Remembering the Water

The one thing I never counted on when we moved to the Midwest was how much I'd miss the water. Before moving to Ohio (and now, five years later, I understand why everyone said, "Why?"when we told them we moved here from California) I had lived on a coast for 13 years. Pensacola, Florida for about a year; San Diego, California for six years; and Eureka, California for six years.

I miss being near water.

That's what I love about going to Lakeside every year. It's not the ocean, not by a long shot, but I get to imagine...and I get to remember.

We had a good time this year--all four of us got to camp at Lakeside and even though it was a long week of work for me, there were those moments of relaxation and reflection and seeing friends I hadn't seen in quite some time.

The profile picture is from the Pavilion at Lakeside at sunset.
And these are my children:


I love that when we go to Lakeside they can just be kids--I love that they can hop on bikes/scooters and just go and we know that they are okay.

But most of all, I love the water.

Kensington Families & The Simple Way

I'm not usually into blogging for solicitations' sake, but when I heard the news about The Simple Way in Philadelphia, my heart broke and I just had to share the news and their need for assistance.

This is copied from my other blog:

I got this information from my friends the psalters about a serious tragedy in Philadelphia. I don't know Shane or the others from Simple Way personally, but I have felt a great spiritual bond with their work and the way they live out the Gospel.

Official Fire Update

This morning, a 7-alarm fire consumed an abandoned warehouse in our Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia. The Simple Way Community Center at 3200 Potter Street was destroyed as well as at least eight of our neighbors' homes. Over 100 people were evacuated from their homes, and 400 families are currently without power. Despite this developing tragedy, we are incredibly thankful to share that all of our community members and every one of our neighbors is safely out of harm's way.

This fire will forever change the fabric of our community. Eight families are currently homeless, and in many cases have lost their vehicles as well as their homes. One of our neighbors, the Mahaias Family, lost their three cars as well as the equipment one family member uses for her massage therapy business. Teenager Brian Mahaias is devastated not because he has lost his belongings, but because he fears that this fire will force him to move away from this neighborhood that is his family as well as his home.

The Simple Way has lost a community center that was home to our Yes! And… afterschool program, community arts center, and Cottage Printworks t-shirt micro-business as well as to two of our community members. Community members Shane Claiborne and Jesce Walz have lost all of their belongings, Yes!And…'s after school studio and library were ruined, and community member Justin Donner's Cottage Printworks equipment and t-shirts were destroyed.

We are thankful that we are able to help each other during this time of need, and we will continue to keep your informed about today's events.

We have established funds to support the families who have lost their homes, the Yes! And… afterschool program, and the Simple Way community.

A fund to support the families has been established through a partner organization, EAPE. Tax-deductible donations can be made at https://www.tonycampolo.org/donate.php#ssl. Please make sure to put "Kensington Families Fund" in the memo section.

Donations to the Rebuilding Fund can be made via PayPal to contribute@awip.us.

-The Simple Way Community

Whatever you can do, please do. Even prayers (like that's something small) would go a long, long way.

Go to The Simple Way for updates, images, and video.

Pax.

The Pilgrimm

How YOU doin' ?

I thought I'd go about introducing myself before I get down to business.

I call myself the Pilgrimm because I'm on a journey from life to death and death to new life, from brokenness to sanctification, and I'm itinerant in my ministry.

I'm a prodigal-pilgrim pastor of a mainline church who is more than interested in taking the church to a new place; I'm too Catholic for a lot of Protestants, and yet I know exactly what I protest and why I'm not Catholic. I'm too edgy for traditional folks, and too traditional for contemporary folks.

I believe the church is meant to be organic and flexible--but I'm not sure that such a thing as nimbleness will ever work it's way into the crusty fabric of the institution.

I believe that God is for the oppressed and wants to redeem the oppressor. I believe that God has a preference for the poor but wants to convert the hearts of the rich. I believe that God has a soft spot for Ragamuffins and Goonies, for the broken-hearted and the downtrodden. I believe that nothing is as powerful as God's ability and willingness to love.

And I believe in the Revolution that Jesus kicked off--I just think a lot of church-folk have lost their passion and energy for it. I think we've married the American Dream to the Reign of Christ and the world is worse for it.

I listen to The Psalters, Rage Against the Machine, Dave Matthews Band, and the Grateful Dead. (among others)
I read Brennan Manning, Brain McLaren, Rob Bell, Erwin R. McManus, and Stephen King. (In addition to the Bible and a few select comic books.)

I know that heaven has come to earth and now is the time for heroes.

Pax,
The Pilgrimm