Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

  • Of all the spiritual disciplines, I am quickly coming to the conclusion that this one is the most important: the discipline of breaking a fast. The foundation of the word discipline is in speaking of common order–and one’s relationship to order. When we speak of the church’s laws and principles, we refer to the “doctrine and discipline”…

  • Stewardship in the Episcopal Church is really pretty messed up. One of our favorite things we say about Stewardship is that it isn’t only about money. It is about giving in many ways, especially giving of our time, our talent, and our treasure. It’s a catchy phrase. There’s alliteration, which is always fun. And the…

  • Looking at toys from above, it isn’t hard to imagine my son is a monster terrorizing a village. Or parking garage. And like any good disaster movie, the fuel pumps are found on the helipad. #dpfa Published via Pressgram

  • a homily for Proper 27C Text: Luke 20:27-38 What are they talking about? This gospel isn’t what we take it for. The people that put together the Revised Common Lectionary have us jumping into Holy Week here. Last week’s story about Zacchaeus, the wee little man who climbed a sycamore tree is the first half of…

  • “Don’t low-ball your opponent” the late Dr. Verne C. Bechil told us. It was a mediation and negotiation course and this was the teaching he wanted us to take to heart. It has stuck with me for more than 15 years. Do not “low-ball” your opponent. Don’t disrespect them, for that only brings antagonism. Shortly after this,…

  • Following the bizarre bullying case out of Miami is becoming as absurd as Greg Schiano’s self-destruction in Tampa Bay, but I’m left with a more chilling and disturbing idea from the coverage: that we seem to have the wrong idea of how to respond to it. This isn’t a sports blog, though I do indulge…