brett’s morning blend (23jun11)

Practical Advice for Short-Term Missions

This is a great list for any short-term volunteer to read before embarking on a summer mission.  Off the top of my head I would add three more words of advice:

1. Be prepared in many cases to be more of an observer than a doer.  I’m afraid many short-termers are convinced their 10 days abroad are going to change the world.  It’s far more likely (in my opinion) that greater good will come from your willingness to be a learner than from your willingness to save the cheerleader, save the world.
2. Remember you’re likely “on the field” for a week or two, and the missionaries there long-term are just that — long-term.  Keeping this in mind should influence you greatly.  Two areas in particular:  1) the missionaries will deal with the consequences of your actions for a very long time (whereas you probably never will), and 2) it’s easy to live a martyr’s life for a week, but not so much for several years.
3. If at all possible, come with a group representative of your church.  This means teens, young adults, and older adults.  Youth group mission trips are a lot of fun, but a great deal of potential good is lost when only one subset of a church takes part in such an activity — as is much opportunity for mentoring.

All the World in a Room

A humorous infographic placing 50 people — perfectly representative of the world’s population — in one room.

The Last Supper

A bunch of pop culture portraits inspired by da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”  If you think this sort of thing is irreverent or sacrilegious, please don’t click the link.  Just skip it and pretend I never mentioned it.  Also, you should know that I read only from the KJV.

The Suicide Paradox

Maybe one of the most interesting articles I’ve ever read.  It begins with a former missionary to the Piraha people of the Amazon, who found himself being converted to a culture in which people were relentlessly happy; suicide was not at all present in their society.  What follows is a bunch of economists and psychologists discussing the various whys and whens of suicide.

How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee

While we’re on the Freakonomics blog (see above), I might as well give you three of their posts which I’ve been saving.  Here is the second.  The title of the link is pretty self-explanatory.

The Economists’ Guide to Parenting

DUBNER: Well how confident are you? I mean, you guys are making a lot of choices from organic food, and sign language, and all kinds of behavioral things, how confident are you that your investments are, forget about optimal, even worthwhile?

WOLFERS: Not at all confident.

DUBNER: Uh, pardon me Professor Wolfers?

WOLFERS: Not at all confident.

DUBNER: Here’s the thing. As much as Wolfers and Stevenson sound like your typical obsessive, sweat-the-small-stuff, micro-managing parents, they actually agree with the rest of our economist roundtable on one crucial and quite surprising fact: Parents just don’t matter as much as we think we think they do. 

Venn Diagram of Imperialism

I’m going to admit something embarrassing.  Several months ago we were having a discussion about Canada and whether the unfunny (yet tough) citizens of the country to the north recognize the Queen (as in “of England”) as their own.  I voted on the side of “No way!  Are you kidding — that’s ridiculous.”  But super-missionary Jason Miller made us look it up when we got home.  He was right.  If you’re as ignorant as I was, you should have a look at this Venn diagram.  You can learn all kinds of things about The Crown, England, the U.K., and imperialism.

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Did you know that Canadians bow to the queen?  Do you think parenting is important?  What are your thoughts on short-term missions?

brett’s morning blend (19apr11)

A Holy Week Timeline

BibleGateway put out this pretty incredible timeline of Holy Week, complete with accompanying scriptures cited.

How Would You Spend This Week if You Knew You’d Die on Friday?

These seven actions of Jesus in his last week might resonate with you…

The Missional Conversation and Churches of Christ

Mark Love, of Rochester College, speaks to why this missional conversation is important within the churches of Christ.

Why the Churches of Christ Were Right After All

Since we’re on the subject of churches of Christ, I’ve been saving this link for quite some time.  Many of you may not even know that I am of the religious tribe of the Churches of Christ — I don’t exactly pitch my blog as a Church of Christ one.  But this is my culture and heritage as far as goes religion.  And I can be pretty critical at times, focusing more on what needs to change than on what’s done well.  This essay was written by a Methodist minister pointing to some of that in which the Church of Christ is doing a good job.  [For those of you interested, he's recently posted another essay sharing what the Baptists have done well.  I'm sure he had to reach on that one.  Just kidding, my fellow conservative denomination.]

What Monty Python Can Teach Us About Saving Money

And now for something altogether serious.  Saving money’s important — and that’s why we believe we should use Monty Python to teach you how to do it.

Michael Jordan Makes How Much?!

An infographic showing just how much money the former baller makes — and how quickly it adds up.  Oh, and there’s also some information in there about Bill Gates.  If you like infographics, you’ll enjoy this link.  If you like Michael Jordan or money, you’ll enjoy it all the more.  And if you’re a nerd, you’ll enjoy it most of everyone.  That means that if you’re a nerd who likes infographics, basketball, and money….

