Day 54: Camden, NJ

A house show at the Camden House. Zach did a few songs and then I played a bit. Zach's songs are great. And the wine was good.

Day 53: Camden, NJ

Holly and I drove around town today, snapping shots of all that was around us. Buildings, superfund and brownfield sites (radioactive landfills), houses, etc...









Someone along the trip told me that he believed Capitalism to be the Great Equalizer. Well, the last several days in Camden would lead me to believe otherwise.

I am no expert, but only an ear to hear some of the stories of Camden. Chris tells the stories way better than I could repeat them. Hope the pics can convey at least a glimpse of some of the stories...

Day 52: Camden, NJ

Crossed the Delaware into Camden, New Jersey yesterday via the Ben Franklin bridge. Spending a few days with our friends Chris and Cassie Haw at the Camden House, a sort of Catholic Worker Hospitality House in old downtown Camden.

Sunday morning, we attended mass with our friends at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. It was refreshing to be a part of a mass service, having been raised Protestant. I've been to mass but a few times and am genereally taken aback at how different the 'services' are from their evangelical counterparts. Like I said...Refreshing.

Spent some time with Chris and Cassie on a sort of 'Reality Tour' of the city. Camden is one of the most polluted, toxic ecosystems in North America it turns out. It's actually an interesting story of industry and it's environmental, social, and economics effects on a particular area.

We're doing a house show tomorrow (Tuesday) evening if you're in the area here at the Camden House. 7pm methinks.

Then we head to Fredricksburg, VA for a show at The Loft on Thursday.

Then a show Saturday in NYC. If you are taking the subway, it's the A to 190th Street.

So, if you read this and are even remotely in the area, please swing by.

The Kingdom in Photographs (4)

Day 50: BUY NOTHING DAY

Some hookah late in the evening of Day 49...




Then drove into downtown Philadelphia to set up shop in front of a large mall and encourage others to buy less and love more.

Lots to reflect on these days, but for now photos must suffice...












I might get back to words in the next few days.

Don't Forget

Today is BUY NOTHING DAY.

Let us curtail our amount of consumption this year. Buy less, love more, laugh out loud.

Create something. Explore your imagination. Dream a better world and create artifacts for that world.

Day 49: Thanksgiving in Philly

...at The Simple Way. A few photos for you...

Dave and Holly prepping the turkey... mmm...


Lunch and cloves in Dave's suite...




The Simple Way guest room that we've been calling home...


Thanksgiving dinner...



Shane cutting the ToFurkey...



And a little Hi-Lo dice game...

This week and next

We're going to be between The Simple Way and Camden House for the next several days. Internet may be spotty, and being that it's a holiday weekend, we might actually try to stay away from the internet for a few days.

Have a great Thanksgiving week. See you soon...

2006

So, I just thought I'd throw it out there, since we're beginning to plan beyond 2005...

We're gonna keep traveling for a bit. There, I said it.

States we plan on being in between Jan and April 2006:

California
Oregon
Washington
Arizona
Western and Central Canada (not the state, but the country)
Minnesota
Colorado
Texas

...and perhaps others, but those are on the map at this point.

We're hoping to continue the trip in a similar fashion. If you'd like us to come your way for a house show, please let us know. We're not looking for pay, just a chance to share stories/songs, meet people, and sell CDs.

Email me if you're interested.

Day 45: Spencerville, MD

Wonderful day. Journeyed from Baltimore to Spencerville to catch Brian speak at Cedar Ridge. Then Brian took us to lunch and invited us tag along to the Sojourners open house. It was a full day of Mexican food, conversations about theology, God, life, music, and what's ahead for all of us.



Journeyed from there back to Falls Church, VA for one last night with the Stavlunds.




Hard to believe that this week is Thanksgiving week...wow. Looks like fall outside. Sounds like summer back in Oceanside. Martin just sent me this pic from in front of our old apartment...



Some work today. Then heading to Philly to see friends at The Simple Way. Hopefully catch up with Jasen and Amanda this week as well.

Day 44: Baltimore, MD

Headed out from DC up to Baltimore to do a Habitat for Humanity benefit show with our friends Tim and Saranell Hartman (see below).


