tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80841264849203914872024-02-07T20:05:48.059-08:00Youth Justice NetworkYouthful Theological ReflectionWesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-91993566069244169572010-07-15T16:03:00.000-07:002010-07-15T16:03:09.377-07:00New Website! theologypirate.comHowdy Y'all - if you didn't hear it yet - let me tell you that the<a href="http://theologypirate.com/"> new website is up and running!</a> Please visit regularly for mind enhancing blog posts! Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-32346296089858693212010-06-23T22:22:00.000-07:002010-06-23T22:22:36.952-07:00Can God Be Surprised?<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sCrBxaKw7I0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sCrBxaKw7I0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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The eBook will be available <a href="http://transformingtheology.org/">here</a> after July 1, 2010.<br />
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If you have suggestions for the new website email them to me: theologypirate(at)gmail(dot)com!Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-37050528332624964132010-06-23T15:04:00.000-07:002010-06-23T15:04:05.565-07:00Team Church!What team are you on? This is a question I enjoy asking our youth on a regular basis. As the seasons and the interests of young people change it is fun to find out what sport and what team a they are on. Some youth make the rounds and try everything. Others stick to one sport and play it year round. There are moments of joy and celebration when a team does well. And there are moments of pain and disappointment when a young person is injured from a sport or loses a competition. There is always much to talk about with sports and youth. The church and youth group has something to learn from sports. The commitment and teamwork that a young person invests into a team is a lot like church. So in this article I will explore what youth ministry has to learn from sports.<br />
The team. When a young person joins a team they become connected to that group of people. Everyone on it shares whatever happens to the team. A win is a win for the whole team, and a loss is a loss for every person. When you are a member of a church you have decided to join that team. The wins and the losses that are experienced on this team are shared by everyone. The birth of a healthy baby, a Baptism, a wedding, and a graduation are all wins in life. They are moments of celebration that the community shares. This community helps to increase the celebration and joy at such a victory. Imagine that you score the winning point in a basketball game. Isn’t it the team that carries you on their shoulders and douses you with Gatorade? So it is with the wins of your life. The church is the team that lifts you up, prays for you, hands you a piece of cake, gives you hugs, handshakes, cards, and gifts to increase the joy of your accomplishments.<br />
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But just as no team has a totally perfect record, no church lives life without losses. In the game of life we will all experience loss. There is the loss of a job, the loss of life, the loss of a marriage. There are personal failures: poor choices you make that lead to consequences you regret. Sometimes you blow it and lose the game. It’s what the kids call: “epic fail.” When this happens it is the team that stands by you and shares in the bitterness of loss. This why at a funeral the church comes together. We are here to bear a portion of the sadness, to grieve, to hold one another up, and to wait with patient expectation for hope and new possibilities with God.<br />
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God is our coach. A good coach knows her players and knows in exactly what areas a player can improve their game. Similarly God works in each of our lives through the Holy Spirit to love and support us. Pastors and youth ministers are like team captains. You’ve called us to help lead as one of you, but we are in the team right next you experiencing the wins and losses just as you are. We are not above the game. And just as the team captain is not necessarily the MVP (most valuable player) neither are we. There are leaders that rise up from within the congregation to take the lead in the game of life. Some have been playing the game a long time and have advice on how to win more and suffer losses less. Some players are younger and full of energy. We need your youth and exuberance. All of us look to God for guidance.<br />
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Commitment. A team is successful when its members are committed. Any young person who has gone through confirmation knows that sports and church activities often compete for the time and attention of young people. When a family has to decide whether to skip a church event or a sports game, I will often here the rationale of, “Johnny made a commitment to the team and he cannot skip out on that commitment.” What about the commitment made to church? What is the commitment one makes? At Baptism parents and sponsors commit to the Christian education of their children. That is a commitment. There are no simple or easy answers to these challenges. Each family and each person has to figure out what they will do and how to compromise. <br />
