Mid-week News 12-19-12

Dear Family of Faith, I just finished my annual Christmas concert on the piano. I’m never quite pleased with my performance, but what did please me was that 80 people came to listen (which is more than were in worship on the first day I began as pastor of the church 4 years ago!). Someone asked me before the concert whether I had stage fright. I always do, but I continue to play for others anyway because I believe that we are called to share whatever talents God gives us. I really appreciate the person who donated the piano in the sanctuary many years ago so that I could have the privilege of using it! Ever since the mass shooting in Connecticut there has been a pall over our Christmas celebrations. Especially for my own family, which lost three children to violence on a single night 20 years ago, the faces of those innocent kids bring back a host of frightful memories. And yet, to slide into despair when such things happen, is to surrender to the enemy of death—something Jesus came to overcome. We need to go on in our lives. Violence and death will not have the last word; rather love and life will win in the end. Some ask “Where was God when this horrible thing happened?” My answer: “With the kids.” Unfortunately, our President, like many others, spoke of God “taking the children.” I balk at such a thought. If I thought God was in the business of taking away our children, our pride and joy in life; then I would have little reason to give such a god glory and praise. But the God I know doesn’t ever take our children from us, either through violent means or disease. The God I know receives our children into an eternal realm when the events of this world destroy their fragile earthly lives. So it is that we need to go on in joy after the sadness of life so that we can be “more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.” Last Sunday’s worship service was something that helped us go on in life. The children’s Christmas Pageant was spectacular—the littlest children were so cute, the older ones so competent, the Junior Choir so strong, and the puppets so colorful. Everything from the young acolyte to the baptism of 7-year-old Emma Chenoweth, to Ryan Netrval’s piano solo, to the pageant was so uplifting! As Meredith Suld put it after the service, “It was redemptive.” Indeed, all the children bringing the message of Jesus in so many different ways seemed to vindicate the CT schoolchildren. Youth and childhood will go on! A big thanks to all the teachers and helpers in the Sunday School who helped to make this first pageant in decades such a smashing success! Anyone who experienced it can tell you that something beautiful happened to those who were in worship. Our hope was truly reborn in that hour. In this holy season when the Light of Christ breaks up the darkness of the world, may your words be encouraging, your thoughts pleasing to God, and your deeds full of compassion, generosity, and love. See you on the other side of ‘the end of the world.’ With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 12-12-12

Dear Family of faith, Happy 12-12-12! Since 12 is the number of completeness and wholeness in a Biblical sense (12 tribes, 12 apostles), this should be our lucky day. Leave it to the pessimists in the world to push up the end of the world to today! So far, so good. I don’t think the North Korean rocket launch today is going to do us in, either; even if the thing is spiraling out of control! I’m thinking about having a cocktail just after midnight tonight to celebrate surviving another doomsday prediction! I suppose by now most of you have heard about the prank that ended in a tragedy. Two Australian radio hosts called up the hospital in England where the Duchess of Cambridge was staying and pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The nurse who ‘got taken’ and told them about Kate’s condition was apparently so embarrassed by the whole prank, that she took her own life last weekend. Now everyone feels just horrible about the whole thing. Perhaps the nurse was going to lose her job over the deception, but I would fault the hospital for having no protocol in place to deal with calls from the palace. Certainly the pranksters didn’t think it would end in tragedy. What it does point out is how fragile some people can be—and there are many such people I have met. It doesn’t take much to make people turn against themselves. Far too many live with an inner voice of condemnation and accusation leading to chronic despair or bouts of misplaced anger. Those who live around such people must “walk on eggshells” as the proverbial expression puts it. But is there a better way? Especially in this often dangerous season when so many people live so close to the edge of hopelessness, can’t we do something? I believe that we can! Sharing the love of God in our words and deeds, pointing out the gifts and beauty of others, caring in tangible ways, and helping others to see that failures and mistakes are human experiences which can make us better—all these serve to help people grow stronger in their spirits and believe in themselves and in their God so that they can let go of criticism, trouble, and even tragedy. If you run into some of these “fragile people” this season, think about how you can help them grow stronger. One of the Christmas cards Jill and I received this week was from the very first pastor I shared ministry with when I was still in seminary. He retired decades ago and is now in his 90’s. He wrote, in part, “I am living in an assisted living facility. I get all my meals and have my own room with a private bath and sitting room. My laundry and cleaning are cared for by the home. If I need help dressing or something else, all I have to do is press my button and someone responds to my door.” Then he adds, “May the love of Jesus always be at the center of your celebrations.” I was struck by the positive tone of what many would see as a very confining life—especially in view of this man’s very active and productive life in the past, not only in the church, but as a handyman and carpenter, too. It made me think about how often I get upset about life when I have so many blessings. This Christmas, be happy for the simple things of life—health and home, family and church, love, and strength for the day. Not all of life is a picnic, but every day is a banquet of blessings. With affection, Pastor Carlan

12/5/12

Dear Family of faith, I didn’t get to serve on the jury this week. As it turns out, the case I was selected for had to do with armed robbery, and when asked whether I had ever been the victim of crime, I had to reply honestly “Yes, I was burglarized three times.” Well, it didn’t take a genius to see the defending attorney’s reaction to that! The fact that I am a pastor and that I have a nephew who is a police officer didn’t help much either! It was an interesting process, though, as far as it went. I hope you all get the chance someday—and maybe you’ll make it to the real trial! My only living aunt (from Calgary, Alberta) has been visiting her sister, my mother (who lives in Minnesota), this past week. Aunt Nettie left for home yesterday. I couldn’t help think about how painful those good-byes must have been since my mother is 89 and in failing health. It may well be the last time they see each other in this world. There were a lot of shared memories, growing up together and being the only two siblings (the oldest and youngest) still living. It made me ponder how fortunate those are who live close to family and how even more blessed are those who share a common faith. It was the playwright Johann von Goethe who wrote, “Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time.” I hold that truth close to my heart in regard to all of you who are part of my family of faith. We will never say goodbye for the last time! Even so, don’t let pass those occasions when you can share with those in your family. They become more precious with each passing year. May this Second Week of Advent bring the blessing of peace to you and all those you love. See you on Sunday! With affection, Pastor Carlan

