Purposeful Happiness-A Tiny Woman with a Big Heart

Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is seen as a desperately over challenged community. Poverty, Homelessness, Addiction, disability, mental illness are are epidemic. Whether simply by will or naivete, I chose to see this community as under challenged. It's a myth that people challenged by homelessness and poverty do not want to work. They are simply looking for an opportunity. Here is a story about Mission Possible creating an opportunity and the hope and dignity that follows.

Brueggeman on Love of God and Neighbor

An Invitation to Justice from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

Real People, Real Change--One Day at a Time

Touching Story About a Daugher Visiting Dad in the Downtown Eastside

COLUMN: To grandpa’s (transitional) house we go

Henri Nouwen--Journey of the Heart

My spiritual journey has been shaped greatly by the life and writings of Henri Nouwen. His book, The Wounded Healer, was given to my be my friend Doug, when I was a junior in College. My favorite work is probably Life of the Beloved. I'm excited to be speaking this fall to several groups--and to use a number of Nouwen's reflections as inspiration for these talks.

Here is part 1 of a documentary on Nouwen's life "Journey to the Heart."

U2 Helsinki 2010-08-21 Every Breaking Wave (new song) - u2gigs.com

Little sneak peek at what is to come as U2 makes their way towards North America next year. I have tickets for Seattle. Hope to see some of you there.

Peace

My Top Five Burger Joints

I thought about this today as I devoured a cheeseburger from Five Guys Burgers and Fries in West Vancouver. Yes, that's right, Five Guys has begun its invasion of Canada. Apparently, they've been in Medicine Hat, Alberta for a year. It was reported to me that Five Guys will be opening 20 new locations in BC over the next two years.

So here are my top five burger joints.

1. Five Guys Burgers and Fries (Originated in Washington DC)
2. Westport Flea Market (Kansas City, Missouri)
3. In and Out Burger (Southern California)
4. Winsteads (Kansas City, Missouri)
5. Whataburger (Texas)

Honorable Mention: The Red Onion (Vancouver BC) which was the best burger in Vancouver before the invasion began.

CNN's Don Lemon interviews...ME!

New House Studio Webcast

I was lucky enough to write a chapter in the book Postmodern and Wesleyan.

The House Studio hosted a webcast with some of the authors. Enjoy, better yet, pick up the book.

Jay Akkerman (Postmodern Wesleyan) from The House Studio on Vimeo.

Mother Mother

Mother Mother is a local Vancouver BC band that I'm really enjoying right now. You may have heard them, if you have a radio station worth listening to. Here are three you may have heard, if not enjoy.