the orange cart and were barely old enough to talk -- "Man, look how low these prices are!"
The check-out lines have been long -- except at the self-serve counters. No other stores on Guam have self-check-out. So people aren't yet used to it -- not quite sure that they trust it.
So, by utilizing the self-check-out I've been able to breeze in and out past the lines on several occasions. It's faster than going to Circle K for a Coke.
However, half the people in the store at any given time aren't really shopping or holding a spot in line. Most are just standing around socializing with their uncles, aunts, and cousins. People that they haven't seen in months -- they run into at Home Depot.
You have to understand that all the locals have hundreds and hundreds of these relatives -- maybe even thousands and thousands. So when there is some kind of central happening on the island people expect to catch up on family news. You don't go to someplace like Home Depot if you're a local in a hurry.
They see each other halfway across the store. Their faces light up and pretty soon there are hundreds of people in the bathroom fixture aisle hugging and kissing and laughing -- "Hafa mamaolek ha?"
Sometimes the store, "the second largest Home Depot in the world," grid locks with these spontaneous family reunions. The only thing missing is the red rice and finadene.
Of course, because of Guam's isolated location the Home Depot grand opening phenomena is more phenomenal than in most places. Most people on the island have lived their whole lives without most of the box stores which most of the US can't seem to live without. Most of the people living on the island "Where America's Day Begins" don't yet realize that having too many choices is what defines us as Americans -- perhaps even more so than our version of democracy. So, in a sense Guam is more American today than it was way way back before Home Depot opened -- two weeks ago.
But I've been to Home Depot grand openings before. This one is mild. They're not even putting much on sale -- relatively speaking. They don't have to. At this point they don't need advertising or weekly specials to get people in the doors.
Eventually, Big Orange will start to run out of things -- just like they occasionally do on the mainland. And the tool you need will be back-ordered. And they may not have the kind of 2x4 you want. And you'll have trouble finding a guy in an orange apron to help you because management is trying to keep labor costs down. I've seen it all before.
Now, I'm certainly not complaining. I like Home Depot. It symbolizes choice. But I know where this whole thing is going. In a few months we'll all be jaded home improvement consumers. And at least a few of us will be wondering aloud how we might be able to lure Lowes to Guam.
People wander through the store eyes straining to take in the overwhelming inventory.
I overheard one woman speaking to her husband, "I just can't believe that there is so much to
choose from."One man was telling his children -- who were securely strapped into the orange cart and were barely old enough to talk -- "Man, look how low these prices are!"
The check-out lines have been long -- except at the self-serve counters. No other stores on Guam have self-check-out. So people aren't yet used to it -- not quite sure that they trust it.
So, by utilizing the self-check-out I've been able to breeze in and out past the lines on several occasions. It's faster than going to Circle K for a Coke.
However, half the people in the store at any given time aren't really shopping or holding a spot in line. Most are just standing around socializing with their uncles, aunts, and cousins. People that they haven't seen in months -- they run into at Home Depot.
You have to understand that all the locals have hundreds and hundreds of these relatives -- maybe even thousands and thousands. So when there is some kind of central happening on the island people expect to catch up on family news. You don't go to someplace like Home Depot if you're a local in a hurry.
They see each other halfway across the store. Their faces light up and pretty soon there are hundreds of people in the bathroom fixture aisle hugging and kissing and laughing -- "Hafa mamaolek ha?"
Sometimes the store, "the second largest Home Depot in the world," grid locks with these spontaneous family reunions. The only thing missing is the red rice and finadene.
Of course, because of Guam's isolated location the Home Depot grand opening phenomena is more phenomenal than in most places. Most people on the island have lived their whole lives without most of the box stores which most of the US can't seem to live without. Most of the people living on the island "Where America's Day Begins" don't yet realize that having too many choices is what defines us as Americans -- perhaps even more so than our version of democracy. So, in a sense Guam is more American today than it was way way back before Home Depot opened -- two weeks ago.
But I've been to Home Depot grand openings before. This one is mild. They're not even putting much on sale -- relatively speaking. They don't have to. At this point they don't need advertising or weekly specials to get people in the doors.
Eventually, Big Orange will start to run out of things -- just like they occasionally do on the mainland. And the tool you need will be back-ordered. And they may not have the kind of 2x4 you want. And you'll have trouble finding a guy in an orange apron to help you because management is trying to keep labor costs down. I've seen it all before.
Now, I'm certainly not complaining. I like Home Depot. It symbolizes choice. But I know where this whole thing is going. In a few months we'll all be jaded home improvement consumers. And at least a few of us will be wondering aloud how we might be able to lure Lowes to Guam.
Sunday, November 25
Random
~ Today is Willis Carrier's birthday. Those of us who live in the tropics and other hot places are advocating for an international holiday to recognize the father of modern air conditioning. -- Wikipedia article on the life of Willis Carrier~ Stan Friedman's article Church in Recovery is the lead piece on the Christian Century website. Stan, you be the man! -- Link
~ There is growing concern about the number of human rights advocates who have been killed or who are missing in the Philippines. Since 2001 there have been 800 such cases. -- Link
~ Kurt Fredrickson is excited about Roger Olson’s new book Reformed and Always Reforming: The Postconservative Approach to Evangelical Theology (Baker Academic, 2007). -- Link
It is a good book (I'm about halfway through it) but those of us who have roots in the broader less-system-dependent forms of evangelicalism (e.g. Fuller Seminary, Evangelical Covenant Church, etc) are probably not going to find anything new or earth-shattering in there, just a new label -- which I'm not terribly excited about. The whole liberal - conservative continuum approach is a part of the problem. Olson is trying to move away from that but when you define yourself as "postconservative" you inadvertently perpetuate the very thing you're trying to avoid. Still, it's a stimulating read.
~ I'm trying to get an invite to GrandCentral -- anyone have an extra? -- Link
~ An African megachurch, which thrives in Ukraine, is reaching into the US, reports the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The political and cultural boundaries continue to blur. -- Link
~ The Mormon dominance of Utah continues to decline. LDS adherents are down to 60.7% of the state's population. -- Link
~ 1 of every 30 people in Britain has attended the Alpha Course -- a part of a greater spiritual awakening in the UK, according to Richard Kew, who recently returned to his native England. It's good to hear optimism in Richard's voice again.
~ A new study demonstrates a correlation between athletic ability and how happy a child is with the number and types of friendships that he or she has. -- Link
Of course you're going to be happy -- everyone wants to be your friend and you get picked first to be on whatever team is playing.
~ Bookmark: Encyclopedia of Grant Writing and Fund Raising -- Link (via)
~ Bookmark: People Raising, Bill Dillon's fundraising blog -- Link
~ Exactly! The reason I'd shy away from using an eBook is that I'd get ink all over the screen when I'm underling and arguing with the book in the margins. The new Amazon Kindle does have a way to add bookmarks and type annotations -- but it seems clunky compared to what I can do with a paper book. Perhaps Kindle 2.0 will allow me to underline and jot notes.
~ Coming soon to a DVD near you -- embedded, unskippable commercials? -- Link
In most cases I'd just skip the whole DVD if I had to put up with that -- unless, perhaps -- and only perhaps -- if the DVD were free to begin with. I put up with a lot of nonsense for the sake of free.
Saturday, November 24
Random
~ The Well -- one of the "white dwarves" in Europe -- alternative-style church in Belgium written up in the Wall Street Journal by one of their editorial writers who is a part of the church. That in and of itself is significant -- a WJ writer writing about his church. -- Link
~ They're planning a big shindig on Yap on December 19th to celebrate the completion of the Yapese Bible translation. Yap is on the of the island states in the Federated States of Micronesia and we have several Yapese students at PIBC.
