NorCalUrban

PageMill, Wells Fargo and Sam Zell

2011-08-18T15:04:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

Normal.dotm 0 0 1 888 5066 Northern California Urban Development 42 10 6221 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false

As many of you know we've been in discussion recently with Wells Fargo and Equity Residential, the proposed buyers of the former Pagemill Properties on the west side of East Palo Alto. As an East Palo Alto resident and leader I view this issue, and how Wells Fargo handles this important portfolio as a milestone event for our community and it’s residents.

First, a little background (from my perspective):

A few years ago over 80% of East Palo Alto's multi family housing stock was purchased piece by piece by a predator equity group, Pagemill Properties. After the purchase Pagemill began systematically dismantling our rent control ordinances and aggressively evicting working class families. The community was in shock.

However, the Pagemill group went bankrupt in 2009 and lost the property to Wachovia, soon to be acquired by Wells Fargo. Inmy opinion Wells initially, for the most part, acted in good faith. They secured the properties, stabilized the rental rates and began a process to include the community in a discussion about how to best deal with the portfolio of over 1600 units. The community has a lot of input, but the most common was 1) Don't sell to one investor. A monopoly of all our rental housing is a bad thing, and 2) Find a group that will affirm our rent control policies and support affordable housing for working families.

After months of discussion, Wells suddenly went silent. Repeated requests for an update went unheard. About three weeks ago Wells floated the names of three potential buyers, Apollo, Prime and Equity. Some of our elected officials met with the three groups. Last week Wells indicated their intention to sell to Equity. They would not consider breaking up the parcel. The community was sucker-punched.

The selection of Equity Residential is particularly unacceptable. The founder and chairman of Equity Residential, Sam Zell, was described in a 1995 New York Times article as “a classic vulture investor.” Mr. Zell is a well known opponent of rent control. His company, Equity LifeStyle has sued multiple California cities to invalidate local rent control laws, while funding a deceptive statewide ballot measure to end rent control in California.

Current Conversation:

Over the past week there have been many discussion about a plausible reaction from community groups. On Tuesday we met with David Ash from Wells Fargo and representatives from Equity Residential. In the meeting we submitted the following requests:

1. Refrain from selling the Page Mill portfolio to Equity Residential;

2. Immediately implement a process which engages public involvement in the vetting of potential buyers;

3. Break up the portfolio and transition the portfolio to multiple buyers to avoid another Page Mill fiasco; and

4. Complete the registration process of rents and comply with all other requirements of local law while Wells Fargo remains the owner of these rental units.

The meeting with Equity and Wells was both contentious and cordial. They even brought cookies. We presented our requests to Wells, they promptly refused. Wells positioned the meeting as a courtesy call and that the deal was essentially done, with a 45 day period for Equity to perform due diligence. In the meeting David Ash had the guts to say with a straight face that Wells believes this is absolutely the best deal for East Palo Alto. An official from Equity was surprisingly honest. Their play is to hold certain properties and raze others. The razed buildings pulls the units out of rent control and allows them to charge market rate rents.

Why are we upset?

Some may ask, “What’s the big deal?” Others may be opponents to rent control or affordable housing in general. There are a number of reasons this issue has garnished my attention:

Issue One: I don’t think it’s ever a good deal for any one investor to have a monopoly on housing stock. As aforementioned, this is over 80% of our apartment housing as well as 50% of our below market rate stock and 15% of the County’s affordable housing stock. Clearly Equity Residental will have a market control While I’m a proponent of the free market, clearly this is a quality of life issue for our community and a situation where the market being monopolized the the playing field unleveled.

Issue Two: Affordable housing is critical for working class families and the stability of the region. East Palo Alto remains a place of available housing for lower income Silicon Valley families. In spite of the challenges and reputation, East Palo Alto is a place where good families can create a home. Having a community / region where folks from diverse economic backgrounds can thrive is part of the fabric of our nation.

Issue Three: Given the current economic challenges we must protect opportunities for middle and working and low income families. With the economic pressures on East Palo Alto due to foreclosures, unemployment and rising energy costs many families are being pushed out. Additionally, we are watching the possible impact on housing prices brought on by Facebook’s entry into the community and their possible addition of 3000 employees. The Wells property is a 10 minute bike ride to the new Facebook offices.

How Can You Help?

There are a couple of ways you can immediately help the cause. We're looking to raise awareness of this issue and put as much pressure on Wells Fargo as possible. Wells is espcially sensitive to their public profile, so please do all you can.

1) Contact Wells Fargo and insist they address our requests, listed above. You can contact:

David Ash

West Coast Regional Manager-Special Situations Group-ORE

600 California St.

19^th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94108

2) Join us on a protest march on Monday, 8/22 at 3:30. We’ll meet at the Westpark Apartments at 5 Newell Ct., East Palo Alto. We will march to the Palo Alto Wells Fargo branch and present our requests to the group.

Granted, this is symbolic gesture, but we are hoping to get media attention and to show solidarity for the cause.

3) Pray for justice and the cause of families in East Palo Alto

While I may have a definite opinion about the way this transaction is being handled, I’m somewhat torn. Wells Fargo has been a faithful funder and partner for our organization over the years. They provided seed funding for our land trust project as well as supporting our foreclosure intervention program. Wells Fargo volunteers recently donated time to work on our Daphne house project and have taught homeownership classes for our students. Despite of being on the other side of Wells on this issue – we also appreciate their partnership. Sometimes the world is alot more grey than black and white.

Thanks you for standing with us on this important endeavor. I encourage you to write a letter, come to the Monday protest and please pray for East Palo Alto.

- John Liotti

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2010-12-22T10:18:00.001-08:00

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2010-12-20T15:57:00.001-08:00

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2010-12-18T13:45:00.001-08:00

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Somebody help me out with this one! A severe injustice at the wrong time.

2010-12-17T21:31:00.001-08:00

John Stewart hosted a panel of 9/11 first responders who were speaking out about the Republicans threatened filibuster of the bill. (See the link below.) He was outraged, and brilliant. For blocking the passage of this bill, the Republicans are, in my humble opinion, are deeply wrong. Conversely, the Democrats, including our President, have failed to aggressively promote and pass the bill choosing to focus on extreme left wing proposals that in many ways have divided our nation. Both sides are at fault.

What am I missing folks? This bill, to me, seems to be a colossal 'no brainer'. The Republicans should fall in line and pass it without exception. The Democrats, forever the party of fumblers and bumblers should have made it a priority months ago.

There are many issues I stand for, including the Dream Act, that while I may feel passionate about, despite my opinion I understand the other side's perspective. Even the in the case of the Tea Party, of which I am a vocal critic, I can likewise understand their outrage at ineffective, bloated government. However, for this issue I am dumbfounded.

I'm honored to serve as a Police Chaplain. Chaplains, like my colleagues who serve the East Palo Alto PD, are considered first responders. Who can forget the photo of Father Judge's, a fire Chaplain, being carried out from the Twin Towers by firemen. He is an inspiration to me. If I was in NYC, or if there is, God forbid, a natural or other tragedy in the Bay Area you won't be able to keep me away from helping. If I get sick, I pray there is help for me - and for the police and firemen I serve. This one is getting 'close to home' for me.

To my 'conservative' brothers and sisters, can you call you Senators and express your outrage and encourage them to pass this bill before the holiday break? Can you contact your friends and like minded acquaintances and ask them to make contact. Not passing this bill would be another tragedy impacting a group of folks who daily put their lives on the line, some of whom have been dying a slow death since crawling on the pile at the hallowed site at Ground Zero. l

Check out the John Stewart interview here: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-16-2010/9-11-first-responders-...

See a good ABC news piece here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jon-stewart-rants-republican-filibuster-911-re...

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2010-12-17T17:08:00.001-08:00

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Power, Success, Happiness vs. Peace Love and Joy

2010-12-13T08:25:00.001-08:00

I'm reading 'Secrets in the Dark' by Fredrick Buechner. Here's a great quote that I've been meditating on:

"Power, success, happiness, as the world knows them, are his who will fight for them hard enough; but peace, love , joy are only from God. And, God is the enemy whom Jacob fought there by the river, of course, and whom in one way or another all of us with fight-God, the beloved enemy. Our enemy because, before giving us everything, he demands of us everything; before giving us life, he demands our lives-our selves, our wills and treasure"

Seems like these days I'm always in the eternal struggle of the self, between surrender to a Holy God and fighting for my rights, my reputation and my plans. The 'beloved enemy' so aptly describes my approach to God sometimes. I love him, but struggle to know him and to be loved by him - struggle to allow his Grace to conquer my heart an will. In my head I ascent to the fact that in God there is only freedom through surrender, my will feels very much to the contrary.

This week, I will endeavor to surrender to a Loving God. To allow my heart to be 'pinned' as Jacob was pinned, crippled and blessed by the Stranger.

Posted via email from Insecurely Radical

Going to Jackson, and This is Not a Johnny Cash Song

2010-06-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

This Thursday I'm headed to Jackson, MS to celebrate the life and legacy of Drs. John and Vera Mae Perkins. John is turning 80 and they are celebrating his 50th year in ministry. For those of you who don't know about Dr. Perkins and his life here is his bio: http://www.jmpf.org/content/perkins/biography/. We were asked to jot down a few thoughts to share with John and Vera Mae. I posted them below.

As I wrote this and reflected on our journey from youth to now entering middle age (betrayed by the gray in my sideburns and beard), I became overwhlmed with thankfulness for all God has done in our lives and the friends he allowed us to journey alongside.

I think about many of you, many I've reconnected with recently on Facebook. Some from Deland, from elementary school and church, St. Peters Catholic. Others from Berea Assembly of God, New Testamant Fellowship where I strengthened my relationship with Christ. Then to my YWAM family with whom were in the trenches in Texas, NYC, New Orleans, LA and finally Mexico. Our 'family' in Modesto who helped us settle, heal and rediscover ministry. And finally to the place where we've called home more than any other in our adult life, the wonderful community of East Palo Alto - the folks at Highway Community, St. Samuel COGIC and others friends and partners. Many of you, from each life phase, played a formative and inportant role in my life.

Since I'm waxing poetic... reminds me of my favorite Beatles song

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed

This weekend I'm thrilled to be traveling to Jackson, where it's 'hotter than a pepper sprout' to celebrate not only the lives of John and Vera Mae, but to reflect and honor God for all He has done for me, Melissa and Sam.

Dear Dad and Mom Perkins,

There are not enough words to express my deep and heartfelt gratitude for the impact your lives have had my life. I wanted to share a little of my journey and how your lives has changed mine.

Born in New Jersey into an Italian family my parents abruptly moved to Florida to save their marriage and refocus their lives. Shortly after arriving in Florida they encountered Christ in what was called the 'Jesus Movement'. In 1970's Florida there was a palpable tension over race. The civil rights movement was not looked upon well and many whites were fighting for every remaining vestige of Jim Crow. My high school experience was marked by frequent fights and riots between African American and White students. When I accepted Christ I moved from the Catholic church where I was reared into a southern Pentecostal church. Racial jokes, comments and outright bigotry was common along with an apparent fervor for the Gospel. When I left Florida at age 18 I was deeply considering the intersection of race and faith and questioning if the Gospel had power to reconcile.

After high school God immediately called me into ministry with an international missions organization, Youth With A Mission (YWAM). In Los Angeles with YWAM I met this stunning young Mexican girl who became my wife. At the time we were working with teenage prostitutes in Hollywood. Shortly thereafter YWAM sent us to Mexico for four years to pioneer a new ministry location in Tijuana on the US / Mexican border. I am greatly indebted to YWAM. It taught me about stepping out in faith, seeking the voice of God and expposed me to a world of joy, pain, hurt and ministry.

During our time in Mexico we encountered a deep level of abject poverty, deeper than anything I had seen in the States. However as such a young age we didn't have the paradigm to process or address the dire situation in which we found the city and nation. We found refugees living in shanties, working to cross the border by any means, struggling for food and shelter. Our Pentecostal evangelical paradigm and methods simply could not address the deep physical needs of the border. I became frustrated and dissatisfied with merely 'leading people to Christ' or simply giving them a ham sandwich. After four years in Mexico, experiencing all we had through the streets of Hollywood to the hills of Tijuana I was tired, discouraged and burned out on evangelical ministry and began to question its theology.

Melissa became pregnant with our son Samuel and we eventually landed in the Central Valley of California. We needed a place to raise Sam, heal and process all we had learned from the streets of the US and Mexico. I thought I was finished in ministry. However God had his hand on us. Through a connection to Larry Acosta and Urban Youthworker's Institute I came across CCDA and your life and ministry. Your book, "With Justice For All" impacted me greatly and 'turned the lights on' again. It truly was a breath of fresh air. No one had been able to connect my deep commitment to Biblical Christianity with the need to address issues of poverty, racism and injustice. Your example, and the example of the leaders of CCDA, provided me with a new approach, a new paradigm and a new way of thinking about community ministry and the poor. I can truly say that I owe my life's work to your example and, perhaps given the situation I was in, you helped save my faith. I am eternally grateful.

In 2000 God moved our family to East Palo Alto. I greatly appreciate the times you've come to encourage our work. As you're aware, you helped us raise our profile with the credit union project (which opened in 2007). Using that as a platform we have developed the FutureProfits youth program teaching over 400 urban students each week life skills and about financial concepts. Additionally we have thrown ourselves headlong into the current housing crisis and are working to save homeowners from foreclosure and homelessness. Melissa serves young unwed mothers in a residential program, New Creation Home. She 'mothers' the moms and their kids and provides them shelter, training and direction in life. Our life and work are a direct result of your Apostolic ministry to us. All we have done and are doing is a part of your legacy.

Today we stand committed to sharing the Gospel, serving the poor, the widows and the orphans, extending the Kingdom of God and combating injustice as we wait for His return.

Melissa and I and our team at Northern California Urban Development in East Palo Alto wish Dad a happy birthday and congratulate you both on 50 years of ministry. We love you deeply. May God grant you peace as you continue to serve him.

In His service,

Rev. John and Melissa Liotti

Comments from Bob Luption

2010-01-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

Church-centric Missions
I am a missionary. That’s how I am listed on the annual missions report of a suburban church that supports our work in the city. My picture is placed on one of the bulletin boards that line their main hall, along with a score of other sponsored ministries and missionaries that serve all over the globe. My monthly newsletter is also posted there. I am prayed for regularly and am invited to give a field report at the annual missions conference. For years the financial support of this church body has been one of my most steady, dependable streams of income. I am enormously thankful for their support. They have played a significant role in enabling me to follow the call of God to serve among the poor of the inner-city. I trust that I have been a faithful steward of their investments.

A while back I was invited to join their pastor and members of their missions committee for lunch at the church. It was for fellowship and encouragement, they said. Not far into the friendly chit-chat another agenda surfaced. They wanted to explore ways their church could be more personally involved in hands-on ministry in the city. Over the years, they reminded me, some of their members had volunteered with us but that was some time ago. They wanted to discuss new ways they could become re-engaged in service with us. They were re-evaluating their missions giving and wanted to allocate their funds in the most strategic ways, which meant having as much as possible the personal participation of members in the ministries they supported.

It was a welcome offer. We certainly need compassionate, committed friends to join with us to help shoulder the demanding workload. There are sports teams to coach, kids to tutor, houses to build, widows to visit. But as I went down through a menu of opportunities, I could tell by the expressions on their faces that I was not scratching quite where they were itching. What they would really like, it eventually came out, was a monthly listing of needs and service opportunities for church members to select from and someone from our staff to schedule and coordinate volunteer involvement. A volunteer coordinator to handle the volunteer needs of their church? Is that what they were asking for? Well, yes, they explained. In this way their missions dollars could both support their missionaries and at the same time meet the spiritual needs of their membership to be personally involved in missions. It was a win-win approach. They might even consider upping my support level.