11/28/12

Dear Family of faith, Have you bought your ticket for the Powerball Lottery drawing tonight? It’s worth more than half a BILLION dollars! I’m hoping someone from the congregation comes up with the winning ticket and drops a few measly thousand in Sunday’s offering plate to pay off our $171,000 mortgage! Seriously, though, what would you do with so much money? Life as you know it would certainly end...on the other hand, wouldn’t it be nice to help out thousands of people? Just give me a call if you come up with right numbers I have a few projects..... It hardly seems possible but it’s been less than a week since we had our church Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a big success—everything from the turkey and stuffing to the bourbon sweet potatoes and home-made pies. A big thanks to Jill, who organized the whole thing, and her right hand man, Dave Boylan, a chef who just joined the church a month ago. (If you ever want to know how to use a 5-gallon paint stirrer and a drill to mash a potful of potatoes, talk to Dave! He also fixed our broken oven while he was at it!) Many others spent many hours preparing food and cleaning up, and I am grateful for all of them. I found out that Jack Hogan can fold some pretty cool napkin shapes, too! We prayed together, ate together, played together, and sang together. We were a church family together. The donations covered the expenses and more. We gave more than $200 of excess money to the Community Outreach Fund. The madness of Black Friday crept into Thanksgiving Day in a big way this year. It’s such a little thing with big consequences—the only truly non-commercial holiday is being subtly stolen from us; and we will pay a price in the end—the loss of family bonding. I got to pondering what really makes people happy, especially in light of all the nice things available to buy. I was amused to remember that most kids would prefer playing with empty boxes than the newest $100-toy that Walmart advertises. What we really need is to practice being grateful for the basic blessings of life. I thought about that one night as I lay in bed, delighting in a firm mattress, a soft pillow, and a warm comforter. As one who had been out already this season to Tampa, handing out blankets to the homeless; I considered it a special blessing to have a warm bed. I felt like the kid in the cardboard box—satisfied with and grateful for simple things, and it made me see so many of my life’s other blessings. When you read this letter, pledge to think about such things when you have a moment, if only before you fall asleep tonight! This morning I brought my wasp spray to church and ‘took down’ five huge and industrious stinger-tailed insects from just outside our Augustine Road entrance. I was successful in immobilizing them and stopping them from creating a threatening nest, which they had decided yesterday should be built on our property. As I pushed them carefully off the sidewalk into the garden, I felt a tinge of sadness. I would really have liked to talk them into moving on their own, since they had done nothing to me to deserve their ugly fate; but I just couldn’t see where saying, “Now waspies, you’ve got to move this project somewhere else!” was going to have much effect—other than maybe a couple of stings! Even so, I felt somehow that I had violated God’s order of things. In the perfect world everyone gets along—even the animals. That’s a vision we have for a future time—where even people and wasps can live side by side. It’s what the Scriptures call “the new heaven and the new earth.” It’s something to look forward to, isn’t it? In the meanwhile, it’s okay to feel bad about hurting even the smallest of God’s creatures. I hope your week goes wonderfully and that I see you in worship on Sunday. With affection, Pastor Carlan

11/21/12 - Midweek News

11/21/12 Dear Family of faith, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you spend the day feeling very blessed to know God’s love and care in your life. Jill and I have 69 “family” members from the church who are joining us tomorrow in the Fellowship Hall for great food and fellowship. I even have an after-dinner game planned! I was listening to someone on the radio speak about Thanksgiving and learned that it is just an urban legend that turkey makes you fall asleep. Actually chicken breast and cheese have more sleep-inducing chemicals than turkey. The real reason most of us crash after Thanksgiving Dinner is that we consume twice as many carbs as we normally do so our body goes into “hibernation mode.” Speaking of carbs, it is a sad day today—Hostess Bread Company filed for bankruptcy—so there go all the Twinkies! Oh well, I’m sure we’ll find something else to eat ourselves to death with. (Personally I’d be much more upset if Oreos were taken off the market!) On the other hand, it is a great day for a certain young basketball player from Grinnell College who, in last night’s NCAA Division 3 game scored a whopping 138 points—besting the previous record by 25 points, a record not broken since 1954! When asked how he could have averaged scoring a basket every 20 seconds of the game, the new record holder, Jack Taylor, replied, “The team just kept passing me the ball. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.” Now that’s what I call teamwork—no jealousy, no selfishness, just a desire to see their teammate excel! If only all the world would be like that! It certainly is a model for us Christians—to make others look good without regard to our own aggrandizement. Last Sunday during my sermon I spoke about a dream I had to have a ‘Beautiful Fund’ in our congregation for the sole purpose of giving people a little boost in tough times by sending a bouquet of flowers or a box of candy or some token that we cared. Lo and behold, I received a donation yesterday to that fund (and I have already used some of it to get a gift for those in need of encouragement)! That’s what I like about you people—you are generous and caring, just like a family should be! Thanks to whomever gave the donation anonymously! You have been a blessing in this season of blessings! Have you ever heard anyone say, “The youth these days don’t amount to anything!”? Well, I read this past week with fascination about a young man named Sean Chapman, a student at Springstead High School, who was chosen to be the first Student Representative on the Hernando County School Board. Not only does the senior have a 4.4 GPA; he also scored a perfect score on the ACT science exam and the SAT math exam! What impressed me even more, though, was that he is the son of two immigrant parents and, because of tough times during his sophomore year, the family went the entire winter without heat. He also is responsible for starting an anti-bullying club at Challenger School! He’s applied to MIT, and I, for one, hope he gets in! Next time you think about “this younger generation,” think of Sean! There are some pretty amazing kids out there...and we have some in our congregation, too! My prayer is that all of you be blessed in this season of Thanksgiving; and more than that, that you are grateful for your blessings! See you on Sunday! With affection, Pastor Carlan

11-14-12

Dear Family of faith, When I opened my Internet news tonight the following first line greeted me: “Citizens from more than 40 states have filed petitions with the White House seeking to secede from the union, and by Wednesday, seven states had gathered enough signatures to qualify for a response to the largely symbolic protest.” This is the bizarre society in which we now live! I’m sure all of those who signed the petitions consider themselves loyal citizens and don’t see the inconsistency that wanting to break up the country is the complete antithesis of patriotism! Have we come so far in this culture of entitlement, so coddled by getting what we want so often, so driven by emotions instead of our intellects, that we now demand to “have it our way or else?” Talk about sore losers! It’s no wonder our kids throw a temper tantrum in the store when they don’t get what they want! They are learning this way of reacting from their parents and other adults around them! When will this all stop? When will we be able to accept that life doesn’t always give us our way, that votes don’t always go our way, that people don’t always think the same way that we do? The other thing that bothers me greatly about this secessionist movement is that most of those who have jumped on this bandwagon consider themselves Christians. They do, by their actions, however, reject the very teachings of Jesus who spoke about his disciples becoming peacemakers and reconcilers and living in harmony. We have great examples of disagreement in the Bible that ended not in self-pity and enmity, but in reconciliation and even mutual affection: Abraham and Lot couldn’t live together in the same land, so they chose to go different ways: Paul and Barnabus couldn’t agree over whether to take John Mark on their second mission trip, so they went on different trips; Paul and Peter disagreed over whether to share unkosher meals with Gentiles, but in the end supported each other completely. Those who follow God have much to teach the world. Let us all strive to be that light so badly needed in our time! I recently read an article on the negative effects of stress on our bodies. The physician who wrote the article named the following ways it harms us: (1) it damages blood vessels and our heart; (2) it causes our body to release hormones that cause the liver to release sugar and store fat (which ends up on our stomachs!); (3) it exhausts our adrenal glands and can lead to disrupted sleep and decreased energy; (4) it cause muscular tension that can lead to headaches, backaches, and muscle soreness; (5) it can increase the amount of stomach acid released and affect the motility of our intestines and colon, leading to gastrointestinal problems; and (7) it suppresses the immune system, making us more susceptible to infections and certain chronic illnesses. In short, it makes you fat, tired, sore, nauseated, and sick! Not exactly a great thing to have! What, then, can we do about stress (short of dying)? Well, since we can’t get rid of all the stressors of life; we have to learn how to minimize their effect; and one of the best ways to do that is to live close to God. That’s why worship and prayer are so helpful. I invite you all to come, let loose of your life’s stresses in the presence of God and among the family of God this coming Sunday, Thanksgiving Sunday. The title of my sermon for the day is “Can You See Beautiful?” With affection for all of you, Pastor Carlan

