September 9, 2010

Emerging Church Goes Forward by Looking Back

At the beginning of the emerging church conversation, it wasn’t a fully formed movement. There weren’t the emerging books, blogs, white papers, and open letters that there are today. There were, however several dynamic, intelligent, and motivated leaders who were tired of the discrepancy they saw between popular worldview (postmodernism) and the theologies and methodologies of the (decidedly Modern) evangelical church.

Some of these disgruntled leaders looked to the past, the distant past, in search for answers. Many joined the “Ancient/Future Faith” movement in which leaders tried to get back to early church philosophy and practices. Some adopted (and adapted) old rituals such as prayer labyrinths and contemplation. Others reverted to high church practices (confession, communion, living in community) in an effort to rediscover the meaning in those traditions that may have been lost over time. New monasticism was born. Religious art and symbolism were integrated into worship, which, of course, was done by candlelight.

Looking back to go forward continues to be a common thread among “emerging” churches. The rise in popularity of what was considered archaic- Reformation theology, Biblical scholarship, exegetical preaching, elder-rule, and complementarianism - are arguably the most common examples of finding the future in the past. While leaders practicing this “vintage faith” may resist the label, they are “emerging” in that churches like this didn’t exist twenty years ago.

Rampant modernism had rid evangelical churches or all but the most effective and efficient methodologies. The integration of the old into the formation of the new is, in fact, a process of emerging. Practices such as paying pastors, owning buildings, and doing “whatever works” to get people to come to church are being challenged by this emerging contingent of the church.

Though the quest of the retro/postmodern church is not simply to “get in touch with its roots,” there is something to be said for the sense of identity that can be found in long-lasting traditions. Contextualizing forgotten practices reminds the church that they have a heritage of affected people who have walked with God.

What is emerging from this process is a church that looks much like the early church found in Acts. It might not sound all that progressive, but history will show this to be the cycle- the church thrives under marginalization, withers under freedom and popular acceptance, and then, through the obedient efforts of a generation of leaders, emerges again to relevance and subversive influence. The emerging church isn’t new at all- it’s a shoot of that which was founded by Christ Himself.

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September 8, 2010

Hunting And The Suburbs

All of us are aware that the suburbs are growing while the central cores of most of our larger cities are dying. This growth of the suburbs means that land that was formerly available for wildlife and/or farming has disappeared at an alarming rate. We see the results of this growth all the time when people report bears, mountain lions, or coyotes in their yards. Another result of this growth has been increasing conflict between suburban residents and hunters in the town of Sherwood, Oregon. Sherwood is about 25 miles from downtown Portland, Oregon. It used to be a farming town, but now it’s a bedroom suburb of Portland.

At the heart of the current conflict are city residents who live on the fringes of Sherwood and are saying that during duck hunting season (October through January) they hear shotgun blasts and find empty shells in their backyards. These urban residents are upset and want the duck hunting to stop. The farmer that owns the land that is being hunted on says that his family has been hunting on the land for generations and nobody is going to stop him.

To be fair, if people really are finding empty shotgun shells in their backyards, that is not right. If what the residents are saying is true, then hunters are litterbugs and are shooting at ducks from people’s yards. Neither of which is too likely. What is probably happening is that the residents are trying to protect their families, so they are willing to say anything. If people’s kids are outside and they her gunfire, they will probably say that their kids almost got shot.

Residents of Sherwood are looking to the state of Oregon and the county for help. The State of Oregon has been a pioneer when it comes to land use planning. Every municipality in the state has its own urban growth boundary. All building must take place within this boundary.

The residents who are complaining have the boundary line running next to their yards. The area where the duck hunting is taking place is just outside of the city limits, so it is outside of this growth line, in the country. County commissioners are frustrated by an Oregon law that mentions “hunting and fishing preserves”. Unfortunately, when the lawmakers passed the hunting regulations, they forgot to mention what exactly makes up one of these “preserves”. This leaves the commissioners unable to step in on the resident’s behalf, when the state is so vague.

. As is often the case in a conflict such as this, it sounds like both sides may be exaggerating. Residents say that the farmer is running a hunting club. This would be illegal since the farmer doesn’t have a business license. The farmer says that residents knew that duck hunting was taking place in the field when they bought their houses.

The curious thing is; for some reason, the farmer sold the land to the developer to start all this. Did he forget to tell the developer about the duck hunting? Are the city dwellers being extra protective of their children?

