fields of grass vs localized parks
being able to see the stars vs not being able to see through the fog and lights of the city
back yards vs no yards
lower rent for house vs higher rent for studio apartment
walking on trails vs walking on sidewalk
living in a small town of 5,000 for some feels like the last thing in the world they would want to put up with. but for me i belong in a small town. i flourish in a small town. i have everything i need in a small town groceries, gas, bank, library and the church. not that big cities do not provide everything as well but for me why drive into the city when i have everything i need?
a lot of people talk about simplifying life. i think for me when you take the city schedule of the high paced always needing to be somewhere you are not was the best thing that ever happened. i do not feel as rushed or stressed but yet i still get done the things that need to be finished and more. for me this is what country life is all about. and if i ever do want the city well syracuse is not to far away.
next time: ministry in the small town
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
rural life
in the past six months a lot of my friends have written blogs on why they like the city. well today i would like to write on why i prefer small town living. it might go back to the fact that i grew up in a small town. however back then i craved to live in the city. i would go to visit boston and would long to live there. i liked the idea of having everything you need right around the corner including fenway park. i liked the sense of having choices. what do you want to eat? what would you like to do this afternoon?
everything in the small town seemed mundane and boring while the city seemed full of adventure and things to explore. when i looked at college i considered boston but settled on midwest college in a town of approximately 30,000. while i was there, it seemed there were many trips to indianapolis because there were things to do. we could watch the pacers, walk down by the canal, and just have fun goofing off.
when i graduated i went to greenville, sc. a city of about 50,000 but with the surrounding communities was more 300,000. i enjoyed the city life and while it wasnt boston, chicago or los angeles had a lot of opportunities. and of course atlanta and charlotte were between 1.5 and 2.5 hrs drive. this allowed us to explore and have adventures that were not capaple as a 16 year old with a license growing up in a small town in northern maine.
i did eventually move away from greenville after living there 2 yrs. we moved to a small town in central new york. it was small but i new syracuse was only a 1/2 hr away. so when i longed for some city i could easily reach it. syracuse is listed at about 150,000, and i knewwould offer some fun.
i have now lived in pulaski for 9 months and the few times i have even driven to the city have been hospital visits or seeing syracuse university sports, and a couple concerts. i can probably count on boths hands the times i have been in the city. i really do not even desire to go in. i have found many adventures here in the rural life. 3 miles from where i sit typing this blog is lake ontario where i have been countless times to read, hike, sit on the beach and revel at the beauty in front of me. only an 1.5 north is thousand islands where there are i guess a thousand islands. i havent counted them but have been on at least two of them.
if i drive northeast i can be in the adirondacks in 1.5 hrs and be in lake placid in 3. just yesterday i had to meet up with some youth pastors and drove by one of the finger lakes.
today was just an explanation of my surroundings. later i will talk about what i enjoy other then sites about small town living and part 3 will address what i like about small town ministry.
everything in the small town seemed mundane and boring while the city seemed full of adventure and things to explore. when i looked at college i considered boston but settled on midwest college in a town of approximately 30,000. while i was there, it seemed there were many trips to indianapolis because there were things to do. we could watch the pacers, walk down by the canal, and just have fun goofing off.
when i graduated i went to greenville, sc. a city of about 50,000 but with the surrounding communities was more 300,000. i enjoyed the city life and while it wasnt boston, chicago or los angeles had a lot of opportunities. and of course atlanta and charlotte were between 1.5 and 2.5 hrs drive. this allowed us to explore and have adventures that were not capaple as a 16 year old with a license growing up in a small town in northern maine.
i did eventually move away from greenville after living there 2 yrs. we moved to a small town in central new york. it was small but i new syracuse was only a 1/2 hr away. so when i longed for some city i could easily reach it. syracuse is listed at about 150,000, and i knewwould offer some fun.
i have now lived in pulaski for 9 months and the few times i have even driven to the city have been hospital visits or seeing syracuse university sports, and a couple concerts. i can probably count on boths hands the times i have been in the city. i really do not even desire to go in. i have found many adventures here in the rural life. 3 miles from where i sit typing this blog is lake ontario where i have been countless times to read, hike, sit on the beach and revel at the beauty in front of me. only an 1.5 north is thousand islands where there are i guess a thousand islands. i havent counted them but have been on at least two of them.
