Interesting read here on American churches and American patriotism, using Memorial Day as a context.
I had some conversation almost a year ago with a [now former] Calvary member. She was quite perturbed that our worship on July 4, 2010, did not include patriotic elements. It didn't and should not have and won't in the future.
I appreciate our freedoms and those who serve to protect them, and those sacrificed for them. One of those freedoms is to worship without civic or nationalist or other encumbrances. As long as I have anything to say about it, we will use that freedom on Sunday mornings.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
zumba
Kay Dunlap sent this through Sarah Miller.
Our Zumba ministry has really taken off, thanks in large part to Sarah and Mallory Homeyer's persistence. We are now offering it 2x a week: Tues nights at 6 and Thursday nights at 7:30. Last night, Thursday, they had over 70 adults including 4 men.
It is a ministry, not just exercise. There's prayer request sharing and a devotional at each occasion. This may seem an unorthodox mission but we are reaching out to folks in our Sanger-Heights community.
Let's shake our hips for Jesu...or at least continue to support our Zumba ministry.
Our Zumba ministry has really taken off, thanks in large part to Sarah and Mallory Homeyer's persistence. We are now offering it 2x a week: Tues nights at 6 and Thursday nights at 7:30. Last night, Thursday, they had over 70 adults including 4 men.
It is a ministry, not just exercise. There's prayer request sharing and a devotional at each occasion. This may seem an unorthodox mission but we are reaching out to folks in our Sanger-Heights community.
Let's shake our hips for Jesu...or at least continue to support our Zumba ministry.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
may 22 and still here
Most folks by now have heard of Harold Camping's prediction that the Rapture would take place on May 21. It didn't obviously.
I read a story earlier in the week about the formulations Camping went through to get to May 21, 2011 as the Rapture date. Here's a piece from:
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/149511/20110521/may-21st-doomsday-end-of-the-world-may-21st-doomsday-2011-harold-camping-apocalypse-earthquake-new-z.htm
I read a story earlier in the week about the formulations Camping went through to get to May 21, 2011 as the Rapture date. Here's a piece from:
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/149511/20110521/may-21st-doomsday-end-of-the-world-may-21st-doomsday-2011-harold-camping-apocalypse-earthquake-new-z.htm
How he does make this superhuman finding is interesting: In the Bible, it is said that Noah had been given 7 days to prepare for the flood. He was alerted that the flood will wipe out anyone and everyone who was not on board his vessel, animals and human beings included.
Likewise, Camping says the '7-day warning notice' has been in place and he has actually decoded it precisely. Camping says though, that instead of a 7-day warning, it's really been a 7,000-year-warning.
"Seven thousand years after 4990 B.C. (the year of the Flood) is the year 2011 A.D. (our calendar)," he says in his website. "4990 + 2011 – 1 = 7,000," he calculates. "One year must be subtracted in going from an Old Testament B.C. calendar date to a New Testament A.D. calendar date because the calendar does not have a year zero."
And here's how he arrived exactly at the date: 'Amazingly, May 21, 2011 is the 17th day of the 2nd month of the Biblical calendar of our day. Remember, the flood waters also began on the 17th day of the 2nd month, in the year 4990 B.C."
I am amazed and disappointed at so simple a calculation. The flood, really?! I had at least assumed that he would have a complex arithmetic incorporating all kinds of verses from Matthew and 1 Peter and Revelation as well as some OT sprinkled in. This sophomoric math is sad.
What's sadder by far is that he duped a lot of people who quit jobs and sold their possessions and made no plans for today with something so blatantly false.
We may hope that those folks who didn't expect to be here today will turn toward their faith in Jesus, instead of rejecting Him. We may hope that Camping can focus on living for Christ here and now, and not let the future comsume him.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Plans for N Waco
I was invited last Thursday to attend a presentation on some plans for the Colcord corridor. Mission Waco, the City of Waco and a few others hired Gideon Tool to develop some plans and implementations strategies. The May 12 meeting was the final presentation of that work.
Here's a quick rundown of the Near Northside Master Plan [with the caveat that it has not received official approval from any single entity--it's a great place to begin conversation though].
