This Sunday will be my last Sunday at West Side. I can't even begin to describe the emotions I am dealing with. To say the least, it will be a hard day saying goodbye to what has been my life for, in some ways, almost 14 years. But since I have no other job and Mandy has a good one we aren't moving, so we won't have to say goodbye to everything just yet... if ever.
But even as we say goodbye I can hear us already begining to say hello to something else. I'm not exactly sure what it is yet. I just know we are about to begin a new journey in our lives as a family and for me as an individual. Even though I am scared about it and even though I mourn greatly leaving West Side, I am excited about what lays ahead.
Maybe, I'll document the journey here. Maybe, I'll be honest with my thoughts here. Maybe, I'll figure something out here. Maybe.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Ian James Peterson
Mandy delivered yesterday (11/7/08) morning at 6:22 AM. He weighed 8 lbs 14 ozs and was 21 1/4 inches long. Mom and son are both doing really well. To see pictures go over to Lucy's blog.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sarah Paline
Now I'm not saying this is going to influence how I will vote or even if it will cause me to vote. But to see a woman on stage who is running for VP along with her child who has Down Syndrome brings a tear to my eye. In some small way I may have an understanding of how African Americans now feel with Barack Obama so close to the presidency.
Tips...
I found this on another blog:
Sarah Palin has just joined John McCain as his running mate, and she took the stage in Dayton accompanied by her husband Todd and four of her five children — including youngest son Trig, who was born in April. (Oldest son Track is in the Army, and will deploy to Iraq next month.)
A few minutes before Palin appeared, I heard David Gergen on CNN referring to Trig Palin as “a Down syndrome child.”
Ouch.We can do better than that.
It’s worth remembering that people with Down syndrome are just that — people — and should be referred to as such. Let’s make an extra effort, when discussing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, to say that Trig “has Down syndrome,” or is a “child with Down syndrome.”Using language that puts the person first sends a strong message that people should not be defined by their disabilities.
Like all Americans, people with disabilities deserve our respect and consideration.And while we’re on the subject, let me offer some guidance on disrespectful language to avoid in discussing the lives of people who have Down syndrome.
Please, people, let’s not say that they “suffer” from Down syndrome, or that they are “afflicted” by Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that doesn’t interfere with a person’s ability to lead a happy, satisfying and productive life, and to contribute to their family and community.
Please, don’t refer to Trig as a “Down’s child,” a “Down syndrome child,” or “a Downs.” This is outdated language that demeans in its assumption that a person’s disability is the most important thing about them. And I shouldn’t have to tell you that old-fashioned terms like “mongoloid” and “mongol” are considered insulting by the disability community.
Looking for more information? Here’s a release from the National Down Syndrome Congress and the National Down Syndrome Society.
Sarah Palin has just joined John McCain as his running mate, and she took the stage in Dayton accompanied by her husband Todd and four of her five children — including youngest son Trig, who was born in April. (Oldest son Track is in the Army, and will deploy to Iraq next month.)
A few minutes before Palin appeared, I heard David Gergen on CNN referring to Trig Palin as “a Down syndrome child.”
Ouch.We can do better than that.
It’s worth remembering that people with Down syndrome are just that — people — and should be referred to as such. Let’s make an extra effort, when discussing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, to say that Trig “has Down syndrome,” or is a “child with Down syndrome.”Using language that puts the person first sends a strong message that people should not be defined by their disabilities.
Like all Americans, people with disabilities deserve our respect and consideration.And while we’re on the subject, let me offer some guidance on disrespectful language to avoid in discussing the lives of people who have Down syndrome.
Please, people, let’s not say that they “suffer” from Down syndrome, or that they are “afflicted” by Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that doesn’t interfere with a person’s ability to lead a happy, satisfying and productive life, and to contribute to their family and community.
Please, don’t refer to Trig as a “Down’s child,” a “Down syndrome child,” or “a Downs.” This is outdated language that demeans in its assumption that a person’s disability is the most important thing about them. And I shouldn’t have to tell you that old-fashioned terms like “mongoloid” and “mongol” are considered insulting by the disability community.
Looking for more information? Here’s a release from the National Down Syndrome Congress and the National Down Syndrome Society.
Presidential Politics
As most of you know I have been a big Barack Obama fan, at least early on in the primaries. And if the truth is told, I still lean his way today. I like him better than McCain and I love a lot of things about his candidacy - I love what his candidacy represents for our country. But their are plenty of things that I don't like about him. For starters his views on abortion and this line he says about America being the worlds last great hope (my hope lies elsewhere than America). Right now I'm thinking about not voting in the presidential election as a way of saying as a follower of Jesus I can't honestly support either of these candidates who both offers visions for America that go against almost everything I think the Kingdom teaches.
