Where is the Global Warming? January 30, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog, Breaking News , add a commentWhere are the supposed global warming effects?
A rare snowstorm swept the Middle East on Wednesday, blanketing parts of the Holy Land in white, shutting schools and sending excited children into the streets for snowball fights. The weather in Jerusalem was the lead story on local newscasts, eclipsing a government report on Israel’s 2006 war in Lebanon. Men in long Arab robes pelted each other with snowballs in the Jordanian capital, Amman, and the West Bank city of Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian government, came to a standstill.”I am just astonished with the snow. When I saw the snow this morning, I felt happy, my heart was laughing,” said Mary Zabaro, 17. In Amman, where a foot of snow fell, children used inflatable tubes as sleds. Some roads were temporarily closed. Snow covered most mountain villages and blocked roads in Lebanon. The storm disrupted power supplies in most Lebanese towns and villages, exacerbating existing power cuts. Parts of the Beirut-Damascus highway were closed. Temperatures in Syria dipped below freezing and snow blanketed the hills overlooking the capital, Damascus.
Girls were throwing snowballs in front of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem today as Jerusalem and its holy sites were covered in a blanket of snow on Wednesday. Up to 8 inches of snow fell in parts of Jerusalem, closing schools and many shops.
Happy Birthday Sue! January 29, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog, The City, Breaking News, Family, The Cultural Conversation, Culture and Faith , add a commentJust a quick wish of the bestest birthday to the love of my life, Sue Lavey, who is enjoying her birthday week this week. You will always be the best!
It’s a New Year — Can You Go Without? January 26, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Breaking News, Technology, Methods & Strategies, Tech Tips , add a commentAs our new warehouse ministry center gets closer to opening and I begin a long transition from staff to the marketplace as CEO of a social network for sports fans, I was reminded this week that while
technology has made so many things better, we are beginning to get caught in a mobius trap where there is no down time and we are always connected. So I ask you….
Can you agree to keep the cell phone, IPod, Wii, game Boy, laptop, desktop, Mac Airbook and other assorted technolgy gadgets off during your vacation and alow yourself to experience a revitalizing time of rest and renewal.
Can you do it?
Look at what the results of a recent survey on whether people could unplug on their vacation:
An AP-Ipsos poll found that one in five people toted laptop computers on their most recent vacations, while 80 percent brought along their cell phones. One in five did some work while vacationing, and about the same number checked office messages or called in to see how things were going. Twice as many checked their email, while 50 percent kept up with other personal messages and voice mail. Sizable numbers are interrupting their unwinding time to check in at the office and, even more so, to keep up with the social buzz. Reasons vacationers performed work-related tasks included an expectation that they be available, a worry about missing important information, or in some cases the enjoyment of staying involved (Source: Associated Press, June 1, 2007, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18983920/).
Chicago Named 1 of 10 Alpha Cities in World January 25, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog , add a commentAccording to the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group, Chicago is one of the 10 Alpha Cities in the world, based on its position as a a global service center. Just one more reason to live and work here in this “City in a Garden”. The GaWC summarizes these global cities as:
Although there is a general consensus on which are the leading world cities, there is no agreed upon roster covering world cities below the highest level. This paper reports the construction of an inventory of world cities based upon their level of advanced producer services. Global service centres are identified and graded for accountancy, advertising, banking/finance and law. Aggregating these results produces a roster of 55 world cities at three levels: 10 Alpha world cities, 10 Beta world cities and 35 Gamma world cities. These are found to be largely geographically concentrated in three ‘globalization arenas’, northern America, western Europe and Pacific Asia.
