Check out Pastor David speaking to youth of Crossroads:
http://vimeo.com/10018146
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Future of East Liberty
Check out this Article from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/realestate/03pittsburgh.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/realestate/03pittsburgh.html
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
To Turn The Other Cheek in Pittsburgh
This is my family's first winter in Pittsburgh. I sure picked a winner. Everyone said that Pittsburgh gets cold, a little snow, but that's it. What the reality has been is one of the most dramatic winters in Pittsburgh's history. When the first blizzard hit, we could not get into our vehicle for 3 days. We walked to the grocery store and drug store...there was no other choice in East Liberty.
One of the things I quickly learned about was the chair. The folding chair is an important tool in Pittsburgh. Once you shovel yourself out, you realize a few things. One that was a lot of work, two that the rest of the street still has snow, you have just enough room to get your car out and back in once you return. Also if I pull out and someone else pulls in then I have lost my space and there is no where for my car to park.
The solution is the chair. The chair serves as a placeholder. Don't take my spot. During the first few days of the storm, we made a fatal error...we forgot to put the chair out. Sure enough, someone put their car in our spot. My wife went out to politely ask if the person could move. The answer was a quick no...too bad. My wife's request turned to pleading, which was supported by the neighbors out shoveling. They all knew how important this was, and the time they had put in as well. She finally left and we had the spot again.
That same day we discovered that someone had stolen our shovel. My shovel! Someone stole my shovel. I spent the whole day going from store to store looking for a shovel. Everyone was sold out due to the storm (which is probably why it got stolen to begin with). I finally found one at a Home Depot 40 minutes from my house.
I mentioned these both in a sermon the following week at church. My point was on forgiveness and letting it go. Well a few days later, it happened again. But this time the crime of all crimes happened. Someone moved our chairs and they parked their vehicle in our spot. Anger upon Anger filled my heart. I immediately wanted to go out and do harm. I wanted to pour water on the car, put honey on the car handle, re-bury the car with snow, place my chairs on top of the chair. But what I ended up doing was...nothing. I tried to let it go.
Luke 6 says, "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Whether it is a chair, a cloak, a shovel, or a parking spot. Letting Jesus' words transform me is hard stuff. God may you keep working on me this day.
One of the things I quickly learned about was the chair. The folding chair is an important tool in Pittsburgh. Once you shovel yourself out, you realize a few things. One that was a lot of work, two that the rest of the street still has snow, you have just enough room to get your car out and back in once you return. Also if I pull out and someone else pulls in then I have lost my space and there is no where for my car to park.
The solution is the chair. The chair serves as a placeholder. Don't take my spot. During the first few days of the storm, we made a fatal error...we forgot to put the chair out. Sure enough, someone put their car in our spot. My wife went out to politely ask if the person could move. The answer was a quick no...too bad. My wife's request turned to pleading, which was supported by the neighbors out shoveling. They all knew how important this was, and the time they had put in as well. She finally left and we had the spot again.
That same day we discovered that someone had stolen our shovel. My shovel! Someone stole my shovel. I spent the whole day going from store to store looking for a shovel. Everyone was sold out due to the storm (which is probably why it got stolen to begin with). I finally found one at a Home Depot 40 minutes from my house.
I mentioned these both in a sermon the following week at church. My point was on forgiveness and letting it go. Well a few days later, it happened again. But this time the crime of all crimes happened. Someone moved our chairs and they parked their vehicle in our spot. Anger upon Anger filled my heart. I immediately wanted to go out and do harm. I wanted to pour water on the car, put honey on the car handle, re-bury the car with snow, place my chairs on top of the chair. But what I ended up doing was...nothing. I tried to let it go.
Luke 6 says, "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Whether it is a chair, a cloak, a shovel, or a parking spot. Letting Jesus' words transform me is hard stuff. God may you keep working on me this day.
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