Wandering with Reckless Abandon

It never fails that every time I say I am going to write on a few different things it ends up being one post…

The other day at Dunkin Donuts Joel and I had coffee with Brian McLaren. We spent a while talking about all sorts of stuff, networking, and talking about B Corporations. But what has haunted me since that day was the idea of the remainder slum.

Now, I do realize that what I am about to type will be considered to be politically incorrect, but such is life… and this is important.

Slums tend to fall into two categories… arriver slums, and remainder slums. Arriver slums are a bit of a transition point, the place where people enter into a new place, and eventually work themselves out of it. Historically speaking, these are the places where people would move into a city from the country, leaving the agricultural trades, and getting an industrial job. After working hard and establishing themselves financially they would move to another community. We have also seen this through immigration.
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I am out sick today.

I am never out sick. The last time that I took a sick day was approximately three years ago when I had the death flu from hell.

So what happened? It was a conspiracy, I tell you, and it all starts with Oprah.

You see, Oprah apparently has a friend named Gail (I say apparently because I never watch her show… which is why she is out to get me), and it would seem that this friend Gail comes on the show every now and then (or so I have heard). Gail seems to like Ledo Pizza, an addiction that goes back to her days in College Park. Well, this pizza was being discussed on one of her shows that my beautiful, charming, wonderful (I say this because she is, and she is also providing me with the Immodium that I crave) girlfriend saw and instantly became brainwashed by the Oprah. The Oprah commanded her to take me to Ledo, and so we went.

And I am still going.

Last night I was awakened by Mr. Bowel voice (one of those people who you do not, under any circumstances ignore) at 4:17 am, and 5:17 am, and 6:32 am, at which point Mr. Bowel voice and I decided it was far better just to stay up and communicate with one another for a while.

This is what I have learned…

I am exhausted. My body has been waiting for a chance to rest, and the Oprah’s conspiracy to get me played right into my body’s needs. I think that I will work tomorrow, and then rest again on Sunday… all day.

Toilet paper with lotion is all that there will be in heaven.

I hate my cell phone (except for the cool new White House Rumble game, think Mike Tyson’s Punch Out with presidential candidates, makes bathroom time much more fun)

T’s landlord REALLY needs to fix these pipes… and soon.

Soup always tastes better when you are sick.

I do a really poor job of calling in sick to work. I always feel guilty, even when I can not leave the bathroom for more than 10 minutes.

We have a nice couch.

Joel went and posted about our time with Brian McLaren at Dunkin Donuts yesterday… I hope to post something about it tomorrow, or Sunday (I have a couple of other takeaways, but he is right about Brian’s warmth)…

I am also hoping to write a little bit about my political thoughts as soon as I can make them sound a little less cynical.

Until then, February 25th is coming… You should get me something nice for my birthday.

Come For Me
Charlie Hall

Jesus come take me away,
I long to see Your face
This world is broken yet beautifully made,
Jesus come take me away.

Jesus I’ll patiently wait,
until like a vapor I’ll fade
Help me fulfill all your dreams for these days,
and Jesus I’ll patiently wait.

You’ll come again with a shout,
like a thief in the night you’ll come riding on clouds
and Finally the voice I have followed for life
has a glorious face that is lit up with light
And you’ll come for me, no more pain – peace,
No more fear – release
just lost and consumed with my glorious King.

Jesus today I am tired,
and I need your music to come and inspire
and I give myself to be refined in this fire,
but Jesus today I’m so tired.

You’ll come again with a shout,
like a thief in the night you’ll come riding on clouds
and Finally the voice I have followed for life
has a glorious face that is lit up with light
And you’ll come for me, no more pain- peace,
No more fear – release
just lost and consumed with my glorious King,
and you’ll come for me.
come for me.

Tomorrow morning, I shall rest… and maybe I will share a little bit about my breakfast with Brian McLaren.

Just a heads up, Nooma just released its’ newest video on Facebook for another 24 hours or so… check it out:

Click here…

A little late, but it sums up my thoughts better than anything…

Thanks to LOL Jocks.

That’s right, after a few road bumps along the way, The Garden’s Website is now up and running. Check it out.

I am a slacker, I admit it. I have neglected my blog for what appears to be almost a month.

For now, a quick update on what has been going on:

T has moved from Long Island to Baltimore, which is a good thing an amazing thing (this would be a good time for me to welcome all the blog stalkers from the Boston area, and apologize for not blogging regularly of late and keeping you all updated on her life. I promise to be better about that).

In the process of setting up her apartment we learned that she now has a very noisy steam heating system that is in the process of becoming less noisy. During the process of de-noisification we have switched homes… she is living at my house, and I am living at her apartment, which did not have internet until just recently (see! there was a good reason for me to not be blogging!). The noise is getting progressively better, and it no longer sounds like someone is banging against the pipes with a ball-peen hammer. We are also waiting for a couple of other things to be done on the apartment, and she should be down here soonly.

A few weeks back Joel announced to his church that we are going to be doing this crazy church planting thing. This past Sunday night we were at his church again to talk a little more in depth about what it is that we are looking to do. He is also just about official with the SBC, so we are well on the way to making this thing happen.

A couple weeks ago we also met with our first potential partner church. While they decided that they wanted to partner with a more established church plant, it was still a good experience for us, and signifies the beginning of this whole fund raising process ($250.12 down, $599,749.88 to go).

The Garden Community now has a website. Check it out here. There is not much up yet, but that shall change in due time.

Things have also been a little crazy at work of late. Whether it is the economy, the weather, or what, the car buying market has been a little slow. If you have ever wanted to buy a car, let me know (the rent has gotta get paid, you know).

I think that is all for now… now that we have internet hooked up down here, I will be able to start posting on a regular basis again.