My mind went to the growing stack of demands that awaited me back at my office, each with immediate priority. And the staff who were stretched thin trying to keep up with their pressing duties – the tense zoning hearing at city hall that would determine if we could start construction on a house a family desperately needs… intrigue at the school board meeting where a self-serving board member was attempting to torpedo our application for a new charter school… meeting with a banker who would give thumbs up or down on a property we had been working on for more than two years… and, of course, the predictable stream of crises – evictions, break-ins, arrests, runaways, fights, all laced into the routine responsibilities of running an urban ministry. I wondered where in my list of priorities I might insert the additional duties of a volunteer coordinator.

The thought of picking up the weight of one more responsibility made my stomach tighten. On the surface I remained cordial, maintained good eye contact, but inside I was beginning to seethe. Did these bright, efficiency-oriented, well-resourced church leaders really think that I should drop front-line duties in order to promote, organize and manage the urban mission outreach for their congregation? And the not-so-subtle offer of a potential increase in financial support? It somehow felt more manipulative than supportive.

I inhaled deeply, silently, and released a bit of the tightness (no, anger!) that was knotting my viscera. These were good people, friends, wanting to be faithful and intelligent leaders in their church. They were also busy people trying to efficiently expedite the good works of other busy people. Time is money in their world. Return on investment (ROI) was responsible stewardship. Getting a double return on their mission investment – support a missionary and support church volunteerism with the same dollar – this was good money management. What they were failing to take into account, however, was that someone was going to have to pick up the cost of volunteer management. Me! Had I been more desperate for their extra dollars, I might have agreed to their offer. After all, fundraising is a necessary discipline for missionaries. Instead, I encouraged them to create a position within the church – call it ministry of volunteer mobilization – that would take on this important mission. I would be delighted to coordinate urban service opportunities with that person.

The church dropped my support.

More recently I have been in dialogue with another church, a rapidly growing young congregation in an upscale in-town area of Atlanta. They are a “seeker friendly” church attracting thousands of young professionals to media-rich services with live contemporary music and winsome gospel presentations. The leadership recognizes the importance of a “love God, love neighbor” theology and is encouraging their congregation to become actively engaged in service, especially among the less fortunate of the city. And their theology is more than mere words – they have a full-time staff person whose responsibility is to mobilize members to active involvement beyond the walls of the church. We have had a number of meetings to explore how their congregation might partner with our inner-city ministry.

The reservoir of talent in this church is daunting. Released into society, this energetic, highly skilled force could have amazingly redemptive impact. The church leaders recognize this awesome responsibility and are taking it very seriously. They have rejected the traditional church missions model (missions committee, budget, conference, etc.) and have decided rather to put their energy behind mobilizing members to hands-on community service in a broad range of settings. Money follows vision, they have rightly concluded. As their members catch a vision for ministry in the community and the world, their giving will flow toward the causes that have captured their hearts. The church’s role is to raise their awareness to the needs, help connect them to opportunities and let God do the rest. Last Saturday more than a hundred of these eager young professionals converged on our neighborhood to repair a widow’s home, landscape a blind woman’s yard, paint a community thrift store, pick up truckloads of trash and old tires, and a least a dozen other community-enhancing tasks. The whole event cost our ministry nearly $4,000.

The church has made a decision not to give money to ministries like ours. On occasion they might offer a small donation to assist with a project their members participate in. But their major contribution, they contend, is the labor they provide. The real benefit to our organization is not only the free labor but the support their members will offer out of their own pockets as they become involved in our work. This “real benefit” almost always costs us money.

I understand their rationale. When a church is attempting to mobilize thousands of volunteers, it certainly isn’t going to have enough funds to support the plethora of programs its members are engaged in. Picking and choosing which ones to fund and at what levels – well, that could lead to all sorts of tensions and conflicts among members. Better to leave funding decisions to the personal discretion of individual members. Experience has shown us, however, that when busy people have sacrificed their precious Saturdays they are hardly eager to fork over an additional hundred or two to cover costs for supervision and materials. So for us it becomes a real challenge to raise funds from other sources to support the service project of an affluent church.

I offer this Tale of Two Churches to tee up a question. When a church makes decisions about serving others, whose interests are being considered – the church’s or the ones being served? Regardless of whether a church expects their missionaries to provide volunteer coordinating functions or whether a church expects urban ministries to organize, fund and staff their service project, the issue is the same. Are they helping to shoulder the weight of the front-line troops or are they placing additional burdens on the battle-fatigued?

I understand well the need for efficient systems. We face this challenge on the urban ministry end of the equation as well. Take our administrative team for example. Their role is to add-minister – that is, enhance the ministry of our staff by relieving them of the myriad details required to make an organization function responsibly. Handling a dozen different programs all with different accounting demands, cranking out payroll for 50+ staff each with different hours, pay scales and deductions, responding to scores of check requests all of which have immediate priority, monitoring company credit card charges, meeting audit demands and IRS reporting requirements…you get the idea. If they are to keep their sanity and maintain a semblance of control, they have to create systems to bring order to their work. Timesheets in by 3 PM Thursday, three-day turn around for check requests, receipts to accompany reimbursements – all reasonable requests to keep the ministry running smoothly for everyone. But over time these reasonable requests can begin to sound a bit more like dictatorial directives, like authoritarian regulations with penalties for non-compliance. No paychecks if timesheets not in by noon Thursday, no reimbursements if not submitted on proper form and accompanied by legitimate receipts, do not disturb bookkeeper on Fridays. In the name of efficiency the “ad-ministers” tend to devise all manner of forms and rules and procedures to make their job easier. When their goal is efficiency they can easily ignore the time and effort it takes the ministry staff to jump through an increasing number of hoops. The ad-ministers can end up adding burdens rather than lifting the load of those they are supposed to be serving. Believe me, I know the tension.

I do understand how this happens – how good people wanting to do a good job can end up creating self-serving systems. And how good churches led by busy people can devise ways to efficiently expedite their duties at the expense of others. But at some point, someone has to raise the question: who’s serving whom? Are administrators serving the staff or are the staff serving the administrators? Is the church enabling missionaries to minister or are the missionaries serving the church? Is the church lightening the load of the front-line workers or are the troops on the ground bearing the additional weight of the church’s efficiently-run service projects? There. I’ve stated it. I feel much better now!

Bob Lupton, January 2010

Important Meeting Tomorrow Night

2009-09-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, we've been working in collaboration with the EARN group and one of the Menlo Park City Councilmen to implement an innovative approach toward saving local homeowners in foreclosure. This approach effectively de-leverages local homeowners through an innovative investment of city redevelopment funds coupled with mortgage write down by local banks. We believe this approach is exceedingly fair to both the city and the homeowner and could end up saving 10 to 13 homeowners. Additionally, we're hoping this will serve as a pilot program to other cities. Tomorrow night the city council will host a study session for the plan. If passed, the city will allocate $1 million to this project, to be paid back to city coffers over time.

If all goes well it will go to a vote on October 6th. We have had positive feedback from the council and staff members to this point.

There are a few ways you can help:

1) You can attend the council session tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 7:00 pm at the Onetta Harris Community Center and hear about the proposal. The community center address is: 100 Terminal Ave Menlo Park, CA 94025

2) You can tell others about the session, and ask them to also attend

3) You can email, call or write the council members to express your support. You can find their contact information here: http://www.menlopark.org/council/city_council.html

4) Pray that God will guide the council as they consider this proposal

I have attached an early draft of the city proposal for your review. The final should be available at the meeting (as we have suggested some changes). Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your support.

Regards.

- John

Another Useless Homicide in EPA

2009-09-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

Another homicide in EPA this weekend. Another young life cut short. This one was closer to home, since it was the son of one of the other tenants in our building. I'm tired of the violence. You can read the news report here. Pastor Bains knew this young man well.

I found strength in the U2 song 'Drowning Man' this morning. I'll take it as words from God and a prayer for the family.

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love

For I have promised
Oh, to be with you tonight
And for the time that will come

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
And I understand
These winds and tides
This change of times
Won't drag you away
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, and don't let go
Of my love

The storms will pass...the storm will pass...
It won't be long now...it won't be long now...
His love will last
His love will last...forever

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
Give you what I hold dear

Hold on, hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
Rise up, rise up
With wings like eagles
You run, you run
You run and not grow weary

...Take my hand, take my hand...
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
To this love...last forever
To this love...last forever

Take my hand

Author of 'Dead Aid' on Colbert

2009-09-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the head's up, Rudy.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Dambisa Moyo

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Protests

What say you? Does the traditional models of relief and aid work? What is the alternative?

Book: White Man's Burden - thoughts for Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a fascinating book that has some of the same themes that run through Bob Lupton's recent writing. It's called 'White Man's Burden" by William Easterly. (I get the feeling some of you have read this already.) You can find it here. The title of the book is somewhat unfortunate, it's meant to be sarcastic.

There are some amazing points here, stuff NCUD and others at CCDA have been talking about for years. I encourage you to check it out - here's a couple of great excepts from the first chapter:

"But I and many other like-minded people keep trying, not to abandon aid to the poor, but to make sure it reaches them. Rich countries have to address the second tragedy if they are going to make any progress on the first tragedy. Otherwise, the current wave of enthusiasm for addressing world poverty will repeat the cycle of its predecessors: idealism, high expectations, disappointing results, cynical backlash."

"Let’s call the advocates of the traditional approach the Planners, while we call the agents for change in the alternative approach the Searchers."

"The Planners have the rhetorical advantage of promising great things: the end of poverty. The only thing the Planners have against them is that they gave us the second tragedy of the world’s poor. Poor people die not only because of the world’s indifference to their poverty, but also because of ineffective efforts by those who do care. To escape the cycle of tragedy, we have to be tough on the ideas of the Planners, even while we salute their goodwill."

"Yet helping the poor today requires learning from past efforts. Unfortunately, the West already has a bad track record of previous beautiful goals. A UN summit in 1990, for example, set as a goal for the year 2000 universal primary-school enrollment. (That is now planned for 2015.) A previous summit, in 1977, set 1990 as the deadline for realizing the goal of universal access to water and sanitation. (Under the Millennium Development Goals, that target is now 2015.15 Nobody was held accountable for these missed goals."

"As for the actions of the West, asking the aid agencies and development workers to attain utopian ideals makes them much worse at achieving the doable things called for by the Searchers. It also makes them much less accountable for making specific things work, as the focus on the Big Goals of the Big Plan distracts everyone’s attention from whether more children are getting twelve-cent medicines. Acknowledging that development happens mainly through homegrown efforts would liberate the agencies of the West from utopian goals, freeing up development workers to concentrate on more modest, doable steps to make poor people’s lives better."

"Idealists, activists, development workers of the world, you have nothing to lose but your utopian chains. Let’s give more power and funds to the many Searchers who are already working in development. You don’t have to immediately eliminate world poverty, bring world peace, or save the environment. You just have to do whatever you discover works with your modest resources to make a difference in the lives of poor people."

Interesting and provocative thoughts on a weekend we celebrate the working person! To me, it fits well into the CCDA redefinition of 'Redistribution' into 'giving the poor the necessary skills and resources to work their way out of poverty'.

What do you think?

Pagmill May Still Get What's Coming

2009-09-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Many have been following the fight betweeen the City and EPA's largest landlord, Pagemill Properties. Here is a recent news article about their financial woes. You can't mistreat the poor and get away with it. God's justice will prevail.

The Daily News 09/01/2009, Page A01

EAST PALO ALTO

Page Mill may lose 1,700 units
nProperties spokesman says company didn’t make $50M payment to Wells Fargo

BY JESSICA BERNSTEINWAX

Daily News Staff Writer

A Page Mill Properties spokesman said Monday that the ownership of more than 1,700 units in East Palo Alto is in question after the company failed to make a $50 million payment to Wells Fargo Bank last month. The company and its subsidiaries couldn’t make the onetime balloon payment on Aug. 4 because of financial problems due to the economy, spokesman Sam Singer said.

“They have been successfully servicing the debt on the loans for the properties, but this balloon payment — they just didn’t have that amount on hand due to the declining economy,” Singer said.

He added that Page Mill is in talks with Wells Fargo and hopes to reach some resolution in the next month or so.

“It’s ironic that the bank would not want to renegotiate the loan in a flexible manner given the glut of foreclosed properties on the market,” Singer said.

He added that the loan has nothing to do with a nearly $70 million investment the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or CalPERS, made in the properties in 2006.

Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment Monday.

Tenants became alarmed after seeing employees of Woodland Park Management — Page Mill’s property management company — taking down signs Monday.

However, Singer said the company took down one large sign advertising its properties only because the city ordered it to do so. East Palo Alto and Page Mill are involved in a bitter legal dispute over rent increases and other issues, with about 10 active lawsuits pending between them.

It wasn’t clear Monday whether Page Mill’s financial problems are connected with the recent closure of a number of swimming pools at the properties. The pools remained closed Monday afternoon with signs indicating San Mateo County health officials shut them down Aug. 21 due to lack of chlorination.

At least one of the pools was bright green with algae.

Tenants should not experience any changes in management as the property owners negotiate with Wells Fargo, Singer said.

“For the time being, Page Mill is in control of the property and will continue to assist the tenants with any life safety and any habitation issues, any livability issues,” Singer said.

“They are in the same position as many regular people, husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, who given the declining economy don’t have enough money in the bank.”

E-mail Jessica Bernstein-Wax at jbernstein@dailynewsgroup.com.

Lupton on Mission Trips vs. Kingom Tourism

2009-08-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hee's some very insightful words from Bob Lupton calling for truth in advertising for a $2 billion 'missions' industry...

