http://copc-pgh.org/blog Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:04:48 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en What is the hardest thing you are expected to do as a Christian? I'm sure many would speak about the challenge of keeping a consistent prayer or devotional life. Others might think of witnessing. In tough financial times some might struggle to give, let alone generously and ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/10/october-5/ Despite so very many things fighting to push it out of the news and out of the public consciousness, the Allegheny County Drink Tax remains controversial. What most strikes me about the whole mess is that it makes the county executive seem so much more like a run-of-the-mill politician than ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/09/september-14/ Did you ever have what could only be called a "defining moment" with someone? That one thing they said or did that forever set or changed your opinion of them? When I was at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary I went over the the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary to meet the then President ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/08/august-31/ You may have noticed the olympics. Hard not to, eh? (Yes we vacationed in Canada.) Whether you are a bleary-eyed die-hard fan or someone with very little interest in them - like, say, me - you have seen some, been caught up in the drama, even been awed by the amazing ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/08/august-24/ We probably all know some good news/bad news jokes. Lawyer to client, "I have some good news and some bad news." "Please give me the bad news first." "Well, DNA testing has proven beyond a doubt that it was your blood found at the crime scene." Client asks, "Then what's ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/08/august-10th/ Though she is still around, the Irish singer Sinead O'Connor very nearly destroyed her career in 1992 when she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live.  Two weeks later she was booed off the stage of Madison Square Garden where she was to perform ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/08/august-3rd/ My father used to make his own beer. Went I went grocery shopping with my mother more often than not we went to an A&P because they were about the only store that carried the big cans of beer malt he used.  I was always fascinated by the process. As ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/07/july-27/ I need to begin this week's email in rather a different way. Someone pointed out to me that my choice of an illustration in last week's email was insensitive. They did it in rather an insensitive way, but I believe their main point was essentially correct.  Bigots fall into the ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/07/july-20th/ Connie and I used to go out from time to time with a large dinner group. There were several real "characters" in the group and one is particular delighted in being provocative. This could be amusing, especially when he was provoking someone else, or it could make everybody uncomfortable. I imagine ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/07/july-13th/ The potato chip. Nature's most nearly perfect food. OK, maybe not but oh so very good. Of course we are told, often in quite stern voices, that they are very bad for us. I still love 'em. It seems these days that a lot of things that taste great are ... http://copc-pgh.org/blog/2008/07/july-6th/