midwest love: ann arbor, mi

Ann Arbor. It is most notable for being the home of the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor sits in the southeast corner of the state of Michigan. The town is about an hour west of Detroit and the Canadian border. It sits as an individual entity of the city of Detroit and not a surrounding suburb.

The town has a rich history that goes back to 1824. Ann Arbor is rooted in its University and hospital where it employs over 30,000 people. The hospital is continually rated as one of the top hospitals in the nation. Borders bookstore was also founded in Ann Arbor in 1969. What is so special about Ann Arbor is its rich diversity of ideas and thoughts that thrive out of its university and community. It makes for a unique college town with an unparalleled downtown with splotches of shops and restaurants. Some notable places are: Zingerman’s Delicatessen (one of the best and well known sandwiches shops in the US), Blimpie Burger (one of the best burgers I have ever had), Washtenaw Dairy (the best ice cream I have ever had), the People’s Co-op, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, the Ann Arbor Art Fair (which draws people from all over the country), and it’s abundance in the arts (art, theater, ballet, orchestra, and many campus museums).

What draws me to Ann Arbor is its passion to be different and at the forefront of ideas and ways of life. These ideas can be seen in the daily life of the city in its creativity of libraries, its alternative educational opportunities, and its history of being more than an average city.

taliesin: enough said

So, I went up to Wisconsin this weekend. I am really starting to begin to like Wisconsin. It’s a much more interesting place then Illinois. But, I do love Chicago. The trip was great. I went up to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin. Taliesin was the summer home of Frank Lloyd Wright. The home was originally built in 1911. The house is on 600 acres along with the Hillside School (Now Taliesin: Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture), Romeo and Juliet windmill, Tan-Y-Deri home, Midway Farm, Taliesin, and Unity Chapel which is a public Unitarian chapel still used today. The history of the place is as amazing as the architecture.

Taliesin

View from Taliesin

Hillside School

Romeo & Juliet

Tan-Y-Deri

Midway Farm

Unity Chapel

The Spring Green area is great as I also went to Cedar Grove Cheese in Plain, Wisconsin. There they make their own cheese. It was a lame tour (a fifteen minute talk on how the cheese is made there) of the factory, but it was neat to see a huge process of cheese making. The cheese itself was way worth it, too. Cedar Grove also does something unique by having what they call a Living Machine that purifies and cleans the cheese production wash water from the factory and discharges it back into the water system. It was very cool to see a company do this.





Living Machine

After the cheese - what else but wine. I traveled up to Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac. The winery just got a brand new expansion and it is made to look like you have traveled to Italy and are at an Italian villa. The winery has a rich history going back to 1858. The tour was great too. The tour was about an hour with a full wine tasting after. It also only cost $3.50. It was probably the best winery experience I have had.







During the whole trip I stayed at Governor Dodge State Park in Dodgeville. A great Wisconsin State Park with lots of hiking trails, lakes, wildlife, and even a waterfall. Each morning I woke up to the singing of birds including robins, orioles, warblers, hummingbirds1, bluebirds, large bumble bees, and many others. The hiking was good and the waterfall was a hidden gem.



Further readings on Frank Lloyd Wright:
Death in a Prairie House
Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography
Loving Frank

1: hummingbirds don’t sing but were there

gas, gas, gas

I’ve kinda gone on rants about introverts not being anti-social, about the Midwest not being a wasteland and today I will be on another one about none other than: gasoline. Tomorrow should be a happier note as I blog about my Memorial Day camping trip that, yes, I had to use gas to get to. Ironically enough, the extra money I had to spend on gas this past weekend to go to Wisconsin can be made up simply by not going to a couple of opening day movies such as Indian Jones and instead going to see the movies later in the theatre or waiting to see them on DVD.
I can’t go through a day now without hearing someone on the news, at work, or elsewhere talk about the outrageously high cost of gasoline. It is high! I paid $4.11.9 today for gas. In a world of globalization, in a capitalist country that is run on the idea of supply and demand, with an oil-tycoon President, Halliburton gun-shooting vice president, and the ideal that anyone can do whatever they want because we are a country of freedom are we at all surprised that gas is this low?

Trains ruled this country in the later half of the ninetieth century. They would probably be everywhere if the car was never invented and if Henry Ford had never decided to make the car affordable for everyone. The car became the way of travel, the way to the grocery store, to church, to work. It became a lifestyle. Americans became dependent on the car to go anywhere. Roads were paved, freeways dissected America and split cities, and gas stations were to be open 24/7. We’re dependent on the automobile. As far as supply and demand goes, the sky’s the limit because in a society that has to have it we will pay anything to have it.