Cheerios just got a black eye. For as long as I can remember, those little round “O”s have been a breakfast favorite of both children and adults. Kids have spelled words with them in their cereal bowls, moms have carried baggies of them in their purses for snacks, dads have shoveled down spoonfuls as they hurried out the door on the way to work. In recent years these nutritious, fiber-rich, toasted 100% whole grain oat delights have boasted an amazing ability to lower bad cholesterol. I believed them. Who wouldn’t believe in Cheerios? Then some whistle-blower or competitor cried foul and the Federal Trade Commission took a close look at these health claims. Cheerios may be nutritious but no longer can they claim to lower cholesterol. They got caught doing false advertising.
Is it buyer beware or do we want government watchdogs checking the validity of our marketing practices? Frankly, I’m glad there is some ethical standard in our society that attempts to maintain a modicum of honesty. Can you imagine living in a culture where you could believe nothing that you read or heard? What chaos! I’m disappointed in Cheerios. I wish their advertising were as wholesome as their 100% whole grain oats. But I’ll keep eating the little “O”s for breakfast. And I’ll also keep taking my cholesterol pills.
The Federal Trade Commission, an independent agency of the U.S. government, is charged with keeping American business free and fair. Included in its many responsibilities is “to prevent the dissemination of false and deceptive advertising of goods, drugs, curative devices, and cosmetics.” False claims, whether by Cheerios, car dealers or snake oil peddlers, when detected are subject to public exposure, penalties and immediate corrective action. The FTC has jurisdiction over a broad spectrum of activities but there is one realm it cannot penetrate – the church. The church-state barrier offers protection against government intrusion into the practice of organized religion. Of course, one would expect that, since the Judeo-Christian traditions are foundational to the ethical and moral codes of American society, the church would be the last institution in need of ethical policing.
Certainly the church is not without its flaws. The moral failure of church leaders is legendary. The media feeds off such scandal. Yet, in spite of the damage caused by the occasional fall of religious leaders, the church as an institution strives to preserve and protect high standards of conduct. Though its members, and too often its leaders, fail to measure up to its high ideals, the church remains the primary guardian of moral and ethical values. It may wrestle with controversial issues of the day such as gay marriage and abortion, but it does so in pursuit of a moral high ground.
But there is one area that seems to have eluded the ethical scrutiny of the church. Churches from the left to the right, high and low, share the same blind spot. Perhaps it’s because the practice is so pervasive or because the claims seem so spiritual. But if the FTC were to shine the spotlight on the marketing of missions, the expose would be, well, perhaps not damning but certainly embarrassing. Take a look at most any promotional package for a mission trip and you will get the distinct impression that lost, starving, forsaken people have their last hope riding on the willingness of Christians from the US to come and rescue them. The pictures are heart-rending – a close-up of a child’s sad face, a tin-roof shack beside an open sewage ditch, an old woman struggling under a load of firewood sticks. The emotional call goes out for the “healed, trained, empowered and Spirit filled teens to be missionaries to the world.” Such experiences promise to touch lives, change the world, and have a dramatic, life-changing impact on those who will sacrifice their comfort to go. For a week!
Can we be honest? Mission trips and service projects are important. For lots of reasons. But the truth of the matter is that dropping into a strange culture for a week or even two creates far more work for the local leadership than it’s worth, except for the money and gifts we leave. And those gifts more often than not do more long-term harm than good. As one local leader told me: “They’re turning our people into beggars.” Much of the work we do is make-work – painting a church, digging a foundation, leading a summer Bible school – all work that could and should be done by locals. “Our men need the work,” a seminary president once told me as we discussed the impact of US mission trippers in her impoverished country.
But this treatise is not about the downstream impact of mission trips. Some ambitious young reporter seeking to make a name for himself will sooner or later handle that expose. This is about the dishonesty in our marketing of these trips. Our “people-are-dying-and-you-can-save-them” rhetoric may be effective spin to lure young people (and older as well) into signing up but we know that only on rare occasions is this actually true. Yes, there are Katrinas. But the overwhelming majority of our mission trips are to places where the needs for development are far greater than for emergency assistance. And development is about enabling indigenous people to help themselves, not doing the work for them. Development is much longer term, calls for professional expertise and planning, requires lending and investing – not the sort of things that lend themselves to a typical short-term mission trip.
I am not saying that mission trips don’t have value. They do. Great value. They open up new worlds, new perspectives, new insights. They expose us to fascinating cultures, connect us with new friends, allow us to experience God at work in surprising ways, inspire us, break our hearts, build camaraderie among traveling companions. Any one of these benefits might well justify the time and expense. But isn’t it time we admit to ourselves that mission trips are essentially for our benefit, not for the benefit of the ones our marketing material portray? Would it not be more forthright if we called our junkets “insight trips” or “exchange programs”? Or how about Kingdom adventures? Do we really need to justify our journeying to exotic lands under the pretense of missionary work? Religious tourism would have much more integrity if we simply admitted that we’re off to explore God’s amazing work in the world.
I know we have to have good reason to justify spending the kind of money we do on mission trips. US churches spent well over $2 billion (that’s with a “b”) on them last year. This is not at all inconsistent with our normative pattern of church spending, however. We typically spend upwards of 95% of church budgets on ourselves anyway. So to admit that mission trip expenditures are primarily for the spiritual benefit of our members would not be out of line, that is if we feel justified spending that percentage on ourselves. But that’s a discussion for another time. Our subject here is marketing with integrity.
So how do we capture the imagination, the compassion, of a younger generation if not by appealing to the tenderness of their hearts? Come to think of it, it was the story of fatherless children that drew me into urban work nearly 40 years ago. I wanted to make a difference. That was a powerful motivator. So maybe “touching lives” and “changing the world” is appropriate rhetoric after all. It certainly appealed to my compassionate side and it played at least some part in shaping my call into ministry. The idea of sacrifice was also appealing to me, to offer myself up to a cause of great importance. I wanted my life to count. That was important. But playing to those tender Spirit-sensitivities should be done with great care. Setting up unrealistic expectations can lead to discouragement. Portraying false representations can lead to cynicism. Is it not enough to simply say “come and see” and then allow the Spirit to do the touching and surprising?
Here’s my bottom line: the Kingdom doesn’t need our hype. The Kingdom needs people who speak the truth.

- Bob Lupton

off the grid

2009-07-24T17:05:00.001-07:00

I'll be off the grid for the next couple of week on vacation, blogcation, twittercation, email-cation, work-phone-cation and facebook-cation. see you in August!

Wisdom from Tozer

2009-07-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves., waiting for us to recognize it. God himself is here waiting our response to His presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to recon upon it's reality.

From "The Pursuit of God" by A. W. Tozer

Get the book here. It's one of my 'desert island' books...

My Intervew in Sojourners Magazine

2009-07-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

See it here.

Short Takes

Six Questions For ... Rev. John Liotti
Interview by Elizabeth Palmberg

Bio: Founder and CEO, Northern California Urban Development (www.norcaludc.org)
Blog: norcalurban.blogspot.com

1. How would you describe Northern California Urban Development’s work?
Our vision is broad—to relieve the causes and effects of systemic poverty. We strive to have an effect on “the street.” We’re honored to serve amazing communities: East Palo Alto and Redwood City. East Palo Alto specifically, while having an abundance of assets, has been overlooked by the success of our surrounding area, Silicon Valley.

2. What have you accomplished?
In NCUD’s short four-year history, we’ve brought a credit union to East Palo Alto, which was desperately unbanked and being preyed upon by financial predators. We’ve also founded a youth program that focuses on financial literacy and life skills, which is currently serving more than 200 “urban” students weekly. We’re working on an approach toward the housing crisis, including brokering an innovative program where cities help homeowners refinance in exchange for a stake in the house’s future appreciation. These efforts strive to break the curse of generational poverty by giving folks the tools and resources to conquer poverty.

The hallmark of all we’ve done is partnerships—collaborative relationships with individuals and organizations from outside and inside our community. Our role, in many ways, is to cast and shepherd the vision to completion—but to do so in a collaborative manner.

3. What is the best thing anyone has taught you in your work?
Dr. John Perkins, quoting an ancient proverb, says, “But of the best leaders, when their task is done, the people will remark, ‘We have done it ourselves.’ ” This has been a great challenge to me. So many times we want the credit.

4. What’s your biggest challenge personally?
To maintain balance and joy. It’s so easy to focus on what isn’t right, rather than to celebrate the good things: family, community, beauty, and art. Being in a community with a lot of needs, I can find myself putting out fires and dealing with the urgent, but not necessarily the most important. I’m learning that if I’m not striving for a healthy lifestyle, then there is no way I can be a healing presence in the community. I’m not there yet—but I’m trying!

5. What delights you in your daily work?
There is so much creativity and energy in the body of Christ. I love finding ways to connect the resources and individuals who can create change with the need—and help them engage in the process of transformation. I’m excited when I see folks using their skills and resources in kingdom of God work.

I also take delight in seeing young leaders find their calling. I love seeing the next generation rise up and take its place!

6. What gives you hope?
My pastor recently made a statement that, while simple, struck me. He said, “You know, the throne’s not empty up there!” There are so many things to worry about these days. When I stop, center myself, and realize that God is truly in control, I can rest and find joy.

—Interview by Elizabeth Palmberg

Stunning Op-Ed in NYT on the Current Reality for the Poor

2009-06-15T11:02:00.001-07:00

Here is a stark article in the New York Times abotu the current conditions for the poor. Here's the summary:

The recession of the ’80s transformed the working class into the working poor, as manufacturing jobs fled to the third world, forcing American workers into the low-paying service and retail sector. The current recession is knocking the working poor down another notch — from low-wage employment and inadequate housing toward erratic employment and no housing at all. Comfortable people have long imagined that American poverty is far more luxurious than the third world variety, but the difference is rapidly narrowing.

Maybe “the economy,” as depicted on CNBC, will revive again, restoring the kinds of jobs that sustained the working poor, however inadequately, before the recession. Chances are, though, that they still won’t pay enough to live on, at least not at any level of safety and dignity. In fact, hourly wage growth, which had been running at about 4 percent a year, has undergone what the Economic Policy Institute calls a “dramatic collapse” in the last six months alone. In good times and grim ones, the misery at the bottom just keeps piling up, like a bad debt that will eventually come due.

M. Ward

2009-05-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

Sam, Melissa and I went to see M. Ward last night. The newly renovate Fox Theatre in Oakland is truly amazing. It's a restored 1920's movie palace. It could now be my favorite venue for shows in the Bay.

M. was amazing. He's the real deal, for sure. An amazing guitarist, intriguing vocalist and brought along a stellar backing band. He'll be around for a long time - I'm sure. Here's video:

Reflections from Jackson

2009-05-12T05:51:00.000-07:00

Reflections from Jackson

For the better part of the last year I’ve been working on the Emerging Leader’s Initiative for the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). This initiative is designed to recognize and empower the emerging leaders within CCDA. John Perkins, Wayne Gordon, Mary Nelson and many others originally founded CCDA in the 1980’s. These men and women were very tight-nit and have a strong bond of friendships. CCDA has now grown to be many thousands of people. As a board we’ve been concerned about the aging of the leadership of the Association and I was tasked to develop and lead this initiative.

The initiative revolves around choosing 20 or so individuals, we call them cohorts, to journey together for a year. The cohorts are mostly leaders under 40 years old who are in primary leadership in a CCDA member organization. During the year there is a focus on relationships, on transfixing the ‘legacy’ of the founders and considering the future of CCDA.

Last week was our first cohort retreat. We traveled to Jackson, MS to be with John Perkins for a week. CEO Noel Castellanos and board Chairperson Barbara Williams-Skinner also joined us. One unexpected blessing was to have Lowell and Dixie Noble also join us for the week. Mr. and Mrs. Nobel are likewise CCDA pioneers. Lowell is a theologian and provides much of the theological reflections for CCDA principles.

Last week’s retreat was truly a wonderful and anointed experience. The cohort team came with a spirit of excitement and expectation. In addition to Noel and Dr. Skinner’s anointed teaching John Perkins was in amazing form. It’s such an honor to sit under that humble servant of God. Every time I’m with him I have the sense I’m in the presence of greatness. I imagine it’s much like being with one of the Apostles or one of the great historical leaders of our faith.

One of the highlights of the trip (among many) was our time in Mendenhall. On Thursday we rented a tour bus and traveled with Dr. Perkins to the place of his early ministry during the civil rights movement. Mendenhall, MS was where he planted a church and founded Mendenhall Ministries, which was the early model of CCD ministry.

Along the journey to Mendenhall Dr. Perkins narrated some of the stories of his youth. We stopped by the truck stop on the infamous Highway 49 that Dr. Perkins and his team integrated. He recounted the story of literally having to sit on his hands in the booth as he ordered food because his hands were shaking out of fear. He told the story of parking on the side of the road during MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, weeping over the impact of the words on a young civil rights soldier. We saw one of the jails he spent time in while being persecuted for standing for justice and his rights.

Dr. Perkins had many works of wisdom for us. He admonished us to remember the poor. He challenged us to focus our ministries on the neighborhood and not to be concerned with fame or largess. He talked at length about the simplicity of serving and not asking for a return. I was over and over impressed with the ‘mustard seed’ faith of this man. I saw the results of simple acts of faith and trust in God. For those of us in the CCDA family Mendenhall is a sort of Mecca or akin to the Vatican. It’s a place that helped define many of our lives. As I walked around the small Southern town I was shocked how normal it was. We saw young African-American boys and girls playing in a school with white children. Perhaps this is a mundane everyday occurrence in our generation. However, only 40 years ago that would have been an act of treason. Simple faith produced results that changed a generation.

Dr. Skinner likewise was profound. Her late husband Tom Skinner was a close friend and Kingdom conspirator with Dr. Perkins. Barbara told of her and Tom’s courtship, marriage and ministry. Barbara talked about her conversion and a lifetime of ministry in Washington, DC. Today she regularly walks the halls of congress interceding for the congressmen and congresswomen.

Barbara called us to be ‘lifers’ in the work of restoring communities and serving the poor. Aptly and prophetically she ended her sessions with us talking to us about prayer. She emphasized that prayer is where the seeds of change are planted. I again was challenged to a deeper prayer life.

However, one of the greatest blessings of the whole week was having my son Samuel with me. Melissa and I decided to pull him from school so he could participate and observe Dr. Perkins life and ministry. The cohort team embraced him and included him in all of the events. I’m grateful for their expression of love to my son. I pray that this experience was formative as he enters high school and begins to seek God’s will for his life.

All in all I’m overwhelmed and somewhat exhausted from the week. I have yet to digest all the events and experiences. As is hopefully the whole team, I’m already getting excited about the next gathering in Santa Cruz. It’s such an honor to serve these wonderful leaders, both the cohorts and the CCDA board and founders.

SF Chronicle Article on Our Project

2009-05-05T06:17:00.000-07:00

See the entire article here.

Menlo Park's City Council tonight will consider an innovative approach to preventing foreclosure for struggling homeowners - but one that comes with a big up-front price tag for the city.

"To me, the most important thing is to keep people in their homes and not disrupt families, not take kids out of school," said Councilman Andy Cohen. "This is the only program on the horizon that does that."

The Foreclosure Prevention Program targets owner-occupied homes with mortgages more than 90 days past due. Program administrators would approach the bank that holds the defaulting mortgage and ask it to sell the mortgage at the home's current fair market value - the same amount the bank would receive if the home went through foreclosure, but with fewer expenses and less time and trouble for the bank, said David Shapiro, CEO of the EARN Group, a Los Gatos company that develops real estate financing tools.

A local community bank would then refinance the mortgage for about 70 percent of the home's fair market value. In what is essentially a "silent second mortgage," the city would put up about 30 percent of the home's value as a cash investment, leaving the homeowner with a mortgage for 70 percent of the home's fair market value at today's low interest rates. The homeowner's monthly housing costs potentially could be halved, EARN said.

The city would have an equity stake in the home. It would get repaid when the home is sold (assuming it sells for more than today's price) and would also receive half of the home's appreciation above the current market value. If the home sells for less than today's price, or is lost to foreclosure, the city could lose part or all of its investment, because it would be in second place after the bank that did the refinancing.

EARN, a for-profit company, teamed with the nonprofit Northern California Urban Development, an East Palo Alto group that works to alleviate poverty, to develop the program, and is now seeking cities to serve as testing grounds. Shapiro said large banks have expressed interest in the plan, and a small credit union, Community Trust in East Palo Alto, is willing to do the refinancings for Menlo Park, as well as for East Palo Alto, which also is considering the plan.
"This is aimed at keeping people in their houses in their communities, rather than having the houses turn over and flip," said Marc Prioleau, a founding board member of NCUD.

Sam, Malik, Cody and Sierra

2009-05-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Sam's gonna be a star! No doubt! This is his rap group.

Song: Glommy Day
Priduced by Samuel J. Liotti
Vocals: Samuel J. Liotti, Malik R., Sierra and Cody K.

Meet Up in DC -

2009-04-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Cross post from Urban Onramps For thise who are attending the Mobilazation to End Poverty (M2EP) we're meeting Sunday night. Come on - all you west coasters will be hitting your stride at 8:00 pm!

DC MEETUP THIS SUNDAY NIGHT: Here’s a Meet-Up in conjunction with the Mobilization to End Poverty (MEP). The MEP starts on Monday morning, and for those who are in town on Sunday night and would like to connect, the spot is Lauriol Plaza Restaurant in DC, 1835 18th Street NW (about three blocks from DuPont Circle). We’ll be there for dessert (or whatever else you choose) starting at 8 p.m. So far… it’s me, John Liotti from NorCal Urban CDC, and Glory Okeke from Harambee Prep. Open Invitation - All Are Welcome. Email me if you plan to attend (or send a tweet).

