Thursday, April 30, 2009

Swine Flu


I went home from work early today with a headache, I've been asked by 3 people since then if I have swine flu? Seriously!?

Anyway, in case you're wondering, here's a website that will help you decided if you have swine flu or not.

And here's a joke that made Noel fall out of his chair at the coffee shop last night:

They once said that a Black man would only be President when pigs fly. 100 days into his administration - swine flu.

In a more serious direction, friend of the Stevens House, Richard, asked this question the other day on his site:

Has anyone seen anything about sending aid/medicines or in any way helping Mexico deal with the outbreak. Right now they seem to be the only country seriously affected, and in being a pretty tourism-dependent country, is probably also hitting the resources that they will need to deal with it

So far no one has commented. Have any of you seen anything?

Ok, now back to homework.

Monday, April 27, 2009

ICE CREAM!

The Stevens House went out for Ice Cream last night. We used some of the penalty money that people contribute when they don't do their chore for the week. We're so lucky to be able to live with people who can just have fun with each other from time to time. I came home feeling sick, but it was deliciously worth it.





Thursday, April 23, 2009

links - race, education and the environment

Happy day after Earth Day!

Noel, Bethany and I are getting a double plot in the community garden this year, this morning I planted pepper seeds and onions on our porch that I'll transplant when they get big. I'm really looking forward to this!

Here are some links that came up in my google reader, on facebook this week:

  • Newsweek had an article last week comparing the experiences of African American Princeton alums from the 1960s with those of their daughters at Princeton today in a "post-racial bubble."
  • Ed G. shares his take on it on the reconciliation blog.
  • Speaking of Princeton, The Kitchen Table, a blog by two African American Women professors at Princeton, Yolanda Pierce has an article about the micro-aggression of racial profiling while shopping with her daughter. Seeming to contradict the idea of a "post-racial bubble" (let alone society).
  • Also on The Kitchen Table, Mellisa Harris Lacewell has an interview with Majora Carter, on environmentalism in the South Bronx, and what racial oppression has to do with environmentalism.
  • And speaking of environmentalism, César J. Baldelomar has an article on God's politics on the Social and Religious Effects of Global Warming. Among other things, I hadn't considered the effect Global Warming might have on global poverty and therefor immigration before. It's worth a read.
  • Related to Global Poverty, my students, volunteers and I will be participating in the 30hour famine this weekend, or as one of my students likes to call it, "That Starving Thing." Pray for us, the students are raising money to fight hunger overseas, and collecting food for Simpson Food Shelf, here in our neighborhood.
  • Finally, on our topic of race and earth day Fox 9 had a story about Popeye's offering an Earth Day Special on fried chicken. The Minneapolis franchise (the only Popeye's in MN, and just a few blocks from our house) didn't honor the promotion. Is it just me, or does this story seem to be set up so that others can laugh at stereotypes of African Americans in the city? Should I send channel 9 a letter? (Also, I'm not sure what fried chicken in plastic bags, served with rice in styrofoam containers has to do with Earth Day, but that's not my point.)

Monday, April 20, 2009

We're gonna win Twins!!!!

One of the fun things about living in our house is that we're just minutes from Downtown.

Saturday Night, as part of Katie and Michael's wedding celebration a group of their friends and family went to celebrate at the Twins game. MN won, and it was fun. I grew up going to games with my dad and my sisters. I used to know how to keep score, I've since lost those skills, but it was great fun to go to a game.

Here's Katie, showing off her wedding ring, while Rosita, Angie and I celebrate with her!

No deep thoughts today, just that I enjoy baseball when I remember that I enjoy it, and I enjoy my friends too.

Photo is from Angie McKinney.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Remembering How We Became - A Toast to two Katies

I pulled this picture out to be my facebook profile pic today and it got me in a super reflective mood.

First of all, you should understand that hardly anyone in college called me anything but my last name.
There were at least 11 different girls named Katie (this doesn't even count girls who went by "Kate") in our InterVarsity group, and so it just didn't make sense, (Flavin, Buker, Odeegard/Moore, Whipple, Matson, Seth's Katie, Platner, Potter, Higgins, Lo, Frantes, I'm sure there are more and if I left you out I'm really sorry).

