This is a fantastic blog post from Jon Foreman...really shows the depth of his understanding. Lots of folks wonder where Jon and Switchfoot are coming from. This explains a lot! We thought you'd enjoy reading his perspective. Click Here to check out Jon's blog.

PS "Your Love Is Strong" from the Spring EP is going for adds now at CHR!

letters to the editor 4

Hi tonya,
thanks for your thoughtful question. I like where you're coming from- trying to get at the heart of what it means to be a believer and how to best spend our time here on the planet. I don't recall ever saying that we want to be "relevant to our current culture" but it's certainly a tag we've received from others at times. here's my thoughts on the subject:

to begin, let's separate the talk about content and language for a moment.

content first: I want to create art that has timeless transcendence shining through, art that is true. It seems to me that if the subject matter is an attempt to be "relevant" it might as well be an act. There's nothing wrong with acting but I'm a horrible actor! I'm not interested. For this I meditate and pray that God would give me his words, the words that were true before time began.

language: For communication reasons, language has to be understood- current, "relevant." We need to use metaphors and icons that will be meaningful to the folks around us. We need to dive into what it means to be alive in the house, alive in the community, alive in our country. We need to invest deeply in the folks around us and give them love in ways that are meaningful to them.

the paragraph that you included says, "imagine what would have happened had they spent their time studying and conferencing about the pagan world around them." Maybe we've forgotten that paul himself studied up on greek gods. When he started his appeal for Christ in Athens he began like this: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you." So he did his homework and began with common ground.

I agree with you that our current western church (including myself from time to time) is far too interested in being cool, being trendy, being relevant. But these folks might be doing the same thing you're hoping to do: namely, trying to figure out what it means to be a believer in the here and now. So talk to them about it. We can't resort to throwing rocks at the things we don't understand... especially other believers. The hand needs the foot needs the mouth needs the ear. And we all need the mind of christ. We're called to love each other and love never goes out of fashion.

Christ will never be cool. Terrifying, life-changing, shocking,
and iconoclastic, but never cool. Jesus is not my homeboy. The Gospel will always be "relevant" but never trendy.

peace,
jon

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Tonya
Date: Aug 12, 2008 12:58 PM

First I want to say I think you are a very talented singer/songwriter. I really enjoy your music.

I have a question, I have read some articles where you were quoted as saying you were trying to be "relevent to our current culture" I don't know if this is true or not, but below you will see an excerpt of an article I recently read and I thought of you and wanted to know your opinion on such matters. I know you say your Christians in a band, not a Christian band, but I sometimes wonder if we as Christians should allow a separation/or line drawn in our lives like that. I am not trying to offend, just very curious as to your thoughts. Here's the excerpt that made me question :

Their official slogan for the conference is, "The Culture is Changing: Are You?"

So these leadership gurus busy themselves in this 8th year of the new millennium, frantically running from one conference to the next, telling pastors they need to keep changing every time the culture does. The speed with which society leaps from one fad to the next is in direct proportion to the chronic and worsening restlessness of a world that has rejected the one true God. Instead of holding up the one thing that never changes, the Word of God in its timeless clarity, these foolish men chase the wind, desperately trying to stay hip and cool, trying every carnal means at their disposal to stay clued in on the latest Big Thing, while all the time, what the world really needs is set aside. What a wicked waste of time, money and talent in this futile quest for acceptance by the world. In the polytheistic world in which the Apostles ministered, imagine what would have happened had they spent their time studying and conferencing about the pagan world around them to get clues about how to best present a "relevant" Gospel. No. They preached Christ crucified in the power of the Holy Ghost, and the world was turned upside down.

Thanks in advance if you respond,

Tonya Vakser

This is it. Once we have the EntityManagerFactory we can use it to create a JpaTemplate
[code language='Java']
JpaTemplate jpa = new JpaTemplate(factory);
[/code]or if you programme to interface (which you should) the preferred way of doing this is
[code language='Java']
JpaOperations jpa = new JpaTemplate(factory);
[/code]Also it's always proper to close the factory after you are done processing since leaving it open can result in a PersistenceException exception with error message "Exception Description: Attempted to deploy PersistenceUnit <unit name> while being in the wrong state [Undeployed]. Close all factories for this PersistenceUnit. "

If you get this error you need to close the factory after you are done processing
[code language='Java']
factory.close();
[/code]

The leaves of autumn and winter still lie strewn within the garden of the Stone People.
Yet all around is evidence of new growth
The hand of spring may be seen
in the creation of
bright daffodils, jonquils, bright little creatures
who herald the beginning of a new cycle.