if i drive northeast i can be in the adirondacks in 1.5 hrs and be in lake placid in 3. just yesterday i had to meet up with some youth pastors and drove by one of the finger lakes.
today was just an explanation of my surroundings. later i will talk about what i enjoy other then sites about small town living and part 3 will address what i like about small town ministry.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
serving what
let me suggest an idea in the form of a question. i feel that is what i do best. alot of questions perplex my mind from day to day but one that has really been penetrating there for quite some time has been this. are we serving the church or are we serving Christ by serving in the church?
the first part of the question (serving the church) asks us essentially what our motives are for working in the nursery, being an usher or on the church board. are we there to help build the church up and have a great name in the community because of the different events and programming our church has.
or because of our love and devotion for Christ we want to help in the church because we want to see more people believe and love Him as well.
the first part can be dangerous because we are putting something in front of Christ. it becomes idolistic. but one has to ask themselves this question from time to time for a check of accountability because so many times we get caught up in all the things that are going on around us, we forget about the things that are being orchestrated from above us.
God does want us to serve people, it is seen throughout scripture. but many non-christians are doing so much in the world in the same way as Christians do. if we are not serving Christ and with Christ then i wonder what we will say we can do next without Christ.
the first part of the question (serving the church) asks us essentially what our motives are for working in the nursery, being an usher or on the church board. are we there to help build the church up and have a great name in the community because of the different events and programming our church has.
or because of our love and devotion for Christ we want to help in the church because we want to see more people believe and love Him as well.
the first part can be dangerous because we are putting something in front of Christ. it becomes idolistic. but one has to ask themselves this question from time to time for a check of accountability because so many times we get caught up in all the things that are going on around us, we forget about the things that are being orchestrated from above us.
God does want us to serve people, it is seen throughout scripture. but many non-christians are doing so much in the world in the same way as Christians do. if we are not serving Christ and with Christ then i wonder what we will say we can do next without Christ.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
stats on new orleans
1,000,000 before katrina 200,000 after 14,000 used to live in the lower 9th ward, now only 6, i talked to two of them 108 square miles of flood damage new orleans did not flood until about 24 hrs later because there was no one to work the pumpstations it was flooded with anywhere from 1-21 feet of water people there consider it a man made disaster not a natural disaster there are officially 1,600 death from the storm and still many missing there were more deaths by suicide after the storm homes that were going for $500,000 can now be bought for $70,000
if you want a job you could easily have one: burger king is offering a $10,000 sign on bonus if you agree to work for a year, plus $10 an hour and benefits. olive garden is paying $14 an hour plus tips. i do not think i saw a business without a help wanted sign. but even if they find all the workers who will be there customers. stores close for the most part by 7 pm.
if the federal government gave every family $200,000 to rebuild it would of cost less then the rebuilding to date and that number is still growing.
family of faith community church lost their pastor who became ds over texas/louisiana 2 month before the hurricane hit. they were still looking for a pastor to replace him when katrina hit. it just restarted in mid february and had 47 people on easter sunday. most of which never attended church before. in the two month pastor dale munsell has led 8 people to Christ and awesome things are happening each day. while we were there brian gave his heart to Christ and has since started taking his grown children to church. God is doing some amazing things down there.
Monday, May 01, 2006
my trip to the warzone
friday--i couldnt sleep tonight. i was anxiously awaiting my alarm clock for 5am so i could get up and meet the team at the church to leave for new orleans. little did i know what i was getting myself into.
saturday--we arrived in new orleans about 4 pm and as we drove to the church the fema trailers stuck out. there were so many of them. they looked bigger on tv and yet it has been 8 months since the storm people were living in them, and will continue for quite some time. today i have hear stories of how it was a man made disaster (as viewed by the residents of new orleans) because the drain pipes were not turned on and working coreectly. i have found myself unusually quiet just taking in the sights and sounds of everything around me.
