Category Archives: Life in general

Editorials, Life in general

Worst Places to Live

Capt_sge_lvs93_030407220952_photo00_photo_default-512x384This was a headline on page A-1 of the local Merced Sun-Star:  “New Book Ranks Merced Fourth Worst Place to Live in U.S.”  It’s not exactly the sort of thing you want to hear about your city.

Criteria for the designation includes cost of living index, air quality, job availability, health care, and climate.  It struck me, as I read the article, that the people writing the book probably were like air passengers flying over a city.  You get a cursory view.  “There’s a lake.”  “There’s a mountain range.”  “A fire destroyed that building.”

Continue reading Worst Places to Live →

Life in general

Vote

Tom Bustos sent me two versions of a header for my blog.  I have now posted the second version, called Neon. 

I’d love to know what you think.  Votes are most welcomed.  Leave a comment below about which you prefer.

Church planting, Life in general

Busy morning

IMG_2293The alarm went off at 5:30 this morning.  Considering it is Saturday, that is obscene.  Saturday is my one sleep-in day.  But I didn’t have any seconds to spare.

After showering I sat down with breakfast and my remarks for 10:00.  I ate breakfast and did some last minute editing.  It wasn’t a big deal, but I still needed to make sure everything was copasetic.  Done.

My first appointment was at the Junior Olympics.  Our Kiwanis club staffs the concession booth and provides manpower for the various events.  I couldn’t stay the whole morning because of another event.

It was the second year in a row that I had to leave early.  Since our club is small, I felt bad leaving early, but it was unavoidable.  Times like this remind me of how important even one person is.

At 10:00 I had to be at the SPCA Dog Walk.  It’s an annual fundraiser for their shelter which is a no-kill shelter.  I welcome such opportunities because they give me contact with lots of people.  I also like Roy and Karyn Johnson who run the shelter.

One of the things that I’ve enjoyed about this church plant is that I get to work at creating community contacts.  Too often churches quit doing this as they mature and retreat to private campuses.

I hated getting up at 5:30, but I loved being able to mix with so many people.

Church planting, Life in general, People

Convergence

ConvergenceA friend of mine contacted me last week.  We have not seen each other for years.  The e-mail said, “It appears that you and I have arrived at similar places.”

I’d call what he was describing a “philosophical six degrees of separation.”  Even though people may be separated by miles and time, they often find that that are linked together by lessons learned, conclusions drawn, and decisions made.  Convergence that transcends miles.

Our proximity in spite of distance is not unusual.  Others are having similar experiences.  Common to all is a basic cynicism that existing church culture cannot be changed and a belief that to reach the world with the gospel requires leaving traditional church organization and going “outside.”

He described his situation and resulting frustrations.  I must say, I found it odd to be sitting outside that context.  Even though I spent years in it, his context now seems like a distant memory to me.  Like recalling a house I used to live in as a child or a place once traveled to.

I hope he has the courage to make needed changes.  It is risky business, to be sure, but it is also the path to a more joyful life.

 

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Life in general

A Good Evening

Tower Theatre 02Last Saturday evening Playhouse Merced had its first Season Preview, and it was a lovely evening.  Attendees got to see a piece from each of the 12 shows that are going to be presented in the 2007–2008 season.

The Season Preview gave Playhouse Merced an opportunity to showcase its talent and also give the attendees a reason to be curious and delighted about the upcoming season.  I think season ticket sales will increase because of it.

One of the things that occurred to me was how much people enjoy any opportunity to come together for fun and conversation.  The lobby of the Tower Theater was lined with tables of food.  Soft drinks, beer, and wine could be ordered at the theater counter.

I asked a couple of people today if they enjoyed it.  The response was unanimous.  “We had a good time.”

Laughter and good cheer are contagious.

Leadership, Life in general, People

“I’m never to busy for your referrals.”

PeopleI really admire my friend Russ.  He is one of the kindest and most attentive people I know.

It’s not unusual to find a message on my cell phone.  “Hi Bruce, this is Russ.  I was just calling to say hello and see how you’re doing.”  It takes him about a minute to do that, but it really makes my day to get the voice mail.

Recently Russ and I were talking about what it takes to make organizations hum.  Again, he knows what people need in order to be encouraged and empowered.

I would summarize what he said in this way.  1) Take time to talk to people.  Not e-mail.  Talk.  2) Make sure that you don’t take people for granted.  Let them know that they are important to you and bring value to your life.

I think that is good advice for any group of people.

Life in general

A better use of time.

Ink pen 02I don’t get it.  Why do some people derive such fulfillment in being continually negative?

I read a rant in the paper this morning about what the city needed to be doing in regard to some land development.  I wanted to send the writer to Merced’s 10–month course, Leadership Merced. That would open his eyes.

On second thought, his eyes might be so jaundiced that he can’t see anything but the negative.

Earlier this week I pulled two rags from my post office box.  Somebody from my past decided that I needed to get their poison pen writings.  No thanks.  Into the trash they went.

People like this drive me nuts.  If they used the same amount of energy and thought for helping the poor, volunteering for good organizations, and otherwise helping their communities, they’d have a lot less time to spend making themselves and others unhappy.

Take me off your mailing list.

Life in general, People

New Header

Tower TheatreEver since I started blogging a year and a half ago, I’ve wished for a header to my blog that was more Merced specific.  My wishes got a little closer to reality today.

Tom Bustos is helping me redesign the header using Merced imagery.  Now, when you look at monoLogue, you will be reminded that this is about a venture that takes place in Merced, California.

Today I got a tour of the new Merced County courthouse.  It’s a really nice structure, and we got the tour from Judge Frank Doughtery who is the person who loved this project to completion.  That, in itself, was an honor.

The courthouse is so new that it’s not fully occupied.  Everyone walks around with big smiles.

The courthouse is modest but attractive.  It is worlds better than the portables and other “temporary” buildings that the County had to use for decades.  I thought that this was a tribute to what responsible, intelligent, and motivated people can do.  It was impressive.

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Life in general, People

Rap Lyrics

My friend Dwight Whitsett wrote the following about Rap music in his blog. He cracked me up, and I thought his talent was worth showcasing.

In the interest of being “current” and “hip,” I suppose I should have my own rap song. I’m looking for a producer who can make a fat, gray-haired man look fly to the hip-hop crowd.

As I researched rap lyrics (I only barfed twice) it occurred to me that some might not appreciate my efforts. Well in the words of rapper Jay-Z as he answered his critics (sorry I won’t quote the whole couplet in the interest of decorum) “If you don’t like my lyrics you can press fast forward.” (99 Problems). Continue reading Rap Lyrics →