Highlight of the week:

Definitely our Sr. High Service Project Weekend. I really believe in the purpose of this weekend and look forward to doing more. Will blog about this more but this year we did a worship service at the Good Shepherd Mission in Paterson, NJ then spent a couple hours afterwards hanging out with the men there. Served at the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission in center city Philadelphia with Evan’s students at Great Valley Pres. That evening went Bethel Church in Philly to hear Shane Clairborne. The kids connected with a lot of what he said. Still waiting for them to digest it all bc I am eager in hearing their thoughts and reactions. Sunday, we worshipped at the Well in Feasterville (where Todd Hiestand and Gary Alloway serve at) then went and at cheeseteaks (at Pats because they let me order in Arabic).

Book(s) I’m reading (and not reading): Rediscovering Paul for the emergent conference. Which I literally read 2 pages since last week. Read the Relational Way and finished up Community 101. This week I hope to read 2 more pages of Rediscovering Paul.

Podcasts I’m digging: Relevant Podcast as always. Fermi Project with Christopher Silber (on screenwriting) and for the first time listened to two fantasy football podcasts. A complete waste of time since both my teams sucked this week. Fortunately, one of my opponents must listen also because his team sucked a little worse. Something(s) that blew my mind: Came to the realization that I might as well run for Vice President one day too. Looks like anyone can do it.

Ministry update: Needing to get the ministry calendar ready.

What I am procrastinating on:  The ministry calendar.  My basement.  Need to get a new desk for my workspace.  Need to clean the area before getting the desk – Argh.

Earlier this week I was at the Princeton Seminary Library.  Although I was never a student, this has become a special place for me.  I served at a church for 5+ years in the Philly suburbs and Princeton was about 20 miles away.  Because my wife and I had different days off and I had a need to get out of the house, I’d spend the day at the library and at Small World Coffee.  I later resigned that church and took a break in ministry to focus on finding a position that would be a better fit and a time of healing and renewal.  (Don’t read that assuming that I was not pursuing God’s will, but you’d have to know me to understand how I use that type of language but I digress).  As I was looking for our next ministry, I spent even more time at PTS library.  I especially loved the periodical room and all the various places to study.   Between its size and not being a student there and therefore not knowing anyone, I ended up reading a lot.

Not an exciting post but it was a good day for me to be back there.  These days I use the Starbucks, Borders, and the libraries at Nyack Bible College and at Alliance Seminary.  It’s not the same but it’s different season and it’s been a good one.

Highlight of the week:  Our Biblical Seminary Bus Tour.  Went to see ministries serve the larger community in Philly.  (I keep meaning to blog about this.

Book(s) I’m reading: Finishing up Community 101, Reading Paul for the emergent conference.  Beginning the Relational Way tomorrow.

Music I’m digging:  Honestly, I’ve enjoyed my first few listens to the new Chris Tomlin cd.  If you know me, you know that I like to tease about Tomlin but here’s the thing.  If this wasn’t Tomlin’s voice, I might be really excited about this album.  Given that I cannot really forget that it’s Tomlin (like not imaging a pink elephant in my mind), I can say, “Hmm.  Not bad.”  What a snobby disclaimer to say all that, huh?

Something(s) that blew my mind:  $700 billion dollar bailout.  It just sounds crazy.

Ministry update:   Getting ready to go Sr. High Service Project Weekend with Evan’s students. Men’s mission in Paterson, NJ, serving at Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission in Philly, Shane Claiborne, worshipping at The Well (where Todd Hiestand and Gary Alloway serve), and …. Cheesteaks.