tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902284826972549932024-03-13T10:57:51.278-05:00Eric Joseph RubioNon-Profit and Arts Management Professional from Chicago, Illinois, and now in Miami, Florida. Welcome to my website!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08460148694459284092noreply@blogger.comBlogger355125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-58335790461201009692020-12-19T18:00:00.003-06:002020-12-19T18:00:03.708-06:00Music and Meditation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Sunday, December 20, 2020 | The Fourth Sunday of Advent</span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Music</span></u></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Once in Royal David's City</span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Words by Cecil F. Alexander (1848)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Music by Henry J. Gauntlett (1849)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge (2017)</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Text (selected)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Once in royal David's city stood a lowly cattle shed</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And his shelter was a stable and his cradle was a stall</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">With the poor and meek and lowly, lived on earth, our Savior holy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And our eyes at last shall see him through his own redeeming love</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">For that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And he leads his children on to the place where he has g</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">one</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cs9KnxRfhO4" width="320" youtube-src-id="Cs9KnxRfhO4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Meditation</span></u></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The theme of the Fourth Sunday of Advent is <b>LOVE</b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">John writes:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11 ESV)</blockquote></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared by himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever; Amen.</span></i></div><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-58240229692181541322020-12-12T18:00:00.001-06:002020-12-12T18:00:08.056-06:00Music and Meditation for the Third Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Sunday, December 13, 2020 | The Third Sunday of Advent</span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Music</span></u></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus</span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Words by Charles Wesley (1744)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Hymn tune is HYFRYDOL, original music by Rowland Prichard (c. 1830), adapted by Sara Groves (2019)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Performed by Sara Groves on the album <i>Joy of Every Longing Heart</i> (2019)</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Text</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Israel's strength and consolation; hope of all the world thou art</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing hear.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">By thine own sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B_Zk4pNQzI0" width="320" youtube-src-id="B_Zk4pNQzI0"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Meditation</span></u></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The theme of the Third Sunday of Advent is <b>JOY</b>. Pope Francis writes:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Luke records an angel saying to the shepherds outside Bethlehem:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11 ESV)</blockquote></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever, Amen.</span></i></div><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-4946447551225620722020-12-05T17:00:00.082-06:002020-12-05T17:00:07.347-06:00Music and Meditation for the Second Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Sunday, December 6, 2020 | The Second Sunday of Advent</span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Music</span></u></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">It Came Upon a Midnight Clear</span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Words by Edmund H. Sears (1849)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Music by Richard S. Willis (1850)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Performed by Josh Groban on the album <i>Noel</i> (Tenth Anniversary Edition, 2016)</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i>Text</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">From angels bending near the earth to touch their hearts of gold</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And still their heavenly music floats over all the weary world</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious king</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9uYmUtQogI4" width="320" youtube-src-id="9uYmUtQogI4"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Meditation</span></u></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The theme of the Second Sunday of Advent is <b>PEACE</b>. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Celebrating Advent means learning how to wait. Not all can wait, certainly not those who are satisfied, contented, and feel that they live in the best of all possible worlds! Those who learn to wait are uneasy about their way of life, but yet have seen a vision of greatness in the world of the future and are patiently expecting its fulfillment. The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come. For those, it is enough to wait in humble fear until the Holy One comes down to us, God the child in the manger.</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The prophet Isaiah wrote:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And John records Jesus saying to his disciples:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)</span></blockquote></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.</span></i></div><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-83856101853153947632020-11-28T18:00:00.009-06:002020-11-28T18:00:00.542-06:00Music and Meditation for the First Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Sunday, November 29, 2020 | The First Sunday of Advent</span><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Music</span></u></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">O Come, O Come, Emmanuel</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Words are a 12th century hymn, translated into English by John M. Neale (1851)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The hymn tune is VENI EMMANUEL, based on plainsong phrases; harmonization by Thomas Helmore (1854)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Performed by Enya (first stanza only; sung once in English and once in Latin)</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Text appears in the video</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/01BcaggibDw" width="320" youtube-src-id="01BcaggibDw"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Meditation</span></u></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Enya doesn't sing this stanza, but I add it here as it seems meaningful at the close of what for most of us has been a hard year:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">O come thou Dayspring from on high</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And cheer us by thy drawing nigh</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Disperse the gloomy clouds of night</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And death's dark shadows put to flight</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Rejoice, rejoice, O Israel</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">To you shall come Emmanuel</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The theme of the First Sunday of Advent is <b>HOPE</b>. German theologian Eberhard Arnold wrote:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Advent hope is a certainty of faith that shows itself in action through mutual responsibility for the whole of life. The church of Christ is the fellowship of this hope. It believes so unreservedly that it is convinced that the divine must conquer the demonic, that love must conquer hate, that the all-embracing must conquer the isolated. Certainty tolerates no limitation. God embraces everything. When we trust in him for the future, we trust in him for the present. When we have faith in him, our faith holds true for everything that touches our lives.</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">And Paul wrote to the Romans:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13 ESV)</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The Collect for the First Sunday of Advent:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now and in the time of this mortal life in which your son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.