Uphill idealist

So much time and energy in life is spent in chasing after the many things we think we need. Our world is so geared towards servicing our whims and desires, we are shocked and dismayed if we can't find what exactly we are looking for. Even when I go online and shop for books, I find what I'm looking for and more! On my Amazon account, after I log in, a store called "Tara's Store" flashes at the top of the page stating – " We have more suggestions for you!" A personalized "store" has been compiled by the purchases I've made over the past several years, the merchandise I've casually browsed, and the wish lists I've compiled on rainy days all in the name of customer service and consumption. There are literally thousands of potential items in my store that are ready and waiting for expedited delivery for the cost listed in the right hand column next to my blinking virtual shopping cart. At this moment of window-shopping, do I really co...

Steep slopes reach beyond the vision of my eyes. Eagles circle above, never hurried in the sky. Sing to the creator of the mountain. It's mass seems impossible to move. Speak to the crafter of the valley, it's depths reaching further to prove. -We all have a void that only you can fill. -We all have frantic chaos that only you can still. -We all have burdens that only you can take. -We all have worries weighing that cause our hearts to break. -We all have barriers that only you can shake.

Just take hold of freedom. It's right in front of you. Just take hold of love and live. Let go and breathe, let go and sing, let go and live again. Just free from your loss. Free from you pain. Just waiting for freedom to start all over again. Let go and breathe, let go and sing, let go and live again. Just take in your light, take in your peace, take hold of your love again. Take hold of mercy, take hold of grace, take hold and start again. Just...

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo...

Ian Mobsby, is an ordained NSM Anglican priest licensed to work with the Moot community , an Anglican Church of England Fresh Expression of Church Project in Westminster, Central London. Ian has just completed his second book. "The becoming of G-D" and is coming to the US and Canada for a book tour in the month of June. After meeting Ian last year at an Emergent Pittsburgh event discussing the function of art in the worship setting, we continued discussion specifically concerning Rublev's Icon and the symbolism of this 17th century painting. This conversation resulted in my writing the song "Eucharist" and the lyrics of this song have been included in Ian's new book. Ian has recently confirmed his tour in partnership with Westminster Presbyterian Church , St. Luke's Episcopal Church and various other individual sponsors to include an event in the Jamestown/Lakewood area. Sunday and Saturday's events will be held at the YWCA Lake Lodge in Lakewoo...

Mothers Day we honor our Mom's and thank them for all the things they do and have done for us. Think for a moment about the life your Mother gave to you. The time it took to wait for your arrival, the time she takes to care for you now. How many times do we consider the gift we have in simply being here? The gift of life, energy and breath are so valuable and we rarely take the time or thought space to consider them. This morning we pause to marvel at the creation of our lives and the life we life in and through God's Spirit. Pentecost is the church's celebration of it's beginning as well as the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Some explanations or descriptions of the Holy Spirit we are familiar with are comforter and adviser. This morning, I'd like to consider the expression of the Spirit of God according to the passage in Acts 2:1-21 1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale fo...

Cups for Change is a grass roots and world aware effort to raise funds for the poor, help build our local church and promote local art talent. Tony (who makes the cups) has a hair salon on 2nd street in Jamestown, NY directly down from Chautauqua Music. He has been working with pottery for about 2 years now and has some of his cups being used in local shops and coffee shops. Upon gaining greater awareness of the food shortages worldwide ( esp. in Haiti and Egypt) I was told about the organization Food for the poor . They have been working for 26 years to feed the poorest communities throughout the world! At our meeting this Tuesday, we decided to try to sell Tony's cups for $8.00 each, with $4 going back to Tony, $2 going to Food for the Poor and $2 going to our ministry at WPC locally. If you are interested in purchasing a cup please drop me a line or contact us via our website information. It's our hope that this effort will help promote local arts, community ministry and ...