tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89092177422575258522024-02-20T17:29:14.262-08:00My Mystic SelfRandom thoughts on Social Justice, Religion, Politics, Culture, Life and my dog.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-59996708720478718662012-03-11T21:46:00.000-07:002012-03-11T21:46:47.816-07:00Saved for what?Several years ago, I remember sitting around with a group of socially minded Christians, thinking about how we could change the world, when one person asked if personal salvation the point of the Gospel. There was an awkward pause as we all looked at each other. Finally someone broke the silence. No?<br />
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With a collective sigh of relief we all voices our frustrations with the gospel as it is preached in American Evangelical churches. A gospel that is laser focused on a personal salvation. A gospel that answers the question "What can God do for me?" Not that this isn't an important question. It speak to our very human condition, our brokenness and need for a savior.<br />
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But, the focus on personal salvation prevalent in evangelicalism comes at a cost. It puts blinders on us and makes us unable to see the larger picture of what God is doing throughout history and how we can play a part in it. We are saved by God, saved to play a part in his plan for the redemption of the whole world not just ourselves.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-79014252445747410972012-03-03T09:57:00.000-08:002012-03-03T09:57:29.161-08:00How we should speak of GodLet me be honest here, although I love theology I sometime hate talking about it.......<br />
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To often we talk about what we know about God and we forget about what we do not know. We forget that our theology needs to leave room for mystery. <br />
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I also have a firm belief that all theology is flawed. Paul says that, We only know in part. (1 Cor 13:12) We have only a portion of what we will know of God in heaven. We should speak humbly about what we are so firmly convinced of. <br />
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This is not to say that we shouldn't vigorously defend our theological positions, but we should do it with respect for others. Remembering that we could be just as wrong as they are. Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-16740987086319502072012-02-25T07:45:00.000-08:002012-02-25T07:45:54.115-08:00Work and Identity<div>It's never good when your wife tells you from across the table, "So now you know how I have felt for the past several months.".........</div><div><br />
</div><div>Sense moving to San Francisco my life has been different, in more ways than just 60 degree weather in February and a lot more mexican food. After working 13 years at a salary position where I worked a consistent 40 hours a week with a steady paycheck, I am now working contract. Which among other things means that my hours can vary wildly and my income can too. My wife, who works as a flight attendant has to commute back to Boston for work, so she has been forced reduced her work hours as well. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This has caused me to question my identity a bit. If I'm not working 40 hours a week, maximizing my income potential, what am I doing with my life? I have always said that my work didn't define me, but when faced with not working I find this space that want's to be filled. A part of me that needs to be defined. </div><div><br />
</div>I really shouldn't be surprised by what I am feeling. American's are known for working to hard and taking little time off as compared to our European counterparts. The only people in America that aren't working full time are kids, the elderly, the disabled and the uber rich. I don't fit into any of those categories so it's no wonder that I feel out of place when I'm sitting at a table sipping a cocktail with my wife on a weekday afternoon instead of working at my desk.<br />
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</div>Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-80654673090493423842012-02-23T07:05:00.000-08:002012-02-23T07:05:02.984-08:00Eds storyMy intention in blogging for Lent was not to do it every day, but I saw this video this morning and I couldn't resist.<br />
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This is a beautiful story that speaks to so many things. What is our purpose on the earth, What is the role of the church, how do we treat the elderly and those with disabilities in our society, and how do we follow Jesus.<br />
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Enjoy.<br />
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="374" id="ep" width="416"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=living/2012/02/11/eds-story-my-garden.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=living/2012/02/11/eds-story-my-garden.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object>Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-27142657549191622512012-02-22T07:59:00.000-08:002012-02-22T07:59:58.755-08:00Lent 2012Growing up I didn't know what Lent was. It wasn't until I moved to Boston, a heavily catholic city, that I first encountered it. One seemingly random day a guy from the accounting department walked by my desk with a black smug on his forehead. In my concerned for him let him know that he might want to take care of that. Then he explained to me what Ash Wednesday was.<br />
