Shift Happens Narrated

Mind blowing vid on the changes ahead in our world. How to keep up? To focus on being who we are and constantly learning ... at least, that's what I think.

Movie Reviews

Millions is a wonderful movie, artsy, with the qualities of an extended fable and a little bit of fantasy thrown in. A young boy is surprised by "millions" of Pounds (British currency) that he receives as a gift from God. With the guidance of saints and the protection of his wordly-wise older brother, he seeks to give gifts to the poor, avoid a criminal character who is after the cash, and keep the windfall secret.

The Great Debaters is an Oprah Winfrey production, Denzel Washington directed film starring Washington and Forest Whitaker among others. It tells a fictionalized version of the true story of the Wiley College, Texas debating team. In the film version, this black college, supported by the Methodist Church in the Jim Crow South, had their challenge taken by Harvard College. The debate was nationally broadcast on NBC radio and the Wiley College team won. See Denzel Washington's personal words of thanks to The United Methodist Church.

Pay It Forward, poetry and cooking

Danielle's Pay It Forward started a youth arts program at YDC, the Youth Development Center by York County Prison. They have published a cookbook with poetry and sketches by the young people. An excerpt from one poem, titled "I am who I am", by TS . . .

Menace to society
Outlaw to the town
Convict to the city
Warrior to the streets
Resident to YDC
Fugitive to the police
Juvenile to the court
Minor to the judge
. . .
Pain has no bad reaction
Time is too short
It passes too fast
Life passes us by
The next step is not easy to predict
Living life in misery
Power to keep going
The thought of not making it
Dreams passing by
Memories fade
Sorrows wither
. . .
Choices become harder
Strive to be a leader
Not thinking before I act
Failure is too easy
Stereotypes come true
(we let them)
Hearts get broken
Friends get lost
People die
But through it all
I stay true to myself
I am who I am
Nothing more
Nothing less
. . .

Memorial

My favorite war memorial in DC ... the pic is from a visit by me, the boys, and my father, who served in Vietnam. As a church, we are approaching a major transition and one of our tasks now is to remember. It is the memories that give us confidence in God's future. And, it is Memorial Day that gives us an appreciation for our freedoms and our nation and a fresh confidence in what makes the United States of America truly great.

Study Retreat

On my annual spring study retreat at the beach. Great to do some thinking and praying, cooking and reading - and unwind.

Amazing Grace - Wintley Phipps

Lost Generation

So, which set of values will we model for the next generation?

General Conference

Every four years, leaders in The United Methodist Church elected from every region gather to worship, celebrate, debate, and decide at "General Conference". This year, live streaming is available, along with separately uploaded video and audio clips (available for download). Worth checking out are video (link is to Windows Media Player, but Quick Time is also available) of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first democratically elected president of an African nation (Liberia) and product of Methodist schools, and an a capella rendition of "Wade in the Water".

Bethany Invites

Friday and Saturday, Bethany holds their annual Spring Fling, with food served 8-8 on Friday (including oyster pie and BBQ) and an all-you-can-eat $2 breakfast on Saturday 8-12. Baked goods are sold Friday until sold out.

Monday May 12, all interested persons from both congregations are invited to meet informally at 7:00 pm in Bethany's "Gathering Place" (the setting for their contemporary worship service).

And, finally, 10 tickets are available for a Women of Faith event on July 11-12.

Q2008

I've posted a couple videos from the Q2008 conference in NYC. I've uploaded my comprehensive notes, with hyptertext table of contents in pdf, to the church website. Enjoy! It was quite a week.

In the news . . .

Our partnership with Bethany made the York Daily Record today. It was a well-written and very positive article, and our story is the third one in.

Craft Fair at Bethany

Several of us attended the craft fair at Bethany this weekend. The pic shows a few of the tables and a couple members of the craft guild - all set up in the "Gathering Room" used for the 11:15 am contemporary worship service. Our sons met folks from Bethany for the first time and came away excited about partnering with this congregation. What a welcome! Bob, Elaine, Chuck, & Lorri also came and enjoyed themselves. The next big event there is May 2/3 and features FOOD. On Sat May 3, they will be offering an all-you-can-eat breakfast for only $2.

Full Version: The Assassin of Character Creep

Another connection to the Q2008 conference. Judd Wilhite was one of the presenters.

Jennifer Connelly in charity: water Clean Water Africa PSA

Saw this vid and heard the founder of Charity tell his story today at the Q2008 conference. I believe it will be shown on American Idol this evening.

Easter

After a Sunrise Service (at Sunset Park!), breakfast at Bob Evans, and our regularly scheduled 10:15 a.m. worship, we enjoyed our annual egg hunt. Thanks to Warkenda for putting that together.

Maundy Thursday

We had a wonderful Holy Thursday service with prayers, songs, Scripture, reflection, and Holy Communion. (Holy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter and it is called "Maundy" after the Latin root for "mandate", for the "new command" Jesus gave "to love one another as I have loved you".)

St Patrick's

This past Sunday, Palm Sunday and the closest day to St. Patrick's Day, we welcomed Celtic harpist Julie Swope as a guest musician. Thanks, Julie!

Listening through the New Testament

Looking for "it" in all the wrong places: The only Jesus' childhood story in the Bible tells of how Jesus stayed behind in the temple while his parents headed home, only to discover him missing at what was probably a Roman checkpoint, where a toll was due. Not finding him among the extended family, they search for THREE DAYS until finding him in discussion with the appointed teachers. "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" I'm glad not to have any experience with looking for my kids for three days, but I certainly have spent a lot of time looking for "it" in all the wrong places.

For more reflections, and to offer your own, check out the church discussion board.

Listening Schedule

Here is the listening/reading schedule for the New Testament in Lent. For audio versions you can download for free, go to Faith Comes by Hearing.

Day 1, Feb 6, Ash Wednesday, Matthew 1-7
Feb 7, Matt 8-12
Feb 8, Matt 13-18
Feb 9, Matt 19-24

Feb 10, Sunday, off day/catch up
Feb 11, Matt 25-28
Feb 12, Mark 1-6
Feb 13, Mark 7-11
Feb 14, Mark 12-16
Feb 15, Luke 1-4
Feb 16, Luke 5-9

Feb 17, Sunday, off day/catch up
Feb 18, Luke 10-13
Feb 19, Luke 14-19
Feb 20, Luke 20-24
Feb 21, John 1-5
Feb 22, John 6-9
Feb 23, John 10-14

Feb 24, Sunday, off day/catch up
Feb 25, John 15-19
Feb 26, John 20-Acts 4
Feb 27, Acts 5-9
Feb 28, Acts 10-15
Feb 29, Acts 16-20
March 1, Acts 21-26