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MDfromBerkeley
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Name: Michael
Interests: The Triune God, the Holy Scriptures, airplanes, the greatest game ever invented (that would be baseball), world history, public speaking, writing short and hopefully useful thoughts, drinking Latte's from Cafe Stradda in Berkeley, and hanging out a certain young lady who loves Jesus and looks good in a pink turtleneck!
Expertise: None! Always a learner; though often I talk as if I have expertise, which then requires a good "slap across the chops," if you will, to remind me that expertise rightly belongs to the One in whom are hidden "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
12/15/2005
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| At the Howard's - Part 3 One of the greatest things about living with the Howard’s was their availability. I can’t recall all the occasions when Rod would just invite me to come along with him for some coffee, or to a Berkeley Chamber event, or to have a glass of wine together, or to go for a jog together. But this, and more, became standard stuff of my life there. When Laura and the kids were out of town, Rod would come down and we’d eat ice-cream together and chat, or watch a movie, or whatever. We used to play basketball on Thursday nights with Rod, Laura, and usually two of their kids. I think the best way to characterize it is to say that the Howard’s were generous, not just with their things but with their time, with their very selves. I could stop in to Rod’s office daily and almost never be told that I needed to leave because he was “too busy.” I just think about the food I love, the coffee houses I enjoy, the people I know in Berkeley, and I come to the realization that most of it is because of the Howards being in my life. By the way, I finished reading "Mao II," by Don Delillo; DON'T recommend it. A pretentious, overblown metaphysical tract. Not very interesting. I might try one more of his novels, but his reputation as a great writer definitely did not hit home with me. | | |
| At the Howard's - Part 2 When I moved into the Howard’s place in January 2002, Lydia had just been born. Simone and Hudson were still quite small, and I had fun swinging them around the backyard. I used to play chess from time to time with Katie and would often eat dinner upstairs with the whole family. It was great to be there, and stopping in at Rod’s ‘home office’ became a staple of my life on an almost daily basis. Very quickly Rod began to invite me to local Berkeley Chamber of Commerce events. He, more than anyone else, shaped my understanding of Berkeley and her people. The “Cam-man” moved in with me in March of that year and remained my roommate for the next three years. To say that Daron was a “neat freak” would be an understatement. Immediately he asked if we could have a “chore chart,” whereby we would agree to certain cleaning chores on a bi-weekly basis, and if we didn’t do them, we had to do ALL the chores when the next cleaning day rolled around. It was actually great because the place stayed clean, and I picked up some good habits of cleanliness. What was more comedic was the day I received my first bill in the mail. I am not in the habit of paying my bills the day they arrive, but Daron is; and thus, when he noticed that I didn’t pay my bill that day, he asked if he could handle the bills such as P,G,&E and AT&T and just give me one big consolidated bill at the end of the month. I said, “Sounds good to me,” and it was. Essentially, I had a ‘tab.’ Daron ended up getting food for me at Costco and putting it on my tab. I couldn’t have hired a better service. But seriously, Daron became a true and trusted friend, and I still am so very thankful for his friendship. | | |
| At the Howard's, part 1 I lived in the Howard’s downstairs apartment for just over 5 years, from January 2002 through May 2007. I lived there with two roommates and a wife. Daron Cam was my roommate for three years. Brian Chew lived with me for about two years, and Jenni lived with me as my wife there for a little over 9 months. I write this because I have loved living with the Howards, and I don’t want to forget what has been important and joyful about living there. I should begin with how I got there, because it is a story of God’s faithfulness and providence. I lived in Emeryville for the first four months of my time here in the Bay Area. My roommate was not nice. Finally he told me to move out, which I did at the beginning of my Christmas break in December 2001. Since I had no place to move, I moved all my stuff into my classroom at Redwood where I teach. Rod had told me that the downstairs apartment on his property MIGHT be available come January 1st, but he could not guarantee it. Currently the unit was occupied by Rick Yamamoto, who lived there part-time each week while working in San Francisco. I really wanted to live there, but as there was no guarantee, I checked out another place. A guy named Min Ho (who became Berkeley Mosaic’s worship leader for a time) had an opening at his place in El Cerrito. It was available immediately; but I told him “no.” I really wanted to live at the Howard’s and I was willing to trust God. But if all fell through, my classroom was still filled with my stuff. God did indeed answer my prayer. Rick decided to end his job in San Francisco; the apartment was available, and thus began a topsy-turvy, yet incredibly blessed 5 years at 1130 ½ Delaware Street. God is so good. | | |
| 10 WeeksIt was fantastic to see the first ultrasound of baby Duenes. It's incredible to know that there is a tiny human being growing in my wife's womb by the day. It has been a continuing lesson for me over the past year in giving things over to God. Of course, everything is God's in the first place, but learning to yield up my wife, and now our child, and ultimately my own life itself to God is difficult emotionally. It makes me realize how sin affects me right at the points where the Bible is most clear in revealing God; namely, that God is sovereign and God is good. The more He enables me, by His lovingkindness, to see and know in my spirit that He is sovereign and He is good, the easier I get on with the life I have today. | | |
| The Patristic WritingsI've been encouraged lately to delve into the writings/ theology of the "Patristics." These would be the "early church fathers," who followed on the heels of the apostles all the way until the beginnings of the Medieval period. Most well-known among them (at least to me)are Justin Martyr, Origen, Irenaeus, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Ambrose, and Athanasius. So I read a short excerpt today from Irenaeus' "Against All Heresies," where he talks about the succession of the apostolic preaching as it was handed down to the early church ecclesiastical leaders. It is important, I think, for us to remember the massive breadth of the 'theological shoulders' upon which we stand here in the 21st century church. I would like to continue pressing against the arrogant and misguided notion that I, and most of us, carry around when we think that we can faithfully interpret Scripture without some connection to and dependence upon the larger historical Body, traditions, and creeds from whence our theology comes. | | |
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