Thailand

by eric swanson on February 3, 2010

Liz and I just got back from a week with Andy and Natalie, Jenda and Blaise at Patong Beach in Phuket. Andy and Natalie had a conference near Thailand so it was a natural way to meet up and get some time with the kids and grandkids. And Thailand has such great food–everything is good. We’re so grateful for the time we had together.

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Can an Artist Change a Nation?

by eric swanson on January 3, 2010

WedgwoodThe recognized “father of English pottery” is Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795).[i] Wedgwood’s practical and innovative work graced the tables of English and Russian royalty and his glazing techniques revolutionized his industry. His work is on display in some of the greatest museums of the world and his company has been thriving for over 200 years. But apart from being a successful craftsman and businessman Wedgwood used his craft to speak out against the slave trade. In 1787 Wedgwood joined the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. He also “designed the Society’s seal which showed a black slave in chains, kneeling, his hands lifted up to heaven. The motto read: ‘Am I Not a Man and a Brother?’[ii] Wedgwood reproduced the design in a cameo and donated hundreds of these to the Society for distribution. The upper-class ladies of England had them fashioned into broaches, hairpins and necklaces and this “fashion statement” was instrumental in piercing the conscience and shaping a critical mass of opinion that helped lead to the abolition of the slave trade in England. 


[i] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Wedgwood (accessed December 4, 2009).

[ii] http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/REwedgwood.htm (accessed December 8, 2008)

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Can a Soap Opera Change a Nation?

January 3, 2010

Can a soap opera change a nation? During the 2007 elections in Kenya, tribal protests over exteme poverty and corruption left almost 1,500 dead and 300,000 people displaced. Political leaders use tribal factions to their advantage in pitting one tribe against another. But there are those from the media domain that think that their success [...]

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Can Sports Transform a Country?

January 3, 2010

Before Christmas Liz and I went to see the movie Invictus, starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. It’s a story that is so good that it is hard to believe that it actually happened–in post-Aparteid South Africa. When Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in Prison, he was the first President elected in the [...]

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New Year’s Resolutions v. New Year’s Goals

January 3, 2010

A few years ago I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions and instead started setting New Year’s Goals. In a Fast Company article (Feb 2008) Dan and Chip Heath make the distinction. Resolutions feel good when you make them. The good feeling comes in the declaration. It’s probably the feeling of a fresh start. Goal (time-bound, [...]

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Need a Christmas Eve Message?

December 21, 2009

Last year I posted this. If you are a pastor looking for message, check this out:
I think sometimes pastors overly burden themselves to come up with fresh ways to tell the Christmas story. Here’s what I’d like to suggest to all pastors. Develop one dy-no-mite, killer message for Christmas Eve and preach it every year. [...]

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Marketplace in Tianjin

December 21, 2009

China has great markets–the best looking fruits and vegetables–of course why wouldn’t they be? They are kept warm under quilts to keep from freezing–It was like shopping in a meat locker–not not a meat locker…a walk-in freezer. The huevos were so cold, they turned blue!

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Jenda’s Birthday in Tianjin

December 21, 2009

While we were in Tianjin we also celebrated Jenda’s third birthday. Her big present was a very cool wooden oven along w/ wooden baked items that were pieced together with magnets. The funny part was the Leno-esque label and warning on the box–worth reading

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Christmas in Tianjin

December 21, 2009

While we were in China we celebrated an early Christmas. Liz made Swedish Kringla from a family recipe and Andy and I made Swedish Potato Sausage (I brought the stuffer and spices from the states). We Skyped in Mom and Dad. We were communicating like the Jetsons

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Reflections on Beijing

December 21, 2009

Liz and I just returned from ten great days in Beijing. Such a wonderful time. I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

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