One of the joys of a new computer, guitar, whatever... is that they always come with a series of uneedas - you know, the list of other things you need to make it work right. I got a tablet a month or so mostly for my music chsrts but quickly decided that there are times when it could replace my laptop. Right now I'm writing this podt on mh tablet...but thst reveals a uneeda. Typing via the software keyboard on the screen is actuslly not ss bad as I anticipsted, but the keyboard covers hslf of the screen... so I can't see what I'm typing and there are scor3s of typos (at first I toggled the keyboard off and tried to fix them but then I decided that they prove my point) I guess I need a bluetooth keyboard.
That is the nsture of s consumer society. Each new aquisition open doors requiring more stuff and ineed some stuff comes with a list of uneedax, literally without which it will not work. That shiny new computer may not run any of your old software without updates... that gorgeous acoustic guitar needs a pickup and preamp if you really want to play it live... and this cool tablet requires a bluetooth keyboard if I really want to do any half way serious typing. ?. And maybe a hard case to keep it safe... Iand I already upgraded the memory... on it goes
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Safe Parking Update
You may have read my 5/15 post regarding Cambridge Drive Community Church's application for a permit to allow folk living in their vehicle to have safe parking in our parking lot. As I said before, the permit was granted and then appealed by some of the neighbors. Today was the appeal and the appeal was denied.
It wasn't my brightest moment though. As a few of our neighbors have spread misinformation regarding the program and others have implied that they have final say over the shape Cambridge Drive's ministry should take I have gotten more and more frustrated. When it came my turn to speak, I was more than a little frustrated. I began by sharing that we are not participating in this program because it is a good thing to do, although it is. Instead, we are fulfilling our call. I outlined the Hebrew scriptures' injunctions to welcome the stranger and to care for the poor. I followed up with the affirmation that Jesus was homeless and we dare not exclude folk who are just like him. I should have stopped there. I ended by saying that the neighbors have no say in how we fulfill our ministry. Those in the audience arguing against the permit did not take that statement well.
While my wording was more incendiary than it needed to be, I believe that. Baptists practice a regenerate church membership so that only the folk who are actually in touch with the leading of the Spirit have a say in the directions of the ministry of the church. I also believe that because of the Free Exercise clause of the 1st Amendment the city government has no say in how we fulfill our ministry. Yes, I know the courts have struggled with that clause since the 1870's when they ruled against polygamy and said that there was a difference between belief and action and that the state could restrict certain actions... In the 60's the Warren court established that a compelling interest must be demonstrated before the government can restrict religious practice but the definition of compelling has wavered through the years. Still, the scriptures are clear that if this is our calling we are obligated to fulfill our call rather than please our neighbors or obey civil authorities.
Of course, it is not that simple. CDCC has been a part of this neighborhood from its beginnings and has always sought to be hospitable to our neighbors. We have over 2 acres of "park" that our neighbors use for walking their dogs, for picnics, and as a shortcut through the neighborhood. We host recitals, concerts, 12 step programs, classes through the county adult ed programs, boyscouts, and senior citizens groups in our buildings... our properties are used, primarily by community folk, almost all of the time. We want to be friends with our neighbors. In this process we tried to listen to their concerns and to address those that were reasonable and correct those that were not while fulfilling the ministry to which we have been called. Our attempts did not allay the concerns of the most vocal and I have to admit, they hooked me.
The ruling today can also be appealed and I assume it will be so we'll face this again... I'll try to be a bit more temperate. One piece that has been positive through this is that a number of neighbors have reached out to voice support. A number who were against the program have changed their minds once they received accurate information. On we go...
It wasn't my brightest moment though. As a few of our neighbors have spread misinformation regarding the program and others have implied that they have final say over the shape Cambridge Drive's ministry should take I have gotten more and more frustrated. When it came my turn to speak, I was more than a little frustrated. I began by sharing that we are not participating in this program because it is a good thing to do, although it is. Instead, we are fulfilling our call. I outlined the Hebrew scriptures' injunctions to welcome the stranger and to care for the poor. I followed up with the affirmation that Jesus was homeless and we dare not exclude folk who are just like him. I should have stopped there. I ended by saying that the neighbors have no say in how we fulfill our ministry. Those in the audience arguing against the permit did not take that statement well.