~ They're planning a big shindig on Yap on December 19th to celebrate the completion of the Yapese Bible translation. Yap is on the of the island states in the Federated States of Micronesia and we have several Yapese students at PIBC.
Friday, November 23
Random
~ The American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature are divorcing -- and will from henceforth take separate vacations. It's really an indicator of a greater cultural split. -- Link~ "Temples of Damanhur" -- stunning underground temples recently and secretly carved into an Italian Alps hillside -- bizarre and intriguing story -- Link (via)
~ The Wall Street Journal on the tithing controversy -- Link (via)
~ For those still lusting for a Mac -- step by step instructions for building your own Hackintosh -- your own Mac clone for less than $800. " -- "... If you can build a Lego set and transcribe text, you've got all the basic skills required." -- Link
~ Quotable: Young people witness some of the cheesy video and computer "art" in worship and they see it for what it is: kitsch. Stock clip art. Old-fashioned, 19th-century background images under song text: the sun shining on the Cross, running streams, baby faces -- all of the stereotypical images that say, "Christians are crummy artists and naive sentimentalists." To them, such kitsch is like handing out illustrated kids' Bibles to high school students and telling them that these images represent the depth of insight and excellence of the Christian faith. -- Quentin Schultze (via)
~ "pwan ianan" -- Happiness Lodge continues with Chuukese culture 101 -- Link
Thursday, November 22
Random
~ It appears that the winter tradewinds have arrived on Guam, making this an exceptionally pleasant place to be.
~ Microsoft's next challenger is coming from India! InstaColl has launched Live Documents, a hybrid online-offline office suite of applications, designed to mimic Microsoft Office 2007. It will be free for individuals (100MB of free data storage included). Companies will pay for the system. The Times has an article on the announcement and its significance.
I've requested an invitation to the beta. So I'm waiting for a test-drive.
The fact that this company is based outside the US is at least as significant as the product they are offering. It is a bellwether.
~ The NY Times is running a series of articles about "how American religious organizations benefit from an increasingly accommodating government." The latest in the series is "Megachurches add local economy to their mission." The general tone of the articles is pretty negative -- painting churches as money-hungry institutions constantly angling for ways to make a buck. There is not much discussion about the overall benefit of the money spent or if there might be a bottom-line other than the dollar. Also, not given much consideration are the vast number of churches who are involved in community development as a part of their ministry -- everything from after school programs to creating entry level job opportunities -- e.g. JPUSA.
~ B-2 Stealth bombers from Guam have been using Hawaii for target practice. It's an ongoing show for the benefit of North Korea. -- Link
~ Jesus 101 -- Campus Crusade's online introduction to Jesus appears to be effective. -- Link
~ Even babies can tell right from wrong -- Link
~ Belated birthday wishes to the Internet, which turned 30 yesterday (the 22nd). Kudos to Al Gore and the others who helped him with his invention. -- Link
~ Charitable or foolish? -- basic lessons in cross-cultural living -- Link
~ Microsoft's next challenger is coming from India! InstaColl has launched Live Documents, a hybrid online-offline office suite of applications, designed to mimic Microsoft Office 2007. It will be free for individuals (100MB of free data storage included). Companies will pay for the system. The Times has an article on the announcement and its significance.
I've requested an invitation to the beta. So I'm waiting for a test-drive.
The fact that this company is based outside the US is at least as significant as the product they are offering. It is a bellwether.
~ The NY Times is running a series of articles about "how American religious organizations benefit from an increasingly accommodating government." The latest in the series is "Megachurches add local economy to their mission." The general tone of the articles is pretty negative -- painting churches as money-hungry institutions constantly angling for ways to make a buck. There is not much discussion about the overall benefit of the money spent or if there might be a bottom-line other than the dollar. Also, not given much consideration are the vast number of churches who are involved in community development as a part of their ministry -- everything from after school programs to creating entry level job opportunities -- e.g. JPUSA.
~ B-2 Stealth bombers from Guam have been using Hawaii for target practice. It's an ongoing show for the benefit of North Korea. -- Link
~ Jesus 101 -- Campus Crusade's online introduction to Jesus appears to be effective. -- Link
~ Even babies can tell right from wrong -- Link
~ Belated birthday wishes to the Internet, which turned 30 yesterday (the 22nd). Kudos to Al Gore and the others who helped him with his invention. -- Link
~ Charitable or foolish? -- basic lessons in cross-cultural living -- Link
Random
~ We had a great time at the PIBC Thanksgiving Feast this afternoon. Then we went home and took advantage of the tryptophan. Now I can officially listen to Gerald Ross on his tenor uke as he plays all the holiday favorites.~ In the pictures -- Our good friends Derwin and Lisa Dy, also from California, joined us at the PIBC feast. Derwin brought the only deep fried turkey. Some of the students loaded up their plates. Micronesians aren't quite sure of what to make of turkey and mashed potatoes. Some love it but some can't imagine what we see in the meal. However, they're all gracious.
~ Bookmark: FotoFlexer -- a great little online photo editor -- easy to use - pretty quick~ Rob Watt, who is the PIBC teaching facility coordinator on Palau, has started blogging. He is currently on home assignment in Pennsylvania but will be returning to the Islands in January. It's so funny seeing a picture of him wearing a jacket. -- Link
~ Another Episcopal Church bishop is swimming the Tiber. The current Anglican split is probably the Roman Catholic Church's most effective evangelistic feed. -- Link
~ It was on November 22, 1963 that my 2nd grade teacher lost it and everyone in the class had to put their heads down on their desks so she could turn away and sob. The president had been shot. They did let us go out for recess that afternoon but all anyone could talk about was the impending Russian invasion.
~ The changing face of Christianity in Africa -- Link
~ Review of Enchanted, which is on my "to see" list -- Link
Wednesday, November 21
Random
~ Top 60 Japanese buzzwords/phrases of 2007 -- Link
~ Keith Drury's "Seven Advantages of a Denomination" -- Link
~ The Chinese government, which has invested heavily in US dollars, is beginning to worry about their investment. Even public speculation about the value of the dollar feeds the dumping frenzy. -- Link
~ China continues to work on buying friends and influence in the Islands -- Link.
~ Skin cells to stem cells -- truly hopeful research.
I wonder what will become of California's state funded stem cell project if it turns out that harvesting stem cells from aborted babies is unnecessary. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine ("CIRM") was established in 2005 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research in California universities and research institutions, was approved by voters in 2004 as an in-your-face response to the US ban on using federal funds for stem cell research. So, does the state need another ballot measure to undo what they did in 2004? That's the problem with initiatives -- they're hard to reverse.
~ Move over MBAs -- businesses are into hiring vets these days -- Link
~ Would you sell your right to vote for $1 million? Most NYU students would permanently give up their right to vote -- some for as little as an iPod. Baffling. Truly baffling. -- Link
~ There are times when you can't help but be proud to be an American! I don't know how many sailors were sent but the US Navy deployed troops from Guam yesterday to India & Bangladesh to help with the relief and rescue work. A category 4 cyclone (hurricane, typhoon) belted Bangladesh's southwest coast last Thursday. There are perhaps 10,000 dead and countless homeless and foodless.
~ The Government of Guam is annoyed with the US military for leaving them out of the loop regarding the troop build-up on Guam. (I can't imagine why the military would want to do an end-run around a local government which has been unsuccessfully trying to figure out how to close a landfill for 20 years.) But it's sounding more and more like they'll have to work something out. -- Link
~ About $1 million has slipped through the fingers of GovGuam workers says the auditors -- uncleared, unaccounted for travel advances. -- Link
~ And you thought that your church was dysfunctional -- Link. Might God bless the nephew who is riding it all out.