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I hope that as you join and play with various sports teams throughout your life, that you would remember that there is a team that lasts for more than one season or even one year. There is a team that has got your back, and is by your side at the highest highs and lowest lows. You don’t have to retire from this team. You don’t have to try out for this team. All are welcome. You are welcome. Should you decide to stop playing for a while, you will be dearly missed, but you are never forsaken. Should you decide to stay on and practice for the long haul, I can guarantee that you won’t regret it, and that the ride will be far wilder and unexpected than you can ever imagine!Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-20531345903561284002010-06-21T15:32:00.000-07:002010-06-21T15:32:29.892-07:00Consider the NewsboysSo I've never been a big fan of "born again" theology, but consider the Newsboys. Here is a new video that puts a spin on being Born Again. I didn't catch all of the lyrics on the first listen, but the story of the video and the message that I get from watching and listening to it is that being "born again" means being born to the cause of justice and the struggle against poverty. Is this a "born again" theology you could get behind? What do you make of the images? Would anyone like to go to Mexico and help build something? Or go and learn something?<br />
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I can't embed the video, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuaavycxU1Q">so here is a link.</a>Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-80498006410632737352010-06-11T16:44:00.000-07:002010-06-11T17:02:00.375-07:00An Open Letter to Open Theists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OGT6h6HF7_HiGPHFki5Qi1mwsJsF1LeNVFUknoIWL4HAu7ShyphenhyphenSiDWYAo2cL8m4SHZv1muWu1FyWI8OcLvN3yKf5OxqH4XOtWOUr0riVVPRKi80hhTRhFDeKvjJSAjmYtyyr3Mw6RX60/s1600/10218_reciprocity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OGT6h6HF7_HiGPHFki5Qi1mwsJsF1LeNVFUknoIWL4HAu7ShyphenhyphenSiDWYAo2cL8m4SHZv1muWu1FyWI8OcLvN3yKf5OxqH4XOtWOUr0riVVPRKi80hhTRhFDeKvjJSAjmYtyyr3Mw6RX60/s320/10218_reciprocity.jpg" /></a></div>I've just finished my first year of seminary at Claremont School of Theology. Claremont is known for being a locus of Process Theology/Thought. There are two centers devoted to it and many faculty who prescribe or are very sympathetic to it. From what I have been exposed to it, I find many facets appealing. I also have several questions. So here is my experiment: I will post a series of questions centered on process theology and invite people to respond. Perhaps other students wiser than I, maybe some of our fine PhD candidates, or even faculty will weigh in. I welcome the input from wherever it comes. <br />
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<b>True Autonomy</b><br />
I just <a href="http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com/2010/06/evolution-universe-and-divine-influence.html?showComment=1276290748450#c7911735231342281356">posted this question</a> on the excellent blog: <a href="http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com/">Ponderings on a Faith Journey</a>.<br />
But I will restate. To what extent does Process Theology advocate a free will? Process theology advocates an openness to both God and the future. However, is the best most creative imaginative off the wall thought a person could ever have, an actualized potentiality offered by the divine? If so - is it really that creative? Is it free? It doesn't really feel that free if the best we can be is already in the mind of the divine. <br />
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<i>A corollary question</i>: Is it only human sin, that is, humanity's tendency to not choose to live in accordance to what God's will that creates the openness of reality? In other words, IF all humans and all created beings were to choose to be fully in accordance to the divine lure would the future, in a sense be determined? Is it theoretically possible to "fast track it" to God's ultimate vision of reality?<br />
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<b>Diminishing Returns</b><br />
If each moment is open to influence by all past moments and also by a novel divine lure, does the quantitative power of that novel lure have to increase? Or do past moments diminish or disintegrate over time? This is to say, if the force of past moments do not diminish then as time moves forward all past moments will accumulate and grow larger and larger with each passing moment. Thus their force will grow by (+1) after every moment. Given an infinite amount of moments their force will have to be or will be (depending on one's conception of the origin of time) infinite. If this is the case, then any novelty suggested by the divine must also increase in force or appeal to have the capacity to overcome the weight of past moments. But can anything be bigger than infinity? So it must be the case that past moments deteriorate in their force, if true novelty is a possibility at every instance. This is obviously a more technical question, but I raise it because--correct me if I'm wrong--I've heard it said that past moments don't go away in process thought. What say you?<br />
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<b>A Logical God and the Role of Faith</b><br />
Up to this point in my life there has always been a characteristic in my faith life that I learned to live with. It is summarized in the great dictum by Anselm, "Faith seeking understanding." To me this has meant that faith precedes understanding (which is why it is faith) and the task of theology is to seek to understand. There is not promise that one will ever get there, to total understanding. But the finer point is that faith precedes understanding. For this reason any metaphysics that explains God in such a way as to seamlessly integrate into science, reason, and everything else we know about the world seems too good to be true. What's the use of faith at that point?<br />
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<b>Neo Neo Platonism</b><br />
Is there a qualitative difference between a divine lure and a platonic form? If so please explain. <br />