3eanuts

Remove the last panel of a Schulz cartoon, and you’ll be left with little more than existential despair.

What We See vs What Kids See

Pictures explain a lot.  [Also, I'm happy -- or embarrassed -- to say that I still see a lot of these things the way kids do.]

one thing i’ve learned… (1)

In Tanzania, it is apparently illegal
to talk on the phone while driving.

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I had been all day in the blistering sun of Dar es Salaam, attempting to gain possession of our new truck.  This was not the first day I’d done so.  But on this (did I say it was hot?) day I did procure the vehicle, and was slowly making my way north to the SIL guesthouse in 6:00 pm traffic. I was moving along at a speed of at least 2.5 miles per hour, and called Christie to share with her the good and the bad news:

• Good = I was coming with our truck… at long last.
• Bad = A few of the truck’s parts were stolen while our warranty was being issued at Toyota of Tanzania.  And it would be AT LEAST an hour before traffic would allow me to reach the guesthouse.

That’s when the police officer waved me over to the side of the road. Thinking he was pulling me over for not yet having registration and insurance posted in my windshield, I began retrieving the papers from my bag.  But he didn’t mention the registration; rather he asked why I was using my phone while driving.  I explained that I would be late to pick up my wife and daughter, and was informing them of that fact.  He kindly offered that I should have parked my truck on the shoulder of the road to make the phone call.  I didn’t argue that the shoulder was already in use by all of the many cars using it in attempts to pass those of us waiting patiently in traffic.

I did, however, answer that I didn’t know it was illegal to use a phone while driving in Tanzania.  He was shocked and asked where I was from — as if all decent countries have laws against mobile phone use while in an automobile.  [I remember when mobile phones could ONLY be used while in your vehicle.  And never mind that I wasn't technically "operating" the vehicle, but was rather inching forward at slower than walking pace....]  I told him I was from the U.S., and he was shocked as if I should have then assumed it was illegal to talk and drive.  He must have thought I was lying when I explained that, to my knowledge, it is indeed legal in the U.S. to converse while at the steering wheel (but not to text?).

I told him that, while I didn’t know at the time I was breaking a law, I would still be happy to pay the appropriate fine because I was indeed a transgressor.  So he got in the car to make the trip with me to the police station (where you must go to have your ticket written — if you pay a “ticket” on the spot in Dar, you have not in fact paid a fine, but rather you’ve bribed an officer).  He directed me to drive on the wrong side of the street, ignore stop signs, make illegal turns, run down elderly women crossing the road with their groceries, and break sundry other rules of the road, all en route to the police station.

On the way to the station — amidst his blatant disregard for all laws of traffic — Mr. Officer explained that I would be required to appear in court the next morning to pay a 250,000 shilling fine (almost $200 USD).  That price tag seemed not only high, but impossible.  [A typical traffic ticket here is 20,000 shillings.]  I was being set up for a bribe.

In good corrupt police officer form, our man began to fret about how in the world he might be able to help me.  After all, he wanted to spare me the extreme hassle and embarrassment of appearing in court and paying such a hefty fine.  He thought this way and that, while declaring his respect for my time and announcing his concern for the welfare of my bank account. He paused awkwardly, waiting for me to respond with an offer as we sat parked just outside the police station.

Instead of offering a small token of my gratitude (10-20,000 shillings), I responded with: So I guess we need to go inside to write this ticket and make arrangements for my court hearing.  I realize I’ve broken the law, and it’s best that I take responsibility for my actions and pay the appropriate fines.  I am ready.

Officer: Well… I suppose I could forgive you just this one time, provided you not let me catch you talking on your cell phone while driving ever again.

Me: Wow.  I’d really appreciate that, but I understand if I need to receive my ticket.

Officer: No, I want to forgive you. [Awkward pause.]  But now there’s just the question of how I’ll return to my post…  I suppose I could take one of those taxis? [Another awkward pause.]

Me: No problem.  I can give you a ride back to your post.  It’s the least I can do.

Officer: But I wouldn’t want you to be an inconvenience by asking you to sit through all that traffic again; you’ll be late to meet your family.  There are lots of taxis right here.  [Awkward pause.]  I just need to figure out how to pay for one of them…. [Very long awkward pause -- as the officer was surely reflecting on how he might possibly afford a taxi.]

Me: Yeah, but taxis are so expensive. [Starting my truck.] I understand if you prefer to go with one of those guys, but I really don’t mind at all giving you a lift. [I start to pull away.]

Seemingly surprised at my unwillingness to donate to his cab fund, the policeman gets in the truck and I drop him off right where I picked him up, shorter on time but not on cash… or on integrity.

