Category Archives: Friends

Scholarship support for Areej

Cutting to the chase:
Areej Murad, a Palestinian Christian seeks scholarship support for her studies. I gave. You can too.

What Areej wants to do:
Areej is applying to pursue an MBA in Social Impact at Eastern University, Pennsylvania. It’s a 2-year program starting in September, 2019 and ending in 2021. The program will be by correspondence, which means she will maintain her position at Bethlehem Bible College while she studies to be able to support my education.

Areej’s plans:
Areej is called to work in community development in a professional way. Her studies will allow her to fill in the gaps between a heart called to serve, and the professional knowledge needed to do so. Her vision focuses on serving Palestinian Christians, in part to seek ways to prevent Christians from leaving the Holy Land. High numbers of Palestinian Christians are leaving the Holy Land due to the lack of economic growth and limited job opportunities. God glorifying entrepreneurship is her calling. Through this MBA program her purpose is to be an active member of the holy body of Christ and to empower other Christians to be and do the same.

Why I gave:
Areej and I served on a panel in Wooster, Ohio a few years ago. She impressed me with her deep faith, her commitment to the Palestinian people and to justice for Palestinians and Israelis, her intelligence, imagination, and love. Areej has already made a difference through her work with Bethlehem Bible College. She has the capacity to do more. It is an honor to support her. It would be your honor too.

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Filed under Current Events, Friends

Pride March 2019

Photos and videos of the New York City Pride March shared by family members and friends have touched and blessed me. Next year I will take vacation so I can participate.

My son posted a photo of a hate group with hate signs. He noted that they represent one reason why Pride remains needed. I offered ten points in response to him and to any one who was touched by hate because of their sexual orientation or gender identity today or any day.

  1. You are right. Pride is a necessary response to such hate.
  2. I am sorry you are right. I am sorry such thinking still exists. We are working to change it.
  3. We have work to do. I have work to do.
  4. These people are wrong.
  5. These people are [fill in your favorite colorful metaphor here].
  6. On the off chance that these people are … wait … see number 4.
  7. Love is stronger than hate and fear and anything else in all creation.
  8. Love is even stronger than stupidity.
  9. Each person is precious, beloved, beautiful. Just as the person is.
  10. I love you.

Happy Pride, son. Happy Pride, friends. Happy Pride, All.

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Filed under Current Events, Family, Friends, Human Rights

22 June 2019

Treadmill. Elliptical (5 minutes but hey it has been a while).
Blink. At the same time as Nicole Kung.
Summer Days – Bob  Dylan
Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & The Family Stone
Here Comes the Sun – Richie Havens
Circle of Light – Walela
My Generation – The Who
Haloa Olohega – Te Vaka
Honky Tonk Woman – The Pogues
Heaven & Earth – Kelly Rowland
The Kilfenora Set – The Chieftains
I Want You – Marvin Gaye
Plastic Fantastic Lover – Jefferson Airplane
The Weight – The Band
Boudreaux – BeauSoleil
The Mess We’re In – Los Lobos
Stand By Me – The Blind Boys of Alabama
Give Me a Kiss – Jasmine Chen
Now Let Me Fly – Kim & Reggie Harris

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Filed under Exercise, Friends, Music, New York, playlist

10 June 2019

Treadmill. Strength work with NK Body Philosophy. Stretching. Gym at the Shire.
Tsegi – Paul Horn & R. Carlos Nakai
Come and Get It – Badfinger
Heart of a Hero – Shelley Morningsong
My Man’s Gone Now – Nina Simone
This Wheel’s on Fire – The Band
Workin’ at the Carwash Blues – Jim Croce
Thunderman – Jack Gladstone
Crossroads – Eileen Ivers
Galleguita/Tutankhamen – The Chieftains
Eronol – Thelonius Monk
Ancient Evenings & Distant Music, Toccata, Jack Gallagher – Solaris
Pockiez – Awkwafina
Elsewhere – Sarah McLachlan
Slow – Kahi
The House I Live In – Paul Robeson
Endless Wire – Gordon Lightfoot
Welcome to the Terrordome – Public Enemy
Harry’s Game – Clannad

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Filed under Exercise, Friends, Music, playlist

7 June 2019

Treadmill. Stretching. Gym at the Shire. At the same time as Desi Aldorando.
Solitude – Billie Holliday
Ball and Chain – Van Morrison
Rose in My Garden – Karla Bonoff
Don’t Feel Your Touch – Bruce Cockburn
The North Strand – Once Cast
Refugee – Eric Bogle
Bang Bang Bang – Tracy Chapman
Goodbye – Sam Ock
Jonas & Ezekiel – Indigo Girls
Canticle of the Turning – Princeton Seminary Choir
Follow – Richie Havens
Never Be the Same – Camila Cabello
Good Morning – Lenny Kravitz
Whitey on the Moon – Gil Scott-Heron
Jesus Is My Only Friend – Fannie Lou Hamer

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Filed under Exercise, Friends, Music, New York, playlist

Purple flowers, guest collection #93

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26 May, 2019
Whitestone, New York
photo by Beth Handler

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Filed under Friends, New York, Photo

Purple flowers, guest collection #92

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26 May, 2019
Whitestone, New York
photo by Beth Handler

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Filed under Friends, New York, Photo

Purple flowers, guest collection #91

IMG-5181

26 May, 2019
Whitestone, New York
photo by Beth Handler

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Filed under Friends, New York, Photo

Purple flowers, guest collection #90

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26 May, 2019
Whitestone, New York
photo by Beth Handler

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Filed under Friends, New York, Photo

Purple flowers, guest collection #89

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26 May, 2019
Whitestone, New York
photo by Beth Handler

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Filed under Friends, New York, Photo