Very interesting albeit a tad pessimistic vis-à-vis the architecture of your neighborhood. I live there too, you know. Coming from nowhere in rural Cuba, I am still amazed I own a lovely home in the United States. On the bright side, I don't think there will be garbage or garages in New Jerusalem. Shalom.
Just sending an email out this morning to the church about finances and facilities. When we purchased the abandoned farmhouse on 12th Ave and renovated it (the "Big White House"), one of the things that we saw behind the overgrown vines and bushes, were the amazing porches and the possibilities of how it could be an inviting and inspiring space for not just our church, but also the city. Now we're looking to raise a barn that would allow for both a united space for worship, but also for outreach...and we've talked about the task of it being both functional and inspirational/welcoming. I'm going to share this post in that email! Good work!
Joey, I always enjoy your posts but I especially liked this one. Definitely lol'd at the picture of your "porch" and how big the garage door is in comparison. (Your cousin Andrew insisted we build a nice front porch on our house and I am grateful to him every day for that. Maybe he could re-do y'alls :) And thinking of churches and how welcoming they appear (which is a reflection of how welcoming they ARE) seems so important to me. Our church in Washington DC (St Stephens and the Incarnation) never locked its doors. People visiting from out of town or who just needed a spot to be could sleep on the floor of the sanctuary. Before we moved there, Danny slept on that floor more than once during visits. The church also housed several community organizations during the week for a very reduced rent, following the philosophy that God's house is everybody's house. Thank you for the reminder that we can model the Kingdom by opening up the physical spaces. Amen.
Very interesting albeit a tad pessimistic vis-à-vis the architecture of your neighborhood. I live there too, you know. Coming from nowhere in rural Cuba, I am still amazed I own a lovely home in the United States. On the bright side, I don't think there will be garbage or garages in New Jerusalem. Shalom.
Your home is incredibly inviting and lovely. But don’t you wish your porch was a little bigger too?
No. I have the same philosophy as Cio-Cio San in Puccini's Madama Butterfly. It is a sentiment of the Japanese:
Noi siamo gente avvezza
alle piccole cose
umili e silenziose,
ad una tenerezza
sfiorante e pur profonda
come il ciel, come l'onda del mare!
We are people accustomed
to small things
humble and silent,
to a tenderness
touching and yet profound
like the sky, like the wave of the sea!
Really enjoyed this 👌
I'm thrilled.
Timely (again!), Joseph!
Just sending an email out this morning to the church about finances and facilities. When we purchased the abandoned farmhouse on 12th Ave and renovated it (the "Big White House"), one of the things that we saw behind the overgrown vines and bushes, were the amazing porches and the possibilities of how it could be an inviting and inspiring space for not just our church, but also the city. Now we're looking to raise a barn that would allow for both a united space for worship, but also for outreach...and we've talked about the task of it being both functional and inspirational/welcoming. I'm going to share this post in that email! Good work!
That’s very wonderful. So glad to hear good things are happening at Genesis :)
Joey, I always enjoy your posts but I especially liked this one. Definitely lol'd at the picture of your "porch" and how big the garage door is in comparison. (Your cousin Andrew insisted we build a nice front porch on our house and I am grateful to him every day for that. Maybe he could re-do y'alls :) And thinking of churches and how welcoming they appear (which is a reflection of how welcoming they ARE) seems so important to me. Our church in Washington DC (St Stephens and the Incarnation) never locked its doors. People visiting from out of town or who just needed a spot to be could sleep on the floor of the sanctuary. Before we moved there, Danny slept on that floor more than once during visits. The church also housed several community organizations during the week for a very reduced rent, following the philosophy that God's house is everybody's house. Thank you for the reminder that we can model the Kingdom by opening up the physical spaces. Amen.
I had no idea he goes by Joey also. Thanks.
Don’t get carried away.
This is so lovely. God bless Andrew for his architectural rebellion, and God bless you all for joining the revolution ✊