News 11-7-12

Dear Family of faith, It’s over! The robo calls, the bulk mailings, the irritating TV ads and Internet pop-up plugs are finally over! The election has been called and the people have chosen. By some estimates there was $2 billion spent on the campaigns—the most expensive election in the history of the nation. In the end we are left with the same problems to fix, the same realities to face, and a country that is as polarized as ever. Some of us are elated; some of us are dejected. Some are hopeful; others are fearful. And this dichotomy of emotions exists not just among neighbors, but within congregations and families and even marriages and partnerships. What does it mean for us? It means that whatever our feelings on this day after, we have work to do—the work of reestablishing relationships and goodwill that such a vicious campaign has threatened and damaged. It is a call for us, who claim to follow Jesus, to get out of our comfort zones and dare to be the peacemakers that Jesus called his disciples to be in the Beatitudes. If we are disgusted by the gridlock in the halls of congress but are unwilling to extend the hand of friendship and reconciliation to those who differ with us on much more minor issues, how hypocritical is that! No, dear family, if the country is to change, it will be because the people who care become the people who dare to be different. That is my prayer for all of us—that we listen before we speak, that we think before we act, and that we treat others the way we wish to be treated ourselves—in short, that we become the peace the world needs so desperately. Let’s let the hospitality that has won so many newcomers over to our church be the same spirit we extend to the world! “Don’t be afraid!”—that’s the message that angels kept bringing to people throughout the Bible. The older I get, the more I realize why that message was so universally applicable. There are a lot of fearful people in this world today—and that fear breeds all kinds of other horrible things like greed, envy, dissension, hatred, prejudice, loneliness, and violence. But John teaches us that perfect love (God’s love) casts out all fear. When you trust God for all the important things in life, you can live in hope and courage. What a breath of fresh air it is in our world! Live without fear today, and let those around you sense the peace you have by the unusually kind and caring way you treat them! With affection for you, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News 10-31-12

Dear Family of faith, Happy All Saints’ Eve (i.e. Halloween). Did you know that the day is a Christian holiday, one which we will observe next Sunday? It’s interesting, isn’t it, how religious holidays can be co-opted by the secular world. I mean, think about Christmas! It’s hard to find anything in the stores to do with Jesus; mostly it’s just Santa Claus (and the stuff is already out!). So it has been with All Hallow’s Eve. I read that the holiday is becoming more popular than even Christmas. This year stores expect to do $8 BILLION in business. Think of what good that could do in the world! Greenwich Village in New York was scheduled to host a party tonight for up to 2 million people and generate $90 million. That won’t be taking place, as you know. Speaking of such things, our hearts go out to the people who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy and the super storm that destroyed so much of New Jersey and New York City. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is quoted as saying, “Nature is an awful lot more powerful than we are.” That’s quite a statement from the leader of the nation’s largest city and the hub of world finances, not to mention Bloomberg’s own personal wealth. It certainly puts our lives in perspective in this world. We aren’t as clever and invincible as we think! One storm can wipe us out, no matter who we are or how many material things we possess. At any rate, for those caught in the storm, there are a lot of hard times ahead. We pray for them. More than that, we are offering a chance to help the victims with physical needs. In your church offering envelope box is an envelope for the “Feast of All Saints.” I know that we have our own bills to pay as a church, but I encourage those of you who can to make an extra gift, using that envelope for a Special Offering for Disaster Relief for the victims of Sandy, which we will receive this Sunday on All Saints’ Sunday. The people hurt by the storm are our people—if not our family and friends, then part of our human family. When the storms of life come, remember that it is faith that helps us go on in confidence and hope. Don’t be afraid of life; delight in life while you can! With affection, Pastor Carlan

9-12-12

Dear Family of faith, I write this midweek on a day when news comes that our U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three other embassy personnel have been killed by a militant attack in Benghazi, supposedly in response to a video produced by extremists in our own country slamming Islam's prophet Mohammed. It is a sad reminder of how fundamentalists in any religion can inflame hatred against those who are different and of the painful results of such animosity. Unfortunately some politicians have tried to make the issue political in a time of national mourning while others are calling us to take a good look at our own tolerance or lack of it for those who are different. On our way back from Minnesota this past month, Jill and I stopped in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. There in the beautiful little town of Eureka Springs I purchased my only souvenir from the area-nothing created by the locals, but a bright, rainbow-colored plaque with the word "IMAGINE" spelled out in a mosaic. Of course I thought of John Lennon's song, and on a day like today, I think even more about his lyrics: "Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, Imagine all the people living life in peace." When I first heard that song, I took offense to the thought of "no religion," but the older I get, the more I get it. Our challenge in the world is to make religion something positive, something of value-not something to be wished away because it causes so much death and destruction in the world. How do we do that? By being different from those who give religion a bad name! Jesus said, "If you hate those who hate you, how are you any different from anyone else?" Even faced with this most recent violent attack against our nation and our principles of freedom, we cannot become vengeful. If we do, we are no different than those who have perpetrated the crimes. We must raise our threshold of forgiveness if we would be followers of Jesus' way. Jesus did not despise even his own murderers, but forgave them. If that seems radical, you've got it right! So why not start with those who have offended you personally? Can you forgive those who have hurt you, run out on your, or hurt your family members? Can you pray for those who despise you, be kind to those who gossip about you, help those who take advantage of you? It's a big order, I know. That's why we need God's help to do it. But that's what makes us different from the world. Hold your children tight. Call your parents often. Be generous to strangers. Love your friends. And keep being the welcoming, kind and beautiful people that you are! With affection, Pastor Carlan