Cultivating Community Based Financial Literacy

2009-04-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Evidence suggests that these types of (financial literacy) programs can be successful in helping the unbanked and underserved improve their financial skills and develop successful banking relationships. For example, a survey of participants in the FDIC's Money Smart program, showed that financial education training can positively change consumer behavior and improve knowledge about the basics of checking, saving, budgeting, and credit. Money Smart is a financial education curriculum launched in 2001 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that is in wide use today.

The survey results indicate that participants, 6 to 12 months after taking the Money Smart training, were more likely to open deposit accounts, save money in a mainstream deposit product, use and adhere to a budget, and have increased confidence in their financial ability. In addition, more than half of the respondents reported that their level of savings increased, their debt decreased, and they were more likely to comparison-shop for financial products and services.

See the whole article here.
Check out more information on NCUD's financial literacy efforts Here. Click on "programs".

Travis Reed Doing a Tribal Dance

2009-04-22T07:59:00.001-07:00

My friend Travis recenty returned from a trip to Africa. He joined in a tribal dance.

Post Easter Wisdom from Bono

2009-04-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, the choirmaster was jumping out of his skin ... stormy then still, playful then tender, on the most upright of pianos and melodies. He sang his invocations in a beautiful oaken tenor with a freckle-faced boy at his side playing conga and tambourine as if it was a full drum kit. The parish sang to the rafters songs of praise to a God that apparently surrendered His voice to ours.

I come to lowly church halls and lofty cathedrals for what purpose? I search the Scriptures to what end? To check my head? My heart? No, my soul. For me these meditations are like a plumb line dropped by a master builder — to see if the walls are straight or crooked. I check my emotional life with music, my intellectual life with writing, but religion is where I soul-search.

The preacher said, “What good does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” Hearing this, every one of the pilgrims gathered in the room asked, “Is it me, Lord?” In America, in Europe, people are asking, “Is it us?”

Well, yes. It is us.

Carnival is over. Commerce has been overheating markets and climates ... the sooty skies of the industrial revolution have changed scale and location, but now melt ice caps and make the seas boil in the time of technological revolution. Capitalism is on trial; globalization is, once again, in the dock. We used to say that all we wanted for the rest of the world was what we had for ourselves. Then we found out that if every living soul on the planet had a fridge and a house and an S.U.V., we would choke on our own exhaust.

Lent is upon us whether we asked for it or not. And with it, we hope, comes a chance at redemption. But redemption is not just a spiritual term, it’s an economic concept. At the turn of the millennium, the debt cancellation campaign, inspired by the Jewish concept of Jubilee, aimed to give the poorest countries a fresh start. Thirty-four million more children in Africa are now in school in large part because their governments used money freed up by debt relief. This redemption was not an end to economic slavery, but it was a more hopeful beginning for many. And to the many, not the lucky few, is surely where any soul-searching must lead us.

A few weeks ago I was in Washington when news arrived of proposed cuts to the president’s aid budget. People said that it was going to be hard to fulfill promises to those who live in dire circumstances such a long way away when there is so much hardship in the United States. And there is.

But I read recently that Americans are taking up public service in greater numbers because they are short on money to give. And, following a successful bipartisan Senate vote, word is that Congress will restore the money that had been cut from the aid budget — a refusal to abandon those who would pay such a high price for a crisis not of their making. In the roughest of times, people show who they are.

Your soul.

So much of the discussion today is about value, not values. Aid well spent can be an example of both, values and value for money. Providing AIDS medication to just under four million people, putting in place modest measures to improve maternal health, eradicating killer pests like malaria and rotoviruses — all these provide a leg up on the climb to self-sufficiency, all these can help us make friends in a world quick to enmity. It’s not alms, it’s investment. It’s not charity, it’s justice.

See the whole editorial here

Updated NCUD Website

2009-04-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

Check out the new NCUD website. See it here. Let us know your thoughts.

Editrorial Support for Housing initiative

2009-04-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Editorial in the Almanac: "Quick Action Needed." See the article here. If you know one of the Menlo Park city council or government leaders, please reach out and indicate your support for NCUD and other's efforts.

Love is an Orientation - Andrew Marin's New Book

2009-04-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

My friend and CCDA "emerging leader" Andrew Marin of the The Marin Foundation just had his first book published "Love is an Orientation". Andrew is elevating the important conversation between the evangelical and homosexual community. You can get his book here. You can also read his blog here or check out the recent Christianity Today review of the book. This is obviously an important for us living in the SF Bay with our active and large homosexual community. We've been feeling the backlash from the California Proposition 8 decision and the impact it has had on both communities.

I'm proud of Andrew, thankful that he is elevating an important conversation.

NCUD's Housing Initiative

2009-04-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my post about about my 'blogcation' we've been working diligently on a shared equity or 'third sector' housing solution for our community. This has occupied much of my mental bandwidth, along with the important curriculum development project for our youth program, Future Profits.

We're beginning to see some light. On April 24th the city of Menlo Park will vote on a proposal for funding for our housing project. If approved, we will have the funding to save around ten homes and families from foreclosure. This will happen through an investment of public funds as an equity partner and a write down of the current (underwater) mortgage by the lender to a level where, with the public funds, will place the homeowner in a fair mortgage with a payment they can afford. However, the homeowner will give up some of their future appreciation by which the city will be paid back it's funds. We're also looking at a similar project with private funding. Certainly ten homes isn't going to change the US housing market. It will however dramatically impact ten families and demonstrate our approach is valid and important and perhaps help us to bring it to scale and impact a larger group of folks.

A number of newspapers have picked up the story. When the proposal goes to the city council it will be coupled with a proposal from Habitat for Humanity to pick up REO or foreclosed properties and a city led Below Market Rate (BMR) project.

Bravo to the city of Menlo Park and to Councilmember Andy Cohen for being creative and open to solutions and for bringing three concurrent solutions to the Council at the same time. This project will be focused on the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park. This is the area on the east side of the freeway and is socio-economically similar to East Palo Alto.

For this project we've been working with the EARN Group. They've developed the model and is looking to offer it across the country if they are successful in our backyard. For this, they've been offering their services and expertise pro-bono. Here is an excerpt from the article. You can read it in it's entirely here.

In an effort to keep low-income residents in their homes, the city of Menlo Park is considering a plan to buy an equity stake in some of those properties.

The plan, one of three foreclosure-related measures under consideration by the Housing Commission at its meeting Wednesday, April 1, is essentially untested, according to Housing Manager Doug Frederick. The city would first try to convince banks to reduce the principal to near market value, and would then purchase equity in the home.

The number of Menlo Park homes in some stage of the foreclosure process has hovered near 100 for months, the vast majority of them in the Belle Haven neighborhood on the east side of the city, according to the Web site realtytrac.com. So far this year, about 40 Menlo Park homeowners have defaulted on their mortgages.

As home prices have dropped, many Belle Haven residents have found that they owe more in mortgage payments than their home is worth.

The city would invest about $90,000 in each home, Mr. Frederick said — 30 percent of a representative $300,000 home.

The EARN Group, a Los Gatos-based company that has been developing a plan independent of Menlo Park to buy equity in homes, would advise the city, and help homeowners to renegotiate terms with banks. The group is offering its assistance pro bono (save a possible small service charge to homeowners) because it is looking to test its model in the hopes of taking it to a wider market, Mr. Frederick said.

San Mateo County has not received any federal funding to deal with foreclosures, but the city may be able to find other sources of funding to amplify its efforts, Mr. Cohen said.

NCUD wasn't specifically mentioned in the article, but we'll be coordinating the community side of the effort. While certainly not a done deal, the signs so far are encouraging.

How can you help? If you have a connections with the city government of Menlo Park you can contact them and let them know you are in support of NCUD and EARN's efforts - as well as the efforts of Habitat for Humanity. If we get this project approved at a minimum we will see the lives of ten families dramatically saved and perhaps we can use this model change the lives of many more.

Additionally, please pray for ours and Habitat's efforts. We need an extra portion of God's wisdom and blessing. If you want more information on our efforts feel free to contact me.

Twitter Updates

2009-04-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

So I've finally jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. You can see my Twitter updates on the right of this page. One more way to keep up with my life...

Mark Smallwood - In Memory

2009-04-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

This week our close friend passed away suddenly. Mark was my wife Melissa's pastor and served as a second father to her when her own dad passed. Mark and his wife Gloria introduced Melissa to Christ when she was a child and served as her pastor throughout her childhood and teenage years.

Mark and my relationship started rocky. When I showed up in Delhi, CA courting Melissa I was a young 18 year old, brash, arrogant and opinionated. I still have some of that going on. Understandably and justifiably, Mark was skeptical and not too thrilled about Melissa and my relationship. We had a lapse in our communication for a number of years.

After we left Mexico with YWAM in '94 we landed in the Central Valley broke and burned out with a newborn baby. We were struggling to get back on our feet. Mark and Gloria gave Melissa a job that she held for 6 years at La Morenita. Mark helped us with a car, with furniture, with a house, with groceries, on and on... He eventually gave me a job at the restaurant and helped me with a side job throwing newspapers so we could continue to pursue our calling to urban ministry . We traveled through Yosemite together, went to a bunch of Giants games, spent some crazy times in Santa Cruz. Essentially he continued his role in being a father to Melissa and a brother to me. When my sister Kelli moved to Modesto he took her and her husband Saul into the family also.

Mark was generous, loving, caring, cantankerous, annoying and a avid practical joker. When he did something, it was done 100% - no margins or tentativeness. He lived and loved extremely. He's left a deep mark (no pun intended) on our family and most certainly on Melissa. We've not seen much of him since we moved to the Bay. However, it was comforting to know that he was just a call or short car trip away. We'll miss him - and remain grateful for all he did for us.

Mark's brother Philip blogged about his passing here.

Please pray for the Smallwoods. Mark leaves five children and his wife Gloria. He will be missed. His homegoing service is Saturday at 11:00 in Turlock.

Back From 'Blogcation'

2009-04-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

To all of my deprived readers (if there are any left),

Please forgive my absence. Frankly, blogging started to feel more like work than fun - so a break was in order. Going forward, I hope to be more focused with my posts. They may be less frequent but hopefully will have slightly more content.

Over the past three months I've focused my attention on a few key issues. The first and main issue is formulating a response to the current housing crisis. We've been working on a Housing Market Stabilization Initiative (HMSI) which would work to intervene for families who are losing their homes. Secondly, NCUD's youth program, now dubbed "Future Profits"is growing and needing more and more attention. Lastly, I've been working on an Emerging Leader Initiative (ELI) for CCDA. The ELI will be a one year cohort program designed to pass on the CCDA legacy from the founders including Dr. John Perkins. Overarching all of this is the economy - which is making all of us in the non profit world pay close attention to the bottom line.

All that said, blogging unfortunately has taken a back seat to my other initiatives. Ultimately it's a matter of brain 'bandwidth' which is feeling more and more scarce these days.

I hope to post more in the upcoming days. If you're still reading this - give me a 'shout out' so I know I'm not just writing for myself!

Article: The Radical Faith of John Perkins

2009-01-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

Just returned from a wonderful CCDA board meeting in Cincinnati. Just made it out before the snow and frigid cold. Boy, do I love the Bay Area!

You HAVE to check this out. here is a wonderful article on Dr. John Perkins called Radical Faith: The Revolution of John Perkins that was in the Jackson Free Press. It's a wonderful read... especially in light of the upcoming inauguration of President Obama. I'd love to hear your comments.

Wow - Beatle Flashbacks, Dude

2009-01-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

I found this interesting record by The Fireman yesterday named "Electric Arguments". This is essentially a disguised Paul McCartney record.

As my regular readers will know I listen to a lot of music from diverse styles (from opera to speed metal). I'm not wowed by a record very often, this one did for me. To be honest, I've been less than impressed with Paul's solo work. There are bright spots like the records 'McCartney', 'Ram', 'Band on the Run'and 'Flowers in the Dirt' - but for the most part his solo career can't compare to wonderful and transparent Lennon records like 'Plastic Ono Band', 'Double Fantasy' and 'Mind Games'.

However, this record really grabbed me, starting with the searing blues on the first song, "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight" and the transcendent "Sing the Changes" with the repeating lyrics (is there a faith influence here???):

"sing his praises as you're sleeping
see the changes any wonder
feel the sense of childlike wonder
sing his praises as you're sleeping
see the changes as you're sleeping
feel the choir in the thunder"

Not every song is a winner - and the record kind of fizzles into electronic music. But there are some very great moments. Paul is now pushing 70 - but he reminds us that he is still a Beatle. You can buy the record here or any of your favorite locations.

By the way - here are my favorite releases of 2008:

Cardinology - Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
Little Honey - Lucinda Williams
In Rainbows - Radiohead
Electric Arguments - The Fireman

Happy New Year

2009-01-07T11:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm back now after a few weeks off. I needed some down time. Meliisa and I intentionally spend lots of time together over the holidays. It's a season to reconnect and remember that we're friends. We had a great time, saw family, ate a ton, watched movies and worked on our house. This time around in home ownership I seem to be enjoying the experience more. We owned (and still do) a house in Modesto when we lived there 9 years ago (yes, it's been 9 years since we moved to EPA!) - but working on the house seemed much more a drudgery. I guess I'm older and slightly more patient.

We're looking forward to 2009 - and I'm certainly glad 2008 is over. However, in spite of the turmoil we personally and with NCUD had a prosperous and successful year. We bought a house, had a credit union grand opening and saw it grow and succeed, expanded and further developed our youth programs and watched Samuel continue to mature into a fine young man. Oh yea, we also adopted a slightly crusty and needy German Shepherd. NCUD continues to thrive in spite of the challenges, Melissa's job, New Creation Home is likewise thriving thanks to God's grace and Katie Fantin's leadership. We ended 2008 full of thankfulness and hopeful.

I also wanted to give a few reviews of the movies I watched over the break. Here are my suggestions:

Yes Man: Skip it. I was particularly offended by a rather graphic and somewhat degenerate sexual situation. It's kind of a shame - it has a good story and theme - the referenced scene is superfluous.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Good, but a little slow. I enjoyed the theme, acting, special effects. Great adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Worth seeing - might be a better rental.

Gran Torino: LOVED IT - Go see it now. Great story of redemption and restoration set in the backdrop of urban life in a Hmong community.

Frost / Nixon: Great movie. Admittedly I'm a sucker for anything historical, especially dealing with the Cold War or Nixon years. Great acting. I must admit. I'm a history buff - I totally enjoy the History Channel - so I can be a bad judge of how good these types of stories can be. Melissa, while loving history as much as I is a good judge of a story and how overly detailed and boring these things can be. She also loved it.

Here's some recent pictures:

New CCDA Promo Video

2008-12-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

This happened in my neighborhood

2008-12-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

This recently happened on my street. I'm thankful that the police made this arrest, but I also have great concern for the families that live on our street. Please pray for those of us who live on Saratoga Ave! We're prayng for the Kingdom of God to impact and change our neighborhood.

The police team also arrested two Pacific-Islander men, whose names were not available, for having two guns, including a loaded Uzi machine gun with 300 rounds of ammunition. The two also had scales for weighing drugs and night-vision goggles. Packaged narcotics for sale were also seized in the arrest, which occurred in the 1100 block of Saratoga Avenue in East Palo Alto.

You can see the whole article at Palo Alto Online. This is in response to the recent shootings and violence that I blogged about here.

Update: Here is another version of the story.

Dr. Emmit Carson on Non Profits Can Survive in a Down Economy

2008-12-17T16:58:00.000-08:00

Dr. Carson from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation says:

- Non profits must be aggressive in telling your story. Get in front of more people. Connect.

- Know that the rules have changed. Know the times we live in and make adjustments. Engage the systems.

