Fifty shades of gray water

I haven't seen the popular movie or read the book, but I find the topic of gray water far more exciting than the theme of sexual bondage, so I thought I'd use it as a title to get your attention. Since California is in an historic drought, and the Governor is calling for drastic measures to reduce water consumption, we need to be paying more attention to how we can conserve this precious resource. In this posting I'll tell you how to reduce your water by over 50% and save up to 4,000 additional gallons in water through our gardening. And do it cost-effectively!  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-some-california-cities-must-cut-water-use-35-amid-drought-20150407-story.html

     Six months ago, we began our experiment to reduce our water usage by installing a gray water system. We hired a local plumber who installed a system that recycles the water from our bathtub, sinks, washing machine, dish washer, etc. (Everything except the toilets!)

The gray water goes through a filter and then to a "French drain" and finally an underground bag full of pea gravel that helps to filter and disperse the water. This system complies with state law, which requires all gray water to be dispersed at least two inches below the surface. Our system uses gravity, not pumps, to bring the water to where it is needed. Around a dozen fruit trees are watered with this system. Because we recycle water for our trees, we are careful to avoid cleaning products with bleach, boron, salt and other toxic chemicals. See http://laquaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/becoming-water-wise-in-midst-of-drought.html

       Our gray water system saves around 10,000-15,000 gallons of water per year. All of this water goes to produce fruit, which further saves water.  For example,  it takes 13 gallons of water to produce a single orange, 3 gallons of water for a tomato, etc. (See below for sources.) These are approximate numbers, of course, but they give you some idea of how much water we can save by growing our own vegetable and fruit using gray water (and a drip water system). Because we produce tomatoes, lettuce and other vegetables, as well as  hundreds of pounds of citrus, grapes,  and avocados, we probably save up to 4,000 gallons of water through our gardening efforts. We also save water by feeding our chickens kitchen scraps: an egg takes at least 36 gallons of water to produce because chickens eat grains that use a lot of water.  (In addition to saving water, growing your own fruit and vegetables saves an enormous amount of fossil fuel, which is used to bring produce to market.)
         Another big water saver was removing our lawn. The City of Pasadena paid us $2 per square foot to remove our turf. We hired a landscaper and he did a beautiful job. Where there was once grass, there is now decomposed granite, brick pathways, and mulch along with native plants. We have actually doubled the size of our gardening area and expect to produce a lot more vegetables this year using drip watering, which is highly efficient.
          How has this affected our water consumption? Our last water bill was 60% lower than the previous year. We expect to cut our water usage in half this year.
          If Californians replace their lawns with fruit trees and water-wise gardens, and recycle their gray water, we could easily reduce our water consumption by 50%. And it's cost effective. In six years we will pay off what it cost us to install the gray water system and the water-wise landscaping. Our new system saves us around $1,000 per year in water bills and gardening expense. And our garden and fruit trees yield us an abundant, money-saving as well as water-saving harvest.

For info about the gray water codes in California, see  http://www.thegreywaterguide.com/california.html

If you'd like to know more, please contact us. There are several gray water installers in the LA area, Here's one that popped up in a google search that looks promising. 

http://greywatercorps.com/about01.html

How Much Water Does it Take? 

• 2,072 gallons to make four new tires
• 20 gallons of water per glass of beer
• 101 gallons of water to make one pound of wool or cotton
• 2,110 gallons of water for one pair of leather shoes
• 900 gallons of water for one pair of blue jeans
• 36 gallons of water per egg
• 60 gallons of water per serving of corn
• 18 gallons of water per apple
• 3 gallons of water per tomato
• 2.6 gallons of water per sheet of paper
• 37 gallons of water per cup of coffee
• 11 gallons of water per slice of bread
• 32 gallons of water per glass of wine
• 1,083 gallons of water for one cotton shirt
• 468 gallons of water per pound
• 616 gallons of water per 4 oz. hamburger
• 1,232 gallons of water per 8 oz. steak
• 39,090 gallons of water are used to manufacture a new car, including tires 

How much water is used during the growing/production of a single orange?
13.8 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a watermelon?
100 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a loaf of bread?
150 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a tomato?
3 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of rice?
35 gallons

How much water us used during the production of an egg?
120 gallons

How Much Water Do We use? 