9-5-12

Dear Family of faith, On the way to the church this afternoon I was listening on the radio to news about the Voyager 1 spaceship that was sent out by NASA in 1977 with a mission to Jupiter and is now on its way out of our solar system. None of the scientists were sure of when it would actually get to the edge since they didn't know much about that, but what struck me was the expert's comment that it would take tens of thousands of years to make it to the next solar system. TENS OF THOUSANDS of years just to get to the nearest solar system, never mind the nearest star! And the spaceship is traveling at 636 miles per MINUTE (38,160 m.p.h.)! It's mind-boggling to think that our universe is so vast and that we are such a small part of it. Reflecting on this data brings two things to mind for me: (1) we can huff and puff all we want, but we'd be a lot better off with a large dose of humility; we're not as important as we think; (2) our Creator is surely not as interested in the minutiae of our doctrines and opinions as we are often led to believe. In the Christian community at large we spend a lot of time bickering over biblical interpretations and doctrines, many of which are human opinions and only divisive in the church. Does our Great God really care about who's right and who's wrong....or does this magnificent God revealed to us in Jesus care more about how we treat each other and care for each other? At this point in my life, I'm think that far too much time is wasted on meaningless trivia in our lives-- speculation about the end times, deciding what God approves or disapproves of in our social relationships, debating the mode of baptism, trying to find in the Bible everything from the age of the universe to the evolution of humankind. In the end God will not give us a "pop quiz" on what we know; God is more likely to play a video of what we did and ask us to explain ourselves. Let's seek to encourage others, not condemn them; help others, not hurt them; accept others even with their faults, not push them farther from God and the church. One of the big debates going on these days in the political realm is whether the government should be helping poor people. I got to thinking about this in reference to what the Bible says. The Old Testament prophets held kings and rulers accountable for doing justice; in Psalm 72 we read "Give the king your justice, O God,.....may he defend the cause of of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor." Some may argue that "doing justice" to the poor is not the same as helping them in a material way; but justice in the Scriptures always includes economic fairness so that there are no starving people among God's people. This principle was taught even as farmers were commanded not to harvest every last bit of grain but leave some in the fields for the poor to glean. Our nation was founded on biblical principles and equality for all people. We need to think seriously what this means for us as Americans and the way we treat others within our borders. More than that, we need to think about those we know and how we might help them through tough times. I am always proud of you, my church family, for the way you rise up and respond to those in crisis situations. May your generosity and hospitality seep out into all your life so that others may know to whom you belong! See you on Sunday! With affection, Pastor Carlan

8-29-12

Dear Family of faith, What a joy it was on Sunday to be back with you in worship! Our two Sundays away at church in Ohio and in Minnesota reminded us of how different you are-- how much more warmth and hospitality we find in Spring Hill. I can understand better now why so many people who have moved away write back and say, "We can't find a church like ours." God's Spirit is surely in this place, and we rejoice to be back with you (although we have yet one more worship to miss). As I was coming into the church this past week, I noticed some unsightly weeds growing in the cracks of the sidewalk. My first thought was, "I hope someone gets rid of those." My second thought was, "What do you mean? This is YOUR church and YOU should be helping to take care of it!" At that thought, I bent down and spent the next few minutes cleaning out the weeds from the sidewalk and along the edges of the flower garden. Of course my hands and fingernails got dirty in the process, but they washed up. Then the thought occurred to me: Why not challenge everyone who is able to bend over to pick out ten weeds on their way into the church buildings? If everyone looked down and around on their way into church and got rid of just ten weeds, just think how few, if any, we would have! Of course, we might become known as "The Church of the Dirty Fingernails," but that would be a kind of badge of honor-- helping to keep God's House in good condition. I think Jesus would approve! So I challenge you: pick ten weeds on your way to worship! "Whoever you are and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome at Spring Hill U.C.C." Somebody you know needs to know that promise. Tell them this week! With affection, Pastor Carlan

8-1-12

Dear Family of faith, There are moments of revelation in our lives that teach us truths we knew but often forget. I had such an epiphany this past week while thinking about the photos on our walls. I was pondering where we might have room for a new wedding photo (since our youngest daughter, Brittina, is getting married on August 11th). I thought about the big graduation photos of our four children that are hanging on the wall and wondered, "Will they ever want these?" I thought about it because my mother, who has been sorting through her 'stuff' for years, gave me all kinds of pictures of myself when I was a child. You know the kind-- those portrait package deals that the schools used to have and J.C. Penney and Sears promoted. There were always left-over photos of all sizes. When Mom was doling out her stash, quite frankly, I didn't need another fourth-grade photo of myself, not even an extra graduation picture. All of those went in the trash. Thinking that my own children might do the same, I realized that it is not photos of ourselves that have the greatest value to us in the end, but photos of others that we care about. Some day when I'm cleaning out my stash of pictures, my own children will have no use for multiple copies of their school photos any more than I did. It's like the crayon pictures scribbled on paper by grandchildren and little notes from the kids in second grade-- they have no value except to those who cherish the memories. Who wants his or her own pictures in the end? All this should teach us that our own lives are not what is important to us ultimately; the lives of others who love us and whom we love count for everything. If we live for ourselves, we have lost everything. The only real meaning comes from living for others. I will miss all of you when I'm gone; and I will miss worshipping in our sanctuary with the kindred minds of this congregation. Keep me and my family in yours prayers and I will you. With affection, Pastor Carlan

7-25-12

Dear Family of faith, I'm tired! After just two days of keeping our almost-two-year-old granddaughter, Jill and I are worn out! And we have 12 days to go!! Talk about rearranging your schedule-- everything from sleeping and eating to shopping and showering! In the end it's all worth it. I am already thinking about keeping our Annika for two weeks every summer in spite of the fatigue factor. After all, the bonding that happens in 14 uninterrupted days between grandparents and grandchildren would take years to replicate in normal "visits from the children." It's the same feeling I have when we go on retreats (or camping trips) with the youth-- all those hours together would take a whole year's worth of meetings to create the same relationships. When I open the front door, and Annika comes running with her hands wide open for a hug; I don't take it for granted. This whole experience makes me reflect on what relationships in the church are supposed to be like. I believe that one of the great needs in our society today is to be touched physcially, emotionally, and spiritually by those whom we can trust. I just heard again tonight about a woman who "has no family" and is being cared for by a neighbor. I hear that a lot about people in Spring Hill. Loneliness is rampant. Even those who join us for worship on Sunday mornings can be "alone" the rest of the week. Somehow just sitting in a pew for an hour and fifteen minutes isn't enough. We need to be more to one another. I rejoice that the Fellowship Hour is so well attended, and I see many new friendships developing there. Just speaking to others before or after worship, embracing those around you, taking an interest in the cares and worries of others, listening to people's joys and sorrows, can make such a difference. And if you really want to be someone who takes being family seriously, invite others to join you for a meal or coffee. In an uncertain world full of threats and storms, the only thing we can count on is one another. A good friend is worth her weight in gold. Be one and you will have many. Hope you have a great rest of the week. See you Sunday. The sermon is about surviving friendships in rough times. With affection, Pastor Carlan