But on a side note I heard this morning that McCain might pick Alaska's governor for his running mate. Which would be so cool because she is a woman and she has a son with down syndrome who was diagnosed prenatally (which means she could have had an abortion which 90% of the people in her situation choose to do). I can't imagine what it would do for the down syndrome community to have someone like the Vice President with a child with DS. That makes my heart sing! Though having McCain as president makes my heart cry.
But on a side note I heard this morning that McCain might pick Alaska's governor for his running mate. Which would be so cool because she is a woman and she has a son with down syndrome who was diagnosed prenatally (which means she could have had an abortion which 90% of the people in her situation choose to do). I can't imagine what it would do for the down syndrome community to have someone like the Vice President with a child with DS. That makes my heart sing! Though having McCain as president makes my heart cry.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Live From Boston
The family and I are at the National down syndrome Congress Convention in Boston. I want to explain everything, but I'm not sure I can. My emotions well up just about every other minute. I see someone with down syndrome everywhere I go, it's the most amazing sight. I love my daughter so very much. I am so proud of her.
They gave an award to this doctor here in Boston who works in their down syndrome clinic. In a video tribute they had a whole bunch of kids with down syndrome saying thank you to him. I couldn't help thinking that their could hardly be any better reward in this life than to have all those kids thanking him. My tears welled up pretty good during that one.
I can't fully explain it, but some days I think I understand God just a bit better because of down syndrome.
They gave an award to this doctor here in Boston who works in their down syndrome clinic. In a video tribute they had a whole bunch of kids with down syndrome saying thank you to him. I couldn't help thinking that their could hardly be any better reward in this life than to have all those kids thanking him. My tears welled up pretty good during that one.
I can't fully explain it, but some days I think I understand God just a bit better because of down syndrome.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Into The Wild
Just finished reading Into The Wild. I thought it was a great read. It would have been a great read just for the writing style and good story told, but it was so much more than that. I thought I saw some of me in the person the story was about. I thought maybe I had 2% of him in me. I know that is not very much, but I could somehow just understand the itch in his life that he just had to try and find a scratch for and the idealism he had to live for. He wasn't perfect, but there was so much about him that I respect so much.
I wonder about my "in the wild" experience just after college in the West End of Mount Vernon. I wonder how wild I really let it be. I wonder how much I sold out in the midst of it. I wonder how much I've let the idealism from those months fade from my life. I wonder how much of that idealism was good to let go of and how much of it should never have been let go of. I wonder about how risking everything might be the only way of finding everything.
Good book, pick it up and read it if you get the chance. I need to find Travis Bickle some time and have a discussion with him about it.
I wonder about my "in the wild" experience just after college in the West End of Mount Vernon. I wonder how wild I really let it be. I wonder how much I sold out in the midst of it. I wonder how much I've let the idealism from those months fade from my life. I wonder how much of that idealism was good to let go of and how much of it should never have been let go of. I wonder about how risking everything might be the only way of finding everything.
Good book, pick it up and read it if you get the chance. I need to find Travis Bickle some time and have a discussion with him about it.
Friday, May 09, 2008
"My Brother"
I went to a community pastors meeting yesterday here in Mount Vernon about a controversy that is brewing in our little town. At one point in the meeting I spoke up and basically shared my opinion on the controversy. Let’s just say I won’t be invited to speak in most of the other pastor’s churches any time here soon. But then another pastor from my denomination spoke up to ask a question and referred to me as his brother. Now I’m not exactly sure where this pastor stands on the issues we discussed, but it has never felt so good to be identified as someone’s brother before in my life. In a room where I wasn’t the most popular person it felt so affirming to have someone call me there brother regardless if they agreed with me on this particular issue or not. Thanks Larry, I won’t forget that.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Random thoughts...
-If we are going to encourage our kids not to go to the military we have to provide a viable alternative for them. I talked to a girl this morning who is going to the Army after she graduates from High School in a few weeks. Honestly, if being in the military didn’t involve killing people or doing other things for our empire that go against the Kingdom it would be a great option for her. What other alternative do I have to offer her?
-Reading books on my front porch is a great way to talk to people. I could sit in my room and read books, but if I do it on my front porch all sorts of people walk by and it just makes room for conversations. Just yesterday I tried it out and had a wonderful conversation with my paper boy. I wonder what other things I can do in my front yard just to make myself more open to my neighbors?
