Drew's Journal
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02/06/2010 00:41 #50977
My hometown02/05/2010 16:14 #50975
I can say boring thingsCategory: food
via video, as well as text.
metalpeter - 02/07/10 12:01
I love that you pause and then take a drink that is great. I'm not a Dr.Pepper guy myself but I can speak on the other two. To me the throwback Pepsi tastes odd, but the throwback Mountain Dew tastes better. This is not the first time Pepsi went back to sugar as promotion. Where things get me mixed up is that some pop is made with pure cane sugar and that is different somehow, I think a company in the falls makes Logan Berry that way and that is the brand that wound up replacing Aunt Rosie's at Mighty Taco. As a side note I guess when they gave up Aunt Rosie's a lot of people complained so that is why they have Ryan's or Johny Ryan not sure if those are the same company. I think the previous Pepsi used Pure cane sugar but not sure.
I love that you pause and then take a drink that is great. I'm not a Dr.Pepper guy myself but I can speak on the other two. To me the throwback Pepsi tastes odd, but the throwback Mountain Dew tastes better. This is not the first time Pepsi went back to sugar as promotion. Where things get me mixed up is that some pop is made with pure cane sugar and that is different somehow, I think a company in the falls makes Logan Berry that way and that is the brand that wound up replacing Aunt Rosie's at Mighty Taco. As a side note I guess when they gave up Aunt Rosie's a lot of people complained so that is why they have Ryan's or Johny Ryan not sure if those are the same company. I think the previous Pepsi used Pure cane sugar but not sure.
tinypliny - 02/06/10 23:26
Oh man.
Oh man.
paul - 02/06/10 19:56
You had the youtube tag wrong on this. I fixed it for you and the video plays now.
You had the youtube tag wrong on this. I fixed it for you and the video plays now.
02/05/2010 01:23 #50971
Recovering from Church?So as a pastor, I serve all kinds of people. It's one of the joys of the job, working with people way to the left of me and way to the right, richer and poorer (both by quite a bit, it seems) creative and/or analytical, believers and non-, you name the "genre" of person, and they are likely part of the Elmwood Village--and thus my "parish" if not my congregation (which though small, contains a wide/weird sampling of Buffalo---and I can call us weird because I love weird).
While I love the diversity of "my parish," it seems like every pastor also ends up serving a particular population more. Dan Kimball is the only Rockabilly pastor I know of. Mark Driscoll is all about macho culture. Bill Hybels is good with Chicagoland executives, and Joel Osteen is for people that need mediocre jokes and positive thinking.
There is one "type" of person that I spend more of my time talking with than all others combined. He'she is the one on who has either been directly hurt by the church or severely disappointed with it.
The causes of the hurt may include (but are not limited to):
asking the wrong question
listening to the wrong teacher
hanging out with the wrong people
wearing the wrong clothes
liking the wrong music
voting the wrong candidate/party
liking the wrong people
being too happy
being too sad
not volunteering enough
taking over everything
questioning the status quo
questioning militarism
questioning theology
questioning a pastor/teacher/small group leader
just about any excuse will do if you are "different."
What's worse, many Christians, when the church turns on us, have nobody else to turn to. We wend up very alone.
I know that Christians are supposed to love one another and build each other up, but just today I met with four different people that were broken by the church (that I am aware of--could be more) Sure, it was an above average day--but there are still a lot of us out there. (I myself have received an evangelical "shunning" before--and I'm a regular Charlie Church!)
So with all the hurt people I've seen, perhaps there should be some specialized help, right?
But I don't know of a community out there with this particular calling/gift. Do you?
The biggest reason that this bunch does not exist is that such a community would be a gathering of Christians which is exactly what each individual has learned (through sad experience) to avoid.
But it is also the thing we crave the most. We want community--it just doesn't feel safe.
We hurt people need to know that they are not alone. We need (excuse the cliche) to tell our stories, and to know that there are people that won't hurt/hate/exclude them for whatever it was that led to them being hurt by/thrown out of their church. (Again, please forgive me if I sound like Oprah--I've been thinking about this all day, and it is late).
It seems to me that such a gathering would have to be loosely organized, but with strict rules, sort of like AA. No set leaders, but agreed upon rules that are known to be helpful for healing (and to prevent the behaviors that caused the problems in the first place). These rules would be especially needed because people that had hurt each other would likely eventually end up in the same group.
I know--strict rules are part of what may have driven us out of church. I'm not talking about a dress code. I'm talking about rules like "listen first."
As I see it, the rules would hold us to our purpose--healing for people hurt by church. (Nothing against other problems of the world out there--but this is a big enough problem to require a singular focus).
So I guess I have three questions.
1. Do you see the same need that I do?
2. Would you be willing to be a part of this group?
3. What do you think would be appropriate rules for the gathering?
If you are "out" as a hurt Christian (or the close relative--a frustrated Christian who can't find a church that has room for him/her), you may respond in the comments section, but if you would answer better anonymously, please send an email to drew@elmwoodjesus.org or a direct message.
While I love the diversity of "my parish," it seems like every pastor also ends up serving a particular population more. Dan Kimball is the only Rockabilly pastor I know of. Mark Driscoll is all about macho culture. Bill Hybels is good with Chicagoland executives, and Joel Osteen is for people that need mediocre jokes and positive thinking.
There is one "type" of person that I spend more of my time talking with than all others combined. He'she is the one on who has either been directly hurt by the church or severely disappointed with it.
