Summer Camp Memories

Now that I've stopped working I finally have the time to finish some past work projects. I guess that's the irony of work. We came with the youth of our church to Central Camp week 2 at Westminster Woods earlier this summer. It was great fun and here's a quick video that highlights some of what we experienced together.

Untitled from Monte McClain on Vimeo.

Santa vs. Jesus

So what really is the reason for the season? Is it about an overweight fat white guy who tries to sneak into our homes through they chimney to shower us with presents? Or is it about the birth of a middle-eastern tradesman who many claim is God incarnate, born not in a palace but in the lowly poverty of a stable? Do we have to choose? [online comparisons: one, two , funny three (below), slightly offensive South Park four].

Modern Day Jesus: Santa vs. Jesus

Atom.com: Funny Videos | Atom Originals | Holiday Hell

With my kids I've always favored Jesus more than Santa. Maybe it's because we don't have a fireplace in our house, hence he could never come over and we're eternally doomed to be shunned by St. Nick. Yet I prefer the power and promise of the Jesus birth story over Santa flying through the air with gifts. When asked if he's real by my kids, I always respond asking them if they think he's real. Of course they do. I use to tell our eldest that Santa is a mythical figure, who was a real man who did show generosity to children. I wouldn't go as far as to say that Santa is Satan [mix the letters around to see how] but I'd rather that our kids know the foundational experience that formed what we now call Christmas. I don't want to lie about why we do what we do, at least how we as a family live and act from our beliefs and existential choice to follow Jesus as the guide to our life praxis.

But am I robbing our kids of the mystery of Christmas, the joy of seeing "Santa's helpers" working throughout the glorious malls of our nation, ringing bells in front of Safeway, and retold with the wonder of claymation? Even if I didn't choose to be a follower of Jesus, I'm not sure that I'd want to blatantly encourage capitalistic worship of the jolly man who seems to be able to produce every product that my kids could wish for at Toys-R-Us, Target, Costco, barbie.com and the dollar bin at Longs Drugs. Maybe the whole Santa narrative has been to highjacked by corporate America and he needs his own bailout? Besides why when I tell my kids to stay away from strange men all year long, why in December would I act differently? Plus I have to admit the Easter Bunny vs. Jesus conflict really bugs me a whole bunch more for theological reasons, plus how would my kid who believes in a human-sized bunny hoping unhurt through East Oakland ever stand a chance of getting into Stanford?

Some other bloggers have posted on this epic battle. Bruce | John O'Hara
Of course now the next big question is Santa vs. Jack Frost.

So am I a horrible parent, follower of Jesus? I think in the end we have to choose both, yet frame our celebrations around what we believe and act from in our families and the communities of faith we call home.

What do you choose to do in the Santa vs. Jesus conflict?

Online Advent Fun

Advent (the 40 days before Christmas marked by Four Sundays is my favorite time of year and what I find to be the poignant and meaning-making aspect of the Christian Church Calendar. It's a time for journeying, preparation, reflection and dreaming aloud and in community. I like it so much more than Christmas for it's more like life, journeying, waiting, walking and watching even in the darkness of despair and/or doubt. Plus it's just more fun because we get a playmobil advent calendar each year!

Here's some of my favorite links about advent if you're interested

Textweek.com (great reflections, images, etc. about the lectionary texts proposed in Advent)

playmobil advent calendar options

build a creche (multilingual)

calendar (from the episcopal church with cool links about southern africa)

funny interactive calendar with prizes (funny)

interactive calendar (photo of the icon of the virgin and baby)

A Montana Slim Holiday

My family gathers once a year for a holiday party that includes lot's of beer, good fudge and an uncle who comes as Santa each year in a different mode of transportation.  This year the fudge was complimented with rollo cookies (yum!) and Santa riding in the back of a truck and one of my favorite bands playing in the park - MONTANA SLIM.  Here's some videos I took.  You can find them on myspace and on facebook.

Political Satire Home Shopping

SNL Skit with John McCain from 110108

Let's Just *&$#in Vote Already!

This bit from last night's Jon Stewart is brilliant, 

a zeitgeist of what the nation is feeling, 

experiencing and the change that we ALL need!

High School Musical Election Distraction

If you're tired of hearing about the 3 senators and a governor...

here's a little humor break straight from East High!  

Vote W-I-L-D-CATS November 4th!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

6 uninteresting things about me
blog meme

i was tagged this week in an online blog meme game by leslie. it's an online game for bloggers where you pose some sort of a question, tagging other bloggers who link back to you to get the discussion going.

here's the meme terms and conditions
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. List six unspectacular things about you.
4. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.

so here's my answers:
1. i always put my pants on right leg first.
2. i love nutter butters, and tend to eat the entire package in one sitting.
3. i always played first base in little league as a kid.
4. when i enter a room with lot's of chairs for a meeting or group discussion i always sit far away from the door.
5. i love to iron and vacuum.
6. i write out (or think out) most of my sermons listening to thumping techno-styled music (some of my favorites include music by madonna, breathe, and listening to 92.7 fm from 12-1pm).

and i tag:
susannah, ladyburg, sharyl, matt, sarah, steve. & elena. (ok i know that's 7 can't stop - i don't like rules)

I %$*& Crocs!

