A friend emailed this to me...
Neil's Story
On July 20, 1969, as commander of the Apollo 11Lunar Module, Neil
Armstrong was the first person to set a foot on the moon. His first
words after stepping on the moon, "That's one small step for man, one
giant leap for mankind," were televised to earth and heard by millions.
But just before he reentered the Lander, he made, he made the enigmatic
remark, "Good Luck Mr. Gorsky."
Many people at NASA thought it was a causal remark concerning some rival
Soviet Cosmonaut. However, upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either
the Russian or American Space programs.
Over the years many people questioned Armstrong as to what the "Good
Luck, Mr. Gorsky" statement meant, but Armstrong always just smiled.
On July 5, 1995 in Tampa Bay, Florida, while answering questions
following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26-year old question to
Armstrong. This time he finally responded. Mr. Gorsky had died, so Neil
Armstrong felt he could answer the question.
In 1938 when he was a kid in a small midwest town, he was playing
baseball with a friend in the backyard. His friend hit the ball, which
landed in his neighbor's yard by the bedroom windows. His neighbors
were Mr. and Mrs. Gorsky. As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young
Armstrong heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky. "Sex you want sex?!
You'll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"
This is my back up blog when I want to put something out there with out feedback. I plan to put more Informational stuff here so it is available for a longer period of time.
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
The Movie Scratch is a fascinating documentry about Hip Hop DJing which demonstrates how cultural learning happens...from discovery to new identity formation. Love to see it and discuss it with anyone...
Here is a partial Play list for the Hyperesthesai Show. Thank you Eric for Introducing me to a lot of this. Thank you Boy1 for the memories of the KRSOne Concert.
Too many fools going for the twisted
they have insisted to lead with out
knowing where they are going
the Blind lead the blind anyway
that is why I will stay with the righteous
Wisdom talking truth head rockers
And forget those fools out there just to be clocking dollars
Too many fools going for the twisted
they have insisted to lead with out
knowing where they are going
Love of the art starts with love in your heart
that is why I will stay with the righteous
Wisdom talking truth head rockers
And forget those fools out there just to be clocking dollars
Know love just don't speak it
experience peace throught the force of reconciliation,and restoration
Be it...be the blessing yall... this is the testimony inwhich i am a part.
jaw 2003
Too many fools going for the twisted
they have insisted to lead with out
knowing where they are going
the Blind lead the blind anyway
that is why I will stay with the righteous
Wisdom talking truth head rockers
And forget those fools out there just to be clocking dollars
Too many fools going for the twisted
they have insisted to lead with out
knowing where they are going
Love of the art starts with love in your heart
that is why I will stay with the righteous
Wisdom talking truth head rockers
And forget those fools out there just to be clocking dollars
Know love just don't speak it
experience peace throught the force of reconciliation,and restoration
Be it...be the blessing yall... this is the testimony inwhich i am a part.
jaw 2003
Monday, April 28, 2003
I went to visit a psyche professional today. To in part work at understanding better how my personality and the LA invironment together with stress has impacted my learning capacity and how to regain a sharper learning posture for the next phase of my life. "Everything we do in life is based on what we learn" jaw . It is interesting to reflect on how certain kinds of stress can impact learning. We as a culture need to wrestle with things like Garbarino's work on Children in danger, and raising children in a toxic environment...A link to some of his books on Amazon dot com.
Saturday, April 26, 2003
They say life is like a box of Chocolates
I wonder at the content and quality of this sort of life???
The victory of taste over faith and reason
Is as simple as a box of Chocolates
Without the insight and fortitude of Character
Indulgence wins every time
Now we have advertisements and marketing aimed at this
To entice you to buy more – even at the cost of Character.
The style of the enticement is so “cool” or funny
Commercials themselves have become
The object or our collective attention
Spirituality is about attention
If some form of Chocolates have the center of your attention
What will happen to the content and quality of your life,
and our life together
There is a sweeter center of life that is not bought nor sold
Rooted in giving and receiving God’s love
Rooted in the wisdom that will bless the generations
You can forget all of this for a Box of chocolates, a case of beer, a new play station game… a new car (and all the car payments) is what you need, can’t miss this movie, or that TV show, and
The monster of gluttony grows along with our greed
Life can be reduced to and so defined by one’s desires
One can forget who one is really; -- we call this addiction.
