I don't know if I ever wrote about the last service at the church. It has been a while now, and that probably helps to give me some clarity. To say it was a surreal experience would be a gross understatement.
The situation of the stained glass continued. Even on the day of the last service, we were dealing with the whole "we feel we deserve the stained glass." Even after telling the players that if it was donated to the church, it belonged to the church, it still continued.
I got to the service early, which was a good thing. A colleague arrived early which was nice; having the support during this time was need. The bishop arrived shortly thereafter and proceeded to piss me off. I asked what I needed to do and he looked at me like I lost my head. He said, "Nothing." I said, "So do I sit in the congregation?" Again the look like I was nuts. "No, you vest and read the gospel." (I hate being made to feel like a fool when I have no idea what is happening. I have never closed a church before.)
Only two of the board members were present. One was sick, but the other two just decided to not show up. I guess it just exemplifies the situation. The leadership could not even come.
There were colleagues, former parishioners, and local clergy there. The people that I did not want to show up did not show up.
All in all, it was a good thing.
After the service, we too off for Iowa to celebrate my parents' birthdays.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 22: 3 Wishes.
World Peace
Unlimited Cash
True Happiness
OK, now that we got that over...
I would wish happiness for those who are dear to me. I would want my parents to not have to worry about life and to be able to enjoy their "golden years." I would wish happiness and contentment for Nick.
I would wish enough challenge to make like interesting but not so much as to become frustrating.
I would wish that people could see themselves as the wonderful, unique creations that they are and value that in themselves and in others. Value it so much that they could not harm either themselves or others.
World Peace
Unlimited Cash
True Happiness
OK, now that we got that over...
I would wish happiness for those who are dear to me. I would want my parents to not have to worry about life and to be able to enjoy their "golden years." I would wish happiness and contentment for Nick.
I would wish enough challenge to make like interesting but not so much as to become frustrating.
I would wish that people could see themselves as the wonderful, unique creations that they are and value that in themselves and in others. Value it so much that they could not harm either themselves or others.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 21: Something that stresses you out.
What stresses me out is worrying about how people may react to things. I keep coming up with all kinds of scenarios as to what is going to happen. Usually, it never goes the way I had envisioned, but the mere possibility can keep me awake at night and make me nauseous.
What stresses me out is worrying about how people may react to things. I keep coming up with all kinds of scenarios as to what is going to happen. Usually, it never goes the way I had envisioned, but the mere possibility can keep me awake at night and make me nauseous.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 20: Your Dream Wedding
I had once thought of the whole white horses, medieval kind of thing. Then I thought about on top of the Eiffel Tower. I thought in the park with Tommy Bahama shirts and shorts would also be cool.
Of course, it is not how the wedding occurs, but to whom the wedding occurs.
The possibility would be to have the wedding at Eagle Point Park in my hometown of Dubuque, IA. This is a beautiful park on the bluffs of the Mississippi river and was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie Style.
It that didn't work, the River Room at the Grand River Center would be wonderful. It is a large glass room that juts out over the Mississippi and give wonderful views of the river.
But again, even if it was just a JP, as long as I was with Nick, it would be my dream wedding!
I had once thought of the whole white horses, medieval kind of thing. Then I thought about on top of the Eiffel Tower. I thought in the park with Tommy Bahama shirts and shorts would also be cool.
Of course, it is not how the wedding occurs, but to whom the wedding occurs.
The possibility would be to have the wedding at Eagle Point Park in my hometown of Dubuque, IA. This is a beautiful park on the bluffs of the Mississippi river and was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie Style.
It that didn't work, the River Room at the Grand River Center would be wonderful. It is a large glass room that juts out over the Mississippi and give wonderful views of the river.
But again, even if it was just a JP, as long as I was with Nick, it would be my dream wedding!
Friday, May 27, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 19: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
(Actually, iTunes because I don't have an iPod)
1. Regina ~ Sugarcubes
2. Oxygene (Part V) ~ Jean-Michel Jarre
3. The World Is My Oyster ~ Frankie Goes to Hollywood
4. Wane Now Ye Shepherds ~ Patricia Spero
5. Chanonry Point ~ Phil Cunningham & Manus Lunny
6. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God ~ Tom Witt
7. Smile ~ Glee
8. Hot Meat ~ Sugarcubes
9. King of Wishful Thinking ~ Go West
10. Walls ~ Shout Out Louds
(Actually, iTunes because I don't have an iPod)
1. Regina ~ Sugarcubes
2. Oxygene (Part V) ~ Jean-Michel Jarre
3. The World Is My Oyster ~ Frankie Goes to Hollywood
4. Wane Now Ye Shepherds ~ Patricia Spero
5. Chanonry Point ~ Phil Cunningham & Manus Lunny
6. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God ~ Tom Witt
7. Smile ~ Glee
8. Hot Meat ~ Sugarcubes
9. King of Wishful Thinking ~ Go West
10. Walls ~ Shout Out Louds
Wedding Present
My nephew is an Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He wanted a Hawkeye in glass for his wedding.