This is a picture of three of us (Peterson[Flavin], Matson, and Buker)

Tonight my friend Katie Lynn Buker is getting married. Katie Peterson and I and many others will be there to celebrate.

These women had a huge role in shaping the trajectory of my life. So I thank them and I raise a toast to them.

A toast

To Katie Flavin Peterson: Katie and her husband Aaron organized a trip to Jackson, Mississippi my Sophomore year of school. That trip changed my life. Each morning we would sit in Bible Study with John Perkins or Lowell Noble. We learned about the muti-ethnicity of the Kingdom of God. We learned about justice, mercy, shalom. We raked yards, tore out drywall, played with kids, and painted. I came alive on that trip, I will always always always be grateful for Katie and Aaron's leadership.

Katie was the dorm ministry coordinator when I lived in the dorms as a sophomore. She was a Jr. and a great person to talk to and process stuff with. Her enthusiasm and servant leadership style rocks. This woman will blow your mind.

Katie is a fellow blogger and we keep up by reading each other's blogs, and facebook, but I can't wait to see her tonight. She lives in Duluth with her daughter Matea and husband, which isn't that far away, but weddings are really the only time we get to connect.

Now to Katie Lynn Buker (soon to be Moore): My Jr. Year of College, I spent the summer interning with InterVarsity and New City Fellowship a Presbyterrian Multi-Ethnic Church, doing community development/urban ministry in St. Louis, Missouri. While I was in St. Louis, Buker was in Chicago doing the same thing with Lawndale Community Church.

We were both changed forever and needless to say, coming back to campus at UMD was a bit of a shock for us both. Buker and I learned to rely on each other that year, we hadn't had the same experience, but we had had similar experiences and it would have felt very lonely that year with out her.

Buker is the queen of asking hard questions. You can't hide from her. Katie Buker is a person who helps us live the Christian life we are claiming to live. Katie lives far away on the East Coast, but I'm blessed every time that I get to see her again.

SO - Here's a toast to two of the women who shaped who I am today.

Congratulations Buker!!!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

quick and random



  • Happy Easter! I'm embracing my liturgical side and my Catholic heritage and claiming Easter for a few weeks.
  • The Bishop preached the sunrise service at Park Avenue and spoke about forgiveness and diversity, racism and reconciliation in giving evidence for Easter in our lives. It was really good and hopefully we'll have audio online soon. But it got me to thinking a lot.
  • Speaking of racism Eugene Cho has a good commentary on the senators in Texas asking Asian Americans to change their names for voting on the God's Politics blog. This is just crazy.
  • Spring is really here I'm putting air in my tires and biking to the gym. Bike trails are one of the best things about Minneapolis. And did you know that Metro Transit has coupons for bicyclists for "free guaranteed rides home?" if you get a flat tire, or the weather gets bad, or you have a family emergency, they'll send you two coupons every 6 months. I'm signing up today.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Graffiti Good Friday

Yesterday, on the way to my car, I noticed that we had been tagged by a new gang in the neighborhood. We have a large wooden fence along our backyard, and our garage is white and has two big surfaces facing the street and the alley. We live on a corner. We get tagged somewhat frequently. When it's on the garage, it's easy to take care of. Wanda gets a can of white spray paint and covers it up. When it's on the fence though, we've got another story.

After reporting the graffitti Wanda goes to the fire department to pick up a bottle of some "magic" soap that is supposed to be perfect at removing spray paint (ha!) Then with scrub brushes, hot water and the "magic" soap from the fire department we stand on the boulevard and scrub. and scrub. and scrub. and scrub. It is annoying, it sort of lightens the marks of the spray paint but it certainly doesn't get rid of the marks. The thoughts that go through my head when I see new graffitti are not exactly fit to post. I find it incredibly obnoxious.

I am in a Master's Program at Bethel Seminary in Community Ministry Leadership. Fall quarter we spent a few weeks learning about why young people get involved with gangs. I can tell you the risk factors and protective factors. I know why "Rites of Passage" programs are effective preventive tools.

I work in youth ministry in an urban church. One of the purposes of my position is to be a part of a caring community that gives youth a chance to belong without joining a gang.

I live in a house in the city and try to be a positive force in our neighborhood.

Yet. . .

