NorCalUrban

OK - so I'm behind in my reading... but I'm finanlly getting around to reading "A Generous Orthodoxy" by Brian McLaren. Here is a great quote that particularly speaks to how I feel. "For me in the US - now the undesputed superpower in the world - I feel surrounded by Christians who very much like the idea of an American God of a middle class, republican Jesus, first and formost concerned about Our National Security or Our Way of Life. 'The Lord is My Shepherd' becomes 'The Lord is Our President,' elected for us for our national interest... The language of lordship and authority in this context only seem to serve, 'The Powers That Be,' to bolster the status quo to ligitimize and protect whatever regime that is in power. This feels like a tired old story that history has seen rise and fall many times, and it sickens me." - taken from the chapter, " Would Jesus be a Christian?" I'm not really trying to bash any particular...

A few months ago Pastor Bains approached me about exchanging my ordination to the Church of God in Christ. Previously I've been ordained through a small Pentecostal denomiation and also through the Highway Community, the church that we attended in Palo Alto. I was satisfied with the credentials I had since it allowed me to do essentially what I needed. However, I was honored when Pastor approached me. After praying and chatting with Melissa and some of my mentors - I decided to pursue ordination with COGIC. Since I've been ordained for the past 12 years in a group with similar doctrine the Bishop decided to allow me an exchange without further classes. Last Tuesday night I attended the ordination service. By chance, my sister Kelli and friend Robin were in town and were able to attend the service. What a special blessing to have them there. This was a very special night since the first time I was ordained it was somewhat unceremonious. We were living in Mexico at the time. The...

Yesterday was almost the perfect day. Max is here from Houston. He came in to do some training for the BCM summer team. Knowing he was to be here we were able to schedule him to speak at St. Samuel yesterday morning. He did a great job. After service and lunch I returned to church for a baptism service. I was blessed to participate in the baptism of a young man who I watched grow over the last four years in BCM's programs. After the baptism I picked up Max and Melissa and we ran off to the Ozomatli concert at Mountain Winery. A friend of ours gave us the tickets - a huge blessing. Max is a great friend - it's a joy to have him around. He has been eating tripitas tacos since he got here - I guess they are outlawed in Texas - go figure.

Travis from The Work of the People turned me on to this. Check out TWOTP - they produce outstanding videos. This album was produced by T-Bone Burnett. He produced the music for 'O Brother Where Are Thou". Either way, this is a San Francisco band. Great lyrics on this - gospel influenced. Pick it up here or on itunes.

It's good to be home... Yesterday was the beginning of my first 'real' week in our new offices. It's a little strange not to be connected to a big team like I had at BCM over the past six years. I don't know if I mentioned it, but we're sharing offices with our church and the non profit Pastor Bains started, Project WeHope. I'm enjoying co-habitating with Connie, Cheryl Bains, JD and Pastor. I really like synergy in an office. Pastor and I had a great talk over lunch about new urbanist development in EPA (yea, I know... It's my current obsession). One rather important perk about our office is that a taco truck parks in front of the building every day. The smell of carne asada begins to waft through at about 11:00. It's just about irresistible. As Homer would say, "Taaaco, mmmmmm." When my dad was here a couple of weeks ago he blessed us by hanging three overhead fans. He loved showing off by climbing on top of the walls to run the electrica...

In the Chicago airport - returning from the CNU conference in Providence, RI. One of the highlights was to be able to spend lots of time with the CCDA folks including John Perkins, Philip Perkins and Mary Nelson. We had a great time scheming, eating, chatting... The photo is of Philip and John Perkins and Mary Nelson. We attended a workshop together. Regarding the congress - have a lot to say about the experience. First off, thanks to a generous donation of a donor through CCDA I was able to go. It's always good to be exposed to new thoughts and ideas. Providence is a great city - old, historic. I love the East Coast. The CNU is a group of city planners, architects and non profit and for profit developers that are interested in transforming the city into a place that is livable in form and function. It's a response to urban sprawl and unchecked development. It's in many ways a return to looking at the city as an important resource. It call for mixed-use, mixed income deve...

Good memorial day yesterday... Went on a M/C ride with Charles from St. Sam up to Alice's on Skyline and down to the coast. Man - we live in great motorcycle country. Redwoods, Bay vistas, the AWESOME Northern California coast. I love the Harley - but I'm ready for something a little faster - been thinking about the Buell. Still a Harley, but a sportbike. Come home, took a nap and went with Melissa and Samuel to see the new X-Men movie. Good summer flick - don't have to think too much. Great Memorial day... This week I'm off to the Congress for the New Urbanism conference in Providence, Rhode Island. The conference is about the redevelopment of urban communities. A generous donor picked up the bill so I'm off to see and learn! I'll keep you updated.

David Moore, a long time friend and mentor or mine just published a new book on the pentacostal movement. He co-authored it with Jack Hayford. I just read the first chapter - it's a great historical piece on the movement. Get the book here.

I just added this blog to the links - but wanted you to see it. If you're starting something or talking to potential funders, read his book, "The Art of the Start". Guy's blog is cool also.

Had a great time at Urban Youthworker's Institute last weekend. Larry Acosta and his crew continue to do a fabulous job at what I believe is the premier conference for those working in urban communities. Read about the conference here. Had a great time hanging with Rudy Currasco , Jeremy Del Rio , John Perkins and others. It's always like a family reunion when we go to the conference. A group from St. Samuel came also including Pastor and First Lady Bains. I had a chance to teach a workshop called, "Start Something! The Art of Bringing Your Dreams to Reality" based on my life experiences and informed by a great book by Guy Kawasaki. Amy Kushner from BCM helped me teach the class. I went down early to have a discussion with a group of 'young' leaders from the Christian Community Development Association. CCDA is the organization founded by John Perkins and others to create a network of folks doing holistic urban ministry. We had an excellent conversation abo...