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Hopefully this is enough to get some conversation going. Thanks for your consideration.Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-67599866138829878462010-06-09T12:49:00.000-07:002010-06-09T12:49:57.229-07:00Nothing Sells Like Fear - Of TeenagersCheck out this commercial I saw on TV this past weekend. It features an incredibly messy room that is supposed to belong to a teen-ager. The commercial is for Hyundai autos and the tag line is, "you may not have to share a room with a 16 year old, but you do have to share the road." The Hyundai is supposed to be the car of choice for this endeavor because of its safety. The ad has generated quite a reaction on youtube, and you can read the comments yourself, but beware, they are very explicit.<br />
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Never mind the ugly stereotyping and prejudice toward young people in this ad - what about the soundtrack? The tune is from the Sound of Music. It is the young Rolf singing to Liesl persuading her to find refuge in him. He is later recruited or conscripted to be with the Nazis and "blows the whistle" on Liesl's family who barely evades them. The message of his song - the one in this commercial - is to "grow up" put trust in in the things that can provide and abandon childhood. But it is Rolf who decides to put his trust in a fascist regime. Now here is Rolf singing his song to the consumers of America wooing them to grow up and buy a car that will protect them from those foolish teenagers who are on the road like the fascist resisting Liesl, I suppose. What does this say about youth?<br />
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It is an unintended consequence of this commercial that protecting oneself from the dangers of youthfulness is associated with consumerism. Isn't it young people themselves who are stereotyped as being uber-consumers? This stereotype should be examined and dismantled. It is consumerism that in fact spoils the soul of the living and especially of the young. But instead, Hyundai, and many other people and institutions capitalize off fear of young people to push their product and consequently consumerism. But what is there to fear?<br />
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Don't young people in fact learn their behavior from adults? And if young people imagine new ways of living, should this change be feared? How can negative stereotypes of young people be avoided?Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-74520494927827504312010-06-01T13:24:00.000-07:002010-06-10T20:04:02.710-07:00Pirates and Undocumented ImmigrantsYarr maytees - behold the Theology Pirate interviewing Jill on why her Christian faith leads her to protest the Arizona law SB 1070 and what she believes is a positive alternative.<br />
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What say you?Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-82735082338283736972010-05-20T15:22:00.000-07:002010-05-20T15:22:25.730-07:00Happy Birthday to Us!If you're like me, then you're one of those youth ministers who gets roped into doing the children sermon. And if you're like me, you also actually enjoy doing it! But fresh ideas are always welcome. For the first time ever I am posting one of my children sermons. Feel free to use and/or modify. The emphasis/inspiration is how the Holy Spirit democratizes the church, cf. "I will pour my spirit out on <i><b>all</b></i> flesh." Acts 2:17b This means that the kids are just as much the church as the adults. Of course in acts, language isn't a barrier either. Pentecost...and the formation of the church breaks down barriers, it doesn't put them up. So let's celebrate that this Sunday!<br />
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May 23, 2010<br />
Day of Pentecost<br />
Acts 2:1-21<br />
Children Sermon<br />
[Have a birthday cake prepared]<br />
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Good morning girls and boys, how are you? It is really good to see you today. Today is a very special day. Today is the birthday of the Christian church! As you can see we have a birthday cake, with some candles. Can we sing “Happy Birthday” to the church? Put the cake on a stool or table in the middle of the aisle.<br />
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Let’s sing:<br />
Happy Birthday to you,<br />
Happy birthday to you,<br />
Happy birthday dear church,<br />
Happy birthday to you!<br />
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Now when it is someone’s birthday, what do you normally bring to the party for the birthday person? [a present, or a card]<br />
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That’s right, a present! So who has a present for the church? [wait, allow for pause, or for possible sarcastic answers]<br />
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Does anyone seriously have a present for the church?<br />
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Wait a second, who is the church, anyway? <br />
Is it this building?<br />
Is it the altar?<br />
What is the church? <br />
[The church is all of us! It’s the kids, the adults, the older youth, all of God’s people are the church.] <br />
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So if it’s the church’s birthday, and we’re the church, then do we get presents? <br />
Who is going to give us a present?<br />
Do you have a present? [asking someone in a pew] Oh wait you’re part of the church too.<br />
Pastor Mark, do you have a present? You’re the pastor. Oh wait, is the pastor part of the church too. Who is going to give a present? [Looking somewhat discouraged]<br />
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Well today in our scripture from the book of Acts, we find that God gives a gift to the church. God gives is the Holy Spirit! Who does God give it to? God gives it to everyone! Young or old, rich or poor, female or male, slave or free, people with papers, and people without papers. Everyone gets the Holy Spirit! And with this gift, God literally gives his power away to us, so that we might be a part of God in the world, and that everyone is equal. So today I encourage you to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, the very real presence of God with you here and now! Amen.Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-67093159929808256572010-05-19T14:09:00.000-07:002010-05-19T14:10:51.706-07:00[Super]naturalism - friend or foe?Okay, so it's not like I haven't been at work, but now that the semester is over and so is my first year of seminary, I am back in the office at <a href="http://www.oursaviorsonline.com/oslchome.html">Our Savior</a>'s. It is a bizarre and welcome feeling, to be in a congregation doing ministry - during normal business hours. It's not as if I haven't been here...I've just been swooping in mostly during the evenings or on the weekends. Now it is different. But why and how does this affect youth ministry and theology?<br />
