Thursday, February 7, 2013
"If blessings are more emphasized than sufferings, then God's grace might be more evident to us."
Just a thought that came to me while on my walk today...Gives me more reasons to "count [my] blessings."
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Sactown (part ii): Jacks of All Trade, Master of None
Although I have learned to appreciate Sacramento as a city, it is still far from being ideal or a place that I would want to live if I am not from the area. There are many reason for that...but one big reason...Sacramento lacks an exciting central identity. Let's explore a bit of the characteristics of some of Sacramento's many identities:
History
Sacramento has a rich history...making this perhaps the most important one of them all. Started off with Native Americans, then a Spanish Settlement, eventually, the wild American Frontier, Gold Rush, Transcontinental Railroad, and California State Capitol. Yeah...thats a long history. Sacramento and the State of California has done quite a few preservation of historical buildings and monuments in Sacramento...Old Sac, Railroad Museum, Sutters Fort, and soon the new Railroad Technology Museum. Although a lot has been done, talk to anyone...almost anyone at all, Sacramento as a city today is not known for any of these things. What's interesting is Sacramento played such a vital roll in American history and none of those things come to people's minds in a conversation (with certain exceptions of course). Did you know that the Sacramento Railyard at a point employed one third of the entire city, and was the biggest railyard west of the Mississippi River...the main western terminus? Or a major terminus of the Pony Express, telegraphs, wagon trains, etc.? *turns off History nerd mode* My point is this, with such amazing history, Sacramento barely publicizes or mentions any of it. A city that should be proud of it's heritage has ended up barely doing anything to promote its rich heritage.
Sports
Sports is also another one of Sacramento's identity. Sacramento Kings! They are GREAT...back in 2000! That was 12 to 13 years ago! I went to a Kings vs Denver Nuggets game atArco Sleep Train Arena this season. The Kings never had the lead...and lost 122-97. It was one of the saddest games I have ever seen. To make it worse...the team owners (Maloof brothers) have forced so many deals with our city. In the end, we are still trying to make deals with them to build a new arena...even after they havent even fulfilled promises from the old arena! The city has been so desperate to keep this team in our city...being completely blind to the tumor cancer (Maloofs) that is attached to it. They are sucking public money that can be used to improve the looks, business, tourism and safety of our city. I mean...$350 million isnt exactly chump change. Building the arena would no doubt help Sacramento, but I personally think as long as the Maloofs own the Kings, get them out of Sacramento.
In recent news, the Maloofs are selling the Kings to Seattle. I am sad to see them go...and Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento is trying to do all he can do to get the Kings to stay. It would be awesome for the Kings to stay, but I do not think Sacramento should root it's primary identity in this team. (I hope the Maloofs get out of Sac...even better, get locked up for prying so much money out of this city.)
Art/Events
Some of you might be thinking..."really?"...exactly my point. Sacramento is actually pretty cultured in art. Crocker Art Museum, Memorial Auditorium and Music Circus all in the heart of downtown, and also 2nd Saturday Art Festival every month...so yea...we have a pretty artistic community here. Although that is true, the artistic culture is not strong enough to influence its identity. For good art, people would look more to San Francisco.
Major events such as big name concerts also does not come to Sacramento very often because, lets be honest, San Francisco/the Bay would draw a bigger crowd. I mean if there is a big name music artist that is performing in SF, Im sure people wouldnt mind driving 2 hours just to see them. In addition, with high crime rates, 2nd Saturdays and other public events have been met with violent occurrences...further the plaguing events that is trying to bring life to this city.
Bottom line, keep these events going...but probably wont be something Sacramento would be known for...
Crime/Misery
Sacramento to be honest is not the safest city. If you look at this list, Sacramento is towards the bottom at # 337. One would say, "At least we aren't as bad as Oakland." The thing is...Oakland is filled with crime due to gang wars. But Sacramento...I dont know...I think Sacramento is sometimes worse because of all the random idiots killing a bunch of random people. At least if there is a gang war, the city has targets and objectives. In addition, Sacramento has been named by Forbes as the 5th most miserable city in the US (I would disagree) in 2011. If Sacramento want to LOSE this identity, it will need to spend more money and time, cleaning up the shadiness of this city and start making Sacramento an attractive place to live. A lot of times these things go hand in hand...the less miserable people are in the city, the less likely to be crimes.
