Rest in peace, Edith Macefield of Ballard, Washington (1921-2008).

Read why she is awesome here.

Be amazed at the photo below, and note the car.

Thank you, Edith. (H/T: Longbrake)

This past Sunday Rivertree Church in Ohio had their annual Father’s Day Car Show. Included for the first time this year was the Junky Car Club.

Andy Russell from Rivertree Church headed up getting the JCC involved. We sent him stickers, membership cards, and the official Junky Car Club banner. This was his report from Sunday.

“We had a great car show and enlisted 34 families into the JCC this weekend, and sponsored 3 more Compassion kids.”

Great job Andy and all the great folks at Rivertree.

You can read Greg Nettle’s blog post about the day.

If you’re interested in featuring the Junky Car Club at your church or event email us at Info@JunkyCarClub.com

I read this in the LA Times this morning about these huge mansions that are being built in LA. Anyone who assumed that the construction of mega-mansions would grind to a halt as the economy worsens must not be familiar with the customs of the very rich.

“Does anybody need 40,000 square feet?” asks real estate agent Stephen Shapiro of the Westside Estate Agency. “No, but these are our current-day aristocrats and feudal leaders . . . and this is what they want.”

Real estate experts give various explanations for the continuing popularity of mega-mansions including people spending more time at home and the need for comfort. Real estate agent Drew Fenton said that no one sets out to build a mega-house; it just “happens.”

The following video has been floating around the web for the past few days. I saw Mike had posted it recently on Deadly Viper and I thought it would be great to post again here. It’s a short video Ken Coleman did for financial guru Dave Ramsey on car payments. Check it out.

Have you been keeping up with the news from Myanmar (also known as Burma)? What are your thoughts about the military regime’s response to the Cyclone Nargis disaster, or lack thereof? How do you think we as individuals can help? The following is a post by Ash Barker [Urban Neighbours of Hope, Bangkok] on Phil Baker’s blog:

Could I ask for your urgent prayers and action for Burma today? Yesterday, I met with Burmese friends here in Bangkok to get the latest news on the Cyclone Nargis disaster and to ask how UNOH could best help with the relief effort. Dr San Aung, Maung Maung and Zin Linn are part of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). Led by elected Burmese MPs from the National League for Democracy (NLD), this is the peak body of Burmese leaders working for democracy.

As I heard their tragic news and saw the latest photos I felt a wave of nausea hit me. The death toll is now over 100,000 people, but over 2 million survivors are still homeless, living in makeshift camps and monasteries. Many survivors have not eaten food or drunk water for a week. Children are being found alive among their parents’ dead bodies. Water-born diseases are now starting to gain momentum, taking their deathly toll. Yet, the junta are still saying ‘Only the Burmese can help; we don’t need foreigners’. They even went ahead with a constitutional referendum to enshrine military power on Saturday.

I have been deeply moved by the situation in Myanmar, watching so many people unable to help themselves and frustrated by the military junta refusing any outside help and seemingly unconcerned by the plight of its people [CNN]. But even though the situation may appear overwhelming, I AM IN A POSITION TO ACT. We all are. We can give money to aid organizations who are doing everything they can to get into the country. This is, as a member of the Junky Car Club, why I choose to live with less so I can give more at times like this. We’re not into promoting any particular organization, but here are some agencies that are working to provide emergency relief in Myanmar:

U.S.-based organizations

International Rescue Committee
International Medical Corps
Save the Children
World Vision
ADRA International
Other U.S.-based charities

Global organizations

International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies
World Food Programme
UNICEF
UN Refugee Agency
CARE International
The Salvation Army

So what are your thoughts? What are you doing? We’d love to hear from you.

Attendees at the recent Q Conference in New York were asked a number of survey questions: including one from the Junky Car Club! We wanted to know what kinds of cars are driven by these innovators, church leaders, social entrepreneurs and cultural leaders; and how many of them are paid off.

71% of the people who answered the survey question have PAID OFF their cars in full.