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Today I have experienced what some have called the maceration of the role of a minister. There are so many jobs and needs that one must attend to, that it is hard to focus for very long on just one thing: like reading and thinking about theology, for example.<br />
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Theologians and ministers have a difficult task of thinking deeply and also doing so in such a way that is accessible and practical to religious people in general. Content must not suffer. Form must be functional. What a challenging task! Already today I have read three very cool and interesting blog posts concerned with this very thing, and my brain is hard and work holding them together. <br />
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Philip Clayton <a href="http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Living-in-the-Intersections.html">wrote a piece</a> on faith and science, hoping for a democratization of the conversation. He invites common religious folk would not eschew science, but participate with it, both for positive social change, and to rethink theological positions.<br />
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Bruce Epperly <a href="http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com/2010/05/more-than-parable-bruce-epperly.html">wrote on the resurrection</a> being not just a parable or a supernatural event, but a physical reality made possible with a more immanent understanding of God. Here is a prime example of how theological doctrines are really at stake in one's view of science.<br />
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Drew Baker has started a new <a href="http://phantomrealities.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/thinking-phantom-realities/">phantastic blog</a> all about ghost stories (and justice & post enlightenment thought). He doesn't eschew supernaturalism but embraces it. This could be a fascinating development. Have religious folks tried so hard to be taken seriously by science and modernity that we have sold short the wonderfully supernatural stories that thoroughly modern folks believe in anyway? Talk about ironic!<br />
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Wow, if all of these people keep it up, I will have just as much summer reading as I had during the semester (hahahahaha).Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-1599686114696395832010-05-17T21:45:00.000-07:002010-05-17T21:45:52.636-07:00Gran Torino - [Spoiler alert] Can Hollywood do religion?Does Hollywood get religion? <br />
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I just saw, Gran Torino, with Clint Eastwood for the first time. It kept me interested, had suspenseful moments, humorous moments, and everything else one comes to expect from a Clint Eastwood movie. But I'm confused about what the film said about religion.<br />
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There were two religious leaders portrayed in the film: a Roman Catholic priest, and a Hmong shaman. The priest is portrayed as naive, " a 27 year old over-educated virgin" according to Walt (Eastwood). Whereas the shaman is given a somewhat more positive role. The Shaman is spot on with his "reading" of Walt, to which Walt says to himself, "I have more in common with these... (racial slander for Hmong) than my own people."<br />
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The main conflict in the movie is a gang of Hmong young men seeking to initiate another young man: Thao, who is Walt's neighbor. Walt uses guns and tough talk to defend the neighborhood - classic Eastwood. The role of the priest is further complicated by the fact that he works with the Hmong gang and condemns Walt for using arms to defend himself and the neighbors from the gang. However, the Hmong neighbors pour out gratitude to the gun wielding Walt. <br />
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[Here comes the spoiler]<br />
At the end of the movie Walt offers himself as a sacrifice. The result is that a community and one family in particular is "safe" from gang violence, and the gang will likely go to prison for a long time.<br />
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At Walt's funeral, the priest comments on how he learned form Walt about life and death. But what of the priest's efforts to work with the gang before violence was perpetrated and perpetuated? In this fictionalized account of inner city struggles it seems like the role of a priest is quite insignificant. What would the real life clergy persons who work day in and day out with gang members make of this movie? What would Father Gregory Boyle of Los Angeles have to say who created Homeboy Industries? <br />
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Does anyone out there recommend movies that deal with inner city issues that have a more nuanced and realistic representation of both the shortcomings and contributions of religion and religious leaders?Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-51042020385266061362010-05-15T09:34:00.000-07:002010-05-15T09:34:13.379-07:00Tattoos as a Sacrament?<object height="505" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gjw-GAHIUjE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gjw-GAHIUjE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br />
