Urban Roots

We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it.
Wendell Berry

Come out and join us this Friday night at the Great Park in Irvine for a 7:45pm screening of Urban Roots. I still haven't seen the movie, but here's how The Great Park's website describes it:

Urban Roots follows the emergence of urban farming in Detroit. The film shows dedicated Detroiters working tirelessly to fulfill their vision for locally-grown, sustainably-farmed food, setting an example for community engagement as a solution to the problems posed by a collapsing local industry. Following the inspiring stories of several agricultural programs, Urban Roots shows that the people tilling the soil and picking the harvest have fantastic stories to tell.


We'll be tailgating from 6:30 on. See you there.

The South OC Action Network (SoCAN)

[The reign of God] is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.
Luke 13:19

…in the midst of the injustice, God is planting mustard seeds of deliverance —in Jesus’ actions, in the deeds and practices of the community of disciples, and in what God is doing beyond our awareness…
Glen Stassen & David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics (2003)

This new blog is an extension of EasyYolk, a blog dedicated to a robust, progressive, postmodern & prophetic Christian witness. Over the past 30 months, EY has been committed to a "conversion of the imagination" (a phrase borrowed from Duke Divinity's Richard Hays) in regards to how "the way of Christ" is perceived and actualized in our world.

EY posts tend to be long and (hopefully) thought-provoking. Readers tend to need a focused 15-20 minutes and a cup of coffee. This kind of information and educaton are, indeed, vital, but more and more, I've realized that my wife and I and other close friends of mine are desiring tangible opportunities to particate with God in the healing of our world. We are yearning for this way of thinking to result in a way of being. Transformation, not just information. Lifestyle, not just mentality. A blog post theologically advocating for our undocumented brothers and sisters isn't enough. We all need a way into the issue so that we can actually stand in solidarity with the least of these.

In short, in addition to loving mercy and walking humbly with God, we want to do justice (Micah 6:8). This is why I started this new blog: to make it easy for those who refuse to be indifferent about evil to actually get involved in the cause of justice.

Introducing The South OC Action Network...or SoCAN for short:

The Mission?
To mobilize the privileged to be in solidarity with and advocate for the least of these in South Orange County.

The Least of These?
The homeless, the jobless, the working poor, the undocumented, the single-mothers, the widows, the orphans, the LGBTQ community, the prisoners & ex-cons, the uninsured, the youth

The Privileged?
The homeowners, the vacationers, the investors, the business owners, the workers with benefits, the TGIFers, the family men, the working women, the ministers, the faithful church attendees, the church dropouts, the college grads, the social networkers

Why?
1. Because the least of these are fellow image-bearers of God…brothers and sisters in God’s family.
2. Because, in the least of these, we see the face of Jesus.
3. Because the least of these are consistently silenced, patronized, left out and looked over.
4. Because the least of these cannot afford lobbyists.
5. Because the least of these are vital contributors to our society.
6. Because we need to learn from them.
7. Because entertainment and amusement will not lead us down the path to glory.
8. Because there are far too many forms of indifference, apathy & cynicism to wait any longer.
9. Because when we experience empathy it is fulfilling.
10. Because Justice is not a spectator sport.

In the days and weeks ahead, I'll be updating this blog regularly with opportunities to educate ourselves and to advocate for and be in solidarity with the least of these in South Orange County.