It is important not to forget that as hunters we have to be careful when hunting close to developed areas. This means not taking some shots, but remember, people will freak out if buckshot falls within 200yds of their kids.

The bottom line is that both sides are right and both sides are wrong, so it sounds like a compromise is in order. The conflict in Oregon is surely being played out in many other states, especially those with lax planning laws that allow suburbs to gobble up all the land they want. One of the county commissioners in Oregon summed up the situation in Sherwood best when he said,” people need to be tolerant of other people’s activities”.

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September 7, 2010

Grout Cleaning

The material used to fill joints between the tiles is called grout. There are three different basic types of grout - epoxy resin, furan resin and Portland cement grout. The most popular and used one is the Portland cement grout which consists of water -retentive additive, Portland cement, fillers and colored pigments. All types of grout can be found in sanded or non -sanded forms.

Tile grouts get dirty for many reasons, especially in kitchens, corridors and bathrooms since they are exposed to water, food etc. Grout should be kept clean which means you have to clean it regularly. Grout cleaning can be done with products specially designed for that purpose such as cleaning solutions or by using some household items.

You can clean tile grout by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water, spraying it on the grout and then scrubbing it with a stiff brush (metal brushes should be avoided since they wear away the grout). Then rinse the grout and dry it. Another way is to make a paste of water and baking soda, apply it on the grout, scrub with a brush and then rinse it well and dry it. There are different stiff scrub brushes and special grout brushes available in the stores. You can use a toothbrush as well. One more way is to mix one cup of water with half a cup of hydrogen peroxide (a bottle costs less than a dollar!) and spray it on the grout. This solution is not to be rinsed. All these above mentioned methods are very cheap and they clean effectively. If these simple solutions cannot clean completely the grout, you should use something stronger. Non-toxic oxygen bleach, for example. It is color safe and the only thing you need is to mix it with water (equal parts) and apply it on the grout. Leave it for 5-10 minutes, then scrub it, rinse it well and dry it. If this method also doesn’t work, you should try the commercial grout cleaners. You should never forget that while using cleaning products you should wear goggles, gloves and mask for protection and keep the room well ventilated. The safety information on the bottles should be read very carefully as well and the instructions should be followed.

There are a lot of products today designed to clean dirt, stains, rust such as mold treatment products, rust removers, grout and tile cleaners etc. Some of them are organic, some are chemicals. Bear in mind that the prices for these products vary from about $6 to about $200 (per 5 gallon pail). That means it is better to calculate whether it is better to buy such a product or to call professionals in order to clean your grout. The professionals use very powerful professional machines such as vapor/steam grout cleaning machines as well. The cheapest way to clean your grout is by using natural products i.e. home made grout cleaners. But in case you have old and stubborn stains and dirt, better call a professional. That will save you a lot of money, effort and time.

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September 3, 2010

How to Get Videos on Your Sony PSP

1. Get a Memory Stick for your PSP:

Before you can load any data onto your Sony PSP, you must have a memory stick to store the files onto. The PSP comes with a tiny 32MB card that is only big enough to store a relatively small amount of files. If you paln on watching video clips and installing lots of games on your PSP, you will need to purchase a larger Memory Stick Pro Duo card. These cards come in several different sizes. Exact sizes vary depending on compression rates and quality, but on average, you will need about 5MB for every 1 minute of video. Before you can use a brand new Memory Stick with your PSP, you need to reformat it. If you don’t know how to do this, here’s a quick tutorial on how to format a PSP Memory Stick.

2. Format your Memory Stick on your PSP:

Before you can use a brand new Memory Stick with your PSP, you need to reformat it. If you don’t know how to do this, here’s a quick tutorial on how to format a PSP Memory Stick.

3. Download this test video clip and thumbnail to your computer:

Right + Click (PC, Mac) or Option + Click (Mac) to save each of these two files to your Desktop.

Joe Vs. Wade (ZIP file, 32MB)

4. Connect the PSP to your computer:

If you haven’t already, you need to connect the PSP to your computer with the USB cable that it came with and put the PSP into USB mode. Press the HOME button located on the bottom left of your PSP and then scroll left to the SETTINGS column. Scroll down to USB CONNECTION and press X. The Memory Stick inside your PSP will now mount on your computer.