The causes of the hurt may include (but are not limited to):
asking the wrong question
listening to the wrong teacher
hanging out with the wrong people
wearing the wrong clothes
liking the wrong music
voting the wrong candidate/party
liking the wrong people
being too happy
being too sad
not volunteering enough
taking over everything
questioning the status quo
questioning militarism
questioning theology
questioning a pastor/teacher/small group leader
just about any excuse will do if you are "different."
What's worse, many Christians, when the church turns on us, have nobody else to turn to. We wend up very alone.
I know that Christians are supposed to love one another and build each other up, but just today I met with four different people that were broken by the church (that I am aware of--could be more) Sure, it was an above average day--but there are still a lot of us out there. (I myself have received an evangelical "shunning" before--and I'm a regular Charlie Church!)
So with all the hurt people I've seen, perhaps there should be some specialized help, right?
But I don't know of a community out there with this particular calling/gift. Do you?
The biggest reason that this bunch does not exist is that such a community would be a gathering of Christians which is exactly what each individual has learned (through sad experience) to avoid.
But it is also the thing we crave the most. We want community--it just doesn't feel safe.
We hurt people need to know that they are not alone. We need (excuse the cliche) to tell our stories, and to know that there are people that won't hurt/hate/exclude them for whatever it was that led to them being hurt by/thrown out of their church. (Again, please forgive me if I sound like Oprah--I've been thinking about this all day, and it is late).
It seems to me that such a gathering would have to be loosely organized, but with strict rules, sort of like AA. No set leaders, but agreed upon rules that are known to be helpful for healing (and to prevent the behaviors that caused the problems in the first place). These rules would be especially needed because people that had hurt each other would likely eventually end up in the same group.
I know--strict rules are part of what may have driven us out of church. I'm not talking about a dress code. I'm talking about rules like "listen first."
As I see it, the rules would hold us to our purpose--healing for people hurt by church. (Nothing against other problems of the world out there--but this is a big enough problem to require a singular focus).
So I guess I have three questions.
1. Do you see the same need that I do?
2. Would you be willing to be a part of this group?
3. What do you think would be appropriate rules for the gathering?
If you are "out" as a hurt Christian (or the close relative--a frustrated Christian who can't find a church that has room for him/her), you may respond in the comments section, but if you would answer better anonymously, please send an email to drew@elmwoodjesus.org or a direct message.
metalpeter - 02/07/10 11:54
Nice Post. I don't really have anything to ad other then it sounds like a very good idea.
Nice Post. I don't really have anything to ad other then it sounds like a very good idea.
lauren - 02/05/10 19:48
response in progress. :)
response in progress. :)
mrmike - 02/05/10 08:57
To answer the questions, yes, the need is definitely there. People leave churches all the time. I think it stems from some folks tend to be guarded about their worshipping atmosphere and that can be almost clique-ish. Something I think is sort of oft-putting. It sounds like UUCB's small group ministry.
I would come to something along those lines. I actually did for a time. Often that can bring things to light easier than the service
Rules might be along the lines of listen here, what is talked about here stays here, stuff like.
To answer the questions, yes, the need is definitely there. People leave churches all the time. I think it stems from some folks tend to be guarded about their worshipping atmosphere and that can be almost clique-ish. Something I think is sort of oft-putting. It sounds like UUCB's small group ministry.
I would come to something along those lines. I actually did for a time. Often that can bring things to light easier than the service
Rules might be along the lines of listen here, what is talked about here stays here, stuff like.
01/06/2010 09:25 #50755
See Yinz laterCategory: football
01/01/2010 13:59 #50711
New YearI usually don't make a deal about the New Year, but today, I have already kept up a number of goals I have set for the New Year.
I've prayed a psalm, and the Jesus prayer (spiritual goals)
I've written for 30 minutes (not an every day goal, just 3 times a week)
I haven't eaten fast food (I get once a month). I still have to exercise 30 minutes, but I might save that for another day (also only 3x a week).
Sorry about missing the party. Sounds like it was great. (e:Janelle) and I had a nice night at home.
I've prayed a psalm, and the Jesus prayer (spiritual goals)
I've written for 30 minutes (not an every day goal, just 3 times a week)
I haven't eaten fast food (I get once a month). I still have to exercise 30 minutes, but I might save that for another day (also only 3x a week).
Sorry about missing the party. Sounds like it was great. (e:Janelle) and I had a nice night at home.
It would be interesting to see videos like this of other cities. There are some things that are claimed by one country as being first and also by another I wonder if this is true of cities as well.
Steelers winning 4 superbowls awesome
klodike Bars awesome wish I had some
Those Aluminum bottles are pretty cool and are used by companies like Labatt around the holiday so they can have holiday bottles
I have never been there I think the closest I came was Ducane I think they are called the ducenesse Dukes for a swim meet. One of these days I need to change that.
According to the Zippo website, the Zippo lighter was a refinement of an Austrian concept, but the refinement was done in Bradford, Pa.
:::link:::
Ooops, sorry about the conflation of the sports things.
But where were they invented? I tried to find out and can't find a source for the Pittsburgh claim.
And I am pretty sure that we claimed the first night world series game and the first professional football player, not the first night game.
Bah! Zippo lighters are from Bradford, Pa.! The first night football game was played in Mansfield, Pa.! Pittsburgh can't claim all that - they're stealing from the rest of Pennsylvania. Booo!!