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Sense then I have always been intrigued with Lent. I actually look forward to it each year. It gives me the chance to be disciplined and actually do something. To practice dependence on God in little ways in hopes that it will permeate the bigger things in my live. This year I am doing three things for Lent; fasting from TV, eating better, and of course blogging.<br />
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Even before Lent started I was facing temptation. When I told my wife I was giving up TV she said that would cause a problem. Who would she have to watch The Bachelor with on Monday nights? Yes, I hate to admit it in a public forum, but we do watch The Bachelor. Mostly to comment on how silly the girls act. It's the little things that can make a marriage solid. I thought about using the get behind me Satan bit, but I know that wouldn't go over well. So I guess I will have to watch the final three episodes with her, but after that no tv!Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-53520025836141741112011-03-07T08:24:00.001-08:002011-03-07T08:26:35.547-08:00Don Miller's new book!<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20593341" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/20593341">What story are you telling?</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/rhetorikcreative">Rhetorik Creative</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Get it at <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781400202980-0">powells</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Million-Miles-Thousand-Years-Learned/dp/1400202981/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1276717752&sr=1-1">amazon</a>Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-37020157907382859102010-08-04T19:11:00.000-07:002010-08-04T19:16:48.175-07:00Tour De Farms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlhcWmTxtiqNlzWwEUNxI-7fMOnB8MbT54VYw_Oq8zvrSBlyeRDUaak2WvE_r8FfOuIkF1unLzKSqswDgmuE8b-AheTX5DhBYL7K_y-YOMRYawYV1I-fZWs-aDxZ9tegkAexYFqjxNTo/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlhcWmTxtiqNlzWwEUNxI-7fMOnB8MbT54VYw_Oq8zvrSBlyeRDUaak2WvE_r8FfOuIkF1unLzKSqswDgmuE8b-AheTX5DhBYL7K_y-YOMRYawYV1I-fZWs-aDxZ9tegkAexYFqjxNTo/s200/DSC_0015.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
This past weekend I took part in the Tour De Farms bike ride put on by Urban Adventours. It was a wonderful 35 mile bike ride through greater boston visiting community gardens and farms along the way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRWWKaJnMKo1GnwypA4r3SS8mOfbxrvvKss1pLFioo-_2_hWSk8NefeI_Gd63G2YYfncC1XzSKBysx9Mk4h8QtAkxcl_aGNjJ7diY68_c003l-Sy2IM7pt_0YxbeVQgYLCKn9IFrXQm8/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRWWKaJnMKo1GnwypA4r3SS8mOfbxrvvKss1pLFioo-_2_hWSk8NefeI_Gd63G2YYfncC1XzSKBysx9Mk4h8QtAkxcl_aGNjJ7diY68_c003l-Sy2IM7pt_0YxbeVQgYLCKn9IFrXQm8/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>There is a lot of talk about certified organic. We were informed at one of the farms that they were "uncertified organic", meaning that they follow all the rules of organic farming, but have decided not to pay the $15,000 fee that would label them as certified.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7YFa92nnFOaPQ7OEj9BVp9ul8xzTbOVOW7-VTfpD-F3-YalYpatgO6TJpFs59JfjUZnOKNGnXaqy79MygdWbBF-4na9Oo7mqrK9IVmRxjQZTLd54-3hQ4QOlGhnEkNBqCe1TmeckBKg/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7YFa92nnFOaPQ7OEj9BVp9ul8xzTbOVOW7-VTfpD-F3-YalYpatgO6TJpFs59JfjUZnOKNGnXaqy79MygdWbBF-4na9Oo7mqrK9IVmRxjQZTLd54-3hQ4QOlGhnEkNBqCe1TmeckBKg/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" /></a></div>The most surprising fact that I learned was that a 1.5 acre farm cansupply vegetables for approximately 120-150 families. 1.5 acers is about the area a typical grocery store would take. It brings into perspective how we could get our food.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-15089186374884555482010-06-18T08:20:00.000-07:002010-06-18T08:20:23.039-07:00In honor of Fathers day on SundayMy dad, taught me how to hunt and fish<br />
My dad, has hiked all the mountains around our home.<br />
My dad, knows all the back roads to everywhere.<br />
My dad, installed a new heating system in our house.<br />
My dad, worked in a sandwich shop when he was a kid.<br />
My dad, can grill better than your dad.<br />
My dad, is a champion marksman. Don't mess with him.<br />
My dad, rocks the guitar, the bass, the piano and the drums. He's a one man band. <br />
My dad, came to my wrestling matches, track and cross country meets even though it was obvious he didn't understand the sport.<br />
My dad, survived cancer twice.<br />
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Thanks dad,<br />
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I love youFoustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-48763699062003801022010-03-23T18:56:00.000-07:002010-03-23T18:56:42.303-07:00My Side of the Story......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNk8qR-UkxkucaBKmQZ2NNsE1wOTDKuMJgCMbC0LUgnO6c6wPJYX0tjB2e-cccelO5jzfd0VTsPKgxqklBb9Jli9mpTHaYnK9LR3wMTzGlz29pOtPbQXsGC88cMlvGY5gRYEKgSTzzPIE/s1600-h/26890_412457845364_560115364_5402224_3339371_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNk8qR-UkxkucaBKmQZ2NNsE1wOTDKuMJgCMbC0LUgnO6c6wPJYX0tjB2e-cccelO5jzfd0VTsPKgxqklBb9Jli9mpTHaYnK9LR3wMTzGlz29pOtPbQXsGC88cMlvGY5gRYEKgSTzzPIE/s200/26890_412457845364_560115364_5402224_3339371_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So I had a plan to ask my girlfriend to marry me. A nice dinner at a French restaurant. A romantic stroll though the city. Then I ask her to marry be somewhere in the Boston Common. <br />