5. Copy the video onto your PSP:

In order to playback video files on your PSP, you must copy them into the proper folder. The correct file path is MP_ROOT > 100MNV01. If you place video files anywhere else on the Memory Stick, they will not playback properly. If the MP_ROOT and 100MNV01 folders don’t already exist on your PSP’s Memory Stick, then you need to make two new folders and name them in ALL CAPS. Just a reminder, the 100MNV01 folder goes inside the MP_ROOT folder. The PSP requires video (M4V) and thumbnail (THM) files must be named starting with M4V and ending with five random numbers ie. M4V12345.

The following two diagrams should help explain where the video files need to go:

MEMSTICK.IND

MP-ROOT

MSTK_PRO.IND

PSP

100MNV01

(videos)

6. Watch the video on your PSP:

Once the video file has finished coping onto your Memory Stick, you can disconnect the PSP from your computer. Scroll over to the VIDEO column on your Sony PSP and you should now see the video file. Press X to watch it. Enjoy!

Continued news and guides for the PlayStation Portable

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September 2, 2010

Portland Refinance - How to Take Advantage of the Equity in Your Home

Many people today are looking for a Portland refinance. Typically they want to get a lower interest rate, pull cash out of their home equity or sometimes do both. Make sure that the lender that you deal with will explain the benefits and costs of refinancing, and will spend time talking to you about your situation and what you want to get out of your refinance.

If you have built up equity in your Portland home and need extra cash for home improvements, college tuition, living expenses, to pay off some high-interest credit card debt, or to buy a second home with the real estate prices low, why not put it to good use with a cash-out equity loan? You can use your home’s equity to finance your needs, and can use the money for anything that you want. Refinancing your Portland home loan is a great way to gain extra cash. Refinances are popular among Portland home owners.

With a Portland refinance, you will have a choice of whether to refinance to take cash out now, or to refinance with a home equity line of credit. With a home equity line of credit, you only use money from your credit line when you need it. And you only pay for the money when you use it.

Home owners have two rate options when refinancing their home loan, fixed rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages, often referred to as ARMs. ARMs are attractive in today’s economy because they offer very low introductory rates but because of financial market instability these rates can jump quickly and homeowners may find themselves paying more than they had expected to. Adjustable rate mortgages are not always unpredictable though. Homeowners who know the length of time they plan to stay in their home may get an ARM for that specific amount of time, which will save the homeowner money and avoid rising payments.

If you are already in an ARM and your ARM is rising, now is the time to lock in today’s low fixed rates. Don’t miss an opportunity to lock into a low fixed-rate payment as soon as possible. Everyday in a rising ARM is costing you money.

With today’s low 15 and 30 year rates, refinancing to a fixed-rate mortgage can secure your financial future. But there are also special mortgage programs for people with special needs. There is a wide variety of Adjustable Rate Mortgages for people who only plan to live in their home for a few more years. And for those concerned about high payments, there are also interest-only home loans

This is really about taking control of your financial future with a Portland refinance.. Refinance today and get cash to pay off your high-interest debt. Consolidate all of your debt into one low monthly payment . In most cases, home loan interest is tax deductible. Work towards improving your credit by paying off debt and consolidating into one payment to one lender. In most cases, paying off high-interest debt helps improve your credit score.

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August 31, 2010

Tigard Homes For Sale

Thinking of buying a home in Oregon but in a secluded part of the state? Tigard, Beaverton or Portland could be the place where you can buy your second home. You can get the listings by going online. There is a score of websites that feature listings of Tigard homes for sale with photographs. These will help you narrow down your search.

Whether you looking for apartments, condominiums, basements or luxury houses, you will get all you want. It is always recommended to go into a deal with a local realtor. They can offer you more choices than the journals and the general websites. These records can be the manipulated one. Quite often, the listings of Tigard homes for sale are not updated. The real estate agents have the most recent list. Hence, you don’t waste time in looking through houses that have already been taken.

They can help you get a home within any price range according to your budget. This is a buyer’s market. After the recession, many people who had taken loan from bank to buy a home failed to repay the amount. Those properties were confiscated by the bank authorities. If you can manage one such kind from Tigard homes for sale, that would be a steal. Its proximity from Portland, the capital city, enhances its significance. If you do not like the busy hustle bustles of a city, Tigard can be the apt choice of your second home. So, don’t wait and rush to make the perfect selection from Tigard homes.

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August 30, 2010

Carpet Cleaning That Dries Quickly

When you have your carpets cleaned by a professional company, the most important thing is to wait until the carpets are dry. This can take several hours if your carpet cleaning business used improper methods of cleaning your carpet.

