Friday, October 5, 2007

September in a Nutshell

It's my favorite time of year--fall! The temperatures have not caught on yet, but fall signals the beginning of football season, baseball playoffs (even though my team didn't come close), beautiful autumn leaves, and pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks (or the B&N Cafe)!

I am convinced that the month of September races the quickest across the calendar. It only has one less day than July and August, so why is it? I have to believe it has a lot to do with the increase in activities--things starting up after the summer months, and of course the yearly reminder that I have become another year older and hopefully wiser! I had a nice, quiet celebration. Kristina (my daughter), Eric (my son), and Sophia (my granddaughter) had the day off, thanks to Rosh Hashanah, and took me out for breakfast. Charlotte surprised me at work that evening by bringing me my favorite meal: Eggplant Parmesan, and we had a lovely meal on the bench in the median of Broadway and 82nd. Michelle (my daughter) sent me Mackinaw Island fudge from Michigan, and other goodies and greetings came my way. Charlotte reminded me that I had asked God to show me some direction during my 50th year and he has been gracious to show me that my life is in his hands and that he has a purpose for me!

Some of the blessings of September have been our Life Group that has met twice. Jeremy's report of the trip to the orphanage in India really gripped our collective hearts and consciousness. We are working our way through Matthew under the theme of "Jesus' Call, Our Response." We also took part in the walk for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) on a beautiful Sunday morning with many from the Origins community. Charlotte and I were able to experience the Origins Chelsea service in the evening. We also took part in a rooftop party on the UWS for Environmental Justice. We were challenged to be better stewards of what God has given us.

Charlotte has begun to take her lunch (30 minutes) to walk and pray for her office and staff. There have been some definite answers to prayer already. She also attended the first fall benefit for RESTORE NYC at the Yale Club. Faith Huckel, who is a part of the leadership community of our church, shared her vision for starting the first safe house in NYC for victims of sex trafficking.

My coworker who asked me to pray for him during a heart episode at work, shared this week that he needs to get back to God. It has been so amazing, because it is so obvious that the Holy Spirit is at work in his life.

I will leave you with some of my September reading titles:

"A Matter of Justice" by David A. Nichols, chronicles the role of Dwight Eisenhower in Civil Rights--that he did more than Truman, Kennedy and Johnson combined.

"The Barbarian Way" by Erwin Raphael McManus (birthday gift from Eric), amazing little book that challenged me to "let go of a sanitized Christianity and get back to the powerful, raw, and ancient faith that chooses revolution over compromise, peril over safety, and passion over lukewarm and watered-down religion."

"Giving" by Bill Clinton, excellent resource for living more responsibly as a steward!

"The Preacher and the Presidents" by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy--two Time reporters take a look at the relationship that Billy Graham had with 11 presidents and his struggle to minister to them and yet not be swayed or corrupted by temporal power.

"Shopping for God" by James B. Twitchell--subtitle (How Christianity went from in your heart to in your face). The author describes himself as an "apatheist," but has some interesting insights to the marketing of church in our time.

"The Long Ball" by Tom Adelman--a creatively written history of the 1975 baseball season that altered the face of the sport, and in which my beloved Reds won the World Series...thanks for letting me indulge in faint memories!

"Run" by Ann Patchett, new book by the author of "Bel Canto"--nice story, but a little too happily ever after. Now I know what to say to the customers who ask for a recommendation!

Have a great October!

Gary

Blogs I enjoy reading

Manhattan Diary

There are so many opportunities unfolding to partner with God in bringing in the Kingdom. I'm learning more about justice and being stretched on a regular basis. I love partnering with Charlotte to strengthen marriages and prepare couples for married life.

What I'm reading in October 2009

  • Love Is an Orientation
  • Movements that Changed the World
  • ReJesus
  • When Heaven Invades Earth

About Me

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New York, New York, United States
Seeking to live intentionally; bringing the Kingdom of God to contested space!