Consumption -- the chocolate factories, the cigarette companies, the Columbian cartel and our children’s favorite TV show
Are all dependent at their current levels of consumption…
Dependent on our greed.
They say life is like a box of Chocolates
I wonder at the content and quality of this sort of life???
I wonder at the content and quality of this sort of life???
The victory of taste over faith and reason
Is as simple as a box of Chocolates
Without the insight and fortitude of Character
Indulgence wins every time
Now we have advertisements and marketing aimed at this
To entice you to buy more – even at the cost of Character.
The style of the enticement is so “cool” or funny
Commercials themselves have become
The object or our collective attention
Spirituality is about attention
If some form of Chocolates have the center of your attention
What will happen to the content and quality of your life,
and our life together
There is a sweeter center of life that is not bought nor sold
Rooted in giving and receiving God’s love
Rooted in the wisdom that will bless the generations
You can forget all of this for a Box of chocolates, a case of beer, a new play station game… a new car (and all the car payments) is what you need, can’t miss this movie, or that TV show, and
The monster of gluttony grows along with our greed
Life can be reduced to and so defined by one’s desires
One can forget who one is really; -- we call this addiction.
Consumption -- the chocolate factories, the cigarette companies, the Columbian cartel and our children’s favorite TV show
Are all dependent at their current levels of consumption…
Dependent on our greed.
They say life is like a box of Chocolates
I wonder at the content and quality of this sort of life???
Sunday, April 20, 2003
I recently received this email about Barbara J. Buckland:
Buckland - Barbara J., August 2, 1942 ˆ April 14, 2003, died peacefully at
Surrey Memorial Hospital. Predeceased by her parents, she is survived by
her brothers, Don (and Sarah) and Richard (and Mary) and her aunts and
uncle, Mollie Sarvela, Kirstine Griffith and Sandy and Miram Buckland.
Her many friends and relatives delighted in the joy and happiness she
brought to each day and will miss the courage and faith she showed in her
battle with cancer. A celebration and memorial of her life will be held at
the Church of the Epiphany at 10553 ˆ 148th Street, Surrey, BC, Canada at 12
noon on April 22, 2003. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the
charity of your choice.
A loss is felt personally when someone takes to heart your own journey in life and somehow becomes part of that journey. Barbara naturally did that by her courage to grow in love. (Gal 5:6b, II Peter 1:3-11)
I first met Barbara as a Fuller student in Jude Tiersma Watson’s class Introduction to urban Missions. I had brought two friends into Jude’s class to share a little of their life’s stories with the class. That evening she began to pray for Willie Hartsfield. The care in her heart for Willie continued for all the years she was at Fuller and long after she graduated and moved back to Canada. Willie soon after that class made choices that landed him in prison; Barbara continued to pray for him and corresponded with him regularly. Willie also began to entrust his own thoughts, cares, and concerns to her and began to pray for her when he discovered that she had cancer. She became one of the tangible evidences for Willie that Christians have learned something about the source of love rooted in God (Eph. 3:14-21).
Jude and I were also recipients of her letters. What we will miss is far beyond just the joy of getting mail; -- we will miss her voice and the kindness expressed in those letters. Willie will miss the mail even more than we will simply because she continued to remember him over these five years while he was in prison. And now he will not be able to thank her for her caring thoughts of him. Every sign of love makes a profound difference. She maintained correspondence across the miles with a good number of friends. I am wondering if there will be any effort to collect these letters and keep them for the sake of the church. So much of the wealth of souls living out of the heart that God gave them for the world in mission is meaningfully preserved for the rest of the church to reflect on by their collected letters and journals.
If anyone is inspired to write Willie at this time his address is (for the next year or so):
Willie Hartsfield D08585
450-2-60 Low
Avenal State Prison
PO Box #9
Avenal, CA. 93204
Buckland - Barbara J., August 2, 1942 ˆ April 14, 2003, died peacefully at
Surrey Memorial Hospital. Predeceased by her parents, she is survived by
her brothers, Don (and Sarah) and Richard (and Mary) and her aunts and
uncle, Mollie Sarvela, Kirstine Griffith and Sandy and Miram Buckland.
Her many friends and relatives delighted in the joy and happiness she
brought to each day and will miss the courage and faith she showed in her
battle with cancer. A celebration and memorial of her life will be held at
the Church of the Epiphany at 10553 ˆ 148th Street, Surrey, BC, Canada at 12
noon on April 22, 2003. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the
charity of your choice.