Goals/vision for this area encompassing Bosque to Herring and 15th to the River: diversity, stability, safety/perception of safety, business viability, beautification and infrastructure improvement, identifying economic development and funding, practical plan w/clear goals and steps.
Sidenotes: zoning for this region does not match what is presently there. The area is a good location with transportation access, adjacent to the River and Cameron Park. There are lots of vacant lots--this is both a challenge and an opportunity. City of Waco [CoW] does not get the ratables from this area that it could. Adding homes and more middle class will help the City too.
They divided the region into 3 areas. The first is the Colcord catalyst area (15th - 10th). They hope for streetscape improvement, increasing pedestrian walking, and more mixed use (retail and residential using same building). Cf. Magnolia Ave in Fort Worth.
The second area is the Parkside catalyst (1oth to 6th). The plans are to redevelop the Parkside Village apartments into mixed use and single family. Promote infill development. Initiate park improvements--it's good land but needs more things to do at Dewey Park.
The third area is the Brazos River catalyst (6th to the River). Make a pedestrian walkway/path to the water. Do streetscape improvements as much as possible and infill development.
Implementation strategies: 1)hire someone to advocate/coordinate--a development director. Businesses could help fund this along with the Downtown Development Corp. This person could establish a Near Northside non-profit within 3 years. 2)revise zoning to grow according to the vision. Incorporate urban design standards. 3)Improve pedestrian connections to leverage Cameron Park trails and the water. 4)Community garden. 5)Promote city incentives (tax abatements and $100 vacant lots) on spots you want to redevelop first. 6)Work with the Downtown Development Corp as it gets formed. 7)Control redevelopment of Parkside Village apts. HUD's bid package will be favorable: 150 units, multi-use allowed, developer will have to demolish and rebuild on site. 8)Detail economic development strategy; the County will not help or provide incentives by the way. 9)Marketing campaign to businesses and new residents. 10)Set aside vacant land on flood plain to create linear park. This is a long-term goal. 11)Hold 2-3 community events a year, around 15th and Colcord, to draw new folks to the area.
Question & Answer:
Most streetscape improvements will be shaped concrete and sidewalks. This is already underway at 15th & Colcord and should be finished by the summer. It includes brick pavers, landscaping and street lights.
Can start once you get that key person. That won't happen until the Downtown Development Corp begins. It's a group effort until then.
This neighborhood is largest area within Greater Downtown area. This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Waco.
Here's a quick rundown of the Near Northside Master Plan [with the caveat that it has not received official approval from any single entity--it's a great place to begin conversation though].
Goals/vision for this area encompassing Bosque to Herring and 15th to the River: diversity, stability, safety/perception of safety, business viability, beautification and infrastructure improvement, identifying economic development and funding, practical plan w/clear goals and steps.
Sidenotes: zoning for this region does not match what is presently there. The area is a good location with transportation access, adjacent to the River and Cameron Park. There are lots of vacant lots--this is both a challenge and an opportunity. City of Waco [CoW] does not get the ratables from this area that it could. Adding homes and more middle class will help the City too.
They divided the region into 3 areas. The first is the Colcord catalyst area (15th - 10th). They hope for streetscape improvement, increasing pedestrian walking, and more mixed use (retail and residential using same building). Cf. Magnolia Ave in Fort Worth.
The second area is the Parkside catalyst (1oth to 6th). The plans are to redevelop the Parkside Village apartments into mixed use and single family. Promote infill development. Initiate park improvements--it's good land but needs more things to do at Dewey Park.
The third area is the Brazos River catalyst (6th to the River). Make a pedestrian walkway/path to the water. Do streetscape improvements as much as possible and infill development.
Implementation strategies: 1)hire someone to advocate/coordinate--a development director. Businesses could help fund this along with the Downtown Development Corp. This person could establish a Near Northside non-profit within 3 years. 2)revise zoning to grow according to the vision. Incorporate urban design standards. 3)Improve pedestrian connections to leverage Cameron Park trails and the water. 4)Community garden. 5)Promote city incentives (tax abatements and $100 vacant lots) on spots you want to redevelop first. 6)Work with the Downtown Development Corp as it gets formed. 7)Control redevelopment of Parkside Village apts. HUD's bid package will be favorable: 150 units, multi-use allowed, developer will have to demolish and rebuild on site. 8)Detail economic development strategy; the County will not help or provide incentives by the way. 9)Marketing campaign to businesses and new residents. 10)Set aside vacant land on flood plain to create linear park. This is a long-term goal. 11)Hold 2-3 community events a year, around 15th and Colcord, to draw new folks to the area.
