Motivation...

June 1 is a key day on my calendar...it's the official start of golf season. Time to get out the clubs and find some form! Golf season runs from June 1 through the Golf Odyssey in mid-December, and then I'm dormant again until the next June. The closer it gets, the more excited I become, and I'm starting to look forward to reclaiming the title (for the first time in several years) at the GO in December.

Which is why Amy's comment the other day in the car stopped me cold. We were talking about the beginning of golf season and she said: "like you're ever gonna win it again, babe. It's over."

So in pro sports, you hear athletes talk about "bulletin board material;" that is, someone says something inflammatory about the opposition, and it goes up on the locker room bulletin board. Come into my garage right now, and you'll see Amy's quote up on the fridge (though I should say in her defense that she went on to explain that for her it's an issue of resources...time and money to improve--or not). Anyway, time for me to clear off room on the wall for the Champion's plaque...

Sad Day for Cycling

With Floyd Landis' 2006 Tour de France doping arbitration hearing still ongoing (and generating plenty of salacious press), today comes news that for the second straight day, another former professional cyclist has admitting to doping. And, this time, it's a big fish. Bjarne Riis won the Tour de France in 1996 and today came clean to doping from 1993-1998. Here's the story.

And I'll just say it...with every new guilty admission from other riders from the era, in my mind the chances that Lance and Greg didn't dope take another hit. Sad.

Did you know...

...that John Mayer has a blog?!?

Yeah, it's a wonderland...

"In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal."

A couple weeks back Pastor Steve used the story of Juan Mann (really?!?) to illustrate our need to open up to God's love. Here's the video. Here's the site. Whatever you think of that dude and his campaign, it is pretty wild to watch the process of initial skepticism to phenomenon to opposition to affirmation.

Perhaps our next evangelism outreach at Fresno State?!?

Book Review: Next by Michael Crichton

First off, a shout out to Jeremy, the King of Book Reviews...I love joining you in what you are reading!

There are at least three things I consistently love about Michael Crichton. First, he is flat out a great writer. I love the way he progressively builds tension, and I appreciate how he somehow manages to make technical jargon interesting and understandable. Next, he does a good job creating identifiable characters; what I mean is, nine times out of ten, in any given situation, Crichton's characters act the way I think I would. Unlike, say, Dan Brown's Robert Langdon, a Crichton book is full of normal people who do (mostly) average things--for good or for ill--in the face of unusual situations.

But the thing I love most about a Crichton yarn is that I feel like he is using the format of a novel as a way to work out his own questions on some issue, and I like joining him in that journey. In Disclosure, for instance, he's trying to figure out what he thinks about sexual harassment (and reverse sexual harassment). In Congo, it's what happens when humans invade what previously was a closed system. And in Sphere, my favorite, it's what becomes of a perfectly assembled team in the face of unexplainable (and malicious) chaos.

In Next, his most recent outing, Crichton takes on the science of genetics, examining the moral, ethical and legal implications of this new field. Reading along, you feel like you are reading his blog or journal, in story form, as he wrestles with issues such as the patenting of individual genes, the ethics of altering the genetic code of turtles in the name of advertising (yes, that's right), and the complicated choices the legal community is facing as the science of genetics raises all kinds of new and bizarre questions. As almost a bonus, Crichton gives several pages at the end to spell out his conclusions on the topic. If you would like a taste of the book's content, go here. It's a parody site...or is it?

The bottom line: Next was more than worth the fifteen person wait I endured on the library hold list. In fact, I'll give it a thirty!

Music Review

Truth be told, I'm not a huge music person, but I came across a CD recently (thanks, Lovie!) that I loved. In his album Songs for Silverman, Ben Folds sounds to me like some great-great-grandson of Paul Simon, what with his socially provocative lyrics and eclectic musical stylings (believe it or not, Cal Poly alum Weird Al sings backup on one of the songs...).

For me the best song on the album is "Jesusland" with its devastating and indicting lyrics ("crosses flying high above the malls"). You'd also recognize "Landed" from the radio.

But in the end my favorite song, for obvious reasons, is "Gracie," Ben Folds' song honoring his daughter "Gracie girl." Here are the lyrics.

