Recently I got a group of people together who had been planting the church together for ten years. Our congregation in South Jersey is ten years old (What a wonder!), and we marked the occasion with a time to remember where we have been and consider where we are going. The time reminded me ofContinue reading “Giving Thanks for Friends We Don’t See As Much As We Used To”
Category Archives: making friends
I Got Kicked off of Camden County College’s Campus Today
Yep, you heard that right. I got kicked off of Camden County College’s Blackwood Campus today for hanging out with students who I met while holding a sign that said “Tell Me your Story.” The head of security asked me to leave because I was not an authorized guest. I asked him how I could beContinue reading “I Got Kicked off of Camden County College’s Campus Today”
Hope Bigger Than Just Hype
I believe that a coffin sized rectangle of reclaimed lumber in the front yard of Circle of Hope’s repurposed firehouse in Pennsauken will change the world. We put some fresh soil in it and we’re going to grow some food then offer the produce free to passersby. This will destroy the forces of evil. SoundsContinue reading “Hope Bigger Than Just Hype”
How do I escape the stereotype?
I got stuck on the trolley for about 45 minutes last week. I also got stuck being a Christian The trolleys were broken down in the tunnel and we were beyond the diversion point. We just had to wait it out. Instead of being consumed by my fantasy novel I struck up a conversation withContinue reading “How do I escape the stereotype?”
Why are you doing this?
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my bench on Locust Walk at the University of Pennsylvania holding my “tell me your story sign”. It turns our it was parent’s weekend and I got two stories from proud Penn parents. One man, D, came up to me and said, “Ok, you’ve piqued my interest.Continue reading “Why are you doing this?”
I’m that guy with the sign
At one point this week I was having a conversation with 3 new acquaintances simultaneously about 1) good and evil 2) greek tragedies, 3) vampires and 4) the broken Democratic machine in Philadelphia. My “Tell Me Your Story” bench kind of blossomed on Monday afternoon. That wasn’t the only multi-person conversation I had either. I’mContinue reading “I’m that guy with the sign”
Tell Me Your Story, Penn
My friend, Howard Pinder, came up with this great idea. The “Tell Me Your Story” sign. I’ve been emulating him at the University of Pennsylvania this week. It’s pretty fun! People look at me when I’m holding the sign, many look away when I meet their gaze, they look away and smile. Many give aContinue reading “Tell Me Your Story, Penn”
Circle of Hope’s Public Joy
I was driving down the Broad Street on Sunday when all of a sudden I had to pull over abruptly in the center “parking lane.” My friends, Forest and Ben were playing guitars in front of the library at Broad and Morris! It was a beautiful morning and these beautiful people were making some beautifulContinue reading “Circle of Hope’s Public Joy”
Being There- Why you have to show up
I was lying on my couch reading Game of Thrones on Monday afternoon when I heard the megaphone start blaring. “Oh yeah, it’s the protest. We’re shutting down Woodland Ave!” I grabbed Oliver, my 2 year old son, and we ran down the street to join the crowd. We were blocking Woodland Ave. to sendContinue reading “Being There- Why you have to show up”
Divided Diversity Defied
Last time I went to Sacks Playground I think it was my friend Zack’s 8th birthday party (but that was only a couple of years ago). A woman I talked to at this playground on Monday hadn’t been there in a while either. Our similarly aged boys were playing with each other so we wereContinue reading “Divided Diversity Defied”
Trying to be question marks on July 4th
When you wear a sandwich sign some people will yell across a crowd to you. I learned this and a lot of other things at the Party on the Parkway on July 4th, this past Thursday. The first person to yell across the crowd got my attention by reciting what he had memorized of theContinue reading “Trying to be question marks on July 4th”
Grace says they don’t want to talk to you
A three year old is holding his mother’s hand in one hand and a much too real looking toy handgun in the other. A well dressed dad and ballet dancer daughter emerge from the subway. He drops her off at the dance school and returns toward the subway. A tiny girl, hair dangling what seemsContinue reading “Grace says they don’t want to talk to you”
Today, if you hear his voice 