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Alanna's understanding of communion focuses on an open table, and connection to Christ. Her tattoo of the elements of communion helps me understand how through communion Chris is connected to the one who receives. Thanks Alanna for this deep reflection!Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-60480419688031163322010-05-14T06:23:00.000-07:002010-05-14T06:23:16.978-07:00The Hand of God<object height="505" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GLtZJKerqsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GLtZJKerqsU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br />
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Bryan reflects on his journey to Los Angeles, Skid Row, and Pershing Square. There he met a man by the name of Michael who was "wise without trying to be wise." Bryan shares how he thinks the hand of God is at work in the world. Thanks Bryan!Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-54176755949923751062010-05-13T13:45:00.000-07:002010-05-13T13:45:35.892-07:00How to [Not] Talk to Youth<object height="505" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FdYRWzScxlw&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FdYRWzScxlw&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br />
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My friend Katie shares where she finds ultimate authority. Advice and opinions can be helpful, but eventually God is the ultimate source. Our youth group watched this, talked about it, and then practiced it with some sweet Lectio Divina. It was super powerful. Thank you Katie!Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-26503728702868115562010-05-12T19:38:00.000-07:002010-05-12T19:47:41.558-07:00Theology Pirate Strikes Again! One Hard Core Drummer Falls Victim!<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9e74c1rI64U&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9e74c1rI64U&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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I hope you enjoy this sweet video of the Theology Pirate interviewing Austin, a real life Hard Core/Death Metal/Straight Edge drummer on his views of authority, God, and music! Rock on!Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-38737255857955947222010-05-03T23:43:00.000-07:002010-05-03T23:43:28.904-07:00I Need You to Lead MeI’ve never read a book quite like “Tribes” by Seth Godin. I’m usually not one for books on leadership. But the subtitle grabbed my attention: We need you to lead us.<br />
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It takes a lot of courage to admit that you are a follower and need to be led. Martin Luther talked about the “priesthood of all believers.” I think he realized that he could not do it all. He needed help. I can relate to that. I need lots of help, in many different areas of my life. <br />
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But Godin didn’t spend much time talking about how to follow. Instead, most of the time he gave examples of people who lead “tribes,” and how you too can lead a tribe. <br />
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned about leadership it’s that it’s really hard. I don’t know of too many people who lead out of choice…seriously. Pastors care called to congregations. That is, they are called to lead. Sometimes they don’t want to, but the Lord has need of it, so what is one to do? Take the prophet Jeremiah, for example. He wasn’t chomping at the bit to lead. But resistance to God was futile. <br />
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In the context of faith, even a leader is still following God. Learning how to follow is at least as important as learning how to lead. I believe there is one whom is worthy to follow.<br />
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We need you to lead us.Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-37640026931463818172010-04-28T17:05:00.000-07:002010-04-28T17:07:26.938-07:00What Would Jesus Deconstruct - Book ReviewLast week our youth group visited a Hindu Temple. Here is what I learned: Three main deities in Hinduism are Brahman, Vishnu, and Shiva. There are hundreds others but these are three main ones. They are understood to be manifestations of the "one real." Brahman is a creator god. Vishnu is a sustainer. And Shiva is the destroyer. You might be struck by the parallel with the Christian trinity. The Father is creator like Brahman. The Holy Spirit is a sustainer like Vishnu. But can Jesus Christ be though of as a destroyer? If one takes the cross as the central event of Jesus' life then perhaps. Jesus questioned the status quo of his day. Some might have feared that he had the power to destroy. He died, his life was destroyed, on the cross. In Baptism, we say that a person is baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ. God does not leave destruction without the hope of restoration. God restores. God resurrects. Hinduism, too, offers hope of new life in ways distinct to its tradition. <br />
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I don't want to force these two historically distinct traditions to align. But it is interesting to hold our traditions in conversation and see what emerges. Learning a little something about Hinduism helps me to appreciate something in my own Christian faith. Resurrection comes after destruction.<br />
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In the book, "<a href="http://lccn.loc.gov/2007019938">What Would Jesus Deconstruct</a>?" by John D. Caputo, a case is made for considering deconstruction as helpful for the Christian life of faith. The basic gist is this: conceding that everything can be deconstructed awakens the Christian from dogmatic slumbers. Rather than put one's faith in a particular theological doctrine or reading of scripture, the Christian should put their faith in God alone.<br />