sunday--we drove around and saw more desolation. neighborhoods destroyed and neighbors have long left this city of 1 million. it now stands at 200,000. this lady showed us the levies and drove us out 7f miles away from new orleans to show us her orange grove and house or what is now and open field with a cement slab where the trailer used to be. she said the trailer was found 4 miles from the site. obviously in no shape to be used ever again.
the superdome is being rebuilt by what seemed like ants. and should be ready for there opening game against the falcons. as we later walked around the french quarter and bourbon street drunk girls kept approaching me yelling "boston" in reference to the red sox hat i was wearing. i wonder if this is real or if the boat underneath the bypass will continue to make it a dream.
tuesday--service is a lifestyle that i am still trying to grasp. even though i have spent today laying sheet rock and mudding i find myself at times missing other types of service . others find sweeping, dishes and anything else that needs to be done, but yet i sit here and journal.
today i met the couple we are helping rebuild. they were so thankful. they waitedout the hurricane in their him and it was more then a day later when the flooding reached their house. the insurance of course did not cover the cost of rebuilding. they were only reimbursed $10,000 which half went to central cooling.
thursday--the reason i came was to serve. little did i know exactly how we would be serving. as the week progressed i found playing ping pong with the pastor as serving to relieve his stress, and his family hasnt yet moved down to the area. another is one of the teens father. he is a great guy with a heart to match yet is still young in his faith. talking with him has been great for him as well as for me. he has had an outlet. the other is the family whose house we are working on. suck a great couple who have a lot of burdens. they want to take us out to the favorite chinese/seafood restaurant. one who is willing to serve must allow themselves to be served.
friday--i have continued to notice the attitude of carlene. she continues through the day and every now and then you hear her mumbling. but she is talking to God the whole time. she is such a servant. and i am seeing that this is what i need to aim for.
overall-- there has been a lot learned about new orleans, myself and the church. but when it comes down to it we just need to serve.
saturday--we arrived in new orleans about 4 pm and as we drove to the church the fema trailers stuck out. there were so many of them. they looked bigger on tv and yet it has been 8 months since the storm people were living in them, and will continue for quite some time. today i have hear stories of how it was a man made disaster (as viewed by the residents of new orleans) because the drain pipes were not turned on and working coreectly. i have found myself unusually quiet just taking in the sights and sounds of everything around me.
sunday--we drove around and saw more desolation. neighborhoods destroyed and neighbors have long left this city of 1 million. it now stands at 200,000. this lady showed us the levies and drove us out 7f miles away from new orleans to show us her orange grove and house or what is now and open field with a cement slab where the trailer used to be. she said the trailer was found 4 miles from the site. obviously in no shape to be used ever again.
the superdome is being rebuilt by what seemed like ants. and should be ready for there opening game against the falcons. as we later walked around the french quarter and bourbon street drunk girls kept approaching me yelling "boston" in reference to the red sox hat i was wearing. i wonder if this is real or if the boat underneath the bypass will continue to make it a dream.
tuesday--service is a lifestyle that i am still trying to grasp. even though i have spent today laying sheet rock and mudding i find myself at times missing other types of service . others find sweeping, dishes and anything else that needs to be done, but yet i sit here and journal.
today i met the couple we are helping rebuild. they were so thankful. they waitedout the hurricane in their him and it was more then a day later when the flooding reached their house. the insurance of course did not cover the cost of rebuilding. they were only reimbursed $10,000 which half went to central cooling.
thursday--the reason i came was to serve. little did i know exactly how we would be serving. as the week progressed i found playing ping pong with the pastor as serving to relieve his stress, and his family hasnt yet moved down to the area. another is one of the teens father. he is a great guy with a heart to match yet is still young in his faith. talking with him has been great for him as well as for me. he has had an outlet. the other is the family whose house we are working on. suck a great couple who have a lot of burdens. they want to take us out to the favorite chinese/seafood restaurant. one who is willing to serve must allow themselves to be served.
friday--i have continued to notice the attitude of carlene. she continues through the day and every now and then you hear her mumbling. but she is talking to God the whole time. she is such a servant. and i am seeing that this is what i need to aim for.
overall-- there has been a lot learned about new orleans, myself and the church. but when it comes down to it we just need to serve.
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