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Towards the end of the main course, my girlfriend casually says, "So I'm not trying to pressure you or anything, but when do you think, we might think, about getting married?" To which I reply, "You know I think we should figure that out soon." My hope was that it would pass and that I could still keep my master plan in tact. But she continued. <br />
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"Well do you want a long engagement or a short one?" <br />
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"I would like a relatively short one, I mean I don't want to wait another year to get married. <br />
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"I mean I know we have talked about it before......"<br />
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At this point I have realized that I should just give up and wing it. So I slowly reach into my coat pocket. <br />
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"but do you think, we should think, about getting married?"<br />
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I responded; "How about now!" To which she replied, "Are you serious? Are you serious?" <br />
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Sometimes, the best laid plans never work out.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-87408834249495277872010-02-28T12:04:00.000-08:002010-02-28T12:04:07.447-08:00ManagementAbout 6 months ago, I was reluctantly thrust into a management position at my firm. The client, upset with my boss, for reasons unknown still to this day, asked that he be removed. Thanks to the economy we were short handed so I being the next in line was given the title of Project Manager. Sense then I have worked most weekends as well as frequent nights trying to keep up. <br />
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Along with the added work load I was suddenly in charge of people. Handing out assignments, following up on tasks and making sure my project progressed. Having been an underling for the past 10 years, I now have a new found respect for Managers. <br />
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Managers have power and can use it how they choose. They can choose to hold onto that power, hold it over people, or give it away. When I had just started my career, a Project Manager took notice of me. I was only the office boy at the time, but he knew that I wanted to be an Architect, so he brought me onto his team. <br />
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He didn't have to do this. He could have held out for a more experienced staff to come free, but instead he took a chance. About four years later I was over seeing the construction of a 12 million dollar project. Again I didn't have to be doing this, by all definitions I was under qualified to be doing this. <br />
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Now I find that I am reluctantly managing my own 20 million dollar project. I still feel woefully unprepared and that I am just barely holding on. Even in all this uncertainty I was still able to give some work to another person in the firm who was just a student. In some ways it makes more work for me. Having to explain things that to others would be common knowledge. Having to correct things multiple times. Or just waiting an extra day or two for a drawing. But it somehow seams like the right thing to do.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-35051166286516438642010-02-14T05:14:00.000-08:002010-02-14T05:15:51.558-08:00Doing something special.....It's Valentines day, so I'm inclined to do something special for the girl I love, like trying to boost her google rank.<br />
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The most wonderful girl in the world is starting a buisness, a food tour, in East Boston. If you want to take a tasty tour through East Boston give her a call. (<a href="http://www.tastethistours.com/%20">Click)</a>Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-82927420182115878912010-02-06T15:42:00.000-08:002010-02-06T15:42:10.632-08:00Boozy Berry Breakfast BurgersEvery good meal should have a good story. Two weeks ago my girlfriend and I went to Niagara Falls for the weekend. While enjoying breakfast, with a view of the falls, we had the most delicious whipped cream and strawberry's we had ever tasted. We vowed to make homemade whipped cream when we got back to Boston.<br />
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Yesterday Laura and I decided to make a brunch of french toast to go along with our strawberry's and whipped cream. So this morning we went to Haymarket and picked up some strawberry's, a pineapple and a pomegranate. We figured we could pick up some bread and whipping cream on the way back to my house. We found a Portuguese sweet bread at the corner market. But after trying three different stores no whipping cream was to be found. So we had to settle on cool whip. <br />
