No matter who you are voting for the in the upcoming election, you should enjoy this video. Barack Obama is a great speaker and I believe he inspires people. I encourage you not to believe the propaganda out there about him, but form your own opinion on him. For the first time in history we will have a black candidate or a woman candidate for president. Our country is moving in a direction that I believe more reflects the diversity of the Kingdom of God even though we have a long ways to go the movement in the right direction is encouraging to me.
On Thursday mornings, I meet with a group of guys and we read and discuss a book together. Recently we made our way through a book called Deep Economy by Bill McKibben. The book talks a lot about community and how our American culture has moved so far away from community that we as humans have become hyperindividuals. Meaning that we rely completely on ourselves, we look for the fast track, and the easiest way to get ahead no matter who we step on. In a sense we are living the American dream by becoming more individualistic. In the book he talks about levels of happiness and satisfaction with life. America ranks 13 on the list of developed countries in regards to level of happiness, but ranks second when comes to average per capita income. Americans have more money, more cars, more houses, more of everything, yet there satisfaction with life has declined drastically over the last 20 years. More stuff is not creating a better life as advertisements try to suggest. McKibben argues that the loss of community is what is missing from people lives. People want to feel a sense of connectedness. They want to experience community, where they know they can count on a group of people no matter what happens. He really challenges community by discussing eating locally or the 100 mile challenge. Which means that you only eat food purchased/produced within 100 miles of where you live. This makes you aware of the local economy, it creates community with local farmers, and it forces you to be more strategic about planning meals. The 100 mile challenge is a result of some staggering statistics. First, the average bite of food an American takes has traveled on average 1,500 miles. The effect 1,500 miles has on the environment is staggering. Also, he discussed how American farms have become more centralized and larger in scale, twenty percent of farmers produce around 80 percent of the food produced in America. Reading this book really struck a chord with our group and we have decided to do our best to eat locally over the next few months. We are not going to get to crazy with it, but we have made some concious decisions to eat locally in order to create community.
Over the past decade Ben Harper has done some amazing things both lyrically and instrumentaly. In 2007 he released a soul album with The Innocent Crimmanals entitled "Both Sides of the Gun." For the past six months the CD often finds it way onto my Ipods playlist. The CD is full of brilliant songs, songs that inspire, songs that make you think, and songs that make you want to follow Jesus more closely. Even though Ben Harper doesn't claim to affliate with any religion, the lyrics in his songs scream the name of Jesus. One song on his lastest CD is entitled "Better Way." The song describes a better way of life and believing in that better way. How do you respond to the call of Jesus to live the "Better Way?"
i'm a living sunset lightning in my bones push me to the edge but my will is stone
fools will be fools and wise will be wise but i will look this world straight in the eyes
what good is a man who won't take a stand what good is a cynic with no better plan
(hope these words feel pleasant as they rest upon your ears)
reality is sharp it cuts at me like a knife everyone i know is in the fight of their life
take your face out of your hands and clear your eyes you have a right to your dreams and don't be denied
Hello Friends of long ago. As you may or may not have noticed it has been about five months since I last posted on my blog. Over the past five months, I have been coaching basketball which consumes much of my time and last week basketball came to an end. Although I was a little disappointed to have basketball over, I am relieved to have some extra time for the people in my life that I love the most. Dawn is especially happy to have me back around the apartment more. I will try my best to keep you all up to date on the happenings in my life and the things that I am learning. For right now I want to share a video with you from Sara Groves. The video and song was inspired by a trip to Rwanda. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to view the movie Hotel Rwanda which detailed the event of the genocide that took place in Rwanda. It was crazy that while the killing of thousands of people was happening in Rwanda, I did not hear one thing about it. I soon realized how small my world view was. I started to become interested in justice issues happening around the world. Then 2 years ago I took a trip to India and saw extreme poverty first hand for the first time in my life. That trip changed my world view forever. I will never forget the faces and the experiences from India. I strongly believe that we are called to love the least of these and enter into the messiness of the pain that so many people face around the world. This video and song is a glimpse into how Sara's life was changed by her experience in Rwanda. The words in the song rung true for me from my experience in India. My hope in prayer is that these words ring true every day.
I saw what I saw and I can't forget it I heard what I heard and I can't go back I know what I know and I can't deny it
Something on the road, cut me to the soul
Your pain has changed me your dream inspires your face a memory your hope a fire your courage asks me what I'm afraid of (what I am made of) and what I know of love
we've done what we've done and we can't erase it we are what we are and it's more than enough we have what we have but it's no substitution
Something on the road, touched my very soul
I say what I say with no hesitation I have what I have and I'm giving it up I do what I do with deep conviction
Great Video with some really solid lyrics. The video reminds me of all the people that have been in my life and all the people that I come in contact with each day. How do I respond to those people and how do I love on those people?
Crosses: Don't you know that I'll be around to guide you Through your weakest moments to leave them behind you Returning nightmares only shadows We'll cast some light and you'll be alright for now Crosses all over, heavy on your shoulders The sirens inside you waiting to step forward Disturbing silence darkens your sight We'll cast some light and you'll be alright for now Crosses all over the boulevard The streets outside your window overflooded People staring they know you've been broken Repeatedly reminded by the looks on their faces Ignore them tonight and you'll be alright We'll cast some light and you'll be alright
A lot of you have proabably heard about this, but I thought it was interesting and would make for some good conversation. Even though what she said was in the context of a joke, a lot of people found it really offensive. How would you respond if somebody said this too you? How are we suppose to react as followers of Jesus? I would love to hear your feedback.