 BCBG MAXAZRIA has declared Spring/Summer 2009 the year of the V-neck drop Dress. Sexy, chic and on-the-go knee length dresses were on the menu at the BCBG show today in Bryant Park.

The YIGAL AZROUËL collection is undeniably my favorite thus far. I call it "couture marc jacobs." Azrouel showed neutral hues, from soft gray, to nudes and pale pinks and white. From dresses, to lightweight wrap sweaters, to overly gathered skirts and dresses, Azrouel's 2009 collection was designed with me in mind.

Stay tuned, there's much more to come.

xoxo
-tye

It’s hard to recall now but not so long ago our church garden was a wasteland. Various people, however, lent a hand to transform it into what it is today. Stones had to be dug out of the ground, the beds laid out, and the seedlings kept watered until a watering-system was put in place. Then the Wall of Remembrance was built…..a memorial garden bench was installed…..later a bird-bath. And different bushes and plants have been given to mark the passing of church members. Recently, a substantial donation has allowed the garden to be made-over again. New flower beds flank the entrance to the parking lot; and around the former door into the Founders’ Hall, where there used to be weeds and debris, pebbles have been laid.

Now that Spring is (supposed to be) here, go and see the church garden. Take a few minutes to enjoy the peace it offers in the midst of the city noise and traffic. We have joined the Quiet Gardens Movement, an international network covering all five continents of just such quiet green places, often hidden and tucked away like ours, providing oases of stillness and contemplation. Copies of their newsletter and introductory pamphlet are available in the vestibule.

And while you are in the vestibule, take another look at the tapestry on the wall of the three gardens of the Bible (Eden – Genesis 2; Gethsemane – Matthew 26: 36-46; the Tomb – John 19: 38 – 20:18), made by a group of ladies for the centenary of the church.

All this is so appropriate for a church that has the spiritually suggestive name of Gardens. The Church is as a garden enclosed (Song of Songs 4: 12) and Jesus is the gardener.

O Lord Jesus, true gardener,

work in us what you want of us,

for without you we can do nothing.

For you are indeed the true gardener;

at once the maker and tiller and keeper of your garden -

you who plant with the word, water with the spirit

and give your increase with your power.

(P.S. I discovered on the internet another Gardens Presbyterian Church somewhere in Florida. Should we make contact?)

James Patrick

September 2008

NY Fashion Week starts today - yippee!!  Even though I'm so excited for fall to begin, I love seeing what's in store for spring 2009.  And it's going up to 90 degrees here in NYC today, so the clothes will seem very appropriate.  I'll be following all the action via style.com, full frontal fashion, women's wear daily, the ny times, and some of my favorite blogs: the sartorialist, face hunter, and style sightings.  How do you like to keep up?

Tomorrow I'll start showing my own fall collection right here (it's cheaper than the tents!), so stay tuned. Also beginning tomorrow, all summer hats will be on clearance in my etsy and big cartel shops, so if it's still warm (or just warming up for you Aussies), you can get a great bargain on a little something to wear right now.

Happy Friday!

Guess what? We have decided to renew our vows!!

We got married very young at the court house and always talked about renewing them with a big wedding but haven't really discussed it until yesterday! My little one will make the CUTEST flower girl! We'll be doing it sometime in 2009 which gives me plenty of time to plan. First thing's first. WHAT SEASON?

Winter?

Spring?

Summer?

Fall?

I'll probably be placing my orders with Bellacroft because they offer $5 shipping but I'll take ideas from anybody!

My time has been spent just recently in the vegetable garden. Suddenly there are many many tasks to do, especially if I want some food for the summer. This week has been a favourable moon-planting time, and I have been focused on sowing seeds, both in the garden proper and also in tubs and in tiny pots for transplanting later. There just could still be a frost, so I'm hedging my bets each way. Nice to get an early start, but it does carry a risk with it, and I hope to have something to fall back on if the garden seedlings don't survive.

There is a tangible vibrancy in the air. Each day sees a new bloom appear or a new bird in the trees, and yesterday I had the first butterfly for the season land on the climbing peas. Such a joy to see this beautiful creature. Yes there are caterpillars about, but I rarely kill them these days - the plants can feed them so then I can see the butterflies.

Even the ants are on the move again. All winter they have been deep underground, and now the sun has drawn them out and they are busy replenishing the larder.

Another season begins.

We love these beautiful birds and enjoy their regular visits to our place, especially their songs that herald the announcement of coming rain.   But sheesh, we were really looking forward to spring! We have had a couple of fantastic spring days, then BAM, winter rushes back in with a vengeance. Wind, cold, rain, we are happy to say goodbye to you for a while!

