An article on clergy housing.
For the record, my wife and I love our house. It is more than we need, yes, but we made that concession because we wanted to live around Elmwood, and you just can't by something small here.
Or maybe I'm rationalizing. But we did think about this when we bought our place.
Drew's Journal
My Podcast Link
06/15/2007 10:58 #39672
HousesCategory: houses
06/14/2007 21:29 #39663
Thursday at the squareCategory: thursdays
Tonight was my first Thursday on the square.
We didn't remember that it was happening until around 8, so things were well underway when we got there.
I didn't check to see what band was playing, but I quickly learned that they got their break on a WB show, and are very big with the 14 year old girl set.
Nonetheless, there was still quite a line to purchase beer.
We had to push through a lot of people to see the band. The band sounded like they REALLY liked Counting Crows, but I like Counting Crows, so while I would not particularly recommend this band, I still had enough fun.
I really like big outdoor shows. Even when I miss 30 Rock. I will watch it online later.
Mom and Dad and two brothers visit this weekend, so I get to look at the falls again.
We didn't remember that it was happening until around 8, so things were well underway when we got there.
I didn't check to see what band was playing, but I quickly learned that they got their break on a WB show, and are very big with the 14 year old girl set.
Nonetheless, there was still quite a line to purchase beer.
We had to push through a lot of people to see the band. The band sounded like they REALLY liked Counting Crows, but I like Counting Crows, so while I would not particularly recommend this band, I still had enough fun.
I really like big outdoor shows. Even when I miss 30 Rock. I will watch it online later.
Mom and Dad and two brothers visit this weekend, so I get to look at the falls again.
metalpeter - 06/15/07 18:42
Once it gets packed getting something to drink can take some time. I hope you had a good time. I was at stage right or to the left of the stage and I have to admit I liked all 3 bands but it was hard to concentrate on them with the bevy of hot ladies near bye. The headliners Augastana I heard one of their songs on VH1 I thought they where very good and was able to concentrate on their performance.
Once it gets packed getting something to drink can take some time. I hope you had a good time. I was at stage right or to the left of the stage and I have to admit I liked all 3 bands but it was hard to concentrate on them with the bevy of hot ladies near bye. The headliners Augastana I heard one of their songs on VH1 I thought they where very good and was able to concentrate on their performance.
museumchick - 06/14/07 23:21
I found the sermon that you posted the other day to be inspiring. Sometimes its easy to forget God's presence when there's so much adversity and pain- I know there's many times that I do.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your first thursday at the square!
I found the sermon that you posted the other day to be inspiring. Sometimes its easy to forget God's presence when there's so much adversity and pain- I know there's many times that I do.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your first thursday at the square!
06/13/2007 16:27 #39644
What does Hopeless look like?Category: sermons
So I don't feel like writing new thoughts down today because I've been working all day. Instead, I'll share the sermon I wrote last week.
It comes from
1 Kings 17:8-24
Galatians 1:11-24
and Luke 7:11-17
I don't feel like copying those texts in, or making links, but the sermon really does make more sense if you read them first. So, if you put the texts in Google, then you will find links to the text. Forgive my lazyness.
Here it is:
What does hopeless look like?
What does hopeless look like?
Hopeless looks like a widow, saying, "I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." (from the Kings story)
Hopeless looks like a preacher so sure of himself that he goes as far as to kill anyone who disagrees with him. (Paul, the author of Galatians)
Hopeless looks like a widow's only son, being carried out of the city, dead. (Luke story)
Hopeless looks like an abused kid, who never learns how to love.
Hopeless looks like a mental hospital closed, with all its patients left on their own.
Hopeless looks like a chronic illness, and a lifetime of being cared for.
Hopeless looks like Christians shouting at the people they are supposed to love.
Hopeless looks like a world where over half of the people live on less than $2 a day.
Hopeless looks like an entire generation of Africans lost to AIDS.
Hopeless looks like environmental devastation, spiraling out of control.
Hopeless looks like war.
What does hopeless look like to you?
Write it down. Just for yourself. Name it.
Where have people given up?
Do you see hopelessness on a global scale? Where?
What about in our city?
What about in your family?
What about you?
Is there an addiction that you cannot break?
A fear you cannot defeat?
A sadness that will not pass?
Don't you wish there was a formula to make it all better?
Wouldn't it be nice if there were three simple steps?
We know that often our efforts aren't enough.
