Published . . . who me?

Well what do you think of this pic? Its the one I'm sending in to SOL (Society of Learning Organizations) with my article that's getting published in their December edition of 'Reflections' (Quarterly Journal). Wow, didn't see that coming. Here's how it happened: As part of the Candidacy process at Gonzaga, I submitted a paper to SOL - I used a theory connected to their founder, Peter Senge - an analysis of the UN Millennium Project (poverty reduction strategy) using Senge's 'mental models' and found some paradigmatic flaws. I concluded the UN project needed some serious re-design work. I sent my article in Nov/08; we corresponded back and forth; in June they asked if I would be willing to make a few minor revisions and have it published in the December edition on Economic Sustainability. So, be watching for this guy in the SOL Journal around Christmas. Yahoo!!

Bikin' Fool

So today I ended up out in the middle of nowhere on a perfect 25 mile ride; I stepped out my apartment door at Gonzaga, turned right, crossed the bridge, past the park, and off . . . the next 22 miles were meandering trails like the one you see here on the Spokane river. I've been spending 3 or 4 days a week riding to my hearts content; stop every 6 or 7 miles for a drink, a short walk around to catch my breath, and off. Considering I'm riding the 30 year old Schwinn Tour that was given to me last summer after my trail bike was stolen on campus one night, I'm not doing too bad. I caught up to an old dude a few days ago on one of those 5K Italian jobs, he took one look at my beater and kept going. 8 miles later I'm still with him and he finally says, 'So, how you pushing that old whip of yours around so fast?' 'They don't make em like this anymore do they,' I responded. '35 lbs and slow as molasses. Guess you just gotta be good.' And with that I turned on my afterburners and left him in the dust (ok, i made up that last part, i didn't really leave him in the dust, but the rest is all true). So friends, the next time you see me this summer, look for my bright yellow nike shirt and 30 year old whip riding like the wind.

Social Construction

"The foundational idea of social construction seems simple enough, but it is also profound. Everything we consider real is socially constructed. Or, more dramatically, nothing is real unless people agree that it is" (Kenneth Gergen, Entering the Dialogue of Social Construction).

"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man . . ." Romans 1:22-23 The Apostle Paul

So which person do you believe? As for me, I'll stand with the Apostle Paul thank you! One of the most pervasive theoretical constructs of epistemology (how we know) is social construction; the notion that all truth is man-made, that what we agree on together in relationships with other human beings as truth is truth. This would be a convenient way to live, even generative, in the sense that every situation can be viewed through a positivistic lense; we can make anything positive, life-giving, constructive.

The only problem is its not true, plain and simple. There is objective reality and transcendent truth. Jesus proved that by walking out of the tomb on the side of a hill two-thousand years ago. When I first arrived at Gonzaga I was not prepared for the onslaught of relativistic, social constructionists running around campus. In class I would sit and listen, stew a bit inside, attack a time or two, and generally walk away with my tail between my legs. This summer has been different. I no longer have the need to correct others, to defend good, or make all things right.

I'm sad this is probably my last summer in Spokane (I've just about completed my course work on the way to Dissertation research and writing next year) because my new found freedom is refreshing. I don't have to defend God from social construction, I'm simply called to live my life and be faithful to Him; He'll accomplish His purposes in and through me. What a difference a summer makes.

"So now that you've graduated from UofO, what are you doing next Ryan?"
"I'm going to Disneyland!"

Easter and Emotions

Easter weekend was quite the mix of highs and lows . . . Good Friday was spent in Fresno celebrating and mourning the home going of my mom Eve (she died of lung cancer on March 19th). The next day, Saturday April 11th, all 5 of us took turns driving a Penske truck and my dads cool Lincoln GS all the way to Salem. Later that night, Ryan and his girlfriend Emily (in picture above) came driving up and we played guitars and hopped in the jacuzzi till midnight. What blast! Then came Easter morning; we emptied out the truck into the garage before church, and had a fantastic day celebrating the resurrection of our Lord, and enjoying time together the rest of the day! Ryan and Emily beat Jon Marc and me in 2 on 2. Then a walk around Minto Brown, then helping Kelsey move some things out of her apartment; all together. Yeah! The next day when everyone was gone and Janet was at school, I had time to stop and think about the blessings and the losses in my life, and the emotions came gushing out. For the next 24 hours I'd lose it periodically, unpack another box with a picture, or a CD, or a trinket that would remind me of my mom, or dad, or brother, and I'd start crying all over again. A good friend said to me recently, "I think God is teaching you how to cry!" You know, I think he's right. Thank You Jesus! "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted." Matt. 5:4

