LifeLines

One life to live? NOT true!

2012-02-09T04:37:00.000-08:00

We often say that we only have one life to live... but I wonder if that is really accurate. Yes, I am responsible for the one life I live, responsible for my choices, my thinking, my action. But I am also responsible for my reactions to other people's lives, my response when I hear their stories. Because my response in turn will change their response to life. Taking time to hear people's stories

A week in the life of LifeLine CDC and it's partners

2012-02-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

This has been one of those amazing weeks that I don't want to see come to an end (although I probably won't have energy to have it go on much longer :). There are two parts to LifeLine CDC: 1. Coach and equip others in Asset Based Community Development 2. Practice and model the work. Sunday: In Atwater with a church that wants to be more community oriented. Working on a partnership of

Our Christmas gifts are ON the Christmas tree!

2011-12-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

What gifts are on your tree this morning? Imagine a Christmas tree that is filled with the skills and abilities of people... Every person who walked into Winton LifeLine Community Center received a Christmas ornament and was asked to write one of their gifts, skills or abilities that they are willing to share with the community. Then we hung them on the tree and the result is this

How many people does it take to change a town?

2011-11-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

As I drove up with the Bus Boutique to Winton LifeLine Community Center today, people were already standing in line for the USDA food distribution. Inside about 20 volunteers prepared the boxes for 453 people to have food this week. There wasn't much space to move the old school bus into place and I needed some help. One gentleman guided me along so that I would avoid the parked cars... but

"Don't judge a book by it's cover...... and don't judge it by the first chapter."

2011-11-25T17:28:00.000-08:00

Our newest volunteer is Toby who spent 16 years of his life in prison and many other years in gangs, getting shot the first time at age 11 by rival gang members. As Toby shared his story on CNN several years ago, he used the phrase "don't judge the book by it's first chapter" and I was struck with the depth of it. It is so true, how often do we look at people and have already made up our minds

Fog in the valley and other musings on community development

2011-11-20T18:29:00.000-08:00

Driving to Fresno I saw the beautiful "tule fogs". I know they can be very dangerous, but what I saw was just beautiful. Overhead the sun was shining and at ground level the fields were covered with white blankets. You could make out some things, while others were hidden. You could see the top of farm buildings and tall trees but they looked like they were standing in nothing. I was on my way

Can a community change because of ONE person changes?

2011-11-13T20:25:00.000-08:00