While my wording was more incendiary than it needed to be, I believe that. Baptists practice a regenerate church membership so that only the folk who are actually in touch with the leading of the Spirit have a say in the directions of the ministry of the church. I also believe that because of the Free Exercise clause of the 1st Amendment the city government has no say in how we fulfill our ministry. Yes, I know the courts have struggled with that clause since the 1870's when they ruled against polygamy and said that there was a difference between belief and action and that the state could restrict certain actions... In the 60's the Warren court established that a compelling interest must be demonstrated before the government can restrict religious practice but the definition of compelling has wavered through the years. Still, the scriptures are clear that if this is our calling we are obligated to fulfill our call rather than please our neighbors or obey civil authorities.
Of course, it is not that simple. CDCC has been a part of this neighborhood from its beginnings and has always sought to be hospitable to our neighbors. We have over 2 acres of "park" that our neighbors use for walking their dogs, for picnics, and as a shortcut through the neighborhood. We host recitals, concerts, 12 step programs, classes through the county adult ed programs, boyscouts, and senior citizens groups in our buildings... our properties are used, primarily by community folk, almost all of the time. We want to be friends with our neighbors. In this process we tried to listen to their concerns and to address those that were reasonable and correct those that were not while fulfilling the ministry to which we have been called. Our attempts did not allay the concerns of the most vocal and I have to admit, they hooked me.
The ruling today can also be appealed and I assume it will be so we'll face this again... I'll try to be a bit more temperate. One piece that has been positive through this is that a number of neighbors have reached out to voice support. A number who were against the program have changed their minds once they received accurate information. On we go...
Thursday, May 30, 2013
False Choices - Ecology vs. Economy
Yesterday, Exxon Mobil's CEO, Rex Tillerson made a statement that has to make any thinking person scratch their head. A group of shareholders presented a proposal that the company adopt a plan to reduce its carbon emissions. As part of the discussion Tillerson said, "What good is it to save the planet if humanity suffers?"
Is he actually saying that we can trash the planet without humanity suffering? Or is he saying that short term profits are worth more than the long term health of the planet? Is he denying that climate change is real and that it is caused by human activity (in opposition to over 97% of climate scientists)?
Whatever he is implying... he's wrong. We are not making a false choice between human suffering and the health of the planet. They go hand in hand. If one suffers, both suffer. If one is redeemed, both are redeemed. Now it may be that working for the health of the planet will require hard work, changed priorities, and new technologies. Difficult perhaps, but in the long run good for humanity.
By the way, the shareholders rejected the proposal by nearly 3 to 1.
Is he actually saying that we can trash the planet without humanity suffering? Or is he saying that short term profits are worth more than the long term health of the planet? Is he denying that climate change is real and that it is caused by human activity (in opposition to over 97% of climate scientists)?
Whatever he is implying... he's wrong. We are not making a false choice between human suffering and the health of the planet. They go hand in hand. If one suffers, both suffer. If one is redeemed, both are redeemed. Now it may be that working for the health of the planet will require hard work, changed priorities, and new technologies. Difficult perhaps, but in the long run good for humanity.
By the way, the shareholders rejected the proposal by nearly 3 to 1.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Walmartians
You've probably seen the photos going around on the web of Walmartians... folk supposedly shopping at Walmart, often dressed inappropriately and often with body issues that take them far outside of the stereotypical beauty models in our culture. One set of photos and captions came through my inbox yesterday. I laughed... and I am ashamed that I did. It's pretty much that simple.
Friday, May 17, 2013
new tires
We had to replace the tires on my spouse's Honda about a month ago and decided to try out a set of the new low rolling resistance tires to see whether they really impacted mileage. We have a 35+ mile commute each day so even a small increase would be helpful so it felt worth the try. We went with the Nokian eNTYREs as our tire dealer gave us a good price and had good things to say about them. Our first trip with them was from our home to Oakland to see our daughter and son-in-law. I was impressed. Handling was much the same as the previous tires (I forget what they were). They were a little quieter. Most important, mileage did increase although it was difficult to tell exactly how much since the mix of highway and city was different for those five days. Since then as she's been doing her typical driving we have seen a significant increase. Her typical mileage with the previous set of tires was about 28 mpg. Since we replaced her tires with the eNTYREs, it has been between 30 and 31. I'm very, very happy with that number.
