Island Retreat

For the next 12 days my family and I are "getting away". Thanks to some friends from Chicago, we are staying at a condo on an island surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico (Don Pedro Island to be exact).

On the island we pack our days full of sun, relaxation (running, reading, playing), dolphin watching, lizard catching, and body surfing (rough, I know). The best part of this trip is that we completely "unplug"

...no cell phones, no internet, no distractions...

We have made this our family vacation for the last 3 years and have some of our best family memories (our kids love hanging out with Captain Red Beard). This island get-away is an opportunity for us to refresh ourselves, re-calibrate, and rest in what is most important: each other.

How do you refresh yourself? What do you do to keep your family connected in the midst of a busy life?

Green Day Tour

On July 13th Misty and I will be rock'n out with the punk-trio Green Day as they make their stop in Chicago for their 21st Century Breakdown US Tour. The last time we saw them was on their Warning tour at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Although the Aragon is a more intimate setting than the United Center I'm still just as excited (seriously, I'm like a 10-year-old girl with a new "Teen Beat" magazine).

What are some of your most memorable concerts?

New Green Day Release

Green Day is one of those bands that I could listen to over and over and over again. I was a senior in high school when their single Longview hit the radio...then it was Basketcase. I ran out to pick up their 3rd album (1st major release) "Dookie" and soon discovered a whole new love: Punk Rock.

Green Day was an entry point for me into the world of punk rock. I picked up Green Day's other two albums and then went on a punk rock bender and soon became hooked on bands like: the Sex Pistols, NOFX, the Clash, the Queers, TILT, Screeching Weasel, the Groovie Ghoulies, the Offspring, the Ramones, Rancid, and the Gadjets.

I've seen Green Day numerous times and have all of their albums (American Idiot is a must for any record collection). So, needless to say I am looking forward to Friday, May 15th, when Green Day's newest albums hits the stores: "21st Century Breakdown".

Any other Green Day fans? What are your favorite Punk Rock tunes?

Relating Beyond Our Differences

In her 1984 work, Sister Outsider, author and poet Audre Lorde writes:

...we have all been programmed to respond to the human differences between us with fear and loathing and to handle that difference in one of three ways: ignore it, and if that is not possible, copy it if we think it is dominant, or destroy it if we think it is subordinate. But we have no patterns for relating across our human differences as equals. As a result, those differences have been misnamed and misused in the service of separation and confusion.

How has the Church responded to human/cultural differences in these three ways (ignore, copy, destroy)? How might the Church develop new patterns by which relationships between different people groups can be fostered?

Cigarettes and Corporate Responsibility

I recently read a story in this month's Business Week featuring the CEO of Philip Morris International (PMI) Louis Camilleri. Camilleri is working quickly to increase profits abroad before international restrictions and anti-smoking movements gain footing (read the full story on PMI's potential overseas market/profit).

The World Health Organization shows that 5.4 million people will die from smoking this year. Even Camilleri admits that cigarettes are "a very harmful product" and that "smoking causes disease".

Camilleri says that PMI's objective is not to create new smokers, but to win over those who currently smoke (although I don't think PMI would object to an increase in smokers if it helped their bottom line). Camilleri admittedly defends PMI's position, claiming to have taken the "higher ground" when it comes to advertising abroad. PMI heavily promotes their product abroad at concerts, and sporting events, while using young/attractive people to promote the "cool" factor. Through all of this Camilleri says they are playing well within the rules...and, they are.

The question needs to shift from: "Are the tobacco companies playing within the legal framework?" To: "Are the tobacco companies operating in an ethical manner?"

It may be legal to promote smoking using attractive young people at an Alicia Keys concert, but is it ethical?

Where does corporate responsibility end and individual responsibility begin? While countries are known for the goods they export and contribute to the world market, what kind of damage is done as the United States becomes known as one of the chief exporters of cigarettes? Should the government play a role in legislating (or outlawing) goods that can only cause harm to the people who use them (as well as those who choose not to use)?

Toys "R" Us and Church Relevance

Just last week Toys "R" Us announced that they would be adding a new element to their stores by introducing "R" Market in 260 of the company's 585 stories. "R Market" brings in an assortment of household goods and consumables (snacks, mac 'n cheese, paper towels, windex, etc.).

Toys "R" Us execs see this as a necessary move to keep business afloat and profitable in an economy where "want items" (like toys) are scarcely being purchased. Others think that the toy company giant should stick to what they do best...selling toys (for more on this story see the recent article in TIME).

Regardless of what you think Toys "R" Us should do, Geoffery and his associates are feeling the economic pain and are looking for ways to stay relevant, causing them to venture out in areas that have nothing to do with toys.

Churches have done this too. Churches and worship services have curtailed their structure, style, even their theology to stay more accessible and marketable in an ever increasing "de-churched economy". While I am all for innovation and creativity when it comes to the people of God (it is important that we find ways to contextualize the Gospel) is there a point at which the pursuit of "relevance" leads us away from the pursuit of God?

In what ways have churches/worship services departed from their main focus in an effort to stay "competitive" in our world?

Is there a difference between ingenuity/creativity that honors God and gimmicks?

Has the pursuit of "relevance been helpful or harmful to the Church?

New Tat

I went up to the Morg on Tuesday afternoon to have Jason put some fresh ink on my forearm. I drew up a "Day of the Dead" skull to remind me that no matter how dark things may get, life can still find a way.

My boys got inked as well, but theirs is with henna and will wash off in two weeks. When my boys asked me why they couldn't get a real one now, I simply said: "If you still think a Sponge Bob tattoo is the coolest when you turn 21, then be my guest."