~ Keith Drury's "Seven Advantages of a Denomination" -- Link
~ The Chinese government, which has invested heavily in US dollars, is beginning to worry about their investment. Even public speculation about the value of the dollar feeds the dumping frenzy. -- Link
~ China continues to work on buying friends and influence in the Islands -- Link.
~ Skin cells to stem cells -- truly hopeful research.
I wonder what will become of California's state funded stem cell project if it turns out that harvesting stem cells from aborted babies is unnecessary. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine ("CIRM") was established in 2005 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research in California universities and research institutions, was approved by voters in 2004 as an in-your-face response to the US ban on using federal funds for stem cell research. So, does the state need another ballot measure to undo what they did in 2004? That's the problem with initiatives -- they're hard to reverse.
~ Move over MBAs -- businesses are into hiring vets these days -- Link
~ Would you sell your right to vote for $1 million? Most NYU students would permanently give up their right to vote -- some for as little as an iPod. Baffling. Truly baffling. -- Link
~ There are times when you can't help but be proud to be an American! I don't know how many sailors were sent but the US Navy deployed troops from Guam yesterday to India & Bangladesh to help with the relief and rescue work. A category 4 cyclone (hurricane, typhoon) belted Bangladesh's southwest coast last Thursday. There are perhaps 10,000 dead and countless homeless and foodless.
~ The Government of Guam is annoyed with the US military for leaving them out of the loop regarding the troop build-up on Guam. (I can't imagine why the military would want to do an end-run around a local government which has been unsuccessfully trying to figure out how to close a landfill for 20 years.) But it's sounding more and more like they'll have to work something out. -- Link
~ About $1 million has slipped through the fingers of GovGuam workers says the auditors -- uncleared, unaccounted for travel advances. -- Link
~ And you thought that your church was dysfunctional -- Link. Might God bless the nephew who is riding it all out.
Tuesday, November 20
What about Bob (Singh)?
R.G. Lewis writing about "Bob Singh" -- an American convert to Sikhism that he spotted on a train in India:
What’s interesting to me about Bob is he’s traveling with Indian Sikhs and one young man is interested in what other people in America think of his conversion? I can’t hear Bob’s reply, but what strikes me is Bob’s ignorance of his enlighten experience. It’s okay for him to discover the truth, if that’s what he believes, but does he know that most of those around him do not share his faith out of conviction? Ninety-nine percent of Sikhs are of that religion only because it is a part of their cultural identity. That would be true of most Muslims, Buddhist and, though to a lesser degree, Christians. Those Bob proudly identifies with are a people who, if they did want to follow a different faith, would probably be barred from doing so. The few Sikhs I know who are followers of Christ tell stories of disinheritance, ostracism and persecution. The people Bob glibly is sharing testimony with are citizens of a country that has anti-conversion laws. For a Sikh to take on the faith of Jesus would mean a loss of status in their society, which would be changed to OBC (other backward caste), which is one of many reasons why they are not open to the Gospel.
Lewis writes a good blog for those interested in cross-cultural ministry issues. -- Link
What’s interesting to me about Bob is he’s traveling with Indian Sikhs and one young man is interested in what other people in America think of his conversion? I can’t hear Bob’s reply, but what strikes me is Bob’s ignorance of his enlighten experience. It’s okay for him to discover the truth, if that’s what he believes, but does he know that most of those around him do not share his faith out of conviction? Ninety-nine percent of Sikhs are of that religion only because it is a part of their cultural identity. That would be true of most Muslims, Buddhist and, though to a lesser degree, Christians. Those Bob proudly identifies with are a people who, if they did want to follow a different faith, would probably be barred from doing so. The few Sikhs I know who are followers of Christ tell stories of disinheritance, ostracism and persecution. The people Bob glibly is sharing testimony with are citizens of a country that has anti-conversion laws. For a Sikh to take on the faith of Jesus would mean a loss of status in their society, which would be changed to OBC (other backward caste), which is one of many reasons why they are not open to the Gospel.
Lewis writes a good blog for those interested in cross-cultural ministry issues. -- Link
Monday, November 19
Random
~ Co-Founder of Greenpeace, Patrick Moore is speaking out in favor of a nuclear future -- Link
~ McDonald's is attempting to expand its line of coffees to more directly compete with Starbucks. Franchisees are a bit resistant.
I'm not much of a coffee drinker but I understand that McDonald's coffee is already pretty good. I remember seeing an independent survey which showed that most people in a blind test prefer McDonald's rich brew over Starbucks. Mickey D's challenge has to do with ambiance and image -- that's mostly what Starbucks (and Caribou, Timmy Horton's, etc) is selling. And coffee connoisseurs tend to be very image conscious people -- probably not wanting to be seen drinking from a Ronald McDonald cup. -- Link
~ Jerry Mosby, a well known and respected pastor in Covenant Church circles, has died after a long struggle with diabetes. He was only 59 years old. -- Link
This is the second major pastoral loss for the East Coast Conference. Earlier this year John Marks, who was serving in Livingston, New Jersey, died of heart failure at the age of 62. -- Link
~ The decline of tenured faculty and what it may mean for students -- Link
~ The Golden Compass has suddenly come up on everyone's radar. e.g. Terry Mattingly has written about this blatantly anti-Christian movie -- so has Martin Marty.
~ Most people only THINK they're going to die in the airport line. "QANTAS staff have been booed by frustrated passengers at Brisbane Airport after leaving their check-in counters to assist an elderly woman who collapsed and died in the long queue." -- Link
As Jeff Berg points out, traveling brings out the worst in people.
~ Southwest Airlines customers are pretty unhappy about the new fare structure that gives preferential seating to customers who pay more for their tickets. Is this the end of their icon status? It appears that they're on the verge of becoming just another airline. -- Link
~ Will video kill the Internet? At the current pace of development there are two years left before everything becomes unbearably slow, according to a USA Today article. "To avoid a slowdown, these companies, and increasingly, wireless services providers in North America, must invest up to $55 billion, Nemertes says. That's almost 70% more than planned." -- Link
~ Don't underestimate the social significance of this -- "Downward mobility trend threatens black middle class" -- Link
~ Cool new features in Gmail -- Link
~ Hooray! As of 1:55 p.m. today, I'm all caught up on my grading -- I think.
~ McDonald's is attempting to expand its line of coffees to more directly compete with Starbucks. Franchisees are a bit resistant.I'm not much of a coffee drinker but I understand that McDonald's coffee is already pretty good. I remember seeing an independent survey which showed that most people in a blind test prefer McDonald's rich brew over Starbucks. Mickey D's challenge has to do with ambiance and image -- that's mostly what Starbucks (and Caribou, Timmy Horton's, etc) is selling. And coffee connoisseurs tend to be very image conscious people -- probably not wanting to be seen drinking from a Ronald McDonald cup. -- Link
~ Jerry Mosby, a well known and respected pastor in Covenant Church circles, has died after a long struggle with diabetes. He was only 59 years old. -- Link
This is the second major pastoral loss for the East Coast Conference. Earlier this year John Marks, who was serving in Livingston, New Jersey, died of heart failure at the age of 62. -- Link
~ The decline of tenured faculty and what it may mean for students -- Link
~ The Golden Compass has suddenly come up on everyone's radar. e.g. Terry Mattingly has written about this blatantly anti-Christian movie -- so has Martin Marty.