• Taking a bath or shower: average is 9-12 gallons per person
• Americans combined use each day for showers: more than 2.7 billion gallons of water
• Watering the lawn:180 gallons
• Washing dishes by machine: 13-19 gallons
• Washing clothes: 35-50 gallons
• Washing the car: 50 gallons
• Brushing your teeth: 2-5 gallons
• Cooking: 5-10 gallons
• Flushing the toilet (once): 4-7 gallons
• Leaking toilet (per day): 60 gallons 

Viva Mexico! Viva la Casa de los Amigos, and Viva FWCC!

     

Our first day in Mexico City:
 at the Monument
 of the Revolution,
not far from the Casa de los Amigos

  

In March I went to Mexico City for the first time, and it was love at first sight, thanks to Jill, the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) and the Casa de los Amigos. We spent four days attending an FWCC conference, and a week taking part in a social action study tour sponsored by the Casa. It was a life-changing experience.
      For the past 59 years the Casa has been a Quaker center for hospitality, social justice and peace, and the Mexico City unprogrammed Quaker meeting. From the moment we arrived at the airport in Mexico City to the moment we left, staff and volunteers at the Casa made us feel loved and cared for.   The staff consists mainly of young idealists and activists, and they clearly enjoy what they are doing. They describe the Casa as "the rootinest-tootinest, most fun, most exciting place in the world" with "over half a century of peacework in our beloved gritty city." All kinds of interesting people pass through the Casa: anthropologists, researchers, activists, interns from religious organizations like the Mennonites, drifters, migrants, refugees....Over 2000 annually! See http://www.casadelosamigos.org/en/hospitality/ 
        FWCC, Section of the Americas, is a Quaker organization that seeks to build understanding among diverse Friends from North and Latin America. For the last three years I have served as a FWCC rep for Pacific Yearly Meeting, After being welcomed at the Casa, Jill and I took part in a FWCC gathering of over 100 Quakers that took place at a Catholic retreat center called Quinta Saulo,  just outside of Mexico City. It was wonderful to spend time among Friends who were so culturally and theologically diverse, yet so deeply committed to being Friends in every sense. Thanks to the excellent work of FWCC staff and volunteers, we truly felt "woven together in God's love" (Colossians: 2-4).Through workshops, worship and meetings for business, we created a beautiful tapestry of memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Members of the FWCC Communication Committee

FWCC staff and representatives 

     