I can't remember who wrote this poem, but I remember it from my childhood:

"Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Merry merry king of the bush is he,

Laugh kookaburra laugh kookaburra

Gay your life must be"

I'm sure there's another verse - if you know it, drop me a line.

Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,

Shani

Yay!!!!!!!!!! My seeds will get a good soaking :D

Well I didn't get out in the garden much today, but I could see the chooks were having a wonderful time. They made some nests, layed some eggs...

Walked around, looked around, pecked stuff...

I went out this arvo to say hello. And watered the seeds.

And took photos of bugs..

Apricot

Plum no. 1

Plum no. 2

What do you get when the snow melts?

Spring.

What does Spring bring for you?

The flowers

The Hairstyle

The Hat

The aftermath -
dirty face and "verlepte" flowers ... this girl had a lot of fun!!!

Low res again, sorry! I don't want to spoil my chances of selling these ones on NZ Photo Sales!

I love Kowhai flowers. Kohwai means yellow in Maori although Kowhai flower sounds a lot better than Yellow flower! Kowhai's are native to NZ which in my mind makes them instantly loveable, double that with the fact that they are the favorite of a native NZ bird, the Tui, and triple it with the fact that I have a daughter named Tui and well.....you get the idea. I love Kowhai flowers and Kowhai trees. This is the time of year (Spring here atlast!!) when I get to indulge in a big way. Just check out this branch (Below) that is so blessed with flowers itm looks as though it could snap at any moment....

These trees are even at my beloved pond! How spoilt can a girl get?

Speaking of the pond. DH was there the other day with Master 8 and he came back and told me to grab my camera and head down. He said there were DUCKLINGS!!!!! at the pond and they were STUCK in the storm water drain:(  I had just been there the day before looking for sign of any ducklings but there weren't any. So...anyway I grabbed my camera and some bread and raced down. I couldn't take a half way decent pic though:( down a drain and all! Long and cold story cut short I ended up calling the council and asking them to rescue them. I put on my gumboots and waded in a little so I could feed the ducklings (there were 7) and I waited for the rescue team to arrive. Unfortunately I missed the actual rescue as the contractors didn't come till after dark and I had to go home but the council assures me that the men tied a gumboot to a broom handle and scooped the poor babies out! lol. What a photo that would have been!!

 I bet mother duck was pleased to get her babies back safely  (and I mean the real mother duck!) I already gave my family a giggle when I referred to them as "my" ducklings!

"Clivia", ©Jill Rosoff 2007, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", $75.00

These flowers are the richest orange color, with delicate paler orange in the inner part of the petal.  I just learned they're also called Kaffir Lilies (what would we do without search engines?)  They grow a little like orchids, but they are from the amaryllis family.  I have 3 of these plants in my front garden thanks to Mom, who harvested the baby shoots off of hers and gave them to me. And while they usually bloom in the spring, its September, and mine are blooming now. Go figure.  

A romantic twist on the classic tea party, the Somewhere in Time Tea Party infuses a sophisticated flair for a sophisticated birthday girl.

Invitations

In the movie Somewhere in Time, the protagonist Richard Collier is mysteriously given a pocket watch by an old woman who bids him to "come back to me." Through self-hypnotization, he travels back in time to 1912, where he meets the woman as a young woman and they fall in love. Later, he is forcefully returned back to his own time when he discovers a 1979 penny in his pocket.

Make invitations with pretty cream colored paper stamped on one side with a pocket watch. Write or stamp beneath the watch, come back to me. On the other side, print:

You presence is cordially

requested at the

Somewhere in Time

Tea Party

for

[child's name]

at 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 4.

Enclosed is a penny

for your safe return.

Enclose a penny in the envelope.

Costumes

Have guests come in their prettiest party dresses and provide a pretty tea hat (often found at dollar stores in the spring) and gloves upon their arrival.
Decorations

Play music from the fabulous Somewhere in Time soundtrack. Dress the party table with a faux lace tablecloth, topped with a romantic rose runner, matching plates and a mossy tea hat centerpiece. Roll pretty ivory damask napkins in dainty beaded flower napkin rings and mark each place with cafe chair placecard holders. Use plastic silverware that looks like stainless steel silverware. Shop ebay, discount stores and antique stores for tea cups and saucers for a fun mix and match tea set.

Crafts and Activities

Have children paint their own miniture ceramic tea set. Afterward, have a real tea party at the stunningly decorated table.

Treats

Fill a large plate or tray with a variety of quartered triangle sandwiches. Fill another tray with scones and yet another (afterward) with a selection of small desserts. Provide lemonade along with, or instead of, tea.