This would be almost impossible for me to try to make in stained glass with my skills and tools. So, instead I made this:
Same colors. I think it will have more longevity than the Hawkeye. Hopefully when they are celebrating their 25th anniversary, they will still be enjoying this instead of having it relegated to a dusty corner of the 'man cave'.
This would be almost impossible for me to try to make in stained glass with my skills and tools. So, instead I made this:
Same colors. I think it will have more longevity than the Hawkeye. Hopefully when they are celebrating their 25th anniversary, they will still be enjoying this instead of having it relegated to a dusty corner of the 'man cave'.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 18: Something you’ve learned.
I have learned that if one is in the position of leadership, one must lead. I think I would kind of lag back in the hope that someone else would jump in and take the reigns. But being a clergy, we are the ones who are supposed to be casting the vision and leading. When we don't lead, then the system gets bogged down trying to figure out who is at the helm.
I had a professor in seminary who would say, "Often wrong but never in doubt." I think that is important to remember as a leader. If you are in doubt, then the whole system gets bogged. But if the leader makes a choice, even if it is wrong, the system can move and can make course corrections. The PERFECT answer may never appear, but if you don't move, you will may never even get close.
I have learned that if one is in the position of leadership, one must lead. I think I would kind of lag back in the hope that someone else would jump in and take the reigns. But being a clergy, we are the ones who are supposed to be casting the vision and leading. When we don't lead, then the system gets bogged down trying to figure out who is at the helm.
I had a professor in seminary who would say, "Often wrong but never in doubt." I think that is important to remember as a leader. If you are in doubt, then the whole system gets bogged. But if the leader makes a choice, even if it is wrong, the system can move and can make course corrections. The PERFECT answer may never appear, but if you don't move, you will may never even get close.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 17: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME. Why?
I like this picture because it reminds me of how happy I truly am. I used to dread life, but now that Nick and I are together, my life has been so happy. Granted, we have our ups and our downs, but I would never trade Nick for anyone!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 16: Nicknames
(Oops!! I missed a day!)
Well, it is hard to speak of nicknames when using a pseudonym. Any nickname that I mention generally refers back to my real name. The reason I want to keep my real name out of this is I like having this blog to share thoughts and vent feelings. If my congregations knew about it, I could get into a fair amount of trouble.
There are some that I can refer to that do not reference my name. One is Preacher Boy (for obvious reasons). Another is Steve (for not so obvious reasons).
Steve came from a t-shirt I had that had a Rorschach on the front and on the back said "My name is not Steve" The Rorschach was a marketing brainstorm I had that didn't get off the ground: I was going to make shirts with ink blots and call them Rorshirts. The "My name is not Steve" was a mistake a shirt place made so I got the shirt free. When I wore the shirt at camp, the name Steve stuck.
(Oops!! I missed a day!)
Well, it is hard to speak of nicknames when using a pseudonym. Any nickname that I mention generally refers back to my real name. The reason I want to keep my real name out of this is I like having this blog to share thoughts and vent feelings. If my congregations knew about it, I could get into a fair amount of trouble.
There are some that I can refer to that do not reference my name. One is Preacher Boy (for obvious reasons). Another is Steve (for not so obvious reasons).
Steve came from a t-shirt I had that had a Rorschach on the front and on the back said "My name is not Steve" The Rorschach was a marketing brainstorm I had that didn't get off the ground: I was going to make shirts with ink blots and call them Rorshirts. The "My name is not Steve" was a mistake a shirt place made so I got the shirt free. When I wore the shirt at camp, the name Steve stuck.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Jesus is coming! Look BUSY!
You know, all this talk about the Rapture has gotten me thinking. I think it is rather sad. Not sad for the people who are having fun with it, (and I will admit that I am one of those people!) but for those who believe it. I think it is sad that people are so caught up in the need to "get right with God" that they go overboard with the whole rapture thing.
