August, 22 2008 by Alburn.

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for letting this blog go a little bit. It should now look fine in firefox again!

Anyways, there’s been a few months since the last real postings. Has anything happened at the Hollywood Church since that time? I think so. If you’re a new or old member of the church and would like to tell about what’s going on there send me an email richardab at gmail dot com.

Thanks you all for your support!

Posted in website, Process, Blogroll | 1 Comment »

June, 1 2008 by Alburn.

Does the home page of the blog look messed up to you?

Please leave comments, I’m trying to figure out if it is a specific computer problem or more widespread. I think it looks fine in Safari. Any other browser users please chime in in the comments. And if anyone is seeing what the problem is, please let me know.

Posted in website, Process | 4 Comments »

May, 6 2008 by Mireya.

You are either very brave or just plain crazy. What possessed you to come to Hollywood anyway? What was your journey like that brought you here? And how did you distinguish God’s calling for you? So you are here and now what? How? Why? Why now? Why the people that you are now meeting? Is there something significant about all these questions?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Discipleship, Urban Missionaries, Leadership, Community, Fellowship, Process, LA Voice, Peace & Justice Committee, Church | 2 Comments »

April, 18 2008 by Mireya.

What an exciting journey it has been. Some have heard me say it often… I’m SO EXCITED to experience how I feel God is leading and teaching me to engage in the ministry of love - the work of restoration He is already doing in the world. Several members from the Hollywood Seventh-day Adventist Church and I have been involved in learning to live like Jesus in a way that is very different than either of us has experienced before (I think I can say that). What does that look like in our city and in our time? I’m still trying to figure that out. In the mean time I continue to participate in my city and community and step out in faith! LA Voice afforded me the opportunity to participate in my city in a different way. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Discipleship, Urban Missionaries, Leadership, Community, Peace & Justice Committee, Process, LA Voice, Church | 1 Comment »

April, 8 2008 by Alburn.

I’ve heard of a few frustrated posters, so I’m hoping to help you out. Up above is a link to a new page with some tips on getting your blog posts to look like how you want them to look. Check it out, and if you have any questions drop me a comment.

Posted in website, Process, Church | 1 Comment »

February, 19 2008 by Valerie Hichez.

Alas, our long weekend together is over. None of us were certain about what to expect, yet the whole experience was enlightening. Last Friday, February 15^th, through Sunday evening, February 17^th, the Peace & Justice Committee of the Hollywood Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted the workshop, “Managing Our Conflicts Before a Watching World,” taught by The Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University School of Law. Tim Pownall, the Associate Director of The Straus Institute, taught the workshop. Mr. Pownall is an alumnus of Pepperdine, and has traveled the world, mediating high-level disputes and facilitating negotiations in very challenging circumstances.

About twenty-two people attended the workshop, including Church members and non-Church members. Mr. Pownall taught us some valuable tools, beginning with recognizing how we initially approach conflict. Once we understood our own tendencies in the face of conflict, we were then challenged to think outside of that box and how we might develop ourselves to think in a way that is more skillful in conflict resolution. We all gained varying insights to our strengths and weaknesses. Mr. Pownall taught us the importance of cooperation in negotiation; he emphasized the need to be aware of our concentration on the ‘self’—winning as much as ‘I’ can in life, or doing the best for ‘me.’ He noted, however, that this competitive nature is sometimes vital to one’s own well-being and survival in the world and healthy negotiation. Whether a competitive or more cooperative tactic is needed in a given situation, depends on the very nature of a situation. Always playing a comptetitive card can ultimately be destructive to oneself and society, for it primarily concentrates on the preservation of self over greater society. And if we solely preserve our own welfare, where does that leave the rest of the society—how does that affect ‘community,’ and even more so, how can that ultimately destroy ‘community?’ On the flip side, always playing the cooperative card can be equally as detrimental, for it leaves little, if no, room for negotiation, and can enable the other side to take advantage of a situation, and perhaps not allow for the best possible outcome. The reality is, many negotiations call for a balance of both the competitive and cooperative cards. And this is also where love comes into the picture. I think all people, no matter if they are faith-based or not, are called into a necessary relationship with one another, that should be based on mutual respect and love for their neighbor. If we can always remember this, then no matter what conflict scenarios we find ourselves in, we have a powerful empathetic perspective that can only help us to understand the other’s perspective. But this does not mean we must become subservient or passive. Mr. Pownall impressed upon us that it is necessary to be wise and sharply discerning in the face of conflict, and sometimes this is challening for those who always want to cooperate. The whole process of resolving conflict and engaging in fruitful negotiation, in general, involves a delicate balance of respect coupled with informed awareness to make an educated and just decision, holding everything in solution. So, to be ultimately effective, we must be able to be both competitive and/or cooperative when the situation calls for it. This is not easy, of course, but can be learned over time. And what better way to keep perfecting oneself than to keep learning by way of approaching conflict with an aim to learn, not to run away, not to give in to every demand, nor to take up an automatically defensive stance.