Government
It is inevitable...being the State Capitol of (what once was) the greatest state in the US...Sacramento is naturally and rightfully labeled as California's government center. This is an identity that will never go away from this city. Because of how big this state is, there are many public departments, institutions, programs, etc. that keeps the state running for better or for worse. As a result, the top employer of this city, is the government. Since no other identity really sticks out, Sacramento falls to this default identity...government. Let's be honest...that's a pretty boring identity..."Let's go to Sacramento, I heard its the state capitol of California," *oOo...Ahh...snap a picture...go to the bathroom* "Lets move on to San Francisco/LA/Lake Tahoe."
Sacramento has never mastered any of it's identities...as a result, it falls into its default identity...government. Making it fail to attract people and businesses to this city. Although the city has tried so much...the lack of a focus has made Sacramento the jack of all trade, master of none.
But lets not lost hope...now Sacramento has an opportunity to rebrand itself...Remember the railyard I was talking about earlier? Well this is currently the nation's biggest infill project. The lot size is 240 acre and will effectively double the size of downtown Sacramento. In addition, Downtown Plaza Mall has just been bought out and plans for remodeling are in the works. These two projects alone can transform Sacramento and give Sacramento an identity and the break it needs to put the city back on the map. Though one of the most important aspects, identity is not the only thing this city needs to figure out...as I will explain in part iii.
History
Sacramento has a rich history...making this perhaps the most important one of them all. Started off with Native Americans, then a Spanish Settlement, eventually, the wild American Frontier, Gold Rush, Transcontinental Railroad, and California State Capitol. Yeah...thats a long history. Sacramento and the State of California has done quite a few preservation of historical buildings and monuments in Sacramento...Old Sac, Railroad Museum, Sutters Fort, and soon the new Railroad Technology Museum. Although a lot has been done, talk to anyone...almost anyone at all, Sacramento as a city today is not known for any of these things. What's interesting is Sacramento played such a vital roll in American history and none of those things come to people's minds in a conversation (with certain exceptions of course). Did you know that the Sacramento Railyard at a point employed one third of the entire city, and was the biggest railyard west of the Mississippi River...the main western terminus? Or a major terminus of the Pony Express, telegraphs, wagon trains, etc.? *turns off History nerd mode* My point is this, with such amazing history, Sacramento barely publicizes or mentions any of it. A city that should be proud of it's heritage has ended up barely doing anything to promote its rich heritage.
Sports
Sports is also another one of Sacramento's identity. Sacramento Kings! They are GREAT...back in 2000! That was 12 to 13 years ago! I went to a Kings vs Denver Nuggets game at
In recent news, the Maloofs are selling the Kings to Seattle. I am sad to see them go...and Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento is trying to do all he can do to get the Kings to stay. It would be awesome for the Kings to stay, but I do not think Sacramento should root it's primary identity in this team. (I hope the Maloofs get out of Sac...even better, get locked up for prying so much money out of this city.)
Art/Events
Some of you might be thinking..."really?"...exactly my point. Sacramento is actually pretty cultured in art. Crocker Art Museum, Memorial Auditorium and Music Circus all in the heart of downtown, and also 2nd Saturday Art Festival every month...so yea...we have a pretty artistic community here. Although that is true, the artistic culture is not strong enough to influence its identity. For good art, people would look more to San Francisco.
Major events such as big name concerts also does not come to Sacramento very often because, lets be honest, San Francisco/the Bay would draw a bigger crowd. I mean if there is a big name music artist that is performing in SF, Im sure people wouldnt mind driving 2 hours just to see them. In addition, with high crime rates, 2nd Saturdays and other public events have been met with violent occurrences...further the plaguing events that is trying to bring life to this city.
Bottom line, keep these events going...but probably wont be something Sacramento would be known for...