The Lutheran take is that since we cannot know the day or hour, that all the predictions of the rapture are useless. We are to always be prepared for Christ's return. We are to live our lives always not just looking busy, but being truly busy about God's work in the world. This is not something that we are supposed to be doing on one day to make a good show, we are supposed to be doing it all the time, because that is what Christ would want.
Now, of course, being human we are going to mess this up. But that is why we have forgiveness; not so that we can just be lackadaisical in our lives, but for the assurance that when we do fall short, we have not failed.
(Gosh, I have been away from the pulpit for too long! Sorry!!)
The Lutheran take is that since we cannot know the day or hour, that all the predictions of the rapture are useless. We are to always be prepared for Christ's return. We are to live our lives always not just looking busy, but being truly busy about God's work in the world. This is not something that we are supposed to be doing on one day to make a good show, we are supposed to be doing it all the time, because that is what Christ would want.
Now, of course, being human we are going to mess this up. But that is why we have forgiveness; not so that we can just be lackadaisical in our lives, but for the assurance that when we do fall short, we have not failed.
(Gosh, I have been away from the pulpit for too long! Sorry!!)
30+ Day Challenge
Day 15: Something you miss.
I miss my house.
As I had said before, this house had everything that I loved. It is the reason I started to do stained glass. And losing it was so wound into the whole anti-gay sentiment in the world. I lost my job in the church not because I was a bad pastor, but because I was gay. Not because I did anything illegal, but because I was gay. Not because of anything I did, but because of what I was. I could have lied and kept the call and the house, but that would have killed me and probably killed my relationship with Nick.
Am I sad I lost my house? Yes. Would I change the way it happened? If it meant losing Nick, no way.
I miss my house.
As I had said before, this house had everything that I loved. It is the reason I started to do stained glass. And losing it was so wound into the whole anti-gay sentiment in the world. I lost my job in the church not because I was a bad pastor, but because I was gay. Not because I did anything illegal, but because I was gay. Not because of anything I did, but because of what I was. I could have lied and kept the call and the house, but that would have killed me and probably killed my relationship with Nick.
Am I sad I lost my house? Yes. Would I change the way it happened? If it meant losing Nick, no way.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
New Pattern
Maybe I am just a perve, but I am having fun making some male patterns. As I said, there are not a whole lot of them out there. Now I just have to get the time to make them!
Here is a new one, I call it "Red Undies"
Here is a new one, I call it "Red Undies"
30+ Day Challenge
Day 14: Favorite Place to Eat.
Ok, as far as restaurants go, I am pretty easy. I LOVE brew pubs. Give me a great beer and a burger and I am happy. Throw in a trivia game and I am in heaven!
I am not into fru-fru restaurants. I always am afraid of what I am going to eat and that I may be using the wrong utensil. And having a waiter stand behind me waiting to move my chair or refill my glass just makes me nervous. (Yes, I have been to places like this.)
Of course there is a whole different way of thinking about "favorite places to eat," but I am NOT going there you sick puppies! ;-)
And out of the Brew Pubs that I have been to, my favorite would have to be the Potosi Brewery in Potosi, WI.
Not quite sure why I like this place, but it is just very nicely designed and the people who work there are a lot of fun!
Ok, as far as restaurants go, I am pretty easy. I LOVE brew pubs. Give me a great beer and a burger and I am happy. Throw in a trivia game and I am in heaven!
I am not into fru-fru restaurants. I always am afraid of what I am going to eat and that I may be using the wrong utensil. And having a waiter stand behind me waiting to move my chair or refill my glass just makes me nervous. (Yes, I have been to places like this.)
Of course there is a whole different way of thinking about "favorite places to eat," but I am NOT going there you sick puppies! ;-)
And out of the Brew Pubs that I have been to, my favorite would have to be the Potosi Brewery in Potosi, WI.
Friday, May 20, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 13: Something you’re looking forward to.
Humm...
Right now I am looking forward to passing my kidney stone. Not so much because I like passing kidney stones as much as I want it to be done!!
I am looking forward to summer.
I am looking forward to making some more stained glass pieces.
I am looking forward to the day when we can all live in peace and harmony.
I am looking forward to getting a new call.
I am looking forward to the pizza that is about to be delivered.
Humm...
Right now I am looking forward to passing my kidney stone. Not so much because I like passing kidney stones as much as I want it to be done!!
I am looking forward to summer.
I am looking forward to making some more stained glass pieces.
I am looking forward to the day when we can all live in peace and harmony.
I am looking forward to getting a new call.