         I've been dreaming of going to Mexico with Jill practically from the time we were married three and a half years ago. Jill has a German background but a Latino heart, speaks Spanish fluently and has spent years in Latin America doing good work. When she speaks of Latin America, she glows. She has known and loved the Latino culture since she was a little girl, thanks in large part to her Dad, who worked alongside the Mexican braceros in Orange County when he was a kid. The Mexicans were like family to him and he took his family to Mexico as often as possible to experience this culture he loved so deeply. In college Jill wanted to be a missionary in Latin America, and spent several years in Mexico working for Food for the Hungry.
           My own experience in Mexico has been more limited than Jill's, but also life-changing. In the 1990s and early 2000s I helped lead Quaker work camps at Maclovio Rojas, a colonia between Tecate and Tijuana. We not only built a women's center and community center, we also supported the struggles of local residents whose homes were under attack from the government. A small group of farmers from Oaxaca moved to this area in 1988 and began farming the land (to which they were entitled under Mexican law). Later, when maquiladoras moved into this area, the land became valuable and the government wanted to take it away. But the community resisted and it still resisting to this day. Our Quaker youth were deeply inspired by the example of poor but valiant Mexicans who struggled for their rights and dignity. Despite recent attacks by drug lords, the community continues its struggles, and has attracted UCLA students willing to take significant risks to provide free medical services. Some of the leaders of the recent campesino revolt against unjust farm owners in Baja California came from Maclovio Rojas.
   See
http://laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/2008/april18-08/Maclovio.htm and http://www.laweekly.com/news/ucla-students-provide-aid-to-a-tijuana-squatter-town-video-5425261
       Jill and I prepared for our trip by translating into Spanish and publishing sections of Making Housing Happen,  her book on housing justice. (This book, called Vivienda y justicia: una perspectiva biblica, is available online at https://www.createspace.com/4747366 ) While in Mexico, we had the opportunity to share this book and its theology with dozens of Latin American pastors and leaders. We also left copies at the Casa to be used at their book club. The theology of this book is very different from the holiness theology that most Latin American Quakers are used to, but it is deeply biblical and therefore resonates with many Evangelicals. It also resonates with liberal Quakers who care deeply about social justice. It is our hope that this book will help to build bridges among diverse Quakers and Christians--which is also the goal of FWCC (which is one reason we dedicate this book to that organization).
       The FWCC gathering was mainly a time for spiritual connection and building friendships. There are meetings for worship in Spanish and English--some programmed with hymns and messages, and others unprogrammed and mainly silent. I was called to serve as the clerk of the Communication Committee, which Jill also felt led to join. This means there is a good chance that we may travel together to Peru in January for the next meeting of FWCC. We plan to ask for a clearness committee to explore this new possibility for joint ministry.
         After the FWCC gathering, we took part in a social justice study tour sponsored by the Casa de los Amigos. There we learned about "Los Otros Dreamers," young people born in Mexico but brought up as Americans, who were deported to Mexico or decided to leave voluntarily and now can't return. Their struggles to adapt to an unfamiliar country and culture are documented in a moving new book by Jill Anderson, a former staff member of the Casa. We also learned about immigration issues from a Mexican perspective and visited Casa Tochan, a migrant shelter for those who were victims of violence. And then we went to Vicente Guerrero, a rural farming village in the state of Tlaxcala, east of Mexico City, that has been preserving and practicing traditional agricultural techniques with great success, and has also been successfully battling Monsanto and the use of GMO seeds. I'll say more about this amazing tour in a subsequent post.
       
   
   
    

North Fair Oaks Community Empowerment Project: transforming a long neglected part of our city

You are invited to learn more about a promising  new project that we hope will help to transform a long neglected part of Pasadena: North Fair Oaks--a place where people speed past on their way to somewhere else, not noticing how God is at work. (Pictured above, see below for details.)

This Saturday members of the North Fair Oaks Community Empowerment Project will gather at the home of our friend Maria Teresa Kowal, an architect from Nicaragua who has designed and planted churches, done housing development and job creation.  She currently lives on Summit, a few blocks from N. Fair Oaks. There we will explore ways how together we can make a difference.

When: Saturday April 11, 2015, 10:30am-12pm 

Where: at the home of Maria Teresa

1959 N. Summit Ave Pasadena, CA 91103

                 North Fair Oaks Community Empowerment

As Jesus said, “What you do to the least of these you do for me” (Matthew 25).

At first glance, North Fair Oaks Ave looks like a blighted area, especially compared to other areas of our affluent community. Most of the nearby residents are low income Latinos and African Americans. The crime rate in this area is the highest in the city. But we are convinced that God has not abandoned this area, nor should we.

If you were to pass by on a Saturday afternoon, you might notice a communion meal taking place at one of the eight churches located north of Howard and south of Woodbury, or fresh paint outside of the local meat market, or perhaps a family picking up a quinceañera dress from a family-run business.  Take a closer look at this part of town and you’ll see the many nursing homes (known as “bed-pan alley”), a community health clinic, a Boys and Girls Club, eighteen businesses and eight churches. These glimpses of God’s resurrection power give evidence of hope in a place known mainly for its rampant violence and drug abuse—the result of policies that have neglected this area for many years.

We feel that God is calling us to help resurrect hope in this part of our city. In conversations with some of the business owners, we asked, “If the city were to invest in this neighborhood what would you like to see?” With much prodding, they suggested, “A crosswalk” “A median with trees and flowers” “Parking” “My friends would never be caught in this corner of town, we need a safe place with decent food to go for lunch.”  Yet, all responded with doubtfulness, “The city would never do this.” We believe in a big God, able to resurrect places as well as people, who can raise up local leaders to nurture their collective voice and realize their common dreams. We believe God will provide the resources needed to realize these dreams, and in the process, transform lives for the glory of Christ.