</span></i></div>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-69034336688306369812020-07-03T13:31:00.000-05:002020-07-03T13:31:16.645-05:00The Fight for Freedom Continues<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, America! It has now been 244 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What does the lived reality of America look like 244 years on from those famous words about self-evident truths and inalienable rights? To be frank, the proverbial visitor from Mars probably would not look at America of 2020 and find those self-truths to be very evident. The struggle for all Americans to fully and equitably enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness continues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The phrase "Freedom Isn't Free" is generally a nod to Americans in uniform, and for 244 years, our military has done the hard work of protecting our country against all manner of ever-evolving foreign adversaries. But the military is not the solution to all the barriers that might keep us from fully and equitably realizing our founding ideals. There is hard work to do within our borders, at all levels of government and in our schools, and in the private sector of workplaces, universities, places of worship, and at our kitchen tables. There are hard conversations to have about where the arc of history bends too slowly toward justice, about how the powerful in America use power for their own gain rather than to <i>em</i>power the oppressed. There are too many people in 2020 America who know that had they been standing outside Philadelphia's Independence Hall in 1776, the statement coming from inside about equality and pursuit of happiness would not have applied to them, and only because of their gender or skin color.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the 244 years hence, America has made progress, often haltingly, often sporadically, and with much bloodshed along the way. We stand on the shoulders and legacy of Abraham Lincoln and of Martin Luther King Jr. and of countless, often nameless, other Americans who have fought and literally died doing the hard work of bringing freedom fully and equitably to all who call, and who want to call, this country home. Much work remains to be done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so: what can we do between now and America's 245th birthday to make our country a little more free? How can those of us who have freedom share it with others? How can we get closer to realizing our founding ideals? I include myself in that "we," because I know I want to be part of it. Each of us can do something. Each of us can be the change we want to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With malice toward none, with charity toward all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in...</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abraham Lincoln</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Second Inaugural Address</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">March 1865</span></i></blockquote>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-36994609618844335852020-06-12T16:01:00.002-05:002020-10-04T19:26:54.662-05:00Responses from Chicago Organizations<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It has been just two and a half weeks since the horrible death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a now-former Minneapolis police officer. I am sure that you, like me, have in these last two and a half weeks received dozens of emails from brands and organizations denouncing what happened in Minneapolis (and to Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and too many others), stating their solidarity with their Black constituents and the Black community at large, and in most cases, describing their intended action steps.<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">As you all know, even though I currently live and work in Miami, I have deep roots in Chicago and still consider it my home. And Chicago is no stranger to racial injustice, so organizations there have the lived experience from which to process these newest chapters in the continuing tragedy that is racial injustice in America. Thus, I made a point to read in detail those communications from some of the Chicago-area organizations where I was formerly affiliated and/or am currently still a supporter. I have linked to them below, in the hopes that they might be useful to any readers who are part of developing their organization's response, or merely that they might provide some useful lines of thought as you continue to process.</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">One other thought: there is no such thing as a perfect statement, or a perfect response. If there was, the problems themselves might actually be resolved. The point is to add our voices to the chorus of individuals and organizations promising to listen, to learn, and to leverage whatever resources each has to move the needle in some way in our spheres of influence.</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">As many commentators have said, this time it feels different. May God make it so.</span><br />
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<li><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.calvarymemorial.com/article/resources-on-racial-injustice/" target="_blank">Calvary Memorial Church of Oak Park, in addition to several pastors speaking to racial injustice in the last few Sundays' sermons, provided a list of resources</a> (I grew up at this church and was a staff member for several years until I moved to Florida)</span></li>
<li><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://email.wordfly.com/view/?sid=MTYyMl8yNDg0XzMwODA2NF83NTM2&l=624e86b6-bcac-ea11-bd94-e61f134a8c87&utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200612_JeffEmail&utm_content=version_A&uid=817340&promo=37665" target="_blank">Chicago Symphony Orchestra issued a statement along with a list of current programs that it intends to enhance in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion</a> (I financially support this orchestra, and while living in Chicago volunteered in several capacities including a term on the young professional organization's executive committee)</span></li>
<li><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.chicagovoyagers.org/black-lives-matter" target="_blank">Chicago Voyagers issued a statement that includes a list of planned actions</a> (I financially support this youth development organization, and my uncle is the executive director)</span></li>
<li><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wheaton.edu/news/statements/message-to-campus/" target="_blank">Wheaton College made public its senior administrators' message to students and employees</a> and in days since has made digital programming available (I financially support Wheaton College, am an alumnus of its Conservatory of Music, and was a staff member for several years until I moved to Florida)</span></li>
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ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-32265894098521625832020-02-02T17:06:00.002-06:002020-02-02T17:06:47.498-06:00Points, Miles, and Loyalty Programs: AMC Stubs Premiere<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This is the first installment in what I hope will be on occasional series on various consumer loyalty and rewards programs. I follow a number of blogs on these topics and while I certainly do not anticipate competing with the folks who cover these programs full time, I hope to offer my own narratives as part of the conversation on these valuable consumer tools.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Naomi and I go to movies fairly frequently, probably our most frequent date option beyond a restaurant. I have been a fairly lackluster <a href="https://www.amctheatres.com/amcstubs/insider" target="_blank">AMC Stubs Insider</a> member for (as my account history tells me) three years, quite often not even bothering to scan my digital membership card to earn points, but only just two days ago, in advance of our latest movie date, decide to give <a href="https://www.amctheatres.com/amcstubs/premiere" target="_blank">AMC Stubs Premiere</a> membership try.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are four main benefits I see to the Premiere level over the Insider level, which are as follows in ascending order of their value to us:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. <b>Free size upgrades on popcorn and soda.</b> Literally zero value to us, we hard pass on the salt and sugar overload and sneak in our own snacks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. <b>Waived online ticketing fees.</b> We almost always simply purchase tickets on arrival, but if we ever go to a highly popular movie at a highly popular showtime, it is nice to know we can get tickets advance, online, for no surcharge. Speaking of purchasing on arrival...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. <b>Priority lanes</b> at box office (and concessions, but see #1). This would probably be the second most valuable benefit, simply for time saving at the theater. Not that either of us like getting into our seats to watch the pre-preview commercials, but I always prefer to get the "standing in line" part of the date behind me! Though of course, the first time we went after I upgraded to Premiere membership, this priority lane was unused...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e7mj7hzBJz_1RP73ZKOyYp01bJsg7PfkAlTC5x2BD6uysG3jYA9oO3W3jRCB9OpJ9kROibtPZsWeOAnVXfrRLf4qr8CiPLr2I1OUBUaBtVzfA8D4epvzMPs4Xmex9kQ24rOj-snWoThk/s1600/IMG_9172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e7mj7hzBJz_1RP73ZKOyYp01bJsg7PfkAlTC5x2BD6uysG3jYA9oO3W3jRCB9OpJ9kROibtPZsWeOAnVXfrRLf4qr8CiPLr2I1OUBUaBtVzfA8D4epvzMPs4Xmex9kQ24rOj-snWoThk/s400/IMG_9172.jpeg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first time at an AMC after upgrading to Premiere membership and I was not able to experience the priority lane benefit...