So I wrote about the new school shoes for daughter #1 we bought this past weekend. What I didn't tell you was that we also bought a new pair (again favorite color but no sparkles) for daughter #2.


Today I opened Newsweek and saw a hilarious response to a funny article that appeared in this week's Newsweek. "What a Croc of Shoes" tells of the backlash that the author Steve Tuttle has received since he expressed his hatred of all things croc in the August 11th issue "Make It Stop: The case for ending our long national nightmare against crocs".

Are they really that bad? I don't have a pair ... but I'd assume (not that I'm on a fashion driven reality show or anything) that they must still be somewhat "in" if Nordstrom sells them. What do you think? How do you fill in the blanks in the following sentence: "I %$*& Crocs!"

Tenacious D

Potential Music for Worship at Your Church

I got a link to this song/monologue recently done by Jack Black on SNL.  I'm thinking of singing it as an offertory song the next time I lead worship after vacation.  What do you think?

Tenacious D - Monologue Song (Live)
envoyé par JulH

Thanks to Francois for le link.

What I Read this Past Week that was Read-Worthy

Spreading the Word on the Street (SF GATE) [homeless preacher man that lives where I serve]

Bridging the racial divide through religion (Oakland Tribune)

Public Schools Ranking Released (Oakland Tribune)  more online at www.ibabuzz.com/education

Facebook giving its site a face-lift (SF GATE)

The End of Entitlement (Newsweek)

Mildred Loving (Obituary in The Economist)

19 Ways to Keep a Healthy Level of Insanity

Uncle Tio sent me this today and I loved the laughter break...I need to try some of this tips - and to remember not to drink the coffee at his place next time I go.

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a
Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries
with that.

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has Gotten
Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Marijuana".

7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy".

9. Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go".

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area and Play tropical Sounds
All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their
Party Because You have a headache.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won! I Won!"

1 8. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot,
Yelling "Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, "Due To The Economy, We Are Going
To Have To Let One Of You Go."

Vote for Hilbama!!!!

Don't know who the newest candidate for president is? Check out his/her photo over at Corn Dog's Blog.

short urban street e-fiction

the bush part 2

ok - last week corn dog was inspired by a large daisy-like bush in the back of my car, and wrote up a short urban street e-fiction (part 1) piece. today i saw that same bush, where i planted it, and it looks like this....


so how does the story end?
corn dog?
buhller?
anyone else?

short urban street e-fiction

written by corn dog

corn dog walked by the church where i worked the other day and noticed the ecclectic collection of junk, plants and dirt in and on my car....which inspired a short urban street e-fiction piece that i just had to share. corn dog is a great writer - ready for publication in the new yorker - check out other stuff at www.rubbercorndog.blogspot.com


Monte was a man, small in stature, but not heart or spirit. He knew what the country needed. He loaded bush into the back of his station wagon, drove to the abyss, and threw him in. Polly Pockets rained down on America after that, and God forgave Monte because bush survived well in the abyss, bottom feeding as he had in the White House. Dimond Gospel according to LaTina Chapter 1 Verse 1

New Madonna Album Today

OK - I'm a fan and a junkie. Can't wait to listen to the whole thing - how can I make a trip to Borders into a work opportunity....hmmmm. Here's the first single - and a cool video that's been going crazy on youtube and has some cool graphics. What is that black stuff taking over the world?

Favorite Bumper Sticker of the Week

I saw this one in Rockridge today in a parking lot.

Is the Dimond a G-Spot
(as in gentrification)?
What does that mean for our community?

The yahoo-group-o-sphere of the Dimond District has been awash for nearly 10 days now with e-conversation, debate and dialogue about gentrification in our (re)-emerging business district. The whole conversation began from the discovery, or public announcement, about a Little Caesar's Franchise seeking to come into the Dimond Business district. Many members of our community - myself included - felt strongly about not having another cheap pizza place in the district (as there are already several at the intersection of Fruitvale and MacArthur). It's much the same - again in my opinion again shared by many others - in terms of Nail Salons and Cheap Chinese Take-Out places.

Both sides - or at least the emerging poles around which discussion seem to be centered in the ongoing discussion - want what's best for the neighborhood:
1. A safe place to shop, meet and live.
2. Access for all peoples, an affirmation of the unique diversity (both current and historic) of our neighborhood).
3. A diversity of shops and choice.
4. An improvement of the cleanliness of the sidewalks.

Several interesting online articles have been shared in the e-discussion:

Something from the New York Times about Hip-ification and the energy that "gentrification" can bring to a neighborhood: Cheers to Tim Chapman for the link!

