Saturday, February 28, 2009

Music - U2, the Biggest of Veterans, Wants to the Be the Next New Thing - NYTimes.com

Music - U2, the Biggest of Veterans, Wants to the Be the Next New Thing - NYTimes.com

What do you call the band that used to be your favorite, and still looms large in your imagination, you even buy their new albums and listen to them, but you no longer hold them in the pantheon of those you regularly put on the CD changer?

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Greg Ogden :: Welcome

Greg Ogden :: Welcome A friend recommended Greg Ogden's triad discipleship model for review. Here's Greg's site...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Fair Trade Valentines

Fair Trade Valentines

On Lincoln's Birthday

On the eve of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, it's only fitting that we pay homage to one of the greatest achievers of all time. .

Abraham Lincoln’s greatness is indeed humbling, but he provides a lifetime of lessons for anyone striving to improve, anyone confronting serious challenges, anyone who is serious about becoming a better human being.

It is within this spirit, as we continue to confront this financial crisis, that it's appropriate to honor Lincoln by reflecting on some of his comments delivered in a time that makes our challenges pale in comparison. First I will share some quotes and conclude with a favorite short personal speech.

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

"It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues."

"In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years."

"Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them."

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much higher recognition."

"No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar."

"I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in the country; but I am reminded in this connection of a story of an old Dutch farmer who remarked to a companion once it was not best to swap horses while crossing streams."

"There are no accidents in my philosophy. Every effect must have its cause. The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from finite to infinite."
"Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today."

"Property is the fruit of labor…property is desirable…is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."

"If I were to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business."

"I do the very best I know how -- the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end."

"Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition."

"He who has the right to criticize, has a heart to help."

"Everybody likes a compliment."

Amongst treasure chest of timeless speeches, one that doesn’t get as much attention had always struck as a glimpse into the soul of this magnificent man. It was delivered at the back of a train, in what appeared to be a spontaneous manner, as Lincoln was leaving his hometown, Springfield, Illinois, for the White House. It’s known as his Farewell Address:

"My friends – No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I many return, with a task before me greater that that which rested on Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being, who ever attended him, I cannot success. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell."


Abraham Lincoln never returned to Springfield.

Lincoln would recoil at the thought of the increasing levels of adulation he receives, and it seems to grow year by year. Rather than be hero-worshiped, Lincoln’s life should be examined and used as a template, a model, for winning in tough times. If Father Abe was alive and coaching you, he’d likely tell you a story, share a humorous but poignant anecdote, and tell you take advantage of the opportunities of today.

Happy Birthday Uncle Abe.

(the text of this is copied from a mass e-mail by Russ)

Monday, February 02, 2009

Clergy-Labor Breakfast Press Release

Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice
2300 S. Park Street #6
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 255-0376

Contact: Rabbi Renee Bauer FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mobile phone: 608-320-1144
Email: director@workerjustice.org


WELCOMING THE STRANGER
Father Paul Ouderkirk Shares on the Aftermath of the Postville Raids

Drawing a wide range of clergy, community leaders, labor activists, and students, the Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice (ICWJ) will hold its annual clergy-labor breakfast on Tuesday, February 10th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1905 W. Beltline Hwy. in Madison, from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. Rev. Paul Ouderkirk and Mr. Paul Rael of St. Bridget’s in Postville, Iowa, will speak on the effects of the raids on the Postville community

The event will be an opportunity for the Madison community to learn about the aftermath of an immigration raid at Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville, and how supporters in the Madison-area can respond if a similar immigration raid were to take place here.

Ouderkirk, 75, cut short his retirement last summer when federal immigration agents raided the Agriprocessors factory, arresting nearly 400 workers in Postville. Since that time he has been one of the biggest advocates for the struggling immigrant community. He will share his experiences of ministering to the community in Postville in the aftermath of the immigration raids. Mr. Rael works on staff at St. Bridget’s and ministers with the Latino faith community in Postville.

Joining Fr. Ouderkirk and Mr. Rael will be Pastor Mark Anderson and Rabbi RenĂ©e Bauer. Pastor Anderson Assistant to the Bishop, will be speaking for the Northeast Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, which has been a big supporter of the immigrant community in Postville. Rabbi Renee Bauer, director of the ICWJ, will comment on the effect on and response of the national Jewish community to the raid at Agriprocessors, which was the country’s largest meat packing plant in the United States.

Darfur

Feb 2, 2009

President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

I applaud your work to address many pressing foreign policy issues in
your first week of office, particularly your appointment of
Presidential Special Envoys to the Middle East and Asia. A similar
action in another region of the world is urgently needed: increasing
violence against innocent civilians in Darfur, Sudan necessitates the
immediate appointment of a Special Envoy for Sudan.

The recent violence illustrates the need for multilateral efforts to
achieve peace in the region. As our President we look to you to
reinvigorate U.S. policy toward a peaceful Sudan. A major step to that
peace is the appointment of a U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan. I ask that
you promptly name a full-time envoy to the region who can work to end
the six years of violence in Darfur and will engage in high-level
diplomacy with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to ensure that
the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is fully implemented.

The people of Sudan need the support of your new administration to end
violence and support peace which will foster long term development in a
country full of potential. I thank you for your attention to this
important issue.

Sincerely,

Mr. Clint Schnekloth