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Earn 100 points per dollar spent</b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">(not including taxes and fees), compared to 20 points per dollar. This is the most valuable benefit to Naomi and me as we will get to $5 rewards (earned every 5000 points) now five times faster. Over the course of a year we probably see about six movies, and with the ticket price at our closest AMC at $10.49, we will now get to two of those $5 rewards each year and halfway to the next one (compared to just halfway to one reward in a year).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, I was pleasantly surprised to find when I purchased the first tickets after upgrading my membership that I had a $5 reward posted to my account, so we already have brought our net cost of membership to $10.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you an AMC Stubs member at any level? There is also the A-List tier, have you experienced that and what do you think, of that or any other level?</span>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-74697263042226041282019-12-21T21:00:00.000-06:002019-12-21T21:00:07.722-06:00Music and Meditation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 22, 2019 | The Fourth Sunday of Advent<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Breath of Heaven"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words and Music by Amy Grant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Performed by Amy Grant in the Official Lyric Video (2019)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fear not, for I am with you;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">be not dismayed, for I am your God;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will strengthen you, I will help you;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Isaiah 41:10</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">John 20:21-22</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent</span></i></div>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-64550249647522177232019-12-14T21:00:00.000-06:002019-12-15T05:41:50.905-06:00Music and Meditation for the Third Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 15, 2019 | The Third Sunday of Advent<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">"He Who Is Mighty"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words and Music by Sovereign Grace (2014)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Performed by Kate DeGraide and Rebecca Elliott in a studio session for the album <i>Prepare Him Room</i> (BMI, 2014)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>And Mary said:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">"My soul magnifies the Lord</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and my spirit rejoices in God my savior,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">for he has looked upon the humble estate of his servant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For behold, all generations shall call me blessed;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">for he who is mighty has done great things for me,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and holy is his name."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Luke 1:46-48 (ESV)</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent</span></i></div>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-48001593172072446992019-12-07T21:00:00.000-06:002019-12-07T21:00:08.740-06:00Music and Meditation for the Second Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 8, 2019 | The Second Sunday of Advent</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words by Charles Wesley (1744) with new chorus by Laura Story</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Music is the hymn tune HYFRODOL by Rowland Prichard</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laura Story sings on her album <i>God With Us</i> (Fair Trade Services, 2015)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come, thou long-expected Jesus</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born to set thy people free</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From our fears and sins release us</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let us find our rest in thee</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Israel's strength and consolation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hope of all the earth thou art</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dear desire of every nation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joy of every longing heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born thy people to deliver</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born a child and yet a king</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born to reign in us forever</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now thy gracious kingdom bring</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By thine own eternal spirit</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rule in all our hearts alone</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By thine all sufficient merit</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Raise us to thy glorious throne</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Come now great Redeemer</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Come Emmanuel</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bless the nations with your presence here</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Born our souls to rescue</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Born to save your very own</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Long expected Jesus</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Make our hearts your home</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Readings</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Almighty God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The Collect for the Second Sunday of</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> Advent</span></i></span></div>
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ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-67084989196163369892019-11-30T21:00:00.000-06:002019-12-01T05:29:16.140-06:00Music and Meditation for the First Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 1, 2019 | The First Sunday of Advent<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words are a twelfth century Latin hymn translated to English by John M. Neale, 1851</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Music is based on plainsong, with harmonization by Thomas Helmore, 1854</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anna Hawkins sings select verses in English and Hebrew from her album <i>Divine</i> (Southbound, 2015). Texts and translations in the video description at YouTube.com.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Readings</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the throne of David and over his kingdom, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">to establish it and uphold it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Isaiah 9:2,6-7 (ESV)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now and in the time of this mortal life in which your son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Collect for the First Sunday of Advent</span></i></div>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-12440207663757432222019-09-30T15:23:00.004-05:002019-09-30T15:23:57.437-05:002019 MLB Postseason Predictions<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My predictions are again this year based loosely on the competing teams' head-to-head records and factoring home field advantage. I still do not have a future as a sports journalist. And am very sad that my Chicago Cubs are not in the bracket at the start of October for the first time since 2014. But just for fun:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">American League Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland Athletics</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Oakland Athletics</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">National League Wild Card: Milwaukee Brewers at Washington Nationals</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Washington Nationals</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">American League Division Series: Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Predictions: New York Yankees in 5, Houston Astros in 3</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">National League Division Series: Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers, St Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Predictions: Los Angeles Dodgers in 5, Atlanta Braves in 5</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">American League Championship Series: New York Yankees at Houston Astros</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Houston Astros in 4</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">National League Championship Series: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers in 4</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros</span><br />