Grandma D is going home

Its only a matter of time before Grandma Dangaran is headed home to be with Jesus. Just before last Thanksgiving she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given months to live. We've all been down to CA to spend some time with her, like the girls here in the cool pic (Granddaughter Jordan (left), Niece Scottie (next), grandma, and Granddaughter Kelsey (right)). Janet and I and Ryan and Jon Marc went down just after Christmas and had several days with her; really hard, but really good.

Here's what I believe: death is not to be feared because we know that we are safe in God's hands through His son Jesus Christ! The bible tells us that 'death has no sting' if we have been 'crucified with Christ.' When we surrender ourselves to Him, admitting our sin, and seeking forgiveness at the cross, we have a promise of eternal life in heaven together with all the saints who have gone before. My mom gave her life to Jesus way back in the 1960's and has faithfully followed and served Him ever since. Yeah God, we are not as those who have no hope! Mom is going home, and so are we who know Jesus as Savior and Lord!

Family Jam Session

When the guys are home from college, one of things you'll hear around our house is the sweet, sweet, sound of music. Somebody picks a song and away we go. In this scene, bud (Jon Marc) is driving a fresh rendition of 'Nothing But the Blood' he learned this year at CCF in Eugene. He's been helping out on the worship team a bit, and seems to have a knack for it. Yeah God!

California Here I Come . . .

So its official. Ryan is headed to SF next summer after graduation from Uof O to join the team of young gun accountants at PriceWaterhouse, the world's largest accountancy firm. They are based in 150 countries, and Ryan tells us after the first year he could be placed anywhere in the world. We asked him if he could choose the West Salem branch; he's looking into it.

After 4 years as a Duck, our now 23 year old will be the first to head back to California (we'll see if any body else in the fam follows). These are tough economic times, so a job offer of any type is something pretty cool. Way to go Ry! We're proud of you.

The big building he'll be working in is behind him and Jon Marc; fortunately we got to spend some time there last summer after he did an internship with a different accounting firm. I guess we'll be heading there again real soon.

Summer in Spokane

Aloysius Gonzaga (pronounced al-o-i-shus): Born in 1568, son of wealthy Italian merchant Ferdinando Gonzaga, marquis of Castiglione. His formative years were spent at the family castle near Mantova, Italy, traveling back and forth to Brescia for studies and training in a military academy. While reading a history of an early Jesuit missionary in India, Aloysius was capitivated by the adventure and meaning of a life of serving God and church. To become a Jesuit, one must renounce all worldly possessions, property, and riches. Al's father was concerned for his sons future without the possibility of inheriting any of the family wealth or status, but could not convince Aloysius to turn his course. On 25 November, 1585, Aloysius was accepted into the Jesuit novitiate and began his studies and life of service in Rome, taking the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in 1587. While his life as a Jesuit priest was shortlived, dying on June 21, 1591 of complications from ill health, he was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII as the patron saint of young students and Christian youth for his views on education for the children and teens, and his committment to the causes of the poor and defenseless.

Rich and Poor

Haves on the right, Have nots on the left . . . this scene from Sao Paulo, Brazil is becoming more and more prevalent around the world, with the rich and poor living within a stones throw from each other. In the U.S., we try to keep the poor more hidden, but we all know they're there.

My Candidacy project at Gonzaga this summer is wrapped around the notion that wealth tends to be concentrated among those who are already rich, and while the 'haves' continue to have more and more, those living in extreme poverty (less than $1 per day in wages) get closer and closer to our door step.

There are no easy answers, and those that are offering them seem to be more interested in perpetuating the wealth condensation phenomenon than providing genuine solutions. For today, may we truly be mindful of who our neighbors really are, and how high the walls have become.