Flaxseed Pillows and Beautiful Day

Ever heard of a flaxseed pillow? I never had until I moved to Northern California. A flaxseed pillow is a microwaveable-heat sustaining-comfy bag of goodness that gets used again and again to warm up cold people. You see, my wife and I are both from sunny/warm/heat-wave-laden Southern California, where you wear shorts all-year long and everyone is always tan.

When we moved north we anticipated a cultural change… from Hollywood-Celebs to Tech-Celebs, also fashion change… from flip-flops to Tiva’s with socks. But we weren’t ready for the climate change… after all, Al Gore was talking about global warming and we were cool with that reality. But when we moved in… we experienced the arctic NorCal cold, and thus the discovery of the flaxseed pillow. Watching TV… sitting on flaxseed, going to bed… sleeping with flaxseed, watching a soccer game… cuddling with flaxseed. In fact, I can tell the temperature of the flaxseed pillow based on my wife’s face. Happy face= Warm flaxseed. Sad face=forgot to bring flaxseed to the 9:30 service at WestGate.

I wasn’t a big fan of the flaxseed pillow at first (it seemed a bit “relationally intrusive”)… but now, I’m thinking about getting two. There’s something heavenly when you get an unexpected burst of warmth when you’re freezing.

It’s funny… Beautiful Day was an unexpected burst of warmth this fall. Usually we do service projects in the spring, but this year we ventured into the fall with some “modest” plans that became larger than we imagined. Messy forgotten freeways got cleaned up, cold dim houses got Christmas lights, tired school playgrounds got fresh US maps, families in need got Thanksgiving meals, and desperate blood banks got replenished. Basically, we nuked up a flaxseed pillow called “Love your Neighbor” and tossed it on a community that didn’t realize how cold it was.

Living and Loving like Jesus brings an unexpected burst of warmth to a world that desperately needs to experience him.

So to my leaders… outstanding work!!!

To all the volunteers… way to go!!!

For everyone… here’s a challenge as you go into Thanksgiving this season, become a flaxseed pillow to someone in need of an unexpected burst of warmth!!

Blood Never Lies

One of my favorite TV characters is the blood splatter analysis, Dexter Morgan from Miami Metro on the hit show “Dexter”. He has some of the best lines on TV as he walks us to the crime scene to investigate blood patterns. It could be a pool of blood, a simple sample of blood, a drop of blood, or a splattering on the wall. His expert analysis on blood tells detectives more about what happened on the scene… and gives them insights into whom the culprit might be.

“Blood Never Lies” is a common phrase he uses. Which is true… blood can tell you a lot.

I would love it if Dexter came upon our Beautiful Day Blood drive (actually, it might freak Dexter fans out). But let’s just pretend for a second… what if he walked in, and did some analysis, and gave his report. What would it read?

“Pints and pints of blood given”

“a group of people with all kinds of needed blood types”

“a line of people willing and waiting to give”

“tables of people enjoying snacks while they recoup”

“donor chairs filled with person after person”

“people leaving the facility with a bandage on their arm and a mark on their soul.”

If Dexter Morgan were to take any of the Beautiful Day blood samples back to the lab for closer analysis … I’m pretty confident he would find something telling about the “blood-donor-suspect” in question. He would uncover a thread of compassion, he would see a strand of courage, he would find a pulse of grace. And ironically, the blood in question looks strangely familiar to samples collected on a cross years ago.

Here’s the truth about blood…

- Blood is needed every two seconds.

- About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital needs blood.

- Blood is always needed for treatment of accident victims, cancer patients, hemophiliacs and surgery patients.

- Blood cannot be manufactured or harvested.

So here’s the deal… those of you without blood are exempt from this compassion/service project. Everyone else?... Get in line!!

Because… “blood never lies”

To sign up for the Beautiful Day Blood drive, go to our website at www.ourbeautifulday.org

Hit the "Upcoming Projects" link... or click on this logo...