We see Christ already at work.  He has put this dream in the hearts of our team and we hope that you will join us. We are inviting you to partner with us over the next seven months to support our Christian mission team that we have named the “North Fair Oaks Community Empowerment.”

Our strategy: Under the coaching of the Communities First Association ( http://www.cfapartners.org/ ) and the direction of Dr. Jill Shook, who is a nationally known expert on Christian Community Development, we will use the best practices in asset-based community development. We will engage in a process to discover and develop indigenous leaders and collaborate with them and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (an association of African American pastors that has been active in Pasadena for nearly 80 years) to create a resource fair. Through this fair, we will help forge a collective voice to renew the community’s faith and to build their capacity to realize their dreams. 

The total cost for this 7-month project is $37,600.  To reach this goal, we need 20 people to give $270 per month, 40 people to give $123 per month, or 80 people to give $67 per month. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution so that we can engage indigenous leaders to transform their community through the power and love of Christ.  You can give online at: https://donations.missionsdoor.org/shook-jill-cc   Be sure to select “North Fair Oaks Community Empowerment” from the “Designation (please Choose One)” dropdown menu.  Write your check to “Missions Door” and be sure to put on the memo line: #74616O (the last digit is the letter “o”, not “zero”) or the project name.

We hope to have commitments as soon as possible, so please fill out the insert card and mail it back with the enclosed envelop at your earliest convenience.

You are invited for brunch and a time interacting with us about this project on: Saturday April 11, 2015, 10:30am-12pm at Maria Teresa’s home ( 1959 N. Summit Ave Pasadena, CA 91103).

We are very excited to be part of what God is doing and hope you will join us!

Gratefully,

Maria Teresa, Jill & Josh

Our Team

Maria Teresa, from Nicaragua, is an architect who has designed and planted churches, done housing development and job creation.  She currently lives on Summit, a few blocks from N. Fair Oaks. She has engaged thousands of her neighbors through creating block parties, Christmas posadas and starting a home church. These efforts have contributed to diminishing the rampant shootings and murders on her street.

Jill Shook has been involved in community transformation efforts for decades. She is author of Making Housing Happen: Faith Based Affordable Housing Models and through this book has researched how God is transforming communities across our nation.  Jill is committed to creating mixed-income housed communities that thrive and demonstrate “Thy Kingdom come on earth as in heaven.” Her mission is the restoration of the soul of the city, the redemption of people, communities, and the land itself.

Josh Lopez recently completed his Master’s in Transformational Urban Leadership from Azusa Pacific University while living and working in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is passionate about engaging the body of Christ to be front and center in the social and spiritual transformation of their local communities.

The Arrest and Resurrection of Jesus: Mini-dramas

The Arrest of Jesus

“Those that Live by the Sword Die by the Sword”

Peter, John, Jesus, Judas, two Roman soldiers, and a priest. Jesus is walking ahead of Peter and John, who talk among themselves.

Peter: I don’t have a good feeling about this night walk in the Garden. It’s dark and creepy.

John: He’s been acting very strange. First, telling us this was his last meal and then saying one of us is going to betray him. Then praying in the garden while we were trying to sleep. 

Peter: I don’t get why we are wandering around at night. It’s like we’re asking for trouble.

John: I hope he knows what he’s doing.

Peter: At least he said I could carry a sword.

John: A lot of good that will do against a squadron of Roman soldiers!

Jesus: Please, be quiet. Listen. They’re coming.

Judas arrives with three Roman soldiers. He walks over to Jesus and kisses him.

Judas: Rabbi, how good to see you!

Jesus: Is this how you betray me, with a kiss?

The soldiers advance and arrest Jesus. The priest smiles.

Roman guard: Jesus of Nazareth, you’re under arrest.

Peter strikes the guard with a sword and cuts off his ear.

Jesus: Peter, stop. Those who live by the sword die by the sword.

Jesus reaches down to the wounded soldier, who is cringing in pain. He restores the soldier’s ear.

Peter drops his sword, amazed. The soldier gets up and stands with his fellow soldier.

Jesus turns to the priest.

“Why do you come with swords and clubs and treat me like a criminal?? I was with you every day in the Temple and you didn’t arrest me. But this is your time, and darkness is in control.”