Saying Goodbye

Last week I did my last ministry as a Fresno State Team Leader. Lord willing, Noemi takes that role next year and I kick back and do what all Area Directors do; namely, sit around, drink mai tais and screen calls...but I digress.

What's funny about this departure is that it feels categorically different than my previous one, from Cal Poly in Spring '04. That one was dominated by the twin feelings of grief and appreciation. This one is marked mainly by relief. Why? A couple of thoughts...

1. In my three years doing both roles (TL and AD), I've been craving the chance to just do one well. It's tough to feel like you are doing a good job when you are trying to fulfill two of them. And not feeling like I am in a situation where I can do ministry with excellence has been frustrating. So I've been eager to hand off leadership and, with that in sight, it feels like a breath of fresh air.

2. Being a caretaker wars against a feeling of ownership...and I've seen myself as a caretaker from day 1. It's hard to let yourself engage when you know your time is short; that's true on short-term missions trips and it's been true in my situation. Even while I've been pouring my heart out at CSUF, I've been hopeful for the arrival of the day when the caretaker moves on and the next leader arrives!

3. I have a strong conviction that me leaving is precisely what's needed, for everyone concerned. I need it, my family needs it, the students need it, non-believers on campus need it, the young Staff need it, etc. It's good all around, and therefore it's a relief. I'm glad for what I perceive to be the win-win-win-win-win-etc.

All of that said, I'm going to miss the week-in, week-out time with some great students. At our year-end BBQ last week, we took a picture that is proudly up on my wall. Thank God for what he's done in the past 3 years and thank God that he's going to keep working in me, Noemi (join me in praying for some funds!), the students, the vision, etc. Here's the shot:

Campus by the Sea Update

Some of you know and love InterVarsity's Campus by the Sea on Catalina Island, and maybe you've been wondering how it did during the fires this week. Here's a link to IV's official website where there is a story and two pictures posted. Let's thank God for his protection over what for many of us is our spiritual home!

Going on right now!

We just heard this morning about a shooting near Fresno State involving students. Here is the official CSUF bulletin. Here is the story on cnn.com.

How do you say "the latest sign that the apocalypse is upon us" in Spanish?!?

What the heck is this all about?!? And, why wasn't I invited?

Shout Out to Google

So we all know that Google is taking over the world...but at least on their way they are doing some cool stuff! I've recently been introduced to google docs (thanks Nalley) and it's great. It's possible to upload a document (or a spreadsheet), invite others to join you in editing it, and then when you're done you download it back to your computer. Much better than typing up a draft, attaching it to an email and then having to consolidate all the edits you get back yourself. Good on ya, Google. Remember me when you rule us all!

The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Wanna experience what it's like to be me? This is running through my head all day long...

Any chance to use the word "kerfluffle..."

I'll admit it...I love that word. Especially when Jeremy uses it. I've been looking for my reason to use it, and here it is.

Turns out England's Queen Elizabeth is coming across the pond to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement (interesting TIME article on Jamestown here). And so ahead of her visit she did what any sensible person does before leaving on a trip; she sat down for a professional, formal portrait.

But now there's this kerfluffle over it. I don't get it. I say let her highness wear and look however she wants. She is, after all, the freakin' queen of England!

Still, maybe it's just me, but I can't help but wonder what her majesty would look like posed in the ever-popular "asses-milk" bath...

Disneyland Report

So they say--and by "they" I mean someone Amy read about on the internet--that you haven't really experienced Disneyland until you see it through the eyes of your children.

And you know what?!? I think "they" are on to something. Because where I saw a slow ride through an imaginary world, they saw Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and hunny pots. And where I saw a castle that I swear looked smaller than I remembered it, they were in awe and went around looking for Sleeping Beauty (or Peach, Mario and Bowser, but I digress...). And, finally, where I waited, all sweaty and grumbling, in a small, cartoon house with 200 other sweaty grumbling parents, they were willing to pay any price just for 20 precious seconds with Mickey Mouse.