Most carpet cleaning companies use large amounts of water in their efforts to clean carpets. Their thoughts are that, the more saturated you get the carpets, the cleaner the carpets get. They also use steam cleaning methods that leave dirty water below the surface of the carpet.

The best method for cleaning carpets uses the power of effervescent carbonated cleaning solutions. This requires a smaller percentage of water than that which is used in traditional carpet cleaning methods. The carpets have less moisture and, therefore, have a faster drying time. This means you can be active on your carpets again sooner without the long anticipated wait.

The faster a carpet dries, the less you have to worry about mold growing or forming beneath the surface of the carpets. If you don’t get a professional to do the carpets or if that professional saturates them too much, spores can become attracted to the moisture. Also, the residues left behind during steam cleaning are essentially harmful to your skin and your lungs. They also get into your clothing and things you set on the carpet.

The carbonating principle uses non-toxic chemicals that are powerful to get beneath the surface of your carpet without completely saturating it. You can be assured your carpet will be cleaned deep down and last a longer time than with traditional steam cleaning methods. Steam cleaning methods allow your carpets to become dirty faster. That’s because the residues left behind attract dirt. You shouldn’t use cleaning methods that leave residues behind on the carpet, especially harmful chemicals.

Carpet cleaning needs to penetrate deep but not saturate your carpet padding. The carbonating method is the best so you don’t have to wait for hours or even days for a dry carpet. It also gets down deep into the carpet and provides the best cleaning method available.

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August 29, 2010

Accessory Dwelling Units in Portland Promise "Smart Growth"

New changes by the City of Portland just put an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) within reach of most homeowners. On March 3, 2010, Portland City Council waived the System Development Charges for ADUs for 3 years, subtracting up to $15,000 from the cost of developing an ADU. Council also voted to increase the size limits to 800 SF or 75% of the primary structure. These policy changes have opened a key window of opportunity for the creation of ADUs in Portland that local home builders say brings the promise of a new spurt of “smart growth” just when the city’s economy needs it the most.

ADUs, also called “granny flats” or “backyard cottages”, are separate, compact spaces - complete with bed, bath, kitchen, and entry - that provide a second dwelling on residential property.

History of ADU Policy in Portland

Before World War II, Accessory Dwelling Units were a common fixture of American neighborhoods. They integrated easily into existing communities, provided affordable housing options for young and old, and facilitated intergenerational living for families.

But after WWII, national patterns of urban development shifted toward low-density sprawl and new zoning rules emerged that segregated land uses and housing types. During this period, ADUs fell out of favor and, in fact, were outlawed in most urban areas across the country.

After several decades of sprawl - accompanied by urban blight, car dependence, and loss of greenspace - communities across the country began advocating for smarter growth. The City of Portland became an early leader in this movement, and was among the first to reallow ADU development. But it was not until 1998 that the City began promoting ADUs by relaxing minimum area requirements; eliminating owner-occupancy requirements; and permitting ADUs in most residential zones.

Despite this progress, onerous maximum SF requirements and systems development charges (SDCs) of up to $15,000 remained. With an average ADU building cost of $75,000, these SDCs and square footage restrictions caused most consumers to either abandon ADU projects entirely or alter projects to avoid ADU designation and permitting.

So, the many “smart growth” benefits of ADU development - each firmly aligned with the City’s Portland Plan - have largely remained unrealized. These missed opportunities include:

Increasing the supply of affordable housing in a way that blends easily with existing neighborhoods;
Supporting the creation of a compact urban form that supports walking, transit, and vibrant neighborhoods;
Providing an independent living option for elderly/disabled that promotes intergenerational living;
Generating extra rental income for owners and tax base for the City;
Providing increased residential development without major new infrastructure.

Key Roadblocks Removed

In 2008 the City began a review of its zoning codes and regulations governing sustainable building technologies and forms. The effort, called RICAP5 (Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 5), was guided by a Citizens Advisory Committee of key stakeholders that recommended removing the regulatory roadblocks to ADU development.

The committee’s work met considerable success. On March 3, 2010 Portland City Council removed all SDCs for ADUs. Council followed soon after by increasing maximum size restrictions to 800 SF or 75% of the primary structure, whichever is less. In Mayor Sam Adams’ words: “This couldn’t happen at a better time, given the significant hardships faced by builders and the construction industry, and in terms of our goals for sustainability in the community.”

The last boom in ADUs was during the Great Depression. Now, according to local builders and policymakers, ADU development might help homeowners and the local economy emerge from the Great Recession. But the window of opportunity is not open forever; the City’s easing of ADU development regulations ends on June 30, 2013.