The priest motions to the soldiers, who beat Jesus and drag him off.

Jesus Returns from the Dead: The First Evangelists

Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary (mother of Jesus), Joanna, James, and Jesus.

Peter and John are in the Upper Room, which is dark and gloomy. Only one candle is lit. They seem nervous and afraid.

Peter: I feel terrible.

John: I know how you feel.

Peter:  He’s dead and he’s not coming back. I just can’t believe it.

John:  I’ll never forget what he said to me on the cross: “John, this is your mother. Mary, this is your son.”

Peter: At least you were there…..

John walks over and puts his hand on Peter’s shoulder.

Knock on the door.

John, nervous: Who could that be? Roman soldiers? Did someone tell them we were here?

Peter: No, no. It’s probably just the women coming back from the tomb. They are crazy with grief.

Peter opens the door and sees Mary Magdalene, Mary Mother of Jesus and Joanna.

Peter: How did it go at his tomb?

Mary Mag: He’s alive!

Peter: Who’s alive?

Mother Mary: Jesus!

Peter: That’s crazy talk. Your son is dead.

Joanna: No, it’s true what Mother Mary says. The tomb is empty and an angel told us that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Mary Mag: I saw him.  I thought he was the gardener, but it was him. And he had a message for us.

Peter: Calm down! You women are just overwrought. Jesus is dead. I held his body. It was stone cold.

Mother Mary, with great certainty: I tell you the tomb is empty. God has fulfilled His promise. Go see for yourself.

Peter rushes out the door.

John turns to Mother Mary.

John: I am so sorry that your son had to die.

Mother Mary: He’s not dead. He’s alive.

John: That’s true, in a sense. He will always be alive in our hearts.

Mother Mary: Not just in our hearts. I saw him, just as real as you and me.

John puts his arm around Mary to console her.

Knock on the door.

John: Who’s there?

James: It’s me, James.

John opens it cautiously.

John: James, my brother. How are you? How did your trip to Emaeus go?

James: You won’t believe what happened. We were walking to Emaeus and this guy walks along with us and starts talking about Jesus and the Bible and suddenly we realize it’s him.

John: Who?

James: Jesus!

Mary Mag: You saw him, too!

James: Yes, he even broke bread and ate with us!

Knock on the door.

John, with a nervous smile: Maybe it’s Jesus knocking?

Opens the door and sees Peter.

Peter, excited: It’s true. The tomb is empty!

John: But how can that be? Who could have rolled away the stone? It was huge!

Everyone is silent for a moment.

Jesus appears behind them.

Jesus: Peace be unto you all!

Peter: It’s you, you’re alive!

Jesus: Why are you so frightened? Why do you doubt? Look and my hands and my feet and see who I am! Touch me and find out for yourselves. Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

They surround Jesus and touch him.

Jesus: Everything that happened to me was foretold by the prophets. Go and tell people the good news. Go out and make disciples. Teach them to do everything I have told them. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

Jesus at the Temple: The Widow's Mite, the Money Changers and Paying Taxes

These are skits that middle schoolers enacted at the Peace and Justice Academy in Pasadena. This is a fun way to teach the Gospel and get kids involved in the stories.

Widows Mite

Luke 21:1-4 

Actors: Widow, Pharisee, Jesus, Peter and Crowd.

Jesus and others eavesdrop on what happens when a poor widow and a Pharisee meet in front of the Temple.

Pharisee, seeing the widow: “Where are you going? Aren’t you the woman who owes me 500 shekels?”

Widow: “Yes, I am. And I’d like to pay you back, but a Roman soldier came and took away all the clothes I was going to sell to pay you. All I have left is one shekel.”

Pharisee: “That’s not my problem. You made a deal with me and it’s time to pay up.”

Widow: “But Mr. Pharisee, sir, my land lord is going to evict me from my apartment. I need extra time to make more money so I don’t end up on the street.”

Pharisee: “Well, I’m not a monster. I’m a God-fearing man so I’ll let you pay me back tomorrow. With extra interest of course.”

Widow: “Bless you, Mr. Pharisee. Thank you so much! You’re too kind.”