When those punks tag my garage, when they tag my fence, I don't care if they've grown up without father figures. I don't care if they're feeling powerlessness or hopelessness. I am annoyed and exasperated. I don't care that I'm supposedly living here to be salt and light. I am ticked off.

But we picked up our scrub brushes yesterday. Wanda went out first, and I joined her after awhile. The weather was beautiful, a few friends drove by stopping to chat, and my scrubbing reached a meditative rhythm. I remembered the verse I was assigned for our Lenten devotion book at Park Avenue, "Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a steadfast within me."

My scrubbing became a reminder of the graffiti on my own heart. My pride, my judgment, my entitlement.

"Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing."

Thank you God.

Happy Easter tomorrow friends. Lots of Love - Katie and the roommates

Friday, April 10, 2009

President Johnson Sirleaf - Part Three (final installment - I think)

Here's the Star Tribune's take.

And here's my last comment about the event today.

I am only recently growing in my awareness of gender and leadership. I think that I pretended that it was not a problem until I no longer could. Until I started to feel the call to be a leader and a preacher and an organizer myself I was able to excuse away sexist attitudes. I can't do that anymore.

I just want to say this:

IT IS REALLY REALLY REALLY COOL that the transformational leadership of Liberia, is coming not from the series of male presidents, but from a GRANDMOTHER!!!!

I am inspired and challenged and empowered. WOW!!!!! WOW!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!

All Hail Liberia Hail, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - Part II

I arrived at Northrop auditorium at the last minute today. I had been substitute teaching in Bethany's English classroom and rushed over to the U.

As Noel and I entered the auditorium I didn't get a sense for who was in the audience. Some student-y looking folks, fairly progressive looking. A few very dressed up Liberians. I was in a hurry to get in and sit down and my eyes struggled for a long time to adjust to the indoor lighting after the brilliant sun on the Mall outside of Northrop.

The provost and the dean of Humphrey each said nice introductory things, then a choir of 9 or ten men and women took the stage and sang, "All Hail, Liberia, Hail" the National Anthem of the country. As soon as they started to sing, every Liberian in that hall was singing along with them.

Northrop is not a huge space, it maybe seats 5,000 people max, and not everyone in that hall was singing. Yet if my eyes had been closed, I would have guessed that there were 144,000 singing. I have never heard singing with so much power, so much passion, so much pride. My eyes filled with tears. I have no personal connection with Liberia, yet I felt pride for this country as I heard her children singing of their love for her.

I can't imagine . . . I am trying to imagine. . .

Leaving my hometown because I was afraid for my safety, because I was afraid for my children. Coming across the globe, to a snowy, grey community like Minneapolis or Brooklyn Park or Saint Paul. Trying to teach my children what it means to be Liberian and yet aching for them to be successful in the United States. Hearing of new tragedies and new joys in my hometown, faithfully sending support and remittances back to my mother, my aunts, my brothers back at home. Then change comes. . . violence stops at home, children go back to school, roads are fixed, electricity comes back on, local police are trained to be fair and just. And then, the leader and representative of MY nation, comes to the city where I and many others from the diaspora have settled. My heart soars with pride and longing for home.

As I listened to the singing this afternoon, I felt the force of these voices behind me, it was almost as if I was being pushed forward onto the stage by the music and the heart cry of the diaspora.

Christians talk of being in exile. We're citizens of heaven living in a foreign land. I live 10 minutes from the hospital I was born in, but my HOME is heaven, therefore my faith compells me to see ALL exiles, foreigners, refugees, asylees and immigrants as kindred spirits.

It is (at least for the next 20 minutes) Good Friday. It's a day when we reflect on tragedy, on suffering, but also of a coming kingdom.

It's a day when we know things have started to change. The suffering continues, and we're still not at home. But we are passionate about our kingdom and we know that it will be brought to fullness. The deaf will hear, the blind will see, the lame will walk. Children will play in the streets and old men and women will sit in front of their houses watching them. The oppressed prisoners will go free. The naked will be clothed, abandonned building will be restored. Shalom is coming, wholen
ess and peace.

This Child Will Be Great - President Johnson Sirleaf - Part One

The Humphrey Institute hosted a lecture by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia at the U of MN today. The President is the first democratically elected woman head of state in Africa. She's a phenomenal leader. I confess I know very little about her story or her politics, but I was moved at the event today.

