Pastor Beth’s Blog

Singing Owl at Rev Gals writes: I am at a life-changing juncture. I do not know which way I will go, but I have been thinking about the times, people and events that changed my life (for good or ill) in significant ways. For today’s Friday Five, share with us five "fork-in-the-road" events, or persons, or choices. And how did life change after these forks in the road?

1.  Departure from Central Bible College in 1979 after one semester. The story is amusing but no time to share. However, leaving CBC opened my eyes to my theological understanding of God’s grace and led me on a chase to find the right denominational “fit” which took nearly 30 years.

2.  Starting to work at The Daily Jeffersonian provided an outlet for creative energy and eventually led to employment as the executive director for Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra. While at the Jeffersonian, we received a notice of the Lilly Foundation Grants for journalists to study religion. I was one of the first 10 recipients of this grant which allowed me to attend Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

3.  A mission trip to Mexico in 2006 and a trip to Malawi in 2007 awakened an old longing and desire to participate in mission work. Our church is planning a trip to our sister church in Malaw in July, 2009.

4.  Graduation from seminary in 2006 and the invitation to be the sabbatical pastor at North Hills Community Baptist Church and then a call to Gladden United Presbyterian Church were major milestones.

5.  The fifth milestone is relational choices and no need to go there.

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Rev Gal writes:

Where we live, it’s February School Vacation Week!
Yes, that’s an odd thing, a vacation extending President’s Day. But it’s part of our lives here. Some people go South or go skiing, but we always stay home and find more humble amusements.
In that spirit, I offer this Taking a Break Friday Five. Tell us how you would spend:

1.. a 15 minute break – a quick phone call to a friend – most likely Kate.

2. an afternoon off – an afternoon matinee or time spent at Barnes & Noble

3. an unexpected free day – oh boy, a chance to travel around the area to my favorite consignment shops

4. a week’s vacation – head to the beach – doesn’t matter where. A week on the water is the best vacation I can think of

5. a sabbatical – I would definitely seek a missionary position in Malawi.

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The Studda Bubba Pierogie crew will have fresh and frozen pierogies for sale through Friday, April 10. Frozen pierogies will be available for pickup on Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fresh pierogies will be available on Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m. Please specify potato and cheese or potato/cheese/jalapeno when placing your order. Pierogies are $7/dozen. Call 412-257-0922 or 421-221-5594 to place your order in advance or take your chances and stop by the church fellowship hall at 755 Millers Run Rd, near the Farmers Market.

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One of the RevGals writes: My son’s tiny beloved lizard, Elf, is looking and acting strange this week. His skin/scales are quite dark, and he is lethargic. We are adding vitamin drops to his lettuce and spinach and hoping and praying that he is just getting ready to shed his skin–but it’s too soon to tell. Others in the ring have also been worried about beloved pets this week. And, in the saddest news of all, Songbird has had to bid farewell to her precious Molly, the amazing dog who is well known to readers of her blog as a constant sacrament of God’s unconditional love.
So in memory of Molly, and in honor of all the beloved animal companions who bless our lives: tell us about the five most memorable pets you have known.

1.  The #1 pet in our house has to be Molly, our seven-year-old border collie. She came into our lives just after Jerry and I were married – a sad-eyed find at a local pet store. Too big for the pen and the saddest brown eyes – until she spotted us and then she started smiling and wagging and wriggling all over and never held still for the next two years. Now, she is a grown-up girl and the babysitter for our latest addition ….finally, a job!

2.  Zoe was found on a website for the From Heaven to Earth Rescue group out of Ohio. Her mother is a sheltie-australian shepherd mix and we are pretty sure her father may have been a Jack Russell so she’ll be keeping us entertained with her antics.

3.  Murphy Brown was a dog from another time in my life. Try as we might, she was NEVER going to be an inside dog. She would much rather crawl to the top of her dog box and let the snow bury her. She lived in a kennel after she chewed the steel bumper off a mail Jeep … until we moved to the farm. For the last two years of her life, she ran free but she met her match when she chased a mail truck down the lane and got too close to the tires. Ran just long enough after she was hit to make it to the front porch and then collapsed at my feet. But oh, how she loved the freedom.

4. Cats – There have been many – alot of them yellow and white because they remind me of the cats at my aunt’s house when I was growing up. Now we have Mickey and Marmalade but the other memorable ones: Critter, TC, Sam and Buffy (who let me dress him like a baby for most of his life).

5.  Bridget was the dog we had when Aaron was born. She was a beautiful pup and grew into a beautiful dog.

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My questions to you this fine Friday involve your home past, present or future…
1) If you could, what room in the place you are currently living would you redo first?

The bathrooms – I really want my toilets to sit level on the floor – not much – just the simple pleasure of not rocking on the commode every morning or shimming it.

2) What is the most hideous feature/color/decor item you have ever seen in a home?

