January 01, 2009
Happy New Year!
Just a quick post to thank all of you who have read and subcribed to this blog over the last few years. Over the course of its short life, you've taken quite a few journeys with me around the globe and for this I'm very very thankful!
2009 promises to be a very interesting and special year for joshuacase.net. I promise, if you've traveled with me this far, you're gonna love what the next 365 have in store for us!
A couple of things to be even more excited about in 2009 from joshuacase.net:
1. More great interviews from the Nick and Josh podcast;
2. More postings from my readings/listenings/monthly selections as a blogger for the Ooze, and other publishing houses;
3. Increased theological, political, sociological and justice related reflections;
4. Monthly guest bloggers to figet with your imagination!
As ever, thanks for reading, and I look forward to your comments in the coming days, weeks, and months!
Peace and bon courage for 2009!
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 01:06 AM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2008
An End of Summer Detox- Day One
Over the last several months Laura and I have had our fair share of stress, transitions, and new beginnings. It continues to be quite a trip!
Yeah, yeah, we've managed things, and have even managed to have some time off and away with family. You may remember blogs from the last few months about our trip on the Camino de Santiago, our final days in Geneva, and most recently, our Family Tour 2008. All of these are sort the markers along the way from the last few months of the change that has been going on in our world, and the world around us. Well, as we enter into the newest and next stage of life here in the US, the part when things get more regular and more routine, we are venturing into a 7 Day Detox.
I am guessing it was about two years ago when Laura got the book and started reading up on it. No, it didn't take her that long to read the book, but it did take us that long to come to a place where we thought, now is the time to do this. We've done several other shorter fasts and detox cleanings, but this will by far be the longest and most rigorous! Kind of exciting, and kind of daunting.
Day One- Simple: Drink Water and Eat Nothing
Today has been pretty simple aside from the fact that I drove back from Tuscaloosa to Atlanta this morning and sadly, could feel that my body was lingering in wait for the coffee to hit the system. But, no coffee came. After about two hours, normal-you-are-now-awake body stuff kicked in and all was well. Its amazing how much my body has depended on the caffeine and otherwise to get rolling.
From a mental and emotional stand point I've found today pretty interesting in regards to the fast. Yes, I woke up knowing that I wasn't going to get anything but water today (or tomorrow), did this set in motion my body's response to things already? Was my body thinking as I slept "conserve energy" or something of the sort? It'll be interesting to experience again that clear mindedness that comes from the distance in chemical stimuli. I've done other fasts before, but a good cleaning every once and while I find helpful.
The interesting thing about the book we are using is that it also brings up the notions of mental and emotional health as a result of the fast. It doesn't speak in terms of the spiritual implications for fasts, but it certainly leaves the door open for those who are leaning that way. The interesting thing is, that Laura and I had each done respective fasts affiliated with religious holidays or festivals long before thinking about or considering fasts for mostly health reasons. Now it seems we are getting back to our bodies which, is incidentally, very much about our souls. Its an exciting synchronicity to experience.
I'll post more the next few days about the Detox experience. There are a few things I am excited about, like: lots of fresh fruit and vegetables (starting day three). And there are a few things I am curious about, like: taking charcol tablets to absorb the free radical toxins being released. Yeah, Charcol!
peace...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 03:21 PM
July 25, 2008
Why I Love Beginners!!
There are a few reasons why I love to deep sea fish when there are people who never have on the boat:
1. There is always the option for sea sickness (this year however, both my brothers got sick;));
2. There is always the opportunity for really silly questions to be asked (for instance: if the fish pulls really hard, should I drop the pole in the water? Answer: NO!);
3. There is no question, that the first-timer always catches the biggest fish!!
My niece Macy caught her big fish for her first trip. After the first 20 minutes and little sickness she said, 'I don't like this.' 30 minutes later, she was on top of the world after landing a boat record 41lb or 19Kilo King Mackerel!!
Yeah, we are alive and doing well. 5 more days of vacation!
peace..
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)
July 08, 2008
Living with the Browns and transitioning stories
Laura and I have been and will continue to live the Browns off and on over the next couple of months. While we have already found an apartment, we've yet to furnish it. So, the ever so gracious Josh, Anna, Jack, and Bubba (aka Little Bit Brown) are letting us share living space with them.
So far, its been a blast, and now that Laura and I are on the Family Tour 2008 we're actually missing them. But the FT08 has been quite a trip so far:
1. Not only did I get to attend the largest wiffle ball game you might ever imagine, but we had a 4th of July BBQ at my parents place for about 50 people. This wiffle ball game has become something of a legend in the neighborhood/city/community of Eutaw Alabama, and well, it lived up to its legendary status with our team winning two out of three games 8-6, 2-5, 5-2. Yeah, it was the stuff of legends. But not nearly as legendary as this, or this.
2. A great fish tale. Yeah, I am back in the South, which also means that among other things, I spend time with family doing things that I haven't done in years. This time, namely bass fishing. My brother step-father and I all went over to one of our lakes on the 3rd and well, I shocked the world. How, you might ask, by catching a whopping 8lb+ large mouth bass. My brother was more excited than I. And would still continue to say, 'I'd love to catch a fish that big, but I might go my whole life and never catch on that size'. Talk about not knowing what I was getting into. LUCKY! Well that, and as I heard my brother describing it a friend, 'yeah we can't believe Davy Crockett came home and caught something like this already.' Yep, thats me;)
3. Golf with Dad, Uncles, and Grandpa. Yep, I've already gotten quite a bit of golf in. I lost a bit of pocket money the first day, but didn't play that bad. Now, I'm preparing to play in a tournament with my grandfather next weekend. He's getting old, but he can still play some golf. He wanted to play in the tournament one more time. I am glad I am getting to play in it with him!