My Morning Jacket - "Look at You"

2008-12-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

Indie band My Morning Jacket's recent record "Evil Urges" has an outstanding song called, "Look At You" Here are the lyrics:

Look at you:
Such a fine citizen!
Look at you:
Such a glowing example of peace and glory. Glory. Glory.
Of peace and Glory. Glory. Glory.
Let me follow you.

We believe in your power to lead
without fear.
Not about, in some tower,
but here-right down here-... with us
in this world.

Look at you:
everywhere at once.
Look at you:
such a glowing example of peace and glory. Glory. Glory.
Of peace and glory. Glory. Glory.
Let me... let me follow... let me... let me follow you

Great sentiments during the Christmas season as we reflect on the Incarnation.

Does the Gospel Itself Move Us to Do Ministry to the Poor?

2008-12-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

Tim Keller answers the question,

"How does our commitment to the primacy of the gospel tie into our obligation to do good to all, especially those of the household of faith, to serve as salt and light in the world, to do good to the city?" I will divide this question into two parts: (1) If we are committed to the primacy of the gospel, does the gospel itself serve as the basis and motivation for ministry to the poor? (2) If so, how then does that ministry relate to the proclamation of the gospel?"

Read his comments here. This is an important theological reflection - especially for those of us who come from an evangelical perspective but are called to minister to the poor. We often are criticized for not proclaiming the Gospel.

2008-12-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple of picures from our recent visit to Florida. Picutres with my parents are all the grandkids, as well as all our family together...

update

2008-12-09T17:16:00.000-08:00

“SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEETING” - WITH MAYOR ABRICA & POLICE CHIEF DAVIS

COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A “SPECIAL MEETING” HOSTED BY MAYOR REUBEN ABRICA AND POLICE CHIEF RONALD DAVIS TO DISCUSS THE RECENT SPATE OF VIOLENCE AND THE CITY’S RESPONSE TO IT. THE SPECIAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON:

DATE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008
TIME: 6:00PM – 8:00PM
LOCATION: COMMUNITY ROOM AT CITY HALL, 2415 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, EAST PALO ALTO

Light Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please contact Patty Del Castillo, Executive Assistant to Chief Davis at 650-853-3155

My City

2008-12-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Five shootings in 5 days with nine hurt, one overdose and another homicide over a week ago. It's been an especially violent couple of weeks in EPA. What's been particularly shocking is that some of the victims have been children and women. This is revealing the insidious nature of the shootings. There is a meeting today with some faith leaders and the police department as well as other prayer events stirring.

Here is the official press release from yesterday's shootings:

At approximately 08:44 P.M., East Palo Alto Police Officers were summoned to the 2800 block of Illinois Street for a Shot Spotter Activation. While police officers responded to the 2800 block of Illinois Street, police officers learned that a possible shooting victim arrived at a home on the 1600 block of Michigan Avenue. In a divided response, police officers responded to the 1600 block of Michigan Avenue and the 2800 block of Illinois Street.

When police officers arrived on the 2800 block of Illinois Street, they checked the area and located evidence consistent with the original Shot Spotter Activation. When other police officers arrived on the 1600 block of Michigan Avenue, they contacted a shooting victim, identified as, Fernando Knight, a 43 year old East Palo Alto resident.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound to his leg and he was immediately provided with medical care by Fire/Medical personnel of the Menlo Park Fire Department. The victim was subsequently transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment where he was listed in stable condition.

This shooting is actively being investigated by detectives from the East Palo Alto Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Angel Sanchez at 650.853.3144 or at 650.853.3160. Witnesses also have the option of calling the East Palo Alto Police Anonymous Tip Line at 650.851.8477.

Please join with us in prayer for our city.

NCUD's Christmas Letter

2008-12-08T14:39:00.001-08:00

Dear friends,

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Northern California Urban Development (NCUD)! As 2008 comes to a close there is much to be thankful for and reflect upon.

Lately I've been thinking about an analogy that describes NCUD's work in the community. We are painfully aware of the current economic conditions in our country and world. East Palo Alto and east Menlo Park certainly aren't immune from the problems, which are indicated by the well over 400 distressed properties in our community that are either in or near foreclosure. Truly, a fire is raging and lives are being forever changed. In a fire there is always a short-term and long-term response. The short-term response saves lives and property. The longer term involves two activities: replanting and future fire prevention.

As I've meditated on the correlations between a fire and NCUD, I'm thankful that God has placed our organization in the middle of the crisis at the right time. Who would have known four years ago that Community Trust Credit Union (CTCU), sponsored by NCUD, would be on the front lines of the fight, helping members navigate their financial lives through these state of affairs? How could we have known that financial literacy would play such a vital role? I can only attribute that to God's wisdom and His leading you and I to work together.

Our youth financial literacy program currently serves over 150 students a week! These classes are another way we are helping to protect lives from future fires. Given the current economic situation, we’ve had the privilege of helping our students understand what is happening so that they can conceptualize the greater depth of how their decisions with money affect their lives. A guest speaker came in to explain the $700 billion bailout in terms that would make sense to high school students that didn’t really understand why it was deemed a financial crisis. Students were able to understand more fully what led up to the bail out and why it was so extreme. Great discussions sparked up between classmates, including their own take on the financial mistakes made and what they would have done differently. The chance we have to see youth openly discuss financial matters that affect their lives is further proof that our programs have had a resounding success!

Lastly, NCUD is currently in the middle of a number of vital conversations regarding housing and foreclosures in our community. The issues are complex, the needs staggering. Conversely, we have a number of resources in our arsenal to craft a direction and response to the housing crisis. In the coming weeks we will be proving out a program directed specifically at community transformation and rebuilding through an affordable housing strategy. Please look for exciting news soon!

As we persevere through the ongoing economic issues and development in our community, we need your help now more than ever. The current crisis will most certainly impact non-profit organizations such as ours. Yet, I truly believe we are playing a vital role for 'such a time as this'. A gift this season will have a number of impacts. It will allow us to expand our youth financial literacy program by over 50 students a week beginning in January 2009. In order to meet our expanding opportunities we would like to raise $35,000 by the end of December. Secondly, it insures that we remain on the front lines of the 'fire fight' - providing us with necessary resources to consult with local individuals and organizations and creatively and collaboratively maximize our resources to help the many families that are in need. I can honestly say that this year, your gift is even more vital. Will you join with us?

Thank you for the many prayers and generous support of Northern California Urban Development. Have a blessed Christmas and wonderful New Year.

In Him,

John Liotti and the NCUD Team

Check this blog out!

2008-12-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Andrew Marin from the Marin Foundation is doing some amazing work building bridges between the church and the LBGT community. Andy has been blogging here pleas take a moment and check out what he's doing and saying.

Oceans of Justice

2008-12-02T16:18:00.000-08:00

I've been preparing for this weekend's CCDA Institute in the Twin Cities that Juanita and I will be teaching. The topic is the CCDA core value redistribution. It's amusing how that word has fallen out of grace during the election. For CCDA, the definition of redistribution is a 'just distribution of resources' or 'giving people the tools and resources to work their way out of poverty' - not a socialistic or communistic interpretation. Another way to look at it - it's changing the economic forces to reflect God's kingdom and His values.

I recently read a great article by Jeremy Del Rio called "Worship and Justice". In the article Jeremy quotes a well known text from the prophet Amos, but read in The Message version. It states:

“I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want” (Amos 5:21-24, The Message)

Jeremy goes on to say,

"That passage messes with lots of evangelical tradition, far more than there’s space in this column to explore. But what of the “noisy ego-music” Amos references - that of the “I’m blessed, be blessed” variety - that consumes much of our church time? Is it possible that we have become so focused on what we can get from God for ourselves that we have forgotten that the point of His blessing is to love Him well and others sacrificially?

It seems I can't go to chruch these days, or pick up the mail, or turn on religious TV without someone asking for money. In fact, as I right this I myself am writing a Christmas appeal letter for NCUD. No doubt times are tight for ministires. Donations are down. But, in the middle of chaos and consternation I'm praying for awakening. Awakening to a new realization of Kingdom economics, Kingdom values and Kingdom infused worship.

I find myself saying a lot of cliches lately. When someone asked how I'm doing I've been saying, "blessed!" When we speak of the financial woes, I say, "God is still on the throne!" I say these not to be trite or religious. I'm saying these because I want to remind myself of how blessed I truly am, in more ways than I can mention. I also want to remember that God is sovereign and still in control over the world's and, yes Virginia, my finances.

Perhaps I'm rambling too much here. But - in the middle of the swirling chaos, I'm daily seeking and at times finding peace. It's a daily battle, no doubt, one I don't always win. I'm standing on the truth that if I first seek His Kingdom, His justice and His reign - that all will be 'added' and provided.

Please pray for this weekend's Institute and that God's presence would show up. Pray also that Jesus' peace and presence would invade our lives and world. God knows we need it!

Pascal Gomez

2008-11-30T08:52:00.000-08:00

Pascal Gomez came by for a visit yesterday. He brought his parents with him. Moses and Melissa are very close, old friends. Melissa was a student in a youth group I led and (my wife) Melissa used to babysit little baby Moses. I was honored to perform their wedding four years ago.

The Gomez family serves with YWAM Amsterdam. Melissa works with prostitutes and sex slaves in the infamous red light district and Moses is doing innovative ministry through DJing. He goes by the name DJ Osmoses. Sam and he had a great time spinning some wax. They head home on Wednesday after a four month furlough.

A long time ago I wanted to move to the YWAM base in Amsterdam. At least I can live vicariously through them. I've been encouraging them to blog more - hopefully my nagging will take!

I've been enjoying this blog

2008-11-29T10:19:00.000-08:00

Our partner church Peninsula Covenant Church's young adult Pastor Tony G. has a great blog called Tony's 2 Cents.

Not much posting lately

2008-11-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

OK - I know I haven't been posting much lately. After the CCDA conference, then a week of vacation I came back to a whirlwind. I hope I still have some readers! Here's a few things that has been going on to catch you up on the randomness of my life:

- Andy Hartwell, founder and former Executive Director of my former employer Bayshore Christian Ministries attended Max Torres' funeral. Here's some of Andy's reflections

"I went to Max' funeral. It was pretty amazing. We got there a little before 10 and still ended up sitting in the gymnasium. The sanctuary and overflow room were already packed. Later, the little passageway between the 2 got packed out as well. I think there were 1000 people there, certainly 800+. Lots of bikers. The speakers were great. They really knew Max and reflected well on his personality and his legacy. It was really positive without being at all shallow. It wasn't happy-happy; it was really moving. His oldest son got up to thank everyone and was crying. His pastor did a great job and then presented a flag to his family, recognizing Max as a Christian hero. The bikers definitely got their salutes in as well...."

Thanks to Andy for the update. Max's death really knocked me for a loop. I've been praying for his wife and kids every day. I truly miss my brother, but I'm also thankful we got to journey together on 'this side' for a decade or so.

- The new Ryan (certainly not Bryan) Adams and the Cardinals record, Cardinology, is growing on me. Best tracks: Fix It, Natural Ghost, Evergreen and Stop.

- Thanksgiving was great - went to the Bains' house... Great food, good fellowship...

- Next week I'm off to the Twin Cities to teach a CCDA Institute class with Juanita Irizarry on the CCDA core value, 'redistribution'. If you're from the area, please come by. You can get info here. I hope to see Eric Iverson when I'm there.

- Interesting New York Times article on predatory lenders. It's not the typical report, this one shows both sides of the issue. Not sure I agree - but it's great for discussion.

- The Del Rio's had a beautiful baby boy, Cyrus. Congrats to the Del Rio family!

- It's been fun reconnecting with a bunch of folks recently. YWAM friends Suzie (Flanigan) Bukovec and Todd Worlock. Gotta love Facebook. Todd was with me in '87 when I connected with Melissa in LA and Suzie was one of my closest friends when I first went into the organization at 18 years old. Todd and I about split the LA YWAM base over a U2 concert - but that's another story! I attended St. Peter's Catholic School for 8 years. A bunch of the former students are planning a reunion at Christmas this year. I can't attend - but it's been fun to read the emails and see where everyone is at these days.

Missing My Brother

2008-11-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Our beloved friend, lifetime servant of Christ, pastor, respected 'urban' leader and Sam's adopted uncle Max Torres passed last night after a fatal motorcycle accident. Max has been a close friend of mine for well over a decade. I've had lots of wonderful memories flooding back from my times with Max including a retreat on Lake Meade in the 90's, a visit to the White House in the Clinton days and many laughs during his season serving in East Palo Alto with Bayshore Christian Ministries. One of the picures I posted was from a summer intern retreat where he was the speaker.

My thoughts are prayers are with Dalia and their sons.

Max, well done - a life well lived. You are missed...

Every day is a gift.

I'll post more information as I become aware.

Off to Miami

2008-10-21T05:08:00.001-07:00

Left San Jose for Miami yesterday for the CCDA board meeting and conference. 7:30 AM flight, the sky was beautiful as we took off. After a long delay in Chicago I arrived at the hotel at 9:30 pm.

On Wednesday lots of EPA folks arrive. Jenni and Gil from our office at NCUD, Joe, Linda and Phil from Community Trust Credit Union, Heather from FYBY, and Rolando and Amy from BCM. I'm looking forward to hanging with all the EPA folks in Miami.

I'll post updates as often as I can throughout the week.

If you're coming to the conference please don't miss the specific 'emerging' CCDA leader's track that I've been organizing. Heather and I are also doing a workshop on leadership transition on Thursday. I'm also leading a panel discussion on Thursday at lunch. Here's some details:

- Emerging Leader Panel: CCD and Shalom as Implemented by the Next Generation of CCDA Leadership - Thursday, 11:45am - 12:45pm

- When the Sand Shifts: Personal Leadership Transition for Emerging Leaders- Thursday at 1:00 (taught by Heather Starnes and John Liotti)

· Emerging Leader Chat with CCDA board and staff - Thursday, October 23, 9:30pm – 10:30pm (Orchid B):

It was 20 years ago today...

2008-10-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

No, not Sargent Pepper, but 20 years ago today Melissa and I were married!

It was a long time ago. We were young, idealistic and in love. Looking back, I wouldn't change that decision for the world! However, looking at the picture maybe I should have cut out a cheeseburger or two;)

I've been reflecting on this great milestone and how we got here. As ususal, music connects with me and my feelings. There are two songs that put my feelings into words. Fred Hammond's "Lord Your Grace" and Dylan's "Covenant Woman". (No video for Dylan, bummer.)

In many ways it's only due to the grace of God and our commitment (and in many way's Melissa's patience) that we're still together. I give all honor to my Lord and Savior.

Melissa, I love you. Let's go for 20 more!

Covenant Woman - Bob Dylan

Covenant woman got a contract with the Lord
Way up yonder, great will be her reward.
Covenant woman, shining like a morning star,
I know I can trust you to stay where you are.

(Chorus)
And I just got to tell you
I do intend
To stay closer than any friend.
I just got to thank you
Once again
For making your prayers known
Unto heaven for me
And to you, always, so grateful
I will forever be.

I've been broken, shattered like an empty cup.
I'm just waiting on the lord to rebuild and fill me up
And I know he will do it 'cause he's faithful and he's true,
He must have loved me so much to send me someone as fine as you.

(Chorus)

Covenant woman, intimate little girl
Who knows those most secret things of me that are hidden from the world.
You know we are strangers in a land we're passing through.
I'll always be right by your side, I've got a covenant too.

(Chorus)

New Records by Oasis and Dylan

2008-10-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

Dylan Just released a new bootleg record called "Tell Tale Signs" and Oasis just released "Dig Out Your Soul". - great stuff! Just in time for the trip to the CCDA conference. New Ryan Adams in a few weeks!

New records, one reason to love the fall!