~ Most people only THINK they're going to die in the airport line. "QANTAS staff have been booed by frustrated passengers at Brisbane Airport after leaving their check-in counters to assist an elderly woman who collapsed and died in the long queue." -- Link
As Jeff Berg points out, traveling brings out the worst in people.
~ Southwest Airlines customers are pretty unhappy about the new fare structure that gives preferential seating to customers who pay more for their tickets. Is this the end of their icon status? It appears that they're on the verge of becoming just another airline. -- Link
~ Will video kill the Internet? At the current pace of development there are two years left before everything becomes unbearably slow, according to a USA Today article. "To avoid a slowdown, these companies, and increasingly, wireless services providers in North America, must invest up to $55 billion, Nemertes says. That's almost 70% more than planned." -- Link
~ Don't underestimate the social significance of this -- "Downward mobility trend threatens black middle class" -- Link
~ Cool new features in Gmail -- Link
~ Hooray! As of 1:55 p.m. today, I'm all caught up on my grading -- I think.
Surfing the globalized cultural wave
Happiness Lodge, who is from Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia, and who is one of our extraordinarily perceptive students (and is humble enough that I'm probably embarrassing him and his entire family by speaking publicly of him in this way) has a wonderful post on his blog highlighting the being vs. doing differences between Micronesian and Western cultures. 
This is Micronesian Culture 101 for Westerners.
(In the picture, Happiness, with white short sleeve shirt, is sharing the snake he captured with some of the other PIBC students. As far as I know they don't have snakes in Chuuk, from where most of these students hail. The Brown Tree Snake, an invasive species on Guam, is only mildly venomous and really poses very little risk to humans.)
Read his post before you read my comments below.
MY RESPONSE TO HAPPINESS
You've listed what many of us, even Westerners, see as the strengths of Micronesian cultures. And I'm sure that you better than we could identify the weaknesses of your own culture.
However, as I see it, the challenges facing Micronesians don't necessarily have to do with individual cultural characteristics but in how to maintain the best of being Micronesian while you relate to other cultures. And it's not just a matter of relating to Western culture anymore (or should I say Western cultures -- for not all Western cultures and sub-cultures share the same time, work, and family orientation). The lines between East and West are blurring in the globalized context.
In the ancient world Greek was the trade language of the Roman Empire. People still maintained their own languages but they figured out how to switch between their native language and the koine Greek according to context.
In the 21st century we have a situation where it's not just a common trade language but a common global trade culture which is emerging. And it is not 100% native to any of us -- but it is a fluid fusion. Any group which does not learn how to relate to that constantly changing koine cultural wave will eventually be swallowed by it. This will be equally true of Americans, Chinese, Dutch, Mexicans, and Chuukese.
We're all trying to figure out how to surf the wave without letting it swamp us.
This is Micronesian Culture 101 for Westerners.(In the picture, Happiness, with white short sleeve shirt, is sharing the snake he captured with some of the other PIBC students. As far as I know they don't have snakes in Chuuk, from where most of these students hail. The Brown Tree Snake, an invasive species on Guam, is only mildly venomous and really poses very little risk to humans.)
Read his post before you read my comments below.
MY RESPONSE TO HAPPINESS
You've listed what many of us, even Westerners, see as the strengths of Micronesian cultures. And I'm sure that you better than we could identify the weaknesses of your own culture.
However, as I see it, the challenges facing Micronesians don't necessarily have to do with individual cultural characteristics but in how to maintain the best of being Micronesian while you relate to other cultures. And it's not just a matter of relating to Western culture anymore (or should I say Western cultures -- for not all Western cultures and sub-cultures share the same time, work, and family orientation). The lines between East and West are blurring in the globalized context.
In the ancient world Greek was the trade language of the Roman Empire. People still maintained their own languages but they figured out how to switch between their native language and the koine Greek according to context.
In the 21st century we have a situation where it's not just a common trade language but a common global trade culture which is emerging. And it is not 100% native to any of us -- but it is a fluid fusion. Any group which does not learn how to relate to that constantly changing koine cultural wave will eventually be swallowed by it. This will be equally true of Americans, Chinese, Dutch, Mexicans, and Chuukese.
We're all trying to figure out how to surf the wave without letting it swamp us.
Sunday, November 18
Random
~ Rain, rain -- wind, wind -- off and on all day. I was looking at the radar and it appears that there could be a tropical depression starting to form around us. It will be past us before it develops into any kind of a real storm but it's creating a soggy nuisance. The ground is pretty saturated.
~ South African Theological Seminary, a major legitimate accredited player in distance theological education (3,500 students in 63 countries), will be launching a new elearning platform early in 2008. The online system will include online learning communities, email fora, wikis, and blogs. "This platform promises to take theological education via distance education to a new level."
~ 3,000-10,000 die in Bangladesh storm -- inadequate construction and building on floodplains -- problems related to corruption and poverty-- Link
~ South African Theological Seminary, a major legitimate accredited player in distance theological education (3,500 students in 63 countries), will be launching a new elearning platform early in 2008. The online system will include online learning communities, email fora, wikis, and blogs. "This platform promises to take theological education via distance education to a new level."
~ 3,000-10,000 die in Bangladesh storm -- inadequate construction and building on floodplains -- problems related to corruption and poverty-- Link
Friday, November 16
Random
~ Wow! We had a slamming earthquake this afternoon at 4:58 p.m. I could hear it coming kind of like a train in the distance and then everything shook. The good news is that nothing broke and the power stayed on. It felt a lot stronger than it was -- only 4.7.
~ Fred Smith's three principles of good communication: -- Link
(1) The speaker should be motivated to express, not impress.
(2) Great communicators understand that they should avoid registering shock.
(3) Good communicators display interest, not curiosity.
Try substituting the word "blogger" for "speaker" or "communicator."
~ Fred Smith's three principles of good communication: -- Link
(1) The speaker should be motivated to express, not impress.
(2) Great communicators understand that they should avoid registering shock.
(3) Good communicators display interest, not curiosity.
Try substituting the word "blogger" for "speaker" or "communicator."
It's time to vote no on slots again
"Guam's Supreme Court has ordered that an initiative to legalize the use of gambling slot machines at the island's dog racing track be placed on an upcoming special election ballot..."
Chip, chip, chip. This is the issue that just won't go away. And each time there is an election the gaming industry gets a few more votes -- encouraging them to try one more time. Eventually they'll probably get their way -- unless we present them with a dramatic defeat.
They offer an economic short-cut in a culture that values short-cuts and entitlement. The unspoken but clear message is that if we build gambling into the fabric of the island's economy then we won't have to develop a real economy -- an economy built on solid education, creativity, ingenuity, capitalization, and labor.
Dangling slots and the sirens of gambling-based prosperity are red herrings distracting us from the hard work of solid entrepreneurial development and initiative. But the reality is that Guam already has too many dependency issues.
It's time to vote no on slots again -- this time dramatically.
Chip, chip, chip. This is the issue that just won't go away. And each time there is an election the gaming industry gets a few more votes -- encouraging them to try one more time. Eventually they'll probably get their way -- unless we present them with a dramatic defeat.They offer an economic short-cut in a culture that values short-cuts and entitlement. The unspoken but clear message is that if we build gambling into the fabric of the island's economy then we won't have to develop a real economy -- an economy built on solid education, creativity, ingenuity, capitalization, and labor.
Dangling slots and the sirens of gambling-based prosperity are red herrings distracting us from the hard work of solid entrepreneurial development and initiative. But the reality is that Guam already has too many dependency issues.
It's time to vote no on slots again -- this time dramatically.
