NorCalUrban

I've been working on a NCUD website. Check this out and let me know what you think. Soon you will be able to access this through www.norcaludc.org. Right now I'm using my .mac account... See the website here.

Being back in a traditional Pentecostal church that talks a lot about the power of God is making me think about the power of God much. I mean, let's be real. Do we live with the understanding that God has real power to change lives? If so - how is it impacting the way we do work and ministry? Given the person that I am I struggle with remembering the reality of the power of God. It sometimes feels silly and simple to rely on a power we can't see, touch or feel. If I REALLY believed in the power of a present God would I struggle as I do? Would I sin? Would I shrink from sharing His word? Would I treat my family differently? I've been reading the book 'God in the Flesh' by Don Everts as a devotional. Today I came across this passage: "If Jesus really is so powerful, why aren't we more regular and persistent in laying our own needs before him? If his touch contains such power, why aren't we, like those we see in the pages of the Gospels running around to...

Bob Dylan continues to make great music. His new album, Modern Times, continues in the same vein as Love and Theft and Time Out of Mind his last two releases. It's well worth the money. Get it here or at itunes. After a decade or so of lackluster music Bob returned with a vengeance. His last three records are quality releases. It's good to see musicians creating great art instead of resting on their laurels.

Congrats to Communidad Latina CU!!! SANTA ANA, Calif. (8/28/06)--The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) said last week it chartered Comunidad Latina FCU in Santa Ana, the third credit union chartered in California since 2000. Located south of Los Angeles, community-based Comunidad Latina FCU has been chartered to serve the 340,000 people who live, work, worship and attend school in the city of Santa Ana--a designated underserved area. Comunidad Latina FCU marks the third credit union chartered in California since 2000. According to NCUA, local Orange County Teachers FCU and other credit unions from across the country provided support and guidance throughout the chartering process. NCUA said the group of credit unions will supply a computer system, monetary, office and management services as well as staff training. An opening day was not announced, but NCUA said office space was rented in Santa Ana and the doors of Comunidad Latina FCU would open within several months.

Press Release below. Community Trust CU. led by Joe Duran (NCUD Board Member) recieved $390k. Good job Joe and team! ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (8/28/06)--Eleven community development credit unions (CDCUs) received $3.3 million from the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, it was announced Friday. The awards--ranging up to $585,000--make up 12.6% of a total $26.4 million available during the CDFI Fund's 2006 round. Cliff Rosenthal, executive director of the National Federation of CDCUs, said the fund received 127 applications with requests for assistance totaling about $146.7 million. Credit unions succeeded in "a competition that has become increasingly more strenuous over the years," he said. The share received by credit unions is roughly comparable to what the movement received in previous years, "but still way below what we'd like to see. There are many credit unions out there that would be good candidates," he said. F...

Jesus Calms the Storm As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." He was already in the boat, so they started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you even care that we are going to drown?" When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, "Quiet down!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. And he asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?" And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, "Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?" (Mark 4:35-41 NLT)

Good News! I just received notification from the National Credit Union Administration that we have just received our preliminary field of membership approval! This is the first step in the credit union chartering process and a significant first hurdle! The application is a two step process, the preliminary application and the complete application including a comprehensive business plan. The next step is to continue to raise additional start up / deposit capital and put the finishing touches on our final application. Our goal is to submit the final application ASAP (by the end of the year if not sooner) and open the credit union in East Palo Alto into by mid 2007. There are many more hurdles to jump - but this a a great step in furthering our dream of defeating systemic poverty in our community through a community development credit union and other community development projects. If you want to know more or be part of the vision, please let me know! There is much to do! Thanks for your...

Last night I caught an EXCELLANT episode of the Charlie Rose show. He hosted Pastors Rick Warren and Gregory Boyd. I must admit that I was somewhat turned off by the commercialism surrounding Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life" and I can be critical of mega churches. So, I didn't give Warren much attention. I must say that I was floored by his comments. He spoke about the intersection of the 'evangelical' and 'social' movements in the church calling for a new focus on both the centrality of Christ and a outward focused faith. He is calling for the church to seek a commonality of purpose centered on the call of Christ to fulfill the Greatest Commandment of loving God with everything and serving our neighbor. It appears that a few years (through his wife) became aware of the issues surrounding AIDS in the world. This impacted his faith. I'm VERY impressed and hope to hear more from Rick soon. Rose tried to nail Warren down about the health of t...

Yankees take five in a row from Boston! LIfe is good, the sky is blue, birds chirp... Read the story here.

So - for whatever reason I started thinking about records that influenced me. Music still continues to be one of the greatest loves of my life. Last night as I was going to sleep I started thinking about the records (I'm from the 'old skool' where you bought records, not songs) that I would say have been the most influential on me... These are the ones I would want with me on a desert island. Here they are with the best song on each: - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan / Bob Dylan (Don't Think Twice It's Alright) - Saved / Bob Dylan (Saving Grace) - Only Visiting This Planet / Larry Norman (The Great American Novel) - Abbey Road / The Beatles (Here Comes the Sun) - Blood On the Tracks / Bob Dylan (Tangled Up in Blue) - Moondance / Van Morrison (Crazy Love) - Actung Baby / U2 (One) - Joshua Tree / U2 (In God's Country) - Let It Be / Beatles (Two of Us) - Rubber Soul / Beatles (In My Life) - Born to Run / Bruce Springsteen (10th Avenue Freeze Out) - Under the Table a...

A year after Katrina some poorer neighborhoods remain untouched in New Orleans. Read the article here.

You might know by now - but Charlene has left NCUD staff to pursue a law degree. She did an amazing job for us over the last 11 months. We wouldn't be where we are without her leadership and hard work. I miss her a bunch, but am happy for her as she pursues her dreams to become a lawyer. One day she may be the Governor of Guam! In order to curtail expenses until we get the credit union up and running we have decided not to fill her position right now. I need help! I'm looking for a volunteer to help with administrative tasks for NCUD - basic stuff. While things are pretty much in order right now - I could use someone to help us look at our procedures for our office operation. This would in include working with our bookkeeper to insure our financial record keeping is in top shape. I imagine that this will take around 5 hours a week - but may require some extra work at the beginning to tighten things up. Would you consider serving NCUD in this way? If you are unable to help at th...

We're having a revival at St. Samuel this week. Pastor Ken Johnson is in from Salt Lake CIty. Ken is working on his PhD from the Universtiy of Utah in the education field. He has great insight on dominant dominant culture issues as it relates to education policy. I'm looking forward to his book! Last night Ken decided to pray for anyone who is starting a business. Samuel and the Bains' girls come forward. Budding capitalists!

We haven't seen gas prices below 3.00 a gallon in a while. Had to take a photo!