A loss is felt personally when someone takes to heart your own journey in life and somehow becomes part of that journey. Barbara naturally did that by her courage to grow in love. (Gal 5:6b, II Peter 1:3-11)
I first met Barbara as a Fuller student in Jude Tiersma Watson’s class Introduction to urban Missions. I had brought two friends into Jude’s class to share a little of their life’s stories with the class. That evening she began to pray for Willie Hartsfield. The care in her heart for Willie continued for all the years she was at Fuller and long after she graduated and moved back to Canada. Willie soon after that class made choices that landed him in prison; Barbara continued to pray for him and corresponded with him regularly. Willie also began to entrust his own thoughts, cares, and concerns to her and began to pray for her when he discovered that she had cancer. She became one of the tangible evidences for Willie that Christians have learned something about the source of love rooted in God (Eph. 3:14-21).
Jude and I were also recipients of her letters. What we will miss is far beyond just the joy of getting mail; -- we will miss her voice and the kindness expressed in those letters. Willie will miss the mail even more than we will simply because she continued to remember him over these five years while he was in prison. And now he will not be able to thank her for her caring thoughts of him. Every sign of love makes a profound difference. She maintained correspondence across the miles with a good number of friends. I am wondering if there will be any effort to collect these letters and keep them for the sake of the church. So much of the wealth of souls living out of the heart that God gave them for the world in mission is meaningfully preserved for the rest of the church to reflect on by their collected letters and journals.
If anyone is inspired to write Willie at this time his address is (for the next year or so):
Willie Hartsfield D08585
450-2-60 Low
Avenal State Prison
PO Box #9
Avenal, CA. 93204
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Just read the poem below and in response, I send a
little appreciation of a little gift. This is from a subway
ride last week, when my hands were chilled to the point of
pain:
Underground, my hand finds comfort
where the cold chrome has been warmed
by another hand.
Love,
Tink
This was e-mailed to me by one of my aunts -- Thanks!!!
little appreciation of a little gift. This is from a subway
ride last week, when my hands were chilled to the point of
pain:
Underground, my hand finds comfort
where the cold chrome has been warmed
by another hand.
Love,
Tink
This was e-mailed to me by one of my aunts -- Thanks!!!
A Musing about Life
Witness Life
Witness Death
Tell the truth with your song
Take time to bless
Be remembered as a blessing...
For It is better to offer our lives to the living
...and our souls to the living God
Ponder life
Stay amazed
Every moment of life we have is a gift
...share the gift
Witness life
Take time to bless
Ponder life
Worship God with gratitude...
Joy beyond what words can say
comes to those hearts that realize how to receive
every “good” of life as a gift
Humble gratitude
Child like in wonder... Yet submitted to God
Witness... Tell the truth with your song
...share the gift
Live
Live Righteous
Witness... Tell the truth with your life
...live the gift
Jaw1
Witness Life
Witness Death
Tell the truth with your song
Take time to bless
Be remembered as a blessing...
For It is better to offer our lives to the living
...and our souls to the living God
Ponder life
Stay amazed
Every moment of life we have is a gift
...share the gift
Witness life
Take time to bless
Ponder life
Worship God with gratitude...
Joy beyond what words can say
comes to those hearts that realize how to receive
every “good” of life as a gift
Humble gratitude
Child like in wonder... Yet submitted to God
Witness... Tell the truth with your song
...share the gift
Live
Live Righteous
Witness... Tell the truth with your life
...live the gift
Jaw1
As we get older and know more people we will find ourselves overseeing and witnessing the whole of the human life span more and more consciously if we care to pay attention. Birth and Death, Weddings and Funerals, Celebrations and real reasons for tears — what matters the most is that we do not lose our capacity to love (Matthew 24)... even in a world gone wrong. “God help me look at life as it really is and continue in your Love. In Jesus Name Amen.”
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Daily Meditation: April 16
by Henri Nouwen; from Bread for the Journey , Harper Collins, New York, 1997
To Let the Word Become Flesh
Spiritual reading is food for our souls. As we slowly let the words of the Bible or any spiritual book enter into our minds and descend into our hearts, we become different people. The Word gradually becomes flesh in us and thus transforms our whole beings. Thus spiritual reading is a continuing incarnation of the divine Word within us. In and through Jesus, the Christ, God became flesh long ago. In and through our reading of God's Word and our reflection on it, God becomes flesh in us now and thus makes us into living Christs for today.