If humanity is to successfully progress, we must constantly evaluate our decisions and actions in life, continuously noting our motivations for our actions, and whether or not our decisions are going to help or hurt the greater majority of those with whom we share community. This is very important, because even though we think we may be ‘getting ahead’ in life by making a decision that is better for ourselves in the immediate future, ultimately we may be increasing the divide between ourselves and the ‘other’—our world neighbors and those we are called into some type of relationship with on a daily basis.

The workshop included simulation exercises, as different conflict scenarios were presented to us. The conflict-resolution skills that we learned are applicable to a variety of situations in life. While it was a crash course for many of us who attended the workshop, I believe that we all came away with some very valuable information. I look forward to my next negotiation to use these newly acquired skills! I have realized that every opportunity I am presented with in life that involves conflict is an opportunity to push myself into a slightly uncomfortable position, but with the end goal of building a bridge over the divide that can separate myself from others. Thank you to all who attended and stay posted for more upcoming Peace & Justice Committee events!–Valerie Hichez, Peace & Justice Committee

Photos by Leslie Foster

Posted in Picture, Peace & Justice Committee, Process, Church | 2 Comments »

October, 12 2007 by Alburn.

This past Sunday Lucy, Mireya and I had the pleasure of attending a workshop on
“Sabbath Economics.”

“Sabbath Economics?” You say. No, this wasn’t a workshop on what
circumstances Sabbath-keepers are allowed to spend money on Saturdays. The
workshop focused on how a conscience Christian can invest their money in ways
that help their neighbors. Chad Meyers, the presenter, used an analogy of two
banks:

The first bank is the traditional bank that we’re all familiar with. In
this bank you take your “beans” and deposit them. The bank takes your
beans and turns them into a commodity to be traded in the open market.
They might trade your beans for other beans, for oil, for coffee, anything they
want so long as it results in the maximum profit for them and interest for you.

The second bank takes your beans and gives them to the other farmers in your
community to plant with. When the farmers produce their own beans they
give back to the bank along with a little interest. This bank is more
interested in the community well being rather than getting you the most
percentage back on interest.

These analogies are, of course, very simplistic. The three of us who
attended the workshop also received 2 books about the topic and we’ll be reading
them and incorporating the best parts into the tithe appeals and hopefully other
financial workshops throughout the coming year.

Now, a long list of links that would helpful to anyone considering socially
conscientious investing.

Bartimaeus Coopertive, Chad’s ministry
bcm-net.org

UFE raises awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy,
corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide, and tear communities apart.
www.faireconomy.org

More info on Sabbath Economics
www.sabbatheconomics.org

More info on Socially Responsible Investing
sristudies.org

Inter-faith Center on Corporate Responsibility
www.iccr.org

Oiko Credit provides micro-financing to third world entrepreneurs.
www.oikocredit.org

More info on community investing
communityinvest.org

More info on community investing
opportunityfinance.net

More info on socially responsible finances
socialfunds.com

Fair-trade coffee, tea, chocolate
equalexchange.com

A socially responsible faith based bank in Chicago.
sbk.com
Socially responsible investing
calvert.com

Posted in Tithe & Finances, Peace & Justice Committee, Process, Church | 1 Comment »

September, 30 2007 by Kelsy.