Check out the book here.

Yesterday was my last day working for Bayshore Christian Ministries. It started out very appropriately by having breakfast with Kimberly Marsheck (Li) who I worked with for about 4 and 1/2 of the almost 6 years at BCM. Kimberly was key to helping me transition into the organization. Last Thursday they had a lunch for me. It was great to see old teammates like Susan Martin, Steve Joh, Ben Rodriguez and others. I had to stop at the end of the BCM driveway for a moment and thank God for allowing me to serve BCM for the last season. It seems like ages ago I was at Youth For Christ in Modesto. I appreciate Andy Hartwell for allowing me to serve. I clearly remember the early September day I drove in from Modesto to start work at BCM. I remember how different EPA was from Modesto, LA, NYC, Tijuana and the other cities I know. I remember how intimidated I was by the BCM staff, they all are so educated, passionate and committed to the cause. As I reflected I also thought of the unique transiti...

From a Sojourners e-mail blast. Interesting... Brian McLaren on The Da Vinci Code An interview by Lisa Ann Cockrel With The Da Vinci Code poised to go from bestseller list to the big screen on May 19, pastor and writer (and Sojourners board member) Brian McLaren talks about why he thinks there's truth in the controversial book's fiction. What do you think the popularity of The Da Vinci Code reveals about pop culture attitudes toward Christianity and the church? Brian McLaren: I think a lot of people have read the book, not just as a popular page-turner but also as an experience in shared frustration with status-quo, male-dominated, power-oriented, cover-up-prone organized Christian religion. We need to ask ourselves why the vision of Jesus hinted at in Dan Brown's book is more interesting, attractive, and intriguing to these people than the standard vision of Jesus they hear about in church. Why would so many people be disappointed to find that Brown's version of Jesus ...

WWJD - What Would Jay-Z Do? A commentary of christianity and youth culture. Read it here.

Yesterday I went to Samuels baseball game at MLK park in EPA. After getting agitated about a call at the plate I ended up sitting by the scoring table. I was good - kept my cool - but needed to be near the 'seat of power' to be ready to complain if it became necessary. Ok- so I'm becoming one of 'those' baseball dads. You better pray for me. Samuel's team won... he had an RBI single and stole second. I think it a lock for him to be on the Yankees in about nine years. After a while a colleague / friend showed up to support his friends team. Malcolm is a great guy and a an emerging community leader. His uncle is one of the 'pillars' of East Palo Alto - working with youth. So - he introduced me to his friends Marcia and Edgar (their son plays on Samuel's team) and we end up in a great conversation about immigration reform, the positive side of hip hop, the church and the youth of EPA. I walked away feeling blessed to live in our community. Where else c...

Wealth Building Impeded Due to High Cost Lending Washington, DC- April 20, 2006 – The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), The Opportunity Agenda and the Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC) will hold a press conference today at 12:30PM on their a joint study entitled: Homeownership and Wealth Building Impeded: Continuing Lending Disparities for Minorities and Emerging Obstacles for Middle-Income and Female Borrowers of all Races. The press conference will take place at the NCRC headquarters at 727 15th Street NW 8th Floor. The study reveals that home loan lending inequities transcend not only, racial and gender lines, but the ethnic make-up of neighborhoods as well. “This report is the first to show the home lending cross-sections between race, gender and income and to specifically examine lending practices in immigrant neighborhoods,” says John Taylor, President and CEO of NCRC. “It clearly outlines that regardless of how much money you make, if you are ...

Here is the Hewelett foundations guide for grantmakers in the community development area... Good information here. Read the report here.

Dear Friends and Family, Once again I need to ask for your grace given the lack of updates from us. Much has transpired over the last few months. They have been a whirlwind of change and transition for our family and ministry. In the midst of everything, God continues to be faithful and good… ANTIOCH URBAN FELLOWSHIP Looking at the calendar on the wall - it now appears to be over three years since we started the AUF project. What a ride it has been! Many thoughts come to mind when I think about AUF. Tough times, lots of laughs, good friends, worship and prayer… Looking back, it’s been a deep growing time for Melissa and I. We’ve learned to be pastors, community leaders, to push through hard time and disappointments. Last February we began to again take stock in the project. There were a few factors coming into play. A number of our core team were desiring to move on - mainly due to life circumstances. Our core team, while being very consistent and committed over the years remained smal...

Laptop thieves decend upon wireless cafes.

OK - so I'm a little miffed. Last weekend we supported a youth event called Battle Cry. Check it out here. Many have heard about it. Well, A few weeks ago I heard someone say regarding projects and initiatives in the Kingdom, "I try not to be against anything, but know what I'm for". That comment spoke volumes to me. I guess, In the end, having 25k young folks come together and talk about their commitment to Christ is a good thing. But, when they decided to stir up the political pot by going into attack mode toward the gay community I began to wonder if it was all a publicity stunt, especially when I saw Ron Luce on the Bill O'Reilly show touting his efforts. I mean really - isn't the Homosexual community an easy scapegoat? Isn't the fact that we in the evangelical church are getting divorces as the same rate as the rest of America more disturbing to anyone else but me than the fact that gay folks want to get married? Isn't the current immigration ...