There is no denying it – we are a NASCAR lovin’, Hummer gas-guzzling country. As a country we have said that maybe we don’t like the gas prices but we still love the fast cars, the big cars, and the big engines.

Over the past few years there are always rumors and hype about “don’t buy gas” days, or don’t buy gas from certain companies, and the latest: driving slower1. I have my doubts about all these ways of stopping gas companies. None of these ideas have addressed the issue of oil companies and the price of oil which continues to rise. None of these ideas have addressed laws or the globalization of oil around the world. These ideas address individuals in an un-organized nation.

I do think the oil dependency can be lightened. Although it can’t be done with bombs and broken promises and it can’t be done by bad business or greed. It has to come with peace and good socially responsible businesses. It comes with an idea to make fuel-efficient cars and ways of transportation that are not dependent on gasoline. These ideas are already being explored by companies that recognize the urgency for fuel-efficiency. There are now even initiatives to make a car that has 100 mpg. These are only ideas in the automotive industry.

I am sure there are many more ideas about transportation, alternative lifestyles, government policy, and globalization of gasoline out there, but I just do not know them. What I do know is that gasoline is not the end-all-be-all of life. As a society that depends on gasoline so much maybe it is a good thing that we are finding alternatives and ways of life that are better for everyone in the world.

smc: 5/25/08

Cartoon by Jeff Parker of Florida Today

No more walls.

added pictures

No new blog today. I have however added two pictures to the "April Round-up". Check them out. I will be doing this more as I try to make this blog more personable and learn how to add more pictures.

new "Midwest Love" series

I live in Chicago. Chicago is a place that draws people from all over the U.S. and world because of its universities, job market and opportunities. Because of the huge draw for people to come, I have gotten to know people from all over the U.S. The amjority of them complain about the weather, the lack of mountains, the lack of an ocean, and on, and on, and on.

Can you tell I get irritated by it? In response, I am going to start a “Midwest love” series devoted to places, ideas, cultures, foods, history, and people of the Midwest1. It will also only involve places I have been, ideas I have heard, cultures I have seen, history I have learned, and people I have known (or read about in history).

Since I grew up in Michigan, don’t be surprised if much of it may be about Michigan. There will also be a lot on Chicago and Illinois now that I live in Chicago. However, I have also been to many other Midwestern states so I will include them in from time to time. I however have never been to Minnesota so I will not be writing about that state. So, I hope you get inspired by the Midwest and its history and culture and its beauty.

the trouble with conversation: the life of an introvert

Random person in discussion: “Justin’s shy.” [aka: he doesn’t like to talk]
Me in thought: “No, actually I enjoy talking a lot, but when you make blind statements like that why should I bother.”

Little known facts about me: I’m shy, bashful, and timid. At least that is what is written across my forehead or at least must be because people can’t seem to get over the fact that I am those three things. The phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover is often used in libraries and when meeting someone for the first time. Unfortunately in both cases, books and people are often judged by their covers. A person may never read a book that is perfect for them because they do not like the cover and a person may never be friends with someone because of the first impression they had of someone. I suppose that is why another famous phrase is “always make a good first impression.”

So I am shy and an introvert. That’s right, they are not the same thing. Good for you if you knew that. If not, I hope you learned something today. Someone who is shy is someone who is bashful or timid. The person may lack self-assurance and/or is easily embarrassed. An introvert is someone who draws their energy when they are alone (or in small groups) contrary to an extrovert who draws their energy from interacting with large groups of people.

The trouble with conversation sometimes has nothing to do with the introvert, but the person talking to the introvert. I often hear extroverts boast about their skills of talking with people, and yet stumble when trying to talk to introverts. Once again, an introvert is not someone who doesn’t like to talk; they just draw their energy from being alone. A great example is myself. I love to talk and converse with people, but often find that people have trouble having a conversation with me. Why? Well, me being timid may have something to do with that. But, that doesn’t stop many people from having normal conversations with me. So, that can’t be completely it. I have two thoughts. 1) The person gives up and moves on. They discover that they cannot talk to this person with ease and move on to someone more familiar. 2) The person has conversation ADD. It’s a “technical” term for when someone cannot keep a conversation on one topic or with one person, but has to continually be moving from one subject to another or to another person without any real intent to a conversation.

Often introverts are left in the dust in conversations, yet are just as excited as extroverts to talk with others. Just because I am shy and bashful does not mean I do not enjoy to converse. Much like extroverts I even gain energy from it.

__________________
disclosure: this post may make no sense.

in the search to be green.

