I know, you're sure we make these days up, but they're for real (see http://www.brownielocks.com/ to see for yourself). I've never been shy to take a second look at something that I might have missed. In fact, I'm not above doing a double-take now and again. But when I saw this special day, I couldn't help but think that there are a lot of people "out there" who tried church once or twice or when they were kids and who gave up on it. I understand that. There have been times when I wanted to give up on a church – the problem is, it's not the church that hangs in the balance here. It's their relationship with The Divine. I've found that when people tell me how bad their church experience was, that I can often shift the conversation to talking about Jesus ... and in particular, my personal story about me and Jesus. And when I do, sometimes they're willing to take a second look.  So, for...Read More

On January 4, 2010 the world’s newest “tallest building” opened: the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Standing at 2,717 feet (828 metres), the Burj Khalifa is the tallest human-made structure ever . . . at least for now! Ah, how good we humans are at striving for the “-est’s” in life: the tallest, grandest, richest, prettiest, handsomest, best. You know, Jesus not only deserves our best, He needs—and some would say requires—our best. And when we’re engaging Him with all that we are and all that we have we know how ludicrous all that striving can be. Who do you know who’s striving to high, who may be scaling a skyscraper or two too many, who may be setting themselves up for a huge fall? Building and scaling architected by The Son is one thing; striving on our own or when blinded by ambition is quite another. Surely you know someone who’s ready to go to the new heights only Jesus can design. Who on your “Most Wanted List” may be ready to take flight on this Skyscraper Day?...Read More

Thursday, September 2: VJ Day Today marks the official close of World War II in 1945 when Japan formally surrendered to the US in a ceremony aboard the USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay. As a result, US President Harry S. Truman to declare September 2nd as “VJ” for Victory over Japan Day. Wow! What a horrendous war. What scars were birthed there, many still visible and many more trapped beneath decades of hidden mental anguish, and emotional pain. Days like today allow us to celebrate and honor those who protected and served our country. But they also can remind us of how divided we still are in an increasingly globalizing world. Really, what do those words mean today, “Victory over Japan”? What does “VJ Day” mean to you? What does it say to you about your Japanese neighbor or cousin or teacher or store clerk? What does it say about how we view people who may not be like us? What does it say about what others may think or say about us? My Nanny used to sing an old song to my young...Read More

Happy September! Are you wondering who Chicken Boy is? So was I when I learned that his birthday is today. If you know Los Angeles, California (in the USA), you may know Chicken Boy: the 22-foot fiberglass boy with a chicken’s head that is sometimes called “the Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles.” It appears Chicken Boy was hatched on September 1, 1969 and roosted on the roof of the Chicken Boy Fried Chicken Restaurant in downtown LA until 1984 when he was removed from his perch atop the defunct restaurant and moved into storage by devoted fan Amy Inouye. On October 18, 2007 Amy facilitated CB’s flight to his current nesting spot on top of Amy’s Future Studio (5558 N. Figueroa Park in “Old LA”). Fascinating what can grab our attention, isn’t it? A 22-foot chicken boy? Part of me can hardly wait until the next time I get to LA so I can see it for myself! I wonder how many of us have taken others to see Chicken Boy. I wonder how many of us have told others about Chicken Boy. . . . I...Read More

Okay, we’re really scraping the bottom of the bowl on this one, aren’t we? But yesterday I did warn you that August is a bit bereft of holidays to celebrate. So we end the month with what could be a favorite for many folks: Trail Mix Day. Trail Mix is that sweet-salty, convenient to carry snack generally made of nuts, dried fruit, and whatever else someone wants to mix in (popular add-ins are M&Ms, sunflower seeds, yogurt-covered, fruit, and grains). It’s said that the Boy Scouts like to invite hikers to bring an ingredient or two to add to the “Mix” they’ll share on the trail. I like that idea. Couldn’t that be a fun way to meet your neighbors: to go knocking on the doors of your block or apartment building/floor and invite your neighbors to enjoy Trail Mix Day with you (okay, you may have to celebrate it a little belatedly). You could tell them you’ll be back in a couple of days to collect the ingredients, or invite them to bring their ingredients on a certain day (depending on...Read More