A friend told me his police academy instructo r said, "My job is to get you to quit." The law enforcement pedagogy – difficulty uncovers commitment, capacity & character, or lack thereo f.
A long time ago, in a land not far away (I live about 20 miles from my first home), I was a 14 year old experimenting with ways to ruin my life, partly because I could and partly because my broken family life left me wanting. My risky business could have ended poorly. Thankfully, I met some people who had a mentor teaching them how to live a good life. I was intrigued. Three years later I went from student to novice teacher. 40 years later I'm still helping others learn how to live a good life.
In the Spring of 2015 I was invited to meet with Orange County's top cop – Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. My new friend Tom Thorkelson, Director of LDS Interfaith Relations, thought I would find the meeting valuable and surprisingly so, I might contribute to it. Reverend Mark Whitlock of Christ Our Redeemer A.M.E. Church , a black pastor with extensive experience interfacing with multi-racial communities, hosted the event. Sheriff Hutchens wanted to proactively engage community leaders before our County faced an event of Ferguson or Baltimore proportions. Her instincts could not have been more spot on and timely.
The invitation to my first Muslim Ramadan "iftar" – the meal breaking the day's fast – was a privilege afforded me as a member of Orange County, CA Sheriff Sandra Hutchens' Interfaith Advisory Council. I was warmly welcomed as an honored guest to a delicious meal enlivened with engaging conversation. A very informative video explained Ramadan and the iftar meal. I was humbled by the infrequency of the discipline of fasting in my own spiritual journey, let alone an annual, month long, daily dawn to sunset fast.
Pope Francis pontificated , "One is not a Christian if he speaks about walls not bridges." Donald Trump testifies , "I'm an Evangelical, a Presbyterian." The central question for any Presidential candidate who claims to be a Christian is this: Are you a disciple of Jesus?
I have extended family visiting Hawaii. Bummer, I wasn't invited. I wish I was there. I like to say, "In my mind, I'm in Hawaii." I can hear the water. I can feel the balmy breezes. You know, Maui on the Mind.
I stood at the deli counter next to a solidly built guy sporting a tank top and board shorts likely beach bound on a beautiful Spring afternoon. I overheard him say, "I make the best potato salad from a recipe I got from my mom" as the attendant handed him two large containers of potato salad.
The mission of Jesus College to "Lead Apprentices to Master Love" is guided by the words of Jesus, especially John 15. In our steps learning to be His followers, we have come across an agricultural concept that has illuminated our pathway. It is called "Dry Farming". The parallels are staggering. Consider the concept of Dry Farming, it's back story, the quality yield and time demands associated with Dry Farming.
34 years ago I had a fleeting moment of brilliance divinely timed with a young woman's fleeting moment of blindness. I asked her to marry me, and amazingly so, she said yes.
Ten years ago on the proverbial freeway to Damascus, Jesus apprehended me. I wasn't blinded. I gained sight. I began to deconstruct, unshackle and leave behind my will for God's life. I found a wardrobe into a Kingdom that had been there all along. I started learning how to simply follow Jesus.