A. ALPHA WORLD CITIES (full service world cities)
London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Chicago, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Milan, Singapore
B. BETA WORLD CITIES (major world cities)
San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, Zurich, Brussels, Madrid, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Moscow, Seoul
Great Post: The Difference Between Excellence and Perfection January 23, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Breaking News, Urban Church, Methods & Strategies , add a commentAs I scour the blogosphere for nuggets of truth and wisdom, I came across Scott Magdalein’s blog, ReadScott.com, the Worship Leader for The Fellowship @ Celebration Baptist Church in Jacksonville Florida and I loved this post because for many of us, we struggle with trying to obtain perfection, from ourseleves, and also from our reports, teams, and volunteers. Read it and ponder….
The Difference Between Excellence and Perfection
Posted by readscott
January 10, 2008
This concept, although given to me from my spiritual leader, is profitable and applicable to all leaders, both in churches and in business.
I was in a meeting with my pastor yesterday to go over the new designs and video bumper we’re using for the upcoming series. We both enjoy discussing ministry philosophy and church strategy and that’s where this conversation ended up heading. I’m not sure about any church leaders reading this, but I really enjoy having chats with my pastor. If you have a stuffy, unapproachable pastor, I feel bad for you. It builds tons of respect when your pastor comes to your office to sit down with you rather than being called to his office to be in his environment. Sorry for the digression. I’ll get back on track.
We were discussing something specific to my ministry in our church, worship, when he said something almost revolutionary for me and the way I lead worship and mentor my team. You may think it’s trivial and you’ve known it all along, but for me it was eye-opening.
He said, “Excellence and perfection aren’t the same thing. Perfection is not making any mistakes, playing flawlessly and without error. Excellence is letting the talents God gave you express themselves to their fullest potential.” This isn’t an exact quote, but you get the idea.
His implication was that the pursuit of perfection (a pursuit that I thought was synonymous with the pursuit of excellence) will lead to disappointment because perfection is unattainable. If I pursue excellence in worship, not only is it attainable, but God loves bringing bringing the best out of us. This concept also effects the entire team; as individuals and as a whole.
If I expect perfection out of my team, they’ll fail every time. It’ll kill morale and hurt their trust in me as their leader. If I expect excellence, my team will experience complete fulfillment in their own ministries as musicians. And, if this is going to remain a ministry and not transform into a traveling group (it’s not), then getting my team to a place of fulfillment in their ministry is the highest purpose.
In what areas do you need to seek excellence and not perfection?
Clinton Embarrassed: “Hello Southwest Airlines?” January 21, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Breaking News , 1 comment so farBill Clinton must be burning the candle at both ends as he suffered huge embarrassment by falling asleep during Martin Luther King speeches today, while being seated in the seat of honor……ouch! — he needs a Southwest Airline ticket to take him somewhere, doesn’t he?
Seal Found of First Jeruslam Temple Servants January 17, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Breaking News, Church, Urban Church, The Cultural Conversation, Photos , add a commentA black stone seal found in an archaeological dig in Jerusalem adds more proof to a growing mountain of tangible evidence showing the accuracy of the Bible’s account of history. The seal, found in excavations taking place in the City of David just south of the Temple Mount, bears the name “Temech,” listed in the biblical book of Nehemiah as one of the families of servants in the first temple of Solomon who were sent into exile to Babylon after the destruction of the temple in 586 BC. The seal was found in stratified layers of previously unexcavated debris during the third excavation season of Eilat Mazar. Dr. Mazar works on behalf of the Shalem Center and the Ir David Foundation and under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
In the 5th century BC, the Persian King Artaxerxes i made Nehemiah governor of Judah to return to Jerusalem and repair its walls, which had been left in ruins since the destruction of the first temple. As part of this renovation project, a tower was built along the eastern ridge of the top of the City of David. This tower, and the city wall adjacent to it, were erected very quickly on top of several layers of debris.
Though it still stood until very recently, that tower was in a state of disrepair and ready to collapse. Beginning this past summer, Dr. Mazar and her team methodically dismantled it in order to reconstruct it, and then excavated the layers underneath that had been sealed for centuries by the tower’s construction. In that debris near teh Dung Gate lay this stone seal.