It’s hard to say since I like a wide variety of decorating schemes and can even appreciate some of the older styles – however, shag carpet has to be it – and yes, I had some in the 70s and thought it was wonderful but now I think of sticky messes, dog messes and shag – OH YUCK!

3) What feature do you most covet? Do you have it? If not, is it within reach?

Deck – We have a very small deck but I would like a multi-level deck where we could really cook and entertain or just sit and relax with a good book.

4) Your kitchen - love it or hate it? Why?

Both – it was remodeled before we moved into the manse. However, it is small and there just needs to be more space – particularly since I love to display dishes. Saw a great old brass coat rack from a downtown Pittsburgh hotel at a second hand store this week. Would love to have room to use it for a pot rack.

5) Here is $10,000 and you HAVE to spend it on the place you are living now. What do you do?

Put on the deck mentioned above and put in new carpeting – our carpet is supposed to be beige but it’s really pink –

BONUS: Why do you think there was such a surplus of ugly bathroom tile colors showcased in all homes built from the 1950’s right through the early 80’s?

Actually I really like some of them – and don’t laugh – I like the ugly pink and black bathrooms – yep Pepto Bismol pink – so ugly you gotta love it! Had one in a house once.

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Help! Please give us five suggestions for combating cabin fever and staying cheerful in our monochromatic world?

1.  Reading a great book

2.  Watching a great movie

3.  Have two dogs – in and out, in and out – romping in the snow

4.  Cleaning out closets in anticipation of spring clothes

5.  Dreaming about hot summer days

Not very exciting but the snow and ice are great excuses to stay put and for some of us that is a treat!

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For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job, which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

I would argue that he paraphrased the beatitudes perfectly and end with the encouragement and admonishment to put away childish things and remember that living according to the beatitudes is the price and promise of Christianity.

So, what does it mean for us to make a place for the kingdom in our lives today? What kind of blessing will we experience if we allow ourselves to be transformed by the radical new reality that Jesus offers us? What kind of renewal will come our way if we take seriously the invitation to open our hearts and minds to the arrival of God’s kingdom?

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The iTunes Meme: (thanks to Reedy Girl…)
Instructions
1. Put your ipod or playlists on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Pass it on.
What is your motto?
And I Think of You (Peter Cetera)

What do your friends think of you?
You’re Not Alone (Chicago)

What do you think about very often?
In the Chapel in the Moonlight (Dean Martin)

What does math mean to you?
Summer in the City (Lovin’ Spoonful)

What do you think of your best friend?
Silent Night

What do you think of the person you like?
Coventry Carol (Mannheim Steamroller)

What is your life story?
Get Me to the Church on Time (Sinatra)

What do you want to be when you grow up? (LOL)
Just a Closer Walk

What do you think when you see the person you like?
A Kiss Remembered

What do your parents think of you?
Amazing Grace

What will you dance to at your wedding? (hmmm… already did this… but not to this song!)
What are you Doing New Year’s Eve

What will they play at your funeral?
We Didn’t Start the Fire

What is your hobby/interest?
I Though About You

What is your biggest secret?
The Door Is Still Open to my Heart

What do you think of your friends?
High Society Calypso (Mack the Knife)

What’s the worst thing that could happen?
Do Ya (ELO)

How will you die?
Sleigh Ride

What makes you laugh?
Blue Nights (Dick Tracy)

What makes you cry?
Mahogany Hall Stomp

If you could go back in time, what would you change?
Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion

What hurts right now?
In The Misty Moonlight

What will you put in the subject box? 
Los Peces en el Rio

Play if you wish… I’m not tagging anyone.
Beth

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Whether it’s new friends or new loves or new employers, what are five things people should know about you?

1. I love family. You mess with them, you mess with me. That means even when they mess with each other. Argh…..we’re family. Knock it off. Get along!

2. I love music. All kinds. . Well, I don’t like Rap or hard rock – oh, yes, those aren’t really music….just loud noises. I love to play my piano and sing.

3. I am very thankful for God’s faithfulness and the many blessings I have in my life – that includes this place where I am serving and living. Even on the most insane days, I marvel at where I am and where I’ve come from.

4. I can’t wait for houseboat season – another blessing! It’s a great place to relax, read and even get a little work done on sermons. Hear that folks – don’t mess with my boat days!

5.  Just because I appear calm – doesn’t mean it’s so – panic is often just below the surface. I’ve just learned that panic escalates the problem. Calm down – even when it’s bad – panic will ALWAYS make it worse.

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Avengers without love are not prophets. At the same time, lovers without a sense of accountability are not prophets either. The prophetic figure brings to a situation full of despair the face of feeling and the face of hope, the one who suffers because of us and believes in us at the same time. The prophet drags us by the hair of the head, if necessary, to the heights of our capacity and against our own worst will. The prophet comes with a father’s zeal and a mother’s love breathing the word of God and saying “I love you” at the same time.

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