But even when we have given up hope, God is not done.
God changes murderous people.
God changes selfish people.
God feeds widows and prophets both.
God heals sick people.
God comforts lonely people.
God raises dead people.
God is redeeming the whole world.
And God sends healed people back into the world.
So that no widow goes hungry.
So that God might be revealed.
Even among those for whom we had given up hope.
Especially among those for whom we had given up hope.
And then people see how good God is.
And someday,
there will be no more wars
or poverty
or illness
or hunger.
Someday, there won't even be any more death.
The whole world will be made right.
and we won't even know what hopeless means,
because our being will be taken up in the love of God.
Until then, we pray, and wait, and work, and hope--even in the situations where there seems to be no hope.
Then we prayed for those situations.
Not my normal style--I normally joke more and have more interaction, but it seemed to come out ok, doing something a bit more meditative.
I'll get back to writing more normal posts later.
It comes from
1 Kings 17:8-24
Galatians 1:11-24
and Luke 7:11-17
I don't feel like copying those texts in, or making links, but the sermon really does make more sense if you read them first. So, if you put the texts in Google, then you will find links to the text. Forgive my lazyness.
Here it is:
What does hopeless look like?
What does hopeless look like?
Hopeless looks like a widow, saying, "I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." (from the Kings story)
Hopeless looks like a preacher so sure of himself that he goes as far as to kill anyone who disagrees with him. (Paul, the author of Galatians)
Hopeless looks like a widow's only son, being carried out of the city, dead. (Luke story)
Hopeless looks like an abused kid, who never learns how to love.
Hopeless looks like a mental hospital closed, with all its patients left on their own.
Hopeless looks like a chronic illness, and a lifetime of being cared for.
Hopeless looks like Christians shouting at the people they are supposed to love.
Hopeless looks like a world where over half of the people live on less than $2 a day.
Hopeless looks like an entire generation of Africans lost to AIDS.
Hopeless looks like environmental devastation, spiraling out of control.
Hopeless looks like war.
What does hopeless look like to you?
Write it down. Just for yourself. Name it.
Where have people given up?
Do you see hopelessness on a global scale? Where?
What about in our city?
What about in your family?
What about you?
Is there an addiction that you cannot break?
A fear you cannot defeat?
A sadness that will not pass?
Don't you wish there was a formula to make it all better?
Wouldn't it be nice if there were three simple steps?
We know that often our efforts aren't enough.
But even when we have given up hope, God is not done.
God changes murderous people.
God changes selfish people.
God feeds widows and prophets both.
God heals sick people.
God comforts lonely people.
God raises dead people.
God is redeeming the whole world.
And God sends healed people back into the world.
So that no widow goes hungry.
So that God might be revealed.
Even among those for whom we had given up hope.
Especially among those for whom we had given up hope.
And then people see how good God is.
And someday,
there will be no more wars
or poverty
or illness
or hunger.
Someday, there won't even be any more death.
The whole world will be made right.
and we won't even know what hopeless means,
because our being will be taken up in the love of God.
Until then, we pray, and wait, and work, and hope--even in the situations where there seems to be no hope.
Then we prayed for those situations.
Not my normal style--I normally joke more and have more interaction, but it seemed to come out ok, doing something a bit more meditative.
I'll get back to writing more normal posts later.
theecarey - 06/14/07 23:57
Thanks, Drew 'tis thought provoking!
full of grammatical & semantical errors, I type out my thoughts as they emerge.
Hopeless is feeling that the present moment is a bleak one and that nothing can possibly change. Past moments are full of regret or longing. One sits and can not see anyone that they can reach out to- a perpetual fog of uncertainty in general, self doubt in specific.
Sometimes in a fleeting moment of disarray, the sense of being lost is rectified by seeing someone else who appears to be far 'worse' off---and then we reach out our hand to theirs.. and the sense that we are all One strengthens, and then exponentially, so do we...
That fog of hopelessness can be debilitating. I recently offered a friend in doubt the idea that although we sometimes travel in a fog, we still get to where we want to go. If our "destination" is several thousand miles away, and the "fog" is thick, even the faintest glow of our 'headlights' (love, understanding, determination, will, Universal guidance) will allow us to see a few feet ahead. We may not see the whole stretch, but its still laid out before us, and even in the fog, traveling a few feet at a time, we are assured that we will get to where we need to go.
and so, thinking back on various thoughts I have shared with others whether personal issues, or global ones, their offerings have been as follows:
some have told me to pray
some have told me to let it go
some have told me to allow my problem to be given to God
some have told me to create my reality
some have told me to meditate
some have told me to not think so much, haha
I'm intrigued by peoples thoughts. Although they all say something different, on many levels they are all saying the same thing; that we effect our state of being along with something greatly beyond us.