In the U.S. where technology has put information at people’s fingertips and caring for creation has become cool, it is hard not to make an effort at caring for the earth in some way. Even a year ago it was hard to find companies that were environmentally conscious, food products that were viably healthy and/or locally grown at local grocery stores, and practical easy ways to care for the earth. Now finding ways to care for creation is becoming easier, but still is hard as the world is eclipsed by capitalism and globalization. In the search to be green it can be hard not to leave a footprint.

Yesterday, in the search to be green I came across a “green” search engine by Google. It’s called GreenMaven. Google has created custom searching, designed to cater to peoples’ needs. Some examples are economics, Macs, and anything that has to deal with being green. On the main page are top news stories from the day that deal with all things green. It also has a list of the latest green websites. Along the side and bottom are sponsors and approved businesses such as OxFam, Whole Foods, and Equal Exchange. And of course at the top of the page is a place to search for all things green. It’s a neat website that offers a practical way to search for ‘green’ things. In a world that is trying to be conscientious about being more caring about the earth it is a great way to learn and find ways to do that.

Other green websites:
Lets Go Green: An easy way to find more ecologically products for your everyday life.
Lighter Footstep: A website dedicated to sustainable living

cuban at the corner of Irving Park & Ravenswood

So, I finally went out for Cuban on Saturday. I’ve been craving it ever since I went to Florida and had some Cuban food for the first time there. It wasn’t the same here, but it was still good. I went to a hole-in-the-wall place in Tampa. Here in Chicago all the hole-in-the-wall places seemed to be closed down so I had to go to a trendy Cuban restaurant.

I ended up going to Café 28. Café 28 is at the corner of Irving Park and Ravenswood, not too far to where I go to church. The prices were typical Chicago prices, and the food had good proportions and tasted great. The restaurant’s ambiance was much like a little bistro and even had a nice patio. I got the sampler and the Cuban sandwich. The sampler had empanadas, croquetas, and mariquitas. It was a classy little starter. I got the starter because I wanted to try the croquetas which I enjoyed in Florida. The sampler came with three of everything. I was hoping for some fried plantains, but they did not have them on the menu. The Cuban sandwich was great as well. And for anyone that hasn’t had a chance to try Cuban food before I would recommend starting with that. I might try to find a little less classy place next time, but for anyone else I am sure this is an excellent place to eat.

For a review of Cafe 28 go to: Chicago Traveler

smc: 5/18/08

I love Sunday morning cartoons. So, I am going to try and put up a cartoon each Sunday that I have found from the week and post it. They will be a mix of funny and political cartoons. The first cartoon is:




This cartoon is probably not liked much. However, I think it is a good description of how racism continues today and how easily it is overlooked.

trying to keep up: reflections on Luke 9:46-48

I’m not sure how your Sunday school experience was or even if you had one. But, much of mine was discussing how naive Jesus’ disciples were and how much they screwed up. In Luke 9: 46-48 the disciples are having an argument over who is the greatest among them. Jesus goes up to the disciples in response to their discussion and says, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."

It’s an interesting concept that non-Christians and Christians alike are not good at. People are constantly trying to “keep up with the Joneses”. In the workplace, with our friends, and at church: people seem to want to be the greatest. It happens in conversations and discussions. It happens at the mall each day and walking down Michigan Avenue. In an era of blue jeans and sweat pants why do people have to dress up to go to the mall?

I’m not pointing fingers here. No one wants to be the person with the 10 inch television, the mom that drives the 1988 minivan to their kid’s soccer game, or the guy that can’t afford to go to a baseball game with his buddies. There even seems to be a trend to be the most ‘humble’. Who can be the most green, the most fuel-efficient, or the person who is living the most simply?

And what about ego? In a world with endless technology and news: people are trying to be the worldliest, most informed, and smartest people around.

I’m not saying to not have materials, to not care about the earth, or to be dumb. But, what is dictating our thoughts or our will to do the things we do? Is it to have more, be better, or just because you can? Is it to say I have done this, seen this, and have this? Are we doing it out of love, compassion, or mercy? In an argument of who is the greatest are we welcoming the little child that Jesus has called us to?