The Pharisee walks away, and the widow sighs. She looks up towards heaven and says:

“Lord, all I have left is a shekel. That’s not enough to pay the rent. I’ll leave it at your Temple to help someone who’s poorer than I am.”

She drops her shekel into the alms box.

The Pharisee returns, bringing some jewelry to donate to the Temple. When he sees the widow, he looks at her scornfully. Other rich people walk by and donate luxury items.

Watching this scene, Jesus turns to his disciples and says:

“I tell you that this poor woman has put more in than all the others. Everyone else gave what they didn’t need, but she gave all she had.”

Peter walks over to the poor woman, takes her by the hand, and welcomes her into their fellowship. The crowd is surprised. Jesus smiles and puts his arm around Peter and the widow.

  

“Jesus at the Temple”

Luke 19: 45-48 

Jesus stands with Peter and watches this scene in front of the Temple.

Galilean: “Which way to the Temple?

Jerusalemite: “It’s right in front of you. Can’t you see?  I guess you Galileans need glasses”

Galilean: “Wow, look at that Temple. It’s even bigger than I imagined. And covered with gold. God sure has a nice home here in his holy city.”

Homeless man: “Sir, can you help me? I used to have a home, but the tax collectors took so much of my harvest I went into debt and lost my farm.  Can you spare a shekel?”

Galilean: “Just a moment. All I have are Roman coins. I need to change my Roman coins into the shekel. Sir, what’s the exchange rate?
Money changer: “I usually give three shekels for one Roman coin, but for you, I’ll give five!”

Homeless man: “That’s highway robbery! The going rate is ten shekels for a Roman coin!”

Money changer: “Shut up, you good-for-nothing bum! All you do all day long beg and complain.”

Jesus watches this scene and become angry. He walks over to the money changer and turns over his table, scattering his money.

Jesus: “This is my Father’s house. It is supposed to be a house of prayer for all people, and you’ve turned it into a den of thieves.”

The money changer is terrified and runs away to a nearby priest.

Money changer: “Did you see what that man did? He ought to be arrested.”

Priest: “He will be, don’t worry. We’re giving him enough rope so he’ll hang himself.”

Money changer: “Thank God.”

Peter to Jesus:

“Let’s get out of her before the Roman soldiers arrive.”

Jesus walks off calmly, followed by Peter, who seems very nervous.

Paying Taxes

Luke: 20: 20-25

A Pharisee and a Priest are walking down the street. One of them brushes up against a man.

Pharisee: “Did you just touch that man?”

Priest: “Yes, I did. Why?”

Pharisee: “He’s a tax collector.”

Priest: “That’s terrible. I will have to go to the Temple and be purified.”

Pharisee: “Yes, those tax collectors are the scum of the earth.”

Priest: “Did you know that one of Jesus’ disciples is a tax collector?”

Pharisee: “That’s right. He lets anybody join his movement, even women. That gives me an idea.”

Priest: “What do you have in mind?”

Pharisee: “You know how the people hate tax collectors…”

Priest: “Of course, they rob us blind…”

Pharisee: “And you know it’s against the law to refuse to pay taxes…”

Priest: “Yes, yes. You can be crucified just for telling people not to pay taxes.”

Pharisee: “Well, just watch what I am going to do to that would-be prophet Jesus.”

Jesus walks by with a crowd of people.

Pharisee: “Rabbi Jesus, how nice to see you. I have a question for you.”

Jesus: “What is your question?”

Pharisee: “Is it morally right for a Jew to pay taxes to Rome?”

Jesus pauses as the crowd watches for his answer.

Jesus: “Bring me a Roman coin.”

Pharisee hands him a coin.

Jesus refuses to touch it. Instead he asks:

“Whose graven image is on the coin?”

Pharisee: “Caesar’s.”
Jesus: “In that case, give what belongs to Caesar back to Caesar….”

Jesus turns and gestures to the rest of the city.

“And give to God everything that belongs to God.”

Pharisee looks displeased and walks away with the priest. The crowd applauds.

Woman: “Jesus is a Godly man. He knows that everything belongs to the Lord.”

Homeless man: “Except for those blasted coins the Romans make us use.”

Tax collector walks over to Jesus: “I hear that you don’t hate us and that tax collectors can join your movement….”