4. Flat tires and talking nieces. Yesterday while driving to pick up Laura's mom from work, i ran over a roofing tile that covered all the lanes and popped two tires on the car. I've also been able to spend time with nieces Ellie and Emilie. Wow, Ellie can talk. And talk. And talk. And talk. Its truly cute cause she'll say anything. I'd love to recreate Pearl with her, but the family isn't too interested. But did I mention she could talk?
I think that is probably it for updates for now. I sense that the transition back to the American culture is going well, and every once in a while, I hear myself say something and I have to say it again differently. I've been laughed at, corrected, and mocked for saying certain things in certain ways, but I'm not really too bothered by it. Again, I'll just have to contextualize my language and the like. Cause ifin I dont, I mite jus git into moore trouble than tis worth. GBA!
I guess the only real negative thing about not being in Atlanta (or close) right now, is that I just missed Obama. But hey, we will be blue come November!
More photos to come of the Family Tour 2008.
In via...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 03:41 PM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2008
Apple=Community Part 2
So a few weeks back I posted a video about Apple culture. Well now, even more of what we-who-love Apple suspected is proving true according to Josh Brown.
Josh recently posted this blog about Apple culture in which he described the sense of relief with retail-that-works-for-good and a memorial service (of sorts) for one of the 'family' of the Apple store he now works at.
Here is part of the post:
"I’ve had so many positive experiences being a part-time specialist. And I hesitate to even write about the positive things that I’ve experienced because I don’t want to step on any toes by blogging about work. All that to say, I went in as a part-time specialist being pretty skeptical of the retail world. Granted I love Apple computers and have had both the hardware and software enrich and make my life easier for years. But I wrongly assumed that just because it was a retail company that it would be similar to my other prior retail experiences. And my hang-ups with commercialism in general.
I was wrong. Apple has been amazing. And the culture you become a part of when you use an Apple computer is only that much stronger when you become a part of the growing family who work for the company."
Read the rest here.
Again, as we all suspected, at least those of us who love Apple, it is more than a consumer good. It is a culture and a community to which we belong. Even after interacting for a brief period this week with Josh and his co-workers, they love what they do, and the goodness they add to the lives of those they care for.
Stay tuned for more updates of life in the community called Apple.
plotting goodness...
joshua
Posted by joshuacase at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2008
A Beautiful Day
Today was a good, no, a beautiful day.
First, we attended Holy Trinity Church Geneva where there was a baptism service. The children were so cute and none of them budged during the service. Furthermore, Micheal French did a great job of describing the purpose and place of rituals and symbols and in our world today. After the baptisms, we prayed this Profession of faith:
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Beautiful.
Then, Laura, David (brother-in-law) and Chelsea (sister-in-law) went to Shema, our community. It was a another rich experience. David and Chelsea played a few songs, and as a community we discussed the nature and place of the gospel in or lives. It was rich. One of the songs David and Chelsea played was Vito’s Ordination Song by Sufjan Stevens. Here are the lyrics:
I always knew you in your mother’s arms
I have called your name
I’ve an idea placed in your mind to be a better man
I’ve made a crown for you, put it in your room
And when bridegroom comes
There will be noise, there will be glad
And a perfect bed…
And when you write a poem
I know the words, I know the sounds
Before you write it down
When you wear your clothes I wear them too,
I wear your shoes, and your jacket too
I always knew you in your mother’s arms
I have called you son
I’ve made amends between father and son
Or if you haven’t one
Rest in my arms, sleep in my bed
There’s a design to all I did and said
Rest in my arms, sleep in my bed
There’s a design….
Finally, the four of us went up to the Saleve for a snow walk. It was so beautiful. Here are a few of the photos. It was so beautiful.
Notice the moon. It was as large as I could get it. I need a new lens I guess?
Again, a beautiful day...and we didn't let it get away.
Amen....
joshua
Posted by joshuacase at 10:19 PM
December 01, 2007
World AIDS Day 2007
(HT: IUSY)
International statistics
Last Updated: November 2007
People living with HIV
33.2 million people worldwide
30.8 million adults
15.4 million women
2.5 million children under 15
New HIV cases in 2007
2.5 million total new cases
2.1 million adults
420,000 children under 15
AIDS deaths in 2007
2.1 million total deaths
1.7 million adults
330,000 children under 15
HIV by Region 2007
Sub-Saharan Africa
22.5 million adults and children living with HIV
1.7 million adults and children newly infected with HIV
5 % adult prevalence
1.6 million adult and child deaths due to AIDS
South and South-East Asia
4 million adults and children living with HIV
340,000 million adults and children newly infected with HIV
0.3% adult prevalence
270,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
East Asia
800,000 adults and children living with HIV
92,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
0.1% adult prevalence
32,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
Eastern Europe and Central Asia
1.6 million adults and children living with HIV
150,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
0.9% adult prevalence
55,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
Caribbean
230,000 adults and children living with HIV
17,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
1.0% adult prevalence
11,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
Latin America
1.6 million adults and children living with HIV
100,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
0.5% adult prevalence
58,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
North America
1.3 million adults and children living with HIV
46,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
0.6% adult prevalence
21,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
Western and Central Europe
760,000 adults and children living with HIV
31,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
0.3% adult prevalence
12,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
Middle East and North Africa
380,000 adults and children living with HIV
35,000 adults and children newly infected
0.3% adult prevalence
25,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
Oceania
75,000 adults and children living with HIV
14,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV
0.4% adult prevalence
1,200 adult and child deaths due to AIDS
-------------------
You don't have to be or know a person who is HIV positive for these facts to make you sick. AIDS is a global pandemic and as people of this age we must do something about it.