Random
~ Why 18-22 year olds drop out of church -- "In most cases, the decision to leave was not planned far in advance." -- Link
~ Will the Micronesian church ever get its act together? I'm seeing signs of hope. The Lodge is one of them. Pray for these students who are unwilling to accept mediocre dysfunctional Christianity. -- Link
~ My spiritual formation students are watching movies -- Link
~ I made the pilgrimage to Home Depot, Guam's newest temple. I found the plant fungicide I had been unable to find on island up to this point. And I'm happy to report that the store is pretty much like Home Depots everywhere else -- although the garden section is pretty small compared to the other Home Depots I've frequented. They do have a self-checkout system -- probably the only one on Guam. Most customers seemed to avoid the self-checkout line -- probably unfamiliar with the concept. That made my exit all the easier.
~ Will the Micronesian church ever get its act together? I'm seeing signs of hope. The Lodge is one of them. Pray for these students who are unwilling to accept mediocre dysfunctional Christianity. -- Link
~ My spiritual formation students are watching movies -- Link
~ I made the pilgrimage to Home Depot, Guam's newest temple. I found the plant fungicide I had been unable to find on island up to this point. And I'm happy to report that the store is pretty much like Home Depots everywhere else -- although the garden section is pretty small compared to the other Home Depots I've frequented. They do have a self-checkout system -- probably the only one on Guam. Most customers seemed to avoid the self-checkout line -- probably unfamiliar with the concept. That made my exit all the easier.
Thursday, November 15
Random
~ Martin Marty reviews the Economist's special report on religion. Quotable: A key (Peter) Berger line: "We made a category mistake. We thought that the relationship was between modernisation and secularisation. In fact it was between modernisation and pluralism." Because pluralism implies "choice," it becomes a major theme. The editors and the people they quote depict religious offerings almost on the model of a cafeteria line. It's a buyer's market, and both growth and vitality patterns pretty much follow the lines of those who package the most attractive offerings... -- Link
~ Uwe Siemon-Netto is seeking to return Luther's discussion of vocation and the two kingdoms to the table -- "Work Is Our Mission: Why the godly baker's most significant task is baking good bread"
~ Starting next Monday, mail sent through the US postal service to the FSM and the Marshalls will once again be handled at the domestic rate. -- Link
~ Making your life easier -- file for divorce online. What an advanced society we are. -- Link
~ Federal spending on Guam has increased 40% over the last 12 years. I'm bookmarking this story for the next time some local person whines about how poor Guam is being neglected by the US government. -- Link
~ Scot McKnight's brilliant Jesus Creed blog, which covers some of the weightiest and engaging topics in theology and culture is written on a "junior high" reading level. -- Link
Apparently, my blog is "college" level. I'm going to have to work on simplifying things -- perhaps start writing in complete sentences -- nah -- no fun doing that.
~ Uwe Siemon-Netto is seeking to return Luther's discussion of vocation and the two kingdoms to the table -- "Work Is Our Mission: Why the godly baker's most significant task is baking good bread"
~ Starting next Monday, mail sent through the US postal service to the FSM and the Marshalls will once again be handled at the domestic rate. -- Link
~ Making your life easier -- file for divorce online. What an advanced society we are. -- Link
~ Federal spending on Guam has increased 40% over the last 12 years. I'm bookmarking this story for the next time some local person whines about how poor Guam is being neglected by the US government. -- Link
~ Scot McKnight's brilliant Jesus Creed blog, which covers some of the weightiest and engaging topics in theology and culture is written on a "junior high" reading level. -- Link
Apparently, my blog is "college" level. I'm going to have to work on simplifying things -- perhaps start writing in complete sentences -- nah -- no fun doing that.
Wednesday, November 14
I'm back on Guam
The plane touched down a little after 1 a.m. this morning and I was asleep in my own bed by 2 a.m. Travel went smoothly. It was 11 hours between San Francisco and Tokyo -- enough time to read a lot and watch a few movies. I enjoyed Transformers and thought that Hair Spray was a fun flick.
Generally speaking I'm not bothered by airline food. You just know that it's not going to be gourmet -- although at times I've been pleasantly surprised. However, the food on the Northwest Airlines flight to Tokyo made the mystery meat that they served in the elementary school cafeteria look like gourmet. I was glad that I eaten before getting on board.
One change that I noticed from the last time we were in transit through Narita is that there are fewer white gloves. When we went through in October of 2005 everyone who wore any kind of uniform seemed to have white gloves but this time only the security screeners handling luggage and the man rounding up luggage carts had white gloves. All the Japanese workers looked a lot more relaxed.
Another change at Narita is that more of the terminals are now open and they have large screen TVs in the waiting areas. I watched sumo wrestlers for some of my 3 hour layover.
Most of the people on the the flight between Narita and Guam were Japanese tourists. There was one other white person, an older woman, and an older Chamorro man on the 747. The rest were all Japanese tourists coming for their four day vacations -- most are fairly young. Surprisingly, there were quite a few children.
Travel time between Narita and Guam is 3 hours and 10 minutes. Most of that was spent taxing to the runway at Narita. I've never been to an airport with so many twists and turns on the tarmac. Fortunately, I didn't get car sick. :-)
It is amazing, though, that you can get halfway around the world in under 24 hours. The inconveniences that we put up with to travel are really minor in the overall scheme of things.
Generally speaking I'm not bothered by airline food. You just know that it's not going to be gourmet -- although at times I've been pleasantly surprised. However, the food on the Northwest Airlines flight to Tokyo made the mystery meat that they served in the elementary school cafeteria look like gourmet. I was glad that I eaten before getting on board.
One change that I noticed from the last time we were in transit through Narita is that there are fewer white gloves. When we went through in October of 2005 everyone who wore any kind of uniform seemed to have white gloves but this time only the security screeners handling luggage and the man rounding up luggage carts had white gloves. All the Japanese workers looked a lot more relaxed.
Another change at Narita is that more of the terminals are now open and they have large screen TVs in the waiting areas. I watched sumo wrestlers for some of my 3 hour layover.
Most of the people on the the flight between Narita and Guam were Japanese tourists. There was one other white person, an older woman, and an older Chamorro man on the 747. The rest were all Japanese tourists coming for their four day vacations -- most are fairly young. Surprisingly, there were quite a few children.
Travel time between Narita and Guam is 3 hours and 10 minutes. Most of that was spent taxing to the runway at Narita. I've never been to an airport with so many twists and turns on the tarmac. Fortunately, I didn't get car sick. :-)
It is amazing, though, that you can get halfway around the world in under 24 hours. The inconveniences that we put up with to travel are really minor in the overall scheme of things.
Tuesday, November 13
Random
~ The not so simple way to save the world from environmental and health disaster -- (1) get people out of their cars and walking for at a least a half-hour everyday (2) eat less meat. -- Link
~ I'm already disappointed. When they first started talking about Home Depot coming to Guam they were saying that it was going to be the largest in the world. Now it seems that the store which opens on Thursday will only be the second largest Home Depot in the world. So much for bragging rights. :-) -- Link
~ Evangelical-Mormon Dialogue -- John Morehead is musing on the ramifications of the "disparity of concern" -- Link
~ I spent some time yesterday walking around the crowded financial district of San Francisco -- hardly a suit or tie to be found anywhere. This place isn't totally crazy.
~ Kent, our #2 son, has some new pictures up -- Link
~ I'm traveling today -- flying from SFO to Narita (extreme outskirts of Tokyo) and then on to Guam. I should arrive very early Thursday morning Guam time. Hopefully no one is expecting me to show up for work -- or if I do show up that I'm going to be at all productive for a day or two. Flying west to Guam isn't nearly as difficult as flying east from Guam. In the past the jet lag adjustment hasn't been so bad.
