UMAC Workshop on CSS

I'm leading a workshop on CSS, covering the basics of CSS and how to read it, use it, code it, and love it. :)

Maybe that should be my title for this workshop....

Download workshop material.

FYI: I'm covering the basics so any comments about the simplistic page design and I may hurt you... just kidding.

Finding Rest

Today I hit a wall.

It was an emotional wall. There have been many emotions that have been repressed over the last few days (and weeks). I haven't had the opportunity to express them properly with all the frenetic energy of General Conference. I am feeling overwhelmed and fearing the levy will break.

There are some people that will never recognize or admit that they are doing harm to others. Maybe they are in denial or maybe they feel their behavior is justified. Regardless, it's harmful. Church folks are people too and we live in a secular world. But don't you think we could model a better way of relating to one another? Can't we work out differences without diminishing someone else or threatening them?

I've been left in a state of harm since Monday night and I'm still trying to find a way to reconcile my emotions. Part of me wants to force those that harmed me to see their error and make amends. However, a good friend told me that if I'm looking for resolution through their actions, I will be sorely disappointed.

So now what? I woke up this morning paralyzed by how much I dwell on this even when I don't want to. My friends know I have a strong aversion to conflict, but I'm willing to go though it to find a resolution. I'm left asking: How can I find rest? Where is there peace in this moment?

Thankfully, today I can step away from things for a moment and search of rest. Sadly, I am somewhat pessimistic about finding it in this place. I am not looking forward to anything.

I pray and hope God's healing balm comes over me soon.

Night tour of monuments

I love going to the DC monuments at night. The lighting is dramatic an there are less people crowded around the exhibit elements.

My favorite memorial is FDR's. It is a granite and bronze exhibit that goes through FDR's 4 terms as president. This exhibit always inspires me to do more with exhibit design. The ability to tell a story through life-sized sculptures and quotes is powerful. The water flowing through the rock reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright's FallingWater.

The words of FDR ring true today as they did 70 years ago - "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

I also saw the MLK memorial for the first time last night. Really amazing sculpture and design concept. It wasn't until I was leaving that I realized the wall with all his quotes was an arch. A clever reference to King's quote: "The moral arc of the universe is long but it always bends toward justice."

Survey Tool

Recently I came across an appeal letter from Mark Tooley and the IRD (Institute on Religion and Democracy). In the email, Rob Renfroe is quoted as stating that all the staff at GBCS are "liberal to very liberal." I apparently was out of the office the day Rob Renfroe asked the staff to take his "Liberal to Very Liberal" survey. This made me think...

I must admit, I am very liberal... with buttering my toast. And to my shock, my communications counterpart, Wayne, is ultra conservative on this very issue!

I am now forced to evaluate our entire working relationship.

Maybe I should embrace the term, like John Wesley embraced the label Methodist. Maybe loving people unconditionally isn't such a bad thing. Maybe seeking peace throughout the world is what God wants. Maybe opening our hearts to be in relationship with one another is a glimpse of heaven.

Maybe labels are distracting us from our higher calling in faith.

Unfortunately, Mark Tooley, Renfroe and the IRD want to throw labels at me and others I work with rather than see us as sisters and brothers on the same journey. On the surface, it may seem one way, but I struggle with the positions of The United Methodist Church just like others. However, I'm proud to work for an organization that brings people of different backgrounds, cultures, religions and philosophies together to learn from one another and advance the Kingdom of God.

Jesus didn't work to preserve the status quo. So if challenging systems of oppression and working to transform the world is liberal, put a check next to my name!

But wait a second. Aren't we limiting the realm of God's work to a narrow, short-sighted worldview with labels like liberal and conservative? Didn't God make a diverse world? Aren't we called to transform this world not conform to it?

If we truly believe we are created in God's image, than we must recognize that God comes in many shapes, sizes, colors, sensibilities, capabilities and even varying ideologies. Maybe it is time folks stop limiting God to their worldview and making God into their own image.

I am a child of God who continues to grow into what God calls me to be in my life. I can look back at the person I was 5, 10 and 15 years ago and I know my views of others and on issues have been transformed by the experiences and persons God has brought into my life. I cannot and I will not let Tooley (or any person) try to limit who I am and who God wants me to be because of their limited view of the world.

If we (as people if faith) took the language of the world out of our vocabulary, we would probably find out we are one body, with blessed diversity. Then, not only the world but our hearts would be transformed.

Time for a redesign...

So I am about to embark on a major project for my organization. We are transitioning off our current CRM and CMs system (Blackbaud Sphere) and I'm using separate vendors for the CRM and CMS.

Why? Well, in my opinion, most Constituent Relationship Management systems (CRMs) do not have very robust Content Management Systems (CMS) for websites. Depending on your needs, you may find one that works, but I believe our site could be 100x better on a CMS that is outside of our CRM.

That does not mean that the two do not need to be closely integrated to pull and push data.

Enough about that...

I'm also redesigning our website (www.umc-gbcs.org). When I started at GBCS, the wheels were already in motion for the site and I was handed the keys. Our current site is... well... it needs some work, especially on the homepage.