It was a wonderful evening and a great chance to see friends. We head south to see Brian McLaren and Cedar Ridge tomorrow and then back to the Stavlunds for some more Virginia-lovin'...

Day 41-43: Washington, DC

Been with the Stavlunds the last few days. What a wonderful time. We drove through the pouring rain for about 7 hours on toll-roads through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia (where the Stavlunds live) just to get here...

The last few days have been a beautiful chaotic whirlwind. Mike and Stacy have been some of the most gracious hosts on our pilgrimage from giving us their bed in their efficiency apartment to taking us around the city to setting up a house show to treating us to great food and conversation.

We have spent the last few days in heavy contemplation over the world in which we live. We spent a good couple hours at the Native American History Museum, feeling both indicted and responsible for what has happened to our abroriginal brothers and sisters over these last hundreds of years.

We have watched a documentary on the inequalities of the Wal-Mart corporation, seen a video of Bill Moyers, and talked extensively about our place in this world of brokeness. How do we imagine a different world and attempt to live in it in a non-escapist sort of way? How do we truly bring about goodness at our own expense, not always pointing fingers at others who are fucking it all up... I guess it begins with me.

So some photos from our time in DC thus far... more to come...

Day 40: Akron, OH

Got to see Paula and fam in Ohio. Wonderful. Did a house show with friends, relatives, and acquaintances in a wonderfully old, wooden home. The floor sang!





Tomorrow we leave for DC to stay with Mike and Stacy Stavlund. A fall storm looks like it will be following us there.

Some Photos

For those who think I write too much, some photos from the trip thus far...

Luke and a Big Rig

I was reading the following selection of Jesus' words yesterday as we drove by a truck with that sticker on it's rear.

You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding. You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry. Then you're ready for the Messianic meal. You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning. Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens–skip like a lamb, if you like!–for even though they don't like it, I do...and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this. But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get. And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it. There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests–look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never–I promise–regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

Did I Miss This?

It was recently revealed that Bush believes God told him to go to war - something that has been robustly challenged by Christians on both sides of the Atlantic.

This Friday

I'm so excited. I am going to be doing a house show this Friday night with my buddy Mike in DC that is one part concert and one part Wal-Mart Movie party.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the new film, please check out their website even if you cannot make it to the show.

Details on the show?

A House Concert with Ryan Sharp of The Cobalt Season
&
A Screening of WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Prices

207 'S' Street NE in DC at 7:30 on this Friday night, November 18, 2005

Day 38: Ann Arbor, MI

Journeyed from Western Michigan to Eastern Michigan...to the University town of Ann Arbor. How are University towns generally strongholds of culture? Perhaps it's simply that the bulk of people are exploring life, themselves, each other, their world, etc. University towns are typically refreshing...

Holly and I had a spare few moments, so we caught Good Night, Good Luck, which was a fantastic film. A McCarthy-era black and white film about censorship, corporations funding the news, and some daring souls seeking to present truth even when it went against the cultural and financial grain.

Then we were part of an experimental church service. First time I have sweared into a microphone in a church. Felt strange, but freeing to share my story in its truthful form.

Got some good sleep and then had breakfast with our friend Wendy. Learned about Counter Culture Coffee and how many of the FAIR TRADE COFFEE practices are not all they seem. Certainly coffee with that label has a certain amount of regulation that went into the production and purchase of it, but it doesn't always mean that it was the best-crafted situation. This coffee company is big on relationships and developing sustainable methods in farming for coffee farmers. All that to say, find out where your coffee comes from and who grows it and what the relationship with the farmers is like.

Some interesting exchanges in conversation the last couple days. Some things that I'll blog about in the near future. Today, we're off to Ohio to see Paula and do a house show with her. Sweet.

Day 37: Lexington, KY to Grand Rapids, MI

It was a sad morning. Leaving the Samsons and the rest of the good folks in Lexington was a bummer for us. But still, the road called...and we answered.

Headed north by northwest to Grand Rapids, MI to spend an afternoon and evening with the Buist Family. Good people. Wonderful evening. They were gracious, generous hosts.

Did a house concert with another musician...John Myers...not to be confused with John Mayer.



The winds are picking up. Feels like a tornado could hit. Or perhaps that is the paranoia associated with drinking too much this evening...