Here’s a sample of the cars they drive in no particular order:

1998 Landrover Discovery
2005 Jeep Cherokee
1995 Toyota Camery
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2005 Ford F-150
2007 Volkswagen Jetta
1999 Lexus
1997 Nissan Maxima
1997 Dodge Grand Caravan
1999 Jeep Cherokee
2008 Cadillac DTS
2003 Chevrolet Silverado
2007 Volvo S40
2004 Yukon
2001 Lexus GS300
2004 Honda Civic
1993 Honda Accord
2007 Nissan Altima
2004 Ford F-150
2004 Ford Expedition
2002 Honda Civic
2005 Chevy Tahoe
2008 Toyota Highlander
2001 VW Oassat
1997 Saturn SL-1
1966 VW Beetle
2003 Chevy Monte Carlo
2007 Jeep Wrangler
1997 Lexus Es 300
1999 Honda Civic
2008 Volkswagen Touareg
1998 Subaru Legacy Sedan
1991 Jeep Cherokee
2002 Saab
1991 Volvo 740
2004 VW Tourag
2001 hyundai accent
2007 Chevy Tahoee
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1998 Acura TL
2003 Honda Civic
1995 BMW 318
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid
2004 Ford Escape
2000 Toyota Sienna
2005 Hyundai Elantra
1987 Honda Accord
1999 Dodge Dakota
1998 Toyota Avalon
1993 Toyota Camry
1996 Honda CRV
2007 Toyota Camry
2001 Mitsubishi Mirage
2000 Lexus RX
2007 Toyota Tacoma
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1997 Ford Explorer
2001 Cheverolet Suburban
2006 Chrysler 300
2004 Honda CRV
2008 Nissan Altima
2002 Nissan XTerra
2000 Nissan Altima
1995 Honda Accord
2000 Saturn SL1
1997 Toyota Camry
1994 Mercury Villager
2006 Ford Territory
2005 Scion TC
1999 Ford Focus
2007 Vespa Granturismo
1997 Ford Taurus
1994 BMW 540i
1994 Mercury Villager
1992 Ford Taurus
2008 Lexus GS350
2007 Land Rover LR3
2005 Acura TL
1999 Subaru Forrester
2000 Infiniti I-30
2003 Ford Explorer
2007 Toyota Avalon
1994 Volvo 850 Turbo
2007 Honda Ridgeline
2005 Toyota Camry
2008 Ford Expedition
2006 Mini Cooper S
2007 Jeep Wrangler
2005 Ford Territory
1999 Honda Accord
1998 Ford Escort
2004 Subaru Forrester
1997 Nissan Altima
2003 Saturn Ion
1998 Olds Cutlass
1999 Pontiac Grand Am
1997 Ford Expedition
2000 Nissan Frontier
2000 Ford Taurus
2004 Nissan XTerra
1998 Chevy Malibu
2006 Infiniti G35
2007 Saturn Ion
2008 Mercury Marquis
1994 Honda Accord
2008 Hyundai Sonata
1965 Ford Mustang
1995 Chevy 4×4 truck
1999 Land Rover Discovery
2002 Toyota Highlander
1999 Saturn SL
2003 Honda Element
2005 Chevy Cobalt
2008 Lincoln Mkx
2001 Subaru Legacy
2003 Toyota 4-Runner
2006 Honda Accord Hybrid
1990 Toyota Avalon
1998 Honda Civic
2006 VW Jetta
1991 Toyota Tercel
2006 Chevy Impala
2004 Ford Explorer
2001 Ford Explorer
1992 Honda Accord
2007 Toyota Camry
2004 Pontiac GrandAm
2004 Honda Element
2005 BMW X5
2002 Saturn L200
2003 Toyota Tundra
1996 Jeep Cherokee
2003 Honda CRV
2008 Sebring Convertible
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
2007 MINI Cooper S
2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport
1998 Dodge Ram
2002 Ford Explorer
2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse
1997 Land Rover Discovery
2006 Hyundai Azera
2001 Mazda Miata
1997 Ford F150
2004 Lexus ES
2002 Toyota Corolla
2004 Honda Element
2007 Honda Accord
1991 Volvo 240
2007 Chevy Avalanch
2007 Nissan Frontier
1993 Ford Exploerer
2002 Chevy Astro
1995 Ford Ranger
1993 Cobra Mustang
1993 Ford Lightning
2004 Nissan Xterra
1998 Honda Civic
2006 Saab 9-3
2003 Honda Element
1999 BMW 528i
2004 Toyota Sienna
2003 Dodge Dakota
1996 Toyota Corolla
2003 Toyota Tundra
2006 Scion XB
1999 Ford Focus
2001 GMC Yukon
2004 Toyota Rav 4
1995 Chevy SUV
2004 Volvo S40
1999 Lexus GS350
2007 Nissan Maxima
2001 Mercury Sable
1995 Ford Escort
2001 Toyota 4Runner
2001 Honda Pilot
1998 Olds Cutlas
2000 Mercedes C230
1998 Ford Expedition
1996 Mazda Miata
1995 Ford Ranger
1997 Honda CRV
1999 Toyota 4-Runner
1998 Jeep Cherokee
2007 Ford Fusion
2004 Jeep Wrangler
1997 Ford Explorer
2002 Subaru Outback
2008 Toyota Prius
2002 Toyota Highlander
2002 Infiniti G20
2002 Honda Civic
1998 Ford Explorer
2007 Acura TSX
1992 Honda Civic
2005 Mazda 3
2007 Toyota Corolla S

