Design Ministry

Wess Daniels, a PhD student at Fuller, has had a lot of experience around books - but interestingly and purposefully not Amazon.com. As an employee of Fuller’s bookstore, he shares a few insights (really a self-disclosed rant) about his approaches to books, the owners of the Fuller bookstore, and the a small independent shop that has been bringing in less and less income each year as students find cheaper books online at Amazon.

My first visit to Fuller’s Pasadena campus, before I even started thinking about attending, included a long visit to the bookstore. I had never been in such a collection of Christian and theology books: all Henry Nouwen’s books together on one shelf, and Dallas Williard and Richard Foster… It felt like I’d stumbled into a piece of heaven. I took away a modest stack of books as I returned to my mission work in Spain, and started to engage more seriously in reading. As funny as it sounds, Fuller’s bookstore has always symbolized something for me … something like a thin place that holds access to insight, wisdom and alternatives.

Perhaps this is why Wess’ post is hitting home to me. I admit it, I’ve been enjoying free two-day shipping with Amazon prime’s free trial. I guess I didn’t realize what type of impact amazon and other giants like B&N were having on local shops like Fuller’s. (Well that’s not true … I did. It’s the general pattern in the economy that chain stores shut down independents, and we’ve all seen F-O-X books drive the Shop Around the Corner out of business in the movies). Anyway, while I usually buy my theology text books at the school shop, I use amazon purchase hard to find design and cultural text books. I have been wondering if it’s worth it in shipping costs pay the $80/year upfront to continue the prime service. But at this point, I’m starting to think not…

While I obviously couldn’t find some of the design books I need on campus, perhaps its just time to shift away from the mammoth and engage other independent resources online like Powells, and the local shops like Vroman’s. The amount of influence that the larger chains are acquiring is moving beyond book selling into the publishing and even self-publishing realms. While it’ll cost a bit more, and take more time and effort, the ultimate cost of convenience and low prices is perhaps too great.

It’s finals week, which means my apartment is much cleaner than it should be and I’m getting around to editing older photos… Oh procrastination, will you ever leave me alone?

Anyway … before the finals madness hit, I joined Eric and his friends (Mike and Wendy, Mark and Jen) in their camping tradition. We headed out to Joshua Tree National Park over Memorial Day weekend for a few days of rest and fun.

I have to admit was a little bit weary when Mike loaded the tikki torches in the back of my subaru (apparently my backpacking minimalist roots go deep), but I have to admit, it was a great touch to our campsite. These folks love food, laughing, and being in nature … who am I to resist?

I thought I’d be hesitant to take many pictures because I’ve been in the park about three times now, but silly me… I was usually lagging behind in the group walks trying to capture things like the cactus flowers that were so amazing thanks to the spring season.

The rest of the pics are here - enjoy!

I have moments where I love being in school. Right now I am reading the Cambridge companion to Feminist Theology for a book report, and am in awe that I get a chance to read this, and reflect on it. As I am gaining all this knowledge and insight … and it benefits me and my life … but is that it? Does it just stop there?

But I am starting to realize with a jolt that knowlege is not an end in itself (can we tell I’m graduating in two weeks?). My education and time at Fuller is hardly an end - infact the school itself has been telling me through their mission statement that I am being equipped “for the manifold ministries of Christ and his Church” This knowledge not an end, but a means to an end…

I know, so will I …

… speak up with alternative view points about feminism and theology?

… advocate for electric cars and other green advancements?

… push clients for design solutions that are simpler though they like more colors and bigger fonts?

Will I?

I hope so, but with knowledge comes a call for bravery into action.

Sigh. This idea to try and sumarize the gospel within the 140 characters of a twitter update makes me cringe inside. Really? This is what the community of faith is doing with Twitter?

Perhaps it’s clever and I just don’t get it. I guess it’s another creative use of the web application as it came from a Twitter Writing Contest. Yet creating a tweet that shouts to the world, “I AM COMMUNICATING THE ESSENCE OF THE GOSPEL IN THIS TWEET!” is a bit arrogant and unhelpful. It’s more a contest of wording than a sincere communication of the Christian faith.

