Monthly Archives: June 2012

My sabbatical studies began at The Simple Way – an intentional community of primarily young evangelical Christians living in Kensington, Pennsylvania who see themselves as part of a movement called, “the new monasticism.”  The new monastics identify 12 marks of … Continue reading →

One of the first things I noticed was how many visibly disabled people there are on the streets – people in wheelchairs (not the electric ones) trying to navigate the same lanes of traffic as the cars; people on crutches … Continue reading →

By the end of the second night I hit a wall.  I’ve never been in a place where I had to contend with cockroaches – until now.  They can live in the refrigerator you know.  Judging from their desiccated little … Continue reading →

The heat broke overnight.  I discovered this by going on my iPhone and checking the weather app – not by actually going outside.  It said it was 60 degrees.  That meant it was cooler outside than it was inside.  I … Continue reading →

I spent most of my first day holed up in that one air-conditioned bedroom.  The curtains were closed to keep out the sun but I was just as happy to hide behind them until I got my bearings.  I peered … Continue reading →

Even though I had made the journey the day before, I got lost anyway.  I missed a few important turns and ended up on streets even more narrow and unfamiliar than the ones I had navigated the day before.  There … Continue reading →

The day before I was set to arrive I drove to Kensington to get the feel of the place.  I’d been on some of these streets before – back when I coordinated the Old First Retreat as Associate Pastor.   Then, … Continue reading →

On Wednesday, May 30th I arrived at The Simple Way for a week-long stay.  Their Hospitality House is a three-bedroom row house located on “H” Street in Kensington, Pennsylvania.  I had the run of the place: the other person scheduled … Continue reading →