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The sweet bread was more of a roll, so we cut them in half and cooked them like normal french toast. Then made sandwiched between them using sliced strawberry's, pomegranate seeds, and whipped cream. We topped it off with a reduction of Honey Bourbon. Thus creating Boozy Berry Breakfast Burgers. <br />
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Oh and we also had a glass of pineapple pomegranate juice to wash it down.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-30730461721460490282009-10-27T09:54:00.000-07:002009-10-27T09:54:09.997-07:00A simple question?Simply the best question ever from a marriage prep book. <br />
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Are you gay and marrying me to cover it up?*<br />
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(*True question from an actual marriage prep book)Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-82539719808541995872009-09-16T09:57:00.001-07:002009-09-16T09:57:19.728-07:00Growing UpThere are many rites of passage in life. First kiss. Graduating High School & College. First job. I am about to embark on another. The first house. Over the past two months I have been getting pre-approved for obscene amounts of money and looking at houses twice the cost of my parents. <br />
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It all started for me as the dream of buying my own house and fixing it up. Sense I was a little kid I have watched programs like "This Old House", fixated on all the ways you could improve on your home. I guess that might explain why I worked in a hardware store as a kid, and ended up being an Architect. <br />
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Even with a background in Architecture, this is a frightening idea for me. Now it's my house, it's my money, they're my ideas, and good or bad, I have to live with them. I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I enter this with a bit of trepidation. <br />
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Today I am putting an offer on a house. (technically it's the second offer I have submitted, the other property fell through, but that's a post for another time) It's a 1900 brick Victorian row house in my neighborhood. Just off Maverick Sq. <br />
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I hope all go's well and that I get the place so I can start a grand adventure.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-54006414785396100392009-08-22T17:56:00.000-07:002009-08-22T19:14:09.055-07:00Tradition and Culture<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 310px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Religion-Pearce-Highsmith-detail-1.jpeg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Religion-Pearce-Highsmith-detail-1.jpeg/300px-Religion-Pearce-Highsmith-detail-1.jpeg" alt="Detail of Religion mural in lunette from the F..." style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="300" height="178"></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Religion-Pearce-Highsmith-detail-1.jpeg">Wikipedia</a></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This past week I gained a new appreciation for tradition and culture. Specifically religious traditions and cultures. Every church had it's own traditions, meaning it's customs and beliefs, Every church has it's own culture, meaning they way their traditions are carried out. Sometimes they are explicitly taught. Sometimes they are unspoken. But they are always there. <br /><br />This past week it was my turn to provide the content portion of my house church meeting. I decided to focus on prayer, something that I have come to appreciate more and more from my previous church experience. I come from two religious traditions with two different religious cultures. One fairly traditional, <a href="http://www.cmalliance.org/">Christian Missionary Alliance</a>, and the other charismatic, <a href="http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/">The Vineyard Christian Fellowship</a>. My experiences on prayer were more shaped by the latter, through small groups, retreats, and all night prayer meetings.<br /><br />I wanted to share some of my experiences from the past 10 years with my new house church, but I only had one hour to do it. As I struggles with how I might do this I realized that following Jesus is a lot like looking at a sculpture. Our religious tradition and culture help to shape our thoughts on what we see. But if we allow ourselves to move around the room we can see the sculpture from another vantage point, and gain a deeper experience, understanding and appreciation of what we are looking at. We can see those things that are not visible from any another place in the room. <br /><br />The same is true with religious traditions and cultures. By trying our new and different way of experiencing God we can gain a deeper understanding of him. And by reflecting on our past religious traditions and cultures we can gain a new found appreciation for what we once had even after we have moved on to new experiences and vantage points. <br /><br /><div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/a09e341f-e66d-438f-9c2c-4208cd20c821/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a09e341f-e66d-438f-9c2c-4208cd20c821" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-12090861648375683342009-08-14T06:22:00.000-07:002009-08-14T06:23:16.928-07:00Politics as usual......If you have been following the news lately you