Let's keep reading God's Word with love and great reverence.
by Henri Nouwen; from Bread for the Journey
To Let the Word Become Flesh
Spiritual reading is food for our souls. As we slowly let the words of the Bible or any spiritual book enter into our minds and descend into our hearts, we become different people. The Word gradually becomes flesh in us and thus transforms our whole beings. Thus spiritual reading is a continuing incarnation of the divine Word within us. In and through Jesus, the Christ, God became flesh long ago. In and through our reading of God's Word and our reflection on it, God becomes flesh in us now and thus makes us into living Christs for today.
Let's keep reading God's Word with love and great reverence.
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Saint Patrick has been someone we have been thinking about and learning from in LA InnerChange this season before easter. Christ is risen... what does it look like to live that way with confidence...
[4/14/2003 3:08:26 PM | John Tiersma Watson]
Jude and I watch a little TV together Saturday night. We do not do this very often. TV has a negative effect on me. I get lost in it too easily. Still Funny home videos are worth a good laugh. I am usually disappointed when we watch the news on TV. Public radio seems to work better for us and Jude can get the weather on the internet. Videos and DVD’s are better than TV with commercials. I would rather read a book or write in my journal, but that requires a certain amount of inner stillness and focus. The path of least resistance is often not a friend to our souls.
Jude and I watch a little TV together Saturday night. We do not do this very often. TV has a negative effect on me. I get lost in it too easily. Still Funny home videos are worth a good laugh. I am usually disappointed when we watch the news on TV. Public radio seems to work better for us and Jude can get the weather on the internet. Videos and DVD’s are better than TV with commercials. I would rather read a book or write in my journal, but that requires a certain amount of inner stillness and focus. The path of least resistance is often not a friend to our souls.
[4/14/2003 3:07:07 PM | John Tiersma Watson]
Nikkei had her birthday party in the neighborhood. It was a big community gathering with over 50 people in attendance. I like how family oriented these gatherings can be. I wish that for the young men that drinking beer wouldn’t be the main pursuit. In these gatherings it is always striking to me how difficult it is for young men to find a healthy path.
Nikkei had her birthday party in the neighborhood. It was a big community gathering with over 50 people in attendance. I like how family oriented these gatherings can be. I wish that for the young men that drinking beer wouldn’t be the main pursuit. In these gatherings it is always striking to me how difficult it is for young men to find a healthy path.
[4/14/2003 3:06:15 PM | John Tiersma Watson]
Saturday was about visitation. What a privilege to go to people’s homes and seek to offer encouragement and insight. Hope is fuel for the soul. Hope in God roots us in this reality with the expectation that good can flow through our lives – even in crucifixion. Evil in itself is not good; we don’t “Do evil that good may come out of it”. Rather nothing is beyond God’s power to redeem (except the refusal to embrace redemption when it comes). What a privilege to speak into people’s lives the courage to live.
Saturday was about visitation. What a privilege to go to people’s homes and seek to offer encouragement and insight. Hope is fuel for the soul. Hope in God roots us in this reality with the expectation that good can flow through our lives – even in crucifixion. Evil in itself is not good; we don’t “Do evil that good may come out of it”. Rather nothing is beyond God’s power to redeem (except the refusal to embrace redemption when it comes). What a privilege to speak into people’s lives the courage to live.
[4/13/2003 11:51:29 PM | John Tiersma Watson]
Today a friend from the neighborhood called in the AM and joined Jude and I at church... we enjoyed lunch together... He says he likes our church because the pastors speak clearly and plainly and that the people aren't judgemental. Late afternoon I played some cards with two young teens -- Jose and Jesus. Jude and I had a good walk... during the walk Boy paged me ... we decided to hang out at a local coffee shop in the ... I wrote some letters while he studied "The Rise of Western Civilization" for a history class.
Today a friend from the neighborhood called in the AM and joined Jude and I at church... we enjoyed lunch together... He says he likes our church because the pastors speak clearly and plainly and that the people aren't judgemental. Late afternoon I played some cards with two young teens -- Jose and Jesus. Jude and I had a good walk... during the walk Boy paged me ... we decided to hang out at a local coffee shop in the ... I wrote some letters while he studied "The Rise of Western Civilization" for a history class.