This past Sabbath, we had a meeting about the upcoming video series “We Are Hollywood.”

Here is what was discussed:

1) We Are Hollywood video project and the short and long term goals.

The video series has three parts: 1) The people that make up Hollywood SDA; 2) Their individual neighborhoods and communities; 3) The church’s neighborhood/community. Each video, once edited, will run around three minutes and be shown during the church service. It’s our plan to eventually integrate all the interviews into a feature length DVD. But that idea was an afterthought for us. Our real goal is a way we all can get to better know the people that make up this church family!

Short Term Goals:
Internet video of individual interviews
In church viewing of individual interviews
Bringing members together to share in common goal
Getting to know other members and the Hollywood community

Long Term Goals:
Feature length (30 to 90 minutes) documentary on the Hollywood Church and it’s community
Members knowing each other and their community
Continued historical record of the Hollywood Church and it’s community
Monetizing DVD sales to keep the Media Ministry in up to date technology and equipment

2) Who can be interviewed? Individuals, couples, families.

3) What kind of questions will be asked? Questions you would ask a person (in the church) you were getting to know.
“Where are you originally from?”
“What do you do for a living?”
“How did you start attending Hollywood SDA?”
“What’s you favorite thing to do in your free time?”
More personal questions:
“How did you come to know the Lord?”
“Is there an event in your life that shaped the person you are today?”

4) Filming days and times.
We plan on conducting up to five interviews a day over a month period here at the church. We want to do this on Sabbath after the morning service. Food will be provided while you’re waiting for your turn to be interviewed. The first filming date is yet to be determined.

5) If you’re interested in helping out with the production side of things, we’re specifically in need of musicians that would be willing to let us use their music in the videos and/or want to write new music; graphic designers and animators to elevate the videos’ production quality; and a web designer for wearehollywood.org.
We also need an interviewer (doesn’t have to be just one, they can alternate days) and people to help with lighting and sound. We could also use volunteers to provide food on the filming days. So as you can see, we have lots of spots that can be filled if someone’s looking to get a little more involved.

6) What we need most of all, though, are interviewees. We plan on asking people directly but thought we’d give everyone a chance to sign up voluntarily first.  Email either Alburn (richardab@gmail.com) or myself (Kelsyjoy@gmail.com) and let us know whether you’re willing to be interviewed or want to help out with production.

7) Lastly, the church board has funded a media ministry, but we need people to make up the team. So, if you’re interested in being a part of the media ministry,  email us and we’ll be in touch to set up a day that the media team can meet for their first meeting! If you also want to put in your email the best day for you to have such meeting, that’d be helpful too!

Posted in Media Ministry, Video Series, Process | 4 Comments »

September, 29 2007 by Alburn.

Graffiti Party, originally uploaded by alburn.binkley.

What better way to spend a Sabbath afternoon than going to a graffiti party to see the work of our prospective mural painter. Our Missional Action Team has taken up the Hollywood Crossroads Mural project as our experiment.Today we also debuted the plasma screens at the church and had a meeting afterwards to discuss participation in the WeAreHollywood project. Look for more blog posters soon as we continue to invite members to join us.

Posted in Picture, Crossroads, Process, Church | 2 Comments »

September, 28 2007 by Alburn.

Hello Everyone, and welcome.

“We Are Hollywood” started out as my girlfriend, Kelsy, and I talking about our church and how we really wish we knew more about our brothers and sisters there. Since both of us have a background in film making we decided a documentary style approach would be both fun and informative. When we learned that the church board decided to start a Media Ministry, the final pieces had fallen into place. We both see a lot of growth happening at Hollywood, and like that growth we plan on this process taking place in small baby steps.

Our first meeting will be briefly after church this Sabbath, September 29th. I’m looking forward to adding more and more people to this blog to talk about the process and the feelings of the members of the Hollywood Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Posted in Process, Church | No Comments »