7-18-12

Dear Family of faith, Sylvia is home and back to her old self! For those of you who weren't in church last Sunday, we had quite an exciting end to the worship service. My sermon was knocking people unconscious! Seriously, though, Sylvia Chapman had a seizure that made us all stop and pray and call the ambulance. She was in good hands, though, with five nurses circling around her, not to mention at least one EMT! If anything is going to happen to you medically, the safest place to be is in worship at Spring Hill U.C.C.! One of the RN's was even climbing over the pews to get to Sylvia. You don't get any better attention than that! Thanks to all the Parish Nurses and others who helped out in a tense moment. Remember that you don't just belong to a church; you ARE the church! Whenever you see a need for something that you can help with, please step forward and offer your gifts. Together we are invincible. Jesus said so in Matthew 16:18. This week, as you go about your daily routines, remember the power of God's Spirit at work in you. We never have to be defensive or down on ourselves or stuck in self-pity; God's love always puts us at ease with ourselves, our world, and our future. See you in worship! Thankful for all of you, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News - July 4, 2012

Dear Family of faith, I hope you are enjoying the Fourth of July holiday. This is be an abbreviated newsletter because of it. I have a picnic to attend! Last Sunday was a wonderful day in worship. The sermon on sorrow was hard for many people, including myself, but we all needed to remind ourselves of the comfort that God brings us. Thanks for those who continue to bring in food faithfully each first Sunday of the month to support local food pantries and those within our own congregation who have needs. The music during worship on the last three Sundays of July--- July 15, 22, and 29-- will be led by the Praise Team. They are this year's Dress Down Dog Days Sundays when you are encouraged to dress in shorts and sandals if you wish to enjoy the Florida heat. July 15th will be our "Country Sunday" so come and plan to sing some of the old favorites that Country Western artists have created. It will be a lot of fun. Beginning July 18th, for one month, a special summer reading program will be renting our Fellowship Hall every weekday to conduct their classes. Please note this, since you won't want to interrupt them. Lastly, on July 29th, we will be having our annual No Bug Indoor Picnic after worship. We need you to sign up for that, so please do so in the coming weeks. Have a safe and wonderful day, and I'll see you on Sunday if not before. With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-week News - June 27, 2012

Dear Family of faith, I'm writing this midweek late again tonight (after midnight). Today was such a beautiful break from all the rain and wind that I had to take advantage of it. A long time ago I learned that you have to "seize the day" when you have the chance. Life is short and getting shorter, so don't ever let a sunny day go by unused. There will be enough clouds in the future! Keep dry and healthy. Remember the blessing of our country and the awesome church family we have. Whatever you do, be grateful and help someone else each day. With affection, Pastor Carlan.

Mid-week News - June 20, 2012

Dear Family of faith, I hope you are enjoying this balmy first day of summer. Compared to the heat blast in the Northeast, we have it easy. Isn't it amazing that in the past year the people up north have been getting our hurricanes and heat waves? And some people say the weather systems aren't messed up! This past week I was standing in the shower in our bathroom and looked over at the "garden tub" next to it. I realized, that in the almost four years we have lived in the house, I have yet to take a bath in that tub. Not once did I indulge a long-soak in the very thing that was meant to be a 'come-on' for the sale of the home. I wondered how many other people there were who have such accoutrements in their Florida homes who never use them. It made me think of how many "free" pleasures we have access to in life that we never use. There are children to read to, pets to cuddle with, sunsets over the ocean to watch, hugs and hammocks, hiking paths and gardens to visit...the list seems endless. They cost nothing extra, only a little time; yet day after day they remain unused. I wonder sometimes what I will be thinking about if and when I get housebound and maybe even bedridden from the ravages of age. What will I regret missing? I don't think it will have anything to do with things I could buy with money; mostly I will probably think about the people I knew, the places of beauty I've been, and the unused pleasures I didn't realize could mean so much. Maybe this summer, you could think about those things, too. Better now, than too late.

Mid-week News - June 13, 2012

Dear Family of Faith, If you think I was tan before, just wait until you see me now! We had our Youth Boat Trip on the Gulf today, thanks to Don MacConnell, who graciously took us out to a few islets where we waded and swam around. The weather was sunny and hot, but no one drowned and all had a good time. I couldn't believe the thousands of little hermit crabs running around on the islands. We even saw a dolphin, a little shark, an eagle, and plenty of sting rays and blue crabs. One of the latter even tried to take a bite out of my toe (luckily I was wearing water shoes!) What a diverse world we live in-- so much variety in nature and so much variety in humanity. Wouldn't it be boring if everyone were the same? I've been thinking a lot about civility lately. As I was driving home last night, I was distracted in my thinking (scatterbrained) and forgot to turn off my bright lights as someone approached me head on. In contrast to what often happens, the driver did not 'flash his lights' at me. As I pondered that, I thought to myself: "Nobody even expects people to be considerate any longer. We just take it for granted that people are rude and try to make the best of it." A recent study of TV programs pointed out how there are no more "taboo words" in late night television any longer, and very few in prime time. Politically incorrect words are now the offenders, not crude and rude words. We are so used to reading and hearing words that our mothers would have "washed out our mouths for using" that we don't even pay attention any more. Whatever happened to being kind and considerate of others, of screening out offensive language and speaking only when we had something good to say? It's a troubling development; but we can all do something about it by our own examples. Why not decide to be "different" from the world-- which is exactly what Jesus wants of us. Why not think about the people around us, the people we can influence, when we speak and act? In today's world, to act like a gentleman, or to speak without cursing is the exception, not the rule. Be exceptional!

Mid-week News - June 6, 2012

Dear Family of faith, Have you have "one of those days" lately? Yesterday afternoon I was looking for a place to get a screen repaired. I had the address on Commercial Way (Route 19), but nobody has numbers on their buildings so you're on your own to figure out where something is actually located. I stopped into Staples, looked at their address on a business card, and then asked, "Which way do the numbers run?" They weren't sure of it. Someone thought they knew where the place was I was searching for, so I set out, peering out the window while driving. I knew that I had gone too far and needed to turn around. As is common on these Florida roads, you have to make a U turn to get back to where you are going. (Of course, then you will have to make another U turn to get across the road since there are few access lanes to cross!) I decided to call on my cell phone and ask where the business was. I was happy to reach someone. She told me that I was just about to the place to turn in, so I did-- just as she told me that the business was closed for the day (this was 4 p.m.!) and that she was nowhere near the place since she answered the phone from her home. So once again, I had to make the circle of U turns to go back and forth. I felt like a race horse on an oval! So much for getting my screen repaired. I decided to stop into Lowe's and inquire about it. They don't do screen repairs there. I just decided to buy all the stuff I needed and do it myself! (Of course, I couldn't locate my screen tool at home so I had to invest in a new one of those as well!) On my way toward the hospital to visit I decided to stop into the library to get a book that I had heard about. As I pulled up, something seemed funny. There were very few cars there. The sign said I had arrived during library hours, but as I made my way to the door, I saw a big sign "Closed during repairs." The 'repairs' in question were a little roof work being done. "Florida!" I huffed as I returned to my car. That's just how it goes somedays, doesn't it? I wouldn't have wanted the Parish Nurses to have taken my blood pressure that day! Have you ever thought aloud, "Boy, I could do so much more in my life if I didn't have to put up with all these frustrations!" I guess it's at times like that that we need to remember that life is not a goal, but a journey. It's not about how much we accomplish in a day, but how we lived the hours we were given. More than that, it's not about checking off the items from our to-do list, but how people encountered us as we went about our business. Were we snippy and sarcastic, impatient and rude....or were we encouraging and understanding, patient and kind? Besides, most of our frustrations don't matter a whit in the end. Let's try to make "those days" a little easier-- on others and on ourselves. By the way, with a little help from Jill, I did fix my own screen. :-)