I have no idea how they would handle with wet roads or snow, we essentially have neither... especially this year when our rainfall was about 25% of normal which is still technically "semi-arid." For her situation, I am really pleased with them in every way. The real question will come when I need tires for my GTI. I don't know whether they have the size for my car and I'm not sure that I'd be willing to sacrifice my stellar handling for a few miles per gallon... but I might... and that will be a decision to make.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Compassion vs. NIMBYism
Greater Santa Barbara is a beautiful place to live. The scenery is breath-taking. The weather is close to perfect. There is wonderful produce and incredible locally produced wine available all year long. Traffic is reasonable. Culture is available. There are scores of great restaurants. There are also downsides... housing is limited and because of systemic issues like Prop 13, the cost of housing is prohibitive for many. Many folk who live here are literally one pay check away from homelessness and once you fall off the ledge, it is next to impossible to get back up.
As a result of all of the above, we have a significant population of folk who live in their vehicles. Many of those folk have full time jobs that do not provide enough income even for a minimal apartment in the area. Many have children who attend local schools. Some are senior citizens who for whatever reason have lost their homes or apartments. They live in RVs, in vans, and even in cars. Most are permanent and longtime residents of the area who have fallen on bad luck and through no moral failings or fault of their own have no other way to live in a community which they have called home, sometimes for their entire lives. So they search for safe places to park and sleep. Mothers search for a streetlight, strategically placed so their children can do their homework by streetlight.
Unfortunately the powers that be decided years ago that it wasn't good for folk to sleep in their vehicles so every few hours the police knock on the window, waking everyone from what is never a sound sleep in areas that are often not safe, and force them to move. Those who work, show up at the job without a full nights sleep. Children go to school tired and stressed.
Some years ago Catholic Services began a program allowing some of these folk to park in church parking lots. The program grew beyond their resources and it was passed on to another non-profit who shaped it into a program that has received national attention for the positive impact it has. Rolling Stone wrote about it. AARP magazine mentioned it and there is a video interview on their website of a person living (quite well and happily so) in a van. Santa Barbara city and county and the city of Goleta each recognized the need and have passed laws allowing churches to participate in the program.
The Safe Parking program has stiff requirements for the participants and is very well supervised. It is not designed to help vagrants or the stereotypically homeless. Instead, it provides a safe haven for those who are living in their vehicles so they can begin to put their lives back on track.
Cambridge Drive Community Church applied to the city for the appropriate permits to allow overnight parking in our lot of up to five vehicles (although the church was only planning to allow one at this time). We can see no negative impacts on our neighbors and indeed we believe it will help to make our neighborhood safer. We cannot see any negative impacts on the community while at the same time believe it provides us an opportunity to do the ministry to which we are called as a church. We received the permit according to city law.
Many of our neighbors have supported the plan. Multiple times I have heard people say, "Isn't that what churches are supposed to be doing?" A few have observed, "My father (sister, brother) is living in a van. I'm glad there are safe places for them to park." There also is a NIMBY backlash. Some neighbors have been spreading misinformation about the program, telling neighbors that we will be having vagrants camping in the church park and that we will be bring undesirable criminals who are "not like us" into the neighborhood. Their implication is clear that these folk will damage property, rob homes, and molest children. They have even passed out flyers at the local elementary school.
What according to the city law is a simple administrative procedure now will include a hearing before the zoning commissioner. I don't see any legal reason to withdraw the permit but that is what they are hoping will happen. If that hearing does not go as these folk want, we are told they will likely appeal the hearing to the entire zoning board. I expect that if that does not go as they want, they will try to get the city council involved.
I'm frustrated... angry... that these folk think they have the right to define our ministry... and ready to stand for compassion and for the gospel.
Two scriptures come to mind -
As a result of all of the above, we have a significant population of folk who live in their vehicles. Many of those folk have full time jobs that do not provide enough income even for a minimal apartment in the area. Many have children who attend local schools. Some are senior citizens who for whatever reason have lost their homes or apartments. They live in RVs, in vans, and even in cars. Most are permanent and longtime residents of the area who have fallen on bad luck and through no moral failings or fault of their own have no other way to live in a community which they have called home, sometimes for their entire lives. So they search for safe places to park and sleep. Mothers search for a streetlight, strategically placed so their children can do their homework by streetlight.
