KAMPER KAMP

Yes, I know the title looks like it's spelled wrong, but sometimes you just don't mess with tradition. Long before I came to TFB, that's how we spelled the official name of the church's annual all-church campout. This year, we're going to Indian Hills!. For the first time, I'm staying in a cabin (though I'm not sure what one is like at this camp--never been here before) rather than on the ground in a tent. Frankly I and my tired forty-something bones are quite happy with this situation. Anyhow, it ought to be fun. It should also be hot. The fun is good. The hot is not--I don't like it hot. I don't really like summer, except for getting off early on Fridays and being paid for a full day. (Have I mentioned I love BIOLA?) This is the first short Friday. I'm going for English tea, then spending the afternoon in San Juan Capistrano, before heading down to the camp tonight. Life is hard...

L.A. County hunger problem more widespread than thought, study says

We're working through the meaning of holy worldliness in the College Group at TFB--what it means to be in the world, to love the world and not love the world at the same time. Anyhow, this past Sunday for Sunday school, we walked through our neighborhood reading scripture, reminding ourselves that God expects us to love the world (blogged about that on my blog and the yam blog).

Anyhow, yesterday came across this article about hunger in LA Country in the Daily Breeze. The statistics are staggering:

775,000 adults countywide
44,000 adults in the Torrance-Harbor area
29,000 adults in the Torrance area

That's 29,000 in the city where TFB is located. Somehow, I don't think our monthly meal for the hungry and our small food pantry is sufficient. But that's not the worst of it. I had no idea it was this bad. Then I ask myself, if it's this bad in Torrance (a fairly wealthy city), what's it like in Hawthorne (not a fairly wealthy city). Then I realize that I have such a long way to go between this realization and actually doing something. Packing CARE boxes at the LA Regional Foodbank is a start, but it's not enough.

So, now I sit here convicted, with no clue of the next step.

FARSCAPE IS BACK!

It's a miniseries, but hey, like Rich said, maybe they'll tie up some loose ends. Farscape: News & Updates. Looks like it's set for fall 2004

LA COUNTY WIMPS OUT ON SEAL

Facing Suit, County to Remove Seal's Cross

Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday ended an emotional debate over the symbolism of the tiny gold cross on the county seal by deciding to remove it rather than defend it against a threatened ACLU lawsuit.

Wimps. Notice, they still haven't removed the extremely large pagan goddess. Figures.

Thanks to Brad for the update.

READING IS ON A ROLL...

Gosh, ya gotta love summer. I've already updated What I'm Reading. Guess I'm on a roll. New addition:

"TRAVELING MERCIES: some thoughts on faith
by Anne Lamott
pub. Anchor Books, (C) 1999, 275 pages

Comments: I first heard Anne Lamott at EC03. She was awesome (despite some apparent editing). Here's how she starts (from the Overture, page 3): 'My coming to faith did not start with a leap, but rather a series of staggers from wht seemed like one safe place to another...'"

PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN CHALLENGED

Judge: Bush Abortion Ban Unconstitutional

"U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton's ruling came in one of three lawsuits challenging the legislation President Bush signed last year.

She agreed with abortion rights activists that a woman's right to choose is paramount, and that is therefore 'irrelevant' whether a fetus suffers pain, as abortion foes contend."

Call me a narrow minded, right wing bigot if you wish, but I do not--and will never--understand this thinking. We're talking about a woman's inconvenience (yes, I understand the inconvenience may be extraordinarily difficult, but nonetheless) versus the life of a child. This thinking is simply evil, taking the entitlement mentality to its logical end--I deserve to get what I want and I don't really care about you. ERG!!!

How should we act in this foreign country?

This morning the college group took a walk through our church neighborhood and read through some passages scriptures about influencing our culture (you can see the list at the YAM page). One of the passages [Jeremiah 29 (esp, vv. 4-7)] hit me.

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 'Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 'Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.'

In this passage, God--through Jeremiah--commands the Jewish exiles to live life in the land of their exile and to work to improve the welfare of those who live in that land. This morning I asked the students, Are WE exiles? If so, how should we act in this foreign country? An old song comes to mind, this world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through... The only problem with that song is that we're not just passing through. We live here. Because we live here, God commands us to REALLY live here. So, what does holiness look like when it's not in church? The answer to that question is as simple as that famous Sunday School answer: "Jesus". But it is also as complex as each individual believer. We all have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God first, but we are also citizens of the country in which we live--whatever country that may be. We are citizens of our town and of our neighborhood. So, where I am, what does holiness look like when I'm not in church? What does holiness look like when you're not in church? Hmmmmm