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Random Thoughts

Goble Properties, Random Thoughts,

Socially Responsible Business

The last decade has seen an expansion of the socially responsible business sector. I applaud that expansion … but let me point out a wrinkle that too few people mention.

Hardly any large companies actually practice what they preach. Consumer demand, media attention and government regulation have forced companies to adopt policies and goals that are socially minded, but few of them actually do anything about it. It’s the small businesses that are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to social responsibility.

Am I being cynical or flippant when I blow off the large corporations who model themselves as …

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Random Thoughts,

Rambling thoughts

— Always enjoyed reading St. Augustine when I was in college, and I recently came across his definition of time. It struck me, in part because it came out of such a strange context: a book about the Marines battle in the South Pacific during World War II. The author used this definition to explain life in the military:

“Out of the future that is not yet, into the present that is just becoming, back to the past that no longer is.”

— It’s my Dad’s birthday today, he would’ve been 88 years old. The tradition is to have a …

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Random Thoughts,

Strength in What Remains

“Strength in What Remains” tells the story of Deo, a Burundian medical student caught up in the horror of a genocidal civil war. Deo escapes one situation after another, in what in hindsight must appear as divine intervention. With luck, the help of both friends and strangers, and an enormous amount of pluck, Deo eventually boards a plane in Burundi and gets to New York City. There his flight continues, though on a different level, as he navigates the strangeness of this huge city.

In time, Deo befriends many good people, including the well known Paul Farmer of “Mountains Beyond …

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Random Thoughts,

Easter Hymn

This is one of my favorite Easter passages, though few associate it with the season. It’s actually a hymn with a short opening line to set the stage. I can imagine the early followers of Jesus singing this…and it makes me feel strong in my faith as I contemplate the depth of our ancient roots. My faith is built on many who loved, worshiped and served before me.

I love the depth of meaning in the simplicity of the words. How much depth? My friend Walter Hansen, Seminary Professor for Global Theological Education at Fuller Theological Seminary, has written a …

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Apocryphal, Random Thoughts,

Baseball

It was a beautiful summer Sunday. My father had promised that we would go to Candlestick and watch the Giants play, my first memory of seeing a live professional game. It was probably 1965, and I was perhaps 6-years old, so my memory of details could easily be mistaken. But I think they were playing the Dodgers that day. Or at least I want to believe that.

To my dismay, we had to go to church first. Church got out at noon, and we left soon after, and I remember being nervous about missing the first inning because the game …

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Random Thoughts,

"Magnificent Desolation" by Buzz Aldrin

I was ten years old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. It captured my imagination, and like a lot of kids I dreamed of traveling through space. I could describe in detail how the Apollo rocket functioned and was mesmerized by any news that had to do with the moon landing. I was even on Captain Satellite, a local TV show for kids!

So I had to read the autobiography of Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon. He’s 80-years old now, and still going strong on Dancing with the Stars. The guy’s life is amazing: …

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Random Thoughts,

Iraqi Elections in Pleasanton

There has never been any doubt that the world is becoming smaller and that globalization is here to stay. But yesterday I was reminded of how that hits home.

Driving home from work I pass the Alameda County Fairgrounds. I live in the town of Pleasanton, a suburb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The fairgrounds — which host the summer event to much fanfare and is a throwback to the era of slow summer days and 4-H shows — sits right in the middle of town. There are events here throughout the year, from camping shows to Hawaiian music …

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Random Thoughts,

Political Leanings

Politics has been driving me crazy. Since I just returned from the 58th Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC, this blog entry seemed timely.

Now, you are probably thinking that this is going to be a rant about either the Democrats or the Republicans.  Wrong.  My political anger is not directed at a specific party, politician or agenda. Instead, it is directed at the people who think that political reasoning is a clear cut choice between one view or another.  These are the people who lambast the other viewpoint, demonize their opponents, use snide and cynical remarks to belittle …

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