5-2-12

Dear Family of faith, We live in a different world these days. Even as I write these words my oldest daughter and granddaughter are in the middle of a five-week trip around France. Next week a friend of mine from Germany will be stopping in to see us. And the week after that I will leave for a week in Costa Rica. At the Florida Conference meeting this week the delegates will be asked to amend rules for the General Synods, one of which is to make the delegate ratio for ethnic minorities 50% of the total. In my block here in Spring Hill we live next to a Filipino family and a Chinese family, across the street from an Indian family and down the block from an African American family-- and those are just the ones we know about! Yes, things are changing in our country, and those who cannot or will not adapt to change will be struggling more and more as time goes on. It's the ever-changing landscape of our lives that makes many people feel insecure and unsure of the future; it's what makes us long for the proverbial 'good old days.' A full 80% of us like our ruts and comfortable routines. And yet, since change is part of life, maybe we need to see it as an adventure and not a threat. Instead of getting sentimental about the past, why not get excited about the future? That way each day becomes an opportunity, and every year another marvel in the making. Besides, we have a God who is all that we need in whatever age or circumstance we find ourselves. Don't let change scare you. Embrace it and dance with it. You would be surprised how much more exciting life can be! A lot of people are having tough days right now-- some financially, some medically, some just down from the constant barrage of bad news and bickering in the country. Don't get drawn into the negativism and pessimism of what is wrong or not going well. Think about what is good in each day, and delight in life's greatest blessing-- every breath you take. With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-Week News 4-26-12

Dear Family of Faith, What a gorgeous week in Florida this has been-- blue skies, cooler weather, low humidity! We couldn't ask for more. I hope that you have taken advantage of the days and gotten out to enjoy God's gift to us. A recent cover of Newsweek magazine had as its headline "Forget the church! Follow Jesus!" I got to thinking about that (naturally). It's so indicative of what is happening in religion these days. On the one hand, the movement toward "practical religion" in which one's belief is made visible is admirable. I'm not much for people who say that they are Christian and act like the devil, so to speak. On the other hand, there seems to be a trend in modern society to reduce religion to its lowest common denominator, namely to make it a purely ethical system of values, which most world religions have in common. For example, "love your neighbor as yourself" is not found just in Christianity and Judaism but in Hinduism and Islam as well. What I fear, is that this trend toward "doing your religion" forgets to take one very important thing into consideration-- namely the power to do it, which is the Holy Spirit. Christianity maintains that if we could 'do it' by ourselves, we wouldn't have needed Jesus. Jesus comes to us because we can't 'do it' by ourselves. And we certainly can't do it by ourselves by ourselves (yes I meant to write that twice!). In other words, we are incapable of perfection and we need each other in this journey of faith. From a biblical perspective there is no such thing as a 'lone ranger' Christian. Sunday morning worship may seem like a gathering of saints, but it is, in reality, a collection of sinners who need the grace of God and the support of others. That's what I like about my religion; it's realistic. I don't need to pretend that I'm perfect. I only need to be honest about my imperfections and find forgiveness and another chance. In the church we huddle together to face the storms of life and experiencing the unlikely, awesome power of God to triumph in spite of ourselves. The real headline in Newsweek should be "Follow Jesus and stick with the Church!" I hope you will. On this morning's talk shows people were discussing Mitt Romney's time as a bishop in the Mormon Church. Predictably some people liked him and some did not. It got me to thinking about leadership in the church-- pastors, teachers, moderators, etc. Since all of us are sinners and imperfect, how are we to judge whether someone is a good leader or not. After all, I probably learned the most from teachers in my life that I didn't like (because they were too demanding). We cannot judge people's leadership abilities by their character, for all of us have flawed characters. Neither can we judge them by whether we feel a personal affinity toward the leader since we all have different preferences in personalities. The only valid judge of a Christian leader is whether God uses that leader to transform people's lives. The most undeserving people are often used by God to do the greatest things. I hope that you will judge my leadership not by whether you 'like me' or not or whether you think I'm a good person or not, but rather by what you see God doing through me as a pastor. You see, no good pastor ever chose to be one; he/she has been called to the position because it was God's desire. The movie Amadeus is a great portrayal of this grace of God. Check it out if you haven't seen it. A lot of people didn't like John the Baptist, but God used him. A lot of people didn't like Jesus either, but we know him as God's Son. Next time you get to thinking about some Christian leader, don't worry about liking him or her. Ask yourself, "Is God using this person to bless the world?" That's what matters in the end. You are great people, and I thank God every day for the privilege of being part of our church. See you Sunday! With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-Week News 4-19-12

Midweek News – 4-18-12 Dear Family of faith, I weeded my flower garden today....I loved it! When I mentioned to Marty, our Administrative Assistant, that I had spent a couple of hours weeding, she replied, "Well, you can come over and weed mine, too!" That's the usual response to the task-- Ugh! But I have loved weeding gardens from the time I was quite young, and now that I'm older, I still like it. Why? Two reasons! First of all, being an introvert and needing "alone time," there is no better activity than weeding to keep people away. (If they get too close, they're afraid that you might rope them into helping!) Weeding is such a mindless job that you can think away to your heart's content. It is a time for solving problems, reliving joys, praying, getting inspired, and thinking grand thoughts for the future with no one or no thing to distract you. Secondly, and even more powerful for me, is the whole concept of getting rid of the things you don't want. Weeding removes the unwanted plants in the garden; and if you have a bent toward perfectionism like I do, you can get rid of every bit of extraneous plant material, bringing the garden back from a disheveled wreck to a beautiful, well-kept display of nature's wonders. The reason this so intrigues me is that there are so few things in life that I can "clean up" like a weed-infested garden. I only wish I could clean up my whole life as easily-- getting rid of the unwanted things and making it all beautiful again! Yes, I can't control people; I can't control circumstances or events; I can't control the past or the future; I can't even control my feelings; but I can pull those prickly, unsightly weeds out of the soil and mulch and make something beautiful. Think about it next time you face the task, and happy weeding! The Northerners are heading back north, little by little, and we will miss them all. If you are one and would like to continue to stay in touch with us not only by this email but also by receiving sermons emailed to you, contact Marty at the church office and add your name to the list. Have a wonderful week. See you in worship on Sunday! With affection, Pastor Carlan