Recommended books:
Green With Envy by Shira Boss
Affluenza by de Graaf, Wann, Naylor, and Robin,
Colossians Remixed by Walsh and Keesmaat
Rich Christians in the Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider
Unfettered Hope by Marva Dawn

saline to chicago: a rich experence

Life’s a little bit different living in Chicago compared to my home town of Saline, MI. Although the towns were founded about the same time, their histories are completely different. Chicago became a great port city for the United States while Saline stayed a small agricultural town in Michigan. The two towns’ size, population, and population make-up are polar opposites. The side-by-side comparison below shows just how different the two towns are. Living in such a different place has taught me a lot about myself and the world. I have learned to see the blessings of my past and see the riches of my present. Both cities have their positives and their negatives. Living in such a different place for so long I have come to love the diversity, immensity, and hope that is Chicago.

an unfriendly place in government

If you haven’t been up to date with politics lately, Clinton just destroyed Obama yesterday in the West Virginia primary. Obama has been consistently been gaining more momentum as each day goes by. Obama has also been winning over more and more super delegates. Yet, yesterday Clinton received 66% of the votes in West Virginia. Obama seems to not be making a good impression with the blue-collar working class. In the NY Times it quotes Obama’s advisors as saying that West Virginia was an ‘unfriendly place’. By unfriendly they meant 95% white. So possibly, Obama is not having a good impression with the white blue-collar working class.
Race has always been a factor in U.S. politics. It didn’t begin or end during the civil war era, it didn’t end in the civil rights era, but continues to play a role in how the government sets policies and how people vote today. On the verge of a struggling economy people are competing for a struggling job market. The economy and race continue to play a role in this year’s election.
With Obama losing yesterday, but continuing to gain super delegates, the race seems to be moving on to next week. The next states on the primary block are Kentucky and Oregon on May 20.

case of the mondays

On this unmotivated Monday morning I thought to myself “what would I like to do in my lifetime?” As I thought more, I realized maybe I should start smaller and think about what I would like to do during this year (2008), this month (May), and this day (May 12). Sometimes it is good when setting goals to have one of the first goals be something that is easy to accomplish and then to move forward with harder goals. So, I will start with my goal for the day: to complete a blog post. Check.

So, what about the rest of the day:
1.) Drink a healthy amount of water
2.) Go for a run
3.) See God at my job
4.) See God in others

How about this week:
1.) Write a blog about something in the news
2.) Read a 100 pages in the book I am reading^1
3.) Go to the Cuban restaurant I have been craving
4.) Scan my family’s old photos onto my computer^2
5.) Call my brother

And for the month:
1.) Read more
a. Finish my book: Washington’s Crossing
b. Read: The Practice of the Presence of God (I am still waiting for this book to arrive in the mail.)
2.) Eat less junk food
3.) Be more fully present with God
a. Seeing God in the places I don’t normally
b. Seeing God in my emotions
c. Seeing the bigger picture while I look at the smaller picture
4.) Go out for a meal with a friend I don’t usually eat with

So, why am I telling my goals for the month on a public blog? It’s really not that interesting, is it? It’s not. But now it keeps me accountable to try and complete these goals. Plus, it may actually motivate someone else to make some goals and complete them as well.

^1 I only read about 50 pages

^2 Did not scan any pictures

the black and white of books

If you know anything about me, you know that I would fight to the death to bring justice to the racism in the U.S. As a white young male I walk in the steps of racism everyday. As a white male it is easy not to think about racism in the United States, so easy that I can compare not thinking about racism to not thinking about having to breathe. Everything is catered to the white world so I don’t have to see, hear, smell, touch, taste, or think about racism.

There is no easier way to learn about racism then being friends with someone of another ethnicity. (I’m not saying to search someone out for that mere purpose.) In addition to friendships, reading is also important to know history, systems, and other opinions on the subject. Below I have created a list of the books I have read or that have been recommended to me and what they are about. I own most of these books. If you would like to borrow one please let me know or go to your local library and check it out. Some of these books may be hard to find at a library or general bookstore.

African Americans A Consice History vol 2 by Hine, Hine, and Harrold
Easy to read topical history of African Americans since 1865

Alienable Rights by Adams and Sanders
A great book on the politics, laws, presidents, and the policies of racism in the United States.

Being White by Paula Harris and Doug Schaupp
Sometimes understanding your own culture helps you understand other cultures. Being White helps to uncover what is white identity.

Better Together by Robert Putom & Lewis Feldstein
Putom is also the author of the book Bowling Alone. Better Together, a sequel to Bowling Alone seeks out building communities together utilizing everyone and their gifts.

Breaking Down Walls by Washington and Kehrein
A black and white duo write this book. The book was written in 1994 in the midst of huge popularity in racial reconciliation and Christianity.

Canaan Land by Albert Raboteau
Canaan Land gives a brief religious history of African Americans. It is a great book and has an excellent chapter on the syncretism of African and European religions.