Yesterday I suggested a couple of things we could do to get our heads around AIDS in our communities. In hindsight, maybe our heads are the problem. Maybe, less than knowing the issues, we need to know the people. Maybe, less than facts, we need hearts of compassion. Maybe, more than the out of giving, we need to discover the art of caring.
AIDS hasn't happened emerged in a vaccum. Societies, people, global economies, health structures, and religions have all aided and encouraged its spread through the last century. No one is innocent.
Watch this story about a group in Kenya working within a community of AIDS victims. Combining care, practical health, and important medicine, this group is seeing change happen. It's not the only story out there, but it is one.
commit to care and be changed!
joshua
Geneva, Switzerland
1 December 2007
Posted by joshuacase at 10:24 AM | Comments (0)
November 30, 2007
World AIDS Day ACTION!!!!
My friends in Geneva at the Anglican UN Office Geneva have just released a report entitled, "Working Together!? The Anglican Response to HIV & AIDS in Africa". It is a good comprehensive read. If you click on the title, you can down load the pdf. Here is the article about the article.
The report took quite a bit of work and was complemented by not only CAPA, but UNAIDS as well. My friends Mike, Paul, and Ruth (among countless others) will have invested deeply in this report!
As we approach World AIDS day tomorrow, it is very important that we as a fragile humanity continue to keep this pandemic squarely in front of us. After the first 40 million people died, AIDS surpassed the Black plague in deaths. This isn't a disease that plays around, and it will not be eradicated through passe answers or shouting to people infected with the disease from the couch to change their lifestyles. No, this disease needs the attention and affection of us all.
So tomorrow, on World AIDS day do something. Take 30 minutes and do some research on how you can help people who are being effected and infected by this disease. Sure, Africa is great place to start, but why not ask how many people in your local community are affected by the disease? What's being done in your neighborhood, city, province, state, canton, or country ? Do people feel free to tell others they have the disease? Do people who have it have to live in shame or is there a place of sanctuary and care for them? Has the outbreak of AIDS been on the rise in your community or on the decrease? Why? Who is caring for those infected and their loved ones...really?
All of these are just questions that are on the tip of the iceberg. Regardless of where or how you live, AIDS is effecting the world in which you live. We can make it such that this disease does not become, as Bono suggests, 'the crisis by which we will all be judged by God and history'. We must act now.
Here are a few organizations to look into:
UNAIDS
AIDS Alliance
International Coucil of AIDS Service Organizations
Take a breath. Take an action. Care.
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 09:30 AM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2007
Thursday is for Greg, and Thomas..together!
Greg Boyd has been getting loads of feedback apparently about his entry entitled, "Washing Osama's Feet". Here is a link to his most recent entry, which is a follow up entry, entitled, "The Worst Heresy Imaginable".
On Tuesday I didn't manage to get up a Tuesday is for Thomas, but maybe, that wasn't so bad. The question of 'who is my neighbor' and 'who is my enemy' is one that Jesus continually wants us to ask. In fact, from generation to generation, the answer to this question changes quite often. The portrait and conversation that Greg is having is quite a tough one in light of the person that Osama represents; however, we must ask the question, who is my enemy and how would Jesus ask me to treat them?
Thomas Merton, in 1961, was facing quite a different enemy. In fact, in his journal entry of 12 November of that year, he begins to wrestle with the way the enemy is illicting response from people within America..where he is living as an monk in Kentucky. He writes:
"I must pray more and more for courage, as I certainly have neither the courage nor the strength to follow the path that is certainly my duty.
With the fears and rages that possess so many confused people, if I say things that seem to threaten their interests or conflict with obsessions, then I will surely get it.
It is shocking that so many are convinced that Communists are about to invade or destroy America: "Christians" who think the only remedy is to destroy them first. Who thinks seriously of disarming? For whom it is more a pious wish, beyond the bounds of practicality?
I need patience to listen, to learn, to try to understand, and courage to take all the consequences and be really faithful. This alone is a full-time job. I dread it, but it must be done, and I don't quite know how. To save my soul by trying to be one of those who spoke and worked for peace, not for madness and destruction."
Indeed, knowing how to love as Christ would in this age of madness will be confuddled at best. People who choose to follow Christ's call to love extravagantly will be persecuted for their sense of passionately offering grace as Jesus modeled. People who work to provide humanitarian kindness as Christians might be misunderstood as trying to replace the gospel with works. Neighbors will become enemies, enemies are already our friends, and maybe most confusing of all, which religion or nationality one possesses won't mean squat.
As we move increasing towards the advent season, I hope that we will rediscover a ancient way of active longing. A longing that is described in Isaiah 2 as 'for the last days'. A longing that led Jesus Christ to live in a particular way; a way which is a way of goodness, and mercy, and justice for all. A way of living which leads others to that discover that deep longing for the time when,
"The mountain of the LORD's temple
will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore."