<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Houston Astros in 7</span></i>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-75926333116858549332019-09-19T16:10:00.000-05:002019-09-19T16:10:43.184-05:00Review: Brightline, Miami to Fort Lauderdale (Return)<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Earlier this week I needed to be in Fort Lauderdale to attend a workshop for my job. The start time was 9am, meaning I would need to fight rush hour traffic to get there. I thought about taking an Uber so at least I would not be the one doing the driving, but sampling fares at a similar time a few days before showed it was going to be quite expensive.<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Then I realized that the workshop was just a half mile from Fort Lauderdale's <a href="https://www.gobrightline.com/" target="_blank">Brightline</a> station, and with the Miami station being just a 20-minute walk from my apartment, I decided to look at Brightline's prices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I found a promo code, and within no time had booked a round-trip ticket for just $20.25 (in full disclosure, my employer will be reimbursing this expense, but even so it was less than reimbursing my mileage at the current IRS rate). The purchase process was simple, as was the post-purchase account creation and syncing my ticket to my account.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Most unfortunately, there were some issues the morning of my day to be in Fort Lauderdale. Brightline's reservation system was malfunctioning, meaning I could not retrieve my ticket via the app, the website, or the in-station self-service kiosk. It was only when I approached the agent at the turnstiles that I learned it was system-wide and not just me. She found my name on a passenger manifest and I was admitted to the passenger-only area. Security screening consisted of putting my backpack through a conveyor belt scanner and then I was free to relax in the departure lounge.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs3Ramq4QDOYSEYxO3N4BD7AaEEPc1UzPe6a9AUluRVhhAZ52MwwaRVuWyCE8c1VGrh_49kaPm2bQPwXVgGxhfT7qlqz5FkLHaBMp3RZybfdZOqoJngk6pY1VKtvJgGqKT4IC9Y95gdCm/s1600/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+34+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs3Ramq4QDOYSEYxO3N4BD7AaEEPc1UzPe6a9AUluRVhhAZ52MwwaRVuWyCE8c1VGrh_49kaPm2bQPwXVgGxhfT7qlqz5FkLHaBMp3RZybfdZOqoJngk6pY1VKtvJgGqKT4IC9Y95gdCm/s320/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+34+18.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgn6wvZis86aAygZ28nYbAchDHENSmumPCBvPnQRUEjUYWCmqXjW5i_rLXnLGTaWVE3m279rdytm_5t2uAxo33EZwO92UAF0n-4fAUQolrdEME4IEgkq1Kqr32wLDB-yfrWq7vVD-DGEf/s1600/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+36+47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgn6wvZis86aAygZ28nYbAchDHENSmumPCBvPnQRUEjUYWCmqXjW5i_rLXnLGTaWVE3m279rdytm_5t2uAxo33EZwO92UAF0n-4fAUQolrdEME4IEgkq1Kqr32wLDB-yfrWq7vVD-DGEf/s320/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+36+47.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I had plenty of time to explore the lounge as my train was delayed some twenty minutes. In Miami, the turnstiles and lounge are on the second floor of Miami Central. Within the passenger area is a cafe, with pastries, packages snacks, and assorted hot and cold beverages, as well as gift items, available for purchase. There is assorted seating, with plentiful power and USB outlets, overlooking the street below. To the rear of the passenger area is the Select Lounge, for passengers on the first class fare, where they have complimentary beverages and snacks along with similar seating. Wi-Fi was free and useful throughout.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Boarding was announced, late as expected, and passengers rode escalators (elevators also available) up one level to the platform. I found my coach and my seat, which I realized was an accessible seat, and found it odd that I had been assigned to such a seat by the reservation system.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When the train began rolling a few minutes later, realizing the coach was not even half full, I moved to another seat. Seats were in a 2-2 configuration, with some facing another pair across a table, and others with a tray table available in the seat back ahead. I found a window seat of the latter kind and still had an empty seat next to me. Power and USB outlets were available for each seat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjeiZ53lG6xhZgF4SIoqYin8GEJsSfVTxdiEbqAIhb2agon9RxFOS9umwHALGa2F0xEarydkhR1DkxQSHJbbpdF77uys_4RZR7HzHLAYrz99BSdNN-mPpVvJmtzWms6UssM6sHSvNiS3j/s1600/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+55+56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjeiZ53lG6xhZgF4SIoqYin8GEJsSfVTxdiEbqAIhb2agon9RxFOS9umwHALGa2F0xEarydkhR1DkxQSHJbbpdF77uys_4RZR7HzHLAYrz99BSdNN-mPpVvJmtzWms6UssM6sHSvNiS3j/s320/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+55+56.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJNFUEjnYJNM8wGkdbqFQxy79JiGKRQOVfwCxmBfIrJcuxH6c8ktw5UwgAIr9Y9FMacKJ8VE3Y3cBhYRMhka9Q6-TMcfr0IvMHl4ltFLq4Hw57OkokfhJ8uTnu3SoZ9fc_xmfaOxr2hFk/s1600/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+57+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJNFUEjnYJNM8wGkdbqFQxy79JiGKRQOVfwCxmBfIrJcuxH6c8ktw5UwgAIr9Y9FMacKJ8VE3Y3cBhYRMhka9Q6-TMcfr0IvMHl4ltFLq4Hw57OkokfhJ8uTnu3SoZ9fc_xmfaOxr2hFk/s320/Photo+Sep+17%252C+07+57+21.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A few minutes after departure, an attendant came down the aisle with a beverage cart. I declined as I had brought my own snack, and opened my laptop on the tray table and did some work during the 30-minute ride to Fort Lauderdale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Arrival was announced a few minutes beforehand, giving me ample time to unplug and store my laptop and walk to the vestibule to be ready to disembark. I had a moment of trouble navigating my way to the exit (despite Fort Lauderdale being a smaller station than Miami Central), but a station agent kindly pointed me the right direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After the workshop, I had an hour before my return train (unfortunately I had missed my chance to change to an earlier train by just minutes), so after clearing security, I found a high-top counter and chair in the lounge and caught up on emails and phone messages. I checked the train status a couple times as well as the seat map. Noticing I had again been assigned an accessible seat, I reseated myself to a mid-car window seat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8XFlW0Q17nYMRImYMI8J3KwDs0qjSttm1dXqWptbq7tKpHhM0qASrTU2v3H9rBEcrx9ObuRwal6f7EAtkd7xTnEYq1OVQ4VGvLTMpzwfoxlOQPObYlzTWHAQmu9FZOtTxlLyqv8VRvI3/s1600/Photo+Sep+17%252C+13+16+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8XFlW0Q17nYMRImYMI8J3KwDs0qjSttm1dXqWptbq7tKpHhM0qASrTU2v3H9rBEcrx9ObuRwal6f7EAtkd7xTnEYq1OVQ4VGvLTMpzwfoxlOQPObYlzTWHAQmu9FZOtTxlLyqv8VRvI3/s320/Photo+Sep+17%252C+13+16+22.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Boarding was similarly announced and I once again found myself in a half-empty cabin. I mostly enjoyed the view on the return journey, including a nice view of the ramp at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's Terminal 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All in all, a comfortable and convenient way to get between Miami and Fort Lauderdale (and there is one additional stop further north in West Palm Beach, with plans to extend to Orlando).</span>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-29758644152745151622019-06-28T19:46:00.001-05:002019-06-28T19:46:07.038-05:00Five Months In: Reflections on Miami (and Chicago!)<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It has been a busy four months since <a href="https://ericjosephrubio.blogspot.com/2019/02/three-and-half-weeks-reflections-miami.html" target="_blank">my last entry in this series</a>, but as I have a quiet Friday evening ahead of me, it seemed a good time to continue these reflections.<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Miami feels like home to me in many ways. I have found my favorite coffee shop, the original Wynwood location of <a href="https://www.panthercoffee.com/" target="_blank">Panther Coffee</a> (recommended by a colleague). I have joined <a href="http://firstmiami.org/" target="_blank">First Miami Presbyterian Church</a> and just started to find ways to contribute my skills in music and business administration to the church. I know my way around many of the neighborhoods and suburbs -- Brickell, Coral Gables, downtown, Little Havana, Miami Beach, Wynwood -- without the aid of Google Maps but <i>with</i> the aid of the great free trolley system. I have enjoyed a few different events at the Arsht Center and the University of Miami Frost School of Music. All told, I have settled well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My work at Seraphic Fire has also been an enriching experience these first five months. Our last program of the 2018-2019 season, May's <i>Peace in Music</i> curated and conducted by our <a href="https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/people/james-bass/" target="_blank">Associate Conductor James K. Bass</a>, was one of the most beautiful choral performances I have ever witnessed. This month of June has been focused on closing the books on our fiscal year that ended May 31 and preparing for our audit next month. This will be the first time I have been professionally involved in an audit and I am learning a lot in this process, and likewise with many other projects and assignments that are providing professional growth opportunities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In the last five months I have interacted with many of our dedicated board members and donors, as well as develop strong and mutually supportive working relationships with my colleagues (I know many people have personally difficult work environments so I am truly grateful for the blessing of having supportive and enriching work environments both previously and currently). It has also been a special and meaningful experience to get to know the Seraphic Fire artists, and feel nothing but mutual appreciation for our presence in the organization.