Unfortunately the powers that be decided years ago that it wasn't good for folk to sleep in their vehicles so every few hours the police knock on the window, waking everyone from what is never a sound sleep in areas that are often not safe, and force them to move. Those who work, show up at the job without a full nights sleep. Children go to school tired and stressed.
Some years ago Catholic Services began a program allowing some of these folk to park in church parking lots. The program grew beyond their resources and it was passed on to another non-profit who shaped it into a program that has received national attention for the positive impact it has. Rolling Stone wrote about it. AARP magazine mentioned it and there is a video interview on their website of a person living (quite well and happily so) in a van. Santa Barbara city and county and the city of Goleta each recognized the need and have passed laws allowing churches to participate in the program.
The Safe Parking program has stiff requirements for the participants and is very well supervised. It is not designed to help vagrants or the stereotypically homeless. Instead, it provides a safe haven for those who are living in their vehicles so they can begin to put their lives back on track.
Cambridge Drive Community Church applied to the city for the appropriate permits to allow overnight parking in our lot of up to five vehicles (although the church was only planning to allow one at this time). We can see no negative impacts on our neighbors and indeed we believe it will help to make our neighborhood safer. We cannot see any negative impacts on the community while at the same time believe it provides us an opportunity to do the ministry to which we are called as a church. We received the permit according to city law.
Many of our neighbors have supported the plan. Multiple times I have heard people say, "Isn't that what churches are supposed to be doing?" A few have observed, "My father (sister, brother) is living in a van. I'm glad there are safe places for them to park." There also is a NIMBY backlash. Some neighbors have been spreading misinformation about the program, telling neighbors that we will be having vagrants camping in the church park and that we will be bring undesirable criminals who are "not like us" into the neighborhood. Their implication is clear that these folk will damage property, rob homes, and molest children. They have even passed out flyers at the local elementary school.
What according to the city law is a simple administrative procedure now will include a hearing before the zoning commissioner. I don't see any legal reason to withdraw the permit but that is what they are hoping will happen. If that hearing does not go as these folk want, we are told they will likely appeal the hearing to the entire zoning board. I expect that if that does not go as they want, they will try to get the city council involved.
I'm frustrated... angry... that these folk think they have the right to define our ministry... and ready to stand for compassion and for the gospel.
Two scriptures come to mind -
Mt. 8:20, "Jesus replied, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'" and
Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Thursday, May 09, 2013
still pro-choice... but
My daughter Alexis and her husband, Christian are pregnant. She's about 23 weeks now I think. I am excited and really looking forward to becoming a grandparent. My only grief comes that they live in Oakland, CA and we in Buellton... it is a bit more than a 4 hour drive in reasonable traffic so I won't get to see Kiddo (their name for the one who is coming) nearly as often as I'd like.
Two weeks ago we had the wonderful experience of being present while Alexis had a sonogram and we saw Kiddo, moving around inside his/her warm and safe place. I teared up. I have dreams and hopes and fears of all of the potential futures there in Kiddo. Sitting in the waiting room, I saw a number of young women, obviously pregnant, waiting their turns. Most were with partners, but one or two were alone. Most seemed excited, a few scared, and one or two were less obvious.
I couldn't help but wrestle with the question of abortion as I thought about the joy of our experience and the pain an unwanted pregnancy is for some young women. I couldn't help but think of the wonderful visions we hold and the terrible ones held by some other women in similar circumstances. And I couldn't help but think that while Kiddo is becoming a baby, Kiddo isn't one yet. At the same time, I could not and cannot deny that Kiddo is well on the way. This is not just a mass of cells or a growth... there is a potential here that is awesome and wonderful beyond words.