Indeed, may we reflect this season how Christ's humble coming and practical demonstration has prepared us to live differently for our age. And how this living will call out to others, 'there is another way,' 'we can achieve peace for our time.' May we who can, do. May we who pray, seek. May we who love, love extravagantly.
may peace and grace be yours today as you seek to love all, and to serve all...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2007
Four Years Today
Today Laura and I celebrate four years of marriage together. Unfortunately, she is in Oklahoma, en route to Denver for her brothers wedding, and I am here in Brussels.
As we were reflecting together the last couple of weeks on this year and the last several years of our marriage, we've made several concrete decisions on making sure we are being very deliberate with our planning of time together, on our resting together, and on learning more and more about each other.
We're young still in marriage compared to many, but, we're excited about where we are and who we are becoming.
enjoy life. enjoy your unions. love together...
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 05:26 PM | Comments (5)
June 20, 2007
An Uncle
Early this am, I became an uncle (again). This time, it was my brother's wife (Selena) who had the baby.
Get ready, because this is going to happen a few more times this summer! Not to mention the friends who will name me honorary 'uncle'...joshing...
congrats to us!
jc
ps. thanks to james for posting these photos!
Posted by joshuacase at 09:22 PM
June 15, 2007
Obama and A Prayer for America (Voters & Policies)
If you are not an american, its still worth a watch. And by the way, I believe your voice matters!
As one friend pointed out in a recent discussion, 'the presidental election matters to the world because the election has the capacity to influence lives that have no say in who gets elected'. Oh the beautiful tragedy of global politics and policies.
A Prayer for America, American Voters, and American Policies
Dear God- Let the American people understand the importance of their policies and politicians. Let them come to understand how to vote responsibly in Presidential and local elections. Let all who can vote, act justly in voting even if it means going against long held family convictions about 'party'. Let America once again understand how to bless the world even if it means not being the best, most talented, largest, most economically rich country in the world. May America humbly empower through policies of selflessness and sacrifical acts of globalized empowerment.-Joshua Case, Geneva, Switzerland 2007
peace, grace, and justice for all...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 03:45 PM | Comments (1)
June 03, 2007
Seriously good conversations...
Here are a couple of conversations that made me laugh or, that i enjoyed following this week. They are not all funny, just like me;) I did need a little bit of lighter stuff this week as we had two major fundraising events on Friday and Saturday. They were good, but there was quite a bit of busyness going into them.
Enjoy and reflect:
The Tall Skinny on 'Offensive language: I Think My Mother Taught Me'
Josh Brown's honest reflection at 'I'm Back'
Thinking Outside the Bunn's 'memorial tournament's fashion critic'. All I can say is LUCKY!!!!!
SmuloSpace's "Questioning the logic of not drinking'.
And last but certainly not least: PrezVid's 'More mouths, more babes'. Wisdom of youth?
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 11:26 AM | Comments (2)
May 28, 2007
Time with family
As i mentioned a few posts back, I've spent some time with my dad and step mom the last couple of weeks as they have been visiting. Among other things, it has been good to get out and have an excuse to take photos..lots of photos.
Here are a few from Lauterbrunnen and Lucern in Switzerland and Rome in...
They are uncut, and put to video, but i hope you enjoy them. They are a variety!
peace...
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 06:43 PM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2007
Birthdays and a brush with greatness!
Yesterday i had a very weird experience! I was walking through Geneva with Lammert and couple of friends who are visiting when right in front of me walked Kofi Annan.
At first sight, i paused. Was it really him? No gaurds. Alone? Walking in Geneva on a sunny afternoon? In my hand i had my Nikon D50 with 70/300 lens so, it went through my mind, should i be paparazziand just start clicking photos? Should i say hello? Should i point him out to the others now or wait? I was paralyzed and my heart fluttered. What in the heck was wrong with me? Well, i thought, this is Kofi Annan...
As we walked closer the 'what I would say came to me'...but should i say it? Should i say, excuse me secretary general, I just wanted to say thank you for the great job you did in leading the UN..and I can I also say, I am sorry for the way that my home country didn't support you and your initiatives in the ways they could have? You did a great job. And i just wanted to say thanks!Should I say it? Should I let it pass.......
And then, he passed us. Brushed by if you will. On his way. Sure, I pointed him out to the others, but i did not say a thing.
Looking back I am little sad i didn't say anything. But then again, maybe next time. After all, now that he has a place in Geneva and will be spending a little more time here working on his new initiative maybe there will be other chances. Other opportunities to chat. And who knows, maybe by then, I'll be ready...and so will he.
In other news, today is my wife's birthday. Yep, another year has passed and I think, it's been a good for her. At least that what she tells me. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY WIFE! I LOVE YOU!
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2007
Nicholas and Leslie Video (Part 1)
Our friends Nick and Leslie posted thier first video (of several promised) of thier trip to Geneva. It is below. I'll post some photos soon from the visit as well.
Posted by joshuacase at 01:23 PM
April 28, 2007
Visitors, friends, and photos oh my!
Over the next few days our friends Nicholas and Leslie are visiting us from the USA.
We met Nicholas and Leslie...well actually, I guess we met them through a few different internet communities we were a part of. Over time, we began ichatting and calling regularly. Now, after having spent New Year's Eve with them in Birmingham Alabama, they are visiting us here in Geneva.
