the intersection of life and grace

This probably belongs on some website called “you know you’re from Albany if” or something, but I was laughing over it, so I’m blogging about it. It could be quite funny even if you aren’t from the 518.

You might assume that the skyline of the capital city of New York State would be dominated by the Capitol building itself, but it’s not. Thanks to Gov. Nelson A. Rockefellar, the distinctive hallmark of the city’s view as it sits on the bank of the Hudson River is the Empire State Plaza – in earlier years called Rocky’s Folly for it’s extravagant expense and odd looks.

The Plaza, as you can see in the photos, is a collection of clone-like office towers for state government, book-ended by the State Museum and Library at the southern end and the architecturally dissonant Capitol to the north (neither is visible in these pics). In the center and to the east is The Egg – I bet you don’t need my help to pick it out in the photo. It houses several theaters for the performing arts as well as the NYS Convention Center. Growing up we had a lot of fun making up alternate names for it, generally based on it’s shape resembling a certain bathroom fixture.

The amazingly quirky band They Might Be Giants made a number of venue song videos for one of their tours. Guess where they played? Yes! The Egg! I’m embedding below TMBG’s venue song for The Egg (don’t have anything to drink nearby, you may get the screen or keyboard a tad messy). Come on, watch it… the odd factor alone is worth it.

Is it still possible to achieve the American Dream? You know, the one where parents hope that their children’s lives will be “better” than their own; where if you work hard you can pull yourself up the socio-economic ladder to a “better” place. Is it possible?

Andrew Shepard, a recent college graduate from North Carolina, wanted to find out if it was possible. For his experiment, he chose to abandon his educational credentials, his contacts, his supportive home, and become a homeless man in South Carolina. Taking a few possessions in a gym bag and $25, Andrew set out to see if he could achieve a place to live, a job, a vehicle, and save $2500 within a year.

Do you think it can be done?

When I read about Andrew’s idea, it brought the biblical parable of the talents to mind.

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

This parable is one in a section of Matthew 25 about being prepared and unafraid. It teaches us the consequences of living in fear – which hinders the work of the Spirit in and through us. Rather than timidly waiting to do the cautious thing and simply stand guard over what we’ve been given, Jesus is teaching us to be bold in growing what he has entrusted to us.

So how does this connect with Andrew’s story, which, so far as I know, has no faith connection?

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From the morning Scripture readings, Psalm 119:105-112:

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.

I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.

I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.

Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.

I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.

An amazing passage to sit with this morning. Thanks God! Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, strength; and to love people the way I am loved – as yours.

Very soon I will be able to see the Mets on TV! Just 2 more days to the first of the SNY televised spring training games. But today, in about 20 minutes from the time of this post, I’ll be listening to an exhibition game against the baseball team from the University of Michigan. Why the Wolverines? Mets owner Fred Wilpon is an alum. I wonder if my friend Todd, the most faithful Michigan fan I know, knew that bit of trivia.

Tim was recently invited to participate in the Empire State Youth Wind Orchestra for the last part of it’s 2007-2008 season.  I had the blessing of hearing last Sunday’s rehearsal while the composer of the first part of a ESYO commissioned piece, MSgt(USAF Ret) Aldo Forte, was on hand to hear and offer input as they prepare to debut his work.  This coming week the composer of the second part of the piece will be in attendance to work with them as well.  What a fantastic opportunity to work directly with composers and premiere their music!

ESYO’s New Music for a New Generation Music Festival will take place at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and features a day of artistic offerings, a variety of workshops and seminars for young musicians, as well as a public evening concert during which nine commissioned works will be premiered by each of ESYO’s ensembles.  If you are interested in attending, click on the poster inset to enlarge it and obtain ticket information.

Michael Lindsay, assistant director of the Center on Race, Religion and Urban Life at Rice University, echoed that view. “Religion is the single most important factor that drives American belief attitudes and behaviors,” said Mr. Lindsay, who had read the Pew report. “It is a powerful indicator of where America will end up on politics, culture, family life. If you want to understand America, you have to understand religion in America.”

That quote is from a NYT article, published today, called Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds. The focus of the piece is the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life’s new survey entitled “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey.”

While the erosion of denominational loyalty as been commented upon before, this new study finds that “if shifts among Protestant denominations are included, then it appears that 44 percent of Americans have switched religious affiliations”  (see chart, click for full size) and the fascinating observation that the unaffiliated describe themselves as “nothing in particular” rather than athiest or agnostic.  Really interesting stuff.

What does that mean for our congregations?  What about youth ministries?  For evangelism?  

Just after the first of the year Tom and I both received jury service questionnaires.  He, being one who deals with court notices all the time, completed his immediately… I waited about a week.  He got called for a trial jury selection pretty shortly and then was dismissed because he’d been somehow tangentally involved in the case.

I heard nothing… until today.  Not only did I get a jury notice, it’s for the grand jury pool and bears a very low number.  So, on March 12 I report to find out if I get to spend every Wednesday for a couple of months at the Albany County Justice Center.   I may not get selected, or I may get disqualified for some reason.

In other news, Cathie came home from school just moments ago with some sort of stomach illness that is not treating her kindly at all.  Prayers for her speedy recovery appreciated.

I have been trying not to pay too much attention to the crud that plagues my denomination.  However, the quote below was in Christianity Today’s Quotation Marks column and it mostly just confuses me.

“In a sense it’s related to the old ecclesiastical behavior toward child abuse [when priests looked the other way]. Bad behavior must be confronted.”
Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, on why the church is suing congregations that leave the national denomination.

Originally from here.

It seriously makes no logical sense whatsoever.  Clear as mud?

Don’t you think?

Feel free to leave yours in the comments…

A few random thoughts on this dragging Wednesday afternoon:

We’re looking to sell our timeshare property in Florida, it’s become an impractical asset for us.  We believe it can be better used by someone else.

The injury portion of my 1999 car accident case is still outstanding.  I think the settlement conversation started about 3 years ago.

Tim had a great time on his overnight visit to Saint Rose.  He was paired with a Music Industry major who hooked him up with some info on profs and such.  He’s headed over there to the studio with our friend Sean on Monday to record an original song for a scholarship contest.

Cathie’s phone has been ordered via the Sprint website and she’ll have it by Monday or so.

Tom is teaching his Tae-kwon do classes tonight.  He’s set to take his next advancement test (2nd degree black belt) on April 5 in NYC.

I started making pot roast earlier before I realized that most of the fam won’t be here for dinner.  Guess that’s what we’re having tomorrow!

I’m fighting off taking a late afternoon nap by listening to the fun new album by Leeland; review will appear on YMX next week.   Tim had a review of the new Pillar release appear earlier this week.

I wonder how long it will take feedburner to feed this post… it was doing better, but it’s back to several hours now.  I’m pressing publish at 4:43 pm… tick, tick..