Hopelessness on a Universal level:
It takes practice to reach out our hands to others. It also takes practice to take someones hand who is offering it to us. It takes practice to live hopeFULL.
..Full of peace, joy, love, abundance, gratitude, acceptance, compassion...
not complete, but a small snapshot of some of the things I think about and what was provoked by your post.
Thanks, Drew 'tis thought provoking!
full of grammatical & semantical errors, I type out my thoughts as they emerge.
Hopeless is feeling that the present moment is a bleak one and that nothing can possibly change. Past moments are full of regret or longing. One sits and can not see anyone that they can reach out to- a perpetual fog of uncertainty in general, self doubt in specific.
Sometimes in a fleeting moment of disarray, the sense of being lost is rectified by seeing someone else who appears to be far 'worse' off---and then we reach out our hand to theirs.. and the sense that we are all One strengthens, and then exponentially, so do we...
That fog of hopelessness can be debilitating. I recently offered a friend in doubt the idea that although we sometimes travel in a fog, we still get to where we want to go. If our "destination" is several thousand miles away, and the "fog" is thick, even the faintest glow of our 'headlights' (love, understanding, determination, will, Universal guidance) will allow us to see a few feet ahead. We may not see the whole stretch, but its still laid out before us, and even in the fog, traveling a few feet at a time, we are assured that we will get to where we need to go.
and so, thinking back on various thoughts I have shared with others whether personal issues, or global ones, their offerings have been as follows:
some have told me to pray
some have told me to let it go
some have told me to allow my problem to be given to God
some have told me to create my reality
some have told me to meditate
some have told me to not think so much, haha
I'm intrigued by peoples thoughts. Although they all say something different, on many levels they are all saying the same thing; that we effect our state of being along with something greatly beyond us.
Hopelessness on a Universal level:
- as long as we perseverate on war and despair there will be war, conflict and sadness. Lets talk about peace and joy. (I belive it was Mother Theresa who declined all ani war rallys, but would joyfully support a peace rally)
- as long as we talk about and explore disease, starvation and lack; these things will prevail. Lets talk and live health and abundance.
- as long as we talk about fear, hate, crime and addiction, we will further disconnect from each other. Lets drop the ego and talk of unity, love, compassion and Oneness.
It takes practice to reach out our hands to others. It also takes practice to take someones hand who is offering it to us. It takes practice to live hopeFULL.
..Full of peace, joy, love, abundance, gratitude, acceptance, compassion...
not complete, but a small snapshot of some of the things I think about and what was provoked by your post.
tinypliny - 06/14/07 23:16
Thanks. :) I liked your sermon a lot. Do you give sermons every week? Is it somewhere close to downtown? Are non-members of the church allowed to come?
Thanks. :) I liked your sermon a lot. Do you give sermons every week? Is it somewhere close to downtown? Are non-members of the church allowed to come?
06/11/2007 18:05 #39612
disorganizedFt. Niagara: It was a fort in a strategic location that nobody could ever hold. Maybe it wasn't so strategic, eh?
Visit this place if you like forts. Go somewhere else if you don't.
As for the falls, I didn't even get out of the car. I circled while my wife and her parents looked. I'm cheap, and that kept me from paying for parking. I'll probably park next weekend when I take my parents.
My brain is kind of scattered right now, so here are some unconnected (or barely connected) thoughts:
-Idiocracy is a good movie. Rent it and laugh/cry hard.
-The art festival was great, but it would have been better with music. And yes, it is a lousy place to take a dog.
-While I love my church, I hate meetings. Tonight is a meeting night.
-I like the General Store on Lexington. Cheap ice cream cannot be beat.
-Wife and I played Othello today. The man tried to keep me down, but black came out ahead this time!
-Seared fish tastes good. That's what I had for dinner when father-in law was buying.
-I play ultimate tomorrow. That's good. Any other players on Estrip?
Visit this place if you like forts. Go somewhere else if you don't.
As for the falls, I didn't even get out of the car. I circled while my wife and her parents looked. I'm cheap, and that kept me from paying for parking. I'll probably park next weekend when I take my parents.
