A Tarentum resident and artist had a serious stroke on May 15 while working out of state. He is now back in the Alle-Kiski Valley and making a recovery. His family is using a piece of his artwork to raise funds to pay for his uncovered medical expenses.
If you'd like to encourage Thomas to get back on his feet and moving so that he can put down the next robot uprising, consider buying a t-shirt or other item at http://www.cafepress.com/runtomrun.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Changes in the wind
This has been a busy week so far. The major events for my week have involved informing the congregation of my decision to resign as the pastor at Central.
Sunday morning during worship I told the congregation about my decision. Following the service people responded with expressions of wishing me well and about how much I will be missed.
Tuesday evening at our Meal and Ministry, I informed a mixed group of church members and neighbors of the church what was happening. I am always amused when people ask me whether this or that event will interfere with our meeting for supper and Bible Study. I don't know how many times I've explained that I do plan to eat supper on Tuesday, so we will continue with it through the summer.
Last night I formally informed the Session, and presented my letter of resignation. They started the process of finishing up the formalities by accepting my letter and calling a congregational meeting for July 27, at which the congregation will concur with my request. Presbytery representatives were present at the Session meeting to help the Session know what their options would be in moving ahead once I finish.
My plans are to finish work at Central on August 31, and then to use my left over study leave and vacation starting September 1. I am thinking about getting the official interim pastor training and then doing some interim pastor work. I plan to stay in the Alle-Kiski Valley.
I am confident that God is calling me to resign from this position, and I am equally confident that God has something else for me to do. I am looking forward to having that next step become clear to me.
Sunday morning during worship I told the congregation about my decision. Following the service people responded with expressions of wishing me well and about how much I will be missed.
Tuesday evening at our Meal and Ministry, I informed a mixed group of church members and neighbors of the church what was happening. I am always amused when people ask me whether this or that event will interfere with our meeting for supper and Bible Study. I don't know how many times I've explained that I do plan to eat supper on Tuesday, so we will continue with it through the summer.
Last night I formally informed the Session, and presented my letter of resignation. They started the process of finishing up the formalities by accepting my letter and calling a congregational meeting for July 27, at which the congregation will concur with my request. Presbytery representatives were present at the Session meeting to help the Session know what their options would be in moving ahead once I finish.
My plans are to finish work at Central on August 31, and then to use my left over study leave and vacation starting September 1. I am thinking about getting the official interim pastor training and then doing some interim pastor work. I plan to stay in the Alle-Kiski Valley.
I am confident that God is calling me to resign from this position, and I am equally confident that God has something else for me to do. I am looking forward to having that next step become clear to me.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Blown right into the middle of things
It has been really windy the last few days. The winds banging on my window and pushing my car when I drive around the area seem as forceful as the winds blowing in other areas of my life.Ever since I first started to get involved with the ACC back in October, I have felt like something much bigger than me has picked me up and put me into this new situation.
Yesterday I got the final confirmation that my ACC assignment at the General Assembly will be to give the ACC's advice to Committee 06, dealing with the Form of Government Revision.
If you are interested in seeing the business that will be before that committee you can look it up on PC-Biz. Or you can use that site to look at everything else the Presbyterian General Assembly will be doing in San Jose.
And with all the attention being given to the so-called "FOG Report", I'll be somewhere in the thick of it.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Reimagining the Bible in Pittsburgh
What are you dealing with when you are invited to participate in a "Bible distribution project" that has no plans to distribute Bibles? Before jumping to the uncharitable conclusion that someone is trying to deceive you, it might be worthwhile to consider the possibilities that words have meanings that shift or that some people are simply imprecise in their use of language.
CityReachers (R) Pittsburgh at times bills itself as a Bible distribution project (see this page for example) and at other times states very clearly that its plan is to distribute New Testaments. And therein is the space left for confusion. At last night's session meeting, for example, I learned that our elder commissioner came home from last month's meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery with the mistaken impression that CityReachers (R) was going to distribute "a whole new Bible."
I am all for distributing Scripture whether in whole or in part. But I have to wonder how it happens that an organization that knows how to describe accurately its distribution of scripture portions would now produce so many publicity pieces that describe their version of the New Testament as a "Bible."
The most surprising to me was the letter signed by seven leaders of Christian bodies in the Pittsburgh area (even including Pittsburgh Presbytery). I know that at least some of those bodies have clear standards that recognize the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments as authoritative. But now their names appear on an endorsing letter that uses the word "Bible" interchangeably with "New Testament" or "book".
And the odd result is that the "Bible" to be distributed will not include the very scriptures the Risen Christ used when he interpreted to his disciples what was said about him in all the scriptures beginning with Moses and the prophets. (Luke 24:27)
In Pittsburgh it appears that "the Bible" has a whole new meaning.
File under: Bible, Pittsburgh, religion
CityReachers (R) Pittsburgh at times bills itself as a Bible distribution project (see this page for example) and at other times states very clearly that its plan is to distribute New Testaments. And therein is the space left for confusion. At last night's session meeting, for example, I learned that our elder commissioner came home from last month's meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery with the mistaken impression that CityReachers (R) was going to distribute "a whole new Bible."
I am all for distributing Scripture whether in whole or in part. But I have to wonder how it happens that an organization that knows how to describe accurately its distribution of scripture portions would now produce so many publicity pieces that describe their version of the New Testament as a "Bible."
The most surprising to me was the letter signed by seven leaders of Christian bodies in the Pittsburgh area (even including Pittsburgh Presbytery). I know that at least some of those bodies have clear standards that recognize the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments as authoritative. But now their names appear on an endorsing letter that uses the word "Bible" interchangeably with "New Testament" or "book".
And the odd result is that the "Bible" to be distributed will not include the very scriptures the Risen Christ used when he interpreted to his disciples what was said about him in all the scriptures beginning with Moses and the prophets. (Luke 24:27)
In Pittsburgh it appears that "the Bible" has a whole new meaning.
File under: Bible, Pittsburgh, religion
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
That's why the fans go to the games early
I mentioned last month this photograph of the Steelers that is going to be distributed with part of a Bible. Now it is making the news.
The photo explains why the fans go early to the Steeler games.
They must want to be sure they see the Steelers out-pray the other team during the pre-game prayer meeting.
That's why, isn't it?
The photo explains why the fans go early to the Steeler games.
They must want to be sure they see the Steelers out-pray the other team during the pre-game prayer meeting.
That's why, isn't it?
Monday, May 05, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Fast work
Yesterday afternoon I noticed that equipment had been moved into position near the old Second Ward School to get ready to demolish the empty green house beside it on Second Avenue.
This morning I saw that the house had already been brought down.
This is part of a very positive development for Tarentum. The former school building was sold last month to Rabkin Dermatopathology Laboratory.
The vacant house was purchased for demolition so that the laboratory would have adequate parking, always at a premium in Tarentum.
So Tarentum has a new business coming to town, and one that may generate some medical synergy with the presence of Blackburn's Physicians Pharmacy. Tarentum is not just a town with a number of doctor's offices, but it is a town to which doctors look for a number of needed services.
And there is now one less vacant house in town.
This morning I saw that the house had already been brought down.This is part of a very positive development for Tarentum. The former school building was sold last month to Rabkin Dermatopathology Laboratory.
The vacant house was purchased for demolition so that the laboratory would have adequate parking, always at a premium in Tarentum.
So Tarentum has a new business coming to town, and one that may generate some medical synergy with the presence of Blackburn's Physicians Pharmacy. Tarentum is not just a town with a number of doctor's offices, but it is a town to which doctors look for a number of needed services.
And there is now one less vacant house in town.
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