~ Global Christian Forum -- new transnational paradigm for Christian unity -- Link
~ I'm already disappointed. When they first started talking about Home Depot coming to Guam they were saying that it was going to be the largest in the world. Now it seems that the store which opens on Thursday will only be the second largest Home Depot in the world. So much for bragging rights. :-) -- Link
~ Evangelical-Mormon Dialogue -- John Morehead is musing on the ramifications of the "disparity of concern" -- Link
~ I spent some time yesterday walking around the crowded financial district of San Francisco -- hardly a suit or tie to be found anywhere. This place isn't totally crazy.
~ Kent, our #2 son, has some new pictures up -- Link
~ I'm traveling today -- flying from SFO to Narita (extreme outskirts of Tokyo) and then on to Guam. I should arrive very early Thursday morning Guam time. Hopefully no one is expecting me to show up for work -- or if I do show up that I'm going to be at all productive for a day or two. Flying west to Guam isn't nearly as difficult as flying east from Guam. In the past the jet lag adjustment hasn't been so bad.
~ Global Christian Forum -- new transnational paradigm for Christian unity -- Link
Monday, November 12
Random
~ Our #1 son Kirk, with whom I'm staying while in San Francisco, gave me a tour of his office at H5 Technologies. He is a linguist or "discourse analyst." Their company was recently written up in Forbes -- which is good because I've had trouble explaining what they do.
~ The 115 year-old congregation in which I grew up in San Jose, California recently sold their church building, netting more than $3 million. The money is being channeled back into new church plants, compassion ministries, and a restart of the congregation in a new location.
While the facility was great, the old location was always poor and the parking was inadequate.
Interestingly, when they were disposing of the furniture, Cornerstone Covenant Church in Turlock, where I was pastor for 11 years, ended up with the communion table. It fits in well at Cornerstone.
~ "America's consumer economy may be a symptom of a bigger illness -- and it could be killing us all. As a species, we simply don't know what to do with all this excess, says prominent UCLA researcher Dr. Peter Whybrow," who has written American Mania. -- Link to Marketplace Story
~ Is prosperity a blessing from God or a crime? -- LA Times article on rich megachurch pastors As I see it the answer to the question depends on what we do with the prosperity. If we use it to live in self-indulging opulence it's a crime -- at least in God's eyes. If we channel our prosperity into serving God and others it is a blessing. As Jesus pointed out, "it is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) This isn't really all that complicated of an issue.
~ Global climate change chart illustrating the ups and downs over the last 4,500 years -- Link
~ Great gadget -- ceramic food warmer that sets on steam radiators -- simple and clever but not too useful on Guam
~ New LDS doctrinal revision seeks to bring Book of Mormon more in line with science. This is no real surprise -- Mormons have a very fluid understanding of revelation. -- Link
~ Another mega-church merger -- Word of Grace in Mesa and CitiChurch in Scottsdale, Arizona have merged to form a single multi-site church. -- Link
~ "Lessons In Not Sucking: Cheap Marketing Ideas for Church Planters" -- Some are actually very good ideas and very relational -- Link
~ The rise of super cities -- 19 cities in the world with 20 million or more people in the 21st century. -- Link (via). Think mission opportunity.
~ The Farnsworths have moved. Dave and I will be moving our offices into their old apartment, which is connected to the administration building at PIBC. -- Link
~ The 115 year-old congregation in which I grew up in San Jose, California recently sold their church building, netting more than $3 million. The money is being channeled back into new church plants, compassion ministries, and a restart of the congregation in a new location.While the facility was great, the old location was always poor and the parking was inadequate.
Interestingly, when they were disposing of the furniture, Cornerstone Covenant Church in Turlock, where I was pastor for 11 years, ended up with the communion table. It fits in well at Cornerstone.
~ "America's consumer economy may be a symptom of a bigger illness -- and it could be killing us all. As a species, we simply don't know what to do with all this excess, says prominent UCLA researcher Dr. Peter Whybrow," who has written American Mania. -- Link to Marketplace Story
~ Is prosperity a blessing from God or a crime? -- LA Times article on rich megachurch pastors As I see it the answer to the question depends on what we do with the prosperity. If we use it to live in self-indulging opulence it's a crime -- at least in God's eyes. If we channel our prosperity into serving God and others it is a blessing. As Jesus pointed out, "it is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) This isn't really all that complicated of an issue.
~ Global climate change chart illustrating the ups and downs over the last 4,500 years -- Link
~ Great gadget -- ceramic food warmer that sets on steam radiators -- simple and clever but not too useful on Guam
~ New LDS doctrinal revision seeks to bring Book of Mormon more in line with science. This is no real surprise -- Mormons have a very fluid understanding of revelation. -- Link
~ Another mega-church merger -- Word of Grace in Mesa and CitiChurch in Scottsdale, Arizona have merged to form a single multi-site church. -- Link
~ "Lessons In Not Sucking: Cheap Marketing Ideas for Church Planters" -- Some are actually very good ideas and very relational -- Link
~ The rise of super cities -- 19 cities in the world with 20 million or more people in the 21st century. -- Link (via). Think mission opportunity.
~ The Farnsworths have moved. Dave and I will be moving our offices into their old apartment, which is connected to the administration building at PIBC. -- Link
Bible-free hotels
"Intimacy kits" are in and Bibles are out -- "less values-oriented" hotels. (Obviously, it's not "less-values" -- just different values.)Interestingly, when Newsweek posted a photo to illustrate their story of how the Gideons are being nudged out of US hotels they pictured a non-Gideon style NIV Bible. Maybe they couldn't find a Gideon Bible for the photo-shoot -- or couldn't tell the difference.
This is what a Gideons Bible looks like. In hotels they all seem to be King James Version Bibles. The NIV is too progressive. I wonder if the distribution of archaic language Bibles may be contributing to the perception that the Bible is irrelevant to contemporary life.
Sunday, November 11
Random
~ It's been a day! Worshiped with the folks at Cornerstone Covenant this morning. (It's still Sunday in California -- even though the blog is set to Guam time and so this appears as a Monday post.) I drove to Roseville to see Keith & Beth Hallsten (& kids). Then I drove to Walnut Creek to see more of the relatives -- Charlie & Sue Bickerton (& kids). I think I've been making up for the fact that I haven't done any highway driving for 1½ years. It wasn't too hard to get back into the swing of it. And it's been so worth it -- seeing everyone. The adults all look the same but the children all look so much older. Now I'm back in San Francisco -- leaving on Tuesday (airfare is significantly cheaper if I leave on Tuesday.) I'll spend Monday grading homework and trying to figure out how to pack everything back into the suitcases.
~ The GovGuam Dept of Rev & Tax is cutting some $3.3 million dollars worth of tax refund checks. Many of the recipients have been waiting for refunds since before 2003. This disbursement will not come near to catching up on what's owed to taxpayers. IOW, it might be wise to make sure your check clears the bank before spending the money. -- Link
~ The GovGuam Dept of Rev & Tax is cutting some $3.3 million dollars worth of tax refund checks. Many of the recipients have been waiting for refunds since before 2003. This disbursement will not come near to catching up on what's owed to taxpayers. IOW, it might be wise to make sure your check clears the bank before spending the money. -- Link
Random
~ I used Kirk's iPhone for a couple of calls this morning. Oh my... that is one addicting device.
~ I dropped in on Turlock for my first visit since leaving a year and a half ago. There are some new stores (e.g. Lowes) and restaurants (e.g. Panera Bread) but it all still looks amazingly familiar and like home (which of course, it isn't anymore).
I drove by our old house. The yard which I had so carefully manicured has been trashed. There has got to be a sermon or two in there somewhere.