**********

I still don’t know whether or not it’s illegal to speak on the phone while driving in Tanzania.

jacob and esau’s exchange

image courtesy of ecoki.com

[This is a series on famous exchanges in the Bible.  The first post (and by far the best one so far) in this series can be found here: adam and eve's exchange.]

the situation

Esau comes home from a long day out in the bush (that’s what we call it here in Africa), and he’s starving.  Jacob’s been cooking some soup, and Esau asks for a bowl of it.  Jacob’s response:  ”Swear you’ll give me your birthright.”  Esau does, and then he enjoys some soup.

what I don’t like about this story:

• The kid brother duped his older sibling. I think we all know this isn’t how it’s supposed to work.  One of the God-given privileges of being the oldest brother is the ability and the right to use deceit, cunning, and pretense in order to take advantage of younger siblings.  Jacob should’ve been doing his brother’s chores for a week in exchange for a “super valuable stick I found in the woods.”  Esau should’ve been tricking his kid brother into eating dog poop.  It wasn’t supposed to go down this way.  The Law of Siblings states as much very clearly.  And none of us can argue with The Law.
• It was a bowl of LENTIL soup. There wasn’t even meat in the bowl.  What were you thinking, man?  I mean, a bowl of bacon stew… with cheese in it… maybe.  Maybe.  But lentils!?  Lentils are like beans, only smaller and cheaper.  We use them for cow fodder, Esau.  Lentil soup is NOT worth a birthright or an inheritance.
• Shouldn’t Jacob have been doing something manly? I’m convinced if he didn’t go hunting with Esau, he should have had a manly reason to stay home.  Fixing the tractor, mending a barbed-wire fence, cleaning out the stables, or manicuring his rugged beard, maybe.  But he was making soup.  Lentil soup.  Sissy.

k-mart.  400 oak Street.  k-mart.

When Esau came in from the fields on that fateful day, he had no understanding of the value of his birthright.  I’m reminded of the movie, Rain Man,* in which Dustin Hoffman won an oscar for playing Raymond, an institutionalized autistic savant.  Raymond memorized phone books and addresses and could count cards in Vegas like a — well, it’s probably said of others that they count cards like “Rain Man.”  But despite Raymond’s extraordinary intellect, he didn’t understand money or anything about how it worked.

Charlie: That’s amazing. He should work for NASA or something like that
Doctor: Ray, if you had a dollar and you spent fifty cents, how much would you have left over?
Raymond: About seventy.
Doctor: Seventy cents?
Raymond: Seventy cents.
Charlie: So much for the NASA idea.

Doctor: Ray, do you know how much a candy bar costs?
Raymond: ‘Bout a hundred dollars.
Doctor: Do you know how much one of those new compact cars costs?
Raymond: ‘Bout a hundred dollars.

properly placed value and worship

When Esau came in from the fields on that fateful day, he had no understanding of the value of his birthright.  And the ability to determine and properly place value is critical in life. Without a correct understanding of what is truly important, it’s difficult to have any “quality of life.”

• I might trade my compact car for a candy bar.
• I might exchange my diploma for some gas money.
• I might sell my younger brother for a donkey.
• I might give my praise to someone who doesn’t deserve it.
• I might worship that which is not worthy of worship.

Worship starts with placing value. When we set one thing above all others, we are deeming it valuable.  And we must properly place value in order for our lives to function as they were intended.  God is the only being worthy of worship, the most valuable entity in all the world.

If we can’t properly determine and place value, our lives are gonna’ be all messed up.  And proper placement of value requires that God be praised.

* You’ve got to see this movie if you haven’t.  It’s quality.  Probably the best acting you’ll see from Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, both.

bo jackson and the louisiana purchase

In 1803 the United States purchased over 828,000 square miles of land from France.  This doubled the size of our young country, and those lands still today make up nearly a quarter of all U.S. territories. The Louisiana Purchase.  Price: $15 million.

Today, $15 million (USD) is barely enough to fly you to Seattle across said purchased lands.  This guy sold his blog for $15 million.  Sarah Palin was at one time offering to sell her emails for $15 million.  In Zimbabwe dollars, 15 million will barely buy you a hamburger (and there is such a thing as a 10 million dollar bill).

When I was young, I collected baseball cards — as did every other 12-year old boy who couldn’t play baseball (and many who did).  I would often brag to my dad about how I’d gotten a Bo Jackson rookie card that was worth $12, or a Ruben Sierra worth $4.  His question every time?  ”Who are you going to sell it to?”

I would respond by explaining that I didn’t want to sell it.  Instead I preferred to save it so I could sell it for more money later.*  Dad would ask, “But, do you even know anyone who would buy it today for the price you just said?”

“No, but why does that matter?” I’d counter.  ”This Beckett’s price guide says it’s worth that much.”

“Son, if you don’t have a buyer willing to pay $12, then the card’s not worth $12.”

