Back to Blogging

I wonder how many times this is a topic of a blog. Namely. I’m back! Blogging seems to be kind of difficult to keep up with, but I think if I build it into my daily routine to be a little bit easier. One of the things, is it seems like not many people read posts. But things like the Lutheran carnival really help out I think. Also it’s kind of a catch 22: there has to be some consistency to updating the blog before people commit to reading it. Also, there has to be some value added. So that’s the real goal is to not just fill the blog with ramblings, but to do some value added content.

Driving -v- Riding

I read, with interest, the Vatican’s ten commandments for drivers. I suppose that they all mostly come under the 5th and 10th commandments of the originals as handed down by Moses.

 But the discussion of these commandments started a thought process begun a few few weeks ago in Tokyo. In Tokyo, all of the travelling that I do is via mass transit. During my latest visit I ruminated on the difference between mass transit and personal transportation.

The travel experience, for me, is significantly different in mass transit than it is in my personal vehicle. In many ways I prefer mass transit over driving myself. If I lived in an area with a good transportation infrastructure, I would willingly give up some convenience that personal transport offers in exchange for the benefits of mass transit. What are the benefits?

The biggest benefit is the social factor. In public transportation we’re in it together. When we drive in our separate cars, everyone else is a competitor. (At least it often seems that way!) In public transportation, the passengers are peers with no competing interests (outside of a few lines while waiting for the next train/bus, whatever.)

Adding to the social factor, it is possible, even likely, to communicate verbally with fellow passengers. In cars, the communication is limited to the horn and hand gestures.

In cars there is a sense of chaos–everyone is going their separate way. On the train, there is a sense of common destination–even if that destination is merely a waypoint on a greater journey.

In short, I find public transportation more human. I wish we were less beholden to automobiles!

Public transportation is like the front porch of yesteryear–it encourages social interconnectedness. Even if such interconnectedness is really superficial, it’s still magnitudes better than what we experience in our cars!

Sailing!

I’m really blessed to have finally hooked up with our yacht club! (The biggest yacht may only be 16 feet long but I’m looking forward to hoisting some canvas!)

One visit and I realized what I’ve been missing here in Japan–a guy place. In Tucson I had the race track and the r/c flying field, in Oklahoma City I had the ham radio club, in Rockport I had the fire department. I had nothing to really do with my hands here (excepting mowing the yard.)

Now I have something I can work on (sailboats require a lot of work!) And the benefit will be getting out on the water with good friends.

That’s one of the things about ministry, it’s very easy to let it become a white collar job, but that’s not the example given by Jesus!

Front Page News!

The local Stars and Stripes reporter did a story covering a radio show I and a Chaplain Assistant host on the local AFN radio station. We made the front page of the Japan edition! I was quite surprised to unfold the Sunday paper and find myself staring at myself!

The story was included in the Pacific edition. It’s on page 31 of the 20 May 2007 Pacific Edition. You can look at it through www.estripes.osd.mil

This radio show has been a lot of fun and an excellent community outreach!

Greater than Faith

I heard a great sermon today! I think the title was "Greater than Faith". The point was, God’s response is always greater than our faith. How true! Our doubt doesn’t modulate God’s response to us. Rather our faith is built from God’s love — we love because He loved us first!

I don’t think the preacher mentioned it, but I recalled Jesus teaching that faith the size of a mustard seed can do mighty things!

Home Alone!

Alicia went to a spiritual retreat this weekend. Thankfully, I and the boys seemed to have survived! (She’ll be home soon.) This was an excellent follow-up to mother’s day! We all appreciate mom that much more and will be glad to have her home!

It didn’t help that it has rained heavily most of the time trapping us indoors. Our biggest challenge now is getting the house back in shape!

Now for a big picture

The small file worked great! This is so much better than blogger!

Here’s a bigger pic:

Now, here’s a link from Smugmug:

Testing

I couldn’t get blogger to let Contribut put in photos. Let’s see how it works here!

This is a super lo-res file so file size shouldn’t be a limitation!

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

Blog Entry dated 5/19/2007 11:37 AM

This is a test using Adobe Contribute CS3. I’m wanting to see how to upload a picture.

It would’nt let me upload a local pic. So now here’s an attempt from my SmugMug site.

This is a picture of cherry blossoms in Hirosaki, Japan.