The Debt by Randall Robinson
Robinson is one of the best authors I have read. He touches on topics such as restoration and reparation.

Enter the River by Jody Miller Shearer
I haven’t read this book yet, but it talks about the definitions of prejudice, racism, and the issue of white privilege.

A Fire in the Bones by Albert Raboteau
Interesting religious history of African Americans.

Journey to the Center of the City by Randy White
Living as a Christian in the city.

Dismantling Racism: The Continuing Challenge to White America by Joseph Barndt
A challenge to all white Americans and to seek out racial justice.

Divided by Faith by Michael Emerson and Christian Smith
The best book out there that talks about racism and Christianity, hands down. A must read whether you are a Christian or not.

Following Jesus Without Dishonoring Your Parents by Yep, Cha, Riesen, Jao, and Tokunaga
A great beginners’ books for understanding Asian Americans.

More Than Equals by Spencer Perkins and Chris Rice
The best book out there that demonstrates a real life story for a black and white man seeking racial reconciliation.

My First White Friend by Patricia Raybon
An account of Patricia’s experience of racism growing up. Very powerful.

Philosophy of Science and Race1 by Naomi Zack
An academic book on the creation and myth of race. No better book to understand the science and history of race.

Race Matters by Cornel West
A must read from a brilliant writer.

Race, Religion, and the Continuing American Dilemma by C. Eric Lincoln
Lincoln addresses a wide variety of issues and concerns around race in American.

Real Hope in Chicago by Wayne Gordon with Randall Frame
The story of Wayne Gordon and his family as they began a church and changed the neighborhood of Lawndale in Chicago.

Reconciliation Blues by Edward Gilbreath
Ed speaks truth into the hardships as a black man trying to live his life in the midst of white Christianity.

The Souls of Black People2 by W.E.B. Du Bois
A great foundational book.

The Truly Disadvantaged by William Julius Wilson
Wilson gets at the heart of the issues of the inner city. There is no better way to look at understanding the problems of the inner city and underclass.

United by Faith by Curtiss Paul DeYoung and Michael Emerson
An uplifting sequel to Divided by Faith.

The Urban Christian by Ray Bakke with Jim Hart
Ray Bakke uses his own experiences to explain effective ministry in the urban city.

Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum
The quintessential book on the basics of racism and understanding the bonds of race and racial identity of minorities.

[1] This book is currently being borrowed by someone.
[2] I don’t own this book.

dude, where’s my democrat?

After the recent primary with Indiana and North Carolina I thought that either Obama or Clinton would have dropped out of the race for Democratic nominee. Neither did. Obama gained a little as Clinton continues to lose super delegates. She is determined to win. I am sure she is putting up a fight that no one thought she could handle. As each day goes by her chances of winning become slimmer and slimmer. Who is to blame her though? She has won states like California and New York. In the midst of Clinton trying to come back and win, and Obama trying to squeak by with a win, both of them might be losing. A year ago I would have thought that the next president would be a democrat for sure, especially as the dislike for President Bush grew. Now, John McCain is gaining momentum as the clear Republican candidate while Obama and Clinton fight it out.

I’m not sure who is going to win the Democratic nomination (Although it looks like it could be Obama). Whoever it is, it will be exciting to see if the United States is ready for a black man or woman for president.

throwing stones, beating clubs

Sometimes I get really tired of hearing non-Christians talk about how they would never go to church because they have had a bad experience with one fanatic Christian. I often think, “How can they give up on the whole idea of a god, Christianity, and church because of one person?” But what if it’s not the crazy Christian with the hate signs or the pastor that scams his or her church out of thousands of dollars? What if it is just Joe Christian that is turning non-Christians away from the church, Christianity, and God? How many times have I turned non-Christians away?
In John 8:1-11 Jesus calls the Pharisees to put down their stones. It’s one of those grand stories that most Christians take for granted, and say “Yeah, that’s what we [Christians] are all about.” It seems to be a typically cookie cutter, Bible study, Sunday school answer. In the real world I am not sure that us Christians are putting down our stones. Most of us are living in fantasy land. Instead of rocks being dropped to the ground the scene more looks like the story from “the lottery” where a town once a year has a tradition of stoning someone from their population.
Often we portray ourselves as the good Samaritan when indeed we are just the Levite walking on the other side of the street. Jesus has called us to be that Samaritan and to draw our own lines in the sand. Yet, we are still creating animosity for non-Christians, alienating them from knowing the grace and truth of the triune God. In the same way on Sunday we are hurting our brothers and sisters in Christ by forgetting what God has called us to be a people of love, grace, and forgiveness.