My brain is kind of scattered right now, so here are some unconnected (or barely connected) thoughts:
-Idiocracy is a good movie. Rent it and laugh/cry hard.
-The art festival was great, but it would have been better with music. And yes, it is a lousy place to take a dog.
-While I love my church, I hate meetings. Tonight is a meeting night.
-I like the General Store on Lexington. Cheap ice cream cannot be beat.
-Wife and I played Othello today. The man tried to keep me down, but black came out ahead this time!
-Seared fish tastes good. That's what I had for dinner when father-in law was buying.
-I play ultimate tomorrow. That's good. Any other players on Estrip?
joshua - 06/12/07 10:21
Hmm - I thought a music festival was integrated with the Allentown Arts festival... has that ended?
Drew, at the end of August when the Elmwood festival comes around, I do know that usually they have live music tucked away somewhere in the 'hood.
Hmm - I thought a music festival was integrated with the Allentown Arts festival... has that ended?
Drew, at the end of August when the Elmwood festival comes around, I do know that usually they have live music tucked away somewhere in the 'hood.
theecarey - 06/12/07 00:21
You were in my neck of the woods! I live a few steps from the fort. It is one of my favorite places to regroup. Well, the surrounding lake/river and trails; I havent explored the historic castles in years but its been on my mind to go in.
'Idiocracy'- that funny, huh? It has now gone up on my list of movies to see.
You were in my neck of the woods! I live a few steps from the fort. It is one of my favorite places to regroup. Well, the surrounding lake/river and trails; I havent explored the historic castles in years but its been on my mind to go in.
'Idiocracy'- that funny, huh? It has now gone up on my list of movies to see.
carolinian - 06/11/07 21:53
My best friend from NC is a fort buff. He's marked several zillion forts on Google Earth, and he's trying to get me to take a bunch of pictures of Ft. Erie and Niagara for his collection. I intend to visit them this summer to get him off my back.
My best friend from NC is a fort buff. He's marked several zillion forts on Google Earth, and he's trying to get me to take a bunch of pictures of Ft. Erie and Niagara for his collection. I intend to visit them this summer to get him off my back.
mrmike - 06/11/07 20:27
Go out to Goat Island and park for cheap. The Stroll from the far parking area is largely unencumbered and you can see the best of the falls up close.
Be worth the $
Go out to Goat Island and park for cheap. The Stroll from the far parking area is largely unencumbered and you can see the best of the falls up close.
Be worth the $
metalpeter - 06/11/07 18:22
Just me here but I would think that to really see the falls it would be cheeper to park then to keep driving but I guess that depends on how long they where staying.
I agree with you on the Dogs and the Music. I think some of the bars around there may have had music. Do to the city basicly saying to Robie tell us when you are going to do MIA so we won't give you the permits made him move the festival. He really had no choice in the matter.
I admit I have never heard of the general store I might have to check that place out.
Just me here but I would think that to really see the falls it would be cheeper to park then to keep driving but I guess that depends on how long they where staying.
I agree with you on the Dogs and the Music. I think some of the bars around there may have had music. Do to the city basicly saying to Robie tell us when you are going to do MIA so we won't give you the permits made him move the festival. He really had no choice in the matter.
I admit I have never heard of the general store I might have to check that place out.
06/08/2007 22:07 #39586
touring and cookingCategory: weekend
Time to do tourist stuff. My wife's parents are visiting, so tomorrow we visit Ft. Niagara (father in law is all about history stuff) and the falls. I cook for them tomorrow, too.
We cooked out today. If anyone is good at grilling, we can use the help. We couldn't get the stuff burning, and then it didn't stay hot enough to cook the chicken. And then the storm came. The oven rescued us.
Looking forward to the art festival. (And to Monday, which is unusual)
Two last comments: I am totally addicted to estrip--what a great idea!
And yes, the creation science museum is a TOTAL waste. Even if it represented the faith OR science well (it fails on both counts), most of the exhibits also seem to be boring, static posters! I know that they didn't blow all the money on research--you can get all of the stuff they shared from fundamentalist websites!
and now I am rambling, but if anybody wants to know the Biblical argument against creationism, just let me know.
We cooked out today. If anyone is good at grilling, we can use the help. We couldn't get the stuff burning, and then it didn't stay hot enough to cook the chicken. And then the storm came. The oven rescued us.