have been hearing about the health care debate. Recently it had devolved into more of a shouting match. <br />There was a opportunity to have a meaningful conversation about death and end of life care in America., but it has gotten away from us. <br /><br />Included in the health care bill in Congress was a provision to provide counseling on end of life care. In typical political fashion, the Republicans latched on to this and stared referring to it as a death panel. And in typical Democratic fashion, they let them get away with it. <br /><br />Now this provision has been removed from the bill. (<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/08/14/senators_eliminate_end_of_life_provision/">Click</a>) Who wins in this kind of debate? The Republicans claim victory over the Democrats. Citizens don't get the health care they need. One more meaningful national conversation is avoided.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-38113542296733790482009-06-30T19:07:00.000-07:002009-06-30T19:20:34.634-07:00Revelation<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 250px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91499534@N00/1190001258"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1181/1190001258_56a90b5962_m.jpg" alt="Sunset, Seattle Washington" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="240" height="160"></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91499534@N00/1190001258">ehpien</a> via Flickr</span></p>There has been a rising source of tension in my life recently. The small group that I am involved with in my neighborhood. We can't seam to settle on what exactly we are doing. We seam float around from one idea to another. Every idea seams to be just as revolutionary as the next. But today I realized that this group is different from any other that I have been in and perhaps am the one who should change. <br /><br />Most small groups are content spending each week politely discussing a topic and moving on to a new topic the next week. Not this group. My friends add the extra step of dreaming up big ways of how these new ideas can be integrated into our lives. <br /><br />I realize that I have been wanting complacency and the status-quo, when others are inviting me to dream for a bigger more fulfilled life.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-6188436497956831362009-06-27T05:46:00.000-07:002009-06-27T06:56:33.098-07:00The Shack - Book Review<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 205px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shack-William-P-Young/dp/0964729237%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0964729237"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51W%2B8kQCjhL._SL300_.jpg" alt="Cover of "The Shack"" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="195" height="300"></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Cover of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shack-William-P-Young/dp/0964729237%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0964729237">The Shack</a></span></p>While on vacation I started reading the book "The Shack" by William P. Young. This has been a widely popular book sense it has come out even making it to the NY Times Best Sellers list. <br /><br />On one hand I can understand why. The Shack attempts to explain everything anyone would want to know about God. How does the Trinity work. Why did Jesus have to die. What is Gods plain for the world. And the most important question in the book, why is there pain in the world. <br /><br />As for myself I did not like the book. To me The Shack seamed to be one persons attempt to spread their own theology. What little plot that exists is only there to support the long philosophical arguments about God.<br /><br />Undoubtedly some will find this very helpful, but I feel this book is a snapshot of some of what is wrong with Christianity today. To often we seek the easy answers, the explanations that will satisfy our deepest questions. What I find fascinating about Jesus is that his narratives were different. <br /><br />Jesus spoke in parables. Short story's that explained little, but drew the listener into into a deeper questioning. The Shack reads as if some one is preaching to you rather than asking you to question more.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-26572786432319432342009-06-11T20:12:00.000-07:002009-06-11T20:15:35.317-07:00iWoz - Book Review<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 207px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/iWoz-Computer-Invented-Personal-Co-Founded/dp/0393061434%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0393061434"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JYM59W4NL._SL300_.jpg" alt="Cover of "iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Ico..." style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="197" height="300"></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/iWoz-Computer-Invented-Personal-Co-Founded/dp/0393061434%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0393061434">Cover via Amazon</a></span></p>I recently finished reading the book iWoz; How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It. This is the autobiography of Steve Woznaik. I found this book to be a delight, not only because it is an easy read, but because it also feeds my fascination Apple computers.