~ Harold Hay, at 98, is still plugging his innovative solar system -- Link
~ I dropped in on Turlock for my first visit since leaving a year and a half ago. There are some new stores (e.g. Lowes) and restaurants (e.g. Panera Bread) but it all still looks amazingly familiar and like home (which of course, it isn't anymore).
I drove by our old house. The yard which I had so carefully manicured has been trashed. There has got to be a sermon or two in there somewhere.
~ Harold Hay, at 98, is still plugging his innovative solar system -- Link
Saturday, November 10
Random
~ Greetings from San Francisco. Kirk and Betsy met me at SFO and we took BART back to his apartment. Traveling was fine -- except that the Atlanta airport is one chaotic place. It took nearly an hour to clear security. They have design and planning issues.
~ I met some interesting people at the TRACS conference -- including Brian Bell and the group from Christian Community College in Redlands, California. They offer a two-year AA degree, trying to prepare students who wouldn't normally think of themselves as college material -- people from underserved population groups -- to enter a four year college program. Christian Community College received TRACS accreditation this past week.
~ My first blog post was November 10, 2002. Link
~ I met some interesting people at the TRACS conference -- including Brian Bell and the group from Christian Community College in Redlands, California. They offer a two-year AA degree, trying to prepare students who wouldn't normally think of themselves as college material -- people from underserved population groups -- to enter a four year college program. Christian Community College received TRACS accreditation this past week.
~ My first blog post was November 10, 2002. Link
Thursday, November 8
Random
~ Beth the Nominalism-Buster is on the job -- Link
~ Greg Snell has 10 wise insights for churches who are working with development projects -- Link
~ Is American church attendance in decline? -- Link
~ So, now bottled water is GOOD for the environment? -- Link
~ 25% of the homeless in the US are vets -- even though they only make up 11% of the population -- problems related to being in the service or is it that people who have problems in the first place often join the military to try and make something out of their lives? Either way we can't just look the other way. Link
~ Is the US Senate's investigation of televangelists setting a precedent that could come back to bite us all? -- Link
I seriously doubt it. There are some major abusers out there and this is really just a warning shot across the bow. Most, however, have enough of a victim complex that they'll cry "persecution" and boldly dig their heels in deeper.
~ In one of the classes we visited the other day a student asked the class to pray for his baby daughter (?). Apparently, his wife had told their young son, an active toddler, the story of Jesus curing a blind man by putting his spit on the man's eyes. A short while later the boy spit on a stick and when the mother wasn't looking applied it to the baby's eyes with the stick. There was eye damage but the doctors were optimistic that it wasn't permanent. Lord, have mercy for the sake of everyone in that family.
~ Greg Snell has 10 wise insights for churches who are working with development projects -- Link
~ Is American church attendance in decline? -- Link
~ So, now bottled water is GOOD for the environment? -- Link
~ 25% of the homeless in the US are vets -- even though they only make up 11% of the population -- problems related to being in the service or is it that people who have problems in the first place often join the military to try and make something out of their lives? Either way we can't just look the other way. Link
~ Is the US Senate's investigation of televangelists setting a precedent that could come back to bite us all? -- Link
I seriously doubt it. There are some major abusers out there and this is really just a warning shot across the bow. Most, however, have enough of a victim complex that they'll cry "persecution" and boldly dig their heels in deeper.
~ In one of the classes we visited the other day a student asked the class to pray for his baby daughter (?). Apparently, his wife had told their young son, an active toddler, the story of Jesus curing a blind man by putting his spit on the man's eyes. A short while later the boy spit on a stick and when the mother wasn't looking applied it to the baby's eyes with the stick. There was eye damage but the doctors were optimistic that it wasn't permanent. Lord, have mercy for the sake of everyone in that family.
Wednesday, November 7
Random
~ Greetings from the Renaissance Hotel by the airport in Atlanta -- where I am connecting through a dial-up connection because they want $14.95/day to use the broadband in the room. ...like that's going to happen.
~ Have I mentioned that I'm ready to get back to Guam? Although I'll be happy to stop by for a visit with Kirk and Betsy on the way out. But I don't leave Atlanta until Friday afternoon. I should be back on Guam in time for the opening of Home Depot.
~ There are some newly discovered species of whales -- Link
~ William Willimon: The point of preaching isn't to reach a culture but to change it -- Link
~ How to carry your desktop with you on a thumb-drive using portableaps -- Link
~ Chicago, Tampa, Miami, Phoenix, and Atlanta -- the most caffeinated cities in America
-- Link
~ Have I mentioned that I'm ready to get back to Guam? Although I'll be happy to stop by for a visit with Kirk and Betsy on the way out. But I don't leave Atlanta until Friday afternoon. I should be back on Guam in time for the opening of Home Depot.
~ There are some newly discovered species of whales -- Link
~ William Willimon: The point of preaching isn't to reach a culture but to change it -- Link
~ How to carry your desktop with you on a thumb-drive using portableaps -- Link
~ Chicago, Tampa, Miami, Phoenix, and Atlanta -- the most caffeinated cities in America
-- Link
Tuesday, November 6
Random
~ Rob Johnston is the editor of a new collection of essays on theology and film -- Reframing Theology and Film: New Focus for an Emerging Discipline
~ "Your Atonement Is Too Small" -- CT's editor-in-chief David Neff positively reviews Scot McKnight's A Community Called Atonement
~ Michael Spencer positively reviews Alistar McGrath's Christianity’s Dangerous Idea -- "Best book ever"
~ The cries of Ole Anthony, crusader against religious fraud, have apparently been heard. The US Senate has launched an investigation into six flashy televangelists -- Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland, and Benny Hinn. Link
~ The deadline for submitting names to the ECC presidential search committee is November 30th. Link
~ Teacher success is when you see your students asking the right questions and seeking solid answers -- outside the classroom. Happiness Lodge is right on target with his observations about his own Micronesian culture and the wave of globalization that is beginning to crash on the islands. If anything with true Micronesian tact, he is understating the issue. There is a tsunami on the way. Link
~ Andy Rowell wants to know if pastors are competitive enough. Link
~ I've enjoyed South Carolina -- the people and the landscape -- although at times it feels cold to me -- and they still allow smoking in restaurants (even when I'm sitting in the non-smoking section it makes my eyes smart). Apparently the memo about second hand smoke being deadly never made it this far.
~ "Your Atonement Is Too Small" -- CT's editor-in-chief David Neff positively reviews Scot McKnight's A Community Called Atonement
~ Michael Spencer positively reviews Alistar McGrath's Christianity’s Dangerous Idea -- "Best book ever"
~ The cries of Ole Anthony, crusader against religious fraud, have apparently been heard. The US Senate has launched an investigation into six flashy televangelists -- Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland, and Benny Hinn. Link
~ The deadline for submitting names to the ECC presidential search committee is November 30th. Link
~ Teacher success is when you see your students asking the right questions and seeking solid answers -- outside the classroom. Happiness Lodge is right on target with his observations about his own Micronesian culture and the wave of globalization that is beginning to crash on the islands. If anything with true Micronesian tact, he is understating the issue. There is a tsunami on the way. Link
~ Andy Rowell wants to know if pastors are competitive enough. Link
~ I've enjoyed South Carolina -- the people and the landscape -- although at times it feels cold to me -- and they still allow smoking in restaurants (even when I'm sitting in the non-smoking section it makes my eyes smart). Apparently the memo about second hand smoke being deadly never made it this far.
