January 16, 2023 by davefiskum

WHAT IS GOSPEL-CENTERED, MULTI-ETHNIC, INTER-GENERATIONAL IN PALM SPRINGS?

This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write. I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf. The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie. And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

Southwest Church! That’s what.

This is the church my wife and I attend when we live in La Quinta, California for the winter.

It is a privilege to do so – both live and attend church there.

The senior pastor at Southwest is Rickey Jenkins.

But, that’s not much of a description.

He wouldn’t mind if I wrote that he is a Black man who came with his family from Mississippi to the Coachella Valley in 2018. He leads a church that, under his leadership, has become a regional institution.

Not an institution in the sense of a place or set of buildings. But an institution, to use a Jenkins’ phrase, “to make Jesus famous.”

Here is what an on-line bio says about Jenkins:

“Ricky Jenkins is the senior pastor of Southwest Church in Indian Wells, California. From his beginnings in Pearl, Mississippi, all the way to Oakland, California, to Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago, Illinois, Ricky has been preaching the gospel for more than 20 years.

“Fueled by Acts 20:28, Ricky is called to pursue God passionately and pursue God’s people compassionately for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

“With a shepherd’s heart, Ricky’s preaching weaves together biblical exposition, vivid illustration, heartfelt application, and an extra helping of humor with which to convey the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Ricky is married to the light of his heart, April Jenkins. Together they have three beautiful children — Camden, Grand, and Andi.

“Ricky is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Historical Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, Illinois. His research interests revolve around pastoral leadership, racial reconciliation, and issues of justice during the Civil Rights movement.”

Back to his “fuel” verse, Acts 20:28. Here is what it says:

^“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

The headline in this blog repeats a phrase that Southwest uses to illustrate its mission. Here it is again:

A gospel-centered,
multi-ethnic,
inter-generational
church…

And, we love discipleship!

Also, every Sunday when he preaches, Ricky uses this phrase when he reads from the Bible:

“I have just read from the greatest book ever written – and I stand before you today to verify that every word of it is true.”

Here are a couple other emphases that Southwest uses to illustrate that it is more than just a building – it is church with an appeal to the community.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY CHARITIES: Southwest leaders find ways for members and adherents of the church to get out in the Palm Springs community to work for a day here or there in charitable organizations that serve low-income and destitute citizens in the area, including the disaffected and the homeless.

Ricky calls this “putting feet to the Gospel.”

INVITING ORGANIZATIONS ON THE CHURCH CAMPUS: Southwest allows its property to house what happens many times in the desert – encampments of food trucks, clothing tents, and other community organizations interested in selling their wares. They park on the church grounds on various weekends, so they are there “for church” on a Sunday when they hear the services on loudspeakers set up on the grounds.

Then, those who attend the church are encouraged to walk around the property to buy food and sample other wares.

Both times we have seen this, antique car owners also have been invited to be there to show their vehicles.

So, you see that church at Southwest is more than Sunday services. It is a set of relationships “to make Jesus famous.” And, Ricky Jenkins, though he would not want personal credit, deserves much of it, though, if he saw this post, he would direct the credit to God.

Further, after the Sunday service, our overwhelming emotion upon leaving is joy. We were glad we were there and want to go again.

January 16, 2023 by davefiskum

WHAT IS GOSPEL-CENTERED, MULTI-ETHNIC, INTER-GENERATIONAL IN PALM SPRINGS?

Southwest Church! That’s what.

This is the church my wife and I attend when we live in La Quinta, California for the winter.

It is a privilege to do so – both live and attend church there.

The senior pastor at Southwest is Rickey Jenkins.

But, that’s not much of a description.

Not an institution in the sense of a place or set of buildings. But an institution, to use a Jenkins’ phrase, “to make Jesus famous.”

Here is what an on-line bio says about Jenkins:

“Fueled by Acts 20:28, Ricky is called to pursue God passionately and pursue God’s people compassionately for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ.

“Ricky is married to the light of his heart, April Jenkins. Together they have three beautiful children — Camden, Grand, and Andi.

Back to his “fuel” verse, Acts 20:28. Here is what it says:

^“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

The headline in this blog repeats a phrase that Southwest uses to illustrate its mission. Here it is again:

A gospel-centered,
multi-ethnic,
inter-generational
church…

And, we love discipleship!