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On the side, I have found ways to begin contributing my professional skills in service of my new community. In May and June I had the opportunity to serve as a grant panelist with the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. In reviewing the applications I learned a lot about some of the other arts organizations in the area and the panel discussion itself, my first experience of that kind, was personally satisfying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">All in all, this transition has gone well, praise God!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Even amidst all the successes of my work and life in Miami, I have not forgotten my original home in Chicago. I have been back twice now, briefly for Easter and for a longer stretch around Memorial Day, and both visits were refreshing. Needless to say I am grateful to live in a time with the communication and transportation technologies that make it easy to stay connected with my family and friends and former colleagues as well as with the Chicago area organizations that are important to me. And I will be there again next week for the Fourth of July! Hoping for a clear day in the Midwest so I can catch one of those beautiful views of the skyline on final approach, like I did on my arrival in May. I love being able to say that "I am from Chicago!"</span><br />
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ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-10758986648397675632019-04-07T18:52:00.000-05:002019-04-07T18:52:18.131-05:00Points, Miles, and Loyalty Programs: Starbucks Rewards<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>This is the first installment in what I hope will be on occasional series on various consumer loyalty and rewards programs. I follow a number of blogs on these topics and while I certainly do not anticipate competing with the folks who cover these programs full time, I hope to offer my own narratives as part of the conversation on these valuable consumer tools.</i><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Starbucks Gold Card (which I never physically use) indicates that I have been a Gold member since 2010 (my senior year of college). For most of the time since, I basically only went to Starbucks when it was a convenient place for a meeting with a friend or colleague or when, during my teaching years, I was gifted a Starbucks gift card and stopped on my way to or from somewhere else. But in the last year or so I have added some strategic additional visits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In April 2016, Starbucks modified their loyalty program earning structure: every $1 in spend (not including sales tax) earns 2 stars. Upon reaching 125 stars, one earns a reward, which one can redeem for any menu item. (<a href="https://www.starbucks.com/rewards/comingsoon" target="_blank">The redemption structure is changing later this month to group menu items into tiers with each tier requiring redemption of a different number of stars to redeem an item from it.</a>) Around the same time, Starbucks began more frequent special star-earning promotions, everything from the basic monthly double star day, to bonus stars on particular menu items at particular times, to bonus stars for making multiple purchases in a given timeframe. I probably get an email from Starbucks with a special star-earning promotion once a week. I used to ignore them. No longer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My argument is that one should always aim to earn more than 2 stars per $1 to get maximum value from the program.</b> I probably take advantage of one out of every three special promotions. For context, my usual purchases are hardly ever basic coffee, either, except when in warm months I get an iced coffee. I go more for the food items and occasional fancy drink, both when paying cash and when redeeming rewards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For example, two weeks ago there was a "Star Dash" promotion: visit two days in a row within the promotional period and earn 25 bonus stars, visit three days in a row and earn 50 total bonus stars, or visit four days in a row and earn 125 total bonus stars. 125, of course, is (for now) enough for any menu item, including the $8 protein boxes that make for a decent meal (especially on a day when I have concert duty and not time for a more robust dinner). A visit could be to purchase anything, from a tall coffee to a simple bakery item to a KIND bar (that I typically toss in my bag and forget about until I am digging at the bottom of my bag for something else two weeks later and rediscover it...). I spent a grand total of $9.95 over the four visits I made in the allotted timeframe, and now I will be able to grab one of those chicken wrap boxes, retailing for $7.95, when I have concert duty next Friday. <i>That's an 80% return</i>. Plus I have the base stars earned on the spend toward my next reward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The math on the redemption side will change a bit when the new reward tiers come online next week, but my earning strategy should still be effective. Will be interesting to see what new special promotions are offered.</span>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-31347504313414306912019-02-23T10:28:00.000-06:002019-02-23T10:28:26.866-06:00Three and a Half Weeks In: Reflections on Miami<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I woke up at my parents' house in Oak Park on January 30 and the outside temperature was nineteen below. Not sure whether I scrolled down in the weather app to look at the wind chill value, but at that point is was just academic to me. Sixteen hours later, and by way of New Jersey because my original direct flight was cancelled, I went to bed at my Airbnb in Miami where it was 61 above. An eighty degree swing.<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And that, dear readers, was the story I will always have about the day I moved to Miami.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Three and a half weeks later, and I am happy to report all is going well. I have been having a great time at my new job, meshing well with my new colleagues, feeling appropriately challenged by my new assignment, and making the most of my evenings and weekends to explore my new city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here is one fun fact that people not from South Florida might not know, because I did not: Miami and Miami Beach are <i>two different cities</i>. The City of Miami is the second largest city in Florida (counting the city proper only) and the commercial and cultural anchor of South Florida. The City of Miami Beach, just across Biscayne Bay, is the coastal resort city that forms most of what the popular imagination conjures on hearing the name "Miami." I am writing this sitting outside a Starbucks in Miami Beach, just around the corner from a view of the Atlantic Ocean, and I can report that Miami Beach and Miami are distinct places. But the iced coffee tastes just as good in both!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So far, in addition to three full weeks of work on the new job, including my first run of concerts, I have wandered around various neighborhoods and suburbs including Brickell (the upscale shopping are abutting the financial district), Coral Gables (adjacent suburb, Spanish revival architecture planned city wherein is the University of Miami), Downtown Miami, Little Havana (the Cuban neighborhood, where my Airbnb is), and Wynwood (industrial area turned indie arts scene), as well as seeing the Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Naples just briefly while there for work purposes. I have connected with a few other Wheaton alumni in the area and hope to find more, as my brief search tells me that there are more of us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have also had the opportunity on my three weekends here so far to visit three different churches. I have not yet settled on one, but was very grateful to receive a warm welcome at each, especially since coming from being a church staff member, for better or worse I came with a lot of notions about local church culture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And needless to say, I am sure I have not even scratched the proverbial surface of all that Miami has to offer. I have avoided reading too much written for tourists about this area, choosing instead to get ideas and tips from my colleagues and fellow Wheaton alumni and other new friends and acquaintances, people who actually lived here. So it may be a slower process to get to know the area, but I think it will be better and more authentic that way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Will check in again in a few weeks! And please feel free to visit <a href="https://www.instagram.com/therubioroom/" target="_blank">my Instagram</a> (no login needed, for you non-Instagram users) where I have a few pictures so far from my wanderings in South Florida.