-Just ordered three new kitchen appliances after one of them broke. Am I a slave to the god of consumerism? This one has been really tearing me up inside.
-Served on a jury a few weeks ago. It was a case involving a guy who went to two different doctors and got the same medicine from both (though he went to both for different legitimate reasons and both doctors knew he was seeing the other). He technically broke the law I guess, but in my heart I think he just thought he got lucky. I was ticked off at the prosecutor for even bringing the case. I was the lone juror for 2 hours who said he was not guilty until I was convinced to vote guilty. Not the most pleasant experience in my life.
-Did you know a police officer can look up your prescription history when ever he wants? He can then investigate you and then file charges against you if something looks fishy? I think I might call my state rep about that one and possibly the ACLU.
-Almost done with Shane Claiborne’s “Jesus for President.” GREAT BOOK! Now if I can learn to be a faithful citizen of the Kingdom in the ways I believe Jesus wants me to be. This book has probably influenced all the above thoughts.
-Reading books on my front porch is a great way to talk to people. I could sit in my room and read books, but if I do it on my front porch all sorts of people walk by and it just makes room for conversations. Just yesterday I tried it out and had a wonderful conversation with my paper boy. I wonder what other things I can do in my front yard just to make myself more open to my neighbors?
-Just ordered three new kitchen appliances after one of them broke. Am I a slave to the god of consumerism? This one has been really tearing me up inside.
-Served on a jury a few weeks ago. It was a case involving a guy who went to two different doctors and got the same medicine from both (though he went to both for different legitimate reasons and both doctors knew he was seeing the other). He technically broke the law I guess, but in my heart I think he just thought he got lucky. I was ticked off at the prosecutor for even bringing the case. I was the lone juror for 2 hours who said he was not guilty until I was convinced to vote guilty. Not the most pleasant experience in my life.
-Did you know a police officer can look up your prescription history when ever he wants? He can then investigate you and then file charges against you if something looks fishy? I think I might call my state rep about that one and possibly the ACLU.
-Almost done with Shane Claiborne’s “Jesus for President.” GREAT BOOK! Now if I can learn to be a faithful citizen of the Kingdom in the ways I believe Jesus wants me to be. This book has probably influenced all the above thoughts.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Presidents and MRDD
When Obama lost in New Hampshire I said I was more disappointed about that then when on the same night (or a night close to it) Ohio State lost in the National Title game, which is saying a lot since I like the Bucks so much. Last night Obama lost some pretty big states, but does that make me depressed? Well of course I wished he would have won, but how could I be depressed when I got to hear Walter Bruggemann speak at MVNU last night. Hearing someone talk about the Kingdom of God and the other way of life it gives provides so much hope that nothing, especially your favorite political candidate losing, could ever have the possibility of taking that away from you.
Hears to imagining and living the Kingdom life regardless of who lives in the White House!
Also, thanks to all those who supported and/or voted for the MRDD Levy. It only passed by 286 votes here in Knox County, but we’ll take it. Obviously my family has a vested interest in our local board of MRDD, but as I have learned over the last several years we all really have a vested interest in it.
Here’s to people with disabilities showing us the Kingdom of God!
Hears to imagining and living the Kingdom life regardless of who lives in the White House!
Also, thanks to all those who supported and/or voted for the MRDD Levy. It only passed by 286 votes here in Knox County, but we’ll take it. Obviously my family has a vested interest in our local board of MRDD, but as I have learned over the last several years we all really have a vested interest in it.
Here’s to people with disabilities showing us the Kingdom of God!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
No Singing
This Sunday for our service we're not going to be doing any singing. The reason being that our normal musicians are out of town and our backup is sick. I normally try to convince people who hate leading music to lead in these situations but I won't do that anymore. Also I've wanted to do this for awhile now anyway to try to expand our view of what corprate worship can be. The reason I post this is to see if any of you out there have any ideas for what we should do besides singing and the normal preaching. I have some ideas, but if you have any please give them to me.
Friday, February 15, 2008
MRDD Levy
The other day I had a conversation with a friend about whether or not he should vote for the local MRDD levy. At first the question for him was not whether he should vote yes or no, but whether or not he should even vote. I have many friends, who I respect greatly, who chose for religious reasons not to participate in our elections. My friend fits this bill, but was wondering if voting for levies for important things such as supporting the local board of MRDD was something completely different than voting for a politician.
