Archive for bryan
Bryan is an artist, father, husband, and son (not really in that order). He works for the Department of Vetern's Affairs and writes and administers The Fireside Post with his father, Ohg Rea Tone. His writings have not been published, though they have been printed a lot.
following Jesus and the political process
Dad, Our discussion about Matthew 25 and politicians brings up a dillemma that I have wrestled with for some time. Should a follower of Jesus run for political office? Certainly, there is merit in being involved in the poklitical process and instigating change is a big job, but the teachings of Jesus are specifically about […]
19Jan2008 | bryan | Comments Off on following Jesus and the political process | Continued
Stimulus – From Where?
Dad, President Bush is scheduled to provide his plan today for a stimuulus package that will give a boost to our faltering economy. I can understand the demand for some encouragement, as people are struggling everywhere with stock prices, failing mortgages, high gas prices and incomes that are not keeping up with the price of […]
18Jan2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Stimulus – From Where? | Continued
5 traits of a healthy faith
Dad, We have conversations about faith, religions, ad Jesus a lot in this magazine. I thought it might be helpful to look at some of the factors that define healthy faith journeys and get some feedback on what that might look like. In short, here are 5 things that I think represent a healthy faith: […]
18Jan2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
CES: Wireless, Wireless, Wireless
Dad, I have been watching some of the reporting from abc.com about the Computer Electronics Show. I like to see what is out there, though I still have the 20 inch television with the A/V cables that hang out of the front auxilary jacks. What I notice about almost all of the new products is […]
11Jan2008 | bryan | Comments Off on CES: Wireless, Wireless, Wireless | Continued
as we inch closer with Iran
Dad, I am one of the many with grave concerns about the direction that our country is headed with respect to Iran and our broader foreign policy. In the midst of our election frenzy, the idea that America is and always has been a Christian nation continues to shape the discussion. I am not convinced […]
11Jan2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
fear and change in politics
Dad, There is a discussion brewing on our post,” Leader or Expert: Choosing a President.” This election is charged with political, social, and religious fervor. All parts are being played, and the audience is large and diverse. One of the comments strikes a chord that I think represents a large slice of the Evangelicval and […]
11Jan2008 | bryan | Comments Off on fear and change in politics | Continued
actions and impact
Dad, I have been considering the impact that our words have on others, both in conversation and in this online magazine, and trying to figure out how much we should evaluate our words and actions out of respect for others. I have been attending the School for Lay Ministries with the Methodist Church for a […]
8Jan2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Where will Biden and Dodd supporters go?
Dad, I was at an Iowa caucus tonight. I saw the supporters of Joe Biden and Bill Richardson hold out until just before the final count, then join the Obama camp. Why did they do that? Why not join Hillary? One guy that I talked to in the Biden corner said that he was turned […]
4Jan2008 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
My first caucus experience
Dad, I just returned form my first caucus experience. It was quite an operation. The caucus was held at the Community Rec Center, which is indicative of the kind of event that it turned out to be. When we arrived, there were organizers at the doors in their campaign gear directing traffic. The gymnasium was […]
4Jan2008 | bryan | Comments Off on My first caucus experience | Continued
Iowa – Caucus Country
Dad, Before I moved to Iowa, I would have said that corn was the number one thing that I think of when someone mentions the state. I now realize that Kansas has more corn than Iowa and that the caucus is more a defining characteristic of Iowa than the agriculture. I had never had the […]
29Dec2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
The Christams Aftermath…
Dad, Christmas is over, and my house is a wreck. I have been doing laps around the kitchen and living room with my son getting geared up to clean. I have had two cups of coffee and have checked my email twice, trying to get through the neglected part of my inbox. I started some […]
27Dec2007 | bryan | Comments Off on The Christams Aftermath… | Continued
we continue to miss the point of the John Lennon Legacy
Dad, I just read on Yahoo News that a lock of John Lennon’s hair sold for $48,000 dollars. It is the Christmas season, so I can’t help but stand in the face of our obsession with excess and indulgence. Most of the time I can manage a passive conversation about it and talk about little […]
13Dec2007 | bryan | Comments Off on we continue to miss the point of the John Lennon Legacy | Continued
Ice Storms highlight desperate measures
Readers, Ohg is out of commission. He lives in one of the midwestern cities that has been hit the worst with the latest ice storms. The picture at the right is about two blocks from his house. He is without power, huddled in fron of his fireplace for warmth, trying to decide whether or not […]
13Dec2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Ice Storms highlight desperate measures | Continued
this video about freegans…
Dad, Back to the conversation about freegans. I know that there are responsible, practical ways to change the world, and that one should follow the appropriate channels, but I am glad for the people who don’t worry about that and just do what they can to make a difference, even if it is only in […]
11Dec2007 | bryan | Comments Off on this video about freegans… | Continued
having kids and making decisions
Dad, We are faced, as a family, with more life change. We have moved every year and even changed states three times in our short 5 year marriage. We are expecting our third child this summer, and we will have to figure out how to live in this little two bedroom apartment or upgrade to […]
10Dec2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
10 things to do when starting a wordpress blog
Dad, I thought that some of our readers might benefit from the foot work that we have done in getting this blog off the ground. I will talk more about content and writing in future posts, but first I want to address the basics of getting a WordPress blog up and running. Here are ten […]
10Dec2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Creativity, Spirituality, and the Golden Compass
Dad, I believe that creativity is a natural result of spirituality. The two are intrinsically linked, and you can’t have one without the other. The creative process, though, much like lifestyle choices or world views and paradigms, is a result of a lifetime of experiences and degrees of nurturing. Everyone has a different life experience, […]
28Nov2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Simplicity and the Five Person Family
Dad, As you now know, my wife and I are having another baby. We are leaving the two child paradigm and entering into a new phase of family life. The idea of three children is a little daunting, but I think it will be good for us. The question becomes, “How do we maintain a […]
27Nov2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Simplicity and the Five Person Family | Continued
marrying robots: what are the down sides?