Photo: Edwin Trebels courtesy of Dr. Eilat Mazar
According to the Book of Nehemiah, the Temech family were servants of the First Temple and were sent into exile to Babylon following its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 BC.
The Bible refers to the Temech family in the Book of Nehemiah: “These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town,” [Nehemiah 7:6]… “The Nethinim [7:46]”… The children of Temech.” [7:55].
“Perhaps it is not by chance that the seal of one of the members of the Temech family was discovered in our excavations that is located only dozens of meters away from the Ophel area, where the Nethinim lived at the time of Nehemiah,” said Dr. Mazar, referring to Nehemiah 3:26. “The seal of the Temech family gives us a direct connection between archaeology and the biblical sources,” she said. “It is tangible evidence that relates to a known family mentioned in the Bible.”
This seal follows other, similar discoveries made in the same area in the City of David. In 2005, Dr. Mazar’s team found a bulla (a clay disc used to seal scrolls) bearing this inscription: “Jehucal, son of Shelemiah.” Jehucal was a royal officer who worked in the administration of King Zedekiah, Judah’s last king before going into Babylonian captivity during the sixth century b.c. He is referred to twice in the book of Jeremiah (37:3; 38:1). Another bulla, found years earlier, was inscribed with the Hebrew name “Gemariah, son of Shaphan.” Mentioned in Jeremiah 36:10, he was one of the princes of Judah during Jehoiakim’s reign. His father, Shaphan, worked for King Josiah (2 Kings 22:3).
“One cannot help being astonished by the credibility of the biblical source as seen by the archaeological find,” Dr. Mazar said of her latest discovery.
CAS: “We’ll Hear Landis Case” January 13, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Tour De France , add a commentReuters reports that Floyd Landis’s appeal of a doping ban that cost him the 2006 Tour de France title is scheduled to be heard by a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel on March 19, the rider’s attorney told Reuters on Saturday.
“We are really looking forward to appealing the (U.S.) decision and optimistic the CAS panel will view favorably for Floyd,” Maurice Suh said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. The New York hearing is the American cyclist’s final attempt to overturn a two-year doping ban. Last year, a U.S. arbitration panel upheld findings by a French laboratory that Landis had used synthetic testosterone in winning the 2006 Tour.
“We will prove, once again, that the French laboratory’s work violated numerous rules and proper procedure, rendering its results meaningless and inaccurate,” Suh said last year in announcing Landis would appeal the U.S. panel’s decision to CAS.
Chicago Leads Nation: 25-34 Year Olds January 12, 2008
Posted by Steve in : The City, Chicago, Urban Church, Chicago Fact, The Cultural Conversation, The Arts in the City , add a commentAs we have always said at Park Community Church, Chicago is a magnet for bright talented college graduates to come to a global city and begin their careers. This was affirmed this week in an article by Crains Chicago Business who reported that Chicago leads the nation in the concentration of 25-34 year olds within three miles of the city center.
Crains reports:
Human capital — a buzzword among economists — simply means people. Think of it as raw material made up of bankers, traders, consultants, advertisers, engineers, artists and others who, through brainpower and creativity, turn ideas into money. “The comparative advantage of cities is determined by how smart, how trained, how innovative, how entrepreneurial the people are in that city,” says Edward Glaeser, a Harvard urban economist who advised the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ study group.
Chicago’s human capital is strong. Among U.S. cities, Chicago ranks first in the concentration of young people (ages 25 to 34) living within three miles of downtown. It’s second only to New York in the number of those with college degrees. Its universities are world class. The University of Chicago has been home to 20 Nobel Prize laureates, while both the U of C’s Graduate School of Business and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management rank among the world’s best business schools. Chicago also has the quality of life that keeps people here — vibrant art and music scenes, restaurants, museums, parks and recreational facilities.
Read the whole article here.