Question & Answer:
Most streetscape improvements will be shaped concrete and sidewalks. This is already underway at 15th & Colcord and should be finished by the summer. It includes brick pavers, landscaping and street lights.
Can start once you get that key person. That won't happen until the Downtown Development Corp begins. It's a group effort until then.
This neighborhood is largest area within Greater Downtown area. This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Waco.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
financial meltdown
I've linked below to an NPR "This American Life" episode on the financial crisis and how it started and accelerated so quickly. The group that did the story just won a Pulitzer for their work. This is the best explanation this non-MBAer has heard.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/405/inside-job
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/405/inside-job
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
overdue
This post is much delayed. I had a computer crash almost two weeks ago and am only now getting back up to speed.
I must also admit that writing a blog no longer comes naturally to me. When I was on city council in NJ, I write a daily blog for over three years. I haven't counted the total pages but it is ridiculous. Perhaps my fingers are tired.
However, blogs are for commentary and there is much upon which to comment. Julie and I were not in NJ on September 11, 2001. We were celebrating my father's retirement, cruising through Alaska's inner passage with Mom, Dad, my sister and her husband. Needless to say, the cruise went from one of wonderment and merry to one of grave concern and anxiety. We actually were on one of the first flights within the US, and it got us to Minneapolis/St. Paul.
We did not have any church members who died on Sept 11. I did know a woman on flight 93. She was an advocate for the blind, on her way to attend a conference about same in Las Vegas. We had met a few times as our work with Habitat overlapped. Our county lost a lot of folks though.
So, I didn't shed a tear learning that Bin Laden had been killed. I also didn't take to the streets and begin celebrating.
Julie and I attended a denominational gathering not long after 9/11. I remember being shocked by a pastor from California who advocated bombing most of the Middle East, under the guise that he lived near Los Angeles thus putting his children in jeopardy from a terrorist attack. The vivid disconnect between real world events (and dangers) and his professed faith in Jesus Christ--who promises to provide all things in this world and the next--shocked me. It was also a primer for many other similar "confessions."
Realclearreligion had an article on Bin Laden in Hell--the title was catchy but it was more about Islamic political-theocracy than theology. I believe there is a Hell and I believe Bin Laden is there. But I still don't feel like celebrating.
I must also admit that writing a blog no longer comes naturally to me. When I was on city council in NJ, I write a daily blog for over three years. I haven't counted the total pages but it is ridiculous. Perhaps my fingers are tired.
However, blogs are for commentary and there is much upon which to comment. Julie and I were not in NJ on September 11, 2001. We were celebrating my father's retirement, cruising through Alaska's inner passage with Mom, Dad, my sister and her husband. Needless to say, the cruise went from one of wonderment and merry to one of grave concern and anxiety. We actually were on one of the first flights within the US, and it got us to Minneapolis/St. Paul.
We did not have any church members who died on Sept 11. I did know a woman on flight 93. She was an advocate for the blind, on her way to attend a conference about same in Las Vegas. We had met a few times as our work with Habitat overlapped. Our county lost a lot of folks though.
So, I didn't shed a tear learning that Bin Laden had been killed. I also didn't take to the streets and begin celebrating.
Julie and I attended a denominational gathering not long after 9/11. I remember being shocked by a pastor from California who advocated bombing most of the Middle East, under the guise that he lived near Los Angeles thus putting his children in jeopardy from a terrorist attack. The vivid disconnect between real world events (and dangers) and his professed faith in Jesus Christ--who promises to provide all things in this world and the next--shocked me. It was also a primer for many other similar "confessions."
Realclearreligion had an article on Bin Laden in Hell--the title was catchy but it was more about Islamic political-theocracy than theology. I believe there is a Hell and I believe Bin Laden is there. But I still don't feel like celebrating.
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