It's great to have them here. The next few days they'll be getting quite an overview of Geneva and getting to spend some good time with us as we go about every day life. Tomorrow we'll spend lots of time with the Vrielings, and the Shema community.
Here are a couple of photos I took today while we were about:
Nicholas, Leslie, and Laura
Stay tuned for more stories, lots of laughter, and more photos of this adventure!
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2007
Children See and Do
Recently I had a mother from Geneva send me this video under the title- 'Very True'. At first, i thought, 'ok- maybe I'll watch it but it probably another silly video'. Now, I am glad i watched as it is...very true!
There is another interesting conversation happening at Jason's Clark's blog based on a post by Dean around the question of whether youth are 'emerging' as well. In my first response you can see my thoughts; however, i think this video says some of the same things!
What do you think?
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 01:54 PM | Comments (2)
February 20, 2007
Ideas for Lent
We are officially entering into the Lenten season tomorrow. If you are looking for some ideas, maybe this site is for you. It looks cheesy, but if you live in Europe and sign up for the text messages, who knows. Maybe, just maybe you will get some good ideas. Here is an article from the Telegraph about the site and Lent.
Also, Molleth is writing a bit on her journey into Lent with 30 Days of Nothing. Maybe another idea? Or Skinny Kiwi?
More on Lent tomorrow and what my wife and I will be doing...or not.
peace...jc
ps.
and why not check out Nicholas Fiedler's blog on 'being wrong'? Maybe we could give up being right for Lent? There's a new idea...thanks nicholas!
Posted by joshuacase at 05:08 PM
February 15, 2007
Remembering my wife...today
I had hoped to use yesterday as an ideal opportunity to express my devout love for my wife on this blog...but i missed that chance. And despite the fact that many believe as Nicholas Fiedler points out that 'much of the story of St. Valentine may be more legend than fact", I still choose to celebrate it with my wife. To use it as an opportunity (outside of anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions) to remember my love for her.
Rememberance is a key i find to all things special in life. Far too often we go through life just living, just working, just doing and make very little time to step aside and remember the deeper things of life. Things like love, grace, peace, laughter, sorrow, or joy. Yes yes..you might say, these emotions and experiences are all good and normal to the human (and possible animal) experience, but why is remembering them so important to you?
For me, rememberance was one of those things that Jesus sought to model for us. Not necessarily just as a thing to do, but as something much more sacremental...much more deliberate and intentional. By stopping to remember things like my love for my wife, i am actually being intentioanl about bringing them to new life in this present moment. The same is true of joy...the moment we pause and seek to remember joy as it was or has present in our lives...isn't that when we are gifted with an opportunity to bring it into this present moment in a fresh and living way? Like giving a plant a fresh drink of water? Like openning the blinds of our soul that the living rays of light may warm the cold dark places?
Indeed, on this day, i remember what yesterday gifted to me in rememberance....that i am married to a wonderful, loving, compassionate, gifted person. And she, my life-partner, makes me experience life differently or more fully and/or some times a little more maddeningly as we journey together.
And maddness as we all know...is not a bad thing at all! Just ask Plato.
jc
for comments..as i am still getting my spam issue solved...email here
Posted by joshuacase at 10:24 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2007
In Honor of Ruby Dell Belvin
The end of my trip to the US for Christmas has taken a couple of weird turns. The one which i am least excited about it the amount of time i have spent thinking about death. Yeah, "happy new year".
Just the other day i attend the funeral of Ruby Dell Belvin. A woman aged 86 years old who was good friends with my family for many of those years. Towards the end of her life she was not very healthy, but she still sought to serve and love the same as she always had. Indeed, she had throughout the years of my life, formed what i know was an amazing legacy of faithfulness.
You see, if there was very much that one could count on, it was Ruby Dell. She was faithful. She was consistent. She was a servant. More than during times of crisis, or need, Ruby Dell loved people during the normal times of their lives.
As we all gathered at her funeral there was an amazing sense (at least for me) that in the silence of her service of others, in the diligence of her coming to see you every birthday, every holiday (without fail) she formed me in a way i want to be. That i, outside of return, outside of fame, outside of self, want to love and to serve and to be with/for people in a way that they know they can count on me. That in death, my service and faithfulness to others stands out. Yes, Ruby Dell formed me. Today, i honor her.
If you pray, please pray for my grand parents. Specifically, my grandmother Jeanie and my step grand father Virgil. They are both taking treatments right now. Her for potential breast cancer and memory loss, he to decrease the swelling in his brain after a stroke.
Edna St. Vincent Millay:
"Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned"
Posted by joshuacase at 05:14 PM
December 13, 2006
Crackberry Addiction: Signs of the times
The following article is in many ways an indication of the signs of the times. Living and working in Geneva there are loads of people who seeming live via their blackberry. Although i think i know several people who are doing pretty good at balancing work, family, and the "crackberry" (as it is beginning to be called globally) experience, i can also say i know far more who don't.
I'd also be willing to admit, if i thought i could manage life with one (or afford the monthly costs in Europe), I'd get one. But alas, there in lay the problem.
I was once in Starbucks writing when i watched a young women from the UK get up from where she had been having a coffee and cake with her boyfriend to go to the toilet. As she left the table, he reached into his pocket. Looking around, he quickly turned pulled out his blackberry and turned it on. As he was just beginning to scroll i could see her coming, but i did not tell...i waited. As she arrived back to the table to see him scrolling away on the blackberry. As she smacked him on the head a flood of verbally abusive and yet deeply emotive language came out as she screamed about how all she had requested was two days of no work. Two days of no blackberry. Two days just for her.