</span>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-72813534433249249352019-01-23T16:54:00.001-06:002019-01-23T16:54:42.040-06:00With Thanks<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the end of the month, I will have fully completed the season of transition from my life and work in the Chicago area to my new life and new work in Miami. If you missed my reflections on what led to this transition, <a href="http://ericjosephrubio.blogspot.com/2019/01/journey-to-miami.html" target="_blank">see this essay</a>. I spent a few days in Miami two weeks ago, including two full days in the office with my new colleagues, and am very happy to say I really like my new team already, received a very warm welcome, and am excited for the point when I can devote my full attention to my new assignment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But in the midst of packing and finishing projects at my soon-to-be former jobs, I would like to offer several words of thanks, to Calvary Memorial Church, to Wheaton College, and to Chicago. I am sure I have forgotten many important aspects of my experiences with each but what follows it what comes to mind as I reflect at this juncture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, to Calvary Memorial Church, where I have served on staff for over six years and where I have attended, with brief pauses when I was in term in college, for twenty. I am thankful for the communities I found in my junior high and high school youth groups and then later in my young adult small groups and friend groups. I am thankful for the opportunity to apply my music degree right away as orchestra director and then acting head of worship ministries and then ministry associate of worship and music, and then the opportunity to learn essentially a whole new profession through service as church administrator and then director of finance and administration. I am thankful for the enduring support and encouragement I received from the leadership, especially Pastors Caleb, Gerald, Jonny, and Todd. I am grateful for the members of the orchestra who gave me the gift of being their director for six and a half years, which to date is the professional role I have held the longest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Second, to Wheaton College, where I completed my undergraduate education, met the woman who is now my wife, and have served on staff for over five years. For the rest of my life I will carry special memories of my undergraduate years, and I am grateful for all the lessons I learned both formally and informally, and including the ones I had to learn the hard way. I am grateful for the lifelong friends I made there among my roommates and others. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as a staff member in the Conservatory, the same department in which I studied. I am grateful I was part of the move to the Conservatory's new home, for the inauguration of President Phil Ryken, for the beginning of the CSO at Wheaton College series, and for endless unique and enjoyable concert productions. And I am grateful for my colleagues, my boss Tony Payne, my dean Michael Wilder, and for the many students I was able to formally and informally mentor and support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally, to Chicago itself. I would not trade the experience of growing up and spending the first decade of adulthood in Chicago for anything. I am honored that I can call myself a native Chicagoan and Chicago will always and forever be my hometown. Chicago has institutions that are among the world's best, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where I was pleased to offer volunteer hours for several years, and given its annual visits to Florida, I know I can continue to be an active patron. And it has been a very special last few years to be a Cubs fan. I will be bringing my small collection of 2016 World Series Champion-branded swag with me to Miami, no question. Of course, Chicago is not perfect. No city is. But Chicago, you have incredible potential. You do not have to be defined by the heartbreak and frustration that has plagued you and that comprises most of your national and global reputation. There are so many people, seen and unseen, working hard every day to make Chicago a better place, and I am glad to have been part of that place for my first thirty years. I look forward to visiting as often as I can, and in between I will be ordering those frozen Lou Malnati's pizzas to be shipped to Miami!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So thank you.</span></div>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-71917259881436760332019-01-02T19:59:00.000-06:002019-01-02T19:59:21.565-06:00Journey to Miami<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the end of November, I accepted an offer to the General Operations Manager for <a href="http://www.seraphicfire.org/" target="_blank">Seraphic Fire</a>, "Florida's Grammy-Nominated Vocal Ensemble," in Miami. I will be moving to South Florida at the end of January.<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been an interesting journey that led to this move and change of jobs. Certainly when asked ten years ago as a college sophomore where I saw myself in ten years, I would not have answered with either of the current jobs I am leaving or the new job I am starting, though that of course is not at all unique to me among my Millennial peers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Quick background: I have a bachelor's degree from Wheaton College in music education. I spent my first three years post-college as a middle school band director as well as side jobs as a church orchestra director and events manager for the Wheaton College Artist Series, with a little private trombone teaching and music supplies retailing along the way. Five years later, that church orchestra job has evolved through music ministry associate to church administrator to finance director, and the events manager job has evolved to production manager with a side of digital marketing. I have been now been part of four annual budget cycles and countless employee onboardings, vendor changes, and insurance claims in my church job (while still managing to keep up the orchestra directorship) and nearly fifty major public concert events featuring several Grammy winners and a move to a new music building in my Wheaton job. I just turned 30 this past October, and I am quite pleased with and immensely grateful for the breadth of professional experiences and opportunities I have had.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yet, it was admittedly fatiguing to balance two demanding, events-heavy jobs, even though my bosses and colleagues at both fully recognized my obligation to devote half of each week's working hours to the other. So for several years I have been looking, with varying degrees of earnestness, to find a full-time role that would match by skills, experiences, and interests. It was a bit of a moving target.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first, once I felt that I was not destined to be an active music educator, I found interest in the arts management profession, awakened no doubt by my work as the fledgling Artist Series production manager. So I followed arts management blogs and their respective job boards and have had probably dozens of at least first-round interviews with orchestras and presenting organizations around the country. Even had a few second interviews from time to time. Most of the roles I sought were in either the production or education departments of those organizations, thinking I was drawing on my experience as a producer and educator.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But then I had an interesting conversation with my then-executive pastor, Gerald, who was my immediate supervisor at church for almost four years until he moved to the senior pastorate this past summer. He affirmed my skills, and more to the point, giftedness, in financial administration and non profit management. And from that observation (which of course I recognized as true, I simply had never focused on that as a possible lead strength of mine), the thought occurred that perhaps I should look at serving in a finance management role with an arts organization.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so that has been my main search in the last six months or so. Within a week of that conversation with Gerald I came across a very compelling opportunity to be the finance and administration director for a professional symphony orchestra, and was gratified to get all the way to the second round of interviews before receiving a rejection notice. But I kept at it. Late this fall I found myself interviewing simultaneously for two roles of that same type, one with a summer music festival and one with a Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble in Miami. I made it to the second round with both. But one made an offer first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have to pause here and speak again of Wheaton College, but in particular of my undergraduate education there. The professional music degree programs there are informed by the liberal arts context. As I have seen with stark clarity as I have accepted this new job, that liberal arts education ensured that I learned how to learn, and how to transfer my skills to different contexts, and have the potential to succeed in a wide variety of applied disciplines. My curriculum at Wheaton consisted of precisely nothing about the complex field of labor law, for example. And yet here I am as the human resources manager for a staff of 20+ at my church. Not a single lesson in four years about how to interpret a technical rider. And yet I have presented acts that came with technical riders running dozens of pages at Wheaton. And so forth. What I learned is <i>how to learn those things that my eventual job(s) would require me to know</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that, I think, is how I found my way, and flourished, in my two current jobs to the point where I am qualified to assume this new job, and of course to successfully apply myself to the new particulars of the new role. The view from this proverbial vantage point is as clear as it ever has been, and I see clearly all the pieces along the way I needed to be at this point to have this next step be available to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, as I am a follower of Christ, I credit the placement of those pieces, and the fact that I took all the necessary steps along the way, to his grace and provision. The first few days after receiving the job offer were actually somewhat anxious, as the self-conscious part of me wondered whether I really had the skills I needed to succeed at my new job. But as I began onboarding and reviewing documents and files and conversing with my new boss, Rhett, I found everything was clicking. God has been calming my anxious heart, showing me that I have exactly what I need in the way of intellectual aptitude and the right hard-fought experiential knowledge, to succeed in this new assignment.