Today we are working on getting through the stack of new registrations we have had come in. We do this 2 ways. The easy way: Via the internet. The hard way. Via a written form.

Thank goodness for our incredible volunteer Pat who inputs all this stuff.

Gas is approaching $3.50 where I live. I’m guessing it’s even higher near the JCC headquarters in California. My own junky car has been about three fumes above empty for the past two weeks, and I’ve been doing everything I can to not fill back up. My junky bike ($89 Huffy Wal-Mart model from 1996ish) and me are becoming good friends.You wanna know the best way to increase your gas mileage? Drive slower.

The general rule is that every 10 mph you increase in speed, your fuel economy drops by about 4 miles per gallon. Doesn’t matter if you’re driving a new Camry or and old Winnebago. It’s mainly due to the increased wind resistance and some physics stuff I’m not smart enough to explain to you.But here’s what you need to know, from this CNNMoney/Yahoo! Finance article:

In a typical family sedan, every 10 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like the price of gasoline going up about 54 cents a gallon. That figure will be even higher for less fuel-efficient vehicles that go fewer miles on a gallon to start with.

Is the extra highway speed worth it? You make the call.

As for me…I’ll just be riding my bike. I can hit 25 mph with a stiff wind at my back. Miles per gallon? Infinite.

Hey, clubbers. I don’t generally like to cross-post around here, but it’s Earth Day. So in the interest of reducing, reusing, and recycling, I’m reposting today’s entry from my personal blog at jasonboyett.com. It’s a little longer than what generally appears here, and it has some faith elements — and I won’t presume that everyone at the Junky Car Club shares my beliefs, but nevertheless it fits pretty well within the JCC philosophy. Enjoy.

—————

Today is Earth Day. It’s been around, in an official capacity, since the late 60s. The earliest I can recall hearing about it is during my freshman year in high school, which was 1988. We talked it up a lot at school that year, and the student council was selling Earth Day t-shirts with something about saving the earth and recycling on the front. Green silkscreen. The shirts were cool. I bought one and wore it proudly on Earth Day.

I’m not sure of the chronology, but I ran into my 9th grade Sunday School teacher while I was wearing the shirt. I liked the guy. He was nice and fairly young. He was big-time into Young Earth Creationism (the literal 7-day variety), so almost all of our Sunday School lessons turned into discussions about where the dinosaurs came in and how Noah could have fit some baby dinosaurs on the ark and whether or not “leviathan” in Job was a dinosaur reference. He was super-knowledgeable about that stuff and we ate it up.