Google Maps helps Beautiful Day

Check this out!!! i know a bunch of you guys see these Google streetview cars capturing pics in and around town.

Well... we just happened to be at the right place AND we had our Beautiful Day banners. So in just a few weeks, you can go to google maps (streetview)... and go down Campbell Ave (Campbell CA) in front of the Sonoma Chicken Coup.... and see us holding a HUGE Beautiful Day banner.



Thank you Google... for promoting Beautiful Day this year!!!

HUNT... One mom's heroic idea.

HUNT is a massive easter egg hunt in the Silicon Valley, and the largest in California. It's crazy how it started. A young mom went to a city sponsored community egg hunt, and lay victim to an overcrowded, understaffed, city-sponsored spring tradition. Too many kids searching for too-few eggs... and too few staff attempting to crowd-control parents with cameras and strollers. It was a nightmare in the making. Imagine uber-protective soccer mom types... shielding Easter Egg HUNT space for their kids... body blocking, and hovering, while dad is trying to snap pictures - Jonney picks up colorful eggs while mom throws down with a home-school parent who's invaded her sons territory. It's like the Oklahoma Land Rush of the late 1800's... except more strollers than horses.

A few years back, one young mom decided enough is enough. If the city cant run a descent egg hunt then she would do it her self... how hard could it be?

For the next few years she hosted a small hunt site for her surrounding community, and each year it grew in popularity. The key was, GREAT communication of how the site would run, tons of candy and eggs (so no one left disappointed), and tasers (for over-zealous parents).

*** note*** we have not used Tasers, but we've seriously thought about it.

The HUNT site was a huge success.

A few years back, we decided to replicate her HUNT site model. Taking the exact same principles and setting up sites that faith communities can host in and around the city. Basically, we too her model and put it on steroids. Now Beautiful Day host the largest site(s) in California.

They are well communicated, well staffed, and have tons and tons of candy. In fact, the city and school districts all canceled their sites, and tell people to come to ours... "they're WAY better!" Now politicians show up at our sites and help with the HUNT... its become a cool partnership in serving the community and serving the city.

One mom... with a cool idea. Heroic Genius? You bet!!

Looking for a site to attend... go to www.ourbeautifulday.org

Beautiful Day's Adopt-a-Hero Story

I just got this email from some who just did Beautiful Day's Adopt-a-Hero. It was a great experience for her and I thought I'd share it with you.

If you have a Beautiful Day story... send it in!!


Jon,

I just did my first Beautiful Day project and I wanted to tell someone about it. I signed up for Adopt-a-Hero, and was assigned to bake some goodies for the San Jose Police Department. I was told that I could deliver the dessert at any point during the week, and since I’m working from home nowadays and don’t have much time to bake during the week, I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies (from scratch) last night, warmed them up this afternoon, and delivered them to the SJPD just a few minutes ago.

Isn’t it amazing how God works? I put on my Beautiful Day shirt and drove to the SJPD (I had just warmed up the cookies, so you could smell the melted chocolate chips wafting in the air). I wasn’t sure where to go, but I saw a uniformed police officer standing by a door and told him, “Excuse me, I have some cookies to drop off for the Police Department.” I kid you not – the expression on the man’s face completely changed from one of stoic professionalism to complete disbelief. He asked me, “Seriously? How nice of you! Why?” I answered, “Well, I’m with an organization called Beautiful Day, a consortium of churches that is focusing on doing outreach to our community this week. I’m on a project that reaches out to law enforcement, firemen, and the like by delivering them dessert.” The man still looked shocked, but in a good way. J He asked me again, “What is the name of the organization you’re with?” And again, I said, “Beautiful Day,” and explained about the program and the whole compassionate outreach thing.

You could tell that the man was touched. He just couldn’t seem to believe that a complete stranger would do something so kind.

The great thing about it all is that there were lots of other people in the room, so they heard the exchange between me and the officer as well. I never got his name – and he never asked mine – but that’s not really the point, is it?
I like this “compassion unleashed” thing.