Mid-Week News 4-12-12

Midweek News – 4/11/12 Dear Family of faith, What a glorious day last Sunday was! The cantata was spectacular, the breakfast was fantastic, the Easter egg hunt was fun (complete with Easter Bunny thanks to Jessica Salentino), the 124 flowers fragranced and beautified our sanctuary along with a new banner, and 311 people helped sing, pray, and commune to make it a wonderful spiritual experience. Our kudos to Wayne Raymond, who directed the choir; Kathy Hackemer, who accompanied the cantata; and Donna Ives, who narrated it. Wayne and Judy Barker also had another great organ/piano duet, as well! We also want to thank Sue Hill and all those who helped with the delicious breakfast and all of you who purchased flowers (and Elma Adams, Marlene and Roge Mihalus, and Andrea Gleason for arranging them). Thanks also to Pat Scott for hiding the eggs and the members of the Faith Formation Team who put together the candy bags with all the treats you provided. A lot of people worked hard to make our Easter the celebration that it should be. When others need to give up ministries they have done for years, who will take their places? Can you? We need help in almost every area of our church's life and mission. All you have to do is say to me, "I think I could help" and you will have a place in our church. It's said that 20% of the people in a church do 80% of the work. Let's be different and spread the ministry around! With affection for all of you, Pastor Carlan

Dear Family of faith,
They look spectacular! The stained glass windows are in! What an extra ordinary Holy Week this will be this year as we get the chance to worship three times with our new windows adorning the sanctuary-- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. They have been a year in the making, and you will hear more about the story when we dedicate them during worship on Sunday, April 15th. They were installed yesterday on my birthday, making this year's celebration all the more special for me personally.
Tomorrow night is the first of our Holy Week special events beginning with a Dessert Buffet in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 p.m. Just bring whatever dessert you enjoy making and share it with others. Drinks and eating utensils will be provided. Following the buffet, the Maundy Thursday worship service with Communion will begin in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. Evening services have always been my favorite, so I hope you can attend. There is something about the darkness that quiets our spirits and makes us more sensitive to God's leading presence.

Last Monday as we remembered and celebrated the life of Dave Malaby, I was moved by two things. First of all, all three of Dave and Loretta's sons spoke about their father and what he meant to them. Secondly, one of Dave's grandsons, a navy man, got the privilege of presenting the American flag to his grandmother at the cemetery in Bushnell. The latter was a particularly emotional event for the whole family and those of us who watched. It reminded me that life is not about words and not even deeds as much as about relationships-- relationships of friendship, of love, and of mutual understanding. Never waste your life staying to yourself or amassing things that will be thrown away or sold after you are gone. It's the people around you who mean the most. Spend your time and energy with them.
See you Sunday for the celebration.
With affection,
Pastor Carlan

March 14, 2012

Dear Family of faith,
This past week a man asked me, "Will you teach me to pray?" He was a retired man who had been in various churches in his life, a good man who needed some help in his life with God. I felt privileged and affirmed that he asked me. The disciples asked Jesus that very same question one day, and the Lord taught them what we now know as the Lord's Prayer. What struck me most about the man's request, however, was his humble heart. It takes a lot of humility to admit, after as many years as he has lived, that you don't really know how to communicate with God. But what he may have seen as a weakness, I saw as strength; for out of that kind of humble heart comes a true relationship with God. Lent is a time when we can dare to be real, a time to see ourselves for who we are and to come to God with all that we are. Some day in the future I hope to have a "class" on how to pray. In the meanwhile, for those who feel inadequate about speaking to God, I share this simple advice: Talk to God like you would talk to you best friend. You will be surprised how it changes life.

I heard on the news this week that Hernando County is the one county in all of our area of Florida where the unemployment rate went up instead of down this past month. Times are hard for a lot of people. If you know someone personally who can use help, do what you can to support them. In ancient biblical times you were taught always to help those in need because you never knew when you might be that person in need. It's what it means to offer extravagant hospitality!
A closing thought: Sometimes we have a right to be angry, but we never have the right to be cruel or demeaning. Pray for those who hurt you.
You are wonderful people, and I delight in every day that I am your pastor.
With affection,
Pastor Carlan

March 7, 2012

Dear Family of faith,
Often people have asked me whether I believe that miracles still happen. I do; and this past week I experienced yet another one. It was Sunday evening when I left Charles and Joann Sheffield at the Hospice Care Center. Charles had been unconscious all day and breathing very heavy and labored. After praying, I left for home, not expecting that he would survive the night. Five minutes later, he "woke up" and began talking and remembering everything that had happened to him in the past weeks. The next day he was receiving visitors, eating, and breathing much more easily. It was one of those God-moments, a reminder that just when we are about to give up, everything changes and hope is born again. Today Joann and Charles are talking about going home. Whatever challenges and obstacles to life you face right now, remember, what is impossible for mortals is always possible for God. God is the Lord of the impossible.

February 29, 2012

Dear Family of faith,
Happy Leap Day! Why add the extra day at the end of February instead of at the end of the year? Well, before Christ was born the Romans began their year in March (which is why we have those strange prefixes for our months: Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec (for the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th months respectively). That left February as the last month of the year, and thus the extra day needed was added then. Since this day exists on the calendar only every four years, I hope that you are doing something special to celebrate!
How is your Lent going? I have been pondering the changes that I need to make in my own life. Yesterday I heard a man say, "All my life other people have been telling me what to do, who to be, and where to go. From this point on I'm going to be the one in charge of my life!" He was lamenting the influence of home, church, and bosses on his life and was now living "footloose and fancy free" in a tent and moving around whenever he pleased. Although I have felt that longing for freedom like he did, I couldn't dismiss all the influences in my life as robbing me of my own dreams. Parents taught me much; the church gave me spiritual life; and the people I have worked for have financed my homes and family's needs. It so easy to be critical of others when the bondage we feel inside is really self-imposed. In my experience, those who aren't who they want to be have to look first at their own souls and the messages they tell themselves. Maybe Lent can be a time for that-- for realizing that God wants you to be real and for figuring out how you can let go of undermining that gift. Being real is the key to contentment and a joyful life.

February 22, 2012

Our Ash Wednesday worship was quite a contrast with last Sunday's Mardi Gras celebration during worship. Ash Wednesday and Mardi Gras Sunday are two opposite poles of our Christian experience-- the one somber and reflective, the other joyous and carefree. But isn't that just how life is? Don't we always live somewhere between the poles? Lately I've been hearing a lot about the discouragements and fears of people, about surgeries and illnesses and worries for the future. Even the cloudy weather has added its own dimension of darkness to our lives. Rather than curse the darkness, maybe we should greet it with anticipation as a time to 'lay low' and reflect on our lives. When we get to thinking that we have a problem bigger than ourselves, instead of falling into despair, we ought to look with expectation to God, pondering how God is going to help us out of something we can't handle on our own. The Ash Wednesdays of life lead us to trust more. The Mardi Gras Sundays are times of praise for what is. We need both.