Liberia has a very complicated history tied to the history of the United States, former slaves from the United States were sent to West Africa, what would eventually become Liberia. The capital city Monrovia, is named for our former president. My head is swimming as I reflect on this afternoon so here's my first reflection.

President Johnson Sirleaf took office in 2006. There are 3.5 million people living in Liberia. Since she took office, neighborhoods that had been without electricity or hot water for 15 years have received both. Twenty Six new schools have been built. 400 new teachers have been trained. The National debt has shrunk considerable, and is projected to be done in the next year or so. This "Iron Lady" has led her country to something quite extraordinary.

When Ellen was first born her grandfather looked at her and said, "This child will be great."

Truly this is a great woman.

In my studies we talk a lot about "Speech Act Theory." Words, according to this theory not only communicate ideas, but create or do something. When a groom says, "I do," he not only communicates that he loves that woman in white at the altar, but he does something, after he says, "I do" he is married to that woman. He is no longer single he is married. Words communicate and do. In Speech Act Theory, what words do, their effect is called perlocution.

Imagine the perlocution of these words. "This child will be great." Imagine growing up in a multicultural family, in a multicultural country, having heard those words. Imagine facing political and bodily threat, but constantly being reminded of this story. "Ellen when you were born. . ."

When Yahweh talks to the prophet Jeremiah he says, "before I formed you in the womb I knew you and set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1.5)"

Simeon and Anna spoke words to Mary, Joseph and Jesus. "this child is destined to . . ." (Luke 2).

Lord, too often the words we speak into a child's life are, "No, you can't." "You won't do that." "You're just like your dad (mom, grandma, aunt)." "We don't do that in our family." " boys in our culture don't go to college." "girls don't do that." Forgive us God and let us use our words to speak a future and a hope into the lives of the young people around us. Our children, our students, our clients, our friends, our neighbors, the youth in our pew. God give us eyes, like Ellen's grandfather to see young people through your eyes and courage to speak that future to them.

Amen

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

holy week - why do you look for the living among the dead?

It may be a little premature to post this, but ...

This is the BEST Easter anthem ever - so dramatic. Be blessed:


Friday, April 3, 2009

Book Recommendation


This book is blowing my mind, so I recommend it to you, mostly so that if you read it I'll have someone else to discuss it with, besides the 80 fellow seminarians who are reading it with me. Friedman was a Rabbi, a therapist and a Family System's Theorist who described what happens in families, synagogues, churches and organizations. My words can't explain it, I haven't internalized the lessons yet, but I can feel my paradigms shifting.

How to Build Community - Know Your Neighbors

Last night I volunteered at the registration table for the Whittier Alliance Annual Meeting. The alliance is the official organizational body of our neighborhood, from Lake to Franklin, and from Lyndale to 35-W.

Here's what they do:
  • Mission: The Mission of the Whittier Alliance is to ensure safety and livability by facilitating, advocating and leading the diverse voices of the Whittier Neighborhood.
  • Vision: The Vision of the Whittier Alliance is to mobilize the human and financial resources, information, and technical assistance necessary to effectively provide leadership to organize and implement a base of operation for citizen participation.
  • Objective: The Objective of the Whittier Alliance is to empower and celebrate stability, diversity, economic development, education and concern for all the children, youth, individuals and families in the Whittier Neighborhood.
I was blessed to be there. I met the owners and managers of local businesses, AZIA, and Once Upon A Crime. I met Pastors from local churches (Simpson UMC and First Seventh Day Adventist). Executive Directors from local non-profits (Jabbok Family Services). I met neighbors who have moved into the apartment above the Fallout and are doing ministry there. I met Robert Lilligren (who really has a good sense of humor) our city council rep, and Karen Clark (who oooed and ahhhed over our neighbor Lynette's new baby) our state house of representatives rep. It was really a neat experience.

We live in an awesome neighborhood and I thank God for the gift of this community. So I leave you with this song.



PS - How great is this haircut?

PPS - If you want more Sesame Street, here's a url featuring Telly and Ben Stiller, yes that Ben Stiller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_yohVlVbEA