This is the first thing he said when he saw me wearing my Earth Day shirt: “Why are you wearing that? You don’t believe that junk, do you?” He was not kidding at all. In fact, he was a little angry. I mumbled an answer about how they were selling them at school. His implied message — that there was something unchristian about Earth Day — was news to me. I was devastated. I don’t remember ever wearing that shirt again. I never talked to him about it, but I definitely looked at Earth Day differently for the next few years. I didn’t buy any more shirts.

It was another few years before I decided that my dinosaur-loving Creationist teacher was flat-out wrong (about a lot of things) but especially for being so jerky about my shirt. I still see him every once in awhile. Not sure if he’s come around or not.

But I have.

And I’m not gonna soft-shoe it, either. Christians need to repent for having gotten in the way of the last few decades of environmental initiatives — for treating any environmental talk with knee-jerk suspicion, for acting like it’s all some sort of pagan/liberal mumbo-jumbo, for forgetting that creation care is a spiritual issue and a poverty issue and a human rights issue and not just a corporate or political one. It is not an anti-Christian thing at all…despite what our 9th-grade Sunday School teachers may have said.

I’ll end the rant and try not to get too preachy about it. But here are some resources to consider on this Earth Day:

Read this: One of the best faith & environmentalism books I’ve read is Tri Robinson’s Saving God’s Green Earth. Tri is a pastor whose Boise church is doing some groundbreaking things when it comes to the intersection of religion and conservation. Some great articles at their website.

Another great book? Serve God, Save the Planet, by Matthew Sleeth.

Watch this: We have a big honking consumerism problem. I have a big honking consumerism problem. And it’s good to recycle stuff and walk instead of drive and try to turn off the lights when you leave the room. But those are tiny actions around the edge of the problem. They won’t fix the environmental crisis. Instead we need to get to the heart of the problem, and its heart is consumerism. We buy too much stuff we don’t need. That’s why I think the Junky Car Club is a great idea. That’s why I also want to recommend this short film by Annie Leonard. It’s 20 minutes long, but it’s a fast-paced, funny, eye-opening 20 minutes. You want to participate in Earth Day? The best place to start is by watching “The Story of Stuff.”

Here’s a teaser.

Watch the whole film at www.storyofstuff.com.Try this: If a young person gets excited about something good — something that’s beneficial to someone else, even if you think it might be somehow misguided — do not discourage him or her from pursuing it. To do so is mean, selfish, and a crappy way to be human.

On a Saturday morning a few weeks ago, my 7-year-old daughter, Ellie, was riding her scooter down the block. She came back in a hurry, a little frantic because, four houses away, one of our neighbor’s sprinkler heads had come off and water was gushing down their driveway. Ellie had learned at school that week about not wasting water. She was upset about the lawn geyser, “because we might run out of water someday.” She wanted me to go fix it. Or go turn off their sprinkler. My first response was to tell her it wasn’t our yard and we couldn’t really do much about it. And that their broken sprinkler was not going to drain our water supply. Then I thought about my Earth Day shirt, and my Sunday School teacher. And about Ellie’s out-of-nowhere passion for water conservation. So I walked down to that house and — despite getting soaked and muddy — screwed that sprinkler head back into place. Water crisis solved. Ellie was happy. In a small way, we saved the environment that morning.

Baby steps.

Apologies to all for the lack of posting of late. I have relocated back to Australia for the time being after a year in Southern California. I’ll spare you jokes about slow Internet access and driving on the left side of the road - for now at least. Posting should now resume on a regular basis. There’s certainly a lot of interest in the Junky Car Club here in Oz and it reminded me of a classic TV series called “Bush Mechanics” which ran here about five years ago. This from Wikipedia:

A bush mechanic, in Australian parlance, is someone who uses unorthodox techniques and readily available materials to build or fix mechanical problems. The television show featured Aboriginal people fixing cars in such a way as they travelled through Central Australia. As they traverse the desert in their dilapidated vehicles, the series followed how they solved multiple car problems with inventive, wacky and unpredictable bush repair techniques.

I managed to track down a clip from the show on YouTube. Enjoy.