February 15, 2012

Dear Family of faith,
I called my mother for Valentines Day last evening. She was glad that I did. "I was hoping that you would call," she said. Then she expressed disappointment that none of her grandchildren had called. She had expectations that didn't pan out, and it saddened her. I have dealt with a lot of people in my life who had expectations that were unrealistic or unattainable or just plain didn't work out. Some of those people have become obsessed with the unmet expectations, never quite able to let go of what they wanted and didn't get. It leads to all kinds of "baggage" in people's lives because they started with certain assumptions that were never going to come to fruition. Parents have expectations of their children which don't work out, so they live with disappointment. Spouses and partners have expectations about each other which never materialize and they feel cheated. Employees have expectations about a job that don't prove realistic. Retirees have expectations about what life will be like in their "golden years" and it's not at all like they envisioned. Unmet expectations result in everything from depression to anger. A lot of life's mental and emotional stress comes from them, and it would seem to be better not to have any expecations. Yet expectations also drive our passions. We dream big and plan large. Many times things don't work out, but once in a while they do. If we expect nothing, we won't get anything, right? What are we to make of it all? Especially in view of what has come to be called "the entitlement generation" that expects everything they want, how are we to live? My advice after all these years in the pastorate is this: Expect nothing of others that you don't control. You may expect your teenagers to be home at ten and have some say-so in that, but don't expect your neighbor to treat you the way you think he or she should; you don't control that. When we don't expect good things, we are surprised by them; and living in gratitude and delight over the unexpected joys and blessings of life is a far better way to live than to be continually disappointed because we expected more. The only one we can really expect to bless our lives is God; the rest of us always fall short.

February 8, 2012

Dear Family of Faith,
Are you feeling stressed? I had an appointment to see my physician today, someone I much appreciate. In the course of the conversation he told me that didn't know if he could keep going. He said that most nights he doesn't get to bed before 2 a.m. and he wakes up early to be in the office and make hospital rounds. I felt grieved when I heard his words, like someone had punched me in the stomach. The reason that he was being run ragged is because he is such a conscientious man, taking his patients' healthcare seriously, not "just in it for the money." As I reflected on the most dedicated and gifted people I have known, I realized that most of them were overextended. Even Jesus had little time to eat and sleep; one day his family came to "rescue" him from such a lifestyle because they thought he had gone mad. What about you? Do you ever feel like quitting? Last Sunday after worship, Kermit Jackson came up to me and said, "After that sermon I got to wondering what I would have rather been in my life. I would like to have been a golden retriever!" (He has one and knows how they get all the attention without any responsibilities.) Ah, the life of a dog! Some days it seems pretty appealing; yet in the end it's only our purpose in life that gives us meaning. We may burn out sooner than we want, but we can go a lot longer if we know why we're doing what we're doing. I don't think God ever wants us to retire from helping others or being kind and generous or showing the love of Jesus. On those stressful days, take a break; spend some time in quietness and prayer, and pray for those among us who go 24/7 because the needs of the world are great. Just don't quit!

February 1, 2012

Dear Family of faith,
This Sunday we are celebrating your birthday at a special party in Fellowship Hall following worship! I hope that you can be there! We are so excited about the Birthday Blessing Party, and everybody involved is excited about decorating, preparing the food, and welcoming the guests. It's really all about gratitude, about thinking about how old you will be in 2012 and being grateful to God for all those years of life. Sometimes we forget how blessed we are until we see others who are not so fortunate. My educational cruise allowed me to meet some people who made me grateful for what I have in my life. Take the energetic school boys who were selling little bags of peanuts on the pier in Barbados to earn money to buy school books. There was Mary Elizabeth, a weather-beaten and weary, elderly woman dressed far too heavily for the blazing sun, dragging her beaded chokers and necklaces around the beach to make a few bucks to survive. There was the creative rasta man with dreadlocks, peddling miniature steel drums made from used coffee cans, crassly painted and beaten in on one end, on the streets of Antigua. There was Cameron, the enterprizing beach boy who spent his days renting beach chairs and umbrellas and throwing in a free rum punch to get the tourist business on the sands of St. Maarten. Finally there was Jokim, our smiling, perceptive waiter from India, who left a wife and two growing children at home for the past 9 years so that he could spent 9 months each year on the cruise ship wait staff, serving irritating tourists and throwing away enough food each day to feed a small village in his own country, just so that he could feed and clothe his own family. All these people I met made me realize how blessed I am. I didn't have to sell peanuts to go to school. I didn't have to peddle beads or little drums or beach chairs to feed my family, nor did I have to be gone 9 months of every year to do it. I'm so glad that I didn't. I think that's what this birthday party is all about. I hope you will join me and Jill in bringing a gift in your envelope to express in a symbolic way what no amount of money can buy-- that God has blessed us more than we know.

January 11, 2012

During the Christmas holidays I realized in a deep way how difficult it is for people who are hurting to rejoice with those who are happy. The party spirit of those around a depressed person only magnify the loneliness and darkness that such a one feels. That is one reason that the time between Thanksgiving and New Years is a dangerous time for many, and many suicides take place in that season. In the past I have had a couple rounds with spiritual darkness myself, so I understand what it means to feel like an outsider in life, as if you are separated from everyone around you by an invisible bubble that keeps your emotions and thoughts completely separate from what's happening in the same room. My counsel to such a one is to continue to hang on to the truth that God is with you in your loneliness and that God will eventually bring you out of it even if you can't see any light ahead. As for those who are trying to help those they love who have fallen into a depression, don't try to talk people out of something that goes beyond mere circumstances with advice like "Snap out of it!" or "You don't have it as bad as lots of people!" Those phrases mean nothing to those who are emotionally and spiritually debilitated, and they bring nothing but more guilt and darkness. What people going through a dark time need is people to walk with them, to be physically present, to write notes and call and send emails to remind them that they are not alone in this world. We ourselves can't bring people out of their spiritual and emotional pain, but we can care for them in the midst of their pain, and that makes all the difference in the world.

January 4, 2012

Happy New Year! Jill and I had a wonderful week with our whole family. I don't know whether you know the story or not, but our youngest daughter, Brittina, was taken aback when her boyfriend of many years, Jared, disguised himself and flew down to Florida on the same plane to surprise her. She had no idea. Then last week at the condo where we stayed in Naples, Jared followed me into the bedroom one morning and told me that he had something to give me. He unwrapped a towel in which were seven olivewood camels and gave them to me one at a time. I knew immediately what he meant, for while we were together in the Holy Land last spring, our tour guide had talked about how men who wanted to marry women in the Middle East would give their prospective fathers-in-law a camel or two as the "bride price." The guide said that royal princesses were expected to fetch seven camels, at which point I told Jared that Brittina was worth as much and he would have to come up with them! I got my camels, so, of course, I gave my blessing and he proposed to her later on the beach. Now we have an August wedding to look forward to! Life is full of surprises, and we rejoice when they are good ones.