</span>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-90189140641870843422018-12-30T20:35:00.001-06:002018-12-30T20:35:31.564-06:002018: The Year's Travels and Reading<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This will not be a unique end-of-year post, except for possibly because I am combining two lists posts into one. Here I will recap the books I read and places I visited in 2018. I set a new post-college record for number of books read in the year at 14 (with two others started but never finished and two more in progress but will not be finished by year's end), and my traveling this year took the number two spot in my personal annual record number of miles traveled.<script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Books I read in 2018, in order of completion</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jeremy Treat: <i>Crucified King: Atonement and Kingdom in Biblical and Systematic Theology</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John M Gottman and Nan Silver: <i>The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Neil Gaiman: <i>American Gods</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tish Harrison Warren: <i>Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mark Vanhoenacker: <i>Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joe Biden: <i>Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Elaine Tyler Mary: <i>Fortress America: How We Embraced Fear and Abandoned Democracy</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Robert Kurson: <i>Rocket Men</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Daniel Hill: <i>White Awake: An Honest Look at What it Means to Be White</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christopher Potter: <i>The Earth Gazers: On Seeing Ourselves</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Daniel Coyle: <i>The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mark Dillon: <i>Giving and Getting in the Kingdom: A Field Guide</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kevin Kwan: <i>Crazy Rich Asians</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jimmy Carter: <i>Faith: A Journey for All</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Juan Francisco Martinez: <i>The Story of Latino Protestants in the United States</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">January: My fifth visit to Florida. Florida is Naomi's home state, and she and I went to visit her parents in Orlando for a late Christmas. We took a day to go to Disney World, enjoying both Animal Kingdom and Epcot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">April: I generally take the weekend after Easter Sunday off, and this year Naomi and I decided to visit Austin, first time for both of us. It was unfortunately unseasonably cold there most of our four-day visit but even so we saw and did a lot of Austin's highlights and also visited an old friend.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">In Austin in April</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">August: For our second wedding anniversary, we spent six days in Vancouver, first time for both of us. We again saw and did a lot of Vancouver's highlights and had a great time exploring the city and surrounding area. Read my full travelogue in <a href="http://ericjosephrubio.blogspot.com/2018/08/vancouver-2018-days-1-3.html" target="_blank">two</a> <a href="http://ericjosephrubio.blogspot.com/2018/08/vancouver-2018-days-4-5.html" target="_blank">parts</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also in August was a quick weekend trip to Baltimore for a college friend's wedding. My first time to Baltimore, and we squeezed in a few of the local sights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">November: Back to Florida again for Thanksgiving with Naomi's family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All told, it involved over 11,400 miles of air travel across eleven flight segments, the longest being the return flight from Vancouver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Looking forward to more reading and traveling in 2019! What did you read or what places did you visit in 2018? Comment below.</i></span>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-42071316662283535492018-12-22T19:00:00.000-06:002018-12-22T19:00:04.594-06:00Music and Meditation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 23 | The Fourth Sunday of Advent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Of the Father's Love Begotten"</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words by Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (4th century), translated by John Neale</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Music is 13th century plainsong</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Performed by the Church Folk at College Church in Wheaton (2015)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1 John 4:9-10</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent</span></i></div>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-5094986860801061622018-12-15T19:00:00.000-06:002018-12-15T19:00:09.906-06:00Music and Meditation for the Third Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 16 | The Third Sunday of Advent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words translated from Latin by John Neale (1851)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Music is plainsong chant adapted by Thomas Helmore (1854)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Performed by Lauren Daigle on the album <i>Behold </i>(Centricity Music, 2018)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">O come thou Dayspring come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death's dark shadows put to flight</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">O come desire of nations bind all peoples with one heart and mind</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease, fill the whole world with heaven's peace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the throne of David and over his kingdom, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;">to establish it and uphold it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Isaiah 9:2,6-7 (ESV)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent</span></i></div>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-24709220669857932852018-12-08T19:00:00.000-06:002018-12-08T19:00:05.771-06:00Music and Meditation for the Second Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 9 | The Second Sunday of Advent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Be Born In Me"</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words and Music by Bernie Herms and Nicole Nordeman (2011)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Performed by Francesca Battistelli on the album <i>Christmas</i></span></li>
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Readings</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Almighty God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent</span></i></div>
ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-47613081479003526052018-12-01T19:00:00.000-06:002018-12-01T19:00:02.139-06:00Music and Meditation for the First Sunday of Advent<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday, December 2, 2018 | The First Sunday of Advent</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus"</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words by Charles Wesley (1744)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Music by Rowland H. Prichard (1831, hymn tune HYFRYDOL)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Performed by Fernando Ortega on the album <i>Christmas Songs</i> (2008, Curb Records)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come thou long-expected Jesus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born to set thy people free</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From our fears and sins release</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let us find our rest in thee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Israel's strength and consolation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hope of all the earth thou art</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dear desire of every nation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joy of every longing heart</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born thy people to deliver</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born a child and yet a king</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Born to reign in us forever</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now thy gracious kingdom bring</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By thine own eternal spirit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rule in all our hearts alone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By thy all sufficient merit</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Raise us to thy glorious throne</span><br />