Looking forward to the art festival. (And to Monday, which is unusual)
Two last comments: I am totally addicted to estrip--what a great idea!
And yes, the creation science museum is a TOTAL waste. Even if it represented the faith OR science well (it fails on both counts), most of the exhibits also seem to be boring, static posters! I know that they didn't blow all the money on research--you can get all of the stuff they shared from fundamentalist websites!
and now I am rambling, but if anybody wants to know the Biblical argument against creationism, just let me know.
tinypliny - 06/11/07 13:28
Looking forward to your future Niagara falls tourist/off/on-the-beaten-track kind of post. I have never been to the falls, but now that I am moving to Buffalo, I am hoping I will finally get to go and be drenched.
Thanks for the welcome. :)
Looking forward to your future Niagara falls tourist/off/on-the-beaten-track kind of post. I have never been to the falls, but now that I am moving to Buffalo, I am hoping I will finally get to go and be drenched.
Thanks for the welcome. :)
drew - 06/09/07 23:19
yeah. We've heard all those grilling tips. Gonna buy a chimney thing. I hate to fall into stereotypes, but it really does make one feel less manly when fire won't work for you.
Art Festival comes tomorrow. After church. (If any of you are awake at 10am, the sermon is actually pretty good, if I can say so myself).
yeah. We've heard all those grilling tips. Gonna buy a chimney thing. I hate to fall into stereotypes, but it really does make one feel less manly when fire won't work for you.
Art Festival comes tomorrow. After church. (If any of you are awake at 10am, the sermon is actually pretty good, if I can say so myself).
metalpeter - 06/09/07 14:32
I just bought some dragon stuff there. There is some amazing art there. There is this place where I bought the dragon stuff with very real looking fairies. I havn't seen everything yet so I'm going back. There are at least 3 or 4 places so far with Buffalo pictures. There is some really cool looking stuff that I can't afforid. Oh yeah and the eye candy can be very distracting so sorry if I step on anyone.
I just bought some dragon stuff there. There is some amazing art there. There is this place where I bought the dragon stuff with very real looking fairies. I havn't seen everything yet so I'm going back. There are at least 3 or 4 places so far with Buffalo pictures. There is some really cool looking stuff that I can't afforid. Oh yeah and the eye candy can be very distracting so sorry if I step on anyone.
jim - 06/09/07 14:20
$15 for a charcoal chimney, and it lights up as fast as gas.
$15 for a charcoal chimney, and it lights up as fast as gas.
fellyconnelly - 06/09/07 10:49
i, too, have difficult times keeping charcoal grills alight.... even with paul's method.
i, too, have difficult times keeping charcoal grills alight.... even with paul's method.
mrmike - 06/09/07 08:57
The art festival is okay, just don't go expecting to see great art. The scene itself is more interesting. In terms of the relatives, that's part of the vicissitudes of living here. When we moved here, I saw plenty of cousins because visiting my folks & seeing the falls was cheap vacation time.
The art festival is okay, just don't go expecting to see great art. The scene itself is more interesting. In terms of the relatives, that's part of the vicissitudes of living here. When we moved here, I saw plenty of cousins because visiting my folks & seeing the falls was cheap vacation time.
paul - 06/08/07 22:32
I think the secret to grilling is arranging the coals in a pyramid, soaking them in lighter fluid, and then throw the match in followed by dousing it with lighter fluid a bit to make sure all the coals light. Evenetually, the start to turn gray and you can spread them out.
Wind kind of ruins it though. So does rain :(
My dad swears by the self lighting kind.
I think the secret to grilling is arranging the coals in a pyramid, soaking them in lighter fluid, and then throw the match in followed by dousing it with lighter fluid a bit to make sure all the coals light. Evenetually, the start to turn gray and you can spread them out.
Wind kind of ruins it though. So does rain :(
My dad swears by the self lighting kind.
james - 06/08/07 22:13
The art festival is wonderful. It is impossible to not have a good time unless you are a dog. A literal dog that is. It is just too hot to have any fur on.
Your ramblings on what a waste that museum was way more succinct than mine.
The art festival is wonderful. It is impossible to not have a good time unless you are a dog. A literal dog that is. It is just too hot to have any fur on.
Your ramblings on what a waste that museum was way more succinct than mine.
that's an interesting debate that i'd never even thought of.
Eh, I see where you're coming from, but I figure as long as there isn't some kind of deeply rooted attachment to having a big house it is okay.