Self-fulfilling Prophet

I just remembered this old blog post that I put up this past January as a sort of prediction/hope of what 2005 could look like.

Nearing the end of this year, I feel like we really did most of what we sought to do. Perhaps putting it down on paper helped in that way. Who knows?

The only thing on the list that we didn't do as well as we would like to have was the development of our business(es).

And Will just asked me today, "Ryan, what do you think the future holds as far as career or whatnot?" And I didn't know quite how to respond. I mean, I have some ideas (and at the same time, I refuse to say too quickly what my life will be about). I've some thoughts a formin' and this week's conversations have helped in that sense.

Perhaps I'll soon post some more potential self-fulfilling prophecies about myself.

More Wisdom From Arundhati Roy

Again, thanks to Zach for letting me borrow The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile. The author, Arundhati Roy, is an Indian feminist-activist. She is an incredibly precise social prophet in our time.

Speaking on the privitization of the world, she comments...

Globalization means standardization. The very rich and the very poor must want the same things, but only the rich can have them.

And on America...

You...get the feeling that here is a country with an economy that thrives on insecurity, on fear, on threats, on protecting what you have–your washing machines, your dishwashers, your vaccuum cleaners–from the invasion of killer tomatoes or evil women in saris or whatever other kind of alien. It's a culture under siege. Every person who gets ahead gets ahead by stepping on his brother, or sister, or mother, or friend. It's such a sad, lonely, terrible price to pay for creature comforts. I think people here could be much happier if they could let their shoulders drop and say, "I don't really need this. I don't really have to get ahead. I don't really have to win the baseball match. I don't really have to come first in class. I don't really have to be the highest earner in my little town." There are so many happinesses that come from just loving and companionship and even losing.

Day 35: Communality

We have been in Lexington, KY for about 4 days now. I am constantly amazed at how many cool things/places/people there are here.

Spent some time with Geoff and Sherri Maddock today. Good people. They were some of the first of those who are attempting this whole Communality thing. Oh, Communality is a faith community that does not have a specific building or mission statement or any of that stuff really. Just a group of folks who are trying to live out the way of Jesus in a quasi-neo-monastic way. Ha, did I just say that?

It was good to talk today about community and mission and diversity. There are some cool things going on here.

Days 32-34: Lexington, KY

What a wonderful last couple days. Been staying with Will and Lisa and Ty and Gwynn and Jake Samson the last couple days/nights. What a wonderful time.

Had lunch with Lisa yesterday who commented that too many prophetic people attempt to spank folks into a new way of life (as opposed to inspiring them to a new way). She said, "Look at Dr. King. What did he say? 'I have a dream.'"

That got me thinking about how difficult it is (but how appropriate it is) to help people envision a new way of life. It is my tendency to just 'spank' folks into a new way of life. Lisa says, "Who really changes their behavior that way?" True stuff. Hmm.

Loads of great time with Will. Good conversations on his hope for the Mainline Churches. I told him I have about zero hope for the organized, institutional church. He helped me see some things that are good about the church.

Ty made us some yummy yellow cake with Chocolate frosting. Mmm. She's a bright one.

Jake showed me his lego-thing that he constructed, and I got to help Gwynn with some Español. Dig. All those years of Spanish finally paying off in helping tutor a 8-year old.

It's been beautiful here in Lexington. Suprising culture they have here. And affordability...wow! We found a 2 bedroom house with all new fixtures/appliances for $90,000. That's $2000 down and $650/month. Unbelievable. That's 1/7th the price of the average house in San Diego county. Wow.

Renegotiating the Use of Money in Faith Communities

[Note: This is a ridiculously long post written over the period of a couple weeks. And this post barely just barely touches on Money and Faith Communities. More thoughts perhaps later.]

We have an interesting conversation going on over on the Relational Tithe Public Message Board if you are interested in weighing in your opinion/thoughts/insights. Anyone is welcome to comment there.

It is around the question: If the Relational Tithe is proposing a 10% tithe to the poor and not to the institutional church, then how will the church support herself (for pastors' salaries, buildings, etc.)?

Interesting question. One I have thought a great deal about these last two years as we were in the thick of church-planting, church-deconstructing, amidst other things.