Potential Benefits of ADU Projects to Homeowners and the Community

ADUs promise to benefit homeowners and the community as:

Local and sustainable drivers of neighborhood prosperity and vitality;
Dwellings that significantly improve value and marketability of properties;
Inexpensive projects with high built-value and return on investment (ROI);
“Plug-And-Play”, easy developments.

Many in the home building and real estate community see ADU development as a boon for Porltand’s future. “It’s the people that make Portland interesting - young entrepreneurs who bring business to the city and life to the sidewalks,” says local broker Kama Dersham. “ADUs are hip and affordable for these folks and will help keep Portland vibrant and viable.”

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August 24, 2010

How to Get Cheap Portland Car Insurance

Cheap Portland car insurance is easy to get when you purchase only the minimum liability auto insurance requirements in Oregon. When it comes to minimum car insurance requirements, Oregon leaves very little out. Portland drivers must have person bodily injury, property damage liability, a “per crash” bodily injury, a “per crash” property damage, personal injury protection (to cover the cost of any medical treatment to the injured party up to one year after the accident), and uninsured motorist coverage.

With so much Portland car insurance, you may feel you don’t need full-coverage auto insurance in Oregon.

The minimum required Portland car insurance amounts are as follows:

o $10,000 per crash for property damage

o $15,000 personal injury protection

o $25,000 per person bodily injury and property damage liability

o $50,000 per crash for bodily injury to others

o $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury of Oregon uninsured motorist coverage

Of course, not all Oregon drivers can get cheap Portland car insurance by purchasing the minimum liability auto insurance requirements. Why? Not all drivers are eligible to purchase only the minimum requirements. Sometimes lenders and/or Oregon car insurance companies require drivers with cars they don’t own outright to purchase full-coverage auto insurance. Perhaps a driver has had his or her license suspended or revoked and has been ordered by the courts to purchase more than the minimum liability auto insurance requirements in Oregon.

Whatever the reason, these Oregon drivers must find other ways to get cheap Portland car insurance. Satisfying the orders of the courts, as well as working to repair the driving record, is one way to lower the cost of auto insurance; so is purchasing a car with - or adding - safety features. You can also take safety precautions such as parking your car in well-lit areas such as private parking lots to further protect your vehicle and lower your Portland car insurance premiums.

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August 22, 2010

Business License Requirements For In Home Based Businesses In Oregon

Salem is the capital and Portland is the largest city of Oregon. It is a good location to start any business especially home based businesses. More people have begun in home based businesses as it offers them several advantages such as reduced operating costs, saving time and money spent on traveling to the work place, getting quality time with family etc. However, it is necessary to do some research to find out if there are any licensing requirements for operating a business from home.

Business License Requirements:

It is recommended to give your business a legal structure, which can be done with the help of an experienced attorney who will also guide you regarding the type of entity that best suits your business. This can be also done by calling the Oregon Corporation Division at (503) 986-2200 or visiting their website http://www.filinginoregon.com

It will be necessary to choose a business name that has been formed in compliance with applicable State laws and ensuring that it is not a replica of any registered business.

It will be necessary to find out about the various licenses that are required for your kind of business and to check if it is permitted to operate as an in house based business. In order to get a license, all businesses have to get approval from the Planning, Building, Environmental Health and Facilities Departments of the County. In home based businesses must comply with all restrictions, regulations and zoning ordinances required by the Tax Collector, Planning Department as well as being reviewed by the Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department if the nature of your business requires it.

There are several factors to be considered, such as:

o Rule that permits only the resident of the home and one employee to work in the house etc.

o Certain commercial businesses have certain restrictions such as complying with zoning laws and regulations that may limit the size of their signboards, restricts the outdoor storage, parking space, or requires other special permits etc.

It will be advisable to contact the local courthouse to garner details about the exact licenses and permits that pertain to your chosen area of business.

Some kinds of businesses do not need licenses where as others require special business licenses and other need a general business license. Some businesses that are in home based require licenses in the State level too such as the food service industry or if you are a professional such as a lawyer, doctor etc. Businesses that offer investment advice or that sells firearms need federal business licenses.

For more information, contact Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at (800) 452-4011; OSHA at (503) 378-3272, or (800) 922-2689 inside Oregon; or the State Fire Marshall at (503) 373-1540.

For information on Oregon taxes, contact the Oregon Department of Revenue, (503) 378-4988 or visit http://www.irs.gov.

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