Also, every Sunday when he preaches, Ricky uses this phrase when he reads from the Bible:

“I have just read from the greatest book ever written – and I stand before you today to verify that every word of it is true.”

Here are a couple other emphases that Southwest uses to illustrate that it is more than just a building – it is church with an appeal to the community.

SUPPORTING COIMMUNITY CHARITIES: Southwest leaders find ways for members and adherents of the church to get out in the Palm Springs community to work for a day here or there in charitable organizations that serve low-income and destitute citizens in the area, including the disaffected and the homeless.

Ricky calls this “putting feet to the Gospel.”

INVITING ORGANIZATIONS ON THE CHURCH CAMPUS: Southwest allows its property to house what happens many times in the desert – encampments of food trucks, clothing tents, and other community organizations interested in selling their wares. They park on the church grounds on various weekends, so they are there “for church” on a Sunday when they hear the services on loudspeakers set up on the grounds.

Then, those who attend the church are encouraged to walk around the property to buy food and sample other wares.

Both times we have seen this, antique car owners also have been invited to be there to show their vehicles.

January 15, 2023 by davefiskum

ABOUT DOGS

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a dog lover.

My wife and I have had two dogs – Hogan and Callaway. One was part of our family. One now is part of our family.

Hogan went to heaven about five years ago and he is looking down on us as he romps in the fields free from the cancer that took him. Then, we got Callaway, not to replace Hogan, but to occupy another important place in our family.

Hogan and Callaway came from the same poodle breeder near Amity, Oregon, a place that came highly recommended as something other than a “dog breeding factory.”

It was a great place to find a dog(s).

Actually, Callaway came from the same pure-bred poodle line as Hogan, so, without knowing all about their lineage, we consider Hogan to be Callaway’s uncle.

Why do I report all this?

Because I came across two stories about dogs lately in national media, one very positive, and one very negative. Here is a summary of both.

MO MOUNTAIN MUTTS, a dog-walking business in Skagway, Alaska, takes different groups of dogs on walks multiple times a day. Plus, it uses a bus to transport all the dogs to the areas for walks.

Dubbed the “puppy bus” by the business’s owners, it is equipped with special safety harnesses for the dogs, who each have their own assigned seat.

Guess what? When the bus comes by the homes of the dogs, the animals are waiting patiently – or perhaps not so patiently — in their front yards. And, then, when the bus doors open, the dogs run to get on and go immediately to their assigned seats.

To their assigned seats? Yes, they have “assigned seats” and they know where they are.

On the walks, the dogs are trained to be off-leash, so, at least based on the photos, it appears the dogs love the exercise and the freedom.

In words, this story arouses the senses, at least mine. But, if you saw the photos carried in the Washington Post, which ran a story on Mo Mountain Mutts, you’d laugh out loud – laugh with appreciation.

The owners said this: “We can’t believe we can do this for a living.”

· “DOG-NAPPING” IS ON RISE: In the second story, the facts caught me by surprise – and they are very negative.

Here is the way the Washington Post reported the issue:

“Dog thefts — some violent — appear to be on the rise nationwide, but the owner of a Yorkshire terrier and a veteran who hunted al-Qaeda militants in Iraq teamed up to save a dog held for ransom.

“Raquel Witherspoon had spent a frantic 24-hours searching for her daughter’s Yorkshire terrier, after making a shocking discovery. Footage from her doorbell camera showed a young woman with dyed-red hair creep onto her front porch, throw treats to Avery, and then make off with the tiny dog.

“Witherspoon’s 12-year-old daughter was distraught. Semaj (the daughter’s name) relied on Avery for emotional support and could barely eat or sleep since the dog vanished.”

But, then, suddenly, Witherspoon’s iPhone buzzed to life in her Maryland home that day after the pup disappeared in June.

What happened was that a military veteran of serving in Iraq learned about the plight of the 12-year-old and offered to help.

Using skills he developed in his military service, he worked on-line and in other ways to find the culprit and he got the kidnapped dog back — safe and sound.

Great result!

So, two stories here.

I intend to dwell on the good news of the first, remembering all the photos of dogs set for a great walk in Alaska. As for the second, I’ll work hard to protect Callaway.