Beautiful Day partners with The Living Center to host an amazing Day Spa for women living with HIV and AIDS.

In collaboration with the NeilA. ChristieLiving Center,a resource center for those in Santa Clara Countyliving with AIDS or HIV, Beautiful Day hosted a spa day with a lunch for thewomen clients of the Center. Most of these women never receive this kindof service and we were thrilled to be able to bless them in this way.

Here’s an eye-witness summary of the events of that day fromMitzi Macon (director of the Living Well Council, which is Beautiful Day’sextension of compassion to people living with HIV/AIDS)…

I'm home after spending the day atThe Living Center...It was ladies with HIV/AIDS SpaDay for Beautiful Day!

I'm still a bit emotional, butwanted to share with you what a great day it was today. The WestGate 'youngladies', worked tirelessly on hair, nails/toes, massage and make up for 25-30clients. Many came from outside San Jose just for this event. Marianne (the director ofthe Living Center)'got the word out', to many contacts, which in turn brought women to The Living Centerfor the first time. Marianne has never seen such participation...I trulybelieve it started with the amazing invitation created by Charlie (BeautifulDay’s Art Director)...

It was an incredible blessing to seethe women come in the door, a little unsure of what was to come. A fabulouslunch was offered (funded by The Living Well Council) and then each womanpicked the treatment they wanted to experience.

The WG women just worked and worked,as each client was thrilled to have their hair/makeup/nails/toes and bodiesattended to with such love.

I wanted you to know, that thesewomen will never forget their experience today, and think that WG women rock!

Posted by email from Jon Talbert's posterous

Beautiful Day visits the Pediatric Cancer Ward at Stanford. Here's an eyewitness account of all the fun.

by Jon Talbert

Over 9000 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosedwith cancer this year in the United States. In light of that statistic BeautifulDay formed a partnership with Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital to arrangeda fun day for kids in the pediatric cancer ward. On Nov 18^th BeautifulDay team members set up a “faire” at the hospital where familiescame and joined their kids to participate in games, entertainment, and tons oflove.

Due to privacy laws we could not include pictures of thekids… so we’ve only add a picture of some of the team

Here’s an eye-witness detail of how the event unfolded:

The Beautiful Day project forStanford Lucile Packard Children's Hospital was held last night, and, based onthe immediate feedback received from the hospital's Children's EventCoordinator, was a success.

Our group began arriving at 5:45 to set up and get ready to entertain/play with/instructthe kids. Until about three hours before the event started, we still hadno idea how many kids would be there (if any). But, around 3:30yesterday, I got a call stating they expected approximately 15 kids to show. In the end, we counted 25, plus parents, health care workers & staff.

LPCH has a "playroom" set aside for these events called the"Forever Young Zone". At 6:15 some kids were already startingto poke their heads in the door, wanting to know if the event was starting yet. Vanessa Lopez, the Children's Event Coordinator, said that was a verygood sign. By 6:30 (the time the event started), a lot of kids and theirparents were lined up waiting to come in.

Kids, their parents and health care workers started coming through the door. Severalwere hooked up to IVs that they had to pull along side of them. Some were inwagons lined with blankets and pillows, with tubes sticking out of their arms,or in one case, their nose. Some walked along on their own, glad to besomewhere other than their room. Siblings of the patients were includedas well, much more rambunctious than the patients, creating a high energy buzzin the room. You could tell they were familiar with the place, many ofthem knew exactly where favorite toys were kept or went immediately to coloringbooks on the table. Glenda sat down and began playing with colored ricewith one girl; Bob, Pete & Monica were walking around, saying hi to thekids, trying to make them comfortable with these new strangers in their midst.

At 6:40, Rich came back carrying 12 pizzas from California Pizza Kitchen, half of which weredonated by CPK for the event. Pizza is, of course, food that almost everychild loves and soon most were eating while they played, the adults having afew slices themselves, in between watching their kids and waiting for the"show" to begin.

