[caption id="attachment_1261" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="My brother-in-law Clint shares a French Press with us!"][/caption] One of my Twitter friends, @givelovecoffee, commented about the great Third Space at Willow Creek Church this morning. Her less-than-140 character assesment was "Life happens over coffee." I couldn't agree more! I am just finishing the longest blogging break I've had since I started Coffee Shop Journal. David and I are in Portland, Oregon, for the wedding of my first cousin's daughter. I hate that description, because…
Writing about the homeless is tricky. For one thing, they are a remarkably internet-savvy group. Every time I write about them, I hear from them. This delights me, and terrifies me all at the same time. It delights me because traditionally homeless have not had a voice for themselves, but in this internet age, they have an electronic presence. This gives them a way to speak. It terrifies me because, well...I'm not homelesss and I really don't have even a…
David and I are traveling with family this week, hanging in the Pacific Northwest. I love the city of Portland, and each time I come here I am reminded how much I love my family, being where they are, living their life for a few days. Tomorrow they are taking me on the pilgrimage to Mecca...we are going to Seattle for the day! (Cue the choirs of angelic voices.) I can't wait to visit the original Starbucks, as well as…
Go click over to this Portland, Oregon amateur photographer. I follower her blog/flickr stream religiously. Today I read an entry about meeting a presumably homeless woman -- ok, a woman who sings for change on the street -- outside of Powell's books. This is the exact same corner where I did not stop and talk to the teenage boy I mentioned in my last post. Go read Hula Girl's post, the one I didn't get to write. We head back…
On this blog we have discussed conversations started and the incarnational living out of our faith in this world. We have great ideas, good plans, hopes, dreams, and we love to talk about our successes. But in the interest of full disclosure and honesty, I am going to tell you about a missed opportunity that has been haunting me. Last night my extended family all met for dinner in the Pear District of Portland, Oregon. The Pear District is exactly…
Tonight I am preparing to fly across the country to attend a family wedding outside of Portland, Oregon. I have to admit that I am still geeky enough to enjoy a day of travel under the right circumstances. I'm looking forward to seeing new places and new people, something Craig Groeschel has been talking about over on Swerve, the Lifechurch.tv blog. Craig talks about intentional "disruptions" to your routine, a process that allows new thoughts and ideas to find fertile…
Hey everyone, I'll be in the Portland, Oregon area for the next week for a family wedding. I think we are specifically in the Tigard, Durham area but are happy to wander a bit. I would love to find some cool, Third Place coffee shops or other sights! Yes...I can wander...but if any of you have a good suggestion, fire away!
I am conviced that the only thing between you and your destiny is one small act of courage. One courageous choice may be the only thing between you and your dream becoming reality. And it may be as simple as placing a phone call, downloading an appliation or sending an e-mail. But you've got to push the first domino. -- In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson It has been a long day here…