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Is it right to put faith in the project of deconstruction? If we take deconstruction seriously then the answer is no. Faith should be put in God alone. But deconstruction might be a helpful path, that is, a dead end which allows a way to be made out of no way and the fullness of resurrection to be known.Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-47391105235754094742010-04-20T17:35:00.000-07:002010-04-20T17:35:38.657-07:00The Danger of SeminarySeminary is a dangerous thing. It gets you thinking. And I’ve been thinking a lot. Fortunately, at Our Savior’s (my home congregation) we are Encouraged to Think! So I’d like to share with you something I’ve been thinking about, it’s called: youth theology.<br />
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Youth theology is a perspective that values the theological insight of youth. Have you ever been amazed at something a young person has said about God? Just the other day one of our pre-school teachers told me about how a pre-school student, who is also a member of our congregation, explained the Trinity to one of her classmates. She was able to explain the Trinity in a way her four-year-old friend could understand. This is an example youth theology.<br />
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Young people have a way of interpreting classical ideas about God in a way that makes sense today. This is a gift that they have. If something does not make sense to a young person, they are not afraid to question and ask why. Some churches might be afraid of this. But thankfully, we are a part of a church that does not shy away from questions. But when we ask difficult theological questions (questions about God) who as the authority to answer? Do young people have any authority?<br />
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I recently made a <a href="http://youthjusticenetwork.blogspot.com/2010/04/introducing-theology-pirate.html">video</a> asking this very question and put it on the Internet to see if any young people would respond. They did! But the answers might surprise you. When we talked about this question at youth group, the youth were quick to point out two things. One, yes young people do have authority because they have a unique experience and therefore insight about God. The Bible supports this notion. See: 12 year old Jesus in the temple, 13 year old Mary, David the shepherd boy, Samuel the boy in the temple, etc., etc. Two, they did not want to say that adults had no authority. Rather our youth were quick to affirm the authority of their elders! Because the longer you live, they said, the more life experience you have. The concluding point is that the experience of young people is not necessarily better or worse than that of adults, but it is different. Therefore, if experience matters when it comes to talking and thinking about God, young people matter! <br />
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If the church leads the way in acknowledging the authority of young people when it comes to thinking and talking about God, then what would result if the rest of the world followed suit? I encourage you to both speak up to share your experiences, and to listen to the experience of others around you. In this way our theological understanding will be enriched by the insight of young people.Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-38931145496354782462010-04-19T09:41:00.000-07:002010-04-19T09:41:52.329-07:00Spanish - EspanolBuenos Dias senores y senoras,<br />
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Este dia, que ha hacido el Senor, es una nueva oportunidad trabajar por paz. Ayer, desafortunademente, habia un terrible ocasion de violencia en Los Angeles. Unos organizaron un demonstracion de "white supremicy." Ellos tendran un mensaje de odio y racismo. Cientos de personas vinieron para contra-demonstrar. Desafortunademente habia mucho violencia. El "Los Angeles Time" dicen que la violencia fue causado no por los neo-nazis, pero de la contra-demonstracion. Esta situacion me causa pensar en una pregunta: "Como responder, una persona, al odio?"<br />
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Que piensas tu?<br />
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[Es mi primer vez escribir en espanol en mi Blog, lo siento por el calidad peor]Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-58038174197114437952010-04-12T11:59:00.001-07:002010-04-12T12:30:54.536-07:00Introducing the Theology Pirate!Avast ye scurvy dogs! Meet the theology pirate! Who do you think has authority?<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BUxKINesFtc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BUxKINesFtc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-81865185138873173402010-03-25T09:29:00.000-07:002010-03-25T09:29:09.250-07:00Youth! Share your voice!<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4hvXWtY9_Ig&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4hvXWtY9_Ig&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-74911275336687367202010-03-23T23:08:00.000-07:002010-03-23T23:08:12.534-07:00Youth Theology - an InvitationYouth ministry is often viewed as a side dish of the church. It is a way of dealing with a problem. The problem is that young people are not involved in church. This problem-oriented approach to youth ministry is bound to fail. What lies at the heart of profound ministry to youth is an unfettered proclamation of the gospel: "the Kingdom of God is at hand." If one concedes that youth do in fact have brains, and are capable of comprehending sermons, and Bible studies, then the uncomfortable question emerges: is there a theology worth captivating their attention? Is there truly a gospel message that speaks to them? If so, what is it? If there isn't one, then what might it be?<br />
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Here are some potential theological launching points:<br />