Crime/Misery
Sacramento to be honest is not the safest city. If you look at this list, Sacramento is towards the bottom at # 337. One would say, "At least we aren't as bad as Oakland." The thing is...Oakland is filled with crime due to gang wars. But Sacramento...I dont know...I think Sacramento is sometimes worse because of all the random idiots killing a bunch of random people. At least if there is a gang war, the city has targets and objectives. In addition, Sacramento has been named by Forbes as the 5th most miserable city in the US (I would disagree) in 2011. If Sacramento want to LOSE this identity, it will need to spend more money and time, cleaning up the shadiness of this city and start making Sacramento an attractive place to live. A lot of times these things go hand in hand...the less miserable people are in the city, the less likely to be crimes.
Government
It is inevitable...being the State Capitol of (what once was) the greatest state in the US...Sacramento is naturally and rightfully labeled as California's government center. This is an identity that will never go away from this city. Because of how big this state is, there are many public departments, institutions, programs, etc. that keeps the state running for better or for worse. As a result, the top employer of this city, is the government. Since no other identity really sticks out, Sacramento falls to this default identity...government. Let's be honest...that's a pretty boring identity..."Let's go to Sacramento, I heard its the state capitol of California," *oOo...Ahh...snap a picture...go to the bathroom* "Lets move on to San Francisco/LA/Lake Tahoe."
Sacramento has never mastered any of it's identities...as a result, it falls into its default identity...government. Making it fail to attract people and businesses to this city. Although the city has tried so much...the lack of a focus has made Sacramento the jack of all trade, master of none.
But lets not lost hope...now Sacramento has an opportunity to rebrand itself...Remember the railyard I was talking about earlier? Well this is currently the nation's biggest infill project. The lot size is 240 acre and will effectively double the size of downtown Sacramento. In addition, Downtown Plaza Mall has just been bought out and plans for remodeling are in the works. These two projects alone can transform Sacramento and give Sacramento an identity and the break it needs to put the city back on the map. Though one of the most important aspects, identity is not the only thing this city needs to figure out...as I will explain in part iii.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I want to be So Far Gone in You...Even if I can only be a Doorkeeper
Its been only a few weeks into 2013, and I can say its turning out to be one of the rougher starts to a new year for me. It was as if once it turned 2013, everything began to fall apart...car troubles (I seriously better be compensated for the damage), sudden changes in plans, inevitable events, unpleasant surprises...A lot of these things have taken away my peace, contentment and joy. I recently reread my post about joy and tried to navigate my way back.
The topic of contentment is interesting. I went to Central Peninsula Church in Foster City a few weeks ago and Pastor Mark Mitchell, talked about "Hope for the New Year". His message was on Psalms 84 where the Psalmist's Psalm described three different types of journeys. I wont steal Mark Mitchell's thunder...but one of the journeys is "Journey of Contentment".
"Better is one day in your courts
than
a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked."
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked."
~Psalms 84:10
I love the image that is painted by this verse. Its better to be in God's courts for one day...JUST ONE...than thousands of the best days on this Earth! I would love to be that content...Just knowing that I am in God's presence is enough to make everything else seem insignificant. The other cool thing is one can also be content and happy with being a doorkeeper (NOTE: doorkeepers are outside, dangers of guarding doors) of God's house than be inside the tent (NOTE: inside, shelter, security) of the wicked. That is some contentment!
To go further on the topic of contentment, I recently have a new favorite song...Thousand Foot Krutch - So Far Gone.
Yeah, Yeah...I have said that I dont usually listen to TFK because their music is too hard ...But this is one of their mellow songs. I really like this song because I do want to be "so far gone in You". And no...its not talking about a significant other...but rather the God that created everything, who still loves and cares about us even though we are screw ups. He still feels for us when we struggle in life. Even though I am going through a small rough patch right now, I constantly want to run towards Christ and be in His arms and protection. "I wanna be so far gone in You...So far that nothing else will do!" I want to be back in that place...where it feels like nothing else will do...where my peace, contentment and joy is based off of the excitement of knowing Christ. I want to be So Far Gone in You...even if I can only be a Doorkeeper.
Lyrics after the break...
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