Is race an issue in today's politics?

2008-10-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

A recent AP / Yahoo / Stanford University poll says it may. USA Today reports:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks.
The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests that the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004 — about 2.5 percentage points.

Statistical models derived from the poll suggest that Obama's support would be as much as 6 percentage points higher if there were no white racial prejudice.

But in an election without precedent, it's hard to know if such models take into account all the possible factors at play.

What do you think? Is race an issue in this election? Is the US ready for an African American president?

Two excellent resources to help you understand the current financial crisis

2008-10-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I listened to an excellent episode of the PBS show 'This American Life". In layman's terms they described the current major concerns (mortgage meltdown, commercial paper, credit default swaps) and discussed the pros and cons of the bailout. This was VERY helpful to me as I've been trying to understand the current pickle we're in. I encourage you to listen. You can find it here or on itunes. The episode is called "Another Frightening Show About the Economy".

They also recommend the "Planet Money" podcast which gives a day to day recap on what's happening.You can find it here or also on itunes.

Bottom Up Economics

2008-10-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

This morning I read a great San Francisco Chronicle editorial by Robert Reich on economic policy focused on the middle and lower class. The article states:

"Bailout or no bailout, we're heading into deep recession. One of the first initiatives that Congress and the next administration will need to take will be an economic stimulus package. But not even this will remedy the underlying problem: The earnings of most Americans haven't kept up with the cost of living. That means there's not enough purchasing power to keep the economy going.

Adjusted for inflation, the incomes of nongovernment workers are lower today than in 2000. They're barely higher than they were in the mid-1970s. The income of a man in his 30s is now 12 percent below that of a man his age three decades ago.

The long-term answer is for America to invest in the productivity of our working people - enabling families to afford health insurance and have access to good schools and higher education, while also rebuilding our infrastructure and investing in the clean-energy technologies of the future. We must also adopt progressive taxes at the federal, state and local levels."

The article identifies three coping mechanisms that the US engaged into keep our living standards growing in the face of stagnant or falling wages. Reich suggests we are out of options. Those mechanisms are:

- Women with children entered the work force.
- Americans work more hours. More than the Europeans and even the Japanese.
- We borrow.

Our nation simply has nothing more to give to allow us to grow without increased earning capacity. The article states:

"(today) ...The top 1 percent of American earners now take home about 20 percent of total national income. In 1980, the top 1 percent took home just 8 percent. Inequality on this scale is bad for many reasons, but it is also bad for the economy."

This again underscores that NCUD's initiatives such as the credit union and financial literacy places us on the front lines of the current economic crisis. The answer to many families problems is education and empowerment with a commitment to live within our means. If the U.S. is to pull our of our current economic malaise, then drastic short term action must be taken, but not at the cost of the long-term.

Yes, we have a crisis with our financial system, but our problems are also chronic - requiring a long term focus. A focus on helping the bottom rise. This goes beyond partisan politics and into the realm of "doing justice and loving mercy". However, this this type of justice action will straighten or entire nation - from the bottom up.

Who are you going to hire?

2008-10-04T21:21:00.000-07:00

OK - so I'm just going to say it. I'm supporting Obama this year. I certainly have issues with each candidate's platform, but in the end I believe that Obama is better suited for the job, especially at this point in our nation's history.

My friend Stewart Hyland sent this to me that was a striking comparison of the candidates backgrounds. I felt that it underscored why I'm supporting Barak. I've heard some of my more conservative friends question Barak's qualifications and touted McCain's. This directly addresses those concerns and asks whether Obama is being discounted because of his race. Perhaps that is going to far, but It's still an interesting comparison.

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating Five?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said 'I do' to?
What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. consider...

Educational Background:

Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire ?

Ortberg's Thoughts on Preaching, the Church and Politics

2008-09-30T12:01:00.001-07:00

See the entire article at Christianity Today.

Imagine that we elected all the right people to all the right offices—President, congress, governors, right down to school board, city council members, and dog catcher (is that still an office anyone gets to vote for?).

Let's imagine that all these ideal office holders instituted all the right policies.

Let's imagine that we got all the propositions right. (In California, we vote on lengthy and complicated propositions for everything you can imagine. Nobody understands them all.) Every piece of legislation—from zoning laws to tax codes to immigration policy to crime bills—is just exactly the way you know it ought to be.

Would that usher in the kingdom of God?

Would the hearts of the parents be turned toward their children?

Would all marriages be models of faithful love?

Would greed and pride be legislated out of existence?

Would assistant pastors find senior pastors to be models of harmony and delight?

Would human beings now at last be able to master our impulses in areas of sexuality and anger and narcissism?

Let's get a little more personal.

Would you finally become the woman or man you know you ought to be?

In the words of theologian Macauley Culkin: "I don't think so."

Because no human system has the ability to change the human heart.

Not even democracy, or capitalism, or post-modern-emergent-ancient-future-missionalism.

T.S. Elliot summed up our quandary brilliantly: "We want a system of order so perfect that we do not have to be good."

Systems are important. But they're also complicated. Historian Mark Noll notes that evangelicals often fail to add value in politics because we like simplicity: good vs. evil; right vs. wrong. Political and economic arrangements are full of complexity and nuance. Well-intended legislation may lead to poor results.

Didn't Get Called

2008-09-22T20:50:00.001-07:00

Out to a homicide tonight. Pastor Bains went. He and I are police chaplains. Pastor knew the family. How can there be so much violence in 2.5 square miles? Sure, EPA is much better than years before - but we still need Jesus.

Posted with LifeCast

Last Game - lot's of memories!

2008-09-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting at home watching the last game at old Yankee Stadium. They hosted a wonderful pre-game ceremony where many of the living Yankee greats came out including Yogi and Whitey Ford, as well as the families of Babe Ruth and others. The Yankees do a great job of honoring the past players.

The New York Daily News has a great photo set of the day's events.

I'm so glad Samuel and I took the time this year to return to the Stadium for a couple of games. We returned to NYC and attended two games, one with our friend Jeremy and his son Judah.

Also, a few years ago when I was traveling for work Sam came with me and we squeezed in a tour of the stadium (it was winter, so no games were being played). Sam and I got to see the press box, club house, dugout, walked around the field and monument park. While in the clubhouse we saw the lockers of DiMaggio, Ruth, Jeter and the forever empty locker of Thurman Munson. When the guide turned his back Sam snuck a feel of Jeter's jersey.

I'm sad to see the Stadium close. My hope is that the new Yankee Stadium will welcome the heart of the Yankees, the blue collar fan. Here's some pictures from our trips to the stadium.

Perspectives from Bob Lupton

2008-09-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

CCDA board member Bob Lupton from FCS Urban Ministries in Atlanta regularly emails and posts an article called Urban Perspectives where Bob share insights from his work in the South. Bob has been very much leading the conversation around 'gentrification with justice' and empowerment. Today he sent out an article that relates very well to the redevelopment conversation going on in East Palo Alto and like communities. The underlying question is, "How do we reconcile redevelopment with the needs of the poor?"

Thanks for your insights, Bob. Here is Bob's thoughts (emphasis mine):

“This city has a definite anti-church bias,” the pastor declared, leaning forward across his cup of steaming Chinese tea, brow furrowed with frustration. At every turn he had faced city resistance to his church’s plan to build a worship-community center on the five acre site they owned free and clear. Zoning hurdles, city planning department stonewalling, uncooperative building department staff – all clear messages that the city did not want a church built on that land. “We may have to get an attorney and take them to court.”

The city of Doraville, a close-in suburb of Atlanta, was an amazing place to minister, especially for those committed to world missions. Over the past three decades it had become a port of entry for immigrants and refugees from all over the globe – Asia, Central Europe, Central and South America, Africa. A steady stream of new arrivals poured in daily, crowding into apartments with friends and relatives, snapping up every low-paying job they could find. These new-comers, eager to adapt to their new land of opportunity, flocked to ESL classes, support groups, and youth programs sponsored by churches and agencies in the area. For religious groups committed to outreach, Doraville was a field of dreams. The world was literally coming to their doorstep.

“We have a very strategic location,” the pastor continued, “right between two large apartment complexes.” The church had purchased the five acre site for the express purpose of outreach ministry to the immigrant population packed into the surrounding neighborhood. The plan was to construct a utilitarian facility that could be used for all manner of recreational and service programs as well as worship services. It would be a beacon of light, a lighthouse sitting squarely in the middle of teeming multitudes searching for belonging and hope. What a perfect location for the Gospel to be visibly demonstrated! “But the anti-church attitude of city officials has brought our plans to a halt.” A mixture of anger and disappointment registered in his eyes.

A mile and a half from the Chinese restaurant where we sipped our tea a very different conversation had been taking place. City Hall. The mayor, department heads, and various elected council members had convened numerous times to discuss a comprehensive city-wide revitalization plan. It was an expensive plan created by a nationally recognized urban consulting firm. But it was brilliant – tree-lined streetscapes along major thoroughfares, pedestrian-oriented walkways that connected residential neighborhoods with new commercial shopping clusters and restaurant districts, new urbanism design with an integrated mixture of single-family homes, attractive shops and live-work condominiums. The renderings portrayed a Doraville that its beleaguered citizens longed for – a charming, green community with vibrant economy and friendly, safe streets.

It had been generations since Doraville had been able to dream dreams like this. In the 50’s it had been the proud host of a state-of-the-art General Motors assembly plant – the symbol of American enterprise. The post-war boom had launched the community into an era of vigorous prosperity. Everyone was working, starter homes lined cull-du-sacs, new schools were being built. These were the good days that few imagined would ever end. This was before the refugees started to show up.

At first it was only a trickle of refugees from Vietnam. Then Cambodians. And Hmong. And then somehow the floodgates swung wide and Asians of every description started pouring in. Koreans, Chinese, Indians. Soon came the Mexicans, hoards of Spanish-speaking legals and illegals flooding in from the southern border, crowding into once-nice apartments with cousins and uncles and friends from rural villages back home. Before anyone could do anything about it, Doraville had become Atlanta’s out-of-control port of entry.

Strange signage soon proliferated along major thoroughfares as ethnic shops and restaurants opened – letters and words illegible to the Doraville citizenry. The health department started receiving complaints about chickens and goats being slaughtered in local apartments. Gang activity was reported for the first time. Teachers in the local schools were overwhelmed with students who could neither speak nor understand English, and few translators to help them decipher even the most rudimentary communication. Longtime homeowners began to exit, selling their houses at reduced prices, getting out “while the getting was good.” Attractively manicured three bedroom, one bath bungalows turned into jammed communal houses, driveways lined with worn-out cars. For elected officials and public servants attempting to keep the systems of the city functioning, these were not good days.

Then came the devastating news about the closing of the GM plant. The one stabilizing anchor that had kept the wheels on the Doraville economy was now departing. What ever would city leaders do?!

Turn lemons into lemonade! Could the plant closing possibly be a godsend after all? According to the urban planning consultants, 165 acres of prime real estate sitting at the convergence of two major interstates could be redeveloped into an amazing new urbanism village that could be the catalyst for reigniting the entire Doraville area. It could have a rich international flavor, be the source of hundreds of new jobs, attract a cosmopolitan population back into the city, provide an even stronger tax base to fund all manner of community improvements. There was more positive energy in city hall than it had seen in decades. Their troubled port-of-entry city could become a highly desirable point-of-destination magnet for all manner of interesting new businesses and customers, for upscale housing and moneyed neighbors.

One thing was for sure. Now was not the time to encourage programs or facilities that would further entrench the poverty that had settled like a pall over the city. It was time to dream about rebuilding healthy mixed-income neighborhoods, time to strategize how to thin out concentrated poverty compounds and absorb an immigrant population into the fabric of the larger community. It was not the time to support a new church center built to serve an overcrowded poverty area.

“All they’re concerned about is the money,” the pastor declared. “They see dollar signs, upscale condos, high-end retail. They see this GM deal as the new Atlantic Station.” The reference was to downtown Atlanta’s hippest new town within a town concept. “Where’s the compassion, where’s the concern for what happens to the poor who are uprooted and scattered to the winds by big development?” He was right, of course. The energy at city hall was all about growth and development these days. So much of their hard effort in past years had been consumed in trying to keep the city from disintegrating into chaos. These new dreams of a reborn city were absolutely exhilarating. Meanwhile, the social service agencies, the churches, the non-profits who spent themselves caring for the needs of the poor were all still out there, still appreciated for their heroic work, but for the most part consumed in their myopic direct-service world. And while these wonderful ministry-types were busy teaching parents how to read and write English, city officials were sweating over budgets, stretching and leveraging shrinking tax dollars to keep police from being overwhelmed by street crime, firefighters from striking, and communicable diseases from mushrooming into an epidemic. Plus fix potholes. The pastor was right. They were mostly concerned about money – how to keep enough of it coming in to keep the city running, how to allocate it wisely, how to leverage it for greater benefit. But these were not, as the pastor accused, people without compassion. On the contrary, these money-focused city leaders may well have been acting in the most compassionate way possible: strategizing ways for the city to become prosperous once again. Prosperous and just – if in their planning they were attempting to include as beneficiaries all of the city’s diverse population.

Do justice! Now there’s a different role for the church to play.

“Mercy” ministry had been the major outreach of this church – feeding, clothing, counseling, tutoring – all important activities that demonstrate Christ’s love for those in need. But loving mercy is only part of the Kingdom mission. Doing justice is another vital role. The voiceless poor need representation at the planning table where decision-makers are shaping future plans. Someone who understands how economics works must ensure that adequate affordable housing is woven into new development strategies. Those with reconciling spirits must do shuttle diplomacy between and among the diverse cultures and interests of the community to ensure that all are taken into account. This too is the mission of the church – to insert its redemptive influence and strength into the decision-making process so that compassion and justice prevail in their city.

The ancient prophet Micah summed it up this way:

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Jeter and Gehrig - Together

2008-09-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

They Yankees, geez. What a horrible season evidenced by my lack of attention to them on this blog. I'm just plain frustrated by the Yankees. We'll - at least I can still count the 26 championships.

By Jeter - what a ball player. The New York Post reports:

The Yankees captain tied Lou Gehrig for the most hits all-time at Yankee Stadium, with his third hit of the day - and 1,269th at the House that Ruth Built - a home run over the right field wall to lead off the fifth inning of the Bombers' 8-4 victory over the Rays.

"Jeter is chasing the ghost, and he's chasing it very well," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "I'm happy that I don't have to see him again this year."

The home run was part of Jeter's third straight three-hit game and the highlight of the Yankees' second straight victory over the AL East-leading Rays.

Jeter singled and doubled in his first two at-bats, then delivered his celebratory blast in the fifth off Rays phenom David Price, making his major league debut. The historic homer came on a 2-2 slider that was the ninth pitch of Jeter's at-bat. Afterward, Jeter came out for a curtain call and doffed his helmet to the Bronx faithful, who cheered his accomplishment.

"I've been fortunate to play my whole career here," Jeter said, "and they've pretty much seen me grow up."

Derek Jeter, what a bright spot in a rather dismal season.

20/20 Vision for Schools

2008-09-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

Check this out. This is something that Jeremy Del Rio has been spearheading in NYC. I'm praying that this idea will take hold in Nor Cal. If you think you have an interest in 20/20 - please contact Jeremy or I...

Wisdom from Guy on Fund Raising

2008-09-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

I've learned a lot from Guy Kawasaki over the years. His book, 'The Art of the Start" taught me much about starting things, raising money and making presentations. He recently did a blog post that contrasts two types of approaches to venture capital. One is with up front money is one is raising money after a product is brought to market. You can read his thoughts on 'Plan B' fundraising here.