The homepage has become an unwieldy monster. So many things are jumping out for your attention. I get requests very often to add something else to the homepage. (!!) What started off to be organized is not longer suitable.

One of my goals with the redesign (and new CMS) is to have a more searchable website and reduce the clutter. The same content will be used (for the most part). I'm also working on concepts for some additional audio visual components.

In my initial design for the new site (right), I'm not trying to do anything spectacular just really clean up the layout and establish some form of visual hierarchy through color. I may post some of my earlier sketches, the color scheme is based on a theme I've been using in recent ads based on internal conversations with staff and advocates.

New Philosophy on Engagement

The recent ads I've created emphasis experiential relationships, equipping advocates and connecting with advocates and the community to transform the world - Experience | Equip | Engage. My initial designs for organizing the website were built directly around those words. While I still think they are key, I decided to be less heavy handled with incorporating a slogan and more strategic about incorporating those elements on every page. Thus, on most pages there will be a story (written or in audio/visual form) that highlights a particular topic (Experience) along with resources for furthering your knowledge through Bible studies, training or seminars (Equip) and finally taking action - either in political or community form (Engage).

I'll plan to have more to share as this project moves along but I wanted to get my thoughts out to the world... Feedback is always welcome.

Euro Trip - Berlin am Montag

Our hotel room in Berlin is twice the size of our Amsterdam room! We're staying at an apartment hotel in Kufuerstendamm - the hotel is really similar to regular hotels except they all have kitchenettes and depending on how long you're staying you get certain hotel services. They offer a breakfast every morning (11 Euros/person). Free WI-FI and a community computer (iMac) in the lounge.

For our first full day in Berlin we decide to talk a walk around the neighborhood. Since I had a chance to check out different parts of Berlin before Doogie arrived, I wanted to take him to see the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche and Joe's Wirsthaus located near the Zoologischer Garten.

There are lots of cool shops along the way. Doogie spotted a record store - must take a detour to check out the music selections... 

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

This church was built in 1891by Kaiser Wilhelm II in honor of Kaiser Wilhelm I. It was heavily damaged during WWII. The remaining section (the foyer) was persevered during the rebuilding of the church. It is the visitors welcome center and has an exhibit showing how the church was used in the past and artifacts from before the war.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche ceiling of old church (now the visitors center)

Next to the old church is the new church sanctuary with stained glass walls. Visitors aren't allowed to take pictures inside this part of the church. There is a modern statue of Jesus Christs that is suspended above the alter. It is a gorgeous place.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
(the tower is in the background, old church in the middle and new sanctuary in the front)

After leaving the church we took a walk towards the Zoo. We unfortunately got there after the Zoo was closed. We took a few pictures outside before finding a place to eat.

Joe's Wirsthaus

I really like this place - maybe it's because it was the first place I went to when I got to Berlin. Maybe it was our nice waiter who seemed happy about me trying to speak German. Or maybe it was the giant glasses of beer.... It's hard to tell.

Here's a link to their website: http://www.joes-berlin.de/index.php?l=2 

Wall decorations at Joe's

We found a new beer - banana wheat. I don't remember the maker but it was very good. A smooth mix of banana and wheat that goes well with any meal. I order Schnitzel and Doogie has a Currywurst.

Doogie orders another drink, Kirsch-Weißbier (Cherry Wheat), in a liter this time. The glass in huge! Another good drink. :)


We keep looking at each other in amazement that we get to spend a vacation in another country. We head back to the hotel and relax for the evening. Tomorrow we planned to check our more spots around Berlin.

Euro Trip - Amsterdam (Day 4)

For our last day in Amsterdam we had a few hours before we needed to catch out train back to Berlin. We planned to meet Kate and Adam at the Heineken Brewery at 11am to go out the tour.

Running late... we get ready and hop on the tram towards the brewery. Guess who we run into on the tram?!?! :)

The Heineken Experience

Brewing process tour.

Admiring the bubbles from the beer before tasting.

It's cool to check out a brewery but this is basically a 2-hour advertisement for beer I'm already familiar with. Still they had a couple fun interactive sections that include mixing wort, taste testing a couple beers, creating silly videos and pictures to email out.

Here is our silly Heineken Experience video.

Going through the brewery they showed the many different types of Heineken they had in the past. Now it appears they only produce the light pilsner. I would have liked to try one of their dark beers. They also have a new extra cold Heineken that is served at -5 degrees Celsius. Kate particularly liked the really cold beer. After the tour, we picked up a personalized bottle with our names on it. It will be a great addition to the bar. :) 

Doogie and I checking out something at the Heineken Bar.

Our train was departing at 2:50p so we had to leave Kate and Adam around 1:30p and get back to the hotel to grab our bags. I was still in the middle of my luggage woes so we stopped at a luggage shop and bought a new large suitcase for 40 Euros. I transferred all my stuff into the new suitcase, we caught a cab and made it just in time for our train home.

Next stop Berlin...