The new blogsite for the Japenese Restaurant (Nama Sushi) soon to open in the previous diner located on Frutivale Ave. across from Peet's Coffee.

In my life, work and relationships in the Dimond my experience and participation leads me to the following opinion:

1. I doubt that Pottery Barn, the GAP, or Wolfgang Puck will be seeking to open any high-priced boutiques, restaurants, franchises for the creative class, juveniles and latte democrats that may - or may not - be leading to the gentrification of our neighborhood. There are several great new businesses that have opened recently that are local, small business owners all of whom are not only people of color, but women of color. That's where we need to put our energy, encouraging those kind of businesses and people, versus discouraging big-box, multinational franchises which frankly are going to risk it to "slum it" in the Dimond.

2. Several referred to the historic, and continuing, reality that the 580 splits our neighborhood along a quasi-racial, definite socio-economic line. Of course it's not this black and white. The Dimond has been declining since the 580 was constructed (along with the church that I serve) because of this division of the community. Maybe now we can use the creative energy that's potentially coming with the hip-ification of the Dimond to heal those wounds. Like one person wrote, "There is room for us all."

3. There's a lot of brouhaha about Little Caesar's. We should have restaurants that cater to the diverse population of our hood. I'm not against pizza. I love it, unfortunately even the card-board kind. But why do we assume that "poor" folks won't want quality, organic, trans-fat free food? We should be insisting that non-industrial food places open in the Dimond for all of us, not just those that are game to buy a $20+ hamburger with grass-fed beef (or tofu) with local, organic greens, and on a trans-fat free baguette.

4. Another person added that "neighborhood's are dynamic." TRUE! I've seen so many changes in the past 6 years (hardly anything in the long-term) that I've been present in the Dimond District and Community. We often fear change - "who moved the cheese!" - easily forgetting that change is oftentimes the most opportune moment for growth, maturity, flexibility, adaptability and to be alive. Maybe today is the moment that the Dimond has been waiting for these past 50 or so years? I love seeing - each time I go to Farmer Joe's and Peet's - the diverse population enjoying good - "slow" - food whether arriving in a Lexus, or by foot, purchasing their goods with a platinum Visa or with the change that the collected on the corner. That's the community I want to participate in and belong to - whether it's gentrified or not.

5. I find most folks I meet in the Dimond want to shop and spend their money in their neighborhood. We should encourage that, seizing that energy and building upon it. It's like an upward spiral that might have the potential to bring us all upwards (not in a gentrifying class way) but in a sustainable, holistic community way, vs. the downward spiral that the Dimond has slipped down since the birth of the 580. Most people don't want it to become another Rockridge or 4th Street in Berkeley. They want to shop, eat, and connect with others in the neighborhood in which they live - all in relative safety, with beauty, performing public schools, and the diversity that characterizes our city of Oakland.

If you want to be involved in the effort to impede the arrival of Little Caesar's here's how you can act and be involved (taken from a community email sent by those heading the effort):

  Dear Neighbors:
 
 After learning that a Little Caesar¢s franchise is applying to open
a store in the center of the Dimond District, residents raised concerns
that we already have too many fast food chain stores / pizza
restaurants. An informal survey demonstrated that this sentiment is widespread.
 
 Years ago, our community successfully lobbied for our district to be
granted C-31 designation in order to control the variety and quality of
businesses. A Little Caesar¢s would violate this law since it is
within 1,000 feet of another fast food establishment (several to be exact,
including McDonald¢s, Giant Burger, Subway, and others).
 
 Due to these concerns, city planners delayed approval of the Little
Caesar¢s restaurant. If they hear from enough residents, this
restaurant will not be granted the legal exemptions it needs to operate. Please
contact them to relay your concerns:
 
 Scott Miller, Zoning Manager
 smiller@oaklandnet.com; 510-238-2235
 
 Michael Bradley, Case Planner for Little Caesar¢s application
 mbradley@oaklandnet.com; 510-238-6935
 
 1. State your name and address (or that you live in the neighborhood)
 2. Explain why you believe a Little Caesar¢s will be bad for the
Dimond District (examples: too many fast food chains, already two pizza
take-out restaurants within a block, need stores of greater variety and
quality to fit our desired character for area etc.)
 3. Ask them to deny Little Caesar¢s a zoning variance and any other
required approval
 4. Thank them for listening
 
 We need to keep track of how many people contact the planners. Please
copy juliemjonsson@yahoo.com and owencenli@yahoo.com if you send an
email or notify us if you call.
 
 Residents and other partners are actively working to recruit more
desirable businesses, so stay tuned!
 
 Thank you,
 Owen Li and Julie Johnson

Our Life is Like a Cartoon

Our Easter party morphed into a Mika-based junior version of American Idol last night. Here's our best ofs: