theMangoTimes

The photos above are actually where you could have found me in July and I did just about everything I said in the July edition. We have had a ton of fun in Mangoland. Great music, great food, great friends and a surprise trip for Kendra’s 40th birthday and our 19th wedding anniversary. Uncle Bucky visited from Florida. The Wolfe family visited from Chico. On our trip, we visited with our old friend, Robb Gordon and then in a last minute change of plans we were treated to a behind the scenes tour of Universal Studios with college friend Fred Renner. We wrapped up the month with homeschooling blog friends Nate/Deb Perkins for a whirlwind weekend of activity.

On to the month of August…
YOU CAN FIND ME LISTENING TO THIS:

I picked up a digital copy of Buffett’s new live album called Encores, whose title is self-explanatory, containing acoustic arrangements from several recent concerts. This is a really fun album of Buffett’s oldest stuff and some new recordings. If you are inclined to check this out, I recommend taking a good listen to his cover of John Prine’s “A Big Old Goofy World.”

We are throwing a 40th birthday/luau for a friend, so I have downloaded a bunch of Hawaiian music. Steel guitar, the music of Iz, C and K, and any other island drum music I can find. If you know me (and even if you don’t), I’ll do anything to get Kenj into a grass skirt and coconuts for a little dancing (Grab your puka shells and join the fun, because “she’s still…a Hula girl at heart!”).

YOU CAN FIND ME HANGING OUT HERE:
As I type this we are still fully engaged in summer 2010 by swinging in the hammock chairs on the back porch. I just finished a great book about enjoying the things of summer and I just convinced Kendra that we need to have grilled fish, boiled shrimp and steamed corn for dinner. It has taken no convincing and she is busy looking up a recipe for pineapple peach salsa for the fish. Yup, life is pretty good here in the summer!
I recently clicked a tab on facebook that said, “I love being underwater.” This is an understatement. Since I was a little boy wearing Aquaman underoos, the pool has been one of my favorite spots. We have enjoyed very mellow temperatures here in the central valley this summer, but on most days one or more mangokids can be found in or around the pool and I can be found launching off the top of the waterfall in one of my signature dives.

YOU CAN FIND ME READING THIS:
I have not listened to one full sermon of Mark Driscoll (mostly because they are long and I have the attention span of a teenager drinking Red Bull), but there is something about the guy that makes people think I’m a fan/follower. After getting my new iPad (see below), I was looking for electronic books to see if I would actually like using the device. I also thought I would finally take the time and read the pastor that people think I am so fond of following, so I picked up an electronic copy of Religion Saves. Now I see the connection. Love the topic. Love the book. Love Driscoll’s style and his passion for the gospel. But, I’m not a man-follower and I still love Jesus a ton more! I’ll download a sermon or two next and give a listen to see if the comparison is valid!

I am an electronic gadget freak and a sucker for anything Apple creates, but this is still a great little device. You know what I notice? There are a lot of critics out there. I’ve already heard from family members and friends that think it was a ridiculous purchase. I can handle the truth and the truth is this: email, internet, the Bible, books, and whatever else I want for about .99 is sitting in my hand as I type this portion of theMangoTimes. Ridiculous? I think not! Anyhow, here’s my 10 second review: It’s not a laptop…it’s not a big iPhone. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. If you want to be on the front line of new technology and interacting with the world in a new way…get one…today. If not, go buy a PC and enjoy your experience with Windows. Meanwhile, I’ll be cruising the App Store…send me your suggestions.

That’s it for August! I hope to see you somewhere in Mangoland. Drop by or drop me a note! Remember to stay off the highways and the byways!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Posted on August 16th, 2010 by Fletch
Filed under: Fletch, Living in Mangoland | 3 Comments »

Ever have one of those times where you’ve been saying something…and then someone comes along and adds to the conversation or says it a little better? This is one of those times.

For a while now, I’ve been talking about life from within the “Reformed camp.” You see, after years of enjoying and feasting upon great God-centered doctrine, I’ve found myself stopping to take a look around. Face it, I don’t care where you fall within the greater camp of Christianity, from high-church, to contemporary, to charismatic, to traditional…every one has weaknesses. Likewise, the Reformed tradition has blind spots and sometimes it serves us well to push our pride aside and look at our warts. Whether it’s a disconnect from the marching orders given by Christ in the great commission or an arrogant snub to anything that might look or smell like contemporary Christian life (worship, discipleship, evangelism), I continue to reflect upon the tendency for the neo-Reformed folk to be an inward-focused and self-congratulatory bunch.

At the same time, if you are a friend of mine, you’ve heard me work through an idea that I’ve termed the “graduate church.” I am referring to the effort made by many within Reformed congregations to present the Christian faith at an elevated cerebral level. In other words, Christ is understood, discussed, practiced, debated and worshipped at the “head level.” What’s missing is that “heart level” understanding of Jesus Christ. Through our own personal reformations to deeper understanding of the faith (or as I’ve heard it said, “when I finally arrived at a right understanding of God”), we lose the ability to understand, discuss, debate, and worship Christ at the “heart level.” Long gone are discussions about a deep abiding love for Jesus and we dig our heels in as our worship even approaches anything emotional. Unfortunately, many new-comers to these congregations can get lost in translation, and these “graduate churches” are forced to grow not because of “new-believers,” but they add to their membership with “already-believers.”

Like I said at the beginning, this is one of those times when someone else has said it better…much better. I found the Bayly Brothers talking about “graduate church” too, but they’ll probably get away with it. I’ll just sit back and point my fingers over towards them and say “Yeah, what they said…” Click on their picture or FOLLOW THIS LINK to the Bayly Brothers blog and read what they have said about this topic…and then come back here and drop a comment if you want.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Posted on July 21st, 2010 by Fletch
Filed under: What I believe | 14 Comments »

Summer is underway here in Mangoland. The sound of peaches and ice being spun in a blender join with the voices of Jimmy Buffett, Jon Troast and Jack Johnson as we swing casually in our hammocks on the back porch.

“Father’s Day in the Capitola sand”

“Swinging on the porch at Bass Lake”

“Lifeguard Nate” in action at the Riverbank Pool

Last weekend we hosted another concert in our home. StoryvilleLive swooped into our house in the afternoon and converted our downstairs to a coffee house/concert stage. Three of Storyville’s representatives literally donned white gloves as they moved furniture and set-up about 60 chairs for the evening concert. They served coffee and desserts, greeted the guests and then put our house completely back together when they were through! Great job Storyville!

StoryvilleLive Van, Music + Coffee = Freedom

About 60 guests filled our downstairs

Pierce Pettis filled our house with his music

Quietly Making Noise,
Fletch

Posted on June 23rd, 2010 by Fletch
Filed under: Living in Mangoland | No Comments »

The back porch is again open for business!

Beginning at 4:00pm on Saturdays throughout the summer, we stop our family chores, fire up the grills, throw on swimsuits, and crank up the music on the porch as we celebrate the end of a long work week!

Here’s the deal. You and your family are welcome to join us, but remember we keep things very very low key. Basically, we are going to enjoy warm weather, good food, and cold drinks on the back porch as a family…if you would like to join us…that’s great!

Remember a few things for us: If you want to eat, bring food for your family. If your kids want to swim, bring suits and towels for them. The most important thing you need to bring is a desire to relax and kick back with us! As Jimmy Buffett would say all you need is a “License to Chill”

What about swimming?
Everyone is welcome in our pool. Boys, Girls, Dads, Moms…swim diapers on the non-potty trained and if your kids can’t swim, we need you to keep an eye on them! Other than that, just relax and have fun in the warm water!

What is this I hear about dancing? Do I need to know how?
Not at all. We may teach you a few moves, but dancing is not required, except for maybe the Hokey Pokey or the Limbo… Here’s how I look at it…if my mom gets up to dance, then you should be out on the dance floor with her!

Do you play anything other than Jimmy Buffett? I don’t think I want my kids learning his songs…
Yes, Kendra requires a 10:1 ratio of Buffett to non-Buffett music.

What’s this I hear about blender drinks?
Don’t believe everything you read in theMangoTimes…we do provide an orange cooler of ice water though…

What time do people typically leave?
In time to get up for church.
Often, there is a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning…

Can I bring someone with me?
Sure you can. If you are a friend of theMT, then so are your friends!

Hope you can join us!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Posted on June 12th, 2010 by Fletch
Filed under: Living in Mangoland, What I did this weekend | 1 Comment »

Well…it’s finally over.

For this LOST fan, I’m very disappointed to see such a great television show disappear (and this from a non-TV watcher). At the same time, I’m glad the producers decided to bring the story to an end before the show was cancelled or any of the major actors quit the series.

Not everyone liked the show. Some people were “lost” the whole time they watched it, while many others drew conclusions without ever watching an episode. Just living in my own house showed me there were people that didn’t understand the LOST phenomenon or the weekly addiction many shared, but I cannot think of another show in television history that connected great acting, great characters, beautiful scenery and consistently fantastic writing.

In the past few days, there’s been a lot of discussion about whether this show ended well and even more theories about what the show really meant. I read a twitter update during the series finale that said something like, “I never understood Trekkies until LOST.” As a self-professed “Lostie,” I’ve been asked several times what I thought about the show, so in true style I thought I would offer a top-ten.

Here’s my own list of Top Ten Reasons I Enjoyed Six Seasons of LOST:
ALERT: LOST spoilers and secrets are revealed!
10. It is a Survival Story - This series began with a bunch of people surviving a plane crash on a deserted island. What other comparison did I have but Gilligan’s Island? It took NO TIME for me to begin enjoying this show…only this time around there were not as many coconut creme pies.