My story? Kind of an attempted church-planter for the last couple years. Simply put, the first year I was salaried at half-time pay by a private foundation. The second year, I deliberately stopped accepting that money. We hardly had any sort of overhead except an accountant and CPA.

Most all money that came in that first year went to old debt and my salary. The second year, all the money went out into the Oceanside community and the Thai community.

Okay, that's just a little background to the greater question of what the church is supposed to do if it actually gives its money away to those in need or invests in things that bring about the greater good, not just the church's good.

What if communities of faith adopted a different metaphor for money with regards to leadership? What if, instead of adopting a sort of business model, the church took up a more creative approach...like the model for commissioning artists?

When Holly and I were in Houston, we visited the Rothko Chapel. For those of you who aren't familiar with the chapel, it is a sort of open art gallery and contemplative space. A French immigrant family commissioned Mark Rothko to create art pieces for the chapel so that they could offer the building as a sort of interfaith meditation area for the city of Houston.

They commissioned Rothko. They didn't salary him with benefits and pension plans. They commissioned him. That is, they wanted to take care of his living expenses long enough that he could do what he does for this particular space.

Are you tracking with me here?

What if, instead of creating lifetime pastor-types, who go through the whole process of Bible college, seminary, church after church after church...what if instead of that, communities of faith used the tithe (10% of the members' income) for the poor and in need (more on this here), and then had people within (and perhaps outside) the group commission particular people to read up on certain things, to take certain classes in order to teach the community, to create art and music as artifacts, to open coffee houses for the larger community.

Now tracking with me?

So, there is no singular person in paid leadership. Sally really wants to learn about the history of Rome and how it intersects with early Christianity, Bob wants to begin some sort of food pantry for those with little food in the winter months, Christy wants to write more music, but is in a 50-hour/week job that uses up all her creative energy. What if people in the communities of faith helped pay for each of these things? People actually quitting their 'normal' jobs or going to fewer hours to explore what really energizes them? People within the community commissioning each of these people to be who they are to be...so that there is no person on salary.

Of course this is predicated on a community that actually wants to use their lives this way and not just sit and be fed and then go on with their normal lives...and that might be the rub of this whole experiment.

History

The future energizes me.
The past educates me.
The present forces me to connect and reconcile the two.

Days 30-31: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The last two days we have been in the Smokys. Beautiful hiking. Staying at a little cabin in the woods. Some pics instead of paragraphs...

Day 29: Knoxville to Smokys

Spectacular.

Spent a good lot of the day in the University area of Knoxville. We have used this free wifi coffee house locater (I can't remember the URL) and come upon several cool coffee shops on our trip that are independently owned, several of which support fair trade regulations and offer organic coffees. Mmm.

At this particular coffee shop in Knoxville called the Golden Roast, we saw a poster that led Holly and I to sit in on a lecture with Donald Rushkoff. Wow. That was mind-blowing.

Not totally sure what his background is, but this guy is onto some things regarding cultural shifts, narrative negotiating, etc.

He began by deconstructing all stories (news, spiritual, cultural, etc.) as stories that were written from a particular point of view in a particular time and context and so on. He made the comment that maps are to be provisional and temporary, but not The Way.

He also said that if all we have are stories, and if people end up believing the best stories, then the best storytellers hold the sway/power/control/whatever. Hmm.

The American mind has been so captivated by a few strains on the same narrative, the same story. Working to have a good retirement, security, money, happiness, whatever. But some aren't buying the story being sold anymore.

He compared all this to developments in the media. He got into the history of the remote control and the joystick and other stuff that was interesting to track, but the gist was summed up in a programming/gaming metaphor.

He said that for so long, most kids playing video games were content just to play the games, beat the levels, beat the games sometimes. But eventually some folks leaked clues/cheats/etc. so that a whole new slew of kids playing the game did so with this new 'insider information'. The next round were the kids that got their hands on the code and began to rewrite the game, adding levels, contextualizing the game, whatever.

So, most of our parents and their parents and their parents were content to play the game, hoping that they would climb to the next level. Some actually beat the game. Most just hoped that their children could start at a higher level than they did. But then several in my generation (and perhaps in previous generations) got the cheat sheet and made their way with it. I was even part of this earlier in my life. The short road to get to the same place where those who had worked hard to find.