Dad, I read an article recently on MSN about a guy who wants to legalize marriages between humans and robots. He thinks he has a chance in Massachusetts. I think that this is a great idea. Too long have we been restricted to marrying one another. Even Gay Marriage, so controversial, is restrictive in that […]
14Nov2007 | bryan | Comments Off on marrying robots: what are the down sides? | Continued
Hyperbolic Jesus
Dad, I have been described, with flattery and contempt, as inflammatory and as one who lends himself to exaggeration. I have never given this much credence, because I know that the only thing I know for a fact is that I know almost no facts. In college I made great marks from listening to lectures […]
13Nov2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Hyperbolic Jesus | Continued
Hillary Clinton at Simpson College
Dad, Last weekend I went to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa to attend a weekend class. On Saturday, I was in the building next to the gymnasium where Hillary was to give her speech. I slipped out of class and went to watch. She is a dynamic speaker and a brilliant politician. When she came […]
9Nov2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Hillary Clinton at Simpson College | Continued
“gang” fights and small town living
Dad, In a previous post, you mentioned defining gangs in our home town, or, rather, the resistance to defining a “gang”. I remember once when I was young and impressionable (“the good old days”), I was hanging out with some friends one night in the parking lot of the Godfather’s Pizza in our home town. […]
26Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on “gang” fights and small town living | Continued
The fearists of Climate Change…
Dad. I watched the video that you sent. I am adding it below for those of us who are not you and me. As I said in a previous post, I respect Al Gore for what he has accomplished, and I encourage everyone to do his or her part to live responsibly. This video points […]
23Oct2007 | bryan | 6 comments | Continued
Water For Elephants
Dad, I just finished reading this book. It is one of those books that leaves you a little empty when it is over because you won’t get to spend time with those characters anymore. I wish that I would get a postcard from them. “Water for Elephants” is a beautiful story and an impressive bunch […]
19Oct2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Gas Grills and intentional living
Dad, I was having a conversation with my friend who was in town for a visit this weekend. We were discussing my gas grill. I bought a gas grill because I did some research on the most responsible way to cook meals. When you use your oven in the summer time, often the heat from […]
18Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
cloth diapers…
Dad, My wife and I have flirted with cloth diapers for a long time. We had some that our mother-in-law gave to us when our daughter was born, but all we had were the safety pins and old plastic diaper covers from about the middle of last century. After having a dirty diaper in my […]
17Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on cloth diapers… | Continued
To the solicitors of pornography: What do you want with us?
Dad, So far, we have managed to create a nice blog that people read, without soliciting the help of sex or pornography. We talk about issues, faith, about our children and our family, we even share recipes and kitchen tips. We seem to be able to manage our blog with a reasonable readership without prostituting […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
life with no TV (or TV with no life)
Dad, As you know, my wife and I don’t watch much television. In fact, we have only one small TV and it is only connected to the VCR and DVD player in our bedroom. Our living room has no television, and the chairs are arranged so that when you are sitting in that room you […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
home made baby wipes…
Dad, My wife and i have been making our own diaper wipes for a few years now. I love that they have no alcohol in them, and that we don’t have to buy packaged wipes and throw away the wrapper every time we run out of wipes. They are also biodegradable and can be flushed. […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
renting vs. buying
Dad, My wife and I have been talking about our plans for the future, and the issue of buying property has come up, as it usually does when we have this conversation. We are comfortable with renting, and we have come to that place through a long process of evaluating our lifestyle. We do not […]
13Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on renting vs. buying | Continued
Chris Dodd – White Hare
Dad, I have been spending some time looking at Chris Dodd. I like his demeanor and his politics. He has a lot to offer and I think that I would like to see Barack as his VP on the ticket. It is early, and I am looking around, and I am influenced and intrigued by […]
13Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Chris Dodd – White Hare | Continued
Al Gore or Gandhi?