Monday, November 5
Random
~ Dave Owen (picture right) and I met up with ~ The latest on Dave & Brad's Most Excellent Road Trip
~ Beth is answering Don's question
~ Enhance your Mozilla browsing experience with numbered tabs
~ Bookmark: FindInternetTV.com -- search for online episodes of your favorite shows (via)
~ Ned Farnsworth has some good pictures of his PIBC students involved in children's ministries
~ Speaking at the Asian Society of Missiology conference in Bangkok, missions guru Ralph Winter shared "12 past mistakes made by Western mission agencies that Asian missiologists should avoid." Number one on his list was the fact that Western missionaries start Bible schools rather than universities. As a teacher in a Bible College started by missionaries I will agree -- he's totally on target. From a missional standpoint Bible colleges are good -- but not good enough. By narrowing our focus so much we're severely limiting our influence and are being less than holistic in our approach to faith. We tend to create a compartmentalized disintegrate approach to faith.
Sunday, November 4
Random
~ Greetings from Columbia, South Carolina. Dave and I are staying with Don and Melissa Howell while we're here. Very hospitable.
~ I had an interesting experience on the way yesterday -- a first for me -- an aborted take-off. The plane was moving down the runway in Phoenix, about at the point where the wheels leave the ground, and suddenly we powered down, slowed down, turned off the runway and returned to the terminal. Apparently as we were picking up speed on the runway the luggage door popped open. Nothing fell out. We were soon back in line behind 13 airliners to start over again.
~ Talking improves memory while social isolation tends to inhibit memory function.
~ Answers to Don's questions
~ I had an interesting experience on the way yesterday -- a first for me -- an aborted take-off. The plane was moving down the runway in Phoenix, about at the point where the wheels leave the ground, and suddenly we powered down, slowed down, turned off the runway and returned to the terminal. Apparently as we were picking up speed on the runway the luggage door popped open. Nothing fell out. We were soon back in line behind 13 airliners to start over again.
~ Talking improves memory while social isolation tends to inhibit memory function.
~ Answers to Don's questions
Saturday, November 3
Random
~ What is your reaction to this poster? Is this something Jesus would actually do? (via) (Click on the picture for a bigger view.)
~ Antioch College may not close after all.
~ Why is Bill Hybel's admission of an error in approach to church such a big deal?
Because we all more or less bought into his model -- or developed in reaction to Willow Creek.
"Mr Chairman, members of the committee, I wish to be perfectly clear, I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the Willow Creek Association..." :-)
Hey, at least Bill was innovating while a lot of the rest of us were sitting on our numb butts. There are things about the seeker model that made me uncomfortable from the beginning but not everything -- and I've always been comfortable with and had great respect for the Willow Creek leaders and people -- still do.
~ Beth, thou art hereby dubbed with the title "Nominalist Buster." Might thou be as allegiant in this pursuit as thou hast been as the "Gnostic Buster."
Of course, you realize that you are tackling the two major weaknesses of American evangelicalism. May the Force be with you. :-)
~ My brother Gary and wife Joy came over to my parent's place today. Then my uncle Ron and Aunt Nita came be for supper, too. It was a micro family reunion.
~ Dave and I meet up Sunday in Houston. Then we fly on to Atlanta. We drive to Columbia, South Carolina and hang there for a couple of days. I'm hoping to meet up with Sean while there.
~ Don Johnson is asking the right questions -- questions which the Covenant will need to address as we search for a new president. What does it mean to elect a President of a Denomination in a "denominationless culture? What focus should denominational leadership take when their role is not longer assumed to be important by a growing majority of church-goers? What will be the emerging role for denominational presence in the life of a local church?
I'm an optimist. Of any denomination the Covenant is perhaps in the strongest of positions. Many denominations are trying to morph to become more like the post-Swedish-American Covenant has been. Still we're going to have to change even more to deal with the emerging reality.
It's not easy to be a tribal chief -- even of a highly effective tribe -- when people don't have much of their identity invested in the tribe. Whether it should or shouldn't be this way is moot. It is the reality in which we serve.
~ Antioch College may not close after all.
~ Why is Bill Hybel's admission of an error in approach to church such a big deal?
Because we all more or less bought into his model -- or developed in reaction to Willow Creek.
"Mr Chairman, members of the committee, I wish to be perfectly clear, I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the Willow Creek Association..." :-)
Hey, at least Bill was innovating while a lot of the rest of us were sitting on our numb butts. There are things about the seeker model that made me uncomfortable from the beginning but not everything -- and I've always been comfortable with and had great respect for the Willow Creek leaders and people -- still do.
~ Beth, thou art hereby dubbed with the title "Nominalist Buster." Might thou be as allegiant in this pursuit as thou hast been as the "Gnostic Buster."
Of course, you realize that you are tackling the two major weaknesses of American evangelicalism. May the Force be with you. :-)
~ My brother Gary and wife Joy came over to my parent's place today. Then my uncle Ron and Aunt Nita came be for supper, too. It was a micro family reunion.
~ Dave and I meet up Sunday in Houston. Then we fly on to Atlanta. We drive to Columbia, South Carolina and hang there for a couple of days. I'm hoping to meet up with Sean while there.
~ Don Johnson is asking the right questions -- questions which the Covenant will need to address as we search for a new president. What does it mean to elect a President of a Denomination in a "denominationless culture? What focus should denominational leadership take when their role is not longer assumed to be important by a growing majority of church-goers? What will be the emerging role for denominational presence in the life of a local church?
I'm an optimist. Of any denomination the Covenant is perhaps in the strongest of positions. Many denominations are trying to morph to become more like the post-Swedish-American Covenant has been. Still we're going to have to change even more to deal with the emerging reality.
It's not easy to be a tribal chief -- even of a highly effective tribe -- when people don't have much of their identity invested in the tribe. Whether it should or shouldn't be this way is moot. It is the reality in which we serve.
Friday, November 2
Random
~ Which is a higher Christian priority -- social concern or evangelism? Which is a higher priority -- to live out the gospel or to proclaim it? Which is a higher priority -- to love God or to love people? Which is a higher priority -- to pray or to read your Bible? Which is a higher priority -- to send missionaries or to reach your local community?
Do you remember when they told you in school that "there is no such thing as a stupid question"? They were wrong.
~ I want to see the Bee Movie.
~ Robert Schuller the Younger continues to do and say things which suggest that he's not just a clone of his father. He has his own voice -- so to speak.
~ Biblical Seminary now has an online certificate in "missional studies." (.pdf) (via)
~ I needed a WiFi connection this afternoon so I could grade some homework. So I went to Quo Vadis Books down near ASU to use theirs. Quo Vadis is a student ministry center which is a bookstore and hang-out. While I was a student and before I went to seminary I worked at Quo Vadis talking with students and managing the inventory. It was good to be back in there (although they've changed locations) and to see that they are just as vital today as 28 years ago. The new light rail system that will connect Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa is under construction right in front of the store. Location. Location. Location.
Do you remember when they told you in school that "there is no such thing as a stupid question"? They were wrong.
~ I want to see the Bee Movie.
~ Robert Schuller the Younger continues to do and say things which suggest that he's not just a clone of his father. He has his own voice -- so to speak.
~ Biblical Seminary now has an online certificate in "missional studies." (.pdf) (via)
~ I needed a WiFi connection this afternoon so I could grade some homework. So I went to Quo Vadis Books down near ASU to use theirs. Quo Vadis is a student ministry center which is a bookstore and hang-out. While I was a student and before I went to seminary I worked at Quo Vadis talking with students and managing the inventory. It was good to be back in there (although they've changed locations) and to see that they are just as vital today as 28 years ago. The new light rail system that will connect Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa is under construction right in front of the store. Location. Location. Location.
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