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To be young is to be fully human. Adulthood is not a destination, but another step on a journey of faith. Babies, children, adolescents, teens, young adults, adults, and seniors are all human beings. One is not better than the other. Each has specific gifts that it offers to the community of the church at large. Language that puts down teenagers is just as oppressive and inappropriate as racist or sexist language. Furthermore youthfulness is a state of being that crosses boundaries of race, gender, class, etc. The experience of adolescence varies from person to person and group to group, and having dialogue among young people from various social locations can contribute to a richer church.<br />
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Bringing young people together in conversation, and adopting a theology that prioritizes their experiences will help contribute to living out the Kingdom of God hoped for by many people around the world. Because young people have an innate sense and experience of what it means to be both privleged and oppressed they are natural bridge builders between disparate groups. In other words, it may not be enough to teach young people how to serve the poor, for example. Instead, placing a mirror in front of adolescents so that they might see how they are at times oppressed, and at times the oppressor would help them see the larger issues of justice and righteousness in the world today. This will lead to a solidarity with people who greatly oppressed in the world. Solidarity will lead to social action and the building of a more just world. <br />
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What are the needs of youth? What matters most to you? Creating justice with youth begins by creating justice for youth. This is youth theology.Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-4717815843582733632010-03-20T13:11:00.000-07:002010-03-20T13:16:49.567-07:00Empowerment of Youth...a Dangerous CocktailI just finished reading "<a href="http://catalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBRecID=15501466&v1=1&SEQ=20100320151419&PID=4iUov8IGwKSxKYrS5RnCprm0ejCuj">Flickering Pixels</a>" by Shane Hipps. What a compelling exhortation for people of faith to take a sober account of how "technology shapes your faith." I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the confluence of technology and faith, especially folks in the <a href="http://transformingtheology.org/content/tag-schedule">Theology After Google</a> conversation.<br />
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Hipps' peace-making Mennonite Christian faith overlaps with his background in marketing/advertising/media. He has a profound respect for community: face to face interactions, and makes their primacy clear for Christian faith. Yet, he engages media and technology head on, with plenty of cautionary tales, but also a realistic conceit as to how they affect theology!<br />
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Hipps argues that the advent of the printing press and the proliferation of printed media were as influential to the Reformation as the content of theologians like Luther and Calvin. He also argues that the ubiquity of images today with TV/internet changes the way persons think and theology too. Here is a priceless quote: "The Internet makes a flat stone of the mind and skips it across the surface of the world's information ocean. A book, by contrast, is a sturdy submarine, diving the mind deep into the sea" (pg 146).<br />
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Most fascinating of all was Hipps' insight into the “empowerment of youth.” Because they learn and adapt to technology faster, argues Hipps, they become the ones in control--the adults, and adults become the marginalized—the young; thus a reversal of power. He then goes on to highlight some forms of encrypted language people use for drug use and other illicit behavior. Another quote: “This unprecedented empowerment of youth, along with our image-fueled obsession with beauty, is a dangerous cocktail. In a culture that worships youth, what incentive do our kids have to ever grow up?” (139)<br />
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What’s wrong with empowering youth? I would argue that the problem exposed is not empowerment of youth; the problem/danger is the exploitation of youth. If young people are given the chance to be full participants in the body of Christ, they will. Youth are human beings. They are not deranged beings with insatiable appetites for drugs, sex, and rock and roll (ok maybe rock and roll). They have insatiable appetites for community! If kids invent language for drug use, this is in large part because they are being exploited by a network of drug dealers (probably with influential adults at the top), and not given proper oversight and boundaries. I agree with Hipps whole-heartedly that boundaries are essential for youth, just as they are essential for adults. I think that an emerging theology of the 21st century that openly recognizes the influence of media is one where young people are empowered to be full members of the body of Christ. The gospel for youth is that Jesus at 12 years old was in the temple teaching the adults.* Youth, who are empowered by technology have an opportunity to teach adults something about God, just as Jesus did, and Mary, David, Samuel, Ruth, Abel, Hagar, Ishmael…<br />
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Hipps’ cautionary notes are still perfectly valid. Technology can liberate, but can also be used to enslave. The task of the church is to take the advice of McLuhan seriously, “There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening” (182).<br />
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*Thank you Angelina, for <a href="http://youthjusticenetwork.blogspot.com/2010/03/youth-and-interreligious-conversation.html?showComment=1269052673722#c2543740826721301500">reminding me</a> of the story of 12-year-old Jesus.Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-60461528813461244872010-03-17T21:08:00.000-07:002010-03-17T21:08:29.042-07:00youth and interreligious conversationLast night at hs youth group, a super cool guy, by the name of Rami shared his faith with us. He is a Muslim, which means he practices Islam, or as he describes it: submission to God. Rami was very honest and articulate about his faith, and shared openly about what he believes and why. He was generous and kind, not judgmental in the least, and open to questions as well as eager to learn more about the Christian experience. At the end of our time together, Rami prayed, one of the the five times during the day that he does an intentional form of prayer.<br />