He then told me he wondered how he would even vote if he did even chose to vote on the levy. He considers himself more of a libertarian (I think that partially means the less taxes the better) and was wondering if taxing the general public was the best way to help support those who are supported by the board of MRDD. (This guy is a very good guy and would never ever do anything to hurt those with disabilities.) He then wondered allowed if maybe the church should be the one taking care of those with disabilities and not the government.
This gets me to my point (finally!). I’ve heard Christians talk my entire life about how welfare is bad because the Church should be the ones taking care of those needs and that the Church should take back over that role. My question is in God’s dream for His creation does He dream for the Church to take care of the least of these or does He dream for all of humanity, including the church, to do that? Some how I think it makes God happier when an entire city, county, state, or country decides to do something together to help out the cause of the widow, orphan, or alien than if the church just decided to do something.
So what’s wrong with us going to the voting booth on voting day and as a county saying we want to support an organization that helps out people with disabilities? Sure the Church should be helping out as well, but I’m sure God smiles when the rest of humanity gets something right as well. I mean shouldn’t Christians be thrilled when we see the world catching a partial vision of the Kingdom of God and shouldn’t we get involved in those efforts to bring a more holistic perspective to them?
Just some thoughts… hope they made sense.
He then told me he wondered how he would even vote if he did even chose to vote on the levy. He considers himself more of a libertarian (I think that partially means the less taxes the better) and was wondering if taxing the general public was the best way to help support those who are supported by the board of MRDD. (This guy is a very good guy and would never ever do anything to hurt those with disabilities.) He then wondered allowed if maybe the church should be the one taking care of those with disabilities and not the government.
This gets me to my point (finally!). I’ve heard Christians talk my entire life about how welfare is bad because the Church should be the ones taking care of those needs and that the Church should take back over that role. My question is in God’s dream for His creation does He dream for the Church to take care of the least of these or does He dream for all of humanity, including the church, to do that? Some how I think it makes God happier when an entire city, county, state, or country decides to do something together to help out the cause of the widow, orphan, or alien than if the church just decided to do something.
So what’s wrong with us going to the voting booth on voting day and as a county saying we want to support an organization that helps out people with disabilities? Sure the Church should be helping out as well, but I’m sure God smiles when the rest of humanity gets something right as well. I mean shouldn’t Christians be thrilled when we see the world catching a partial vision of the Kingdom of God and shouldn’t we get involved in those efforts to bring a more holistic perspective to them?
Just some thoughts… hope they made sense.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Abortion
Had some interesting conversations about the abortion issue lately, and none specifically about the politics of it. I’ve been a life begins at conception kind of guy for as long as I remember and don’t really believe abortion should ever happen with the possible exception of saving the mother’s life.
Yet I have good Christian friends who disagree with me. Some who think abortion should at least always be legal and others who find it morally acceptable until the egg implants in the uterus. I also have friends whose ideas fall in other places within the debate.
I have been left in a fog after these conversations. I’m confused about my beliefs: where are the source of my beliefs, why do I feel so passionately about them, and do I have any room for change? I’m confused about what role the church should play in these discussions: do we demand a certain belief in practice, do we leave room for honest discussion on the issues, and can we agree to disagree on such a difficult issue? I’m confused about why we even have the discussion: Are we trying to make something morally acceptable that is truly not just because it makes our lives easier by being able to control our ability to reproduce in such a direct way.
Do I try to speak prophetically against abortion from conception even though I know I will be speaking to people who honestly disagree with me? Or do I invite discussion on the issue knowing full well that through the discussion many people may take the opposing viewpoint from mine.
Abortion is such a difficult issue. It is so complex. For many it is so personal. I wish I knew how to handle it.
Yet I have good Christian friends who disagree with me. Some who think abortion should at least always be legal and others who find it morally acceptable until the egg implants in the uterus. I also have friends whose ideas fall in other places within the debate.
I have been left in a fog after these conversations. I’m confused about my beliefs: where are the source of my beliefs, why do I feel so passionately about them, and do I have any room for change? I’m confused about what role the church should play in these discussions: do we demand a certain belief in practice, do we leave room for honest discussion on the issues, and can we agree to disagree on such a difficult issue? I’m confused about why we even have the discussion: Are we trying to make something morally acceptable that is truly not just because it makes our lives easier by being able to control our ability to reproduce in such a direct way.
Do I try to speak prophetically against abortion from conception even though I know I will be speaking to people who honestly disagree with me? Or do I invite discussion on the issue knowing full well that through the discussion many people may take the opposing viewpoint from mine.
Abortion is such a difficult issue. It is so complex. For many it is so personal. I wish I knew how to handle it.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Where do we place our hope?