January 13, 2023 by davefiskum

NON-COMPETE CLAUSES COME UNDER INCREASING SCRUTINY

The word “non-compete” is not one in normal use these days. But, when the word is used, it conjures up a memory for me from my time as a state lobbyist.

In the case I remember, I represented the Oregon Association of Broadcasters (OAB), a group of more than 200 radio and television stations around Oregon.

Some members of the association – mainly larger TV stations – used non-competes to protect their investments in high-profile on-air talent, such as those who carry the title “anchor.” Often, these investments, mainly in advertising, ran into the millions of dollars.

Think of it this way. Suppose a television station invests money promoting “person X” as an anchor. That person, with such an investment behind them, should not be allowed on a moment’s notice to leave to go to another competing station down the road.

That’s what station managers believed and that’s why they installed non-compete clauses in high-profile contracts.

So, what’s the actual definition of the term non-compete? This:

“A non-compete agreement is a contract between two parties, usually two individuals or one company and one individual, in which one of the individuals promises not to compete with the other individual or company once their relationship with the company has ended.”

All of this comes up because the Federal Trade Commission is now proposing a rule to prohibit employers from using non-compete clauses which it contends “suppresses pay, prevents new companies from forming, and raises consumer prices.”

Eugene Scalia, former U.S. Secretary of Labor, labeled it a “breath-taking power move,” when he wrote this in the Wall Street Journal:

“The Federal Trade Commission’s ban on non-compete agreements may be the most audacious federal rule ever proposed. If finalized, it would outlaw terms in 30 million contracts and pre-empt laws in virtually every state. It would also, by the FTC’s own account, reduce capital investment, worker training and possibly job growth, while increasing the wage gap.”

The good news, Scalia writes, is that the proposal is unlikely to become law, though that is clearly a prediction, not a fact, because it would not be surprising if the Trade Commission approved the final rule.

The prospect of the ban has been met with outrage from some parts of business community — including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which maintains that non-compete agreements promote competition and innovation, and to put an important point on it, protect companies where employees are aware of trade secrets which they could, if left without non-competes, take down the road to competitors.

“Actions by the Federal Trade Commission to outright ban non-compete clauses in all employer contracts is blatantly unlawful,” Sean Heather, a U.S. Chamber official, said in response to news of the proposed rule. “Since the agency’s creation over 100 years ago, Congress has never delegated the FTC anything close to the authority it would need to promulgate such a competition rule.”

The use of non-compete clauses dates back hundreds of years. Such restrictions were originally meant to protect a business’s trade secrets – and, for the Oregon broadcasters, such contracts protected huge investments in ongoing business.

For me, as the broadcasters’ lobbyist, the issue arose in 2009 because the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) – a union — came to the Capitol to oppose OAB non-compete agreements.

No one knew why AFTRA showed up because it was not usually involved in Salem, but the union got support from then-Oregon Senator Rick Metsger, a former TV broadcaster who didn’t like broadcast managers, including those for whom he worked in Portland.

Metsger also didn’t seem to care one wit about the rationale for non-compete agreements as they had been negotiated by OAB member stations.

As Metsger moved ahead with his ban proposal, I almost lost the battle until I proposed the following language, which, in the 2009 legislative session, made into law in the form of an amendment to ORS 653.020. Sorry, this is pretty detailed language, but, then, so is the issue.

“(c) The employer has a protectable interest. As used in this paragraph, an employer has a protectable interest when the employee:

“(A) Has access to trade secrets, as that term is defined in ORS 646.461;

“(B) Has access to competitively sensitive confidential business or professional information that otherwise would not qualify as a trade secret, including product development plans, product launch plans, marketing strategy or sales plans; or

“(C) Is employed as an on-air talent by an employer in the business of broadcasting and the employer: In the year preceding the termination of the employee′s employment, expended re-sources equal to or exceeding 10 per cent of the employee′s annual salary to develop, improve, train or publicly promote the employee, provided that the resources expended by the employer were expended on media that the employer does not own or control; and

“(ii) Provides the employee, for the time the employee is restricted from working, the greater of compensation equal to at least 50 per cent of the employee′s annual gross base salary and commissions at the time of the employee′s termination or 50 per cent of the median family income for a four-person family, as determined by the United States Census Bureau for the most recent year available at the time of the employee′s termination.”

