Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

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  • Saul or Paul?

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    5 min read

    a Sermon for the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle Text: Acts 26:9-21 From Saul to Paul In the story of the Conversion of Paul, we have perhaps the ultimate Christian example. Paul speaks of his old self, a conversion, and a transformation. Before he became Paul, he was Saul: a self-proclaimed zealot. He was…

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  • Every Hill Made Low (Eating Scripture)

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    1 min read

    Eating Luke 3:1-6 Back in the recesses of my mind I recall a lyric: Second verse same as the first! A little bit louder and a little bit worse! We ended Year B talking apocalyptic and we begin the new year, Year C, by…talking apocalyptic. Personally, I love it. We just aren’t that used to…

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  • When GOD Gives Conflicting Instructions

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    4 min read

    On her blog yesterday, the Rev. Susan Russell announced a Celebration of Equality.  It is a really special event in the life of her Pasadena congregation and I’m sure is going to be an awesome sight.  In the midst of this celebration is a “sneak preview” of a new documentary about the Rt. Rev. V.…

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  • On Creating More Hassles

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    1 min read

    In today’s blog post, “On creating a hassle,” Seth Godin writes: To quote Merlin Mann, “You don’t let the guy with the broom control how many elephants are in the parade.” Harsh to say, but the fact is that great storytellers and artists and ruckus makers manage to insulate themselves from the people they’re going…

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  • The New Authority: Trust

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    5 min read

    It comes down to trust.  Our current behavior demonstrates that we don’t trust the system, we simply rely on it and expect it to function.  Then when it doesn’t, we condemn it.  Sometimes we even argue that the system can’t do it.  And even then we still don’t hold the community responsible for cleaning up the mess. Perhaps this…

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  • Mike Friesen: The Science of Forgiveness

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    1 min read

    In a quick read, Mike Friesen describes the scientific underpinnings of why some are so easy to forgive and why others are so challenged by it. I remember a Sunday School teacher threatening my class with a verse when I was a little boy, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” I remember him teaching that…

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