To me there are many parallels to the non profit sector. Many of us think 'money first, programs after.' We like to project what we feel will be the best case scenarios, articulate the community need are then try to build the capacity around the idea. In my career I've started things only to find the need was not what I expected it to be, and had to go back to donors or stakeholders and explain what happened. That's not too fun. Staffing in non profit work is as or more important than in the for profit world because of the relationship factor. Staffing is also by far the highest cost of all and is what, other than a place to be, what capacity building is about in our world.

Others, scape, borrow, beg and duct tape a program together, prove the need, create the market (participants) then build the capacity of the program after the program and approach is proven.

With our youth financial literacy program, for example, we've proven over the past year that there is a need and our approach works. Now we're trying to build the staffing and capacity of the program to meet the demand. It's a whole different type of 'ask' when you can say - "We're blowing the doors off and your help with make a major difference!" This, in my opinion, is by far the better way to go and the easier way to build capacity and raise funds. It's still a bear to raise funds - and is the burden I have to carry on a daily basis. I'd much rather raise funds with all the data, evidence of proven need and track record than with great ideas.

However, if an organization or leader has a proven track record of success, then there is a much greater chance of raising funds and building capacity before a programs is unveiled. For those of us who are still establishing ourselves, then 'Plan B Fundraising' may be the right route to take.

Please comment....

New York Times Editorial - The Great Seduction

2008-09-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Here is an important editorial in the New York Times called "The Great Seduction by David Brooks. You can read the original post here.

Thanks to Dr. Amy Sherman from Ele:Vate for the head's up.

The people who created this country built a moral structure around money. The Puritan legacy inhibited luxury and self-indulgence. Benjamin Franklin spread a practical gospel that emphasized hard work, temperance and frugality. Millions of parents, preachers, newspaper editors and teachers expounded the message. The result was quite remarkable.

The United States has been an affluent nation since its founding. But the country was, by and large, not corrupted by wealth. For centuries, it remained industrious, ambitious and frugal.

Over the past 30 years, much of that has been shredded. The social norms and institutions that encouraged frugality and spending what you earn have been undermined. The institutions that encourage debt and living for the moment have been strengthened. The country’s moral guardians are forever looking for decadence out of Hollywood and reality TV. But the most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.

Sixty-two scholars have signed on to a report by the Institute for American Values and other think tanks called, “For a New Thrift: Confronting the Debt Culture,” examining the results of all this. This may be damning with faint praise, but it’s one of the most important think-tank reports you’ll read this year.

The deterioration of financial mores has meant two things. First, it’s meant an explosion of debt that inhibits social mobility and ruins lives. Between 1989 and 2001, credit-card debt nearly tripled, soaring from $238 billion to $692 billion. By last year, it was up to $937 billion, the report said.

Second, the transformation has led to a stark financial polarization. On the one hand, there is what the report calls the investor class. It has tax-deferred savings plans, as well as an army of financial advisers. On the other hand, there is the lottery class, people with little access to 401(k)’s or financial planning but plenty of access to payday lenders, credit cards and lottery agents.

The loosening of financial inhibition has meant more options for the well-educated but more temptation and chaos for the most vulnerable. Social norms, the invisible threads that guide behavior, have deteriorated. Over the past years, Americans have been more socially conscious about protecting the environment and inhaling tobacco. They have become less socially conscious about money and debt.

The agents of destruction are many. State governments have played a role. They aggressively hawk their lottery products, which some people call a tax on stupidity. Twenty percent of Americans are frequent players, spending about $60 billion a year. The spending is starkly regressive. A household with income under $13,000 spends, on average, $645 a year on lottery tickets, about 9 percent of all income. Aside from the financial toll, the moral toll is comprehensive. Here is the government, the guardian of order, telling people that they don’t have to work to build for the future. They can strike it rich for nothing.

Payday lenders have also played a role. They seductively offer fast cash — at absurd interest rates — to 15 million people every month.

Credit card companies have played a role. Instead of targeting the financially astute, who pay off their debts, they’ve found that they can make money off the young and vulnerable. Fifty-six percent of students in their final year of college carry four or more credit cards.

Congress and the White House have played a role. The nation’s leaders have always had an incentive to shove costs for current promises onto the backs of future generations. It’s only now become respectable to do so.

Wall Street has played a role. Bill Gates built a socially useful product to make his fortune. But what message do the compensation packages that hedge fund managers get send across the country?

The list could go on. But the report, which is nicely summarized by Barbara Dafoe Whitehead in The American Interest (available free online), also has some recommendations. First, raise public consciousness about debt the way the anti-smoking activists did with their campaign. Second, create institutions that encourage thrift.

Foundations and churches could issue short-term loans to cut into the payday lenders’ business. Public and private programs could give the poor and middle class access to financial planners. Usury laws could be enforced and strengthened. Colleges could reduce credit card advertising on campus. KidSave accounts would encourage savings from a young age. The tax code should tax consumption, not income, and in the meantime, it should do more to encourage savings up and down the income ladder.

There are dozens of things that could be done. But the most important is to shift values. Franklin made it prestigious to embrace certain bourgeois virtues. Now it’s socially acceptable to undermine those virtues. It’s considered normal to play the debt game and imagine that decisions made today will have no consequences for the future.

Good Weekend...

2008-09-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend... Thank God for you!

We really needed the three day weekend. While the weekend before we moved into our new place, we still had a bunch of junk in the old one. We spent the weekend clearing out the old apartment, and continuing to work through the boxes and set up our new house. When we left Modesto we down sized a three bedroom small house to a tiny apartment. We got rid of much of our furniture. Now we're having to upsize into a new place, so we're begging, borrowing and stealing as much furniture as we can. Melissa's friend Karen was headed to a missions stint in Russia and she long term lent us a bunch of nice stuff. Phil and Jen were getting rid of some couches and the chair I'm sitting on right now, so thanks to them we have a living room. We found a very nice 'scratch and dent' dining room table a Sears, so we outfitted them with four chairs from Ikea. So - other than some odds and ends, we're set.

We also have rented our upstairs apartment! A wonderful single mom with two teenage children rented the place from us. She's an interior designer who teaches part time at the Academy of Art. Samuel has already struck up a friendship with Cody around, what else, video games. Last week I was focused on getting the apartment ready with some plumbing needs and a stove.

Sam and I did get a chance to sneak away to Fort Funston. This part of Golden Gate National Park is a off leash dog park. It has a very nice beach and some excellent trails. It's also a great place to see every type of dog, big and small, from Great Danes to Chihuahuas. Samuel and Ralph had a great time.

All in all, this was the kind of weekend we needed... Here's some pics:

Amazing Moment in Our History

2008-08-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in my office listening to the Democratic National Convention. Whatever the politics, I think it's truly amazing that today, 45 years to the day after MLK's "I Have A Dream Speech" we now have our first African American major party presidential candidate. In a big way, 'the Dream' is being fulfilled.

I cannot help but stop and recognize the significance of this event. It really brings hope to many of the people I love and serve.

Ralphie

2008-08-27T12:30:00.001-07:00

Reflections of Reality Blog / Growth at NCUD

2008-08-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

My coworker Jenni Ingram (aka 'Reflections of Reality) recently blogged about her job at Northern California Urban Development (NCUD). See her blog here.

We've recently been blessed to bring on two new staffers. Gilbert Chaidez came on as a program developer to work with the development of our youth programs. He was funded through a generous grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. As Jenni mentions in her blog, she was doing double duty as admin support and Youth Program Manager. Through her leadership our programs have grown so much we were able to bring Cynthia Ruiz on as admin support. This frees Jenni to focus her attention on the youth programs. Jenni's blog has a great update on what we're doing. Check it out!

I've known Cynthia for many years through my time at BCM. She's a wonderful young leader who has grown up in East Palo Alto. We're blessed to have both Gil and Cynthia on our team. You can see more about them on our website here.

This Is Where Ralph And I Walk In The Mornings. How Blessed Are We??!!

2008-08-25T08:10:00.001-07:00

Posted with LifeCast

Sam At The As Game Last Week

2008-08-24T11:20:00.001-07:00

Posted with LifeCast

Changes, Changes...

2008-08-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been ones of incredible changes. We've been blessed to be able to purchase a house! For eight years we've been living in rented spaces, and for 6 years at the Willow road apartment. If you saw our apartment, you'd know how small it was. None the less, we were thankful and tried to use the place to the best of our ability.

More of less for the last year we've been looking at houses, trying to take advantage of the down market. About 6 months ago we looked at a house on Saratoga Ave in East Palo Alto. It sort of a duplex with a two bedroom apartment upstairs that could be used as a rental. Months ago we contacted the owner about a sale - but he laughed at our offer and sent us away. The market has continued to drop in the mean time, and we ended up picking the place up for just short of $40k lower than our last offer! I have some thoughts about the market and my conflicted thoughts about reaping the benefits of heartache - more on that in the near future. We picked up the keys a week ago. Since then we've been cleaning, packing and moving. We also painted Sam's room with a Yankee blue accented wall and proudly pasted a Fathead Yankee 'NY'.

This morning we moved in. I want to say a big thanks to Steve and Amy Joh, Pastor Bains, Katie Fantin, Stu Hyland, Cherokee and Justin Dickey and Bro. Keith for helping us move. One good thing about an small apartment is having less things to move. We had everything loaded into our new place in about two hours! I'll post more pictures in the near future.

After eight years of serving and loving East Palo Alto and living in east Menlo Park, we're thrilled to be living in EPA! However, we have 'much luv for eMP'!

Not that that isn't enough alone - we also adopted a dog, Ralph. We've wanted a dog since we had to give our beloved Max away (not to be confused with our wonderful friend and Sam's uncle Max Torres) when we left Modesto. With the small apartment we just couldn't swing it. Ralph came to us via Grateful Dogs Rescue in San Francisco. He's a six year old German Shepherd (like Max was, but again, not Torres). No one knows what happened to him - other than that he came off the street and into a 'high kill shelter' where GDR saved him before he was put to sleep. He's been in foster care with the rescue for about a year, just waiting for the Liotti's to come get him! He's housebroken and completely lovable. We've been joking that he's slightly like each of us. He was to be right in the middle of things like Samuel, he's slightly melancholy like me and has a touch of anxiousness like Melissa.

So - all in all it's fair to say life has been slightly nuts. No wonder that the blog posts have been slow coming! Please pray for the Liotti's - including Ralph...

Bronx Blues

2008-08-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Yankees, sheessh... Come on, I'm DYING here. 2 and 6 on the current road stand, 9 games out in the division lead. Girardi - PLEASE stop benching Damon.

No joy in mudville....

The Universe

2008-08-10T21:01:00.001-07:00

Is set back in order. Samuel came home today after three weeks of vacation with his uncle and grandmother in the Central Valley. It's amazing how empty it feels without him around. What are we going to do when he leaves for college??!! I don't even want to think about it:(

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Domestic Life

2008-08-09T17:53:00.001-07:00

Wow, things are changing. Melissa and I are spening the day looking at furniture, stoves, washer and dryer combos and dish washers. We drove from an appliance store in Hawyard to the San Jose Flea Market to the Great Mall in Milpitas.

Now that I have a better handle on what we need I can scour Craigs List and see what bargains I can find. I feel so 'domestic'!

Posted with LifeCast

Some Great News!

2008-08-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

I have some wonderful news on the home front! After many years of praying and many months of looking we're close to closing on a new home for our family in East Palo Alto! If all goes well, our new place will close escrow on the 13th. For eight years now we've lived in the east Menlo Park Belle Haven neighborhood - but our whole lives have been invested in EPA. We're thrilled to finally be able to live in the community that God has called us to serve.

The place we're buying is at 1143 Saratoga, directly across from the Cityteam building and about a 7 iron golf shot from where we currently reside on Willow Rd. It also has a wonderful two bedroom 2nd story apartment that we'll be renting out right away, so please let anyone know who is looking for a place.

Not comes the fun part - we're looking for a few willing hands and strong backs to help us move on Saturday, August 23rd starting at 8:00 am. Those of you who know our current place, know that we don't have too much stuff, so with enough help I think we could knock it out in a couple of hours. If you can come by and give us a hand - we'd be blessed and honored.

Please keep praying for us during this exciting and somewhat scary transition for us. If something goes wrong with the closing of the house in the upcoming days, I'll shoot a follow up email. Please let me know if you can help so we can plan accordingly...

Peace and blessings,

- John and Melissa Liotti

Post from God's Politics

2008-08-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed this post from the God's Politics blog. about Gold medal-winner Tommie Smith and bronze medal-winner John Carlos in the iconic image from the 1968 Olympics. Honestly, not know the back story, I didn't realize the faith connection and deeper implications of the athletes' actions. The post quotes MLK:

"There are some who still find the cross a stumbling block, others consider it foolishness, but I am more convinced than ever before that it is the power of God unto social and individual salvation."

Pictures from Yesterday

2008-08-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Melissa and I enjoyed the Frida exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) yesterday. She's one of Melissa's favorite painters mostly because I think she reminds her of our life in Mexico and our friend Lucy (who we recently made contact with after over 10 years).

As for me, I'm much more a Diego Rivera fan because of his themes of the working class struggle. I didn't realize the connection that Diego and Frida had with San Francisco. They did much of their work here.

Afterword we went to dinner at Nola's in Palo Alto. I had a gift certificate for there I was given on my birthday. What a great blessing!

SF MOMA

2008-08-02T14:03:00.001-07:00

Hanging in SF with the wife today. We're going to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit that runs through the end of September.

Might crash the Apple store and pick up a Bluetooth headset so I can comply with the new Califonia law.

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Mobile Posting Works!

2008-07-31T08:00:00.001-07:00

Just installed a program that let's me post from my iPhone called lifecast. It was a free program and works like a charm! Maybe I'll post more consistently now:)

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Is the Housing Bill the Answer?

2008-07-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today President Bush signed the emergency housing bill to law. This bill provides for the support of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which insures about half of the nation's mortgages. It also comes in the week where we have just passed a record deficit budget. I cannot but help but wonder if we are in for further hard times. As usual the poor will suffer greatly. The New York Times reports:

The law authorizes the Federal Housing Administration to insure up to the $300 billion in such loans but the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that only $68 billion of that authority is likely to be used. The original lenders will have to pay upfront fees into an insurance fund, and borrowers will pay on-going insurance premiums of 1.5 percent a year to insulate taxpayers against losses from defaults.

The budget office has estimated that 35 percent of the refinanced loans will end up in trouble again.

Did I read that right? Has the congressional budget office really predicted a 35% failure rate in REFINANCED loans? I'm not sure what do do with that...

I'm mixed on this bill. I feel pain for my friends and neighbors who are losing their homes. NCUD is having many intense conversations about what we can and should do. But our efforts will very much be funded by private donors and foundations. On the other hand, the economy and housing market cannot suffer the failure of Fannie and Freddie. But can we continue to afford a $500 billion deficit? If we the taxpayer are asked to continue to bail out the mortgage industry - how high will that deficit go? When inflation starts to kick in, and the jobless rate goes up (both of which are happening right now) where will we be?

The article goes on to say:

Some experts have said that the law is wrong-headed in its attempt to retain the hybrid nature of the mortgage finance giants, which are private companies with publicly traded stock, but which have an explicit guarantee of help from the government - an arrangement that critics say privatizes the profits but socializes the risk and any losses.

David M. Walker, the former comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office who is now president of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, said that Bush might have been unwise to sign the measure.

"Providing authority to the secretary of the Treasury to extend credit or to buy stock is one that will end up costing the taxpayers tens of billions of dollars," Walker said in an interview earlier this week.

Walker noted that other government interventions in the private market, including a rescue of the Chrysler automobile company had provided an opportunity for taxpayers to profit. But when it comes to the mortgage giants, he said, there is no upside.

"The way this is structured," he said. "It's only a matter of how much the taxpayers are going to lose."