Jesus: “If that’s what your heart tells you to do….”

Tax collector: “Then I will give up this lousy job and give all my ill gotten money to the poor. Can I become one of your disciples?”

The tax collector places a bag of money in the alms box of the Temple and gives a bag of coins to the homeless man.

Jesus: “Sure. We’d love for you to join us.”

Jesus places his arm on the tax collector’s shoulder and they walk away arm in arm. The crowd is amazed and praises God.

A Palm Sunday drama for kids: a peace and justice perspective on the Gospels

For the past six months I have been teaching a faith development and Bible class for middle schoolers at the Peace and Justice Academy here in Pasadena. (See http://www.thepeaceacademy.org/ms/)  I've used a variety of teaching techniques--powerpoints, videos, art activities, field trips, etc. to engage students and show the connection between the Bible and social justice and peace. The kids also take part in events like the Palm Sunday Peace Parade, which give them a sense that the Bible message is not confined to the church but can be lived out in the streets and in the community. (see http://laquaker.blogspot.com/2012/03/palm-sunday-peace-paradea-life-changing.html 

This week I was inspired to write some skits for the kids to perform. Please feel free to use these skits in your Sunday or First Day School.

Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem

Based on Luke 19: 28-41

Actors: Two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John, are waiting for Jesus, standing slightly apart from the crowd (4 people).

 John: “Is he here yet?”

Peter: “No, he’s probably off somewhere healing someone who’s sick. You know how he is.”

John: “It’s getting late. The crowds are restless.”

Peter: “Look! Isn’t that Jesus? What is it he’s riding on?”

John: “Looks like a donkey to me.”

Peter (rolling his eyes): “A donkey? That’s impressive.”

As Jesus arrives on a donkey, someone in the crowd begins to shout: “Jesus is coming to save us. He’ll cure the sick. Bring the dead back to life. Drive out the Romans!”

The crowd begins to shout: “Hosannah in the highest. Hail, our king Jesus.!”

Peter: “Wow! The crowds are going wild, throwing down their cloaks like he’s their king. Let’s shout with them.”

Crowd follows Jesus around, shouting. Peter and John shout the loudest of all.

A Pharisee steps aside and watches with disapproval. When the procession stops, he says to Jesus.

“You better keep your followers under control or you’ll get into trouble.”

Jesus replies calmly: “If they keep quiet, these very stones would start shouting.”

The Pharisees shakes his head, disgusted.

Jesus then points to the city and says:

“Jerusalem, it’s too bad that today your people don’t know what will bring them peace! Now it is hidden from them. Jerusalem, the time will come when your enemies will build walls around you and attack you. Armies will surround you and close in on you from every side. They will level you to the ground and kill your people. Not one stone in your buildings will be left on top of another.”

The Pharisee walks away, muttering: “This guy is bad news. If he talks like this, he won’t last long.”

Questions:

1. How did you feel as you played your role?
2. What part of this story did you like the most?                                          
3. What part would you like to see left out?
4. How do Peter and John feel about Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey?
5. Why are the people so excited? What do they expect from Jesus?
6. What is the Pharisee’s reaction to Jesus? Why do you think he tells Jesus to make this followers be quiet?

Unsung heroes of Torrance: how a homeless woman in a wheelchair went to city hall and obtained justice, with the help of religious leaders

Torrance, California, has has become famous thanks to the Angelina Jolie's movie "Unbroken," the true story of Louis "Louie" Zamperini, a man who overcame huge hurdles and became an Olympic athlete, a war hero, and finally a powerful Christian who toured the country sharing the Gospel (a fact glossed over by the movie). I'd like to share the story of unsung heroes of Torrance, Melissa Bayless, and members of the religious community willing to take a stand for justice. 

Born and raised in Torrance, Melissa also had to overcome huge hurdles. She had the misfortune to be born with endofibromitosis a congenital disease that causes tumors to form and has left her legally blind and in a wheel chair in her 30s. She had abusive parents who kicked her out of the house and left her in foster care when she was a child. Melissa ended up marrying an abusive man and had a daughter by him whom she dearly loves but couldn't live with because of her poverty and health issues. Despite her abysmally bad luck, Melissa is upbeat. She doesn't drink, smoke or do drugs. She is a devout Christian. And some have nicknamed her "Little Miss Sunshine." Like the poor widow that Jesus praised (Luke 21:1-4), she loves to help people, even though she has little of her own to share. She is sometimes asked to share her story at churches, where she often compares her fate to that of Job.