<br /><br />In reading this book I was fascinated with how passionate Woz is. Wither it is engineering, education or parenting, he throws all he has at the task at hand. You can almost feel his grittiness as you read the storeys from his youth. I wish I had half of his enthusiasm.<br /><br />One of my favorite bible passages is about the sheep and the goats. In it Jesus makes the point that we may be surprised at who gets into heaven. I wouldn't be surprised if Woz is up there. Although respecting Jesus, he is not a "Christian". But this does not stop him from giving generously in many circumstances; selling apple stock to employees who didn't get any before the IPO, putting on a rock concert even though he lost 12 million dollars, teaching computer classes at his kids school. He even has a street names after him in San Jose because of all his philanthropy.<br /><br />My only critique is that in his zeal for engineering he often descried, in some detail, the engineering projects he worked on. This sometimes got tedious, especially for someone without an engineering background, but those parts are easy enough to pass over. <br /><br />Ps...then looking at pictures of Woz, especially during the 80's & 90's he reminds me of my father. The could easily be mistaken for brothers.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-8605136076870377052009-06-07T16:42:00.000-07:002009-06-07T16:53:00.663-07:00Let's take Jesus out of his packaging<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 145px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60849961@N00/1811944679"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/1811944679_a8a7ad0b7a_m.jpg" alt="Jesus!" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="135" height="240"></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60849961@N00/1811944679">bookgrl</a> via Flickr</span></p><br />The other day a friend told me a story. Apparently some college professors wanted to use the Shane Claiborne's book "Jesus for President" as a starting point for a class the were going to teach.<br /><br />It resulted in a couple of students committing to spend the year getting a homeless man off the streets. What surprises me is not so much that they were successful, but that their teachers were shocked that their students would do such a thing.<br /><br />My question is this. What is the state of religious teaching in the church if professors would be so shocked. What are we expecting students to get out of religious training if not to become more like Jesus. Why do we care so much about teaching Greek and systematic theology? Sure these are important things but they are not as great as a group of college kids learning to be more like Jesus. <br /><br />Let's take Jesus out of the box we package him in and see what happens.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-6728196226559503072009-06-05T08:12:00.000-07:002009-06-05T08:14:01.437-07:00Life is funnyLast night our group, (I'm not sure what you would call us, house church, organic church, small group......whatever) came full circle. We have been talking about doing a relational tithe, (sometimes called a giving circle) for a while now. Last night we hashed out some of the details. One detail was about how we will give. It was noted that walking in the door and handing someone a few bucks before the meeting started didn't seam to do the act justice. It was suggested that perhaps we could make some sort of meaningful ritual out of the act of giving. (We were careful avoid the word offering.) <br /><br />The discussion of how we would collect the money was interesting also. There were three suggestions: A promotional Tequila cowboy hat, a baseball cap with the Borat catch phrase "Sexy Time" on it, or a glass jar. We settled on the glass jar although the "Sexy Time" cap was a close second. <br /><br />Life is funny, we spend so much time and energy forging our own path. Questioning and critiquing the actions of our forefathers just to come around full circle to appreciate that traditions we once scorned.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-26568106153178888642009-06-01T18:49:00.000-07:002009-06-01T19:24:32.520-07:00Book Review - A Year of Living Biblically<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: left; display: block; width: 204px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Biblically-J-Jacobs/dp/0434017116%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0434017116"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5194ysmS6aL._SL300_.jpg" alt="Cover of "The Year of Living Biblically"" style="border: medium none ; display: block;" width="194" height="300"></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Cover of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Biblically-J-Jacobs/dp/0434017116%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0434017116">The Year of Living Biblically</a></span></p><br />This evening I finished reading the book "A Year of Living Biblically", by A.J. Jacobs. It was a delightful read in the emerging style of immersion journalism that is quite popular these days, resulting in an insightful and hilarious book. <br /><br />Jacobs spends the year following the Jewish and Christian rules that he gathers from the bible, trying his hardest to take the most literal interpretation possible. Over the course of the year he manages to stone an adulterer, go to a snake handling service, travel to Israel, and refrain from shaving his beard. <br /><br />To give away the ending of his book, Jacobs concludes with