Supporters of the legislation - including Senator Christopher Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and Senator Richard Shelby, Republican of Alabama, the leaders of the banking committee, and Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, the main author of the legislation in the House - say the law represents the best way to help stabilize the housing market, potentially putting a solid floor under declining prices.

To be sure, there are no easy answers. This is one of the most scary, interesting and unique financial climates I've seen in my lifetime. I've said it many times before. I believe the answers to the world's condition rests with the creativity, expertise and spiritual authority that Christ instilled in His people.

What do you think? How are you feeling about the economy? What should the Church's response be?

Update on Dr. John Perkins

2008-07-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

From Elizabeth Perkins (Dr. Perkins' daughter)

"Thank you for your prayers and support during this time. Daddy came through the surgery very well. He is in great spirits and beginning his recovery. He has been resting and managing his pain and discomfort.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. We will keep you posted.

Elizabeth"

Praying for Dr. John Perkins

2008-07-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Dr. John Perkins, the founder of the Christian Community Development Association is having stomach surgery today at 2:00. Dr. Perkins is a spiritual father and mentor to many of us. Please hold him up in your prayers today and for his speedy recovery.

What I'm doing these days...

2008-07-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

Two words: GOLF TOURNAMENT at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore, CA. This is NCUD's biggest event for the year. We're only one week away, the tournament is next Friday, the 18th.

We're still looking for some golfers and sponsors. If you're interested, please let me know.

For more information you can check out our website: here.

This year we have some wonderful major sponsors including Community Trust Credit Union, Woodruff Sawyer, Paul Hastings LLP, DLA Piper LLP, Plant A Seed Foundation and Highway Community.

Our friends at Miner Family Vineyards in Napa Valley has really stepped up to the plate. They will be doing wine tasting on the course along with the wonderful wines from Spring Mountain Vineyards.

Please be sure to recognize and support our sponsors.

That said, my blogging will be somewhat limited until after next Friday.

My Politics - Some Newt Wisdom

2008-07-08T11:22:00.001-07:00

Those of you who know me or read this blog often will hopefully see my political stance - which I classify as a center to left leaning independent. I'm concerned about the poor and justice issues - but also value self determination and enterprise. Honestly - most of the time both parties frustrate me and confirm my aversion to party politics.

However, when someone speaks logically about a subject I have to take notice. While not a huge fan of his, I ran across this video on You Tube where Newt Gingrich lays out a three pronged approach to current energy crisis including releasing funds from the strategic petroleum reserve, drilling and using domestic oil and aggressively pursuing alternative fuel sources.

I like most folks hate paying almost $5.00 a gallon for gas - but in many ways we have caused our own problems by poor choices of automobiles, illogical environmental policies and a lack of aggressive alternative research (that arguably has been blocked by oil and auto companies).

However, we need to move forward logically while caring for the environment. As with most things - the extremes usually miss the point and the correct path requires some compromises - from all parties.

Check out Newt's thoughts. How would you respond?

Not been posting much

2008-06-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I've been slow in posting. It's been a wacky - crazy month with travels and such. One short update: Melissa and I went to see Robert Plant / Alison Krauss at one of my favorite place, the Greek Theatre on the Berkeley campus. This was truly an amazing and inspiring show. Alison could be one of the best female singers I've ever seen live. And what can you say about Robert Plant? He did a couple of reworked Led Zeppelin songs that were nothing short of brilliant. The musical chemistry between Robert and Alison was obvious. Who would have ever thought the 'rock god' Robert Plant would be singing Gospel bluegrass songs about Jesus. Wonder if anyone will play those backwards?

Drummer Jay Bellerose was perhaps one of the most intriguing drummers I've seen in a long time. He's different and plays a strange looking vintage kit. He was the backbone of the whole event.

If you were at the show and took some other video PLEASE post it on YouTube!!!

As a side benefit T-Bone Burnett and Buddy Miller backed them. Buddy is one of my favorite guitarists. T-Bone is a producer extraordinaire. It was a wonderful show and a unforgettable evening. Here's a video from the event:

Here's a video of them singing "The Battle of Evermore" from another show. Although it's a different show - they sang this in Berkeley.

Finally - here's Alison singing, "Down in the River to Pray".

In Dallas

2008-06-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

Just arrived in Dallas. I'm here for the National Federation of Community Development Credit Union's annual conference. I arrived late, so I had to grab a bite to eat in the lounge before crashing. It's in the same hotel the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference was at a few years ago. We attended that conference with the Bayshore Christian Ministries staff. I still remember the BCM folks playing broom hockey at the rink nearby.

It's good to be here. "The Federation" provided us council and assistance as we organized the partnership that brought about Community Trust Credit Union of East Palo Alto. I hear Juan Hernandez will be here tomorrow. I hope to connect with him. Juan spoke at the CCDA conference a few years ago also.

I do a workshop tomorrow afternoon then jump on a late flight back. In the last six weeks I've been in NYC, LA (twice), Chicago and now Dallas. As much as I like to travel, I'm ready to be home for a spell.

I'll post an update soon. In the mean time check out Crissy Brooks' post on Jeremy Del Rio's website. Crissy is a great friend and colleague who leads MIKA Community Development Corporation in So Cal. I was honored to visit her and her staff when I was in LA last week. She has a great young team that are doing excellent work in the poor areas of Orange County (yes, there is poverty in 'the OC').

Samuel Liotti TV Interview about Obama's Nomination

2008-06-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

Check this out this link!

Samuel, his best friend Malik and other students at East Palo Alto Academy were interviewed on TV where they were asked about their views on Obama.

The students has some interesting and revealing comments. With all the politics, it may be easy for some to overlook the significance and importance of the first truly viable African-American candidate for president. Obama's nomination to especially many young people in our community speaks volumes about who they are and what they can become. This is an exciting and important time in our history.

Please join me in praying for both our candidates, but especially Obama. I've felt impressed that I should pray specifically for his safety during the next months.

Follow the link and check out the interview!

What about you? How significant do you feel is Obama's nomination?

Yes we can!

2008-06-03T10:53:00.001-07:00

Obama fan or not - this is a moving piece and shows off Obama's oratory skills. Whomever wins this November - this is a timeless message of hope and potential. For all my cynicism, I believe that in the middle of the mortgage meltdown, soaring gas prices and a seeminly endless war in Iraq and Afganistan, a message of hope and healing is important.

Thanks to Will I. Am from the Black Eyed Peas for this...

Q. What do you think? Is this the right message for today?

Self Sufficiency Standards in San Mateo County

2008-06-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Some interesting information about self sufficiency in San Mateo county. Short story: a single mom with an infant and school age child needs to make $67,617.00 to live. That equals four minimum wage jobs. Check out the Insight website for more information.

Some other facts about basic costs in San Mateo County (not including rising gasoline prices which is further straining families):

Food costs have gone up 15%.
Health care costs have climbed significantly, up 30%.
Since 2003, the rise in costs resulted in an increase in the Self-Sufficiency Standard of $10,116 to $67,617 a year for a family consisting of one adult, a preschooler, and a school-age child.

Walk Off... Go Home... It's Over!

2008-05-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

Today was the last game for the mighty East Palo Alto Kubs, Sam's baseball team. They were playing for 2nd place in the league against Lodge, their rivals. The winner would have sole possession of 2nd place and receive a trophy (which each kid coveted greatly).

It was a tough game. Lodge came out hard and behind their great pitching remained in front through six innings. But behind the Kubs solid defence (led by their catcher, Sam) they kept the score close. Being the home team they had the last at bat.

In the bottom of the 6th (ending) inning, the Kubs were trailing by one run. The bottom of the order was batting. Jasmine, our rookie was up. For whatever reason Lodge pulled their pitcher and replaced him with a closer.

After going to a full count Jasmine walked and was replaced with a pinch runner, Jason. Next up was another rookie, Andre who also reached base on balls. The leadoff hitter, Samuel Liotti, was up. On the first pitch, Sam crushed an 'against the fence' 'walk off' double scoring Jason and Andre.

Sam walked off the field the hero, winning his team the second place trophy and the game ball for himself!

As a bonus, Sam was voted team MVP and made the league all star team as a catcher. It's been fun to watch him use his leadership skills to work with the pitchers and infield players. After reluctantly taking his place behind 'the dish' this year, he found a home following in Yogi Berra's, Jorge Posada's and Johnny's Bench's footsteps!

Yea, I'm a little proud of him, just a little;)

Empowerment and Mental Functions - Cognitive Disenhancement

2008-05-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article from Economist.com.

As you know we've been mulling over Bob Lupton's "Betterment vs. Empowerment" concepts as we approach our mission to relieve poverty. Lupton suggests that empowerment is a dignity building activity where betterment (giving without accountability) can create dependence and reliance on the giver thereby robbing dignity. It's important to note the Lupton distinguishes between crisis (i.e. Katrina, the earthquake in China) needs and chronic needs that seem to always be present.

The Economist recently reported the following:

New drugs may help to enhance people's mental powers. But a study carried out by Pamela Smith, of Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, and her colleagues suggests a less pharmacological approach can be taken, too. Their work, just published in Psychological Science, argues that simply putting someone into a weak social position impairs his cognitive function. Conversely, “empowering” him, in the dread jargon of sociology, sharpens up his mind.

Dr Smith focused on those cognitive processes that help people maintain and pursue their goals in difficult and distracting situations. She suspected that a lack of social power may reduce someone's ability to keep track of information and make plans to achieve his goals.

To explore this theory, she carried out three tests on memory, concentration and planning.

In the first, participants were divided at random into groups of superiors and subordinates. They were told that the superiors would direct and evaluate the subordinates and that this evaluation would determine the subordinates' payment for the experiment. Superiors were paid a fixed amount. The subordinates were then divided into two further groups: powerless and empowered. A sense of powerlessness was instilled, the researchers hoped, by having participants write for several minutes about a time when they were powerless or by asking them to unscramble sets of words including “obey”, “subordinate” and so on to form sentences. The empowered, by contrast, were asked to write about when they had been on top, or to form sentences including “authority”, “dominate” and similar words.

In all three tests Dr Smith found that low-power participants made 2-5% more errors than their high-power counterparts. She argues that these results were not caused by the low-power volunteers being less motivated, as they had the same financial incentive as the high-power volunteers to do well. Instead, she suspects that those lacking in power suffered adverse cognitive effects from that very lack, and thus had difficulty maintaining their focus on the tasks. (emphasis mine)

If what the data is suggesting is true, and if empowerment activities promote better self esteem, cognitive functions and well being, then should we engage in those activities over ones that create dependence and reliance?

In some cases it's simply easier to give and not look at longer-term engagement with those we're trying to serve. This is especially true in the high powered Silicon Valley where return on investment and a focus on the 'new and innovative idea' prevails. Or at times our actions are tainted by patronage, where we give because it makes us feel good, not thinking about the implications on the poor.

The welfare state created in the 1960's is a fine example of the failure of dignity robbing activities. We certainly are called to serve and love the 'least of these' - but, as Lupton would suggest our first task is to, "do no harm", whether long term or short.

I'm not at all suggesting we should limit or restrict our giving. On the contrary, as Ron Sider's book is aptly titled we are, "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" we should give more and more. As believers in Christ we have that Biblical mandate. I am however suggesting we think before we give, and do so in a way that is generous, life affirming and dignity building toward those we are serving.

Inflation Hits Wheel of Fortune

2008-05-22T09:13:00.001-07:00

Think gas prices are high? Check out this report from The Onion.

'Wheel Of Fortune' Contestants Hit Hard As Vowel Prices Skyrocket

LOS ANGELES—Contestants on the television game show Wheel Of Fortune have been hit especially hard at the podiums in recent months due to skyrocketing vowel prices, which reached a record $600 last week. "I remember a time when you could get an 'e' for $250," 46-year-old contestant Samantha Means said after a Wednesday taping. "But as Wheel contestants, we've become so dependent on vowels to solve puzzles that the producers can get away with jacking up prices because they know we'll pay them. We need a legitimate vowel alternative, but I don't think we're ready for that. I know I'm not." According to Wheel Of Fortune show runner Charlie Clark, vowel prices are not likely to come down anytime soon unless America improves its standing in the Middle East.

Short update - sitting in O'Hare...

2008-05-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been extremely busy - evidenced by my lack of blogging. As I write this I'm on the way home from the CCDA board meeting - of which I recently became a member. I got to O'Hare somewhat early and after a short nap on the floor - felt ready to post an update. (I'm sure I'm quite the sight as I snore away in a corner... )It's an honor to serve CCDA and Noel Castellanos - the new CEO. While I've enjoyed getting to know all the members, it's been a particular joy to spend time with Dr. Louis Carlo from (where else...) NYC. Dr. Carlo is a wonderful, fun, brilliant and warm man.

Last weekend we attended another amazing Urban Youth Workers Institute in Los Angeles. It was a special honor to have my son Samuel do a workshop with me. We spoke on " What Do You Do When The Community You Serve Doesn't Look Like You?" Sam did a great job. He had the chance to speak about his life and experiences growing up in East Palo Alto.

A couple of weeks ago Sam and I went to NYC for a few days. I'll shortly post some pictures and thoughts about the trip. Thanks for being patient with my inconsistent blogging - I'll shortly get back to form. Here's a rather poor picture of me that I just took - in case you forgot how beautiful I am!

I'll write more soon...

Update coming - but in the mean time... Redemption Song

2008-05-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

In NYC

2008-05-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

Samuel and I took off for a few days of fun and baseball in the Big Apple last sunday. Pictures and and update when we return later this week.

Go Yankees!

CCDA Institute Recap

2008-04-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend!

Last Friday and Saturday we were honored to co-host the Christian Community Development Association's (CCDA) Institute at our church (St. Samuel's). On Friday Noel Castellanos taught the class, "The Church's Role in Community Development" and on Saturday Bob Lupton taught on "Empowerment". Both classes seemed appropiate for what God is doing in East Palo Alto and the Bay Area.

We had an intimate group for both days which made the class interactive and fun. On Thursday night Melissa and I got to spend some time with Noel, and had a great dinner at Palace Barbaque in Sunnyvale. Noel is on a no-carb diet - and there is no better place to eat meat than Palace!

I had a major grant application due Friday, so I was in and out for Noel's class - but the couple of hours I spent there were rich. I was able to attend all of Bob's teaching on Saturday. This is my second time through this class - and it seems to get better each time. Bob has been a major influence on us as we've crafted the vision for NCUD.

One thing that particularly stuck me about Bob's words is his "Principles for Helpers". In his section on "lending is better than giving" he states:

Give once and you elicit appreciation;
Give twice and you create anticipation;
Give three times and you create expectation;
Give four times and it becomes entitlement;
Give five times and you establish dependency.
Lending, on the other hand, establishes a mutually beneficial relationship characterized by responsibility, accountability, and respect. It is legitimate exchange that requires the lender to be responsible for assessing the risk while leaving the dignity of the borrower intact. Lending, done well, builds mutual trust and respect.

Bob is advocating that we look at a different paradigm for urban mininstry - one that builds dignity and capacity and in the communites we serve, other than creating dependancy through simply giving goods and services away. Good stuff!

I encourage you to pick up Bob's book Compassion Justice and the Christian Life. It's an amazing book that's been challenging my thoughts about ministry to the poor.

Thanks to Noel, Bob and CCDA for an excellent two days of training.

CCDA Institute this Weekend!

2008-04-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Join us for the the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) Institute this Friday and Saturday. You can read more here.

On Friday Noel Castellanos will be speaking on 'The Church's Role in Changing Communities" and on Saturday Bob Lupton will be speaking on "Empowerment".

Classes are from 9 to 4 each day and are located at St. Samuel at 1199 E. Bayshore Rd. in East Palo Alto.

Call our office at 650-328-1890 for more information.