9. Character Development – By the second episode, I realized this was not just another show. Methodically, the writers took the viewer through every characther’s “back story” and what led them to the island. You quickly began cheering and booing the characters based on who they were “off island” and who they had become “on island.” Over six years it became an emotional roller-coaster as characters travelled full circle from good to bad and back again and again.

8. Great Acting/Writing – LOST had a huge ensemble cast, extending to include international actors, screen actors, and stage actors. The writers mixed comedy, adventure, intrigue and drama brilliantly. Instead of a weekly show, LOST was really more of a six-year miniseries. Personal favorites: Terry O’Quinn, Michael Emerson, Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia, Elizabeth Mitchell, Daniel Dae Kim and the list goes on and on and on…and the writing was the best…hands down.

7. Hello? It was filmed in the Hawaiian Islands – Do I need any commentary here? From the beach to the jungle this series owned the cinematography.

6. Theme: Free Will/Destiny – Without giving away too many spoilers. One major theme from beginning to end was the constant tension between free will and destiny. Were the characters given choices in life or was it destiny to be on the island or even more were they “called” to be on the island. From the beginning, this theme was developed and massaged, so can you see why I liked it? The average viewer may have missed this in the first few seasons, but by the end it was as clear as black and white .

5. It is a Story of Redemption- I like stories that show characters needing, seeking and gaining redemption? LOST did not disappoint. Every major character in LOST lived some form of a tragedy that required redemption and each of them was given the opportunity to rectify the wrongs they had committed. Personal acts of contrition, confession, repentance were seen throughout the series, as well as forgiveness and healing, leading to true redemption for characters. Some characters turned the corner early in the series, while others took the full six seasons to develop and occur. I was blown away as the writers developed the most unworthy characters and showed that even they could be redeemed when an external source intervened in their lives.

4. Easter Eggs – One of my favorite parts were the fun “easter eggs” hidden throughout the series by the writers and producers for the viewer to find. Characters were named after famous theologians, philosophers, and scientists. Shows were developed around pieces of literature, musical scores, historical figures, scientific inventions, heroes of the faith, and characters of myth and legend. Sprinkled throughout the series were recurring literary, religious, and philosophical themes from Wonderland to Narnia to Eden to Hell to Purgatory to Nirvana. It was impossible for me to watch LOST without diving into research behind every cultural reference “hidden” in that week’s episode. Again, the writers/producers did not just write a show and develop characters…they allowed their own reading, religion and philosophy to work through the series.

3. Good vs. Evil – As the series came to an end, I rewatched the pilot episode. It was evident from the first 30 minutes that the writers were laying the groundwork for a story of good pitted against evil (or as it is introduced, dark vs. light) from the very beginning. The writers develop this theme each year through movie references (Star Wars), game playing (backgammon), biblical themes (Jacob/Esau), and even simple colors (black/white).

2. Time Travel – I love the idea of time travel. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with storylines that deal with this theme. Sure, it has been fun to think about going backward and forward in time (“Strange things are afoot at the Circle K!”). LOST takes it a step further. Can you travel backwards and change the outcome of your life? Can you create an alternate plan? I already mentioned that they did a brilliant job with character “back stories” (in a sense, they used this technique to show what happened pre-island/in the past). They also appeared to show the audience what happened post-island or what they called a “side-story,” which looked like a parallel time-line (not too much to comment here, because this is a major portion of the final season). Not to dissuade anyone who might think this show is just plain hokey, they incorporated time-travel brilliantly (taking into account the science, the myths, and all of the potential effects). Personal favorite: what if you could travel through time and see yourself in the past?

1. It’s Not What You Think – Finally, this is why I loved LOST. It is about a plane crash, but it’s not about a plane crash. It is a random group of people on an island, but it’s not a random group of people. Sure, there are polar bears, there is a smoke monster, and there is a lot of mystery, but everything has a reason. If you can’t handle the impossible, than LOST is not for you. It is more than really handsome/beautiful actors in a tropical location. Each episode of LOST is another piece in a giant game. You need all the pieces to put the story together. Unlike any other show, LOST never disappoints (well except for Nicki and Paulo and an episode of Jack in Thailand). For those that tuned in late expecting to see a show about people getting “off an island” they were probably confused and disappointed. Like Narnia is more than a story about school kids walking through a wardrobe, LOST is way more than what it looks like on the surface. It never failed to confuse or surprise the viewer, with each season pulling a different layer back on the bigger story!

But…
“But Fletch, LOST was uber-popular and at the center of our already television saturated culture. How could you be so positive? As a Christian, didn’t it conflict with your beliefs? I heard it was an “all paths lead to God” show…Why did you let your kids watch it? You are such a sell-out, You are a joiner!…”
Well, there are plenty more questions and conversations to be had about the television show LOST. Maybe I’ll talk about them and maybe I won’t. For those interested, I already addressed some of these questions in this post I wrote about popular culture. I understand that I respond to culture differently than most. Sorry to disappoint.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Posted on June 3rd, 2010 by Fletch
Filed under: theMT Recommendations | 8 Comments »