idea that we are all following our own interpenetration of the Bible, cafeteria style. A much as we would like to think that myself (and others like me) are following the bible correctly to some degree we are all picking and choosing (interpreting for ourselves) how we will follow the bible. <br /><br />If I am honest with myself, I have to agree with Jacobs. How can we expect to follow all the the rules the bible sets out for us. We all have those parts of the bible that we love and cherish, and those parts that we choose to hold at a distance. And maybe this isn't so bad. As the the Apostle Paul says "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" Perhaps we aren't suppose to know how it all fits together. Perhaps it's ok if we hold closer to the things we can understand and that move us. <br /><br />And A.J. just in case if you read this review..........helmet.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-32713042883413820212009-05-30T14:05:00.000-07:002009-05-30T14:19:29.644-07:00My Hispter Douche Bag Bike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixfLN9kIDMBLwCgYDMBkdkPFrju89so-EZKGZlmYPzyTi-j-3nlsorVaIxtOCv4fBfLaV2BKdUdotL94-ynQW-htK9ZufDwLF35WQrnqwTEVQ738lrH006D4lop2qiGy1aeVr6QPWR-0/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixfLN9kIDMBLwCgYDMBkdkPFrju89so-EZKGZlmYPzyTi-j-3nlsorVaIxtOCv4fBfLaV2BKdUdotL94-ynQW-htK9ZufDwLF35WQrnqwTEVQ738lrH006D4lop2qiGy1aeVr6QPWR-0/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341728736683928930" /></a><br /><br />For a while I have wanting a single speed road bike. It's not that I need a new bike my old stand by is working just fine. It's more of a novelty factor thing. So about a month ago, after searching craigslist for a couple of weeks, I purchases a beat up Ross 10 speed road bike. Over the past few weeks I have been cleaning up the bike, ordering parts, and building the bike single speed I wanted. <br /><br />In the end I spent about $230.00 total and got a pretty cool bike out of it. I also learned a thing or two about how to fix up bikes too. <br /><br />I have one problem though. A couple of days a go I saw this old beat up bike being thrown out in the trash and I though to myself, "Hey I could fix that bike"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIDPBSrSUdVVf3_GlKIchrHXoWJbWKwp4pHtDGhSvtsOlrs7VUuGuYdn2gdZuizDhG3HalGQRKFLnU7Ob2uWZCJ6qpkZ3FyjtOcVoehcjPyHccuwQXxpMsNbrccl0CKQ7oRIdEkYt2-Y/s1600-h/DSC_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIDPBSrSUdVVf3_GlKIchrHXoWJbWKwp4pHtDGhSvtsOlrs7VUuGuYdn2gdZuizDhG3HalGQRKFLnU7Ob2uWZCJ6qpkZ3FyjtOcVoehcjPyHccuwQXxpMsNbrccl0CKQ7oRIdEkYt2-Y/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341728736839945538" /></a>Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-41593801160133953612009-05-27T03:44:00.000-07:002009-05-27T05:23:02.798-07:00Community ProjectLast night I went to a community party in my old neighborhood. It was jointly hosted by the neighborhood group I was involved with and the Animal Rescue League of Boston. For the past three years there has been a group tirelessly working towards improving the local park by the creation of a Dog Recreation Space. Last night was a sort of celebration and reminder of all the work that is ahead. <br /><br />It reminded me of how much I loved that neighborhood, but specifically of now much I loved the people. I realized that the creation of the DRS was just a means to an end. That end being a stronger community. Neighbors banding together to make their piece of the city just a little bit better. <br /><br />If you could, please consider donate some money to towards the DRS. They still need to raise $10,000 in order to complete the project. You can donate through the <a href="https://secure2.convio.net/arlb/site/Donation2?df_id=1620&1620.donation=form1">Animal Rescue League's</a> website. Just put Ronan Park Dog Run in the Special Instructions space.Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909217742257525852.post-85396803506258982992009-05-13T10:17:00.000-07:002009-05-13T10:19:07.563-07:00iPod's Are RequiredIn technology news, it was announces that the university of Minnesota's journalism department is requiring all journalism students to have an ipod's. This is to enable students to download podcasts of the lectures they attend. In an interview with the Missorurian, Brian Brooks, Associate Dean of the aforementioned school, stated, "Lectures are the worst possible learning format. There's been some research done that shows if a student can hear that lecture a second time, they retain three times as much of the lecture."<br /><br />So my question is, if this is true, that lectures are the worst possible learning format, what is the benefit of listening to a preacher on Sunday morning? Most likely people are not retaining the information they are being given. What kind of disciples s the Church producing by relying so heavily on the lecture format? Are we wasting an hour of our spiritual lives each week? Are there other means of communication that are more effective? <br /><br />Or we could just issue an ipod to everyone at conversion?<br /><br />(<a href="http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/11/ipod-touch-iphone-required-for-journalism-students/">click</a>) (<a href="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/05/07/school-journalism-requires-ipod-touch/">click</a>)Foustyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330984241191884310noreply@blogger.com0