But now there is a whole new slew of people (some who are my friends) who are sick of the game, sick of the normative reality that everyone buys into, sick of the whole value of the game...and we have our hands on the code.

Time to rest from a cynical deconstructing of the game and create a more beautiful world, my friends. Rushkoff said that once we have deconstructed everything to shit, let that be the manure that fertilizes the new world we dream of.

If you're not tracking with what I'm saying (or if you're vibing off it), you might check out Rushkoff's books or see if he is going to be in your area anytime soon. Or perhaps watch the Matrix again...

The Kingdom in Photographs (3)

I call this one Life for Death.

The Kingdom in Photographs (2)

2nd in a series.

Just received this from Jasen in Houston.

2 different narratives at work here.

Day 28: Knoxville, TN

So, no Smokeys yet. Too many distractions to commit today. We'll take off tomorrow morning first thing to do this hike.

Today we ran around, got art supplies, did some work, and I am still re-wiping and re-installing my software on my iBook. I have my fingers crossed that it's going to really work this time.

This afternoon, Holly and I are going to see our first movie in the theatre in what seems like forever: Everything Is Illuminated. And then tonight we're going to a lecture with Douglas Rushkoff called, "SCARED STUPID: Why America Resists Media Literacy." Should be interesting.

Not getting very good sleep lately. It's making me a bear to be around. Around 4.30am I woke up, actually thinking I had just heard a little girl say to me, "Wake!"

Good Lord that was terrifying.

Day 27: Redneckville, TN

Stopped at a hotel for highspeed internet and some sleep before we head to the Great Smokeys tomorrow for some hiking and perhaps an art/music binge...where we lock ourselves in a mountain cabin for days with paints, canvases, my guitar and plenty of alchohol...and see what happens. Not sure what town we're in.

We just walked into a convenience store to buy some beer. A guy stares Holly up and down...and just stares. Holly laughs at him.

Holly says, "It's funny how you think you're in one part of the world (ie. a place where you vibe with people, diversity is celebrated, guys are cool with girls with shaved heads, etc.) and then you realize that you're not."

Ha. I'm suprised, but then again not really.

Helping in Pakistan

Just received this email... Remember that even small amounts can help.

Ryan,

Thanks for your e-mail. I think I should give you a little menu of options for your money. I am able to deliver funds directly to individual families if you would like that. However there are other options also that I would like to send your way.

1. Kunar Christian Hospital (as seen on humanitarianman.blogspot.com) - They are a great hospital that is in need of real funding due to the fact that they need to rebuild the entire hospital at the same time as they are treating patients etc. (they have no international organized funding)

2. Samaritan's Purse - They are an awesome Christian organization that does some serious hardcore field work. They got here about two weeks ago and are taking over water purification and sanitation in all the camps and also will be a part of the rebuilding process. They are funded for three months but will need on going funds to continue their important work. I know the project director personally. She grew up in Pakistan also and is the real thing. Donating to this group would be tax deductible. (ear mark any funds you send them specifically for the Pakistan earthquake, through Kristen Perett)

3. Leprosy hospital. This is run by a group of under funded evangelical nuns (German protestant) who have been here for over 30 years. Their clinic in Balakot was completely destroyed and all of their local staff was killed! They need real help financially.

If you are interested in making a donation, feel free to email me or Trevor directly.

Day 26: Nashville, TN

You know, we've been lucky to stay in some pretty cool towns thus far. Nashville was not a disappointment. We'd been here before, but it's always a nice town to get to pass through.

We got to stay with our friends Sarah (Emerson) and Tres Sasser. What wonderful people. Really.

They seem to be at a place where they are trying to move in new directions, seek alternative paths in life. They are in the process of selling their 4200 sq. ft. house to move into something smaller. Downsizing. Living free-er. Perhaps getting rid of their gas-guzzling SUV as Tres likes to quote. Travel the world, perhaps live abroad, etc.

What an inspiration.

Got the new Sufjan Stevens disc. The second track is entitled THE BLACK HAWK WAR, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience but You're Going to Have to Leave Now, or, "I have fought the Big Knives and will continue to fight them until they are off our lands!" Brilliant!

Today we will visit with Ayame and the kids, then be off to Great Smokey National Park. Found a cool 8-mile hike in Backpacker last month that we want to check out. Sweet.