And so our trip was a smashing success. The kids did great, Aunties and Uncles were fabulous, our Disney dollars allowed them to get whatever they wanted, and we even made it back to Fresno before midnight. Here's a shot of the kids with Mr. M. Mouse:

Off to the Magic Kingdom

Birthday week at the Dixon's concludes today and tomorrow with a trip to Disneyland! We've decided that when the kids turn 5, it's Mickey time. So we'll be in the park all day tomorrow, 8am to after the Electric Light Parade. The kids are all about princesses and Pooh Corner (by the way, what's with taking out the Country Bear Jamboree?!?), but Amy and I will be looking for the new Space Mountain and the new Pirates. Full report Monday!

Turning 35...

A new blog look for a new year. I'm celebrating today by taking the day off, playing some Mario, taking a nap, watching ManU at 11:30, dinner at Chevy's and then the Lakers to cap the day. Good times.

On travel...

I just got back last night from 4 days in Santa Barbara. In this most recent concentrated travel season, I've been on the road 16 out of the last 28 days. Here are some things I'm learning about the travel part of my Staff job:

1. I really love my family. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is a true statement. Plus, it freaks me out to know that daily Lucy is terrorizing my office...

2. I've got the maximize the time. My latest realization is that if I'm going to be on the road in meetings or at a conference, I might as well "supersize" the workload. So you'll find me slotting in extra meetings or working on things around the edges (or during the meetings...) in order to get more done. That way, less to do at home!

3. Coming back is tougher than leaving. Here's what I mean...I drag my carcass back from a trip exhausted, and all I want is a couch, the remote control and some ice cream. But Amy is also exhausted, and she wants essentially the same thing (substitute ice cream with popcorn...). So I'm learning to adjust my expectations for reentry. Yesterday on the drive up the 99, I began to pray that I would wake up today with a servant's heart, since there is much to be done with the kids and around the house.

4. I shouldn't complain. If you catch me complaining, smack me! Two reasons...one, it's always tougher for Amy than for me. For instance, during this last trip, while I'm hanging out with cool people playing "Up Jenkins" late night at a Denny's, Amy is home tending to Josh while he's up all night with Bronchitis (true story). Second, the travel I do I do because of our calling, and it has eternal consequences. It is a common thing for me to see students become Christians at Conferences these days, and then to realize that the decisions I/we make at meetings have a direct impact on that moment. That's a sweet understanding that makes the sacrifice worth something.

No more long work trips until May 9-12 (Vegas, baby). In the meantime, I'll enjoy the time at home...folding laundry, vacuuming, errands and, most importantly, protecting the office from Lucy...

Nightmare

For a campus minister, the Virgina Tech tragedy hits close to home. VT has an InterVarsity chapter, and our national site has this update. Join me in praying for the situation in general, and for the IV students and staff in particular.

Here's a thought

What if EVERYONE is a racist?!?

I've heard a couple of Don Imus sound bites recently where he declares something to the effect that "anyone who knows me, who has listened to the show, can tell you, 'I am not a racist.'" Mixed with the appropriate gravitas and earnestness, case closed, right?

But what if by that statement Don Imus is answering the entirely wrong question? In fact, what if the question is not "are you are racist or not?" but instead is "how are you on the road to recovery from your racialization?"

I've posted about racialization before, but to sum it up, everyone gets racialized in their life, like it or not. It's in the cultural air you breathe, and the effect of it is that you have a bias. For me, it's the bias that white is somehow better or more normal (I have a similar bias about being male, and clearly Mr. Imus has that as well).

So the key issue in my life, or, in my opinion, anyone else's, is what are you doing about your bias?!? Have you acknowledged it are you trying to grow? Where are you in admitting your racial brokenness? What does healing look like in your life? In the case of Don Imus, what if, instead of repeating the litany that goes "I'm not a racist," he (or anyone else in power who at some point let's their racialized heart break through their guarded mouth) says, "I regret very much that I said that, but at the core I've got some racial brokenness that I need to work through. Clearly, I have a ways to go, and I'm sorry."

How much more powerful (in addition to being more truthful) would a statement like that be anyway?!?

What happens when you throw a nice, new Dell toner cartridge in a bubblebath?!?

Thanks to Lucy, we get to find out!