The Body, The Blood, The Machine

Here's a sweet song by The Thermals, it's called Here's Your Future (the other songs are good but less relevant).









And for you visual learners here's a video (different song though).

Restoring a Community

With all the buzz about things, found this today on 9news:

Park Hill Methodist

What was required?

1.) People who saw a need for it.
2.) People committed to working through their differences to form on united body.
3.) People committed to work with those who disagreed with them.

Is restoration of our community something that needs everyone on board?
Is everyone on board?

What do you think?

Edward the Bear

I just listened to this podcast that pretty much made me get all choked up. It's a grown-up sci-fi Winnie the Pooh story. There's something very endearing and accessible about telling an adult tale through a child's view. It's just the story, without being dressed up with all sorts of fancy adjectives. (Is it hypocritical for me to use the word fancy in that sentence?)

Some of the deepest things can (and maybe should) be broken down into really reachable ideals.

Also - by adult, I just mean the story deals with death. This isn't a smarmy winnie-the-pooh romance novel... you pervs.

Here's the link.

una poema

endless and dark for many millions who
are counting down the minutes for when they
begin to feel again, for nothing true
is in their sights, tenebrous is the way

such fleeting time spent dwelling on the thing
that trifling would be too deserving to
describe, poor heart, the in-genuine thing
hope through disappointment is my rue

inane, just words of mediocrity
these are the breaths of life which you survive?
your soul chokes on unknown disloyalty
this is not what it means to be alive

what can one offer to the deafening plea?
a truth and light, a promise to be free

ok. now i've "shared."
(i really wish ingenuine was a real word)

Speaking of hards things needing restoration...

Last year my cousin, Scott, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I just this e-mail from his wife. I guess I am just asking for prayers for him and shannon (his wife) and their two little girls. Thank you. Bet

I have been putting off writing this email. I'm just going to make it short since I really don't want to write it. Scott had an MRI last Thursday. It showed that the latest go at chemotherapy didn't work. A doctor from Duke called me on Tuesday to tell me that they feel there is nothing left that is likely to have an effect on stopping the tumor's progression. They estimate that Scott has a few weeks of life left.

But we don't like to give up.

His doctor at KU, Dr. Sarah Taylor, has prescribed another chemotherapy that is in pill form. It is an older drug that has largely been replaced by newer, more effective drugs, but it was once the standard treatment for brain tumors. She said the chances are slim that it will be effective, but there's no reason not to try. This is the time, for all of you praying folks out there, to pray your pants off. That came out sounding weird but I'm not going to change it--I'm on a roll. Hope is hanging by a thread here. Life as I know it, as Scott knows, as little Emma and Claire knows it is hanging by a fine, precious little thread.

Think of us, pray for us, send your good vibes our way. We need your support.

If you would like to send a message for Scott, I would happily read it to him. I'm sure it would warm his heart to know he's being thought of.

Shannon

now would not be a good time to tell me an AIDS joke.

i just learned that, two nights ago, my cousin died of HIV.

id like to hear your thoughts on how this relates to the idea of restoration. please do not take the easy route and say "he is now completely restored in heaven."

Restore the world through....maps

Strange Maps Blog


Excellent blog full of different cool and funky maps. Just thought I'd throw it out there for visual ideas.

(Special thanks to my friend Brenton, who surfs the net so I don't have to.)


~H