Pete Anderson then began what was probably the most fun anyone has ever had notcatching something, or rather, catching something some of the time,
but not most of the time. The kids were enthralled by his jugglingclinic, and the enthusiasm and optimism in the room was evident. Vanessa(the event coordinator) by this point was visibly excited about how well thekids were responding. Pete has a natural flair for being in front ofgroups of kids (and adults), and the entire room was laughing and "gettinginto it" as he led them through the introductory steps of catchingjuggling scarves (they float so your reflexes don't have to be as fast),starting with just one and throwing it into the air, then two, then three,teaching them patterns of juggling (such as "Criss-Cross Applesauce). For 20 minutes or more, the visibility in the room was limited by dozensof colorful scarves being thrown in the air, which were then either snatchedback or would fall gently to the floor. By the time he moved on tojuggling balls some kids were really getting the hang of it, doing far betterthan some coordination-deficient adults. Soon red, yellow and green ballswere also flying in the air, most of these ending up on the floor rather thanin small hands, but it didn't stop the enthusiasm of the kids as they scooped themback up and sent them skyward again.

Around 7:30, Bob McFarlane herded most of the smaller children out into the hallwaywhere he led them in several games that had them laughing and giggling. The first one he set up two lines of kids and had them race each other byrolling soft nerf balls on the floor through their legs to each other. Then they would pass it to each other by keeping their feet in place andturning only their body, then by using only one hand, then by bouncing, thenpassing two balls around in a circle, trying to catch the second ball up to thefirst. I lost count of the different games he led, but the grins on thefaces never ebbed. It was great for us to have something to offer thesmaller kids as well as the older kids. Glenda and Rich were playing alongwith them as well. Monica had "adopted" a small girl, for whom Vanessasaid needed extra attention, and was acting as her own personal playmate.

One of the last kids to arrive (around 7:45) was a young boy who had not lefthis bed for 15 days, and had not eaten anything for the last five. He had heardthe "fun" coming from the event in his room, and decided he wanted tocome join it. He was brought out by his family, still in his bed and watchedthe games being played in the hall. Pete took several scarves and wentover and gave him and his family (including a young brother) a personal jugglinglesson. Before he had to leave to return to his room, someone gave him apiece of pizza and he began to eat it.

One mother, after she brought in her child and sat down, was heard to say quietlyto herself "This is great".

At 8:00 PM we had to wrap it up, despite the fact that children were still playingBob's games in the hallway. We cleaned up the room, packed our gear andheaded home.

It was truly a great experience for all of us. To those who couldn't be therein person, I know you were praying for us. There's no way thiscame togetheras well as it did without God's hand being involved.

Posted by email from Jon Talbert's posterous

Beautiful Day featured in Abundant Living magazine.

Beautiful Day gets a write up and is the cover story of Abundant Living magazine.

Check it out http://www.alcf.net/uploads/ALM_spr-sum08.pdf

Team Beautiful Day and the AIDS walk

The Silicon Valley Walk for AIDS is coming up Sunday October 19th. This will be our 2nd walk (not counting SF AIDS walk), and last year Team Beautiful Day had THE largest walking team. but ironically we did not have the largest fundraising effort. We fell just behind Starbucks. I love Starbucks... so I'm ok with losing to them. But it would have been worse to loose to something that fells wimpy to me like "Team Charmin", or "Team Dress Barn". That would drive me nuts I think.

However, We are mounting up to have the largest team (Team Beautiful Day) this year. WestGate Church will cancel services on the 19th and ask everyone to walk... we will be the church in the streets. Calvary Los Gatos is canceling Sunday services and asking everyone to walk... so is Twin Oaks, and the River. All churches will be part of Team Beautiful Day and will walk as a representation of "The" church of Silicon Valley.

Not only do I feel that its important to have representation of the church in the walk... I feel passionate about a reconnect somehow with the Gay community and church. Rather than focusing on the things that we disagree on and fight over... I choose to focus on what we DO agree on.

That would be...