Chicago Photo of the Week January 12, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog , add a commentAs we enjoyed the warm weather last week, here is a shot of the Chicago River with the Trump Tower prominent in the shot. Don’t we live in the best city in the world?
Source: Riva
VeggieTales Trailer and Questions: The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything January 11, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Fatherhood, Breaking News, Family, Movies, The Cultural Conversation, The Arts in the City , add a comment“The children’s franchise delivers an entertaining spoof as the vegetables find the heroes in themselves.” — LA TIMES
“Most Entertaining” - Hollywood Reporter
“Pirates imparts the Bible-inspired storytelling parents and kids have come to expect from VeggieTales in a less obvious but as-fun-as-always package.” - Christianity Today
DISCUSSION STARTERS:
Here are some questions from Christianity Today’s review to begin dialogue with your children once you have seen the movie:
1. Why do you think George, Elliot and Sedgewick feel that “guys like us will never be more than cabin boys”? Are some people just not cut out to be heroes? Why or why not? What do you think it means to be a hero?
2. If Elliot, Sedgewick and George are supposed to be normal people like us in the story, who does the King represent? Why do you think that?
3. Could the pirates have been victorious without the King? Why or why not? List the ways the King helps them throughout the movie. What do you think this movie says about your ability to do good things without God?
4. Each of the three main characters has a weakness that holds him back. What is a weakness that you feel holds you back? Why would God allow humans to have weaknesses like this to struggle with? Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. What does this mean? How do you see this illustrated in the movie?
Check out the trailers for this movie that opens today!
Trailers featuring the creators, Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki:
And the official movie trailer from Universal Studios :
Park Alumni: Veggietales Creators January 10, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog , add a commentThis weekend, the Veggietales “Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” opens nationwide. The creators of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer, Kurt Heinecke and Mike Nawrocki attended Park in the early 1990’s and many of the early character voices are played by Park people, including Kristin Blegen, Dan Anderson, Mike Sage, and Jim Poole, who is a co-founder of Steep Theater in Chicago. Park has had a long history of excellence in the arts and we are glad to see our alumni creating such excellent work! Get out there and check this movie out this weekend.
Besides its spiritual content, Nawrocki believes the Pirates film has a great deal to offer audiences. It’s based on some of the most popular VeggieTales characters — three wannabe pirates who are finally forced to become heroes. He described the film as part Pirates of the Caribbean, part Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and part Three Amigos.
Unlike many VeggieTales stories, the Pirates film isn’t based on a Bible story, Nawrocki said. There’s not an altar call at the end, and little mention of God. Instead, there is an Aslan-like king, who helps the pirates along their way.
The film is more of a parable. And while viewers will get a lesson about what it means to be a hero, Nawrocki says they’ll also have a good time along the way.”I love this story,” he said. “It’s well paced, and it’s a really funny piece of entertainment.”
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Many of you know that VeggieTales has had a roller-coaster history, one full of ups and downs and enveloped in God’s grace as the company had a big movie, yet succumbed to bankruptcy after selling more than 40 million kid’s videos. Vischer told that Big Idea’s past struggles were a lesson in faith. He, Heineke and Nawrocki made the first VeggieTales episode, Where is God When I Am S-Scared?, for about $60,000, working out of an unheated storefront in Chicago in the early 1990s. By 2003, Big Idea had sold more than 25 million videos and had more than 200 employees. The company had experienced one miracle after another, Vischer said.
Then everything crashed.
Sales flattened out, causing the company to struggle to make payroll. Instead of cutting staff, Vischer held out hope that God would save the company. If the Jonah film, released in 2002, had been a blockbuster success, all the company’s worries would have been over. While Jonah did well, grossing more than $26 million despite being made on a shoestring budget for a computer-generated imagery film, it didn’t save Big Idea. The company eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and was bought by Classic Media LLC.