Fortunately, this language recognized the specific circumstances of broadcast executives instead of imposing a one-size-fits-all approach currently being contemplated by federal regulators.

See, as I told you earlier, more than you may want to know about this arcane issue – non-competes. But, to the broadcast industry in Oregon, it is important.

January 12, 2023 by davefiskum

“FAITH” ON CAPITAL HILL: SAY WHAT?

PEW Research came up with a story on what it called “the religious composition” of the 118^th Congress, the one just now in session in Washington, D.C.

Okay. The phrase “religious composition” works.

But the headline didn’t. It was this: “Faith on the Hill.”

I submit that it’s possible to come up with a tally of how many Members of Congress attend church or identify with a particular religion or denomination, or for that matter, with no affiliation.

It is not possible, I submit, to tabulate “faith.” That is an individual characteristic. If you have it, you have it before and with God. If you don’t have it, well, that is your personal business.

The PEW report began this way:

“As it begins its 118th session, the U.S. Congress remains largely untouched by two trends that have long marked religious life in the United States: A decades-long decline in the share of Americans who identify as Christian, and a corresponding increase in the percentage who say they have no religious affiliation.

“Since 2007, the share of Christians in the general population has dropped from 78 per cent to its present level of 63 per cent.

“Nearly three-in-ten U.S. adults now say they are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular,’ up from 16 per cent who did not identify with a religion 16 years ago.

“But Christians make up 88 per cent of the voting members of the new 118th Congress – only a few percentage points lower than the Christian share of Congress in the late 1970s.

“In the 96th Congress, which was in session in 1979-1980, 91 per cent of members of Congress identified as Christian.”

Interesting statistics? I suppose so.

But, I always find stats on subject like this mostly irrelevant. A person’s faith – or, for that matter, non-faith – is up to them, not to be reflected in a poll.

So, I say to PEW: Thanks, but try to be more precise when you take off on issues such as this.

January 11, 2023 by davefiskum

THE NAME VIC ATIYEH RINGS OUT AGAIN AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN SALEM

It was the first day of new Governor Tina Kotek’s term in office, a Monday.

In a surprise to me and probably to other observers of state government in Oregon, Kotek invoked the name of Vic Atiyeh.

Who?

Victor Atiyeh served as governor from 1978 to 1987 after a stint in the Oregon Senate. In the spirit of full disclosure, I had the privilege to work with and for Atiyeh, a highlight of my 15 years in state government management ranks.

Here is what Kotek said in her remarks upon being sworn to Oregon’s top political job, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting reporters:

“…in her inaugural speech, she said her priority is strengthening connections between Oregonians across the state. She cited former Republican Governor Vic Atiyeh as inspiration.

The late Atiyeh served as the last Republican governor in Oregon and Kotek, obviously, is a Democrat. So, for her to cite Atiyeh is a sterling expression of bi-partisanship.

Here is what she said:

“He was a former legislator with deep knowledge of our state budget. I will endeavor to listen and lead with the same skills that Governor Atiyeh brought to the job.”

In what Kotek said, she managed to capture several Atiyeh traits — authenticity, compassion, and skill.

One reason for these traits was that Atiyeh never sought to get or claim credit for the good things he did. He let credit fall where it would.

His priority? Simple leading an effort to do those good things. And working with all sides – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – to get the job done.

I often remember what a former partner of mine said – and he was a long-time Democrat with sharply-honed policy skills. This partner said that Atiyeh, a Republican, was the best governor he knew and was always ready to listen, including to my partner, the Democrat.

I hope now that Kotek lives up to her goals of authenticity, compassion, and skill.

January 9, 2023 by davefiskum

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUY “KINK-FREE” GARDEN HOSES? NO!

The Department of Pet Peeves is one of several departments I run with a free hand to operate as I see fit.

Call me a dictator.

Pet Peeves was the first department I created when I moved into retirement. I had to have something to do other than think about golf rules and play golf.

So, the Department of Pet Peeves is now open…again.

I toyed on this day to write about several peeves, but decided to focus on only one:

KINK-FREE GARDEN HOSES? The other day I almost bought a garden hose with a sign on it sign that said: “This never kinks.” Then, I remembered the last time when I had done this and came home to see a hose that kinked immediately and automatically.