- A healthy relationship between the church and the Gay community

- A communication channel that allows for respectful conversation

- Caring for those suffering from HIV/AIDS,

- Serving together on Compassion projects that demonstrate God's Common Grace

- Invitations to each others events, celebrations, and service venues

If you would like to be part of the Revolution to stop the spread of AIDS you have two options.

-Walk with me under the banner of Team Beautiful Day

-Support me financially as I walk with Team Beautiful Day

Either way you are making a huge difference in the lives of many in our community.

To find out ways of how to walk or support go to the website http://acsv.kintera.org/faf/search/searchParticipants.asp?ievent=271638&lis=1&kntae271638=D2FF892C24A84BC8B356981A6BE1020F

AIDS, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Inconsistency of the Church

Saturday night Cheri and I went to the AIDS Coalition "Unmask the Mysteries" Gala fundraiser. It was a "whos who" event in down town San Jose. The premise was to raise funds through corporate sponsors and through a silent auction of items donated from people all over the Bay Area. It was nice to mingle with people who care so much about fighting AIDS. There were 5 of us represented from WestGate (Beautiful Day's Living Well group). In fact, we were the only church represented at this event. I actually felt proud to be connected to WestGate and represent our church's ongoing support of those who are suffering from HIV and AIDS, but I was saddend by the lack of support from the evangelical community at large.

It baffles me that churches would work to respond to the AIDS pandemic globally, but make very little effort locally. What I find most ironic is churches rallying together to fight the gay community over legalized same-sex marriage, while making little to no response to those suffering from HIV and AIDS. Why is that? The whole fight feels inconsistant to me. We will rally together and unify churches to fight for something that protects a value that we hold, but we fail to come together to fight for those who are suffering.

I'm not saying that I don't share some of the same convictions with some of these churches about same-sex marriage. What I am saying is that I really dont like the way this thing is going down. The conservative evangelical community is going to do what it seems to do best... that is, rally together to stand "against" something, rather than rally together to stand "along side" someone.

The evangelical community has done so much damage in the past as it relates to the Gay Community and those suffering from HIV and AIDS, that our credibility to say anything worth listening to is almost entirely lost. The only credible voice comes in the form of a servant... who is willing to pick up a towel and wash feet.

The further we get to the Same Sex marriage initiatives in November, the more I will call people to humbly serve, to bless, to give, to care. If we rally around anything it will be around Jesus who came in the form of a servant, and healer. Jesus healed wounds and cared for those who were suffering... we should do the same.

For more information about AIDS Coalition Silicon Valley go to: www.AIDScoalition.org
-Make a one time donation
-register under "Team Beautiful Day" for the Oct 19th AIDS walk
-Donate your Vehicle

Emptying Churches Filling Needs

I cannot stand another church FAD. There have been numerous fads and trends that have over promised and under-delivered. The church Growth-movement that started in the 70's... gained momentum in the 80's... and peaked out in the 90's... has residue left over on Christendom in our post-modern culture. We have been duped into believing that "filling the church" is the answer. I will admit that a growing church has some vital signs that display some level of health... however, if a growing church, or a full church is the measure of vitality, we are gravely mistaken.

Filling churches is no longer the goal... emptying churches into the streets is!! I cannot over emphasize the paradigm shift from "church growth" to "church mission". The mission of the church starts with a HUGE goal in mind... that is, to empty the seats and to engage our people in the wilds of popular culture. To live Christ in our schools and workplaces, to re:engage Christ in out conversations at coffee houses, pubs, and resturants. To host BBQ's and bon fires in our community and neighborhoods... to re:imagine the expression of Christ in our artisitic venues of music, theater, and comedy. To be foolish enough to think that we could collaborate with other entities in popular culture... like businesses, organizations, and government... to actually serve those in need around us.

The Church must do this! This is not a fad... its a model, given to us by Jesus years and years ago. We just some how messed it up.

The church has entered a new day in Christendom... and we need to look to Christ for our model and our mission.