Islamic Center of San Diego

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 31, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 1 comment

“People keep saying that Muslims are not voicing their opinion by condemning terrorism. This is because Fox News is not coming here to ask us our opinions,” said Usman Khan, a volunteer and congregant at the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD). “Ask anyone here what they understand Islam to be, and they will condemn terrorism.”

Khan often speaks at local colleges and high schools about Islam. “We want to represent the peaceful faith. Yes, there are bad Muslims, but you can’t fault Islam for that. There are bad Christians and bad Jews. Do we fault Christianity with Hitler, who used the Bible to justify his actions? Do we blame Christians because of the KKK? Do people hold the Jews accountable because of Baruch Goldstein?” (In 1994, Goldstein killed 29 Arab worshippers and injured 100 in the Cave of the Patriarchs, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews.) Khan said that 1.2 billion Muslims should not be blamed for the action of a few extremists.

Part of the problem, stated Khan, is that the media indicts Muslims. “I listen to local talk radio, such as Roger Hedgecock and Rick Roberts. They misquote Islam and spread false ideas about what we believe. I have tried to call them, but they either hang up on me or leave me on hold,” said Khan. “Muslims get blamed more than any other group. After the Oklahoma bombing, people instantly accused Islamic terrorists. But there is no such thing as Islamic terrorism.” Khan said the terrorists are motivated over political issues. “The problems in the Middle East that cause terrorism are because the people are oppressed by dictators and past western colonization. It is a political issue. There is nothing Islamic about terrorism. We don’t call the IRA bombings Catholic terrorism.” Khan said that the beliefs of Islam are not compatible with terrorism.

Full Article: Islamic Center of San Diego

Church Website Content Management Systems

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 29, 2005 in Church, Church Technology, Ekklesia | 6 comments

A team of us are beginning to build an affordable Church based content management sytem. What are important features that a church system wouldt need? (We’re going to call it, Ekklesia Systems. )

Overview:
1. Built based on Web Standards
2. Powered by a Flexible Open Source Structure – Upgrade path.
-Separation of Content and Web Features (modify navigation and website tools without disrupting content.)
-Separation of Content and Presentation (maintain consistency in design for all new content created with style-based content authoring.)
3. Integrates powerful Technologies – (mp3, podcasting, rss)
4. Easy to Use Administration
5. Great Design

Features:

San Diego Premarriage Counseling

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 28, 2005 in Church, Teaching | 2 comments

Ok, we’re two weeks from leading a group of couples through premarriage counseling here in San Diego. Let me know if you have any books you highly recommend. Here are three more I’m picking up:

1. Strengthening Your Marriage (Paperback) by Wayne A. Mack
2. Rocking the Roles: Building a Win-Win Marriage (Paperback) by Robert Lewis, William Hendricks
3. Your Family, God’s Way: Developing and Sustaining Relationships in the Home (Paperback) by Wayne A. MacK

Billy Corgan: The Future Embrace

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 28, 2005 in Church, Culture | 0 comments

This past year has been a busy and creative period for the former front man of the bands Smashing Pumkins and Zwan. After releasing his first book of poetry, “Blinking with Fists,” an ongoing extremely personal online autobiography on MySpace, Billy Corgan has just unleashed his first solo record: The Future Embrace.

Although not much of a departure from later Pumpkin albums, the Future Embrace relies more on synth textures and quiet reflective melodies than on the distorted guitar driven Goth-pop Corgan is famous for. If you haven‚Äôt liked his past bands, it is highly unlikely that you will embrace (pun intended) this album. He still has the same nasally voice and clich?©d lyrics that have driven many listeners away. What has changed over the past few years is a burgeoning spirituality in Billy‚Äôs life and lyrics that reflect faith, hope and love. Although I won‚Äôt presume he is a Christian, because he has not outright confessed to be one – in recent interviews, online posts, and lyrical content, he seems to imply it.

Full Article: Billy Corgan: The Future Embrace
(Author Brian Thomas)

Americans In Search of the Spiritual

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 25, 2005 in Culture | 0 comments

Good article, In Search of the Spiritual – Move over, politics. Americans are looking for personal, ecstatic experiences of God, and, according to our poll, they don’t much care what the neighbors are doing. Newsweek

Mark Driscoll mp3 where he ” really lays out where Acts 29 stands theologically and missionally.”

(thanks KaleoBill for the heads up on these two)