Vischer, who had been Big Idea’s sole owner, lost everything in the company’s struggles. Yet he seems remarkably content. He told a writer “Back then, my whole identity was wrapped up in 80 minutes of celluloid,” he said. “You don’t want to be in a place where a single project can destroy your identity.” If the Pirates film is a success, Vischer said, he’ll be glad for it. If not, “then I’ll move on to what God has in store next.”
Join us for TRANSFORMED January 10, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Chicago, Sunday Services, Church, Inside Park, Urban Church , add a commentThis weekend we kick off a new series at Park called TRANSFORMED, that explores one of the most important books of the Bible for believers, the book of Romans. Through our study of the book of Romans, we’ll be answering some difficult questions and dealing with issues that are important to our Christian faith.
Romans 12:1 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Through this series, we hope to see our hearts transformed as we grow in our knowledge of Christ! Come ready to be challenged and inspired.
PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO THIS LIFE-CHANGING SERIES and join us at 10 am or 5:30 pm each Sunday at Torry-Gray Auditorium at Moody Bible Insititute (840 N LaSalle) or at 11 am at Francis Parker School (2233 N Clark St)
Vision Sunday January 9, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Chicago, Sunday Services, Church, Inside Park, Methods & Strategies, Missional , add a commentWow –what a great vision for a city center church!
On Sunday, Jackson Crum, lead pastor at our church, Park Community Church, gave an incredible message of what God has called us to and where Park is going as it marshalls its resources and people to effect change and renewal in the city of Chicago. Check out the excellent vision video created by our own Mark Walczak below:
Write Down Your Goals January 7, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog , 1 comment so farIn the book What They Don’t Teach You in the Harvard Business School, Mark McCormack tells a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program. In that year, the students were asked, “Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” Only three percent of the graduates had written goals and plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not in writing; and a whopping 84 percent had no specific goals at all.
Ten years later, the members of the class were interviewed again, and the findings, while somewhat predictable, were nonetheless astonishing. The 13 percent of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no goals at all. And what about the three percent who had clear, written goals? They were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together.
In spite of such proof of success, most people don’t have clear, measurable, time-bounded goals that they work toward. So, as you start out 2008, take the time to help achieve your dreams by putting your aspirations to paper. First, be specific with your goals and include a timeframe. Next write out three things you can do to reach each one. And finally, evaluate your progress every year. Start with family goals and work from there.
Chicago is the Most…… January 6, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Chicago, Chicago Fact , add a commentAs many of you know, I LOVE CHICAGO and all things about ti and believe that is ti the most livable, and best global city to live in around the world. As we begin 2008, I thought I would give you some of the titles Chicago holds as I Googled around the web.
Chicago is the most………
1. Caffeinated city in the US (Healthsaver survey)
2. Chocolate consuming city in the nation (Healthsaver survey)
3. Colas consuming city in the nation(Healthsaver survey)
4. Expensive place to buy cigarettes (retirementliving.com)
5. Studied American city— thanks to the birth of American sociology at the University of Chicago.
6. Accessible city in the country. The transportation hub of the Midwest, Chicago boasts the world’s busiest airport and is located at the intersection of the busiest interstate highway system. Approximately, 180,000 travelers pass through O’Hare International Airport daily. Chicago is the only U.S. city with three airline hubs, plus 50 commercial, commuter, and cargo airlines at O’Hare alone. When combined, O’Hare, Midway, and several small local airfields serve nearly 70 commercial, commuter, and cargo airlines with more than 300 daily flights to approximately 200 cities. All told, the Chicago area offers more nonstop flights than any other city. And, in an increasingly important global economy, airline carriers offer direct service from O’Hare to 60 cities around the world.
7. Important railroad center in North America. More lines of track radiate in more directions from Chicago than from any other city. Chicago has long been the most important interchange point for freight traffic between the nation’s major railroads and it is the hub of Amtrak, the intercity rail passenger system.
8. Visited U.S. destination for business travelers for several years running, according to a survey of business travelers fielded by Accenture, a global management and technology services company. This city is always adapting and improving to better meet the needs of convention organizers and their attendees.