And this was my first lesson in economics — or the first one I remember anyway.

Purchases and exchanges are about demand and perceived value. Not some list of magical and imaginary prices in a Beckett’s price guide or a Kelley’s blue book.  What is this item worth to its owner, and what is it worth to the purchaser?  I get a really good deal when what I want is worth very little to the guy holding it.  That’s also when he gets a good deal.**

I intend to start a short series in the next week or two on “Famous Exchanges in the Bible.” I’ve got a list that I’ll have to narrow down a bit.  But I’d love to ask you guys for help; can you think of any famous purchases, trades, or exchanges in the Bible that you’d want to read about on aliens and strangers?

 

*I still have all of those baseball cards.  I’ve never sold even one.

**For the record, though, I think the French got ripped during this whole Louisiana Purchase thing.

overcoming commercialism at christmas

I miss cold weather.  However, to be clear, I only miss the cold enough that I’d like to experience it for two weeks and be done.  I miss the cold like I miss American commercials on TV — I don’t want to just sit and watch commercials.  But, at the same time, there’s something comfortable and reassuring about American commercials.  I grew up with them.  They were always there.  If my television programming is going to be interrupted by something (and it’s not a pizza delivery guy), I want it to be an American commercial.  American commercials are of high quality and are oftentimes humorous.  Also, there are generally enough of them that we don’t have to watch the same one twice in every commercial break.*

So I feel about cold weather kind of like American commercials.  I like the idea of the cold when comparing it to our temperature here (hot).  Every day.  All the time.  Hot.  So I like the idea of cold, but I don’t want to trade long-term, 80 degrees for 30.  Rather, I want to put on a long-sleeve shirt and a fleece for a couple of weeks (not the same shirt for the whole two weeks) and then pack them away in a closet for the remainder of the year.  I want to vacation in cold weather.  That’s what I want.  But I want my two weeks to start today.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas a lot lately — wait, that’s not true.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I’ve not been thinking a lot lately about Christmas.  I like Christmas, I want to think about Christmas, but it’s not very “Christmasy” here in Tanzania.  The cold weather is just one of many Christmas experiences we’re missing.**

[Now for a very poor attempt at a transition containing a play on words.]

There is a lot I miss about Christmas, like the cold.  But I do not in any way miss American commercial…ism.  At Christmas, we Americans spend lots of money buying ourselves gifts — by trading wish lists and exchanging gift cards.  I don’t miss that at all.

In fact, I wanted to write a post which combats commercialism, materialism, and the spending of excessive*** amounts of money.  But I’m going to be realistic instead.  Americans are going to continue spending money on Christmas, no matter what I write.  I am not, through my little blog, going to change the world or even the jewelry department at Macy’s.  Materialism rules the majority of hearts at Christmas, and reciprocity rules most others — so I’m not going to write that blog post.

I am, however, going to write the following one.

**********

In light of the reality that Americans are not going to stop spending altogether, I’d like to suggest a few things we can do to keep us mindful of what’s important in life — and to encourage us to think of others in need and to help them:

• Could we agree to match the money spent on gift purchases in giving to charities or to the homeless? Or if we’re not willing to go dollar-for-dollar, could we offer even a percentage of the total?
• We could set limits on gift-spending within a group that buys for one another.  And then stick to those limits.  There’s always someone who spends more and says, “Well, I know we set a limit, but I saw this and I just HAD to get it for you…”****
• If your group already sets spending limits, why not make them $5-10 lower this year, and use the money saved to help a family in need?
• My wife, my brother and sister, and I promote togetherness rather than buying by agreeing to do something as a group.  The movie we go to (or putt-putt, etc) is then in lieu of exchanging gifts.
• How about we commit to give away any of our current belongings that are replaced by new gifts this year?  If you receive a new jacket, you give away an old jacket.  If you receive an Ipod, your old one is given to somewhat less fortunate.  [We don't SELL the items, but we give them away.]  This way we can at least keep tabs on how many of a thing we have — so that we don’t amass wealth and possessions.

Anyway, these are just some ideas.  Do you have others?

* Pakistani television (which we get here) has a total of about four commercials.  I’m not kidding.  In every commercial break, we see the same four commercials, and we see at least two of them twice in every commercial break.  Pakistani commercials are almost as bad as Canadian commercials.

** We also have a general lack of decorations, music, parties, Santa Claus lap-sitting, people ringing bells to ask for money, and arguments about “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays.”

*** I know, I know, who gets to determine what is indeed excessive, and what is not?

**** That person is Carson McNeal.  He even told us when we were setting the limit for our team gift exchange ($6.25) that we should set it low, and then when he went over, it wouldn’t be excessive.  Now there’s a guy who knows how to make some rules…