I just finished replying to the second email I received in the past week that tries to make you worry that Barack Obama is possibly a radical Muslim. It talks about the Muslim influence in his life, how he got sworn in using the Koran, and how he doesn’t say the pledge of allegiance. Almost all of the email is completely false including the part that says snopes.com backs it all up.
It isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this kind of email. I remember getting them about Clinton, Gore, and Kerry. What I really hate is how they are most likely created by Christians and are passed around by Christians (to be fair, both people who sent me the email were doing it for research purposes because they know I like Obama and they wanted to know if the stuff was true or not.) The real reasons these emails get created and passed around is that we want them to be discredited so that the candidate we support will be elected.
And we have good reasons why we want our candidate to get elected. We think they are the Christian candidate and can lead our country back to where it should be at. Thus, we gossip and lie (very non-Christian things to do) because we want a Christian to be elected because we think it will help the cause of Christ in this country and around the world to have a Christian (narrowly defined) living in the White House. By acting in ways that betray Christ to get a politician elected we ultimately show where our hope lies and it is not in Christ.
Even though we say we are doing what we are doing for Christ, we indeed show that we don’t really have the trust and faith in Christ that we really want our country to have. As Christians we should support who we think would be the best president for our country, but with a healthy dose of reality that will tell us that they can’t fix America. There is only one King and we should never betray Him, even if we say we are only betraying Him to help Him.
While I’m preaching, though mostly to the choir, I should point out how hard this is for me. I really don’t like Hillary Clinton all that much. I choose not to hear her speak or read articles that I know will cast her in a positive light. Why? When I really think about I think it is because I want my negative views about her reinforced and I don’t want to hear anything good about her because then it will be harder to hate her. Isn’t part of our job as Christians to see the good in people (the image of God) and honor that which of it we see and not to magnify the bad we see in them? We like to make people worse than they are so that it will be easier to do mean things to them.
This is going to be hard for me, but this election year, I am going to try my hardest to see the best in every candidate, and not try to destroy any of them. Does that mean I won’t critique their policies or leadership abilities? No. But it does mean I will value them as the beloved of my Creator and honor them because they are bearers of His image.
It isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this kind of email. I remember getting them about Clinton, Gore, and Kerry. What I really hate is how they are most likely created by Christians and are passed around by Christians (to be fair, both people who sent me the email were doing it for research purposes because they know I like Obama and they wanted to know if the stuff was true or not.) The real reasons these emails get created and passed around is that we want them to be discredited so that the candidate we support will be elected.
And we have good reasons why we want our candidate to get elected. We think they are the Christian candidate and can lead our country back to where it should be at. Thus, we gossip and lie (very non-Christian things to do) because we want a Christian to be elected because we think it will help the cause of Christ in this country and around the world to have a Christian (narrowly defined) living in the White House. By acting in ways that betray Christ to get a politician elected we ultimately show where our hope lies and it is not in Christ.
Even though we say we are doing what we are doing for Christ, we indeed show that we don’t really have the trust and faith in Christ that we really want our country to have. As Christians we should support who we think would be the best president for our country, but with a healthy dose of reality that will tell us that they can’t fix America. There is only one King and we should never betray Him, even if we say we are only betraying Him to help Him.
While I’m preaching, though mostly to the choir, I should point out how hard this is for me. I really don’t like Hillary Clinton all that much. I choose not to hear her speak or read articles that I know will cast her in a positive light. Why? When I really think about I think it is because I want my negative views about her reinforced and I don’t want to hear anything good about her because then it will be harder to hate her. Isn’t part of our job as Christians to see the good in people (the image of God) and honor that which of it we see and not to magnify the bad we see in them? We like to make people worse than they are so that it will be easier to do mean things to them.
This is going to be hard for me, but this election year, I am going to try my hardest to see the best in every candidate, and not try to destroy any of them. Does that mean I won’t critique their policies or leadership abilities? No. But it does mean I will value them as the beloved of my Creator and honor them because they are bearers of His image.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Preschool
Mandy and I started looking at preschools today for Lucy. She'll be three this summer so she could start next fall if we choose. The whole thought of her going to school for 2 1/2 hours day, four days a week makes me want to puke. She's so small and inocent. She's my little girl and I don't know if I could ever let her go to school.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Oh my goodness!
If you want to read a much better reason to vote for Obama check out this guys blog. He says what I wanted to say in my post a few down.
All aboard the Obama train! Get on now cause it ain't gonna be stopping any time soon!
All aboard the Obama train! Get on now cause it ain't gonna be stopping any time soon!
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