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  • Katrina 7:01 pm on June 29, 2008 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Painting   

    On Comparison 

    Photobucket
    We should find people of great influence in our peer group and in our discipline and listen to them. Because they differ slightly from us, these people sharpen us. Sometimes they are achieving such greatness that we feel a drip of depression looming in our seeming lack of accomplishment. But that only remains when we focus on our accomplishments or lack thereof.

    Many would call this sort of activity “self-centered.” I contend that it is probably not “self-centered” enough. Perhaps we need to go even deeper into searching ourselves – we need to search inside of ourselves to find the still small voice instructing us. This voice trumps all external, peer-reviewed comparison. It says, “Keep running the race” and “fight the good fight” and “I will give you rest.” Man, I love that still small voice.

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  • Mark 11:10 am on June 25, 2008 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: american dream, cottage neighborhoods, garden, local produce, pocket neighborhoods   

    Cottage Neighborhoods 

    Stumbled across the Cottage Company today, and was intrigued by some of their architectural projects focused on the social as well as the physical. They have been around since at least 1995, and specialize in something called “pocket neighborhoods.” I believe these will be an important piece for future developments as the world moves away from a car-centric economy.

    When I first saw Ross Chapin’s designs of the 5 little houses (750-900 square feet) circling an open garden space, it made me think of the TV show LOST - a little neighborhood village once owned by the workers of the Dharma Initiative, now called “New Otherton”. I have to admit, I was a little confused at who might want to live in such a Walt Disney world. But as I read through this article, I began to see the benefits of having your own space, and yet sharing common space.

    Each neighborhood is set up in caldisac/bungalo court fashion (but the pavement is replaced with low fences, vegetable and flower gardens, and a playground for the kids), with 6-8 homes all facing the common area.

    There is less inside space, which means people are on front porches more. It also means owning less – like this guy and his 100-Thing challenge. There is no garage door for people to sneak home in their SUVs and shut behind them. A lot of the privatization inherent in owning your own home today is taken away, but there is still plenty of private space – for instance, the bedrooms/bathrooms are facing away from the common area, but the living rooms are positioned towards it.

    This kind of life is nothing new – monasteries have been designing communities like this since at least the 5th century, and maybe even further back. It speaks to the rhythms of life – the need for privacy, and the need for community.

    I think America could benefit from seeing this new kind of “mini-suburb” pop up all across the landscape. Its much smaller and cheaper housing (which helps in the sub-prime mortgage woes), it offers instant babysitter opportunities, more locally grown food (savings and taste abound), and those who already live in one of these dozen or so communities across the country is that their need for privacy is not violated, and that their sense of security and safety has dramatically increased!

    Community is not all bliss and no woe – we learned a lot about communal living when my wife and I moved into an Abbey about two years ago, only to move out 8 months later. Still, we wouldn’t trade that experience for anything, and I think it gives us yet another picture of how to make friends in a tragically lonely America.

    What are your honest thoughts about this? I’d love to hear more perspectives on potential pitfalls and unique opportunities. Who out there is attempting anything like this? Give us your insight.

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    • Jenna 11:56 am on June 27, 2008 Permalink

      I’m in love with this.

    • Sean 9:35 pm on June 29, 2008 Permalink

      Miller has been talking about designing houses that are small and affordable lately. His first design looked a lot like Rachels cottage here in Abilene. I’m hoping his design doesn’t leak during storms as much as Rachel’s cottage does.

      Personally I’m craving deeper community and I think the Cottage idea is a great way to accomodate that need. I like the cottage idea because they are less expensive, and they have private space. The smaller space does two things for me; it forces me to have less stuff, and I have to focus on community because I’ll kill myself being inside one of these things all the time!

    • Sean 9:37 pm on June 29, 2008 Permalink

      Dude I’m totally trying to convince Rachel that we need to have all ten of our kids in a place that is no larger than 900 feet sq. She thinks it’s crazy! I say that’s exactly why I want to do it!

    • Stacey 11:46 am on January 28, 2009 Permalink

      My husband’s current vision is communal living with our Christian brothers and sisters, I just stumbled on your site today and I have to say, I appreciate your heart for this. This picture of these small bungalows is exactly what I envision when my husband and I talk/brainstorm how we can do this!

    • Mark 12:14 pm on January 28, 2009 Permalink

      Stacey,

      So glad to hear you’re reimagining what Christians can do when they live and work together. Have you heard of Reba Place Fellowship? They are a tribe of urban mennonites that have been living communally for over 50 years. They have learned much about life together. Check them out!

  • Mark 5:41 pm on June 23, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Urban Reflections 

    I’ve lived the suburban life in Indianapolis, and the slightly rural life of West Texas. Now Katrina and I are living in one of the biggest global cities in the world. Here are a few things that we love from our first weeks of living the big city life:

    Getting to know our neighbors – within the first week of our living here, I had met not only ALL our neighbors in our building, but also the neighbors in homes and apartments all around our building, the clay guild down the street, members of a church nearby, and most of the coffee shops and businesses on the block. It wasn’t some conspiracy of mine to meet every neighbor on the street – I just kept bumping into people walking to and from work, the beach, or the grocery store. Its just the culture here, you get to know your neighbors.

    Spending a little more for groceries – I know, something strange to enjoy, for sure. But if you factor in that we don’t drive to the grocery store or out to eat out or basically anywhere else, we end up saving hundreds NOT driving to the grocery store and restaurants with a local farmer’s market, 3 nearby grocery stores, shops/etc – we’ll pay a few cents more for bell peppers.

    Block Parties – there are more celebrations and festivals than any one person could possibly attend. In a city that prides itself on working hard and playing hard, we’ve been invited to our neighbor’s backyard block party, and an art fair.
    Public Transportation – You can get ANYWHERE with a mature public transportation system. And we do! :) It does take a little more time, but its clean, fast(er than a traffic jam) and stress free (no gripping the steering wheel)!

    Diversity – I’ve never heard so many languages spoken on the street anywhere else in my whole life. The other day I had an hour long conversation with my Babylonian banker! I’m doing my best to learn bits of Spanish, and I’m experiencing more lifestyles and worldviews than ever before. I’ve fully enjoyed learning in the alcoves of academia in the middle of the desert, and I’m thankful for the person it helped shape me to be. I’m also super pumped about entering a diverse culture and sharing what I know/who I’ve become as well as learning/changing as I interact in the world’s gathering place.

    There’s more – like reducing our carbon footprint, the Cubs-Sox inter league series, great radio, live bands, free events, beaches, parks, ministry opportunities…

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    • chad 10:10 am on June 24, 2008 Permalink

      Wow, dude! Sounds like y’all have been busy. Glad to hear y’all are getting settled in so well so quickly! Hope to get in touch and catch up with ya soon.

      BTW, Kate and I will have to check out the WWJB movie…I love the 30 Days tv series he has on FX.

      Blessings

    • thepriesthood 3:09 pm on June 24, 2008 Permalink

      most righteous.

    • Mark 7:26 am on June 25, 2008 Permalink

      great to hear from you guys! hope life in CA/AL is cooking right along. keep in touch!

    • Jenna 11:56 am on June 27, 2008 Permalink

      so jealous. post of pics of your new digs soon:)

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