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<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0dmO8UPlWoo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0dmO8UPlWoo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Readings</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now and in the time of this mortal life in which your son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Collect for the First Sunday of Advent</span></i></div>
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ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-72102691030884617142018-10-01T19:12:00.001-05:002018-10-01T19:12:31.764-05:002018 MLB Postseason Predictions<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My predictions are again this year based loosely on the competing teams' head-to-head records and factoring home field advantage. I still do not have a future as a sports journalist. But just for fun:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">American League Wild Card: Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: New York Yankees</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">National League Wild Card: Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Chicago Cubs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">American League Division Series: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians at Houston Astros</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Predictions: Boston Red Sox in 4, Houston Astros in 5</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">National League Division Series: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Predictions: Milwaukee Brewers in 5, Los Angeles Dodgers in 4</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">American League Championship Series: Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Boston Red Sox in 7</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">National League Championship Series: Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers in 6</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers in 6</span></i>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90228482697254993.post-44340986439277247082018-08-15T08:20:00.000-05:002019-07-22T19:13:53.564-05:00Vancouver 2018, Days 4-6<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://ericjosephrubio.blogspot.com/2018/08/vancouver-2018-days-1-3.html" target="_blank"><i>Read my report on days 1-3 here first!</i></a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</script></span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 4 (SUNDAY)</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were up early and drove across Vancouver Harbour to North Vancouver and <a href="https://lynncanyon.ca/" target="_blank">Lynn Canyon Park</a>, famous for its suspension bridge. We walked across said bridge, swaying the whole time, and then did a loop trail around nearby Rice Lake. There were few other hikers at that time of day, but sure enough as we walked back to the parking lot, we saw it almost completely full and lots of people creating a bottleneck to cross the bridge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyIk8_2fiKl8_g0XKeGx6FZlIBQSIitDgWvJ9n3sufzhcEivq7UxhwluoAXBrJ6mBFdQqqAHPrS2g6PwuPw6pTl_yLMdM0o1i_CGrfOW-ogtKfgqrxwCwJPLCkVUpXw0OBX-kmAwKMk-O/s1600/Photo+Aug+05%252C+08+58+32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyIk8_2fiKl8_g0XKeGx6FZlIBQSIitDgWvJ9n3sufzhcEivq7UxhwluoAXBrJ6mBFdQqqAHPrS2g6PwuPw6pTl_yLMdM0o1i_CGrfOW-ogtKfgqrxwCwJPLCkVUpXw0OBX-kmAwKMk-O/s320/Photo+Aug+05%252C+08+58+32.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rice Lake, within Lynn Canyon Park</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back at our room we had lunch and then in the afternoon we wandered around the nearby suburb of Richmond. Their combination public library/cultural center had an interesting exhibit about tiny houses and their use as a solution to lack of affordable housing in some communities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As part of our stay on campus we had a coupon for The Point Grille, one of the on-campus restaurants, so we had dinner there that evening.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwUUnrgsSJIHb6rRj5iu0ZC0g1aqo_dX19yjU6Hq500PkDP7idka-diIbqgK9G1RkF9jDaaiC2-r_AE4YpNOCud138OjgtNpAdLObCDWF761RGOcTkexuFiFE7HINA8gkEyUhxgiv_dY3/s1600/Photo+Aug+05%252C+17+12+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwUUnrgsSJIHb6rRj5iu0ZC0g1aqo_dX19yjU6Hq500PkDP7idka-diIbqgK9G1RkF9jDaaiC2-r_AE4YpNOCud138OjgtNpAdLObCDWF761RGOcTkexuFiFE7HINA8gkEyUhxgiv_dY3/s320/Photo+Aug+05%252C+17+12+01.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Buffalo chicken wings at UBC's Point Grille. Except instead of chicken, that there is cauliflower. And it was delicious.</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 5 (MONDAY)</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we found out upon arrival to Canada when we spent some time taking our loose list of activity ideas and making actual plans, this particular Monday was a civic holiday in Canada, comparable to Labor Day in the United States. So I was a little concerned that it would be extra crowded at <a href="https://www.grousemountain.com/" target="_blank">Grouse Mountain</a>, one of the Vancouver area's top tourist attractions, that day. But in truth the crowds were manageable and we enjoyed a half-day there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grouse Mountain features a variety of activities on the mountaintop, from wildlife exhibits, a few hiking trails, and a whimsical lumberjack show, besides restaurants and great spots for photos.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pNeHYavBWkZJbUbVYPoCxFc7oo4IgY0DACFyWK2nZidtf3wSWpn8ozvSUA6esmwbPOGtST_fuX5FJbbo8I85P4RUgbp1o2ITriyoBcSlPc8ZIIa5vE8TXtXrEkZyrN_PopVeGg7rVxHe/s1600/Photo+Aug+06%252C+11+38+51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pNeHYavBWkZJbUbVYPoCxFc7oo4IgY0DACFyWK2nZidtf3wSWpn8ozvSUA6esmwbPOGtST_fuX5FJbbo8I85P4RUgbp1o2ITriyoBcSlPc8ZIIa5vE8TXtXrEkZyrN_PopVeGg7rVxHe/s320/Photo+Aug+06%252C+11+38+51.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Grouse Mountain Lumberjack Show</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9gH7XoOmfVKVLWOH3WVVoRjUys4G5COlNhSXj-MabgByK91cA50ZAuasDbTTRrxGonXtVVgcFpzU7yHTo4mmOEyql5xjXQaO5BO8qjmEVg5LgAKqiYytBBajkd1mQT6C7zM1BcAEY7HN/s1600/Photo+Aug+06%252C+13+10+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9gH7XoOmfVKVLWOH3WVVoRjUys4G5COlNhSXj-MabgByK91cA50ZAuasDbTTRrxGonXtVVgcFpzU7yHTo4mmOEyql5xjXQaO5BO8qjmEVg5LgAKqiYytBBajkd1mQT6C7zM1BcAEY7HN/s320/Photo+Aug+06%252C+13+10+25.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On the peak of Grouse Mountain, with Vancouver spread out below</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYlxQwAvF3SUFfev1Ism1lQ4quYHylmSH_fa1YlSPt7pZkczVwOmFd9blg1Eim67JP_2rFVFdjByRj5TWE_E59W54hOy0vYYWtdkonB-G83CG922U2_XoCWdqqN9vXMoKgYOkS0fA-Dy_/s1600/Photo+Aug+06%252C+14+01+55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYlxQwAvF3SUFfev1Ism1lQ4quYHylmSH_fa1YlSPt7pZkczVwOmFd9blg1Eim67JP_2rFVFdjByRj5TWE_E59W54hOy0vYYWtdkonB-G83CG922U2_XoCWdqqN9vXMoKgYOkS0fA-Dy_/s320/Photo+Aug+06%252C+14+01+55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">View of Vancouver on the gondala ride back to base camp. Stanley Park in the middle of the right edge of picture, with UBC's Grey Point just above it. Downtown Vancouver right in the middle of the picture.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were both easily tired by about two in the afternoon after just four hours on the mountain. So we returned to UBC to relax and then finished the day with ice cream from a local shop and watching the sunset from nearby Wreck Beach.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLAemRYHcFb5BTCqar7yTKrPIWy7rtvKoUEJ7haqJ5CM_nJwT5A61jWA1_9hXL2c5PV1SgA5AQW8AhyxOBu5tCWlHsd5a0RsF7T5ZxKT1pkVSYr_S4u7g7rvSOPyFWzrcc7UUWpwuxtuM/s1600/Photo+Aug+06%252C+22+43+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLAemRYHcFb5BTCqar7yTKrPIWy7rtvKoUEJ7haqJ5CM_nJwT5A61jWA1_9hXL2c5PV1SgA5AQW8AhyxOBu5tCWlHsd5a0RsF7T5ZxKT1pkVSYr_S4u7g7rvSOPyFWzrcc7UUWpwuxtuM/s320/Photo+Aug+06%252C+22+43+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DAY 6 (TUESDAY)</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had seen several dozen Tim Horton's whilst driving about Vancouver during our trip, so I decided that on our last morning of this particular visit to our neighbor to the north, I would have breakfast from Tim Horton's. So Naomi and I walked to one of the campus locations and I enjoyed a classic breakfast sandwich. Delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then it was a leisurely walk back to our room to pack, check out, and return to the airport. This would be our first time using our brand-new Global Entry status, and it was very satisfying to move quickly through security and border preclearance before settling in the departure area with great views of planes taking off to the west.</span><br />
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copyright © <a href="http://www.kls2.com/~karl/">Karl L. Swartz</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We arrived home after a smooth flight halfway across the continent, tired but very pleased with our extended weekend Canadian adventure.</span>ericjosephrubiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05780186484991808304noreply@blogger.com0