These my friends are the signs of the times; we must, at all costs learn to unplug; even if in some cases that means remaining online. Electronic media is not bad. Our inability to be present with those nearest to us is what is bad.
Maybe i should petition the makers of Blackberry to put a warning on the label? A warning which says: "Warning: The following device has the potential to create the sensation of hyperconnectivity. Such sensations maybe dangerous to your health and extremely addictive. Blackberry recommends that users turn off the mobile device for no less than 6 hours per day to ensure normalcy in personal and/or family living."
I don't know, maybe i'm wrong.
Posted by joshuacase at 02:29 PM | Comments (1)
November 26, 2006
A couple of days with Laura...
The last few days I've spent with Laura. Normally, in the US, we'd be celerbating all weekend with family over the Thanksgiving holiday; however, this year we merely celebrated a meal with our friends at the American Episcopal church and took some time for ourselves.
On Friday, Saturday and today, we committed just to spending some quality time together. We saw a movie, visited Chateau Chillon, walked around the Christmas Market in Montreux, and went and hit some golf balls today. Good fun. Next Saturday Laura is off to the US where I'll meet her in Kansas on the 18th.
This morning, we celebrated communion with our friends at Holy Trinity Church. Today htc, as part of the Anglican communion, celebrated with representatives from the Barabados mission in the 40th anniversary of their independance from Britain. Yep, quite an act of reconciliation i think. Was special to be a part of.
Also interesting was the homily. Mike French based the first part of his homily after the quote, "no man is an island". He went on to say to the ambassador of Barabados, " i regret to tell you sir, but your country is not an island. And neither are any of our countries." He proceeded to stress the unity of the created order under Christ the King and true reality of our interdependence one to another; no matter the species, no matter the kind. Well done Mike.
Posted by joshuacase at 03:03 PM
November 12, 2006
Choosing church, for the church
I've been listening and reading quite a bit lately on "the church" and various people's response to the church's failure to live up to its beliefs. Having come myself from a "mixed-bag" experience of Christ in and out of the institution, I've come to realize that i am not so sure what is most necessary for christianity is a mass exodus of marginalized Christ-following consumers from the institution.
In fact, in some places, i wonder whether or not the ecclesiastical remnant within various cathedrals, buildings, and parishes actually speak to the longevity of the institution, and of God's choosing it within particular contexts globally. The church, as an institution has always existed. Even if it was not called "the church" within ancient christianity. Even if it was called "the city" or "the gathered people". The earliest followers of Christ were deeply devout, extremely institutionalized in their humility, and quite frankly, very formed by their religio-cultural heritage.
A couple of reflections on reclaiming the institution:
The church in France- I could be wrong, but i've heard from several friends living in france and looking to plant new churches, that often this initiative is met with great skepticism. In fact, I've come to hear that starting a "culte" is actually a very difficult systemic thing to do. Options: 1. start a house church and avoid the bureaucratic skeptics, 2. Join the recognized institutional system and take 5-10+ years to bring reformation to the existing reformed and catholic church.
Which do you think most people choose? And why?
A tabernacled community has been God's way of forming people and communities to follow after God. Not just the people, the readings. Not just the rituals, the Spirit. Not just the clergy, the layity.
It seems to me, that what we need is a neo-structural approach. I think its hard to see. I think its hard to find. I think when addressing the rejection of structures we must ask questions about whether or not the structures are out-moded, out-dated, or simply without people passionately infusing the structures with life. Afterall, its not the structures themselves that have life, its that which is brought to them, and mediated out of them by those who choose to engage with them.
I can honestly say that I'm not talking about reclaiming the ways of a mere-institution for the institution's sake; no, I'm actually trying to ask what incarnational Christianity looks like in the church? What can i bring with my passion and with my community to a structure that will out last me and you, and others. What parts of my preferences need to be sacrificed or put aside so that new life is gifted from within the places where there is currently no apparent life, or passion, or joy. And yet, even that sounds judgemental. For i would think that many people today would say, there is no place where there is no life, only the places where it has yet to take up residence.
Maybe its just me? Maybe i just don't want to be assumed to be against the institutions of this world. Good or bad. There are systemic problems globally. The goal should never be "down with the system"! No, I think Jesus actually calls us to something much bigger, something much more radical. Something much more engaging.
Posted by joshuacase at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2006
Thinking about things to come...and plotting goodness
Last night Laura and I went to a Geneva pre-screening of the movie An Inconvenient Truth. It was quite compelling. Over the course of an hour and forty-five minutes, sitting in a packed movie theatre, we watched as the story of climate change was unveiled before our eyes. Sure, I've been in conversations with others all over the world about how the myth of climate change really is a myth. And, well, i guess at times i've thought that it was ok to think about it, and to act if an opportunity was given. But this movie...this movie was good; especially if you are looking for a reason to get involved in making a difference in the world.
The facts themselves are compelling. And possibly, for many, the most difficult part of the movie and of the whole issue of climate change is that people will have to experience that this is a moral and scientic issue; not just as a scientific issue. That the numbers do add up. That we do, as Dr. Mark Smith suggests, have just one planet is critical to our efforts and actions on earth.