This time, the hose I looked at actually carried another nonsense phrase on its wrapper: “Never kinks!”

Sure.

My goal from now on is to buy only metal hoses because guess what? They don’t kink!

January 5, 2023 by davefiskum

QUESTION: WILL 2023 BY ANY BETTER THAN 2022? ANSWER: MAYBE

The question in the headline begs an answer.

An optimist would say “yes.” A pessimist would say “no.”

I – a realist, even if, on occasion, I am not – would say “maybe.”

That’s also what a retired lobbyist – me – would say to keep his options open.

In the Washington Post, columnist George Will produced a cogent paragraph to describe weird developments in 2022 even as he looked forward to 2023:

“The strangeness of 2022 was exemplified by the extravagant investment of time, brain cells and media passion in fretting about Twitter. This medium, which humanity progressed without for 10 millennia, suddenly seemed to some worrywarts as vital as oxygen and proteins, and as perishable as the planet. Progressives, constantly hungering for cataclysms (“Democracy is dying!” “Earth is boiling!”), worried that an end of politically motivated, government-influenced curating of content on Twitter, which is a 16-year-old adolescent, might doom this 246-year-old nation. Only 23 per cent of Americans, disproportionately progressives, use Twitter, and 25 per cent of the 23 per cent generate 97 per cent of the tweets.”

So, let’s forget about Twitter even as we watch Elon Musk lose more reputation, not to mention money.

The recent issue of Atlantic Magazine contained a story on the prospects for 2023. It was written by Tom Nichols and here are the first few paragraphs of the article:

“Throughout 2022, I’ve worried a lot. I’ve had plenty of smaller gripes — that is my nature as a professional curmudgeon — but mostly, I’ve been concerned about world war, the rule of law, and the collapse of democracy.

“But here at the end of the year, I am optimistic, which is a surprise even to me.

“Before we head off into 2023, let’s think about why the past year wasn’t as bad as we might think, and why the coming year might even be better.”

Nichols opined that the “single most important story of the year” was the resilience of democracy.

“Two great events (or, more accurately, non-events) reassured me as part of that heartening narrative: The Russians failed to win a war in Europe, and anti-democratic candidates failed to rebound in America.

“These were not small things, and indeed, I sometimes worry that Americans underestimate just how close to disaster we all came in 2022. I am not prone to World War II metaphors, but I was moved enough by the mid-term elections to refer to them as ‘democracy’s Dunkirk.’

“In 2022, the West chose to help Ukraine defend itself, and the voters chose to protect democracy. In fact, the American system is now engaged in a certain amount of healing, even if it doesn’t feel that way all the time.

“Election deniers, led by Kari Lake in Arizona, are regularly being told by the judicial system to go pound sand. Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is, so far, a shambolic and pitiful mess.

“Congress, with something that these days looks like a smidge of bi-partisanship, has sent a bill with the Electoral Count Reform Act to President Joe Biden’s desk, adding some insurance against any further attempts at electoral-vote chicanery.”

Meanwhile, Nichols reported, there have consequences for coup plotters, seditionists, and other criminals, including multi-year prison sentences.

Here are a few other positive signs:

Musk proved to us that billions of dollars cannot buy everything, and especially not competence or common sense. Tesla stock, the source of so much of Musk’s fortune, has lost more than $800 billion — that’s billion, with a B — in value, most of it vanishing after Musk’s decision to detonate his reputation.
Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, meanwhile, finally dumped her affiliation as a Democrat, a move that was almost certainly prompted less by ideology than by her realization that she is deeply unpopular among Democrats and was likely to lose a primary in her own party. Plus, in terms of organization in Congress, she is still likely to caucus with Democrats, if they let her in the front door.
The collective national shrug at Trump’s entry into the GOP presidential race tends to confirm that 2022 was a bad year for narcissism.

So, back to the question. Will 2023 be better or worse than 2022? My answer – maybe – rests on a basic perception. All of us – me included – have a tendency to look ahead and find reasons to be pessimistic. That includes our focus on media analysts who often focus on the negative.

But, instead, we should look ahead, not just with optimism and not just with pessimism, but with realism.

January 5, 2023 by davefiskum

QUESTION: WILL 2033 BY ANY BETTER THAN 2022? ANSWER: MAYBE