I am looking forward to the pizza that is about to be delivered.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 12: Dream house
OMG! I could write an entire coffee-table book about this one! I have been dreaming about this for years! The ultimate question for an architecture geek!
Falling Water: A Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece!
The Gamble House: Greene and Greene, an Arts and Crafts masterpiece!
The Robie House: Another FLW masterpiece. I was able to tour this once. It was so cool; I was the only person on the tour!
The House on the Rock: Alex Jordan. Almost more a collection of collections than a house. But oh so cool!
The Quest House: Unknown Architect. This is the only house I have ever went through the process of buying. I lost it when I left the ELCA. I loved this house; it was all those things I loved in a building I could afford. It had a fireplace, hardwood floors, arched pass-throughs, and an incredible back yard. I still get a little misty thinking about it.
But my ultimate dream house is anywhere my Nick is! As long as he is at my side, I can take on anything!!
OMG! I could write an entire coffee-table book about this one! I have been dreaming about this for years! The ultimate question for an architecture geek!
Falling Water: A Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece!
The Gamble House: Greene and Greene, an Arts and Crafts masterpiece!
The Robie House: Another FLW masterpiece. I was able to tour this once. It was so cool; I was the only person on the tour!
The House on the Rock: Alex Jordan. Almost more a collection of collections than a house. But oh so cool!
The Quest House: Unknown Architect. This is the only house I have ever went through the process of buying. I lost it when I left the ELCA. I loved this house; it was all those things I loved in a building I could afford. It had a fireplace, hardwood floors, arched pass-throughs, and an incredible back yard. I still get a little misty thinking about it.
But my ultimate dream house is anywhere my Nick is! As long as he is at my side, I can take on anything!!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 11: Bible verse.
Phil. 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
This is one that I need to keep in mind. It does not say, "Rejoice in the Lord when things are going well and curse the Lord when things are going not so well." It says "rejoice in the Lord, always."
This challenges me to not get totally bummed by the low times in life. In stoic tradition, I should not get too overwhelmed by the down times in life because these are transitory. And in the end, God wins. As I have heard, "In the end, God wins! If God has not won yet, then it is not the end."
Phil. 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
This is one that I need to keep in mind. It does not say, "Rejoice in the Lord when things are going well and curse the Lord when things are going not so well." It says "rejoice in the Lord, always."
This challenges me to not get totally bummed by the low times in life. In stoic tradition, I should not get too overwhelmed by the down times in life because these are transitory. And in the end, God wins. As I have heard, "In the end, God wins! If God has not won yet, then it is not the end."
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
30+ Day Challenge
Day 10: Something you don’t leave the house without.
Well, I guess the answer would be the THINGS I don't leave the house without.
The first would be my faith. (How is that for a clergy-kind of answer!) For all the times that I get angry with God and say that I am becoming an atheist, I still rely on my faith when things happen. I hope that I am able to thank God for the good things while relying on God during the tough times.
Key! Actually, it is impossible to lock the apartment without the keys. Things management does to prevent giving out spare keys or sending maintenance out to open a door.
Cell phone. The phone has become more than just a means of communication. It is now the way to get directions, find out what is around, where to eat,... etc. When I don't have the thing, I feel lost. How sad is that!
Well, I guess the answer would be the THINGS I don't leave the house without.
The first would be my faith. (How is that for a clergy-kind of answer!) For all the times that I get angry with God and say that I am becoming an atheist, I still rely on my faith when things happen. I hope that I am able to thank God for the good things while relying on God during the tough times.
Key! Actually, it is impossible to lock the apartment without the keys. Things management does to prevent giving out spare keys or sending maintenance out to open a door.
Cell phone. The phone has become more than just a means of communication. It is now the way to get directions, find out what is around, where to eat,... etc. When I don't have the thing, I feel lost. How sad is that!
New Toy!!
The 30-Day Challenge will return, but I have been busy! We went home for my parents' birthdays (Dad, 90; Mom, 80) and I have been playing with a new program I got.
GlassEye2000 is a CAD program designed especially for stained glass. I have been doing things like reproducing patterns from antique glass
To "stealing" some patterns that I have seen in the world:
To creating patterns of my own:
(Finding male nude patterns is almost impossible!)
This summer could be a lot of fun making cool stained glass!
GlassEye2000 is a CAD program designed especially for stained glass. I have been doing things like reproducing patterns from antique glass
To "stealing" some patterns that I have seen in the world:
To creating patterns of my own:
(Finding male nude patterns is almost impossible!)
This summer could be a lot of fun making cool stained glass!
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