Dad, Like all of his other supporters, I would like to congratulate Al Gore on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He has big shoes to fill. On February 2, 1977, Jimmy Carter addressed the nation in a cardigan sweater and asked us all to do our part and turn down our thermostat and wear a […]
12Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
The Al Gore Situation,
Dad, I think that I agree with you about the Al Gore situation. I would be interested to see him in action in another presidential race, but I think that it is a long shot. Even on the environmental issue, he has a lot of questions to answer, but I would tune in for the […]
12Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on The Al Gore Situation, | Continued
Bill Maher and Chuck Hagel…
Dad, I was watching this clip this morning from Bill Maher: I like Chuck Hagel – he strikes me as an individual who is not influenced by political pressures to cater to the party’s wishes. I think that he probably is not running because he knows that he does not conform enough to win a […]
10Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Bill Maher and Chuck Hagel… | Continued
Fearists: the new face of terror…
Dad, We need a new term. You approached the idea of terrorism in other forms in a previous post. We need to identify that terrorists use violence, but many use fear and it is almost as destructive. I think if you use fear to influence others’ actions or to bring about social or political change, […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Calcium build-up solutions
Dad, Any idea how to get calcium build up out of my dishwasher? I have this white stuff, I guess it is calcium, caked all inside my dishwasher and it is not cleaning the dishes anymore. Bryan
9Oct2007 | bryan | 8 comments | Continued
Doing better in school
Dad, My daughter went to school without a fit for the second time today. We have been showering her with stickers and praise, and that seems to be working. I have made an effort to focus on her during the few hours that she and I are home together before she goes to school. Of […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Doing better in school | Continued
Terrorism disguised as intelligence
Dad, This morning I read an article on what is being called Islamo-fascism Awareness week and is being put on by the Terrorism Awareness Project. I was interested because I thought that understanding the difference between an Islamic Extremist and and Islamic Pacifist would be valuable, and that Terrorism Awareness could be a helpful conversation […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | 6 comments | Continued
reducing my energy consumption…
Dad, I have been thinking a lot lately about how much energy I use. I try to evaluate my lifestyle all the time to find out if I can improve and better live out the values that I claim to have. I just read an interesting article on phantom power, and there is a good […]
8Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Below is an excerpt from A Toolkit For Christian Education and Action on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, brought to us by our brothers and sisters at Sojourners/Call To Renewal “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in […]
6Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Ira Glass and the new church experience…
Dad, Ira Glass is a master storyteller. His talent comes not from his ability to spin a story, but from his keen ability to recognize one and nurture it along with questions and encouragements. He is interested in people’s stories, in their lives and the interesting things that happen to them as unique persons. From […]
6Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Ira Glass and the new church experience… | Continued
Sedaris on Letterman
Dad David Sedaris on Letterman Here is a funny video of David Sedaris reading an essay on Letterman. This guy is funny, relevant, and smart. Bryan
5Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
This American Life (and my top five)
Dad, I have been hooked on this radio show for about three years, and I still can’t get enough of it. I have added a little banner for them on our sidebar. Ira Glass is a genius, but I will talk more about him in another post. The show is downloadable from their website for […]
5Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on This American Life (and my top five) | Continued
how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations…
Dad, This format, the fireside, is a wonderful way for us to have the kinds of conversations that we have always had. We meander through subjects, we get excited and passionate, and we have small talk and sometimes just take a nap. The difference that we are running in to here is that the format […]
5Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations… | Continued
here’s to the crazy ones…
Dad, the true marriage of art and technology. Thanks to Steve Jobs for giving us a place along the way. And, truly, “think different.” Bryan
3Oct2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Rush and Reid: public faces vs. personal faith
Dad, As I was reading my morning news and blog sites, I began to ponder about the ways that our faith should play out in our private and public lives. Rush Limbaugh is a Methodist. I am proud to be part of a theology so diverse that it can include the likes of Rush, President […]
2Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Rush and Reid: public faces vs. personal faith | Continued
A voyage of the Banned!
Dad, It is National Banned Books Week, according to the American Library Association. I saw the title of this post on a poster at the local Library. What a great chance to stop and remember the great pieces of literature that have made this prestigious list… A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess A Wrinkle in […]
2Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Where Bilbo meets Aslan…
Dad, Here are two passages from books that I have been contemplating. They are about life and safety. The first is from The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step out onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing […]
1Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Where Bilbo meets Aslan… | Continued
Is God an Arab?
Dad The answer is yes. “God created us in His image, and we decided to return the favor.” -George Bernard Shaw We tend to believe that God is in our image, rather than the other way around. Is God male? White? Female? Chinese? Arab? …yes. Bryan
1Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Is God an Arab? | Continued
Dave Ramsey: the good, the bad, and the ugly…
Dad, When my wife and I moved to Nashville, Tn a few years ago we had nothing but some debt, a few barely marketable skills and a toddler. We weren’t sure now the new life we were living together and the new value system that we were trying to implement married the idea of money […]
1Oct2007 | bryan | 7 comments | Continued