Twitter, a social networking and updating web application was created with web 2.0 sensitivities that celebrate authenticity and transparency … Friends can send updates to each other, the LA Fire Department sent updates with it during the October wildfires, and it’s become an integral part of political campaigning for each major presidential canidate, like Obamba (more background on twitter here). These uses are helpful, and will draw a genuine following as people’s needs and interests are being met. But please do not use these 140 characters to preach at me, or I will tune out. Instead, can we use tweets to share, relate and love others? Is it possible?

The best thing is probably as St. Francis Of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words.” I guess that would be my tweet.

(ht to Church Marketing Sucks)

Indoor pool … that’s a weekend project, right?, originally uploaded by DesignMinistry.

All my spring break pictures are finally up - including a few from Hearst Castle. The incredible (gold plated) indoor pool is pictured above … an indoor heaven they mean!

If you haven’t seen William Hearst’s dream house, designed by the architect Julia Morgan on the Central Coast, I highly recommend it. There are about four different tours that go into different parts of the house(s), so there’s always more to go back for … which I plan to do. He collected art and pieces from all over the Mediterranean, so you’ll feel like you’re in Spain, Italy, Morocco and California all at the same time!

(And I’m so convinced the polar bear cages on the bus ride down were a muse for Lost, but that could just be me…)

Next set of photos are on their way - from this weekend in Joshua Tree!

Have you seen the photo on the front of the LA Times? It’ll stop you cold.

Or at least it stopped me and my friend Jen as we walked by it on the street after lunch. And I’m reading on an LA Metroblog post how it stoped another blogger too.

I just reflected on how these images of great need and suffering can overwhelm and end up making us numb. This was indeed a gutsy editorial decision at LA Times to run this photo (or any photo) so large above the fold. But here is a case where the devastation is so immediate, we might just need to SEE the images this large in print to begin to process the news.

Yet honestly, I still can’t get my head around these events and numbers of people lost, not to mention Burma last week, or what it means to dispense aid and relief after such catastrophes. I think this blogger, Will Cambell says it best after processing the details in the images (such as the bright stripes - a school uniform? The emblem - a officers hat offered in comfort?) and a frustration in buildings that weren’t reinforced against such quakes:

… I bow my head and I lay my hands upon the picture of the boy, one of thousands whose futures now remain so uncertain. And though I’m not subscribed to any specific religion I close my eyes and I ask the lord to surround this boy in a powerful circle of hope and strength and support and get him out of there. Make him safe. Make them all safe.

(ht to Will Campell and Photo: Li Gang - New China News Agency )

Kirk Creek Campground - biking in, originally uploaded by DesignMinistry.

The trickle of spring break photos continues … Gosh, now that it’s week seven in the quarter and finals are a lot closer than I’d like to admit, I feel like I could use this type of escape again.

Thank goodness summer follows finals. If these unseasonal clouds here in LA ever clear up, I can resume being a beach bum.

I have a serious weakness for … type. An ad flashed across my facebook page for this tank. Click, click (sale!) … yes please. Love it.

I’m eager to see what else this Typography Shop comes out with. Right now it’s just this decending Helevetica Neue homage. And let’s face it, the Neue is just better than regular.

Have you heard of Twitter? It’s a web based service that gives you a feed and 140 characters to share (or “tweet”) a short update, message, or link with your friends who follow you. The beauty of Twitter is it’s flexibility. You can send and receive updates from your cell phone as well as the web. My own feed is linked into the sidebar on the right, and also shows up as my Facebook status.

Apparently it is more than just nerdy - it can be just plain useful. A journalism grad student was detained by Egyptians authorities for photographing a labor rally. By texting “Arrested” from his cell phone to his twitter account, his friends instantly saw the update and made calls to the US Embassy to get involved. The story is here from the Washington Post.

(ht to social design notes)