9. Important Great Lakes port.
10. Searched City’ for Holiday Cards - CardsDirect.com
11. Ethnically diverse city in North America per capita. On the north side of the city, one out of three people is foreign-born.
12. Chicago is the most popular destination for Labor Day 2007 (priceline.com).
13. Important architectural city in America.
14. Bike friendly city in the country. Mayor Richard Daley is solidly behind initiatives to create a 500 mile network of bike paths and bicycle-friendly streets in Chicago. He wants Chicago to be the most bicycle friendly city in the United States. The Bike 2015 Plan is the City of Chicago’s vision to make bicycling an integral part of daily life in Chicago. The plan recommends projects, programs and policies for the next ten years to encourage use of this practical, non-polluting and affordable mode of transportation.
15. Popular site for national conventions of both major political parties; since 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was nominated by the Republican Party, 26 national Republican or Democratic conventions have been held in the city. (MSN Encarta)
16. Known world-wide center of Polish immigration. Poles in Chicago are more visible and spectacular group than the Poles in NYC. Even on the airport O’Hare in Chicago one can hear announcements in Polish quite often. Many custom officers are caring the badges with the information “Mowimy po Polsku” (We are speaking Polish).
17. Livable major city there is, major being places that are home to several million people or more.What makes Chicago so great is that it looks and acts like a big city, but it doesn’t feel like one. Unlike so many cities its size, its cultural and recreational charms come with some big benefits. You won’t break the bank to live there; rents and home prices remain relatively reasonable. It’s accessible by public transportation and car. And it’s looking spiffier than ever thanks to major beautification and redevelopment efforts. (Best Places to Live)
18. Ethnically and culturally diverse city in the United States, and probably in the world.
19. Expensive city to fill up your car’s gas tank, thanks to city and county taxes.
20. Dog friendly city in the US.
SEC Who?: Michigan thumps Florida 41-35 January 2, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog , add a commentDebunking the myth that the SEC is the premier conference, Chad Henne threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns, Mike Hart ran for 129 yards and two scores and the Michigan Wolverines upset last year’s national champions and No. 9-rated Florida 41-35 Tuesday in the Capital One Bowl to win their first bowl game since 2003.
Henne, Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham torched Florida’s secondary all game, as Arrington caught nine passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and Manningham added five catches for 78 yards and a score. The Gators (9-4) kept it close thanks to four turnovers and plenty of big plays by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and speedster Percy Harvin.
This is such a sweet victory because one of our Pastors, Joe Riccardi, is an avid Gator fan and a big trash talker, and is convinced at the superiority of Florida and the SEC. For him, I present this mocked up a post-game photo of he and Lloyd with the following caption:
After the game, Joe Riccardi went down on the field and wished Lloyd Carr the best and then Lloyd put his arms around Joe and with a big smile said ” The SEC is okay Joe but the Big Ten dominates!”
New Year’s Resolutions January 2, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog, Family, Methods & Strategies , add a commentEach year, I read about lots of people’s new year’s resolutions. Long lists of things they want to accomplish in the current year — many of which are abandoned before the long winter nights of February are through. I am not doing the list of 57 things this year.
This year, I am setting five simple new year’s resolutions:
1. Love God,
2. Love my wife well
3. Love my children well
4. Do well in leading others at work
5. Spurred on by a competition with my daughter — to read 52 books this year.
On the last resolution, iron sharpens iron and the more I read, the better decisions I make and the more I learn from outsiders that can help me understand, shape and clarify my views and my way of doing things.
First books up are:
“American Pharoah: The Story of Richard J Daley” – I love Chicago and it history and this is a great one.
“Now Discover your Strengths” - Gallup — Knowing what one’s strengths are is a good reflective exercise and allows you to see what other talents you need around you to succeed.
What are you resolving to do this year?