The other side of this story is that we can make a difference. Even if we do not buy the climate change "myth", people of every religion (Christianity especially in my case) must make sure that their worship of God includes an deep understanding of how the actions of our lives make us good stewards of the good creation. It's no longer just about whether we grew the right crop in the right field. It's no longer about whether we ought to spray for misquitos in our neighborhoods. Yes, these issues do matter; however, we live in a global village and local actions can have global consequences. We can make changes in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our parishes, in our cities, in our countries which will have lasting effects on the environment, and thus, every living creature. The decisions that we take, the actions that we choose, reflect our desire to be about the plotting of goodness (or of evil) for the next generation.
And this my friends, is the true challenge of plotting goodness: that we recognize that the smallest of decisions in our faith-centered lives give opportunity for greater goodness to come into being for the age to come. And, that we recognize we must begin to make changes in our personal lives which greater reflect the Good News of a good people, compelled by our deepest of convictions, to look after a Good Creation.
Again, the movie was quite compelling. If you haven't seen it, i recommend it. But don't go see it alone! Take one, two, five or fifteen of your friends with you and talk about it afterwards. Ask each other: "how is this information going to effect our daily and community lives? How might we as friends, reflect to our community, our city, our world, that we feel we need to be looking after our world in a more radical, and sustainable way?"
Let me know what you come up with....plotting goodness....
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 09:37 AM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2006
The Miniature Earth
I cannot with 100% certainty verfiy all of the statistics in this video; however, i still think it is worth thinking about. There's no music, but i have the feeling if you listened to "One" by U2, it might make for an interesting combination. Try it and see what you find.
Posted by joshuacase at 01:54 PM
Brian McLaren on Values for American Voters
On Jim Wallis' blog, Brian was asked to respond to a conversation between Jim and Ralph Reed. In his response here, Brian makes three suggestions as to "what three values voters should value the most." Check it out.
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 10:39 AM
September 17, 2006
Our space
I'm not sure if people find this blog first, or my other site first, but i wanted to direct people to the media section of our (Laura and I) Whole of Life website. There you will find photos we take through the year. Particularly as they relate to life and community happenings.
peace...jc
Posted by joshuacase at 12:07 AM | Comments (0)
September 07, 2006
An increasingly interesting conversation...among friends
Recently, a group of friends in the US started a comversation together on christianity and the church. Leslie, Eric, Nick, Josh and Anna have been blogging over the last week about their struggle with the American church's expression of christianity. As much as a struggle with the "church", theirs seems to be a struggle with the way leaders have treated them, practices have been passed down, and bridges have been burned in the name of tradition. From firings, to bait and switch; from the gift of plastic leadership, to the soulful longings for community, this group of friends is processing what i think is found in a question(not to be simplistic or reductionistic): "what in the world do we do when it seems like the Christianity we've always known...and been told looks like "x"...doesn't work in our real lives....or even in those who lead us?"
And, just so they aren't just names or blogs...and we remember they are people, here are photos....because the moment we forget people are behind words..and feelings...and thinking...and healing... is the moment we feel more confident in our capacity to respond with words...and not love...or grace...or time...or process...
Sorry Anna- couldn't find a photo...
Posted by joshuacase at 04:54 PM
August 28, 2006
Me, and Tiger
Well, unlike Tiger Woods who won yet another trophy for his mantle yesterday, I lost the iamjoshbrown competition to Leslie. It was a hard fought attempt, but i was unable to come back from her efforts earlier in the week.
So i had a wierd experience yesterday as i was waiting for the updates on the computer come through..shot by shot, hole by hole. I thought...you know, Tiger is married now. I wonder what married Tiger is like compared to single tiger? I mean, all these years he had family, and millions of others cheering him on. Calling out his name, and now, amid most of the voices, he has Elin, his bride, his wife, his friend. And i wonder, what kind of husband is he? How is his capacity to woo his wife compared to his capacity to hit long drives.
And just as these thoughts were passing through my head, i remembered...Tiger's not so different from me. He has responsibilities, he has passions, he has faith, he has family, he has fears, and he has friends. Sure, he's the greatest gofler in the world, possibly the greatest ever, but when it really comes down to it, I think he'll measure his success not by the amount of trophies on his wall, but by the way he loved those around him. By the way he chose to be husband, father, and friend. I could be wrong, but i think there is that depth to him. I think he's that kind of a guy.
Well done Tiger. And thanks to all of you who tried to help me win. Maybe next time...maybe next time...
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 08:53 AM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2006
Return of the wife...
After about a week apart, Laura has returned today to Geneva. I find it funny how one begins to grow accustomed to having the other intricately built into the rhythms of one's life. It is as if when the other is not there, things are...well...different.
As time passes I can only imagine the way that the ryhtms of life with partner grow increasingly formed. Waking, sleeping, and eating are already patterns that have been formed for me, even after a mere 3 years. No wonder older couples find life changes with death and sickness so monumental.
It's good to have her back.
Posted by joshuacase at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
August 10, 2006
Proud husband
Here are a few more photos from the deck of the boat we fished in in July named, "My Way". Here is a photo of my dad, my brother with his Wahoo catch, and my wife Laura reeling in one of her many Mahi Mahi. I am not sure if I mentioned it or not, but on the day of our trip, we limited out on Mahi Mahi and caught "60"
Laura fishing
My dad
My brother, the one without glasses
Posted by joshuacase at 10:04 PM | Comments (3)
July 24, 2006
Children of Men
There is a movie coming out in September that is sure to be a hit. More than hit, it'll probably provide many of us with some hope, thoughts, and material for processing life in the age of terror. For those of us who are entering into the "it's time to have kids stage", it might also provide us with a little more food for thought about our children.
