Originally sent to the parish via email September 16, 2016 I have a strange way of relaxing, or perhaps not so foreign to some. I may lose some of you right here as I admit that I love to sit in front of the television and vegetate when I have nothing else special to do. The idea of viewing the world through another's eyes is somehow intriguing.

Originally sent to parish via email September 9, 2016 Every journey starts with 1 step. A baby's first step. A runner's final step at the finish line. An awkward new dance step to an unfamiliar tune. A sure step towards helping a neighbor. The steps we take are all coordinated towards a goal. We move towards what matters, whether it be the refrigerator, the workplace, our friends or what lies on the other side of our front doors. Some things matter more than others, but most important things generally lie just beyond our reach when we're seated.

Originally Sent to parish via email September 4, 2016 Tommy, Barb's youngest of four brothers, and I put our feet up on our wickerish coffee table, and turned on the weather to watch all the swirling chaos. The weather folks really come alive when the tropics perk up. So much more to say than, "Hot and humid with a 30% chance ..." It was day's end for us and was topped off with a root beer and iced tea.

Originally sent to the parish via email August 26, 2016 Have you ever pondered how miraculous it is that we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us? People in the Old Testament did not experience this blessing. The Spirit only "came upon" God's servants in those days. Yet Jesus announced in John 7:38-39: "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive."

Originally sent to the parish via email August 19, 2016 My father-in-law has a perfect sense of direction. I joke with Marci that we could call him on the phone and simply say "We're lost," he'd reply, "I'll be right there." He has a set of intuitions, experiences and good luck to navigate new places with great success. It is amazing.

A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away... It was a really hot July day. On the 7th of '73 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon Barbara and I got married. I swear the thermometer was pushing the triple digit line. And inside the sanctuary (sans air conditioning), it seemed even hotter. Not a hint of breeze made it through the open windows. And even with that, it was/is the best day of my life!

"Do not be afraid, little flock..." How we need these words from our Great Shepherd. We are a vulnerable, fearful little collection of people, aren't we? This fallen world is violent, unsafe, unpredictable, and just downright scary. This is the current state of America, SE Asia and everywhere else. My dear Asian friends live with a great deal of fear. Their cultural and religious practices are primarily driven by fear and striving. Sometimes we, as Christians, are scared too.

Luke knew how to make a story come alive. First, start with truth. As they say, "Truth is stranger than fiction." Truth is compelling because it lays so closely to reality.

Do you remember the movie, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade? Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is forced to follow clues to retrieve the Holy Grail in order to save his father, who has been shot by the villain. He comes across a chasm spanning a greater distance than any human could leap. There is a pregnant pause as Indiana Jones stands, one foot precariously in the air, contemplating the step that he is about to make with his father's voice wafting in the background, "Have faith, boy!"

They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Ps 84.7 One of the few fun things about moving is that thorough search for that ever-elusive item that you know made the move, but you just don't know where it is now. And in the process of the quest, you stumble upon a different treasure. It's not what you were looking for, but it's a valuable find, none-the-less.