[4/12/2003 12:23:49 AM | John Tiersma Watson]
Today has been about spending some time with Jude... Writing a friend in Jail... Giving out a few copies of my web based radio show to a few neighbors... Figuring out my taxes (Thank you Paul S. so much for your help!!!)... and long conversation with Werner Pastran (a good friend and one of the members of LA Street Productions).
It also has been about reflecting on the joy of friendship and the realities of pain.
Joy of seeing Jude smile in that special way that says without words -- I love you.
The Pain of seeing the Rockwood Street Gang and the 18th Street gang cross out each other's tags and the knowledge that violence and death can follow such markings on our public walls.
Joy in seeing Melanie in her role of serving Communidad Cambria... Showing us a little fruit of her labours on behalf of the building and the community that lives there...
Pain in listening to my friends discuss where to buy the most beer at the cheapest prices as they plan a far from sober weekend...
Joy in sharing a cup of coffee on our fire escape with Jude...
Pain in knowing that my friend Werner is planning to move to San Francisco -- I will miss you bro... Keep you focuss and keep the faith...
Joy as Paul describes his plans to get together with his love interest Ardith...
Pain as I write out a $900.00 check to the Federal Government as what I still owe in taxes...
fun... playing a few Daniel Amos songs on our car's CD player...
Tasty food brought home by Jude after meeting with Chris A. from Savoys... one of our favorite local Thia restaurants...
There is no greater Joy than to know the source of Love in this Universe and to discover that God wants to pour out that love into our hearts and through our hearts.
Today has been about spending some time with Jude... Writing a friend in Jail... Giving out a few copies of my web based radio show to a few neighbors... Figuring out my taxes (Thank you Paul S. so much for your help!!!)... and long conversation with Werner Pastran (a good friend and one of the members of LA Street Productions).
It also has been about reflecting on the joy of friendship and the realities of pain.
Joy of seeing Jude smile in that special way that says without words -- I love you.
The Pain of seeing the Rockwood Street Gang and the 18th Street gang cross out each other's tags and the knowledge that violence and death can follow such markings on our public walls.
Joy in seeing Melanie in her role of serving Communidad Cambria... Showing us a little fruit of her labours on behalf of the building and the community that lives there...
Pain in listening to my friends discuss where to buy the most beer at the cheapest prices as they plan a far from sober weekend...
Joy in sharing a cup of coffee on our fire escape with Jude...
Pain in knowing that my friend Werner is planning to move to San Francisco -- I will miss you bro... Keep you focuss and keep the faith...
Joy as Paul describes his plans to get together with his love interest Ardith...
Pain as I write out a $900.00 check to the Federal Government as what I still owe in taxes...
fun... playing a few Daniel Amos songs on our car's CD player...
Tasty food brought home by Jude after meeting with Chris A. from Savoys... one of our favorite local Thia restaurants...
There is no greater Joy than to know the source of Love in this Universe and to discover that God wants to pour out that love into our hearts and through our hearts.
[4/10/2003 4:44:01 PM | John Tiersma Watson]
I am very Glad to have Jude back from her travels to Cambodia. She was away for about 2 weeks. The flight itself took 17 hours. Her contribution to the conference that she spoke at was well recieved -- A view of life passages and it's impact on mission. She is now resting and will hopefully be back in the swing of life by Monday -- "Lord Willing".
I have heard from some of you that the Cambodia section of the InnerChange website isn't up and opperational. I will check on that. We have started a ministry to those who are living with HIV and AIDS in Cambodia. Anyone out there feeling called to a challenging compassionate ministry???
[edit]
I am very Glad to have Jude back from her travels to Cambodia. She was away for about 2 weeks. The flight itself took 17 hours. Her contribution to the conference that she spoke at was well recieved -- A view of life passages and it's impact on mission. She is now resting and will hopefully be back in the swing of life by Monday -- "Lord Willing".
I have heard from some of you that the Cambodia section of the InnerChange website isn't up and opperational. I will check on that. We have started a ministry to those who are living with HIV and AIDS in Cambodia. Anyone out there feeling called to a challenging compassionate ministry???
[edit]
Larae Screen is a friend of mine who is one of the most high strung naturally intense artists I know. She and I at times differ in the way we see the world. Her words are persuasive and she has often led me to new thoughts and insights. I am thankful for our friendship and conversations over the years. chek out her website!