I first heard about the movie from a new friend called Nicholas Fielder You can watch the trailer here.
More than anything, its seems like the hope of this group comes from a group of people planning and thinking their way towards a newer better form of civilization called "the human project". I wonder when it comes to faith and religion in the world, whether religions like Christianity or Islam are know for being for humanity or against humanity. For me, the trailer makes me really contemplate what religion ought to be for in civilization. How can, in my instance, Christianity, make a positive contribution to the sustainable growth of a hopeful civilization in the world, for the world, in the age to come
I can already hear some people saying it, "but isn't Christianity about being "other worldly", "Aren't you just focusing too much on this world, when God is concerned about more than these 'temporary' things?" Yeah...I hear ya...let's chat...
Posted by joshuacase at 06:39 PM | Comments (0)
July 23, 2006
Vacation Muscle memory
There is a debate among different friends of mine over whether or not there actually is a thing called muscle memory. Some say yes, some say no. Regardless of which side you find yourself, I can certainly tell you that vacation muscle memory has always been a struggle for me.
Every year, I enter vacation hoping to just enter into rest. To get to my destination, and to just relax. Well, as you might have guessed it, its not that simple. Life it seems, builds muscles that say: work, effort, worry, anxiety, work harder, do better, there's no rest for the weiry, if you don't do it no one else will. All these muscles make vacation for me a difficult thing to enter time after time. And yet, time after time, when i am relfecting on these thoughts and feelings, i think, "next year will be better". Next year, I'll be more balanced and will not need the time to adjust. Next year...next year... next year...Something has got to give.
To make matters even worse, laura and I have been reflecting on the way it seems so many people here tend to define recreation and vacation. Does getting to the beach with your cooler of snacks, ice, and beer at 11:00 and sitting under an umbrella till 3:30 or 4:00 constitute recreation? Are you actually doing your heart, mind, soul, and body the justice it needs to recreate? Or is this just a passive recreation that amounts to more of the "consume and do nothing" mentality of so many in the world today?
As we thought about it, we've come to hope that we are living more of an active recreation, both personally and corporately. That we are in healthy ways being and doing recreation for ourselves and for those around us. That while we need times to sleep in, and to just be, we also need to understand our part for recreation and vacation. Like fishing, or grilling, or golfing, or playing tennis, or running. These kinds of active activities that actual says to time, you are mine, and i want to be recreated through activity not through over passivity. We'll see. Right now, I'm just enjoying watching the mastery of Tiger at the Open Championship. What a player!
Posted by joshuacase at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)
July 21, 2006
Alas, the beach...
Laura and I have arrived at the beach in Florida where we will be spending some good time together. We're really excited about the first four days of the trip as we will get that time alone before some of the family comes South. It'll be great to get this time together, and with family!
In other news, I have undergone my annual facial cleansing. Yep, I've shaved off, or down the majority of the facial hair. Always feels cooler when i do that. And with 100+ F days, it is needed! If you are lucky...photos to come!
As a disclaimer as well, whenever i recommend books and movies on this site, it ought to be understood that it doesn't necesarily mean that I endorse all of the teachings or thoughts therein. Just that I trust people's ability to read, reason, and take the good from those things which they read and watch. Please remember this disclaimer, especially as with many blogs, there are readers from all over the world. The diversity thus articulates that those who read from one part of the world will find relevance in some things that those from other parts will not. Oh the crisis of the in between worldliness of global culture.
I am looking forward to doing some blogging and during this vacation. For me, it's part of vacation...writing that is..
Posted by joshuacase at 06:06 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2006
Preparing for the homeland
Laura and I have began our preparations for Alabama and Kansas. We will be heading towards the homeland on none other than July 4th. Play the cheesy patriotic music....It seems quite ironic for us to be traveling on this day, especially in light of our recent feelings about Geneva and Europe.
Truly, we feel as though our recent placement in Switzerland is less about a place to be, and more about the place we have come to call home. Interestingly, time will tell if this too shall pass. The community at Shema, and the team at YFC Geneva, both serve as great contexts for life, exploration of mission, and places of genuine friendship.
If you are in the Kansas City or Tuscaloosa area and want to connect during July 4-August 12th, please contact me at: joshuacase@mac.com.
Posted by joshuacase at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)
April 03, 2006
My friend the adventurer
My friend Jared Waits has had another run-in with the grand adventures of life! Its amazing the things that some people get to experience. Check this article that gives a good (even painful) descritption of his recent snow ski "vacation" in Utah, USA.
Jared, take care of your self man! Live well, live wise!
Posted by joshuacase at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2006
First day of Lent
My first day went well. I did not think that giving up something as silly as tv (just one of the things), was actually going to be something of a challenge. In Hind sight, my wife and I had truly let the thing creep into our routine! Living in quite a small apartment, it seems as though we had just created a routine whereby we sat down to eat, and watched a tv series...or...threw in a movie. It seemed sensible. Like a good way to relax together and to just be.
Last night, as we were preparing dinner, it occured to both of us the real lack of time together around the house that did not include noise. It was refreshing to talk. To listen. To be.
Thank goodness for lent. Thank goodness for my wife! She really is lots of fun and a very beautiful person! It may sound trite, but it is refreshingly true!
Posted by joshuacase at 07:29 AM | Comments (0)