"Job lost everything--his family, his wealth, his health," says Melissa, "and people said, 'What did you do wrong to deserve this?'"

Her SSI check is only $900 per month. To pay for lodging in a "cheap" motel, she must spend her life panhandling to afford food, rent and other necessities. She gets by thanks to the kindness of strangers, and "donors" like myself, who contribute regularly to keep her off the street. 

Six years ago, she was overjoyed when she got on the list to receive a Section 8 voucher, which pays for 2/3 of rent, and would make it possible to live without begging.  She waited patiently and finally received her voucher last October. However, there's a catch. She was given only a month to find a place. She immediately set to work, aide by her boyfriend (who pushes her around in her wheel chair, their only mode of transportation) and several religious leaders whom I contacted: Jee Kim, the wife of a Korean pastor, and Roy Currence, a retired engineer who is one of the lay leaders of Walteria United Methodist Church, where my wife Kathleen of blessed memory used to be a pastor. We formed a team that has worked tirelessly for the last four months trying to find a place, and get extensions for Melissa. 

There is a deplorable dearth of affordable housing in Torrance, but persistence finally paid off. After hundreds of phone calls and numerous site visits, Roy found a large apartment complex with over a dozen Section 8 units that are handicapped accessible. Unfortunately, none are available at this time. Roy befriended the property manager, explained Melissa's story, and gained his sympathy. The property manager agreed to place Melissa at the top of the list next time there is an opening.

We brought this good news to the attention of a Section 8 officer but he refused to grant another extension. He wanted a definite commitment and a move in date. Melissa's voucher was due to run out on March 3 and we became desperate. Losing a voucher meant having to wait another six years or more, probably with same outcome.

I urged our group to go to the City Council, but Jee had a better idea. She made an appointment to see Mayor Patrick Furey on Monday. We conferred by emailed and decided to get signatures on a petition from church members. Over 100 signatures were gathered. Roy also got a letter from Melissa's doctor explaining her disability, and a letter from the property manager assuring that he wanted to rent to Melissa. Armed with these documents, and fortified with prayer, the group went to City Hall accompanied by Melissa and Shaun.

Mayor Furey turned out to be a nice guy and very sympathetic. He was just elected mayor after recently retiring from the County of Los Angeles as a Principal Deputy County Counsel assigned to the Children's Services Division. He showed genuine interest in Melissa and her story. He seemed surprised to learn how difficult it was to get affordable, accessible housing in his city.

At one point, he said there was nothing he could do as mayor since Section 8 is a federal program.

Roy was not going to let the mayor off the hook that easily, however. In his quiet way, Roy is a bull dog.

"Mayor, you have the power of your office," Roy said in his low key, but authoritative voice. "You can go to the Section 8 office and let them know how you feel."

The Mayor was moved to take action, went to the Section 8 office, and returned ten minutes later with Section 8 officer who was sympathetic to Melissa's case. After reviewing the documents, she decided that the assurance from the property manager was sufficient justification for granting Melissa an extension until a unit opens up, whether in one month or more.

Melissa and her supporters were jubilant. This means that Melissa will almost certainly obtain affordable housing!

Meanwhile, she is living in an overpriced, "cheap" motel, paying $1100 per month for a room with a microwave oven and a small refrigerator. 

I thank God for religious folk who have taken their Bible seriously and are standing up for the poor, as God commands. And I thank God for a mayor willing to show some heart and do the right thing.

Roy told me that Mayor is thinking of starting a commission to address homeless issues in Torrance and wondered if Roy might like to join it.

I felt a surge of joy that brought tears to my eyes. Clearly, God is at work in Torrance, and isn't finished with this city yet.

(For more about Melissa, see also http://laquaker.blogspot.com/2009/09/post-traumatic-growth-syndrome.html or just type "Melissa" in the search box. There are plenty of stories about her on my blog!)