So... I am still pro-choice. I cannot make a decision for a young woman about the rest of her life when I have not walked in her shoes and felt her fears and despair. I know that pregnancy is not a simple condition and that pregnancies are lost for "natural" reasons all of the time, many times with nobody even knowing that a pregnancy had occurred. Our reaction to those losses is not the same as the death of a baby and there are good reasons for that. But I am also reminded that an abortion is not like a haircut and isn't and never should be a simple decision. What is happening here really is miraculous. So, I am also pro-life. In my best of all worlds, there would never be another abortion. In my more realistic hopes, abortion will be extremely rare but when it happens, it will be safe, affordable, and accessible. More importantly, all will know that as a society we have done all we can to make that choice unnecessary.
All too often, those who label themselves pro-life are really pro-birth and see no need to provide care for the woman while she is pregnant nor for a child once it has been born. As a society we do little to address the structural issues that force a woman to make a decision she may not feel the need to make were circumstances different. We must address those issues as a nation if we really want to lessen the number of abortions. There should be comprehensive sex education for kids so a girl knows how her body works and doesn't. We in the Church should be speaking to them about the values of sexual relationships and the responsibility that goes with that without the stupid overlay of abstinence only (which of course works... until it doesn't). And contraception should be affordable and easily accessible. Let's make unwanted pregnancies rare. Sure they will still happen, but we could make them much less common than they are now.
And then we need to think about cultural supports for children and families. As a culture we need to put in place serious, serious supports for families with young children and especially for families with special needs children and adults so that facing a future with a child with issues doesn't equate to financial ruin. We need affordable, quality childcare. We need structural supports that allow parents to be a part of their children's lives such as family leave and flexibility in work hours. We need positive adoption policies and processes that allow parents to surrender children without legal repercussions. We need to work to alleviate poverty which is associated with higher rates of abortion.
Two weeks ago we had the wonderful experience of being present while Alexis had a sonogram and we saw Kiddo, moving around inside his/her warm and safe place. I teared up. I have dreams and hopes and fears of all of the potential futures there in Kiddo. Sitting in the waiting room, I saw a number of young women, obviously pregnant, waiting their turns. Most were with partners, but one or two were alone. Most seemed excited, a few scared, and one or two were less obvious.I couldn't help but wrestle with the question of abortion as I thought about the joy of our experience and the pain an unwanted pregnancy is for some young women. I couldn't help but think of the wonderful visions we hold and the terrible ones held by some other women in similar circumstances. And I couldn't help but think that while Kiddo is becoming a baby, Kiddo isn't one yet. At the same time, I could not and cannot deny that Kiddo is well on the way. This is not just a mass of cells or a growth... there is a potential here that is awesome and wonderful beyond words.
So... I am still pro-choice. I cannot make a decision for a young woman about the rest of her life when I have not walked in her shoes and felt her fears and despair. I know that pregnancy is not a simple condition and that pregnancies are lost for "natural" reasons all of the time, many times with nobody even knowing that a pregnancy had occurred. Our reaction to those losses is not the same as the death of a baby and there are good reasons for that. But I am also reminded that an abortion is not like a haircut and isn't and never should be a simple decision. What is happening here really is miraculous. So, I am also pro-life. In my best of all worlds, there would never be another abortion. In my more realistic hopes, abortion will be extremely rare but when it happens, it will be safe, affordable, and accessible. More importantly, all will know that as a society we have done all we can to make that choice unnecessary.
All too often, those who label themselves pro-life are really pro-birth and see no need to provide care for the woman while she is pregnant nor for a child once it has been born. As a society we do little to address the structural issues that force a woman to make a decision she may not feel the need to make were circumstances different. We must address those issues as a nation if we really want to lessen the number of abortions. There should be comprehensive sex education for kids so a girl knows how her body works and doesn't. We in the Church should be speaking to them about the values of sexual relationships and the responsibility that goes with that without the stupid overlay of abstinence only (which of course works... until it doesn't). And contraception should be affordable and easily accessible. Let's make unwanted pregnancies rare. Sure they will still happen, but we could make them much less common than they are now.
And then we need to think about cultural supports for children and families. As a culture we need to put in place serious, serious supports for families with young children and especially for families with special needs children and adults so that facing a future with a child with issues doesn't equate to financial ruin. We need affordable, quality childcare. We need structural supports that allow parents to be a part of their children's lives such as family leave and flexibility in work hours. We need positive adoption policies and processes that allow parents to surrender children without legal repercussions. We need to work to alleviate poverty which is associated with higher rates of abortion.
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