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His prayer was at least five minutes long, and in mostly complete silence. Everyone at our youth group was totally silent, respectful, and observant. But what struck me most profoundly was the openness and inquisitiveness of our young people.<br />
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This is week four in a multi-week series of inviting people to come and share their faith with our youth group. I have found that the youth are so curious! They really want to know about the religious experiences of these people. Sometimes biases come out, in both directions, but never in a seldom to never in a condescending tone. This is led me to a hypothesis:<br />
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Young people are specially equipped to have religious dialogue. Their brains are more plastic than adults. They are not "locked" into one way of looking at the world. They themselves are more likely to be honest about still figuring out their own faith, so the conversation tends to be more candid. As they begin to understand their faith in the context of a wider spectrum of religion, they gain insight and wisdom. This wisdom allows them to observe their own assumptions critically, and critical self-reflection is essential to authentic religious experience. I'm going to go reflect on that for a while. Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-5378858005465127092010-03-16T15:22:00.000-07:002010-03-16T17:29:10.524-07:00Tila Tequila & Theology After GoogleI read this article in the LA Times today about <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-tila14-2010mar14,0,7493040.story">Tila Tequila</a>. I had never heard of her before, but maybe that's because I live in a salt mine (self snark). She had her own show on MTV, and a cultish following on Twitter. The story was a very provocative follow up to the recent <a href="http://transformingtheology.org/calendar/theology-after-google">Theology After Google</a> (TAG) conference, also <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beliefs15-2010mar15,0,4976077.story">covered</a> by the LA Times - which gives you a taste of the spectrum of life in southern California.<br />
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Sex. It's a huge issue on the internet and in the post Google world, but I am just now realizing that the TAG conference mostly avoided it. The Times article highlighted how Tila's sexuality had been exploited from an early age first by the online version of Playboy, then the magazine, Twitter, and MTV. Tila very successfully built a loyal fan base, but seemingly at the cost of her own identity. This is an extreme example of the dangers of becoming absorbed into online social media. Tila said that she would be feeling horrible in the middle of the night, then get on twitter and reveal extremely personal information and images, which was a "temporary high." The next day she would have to answer to the media who were having a heyday, sending her into another depression.<br />
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Tila is only 28 years old. She is quite young. I am concerned about how life after Google, can so easily exploit and enable young people to exploit themselves on the internet. Theology After Google should speak prophetically, by that I mean: speak truthfully, honestly, and critically, to the places of power on the internet that enable this kind of exploitation. Theology After Google should also speak words of Gospel to young people who geot caught up in such schemes and offer them an alternative way of living. This means being honest with young people and exhorting them to have boundaries and value their sexuality as a sacred gift, not as a commodity.<br />
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Young people have the skills and the desire to make connections on the internet. The church must ask itself if we are inviting the voices of young people to be a part of our conversation. Are we? What can the church do to offer a positive interaction and online community that values young people as children of God and vessels of grace?Wesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8084126484920391487.post-31869682151271360042010-03-15T17:28:00.000-07:002010-03-15T17:28:48.652-07:00Crazy Deal at Buca di BeppoThis blog post is dedicated to finding a cheap meal for your family/friends. We just did it, and it worked! Today only Buca di Beppo has a <a href="http://www.bucadibeppo.com/promo/wlbp/default.aspx">promotion</a>: a free personal size serving of spaghetti along with an order of a small or large pasta or entree. But to maximize your saving you should also use this <a href="http://www.bucadibeppo.com/pdf/couponnational.pdf">coupon</a>: $10 off of $20 spent. <br />
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The best bang for buck is to order two small spaghetti's with marinara sauce (10.45 each). A "small" can easily feed two people. With each of those smalls you get your free serving of spaghetti (with or without meat sauce). That means you get enough spaghetti for six people for 20.90 minus 10.00 (from your coupon), for a total of 10.90 (pre-tax)!<br />
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Dinner for six at Buca di Beppo for $10.90 can't be beat! Let me know if you take advantage!<br />
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Good Luck,<br />
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-WesWesley Menkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182383573261994011noreply@blogger.com0