Back to the Future
The observant reader will note the date posted here and following is from 2002. That is not a typo. Rather, I started this blog in 2002 and am just now returning to it. In the meantime, boy, has the technology moved forward!
I've tried running our church website using Microsoft Frontpage and it has been a disaster. Thankfully, I "rediscovered" the blogger publishing tool and after spending a few days with it I am amazed at the simplicity it offers. For instance, I am now able to publish directly to this blog via my google email account. My email interface becomes my blogger interface. Type it in like and email, address it to my blog, click "send" and there it appears on my blog. Great stuff! And get this, the Picassa software I've been using also has a button to publish my photos to my blog. Wonderfully simple.
Perhaps this fluidity is due to the fact that Google has bought all these businesses and incorporated them into a seamless service. Whatever one thinks about Google, and they are coming under increasing fire these days from all sides, they have made something simple out of something that was once hard to do. And for that, I am grateful.
Enough ranting about how this blog stuff works. Check out the posts below for a trip back in time to 2002 when I was just experimenting with blogging and when it was not nearly so easy to do as it is now.
~*~
I'm posting this from the library at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary where I've been participating in the Festival of Theology for continuing education. Tonight was the Moderator's Dinner and I heard Dr. Jack Rogers give an upbeat analysis of the state of the union in our denomination. Today I toured Highland Heights Presbyterian Church and Central Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Center which is our denomination's headquarters. Louisville is a strong Presbyterian city. This has been a refreshing experience. Tomorrow I will drive home to Bateville with my colleagues Dr. Frank Brooks and Dr. Milton Winters.
28 February 2002
The story of Banzan
Do you know the story of Banzan? Before he became a great Zen master, he spent many years in the pursuit of enlightenment, but it eluded him. Then one day, as he was walking in the marketplace, he overheard a conversation between a butcher and his customer. “Give me the best piece of meat you have,” said the customer. Andt he butcher replied, “Every piece of meat I have is the best. There is no piece of meat here that is not the best.” Upon hearing this, Bazan became enlightened.
I can see you are waiting for some explanation. When you accept what is, every piece of meat—every moment—is the best. That is enlightenment. (Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, 161)
Do you know the story of Banzan? Before he became a great Zen master, he spent many years in the pursuit of enlightenment, but it eluded him. Then one day, as he was walking in the marketplace, he overheard a conversation between a butcher and his customer. “Give me the best piece of meat you have,” said the customer. Andt he butcher replied, “Every piece of meat I have is the best. There is no piece of meat here that is not the best.” Upon hearing this, Bazan became enlightened.
I can see you are waiting for some explanation. When you accept what is, every piece of meat—every moment—is the best. That is enlightenment. (Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, 161)
26 February 2002
SNL for March 3
The arts and crafts team is planning a craft activity for this Sunday. Plans are to make a craft that will be given to grandparents when they come for Grandparents Night on March 17. Dinner will be served at 5:00 and the craft work will begin at 5:30. We hope to see you there!
SNL March 10 & 17
Because of spring break for area schools, SNL will not meet on March 10. We will have the last SNL for the spring and summer on March 17. That night will be Grandparents Night and grandparents of SNL participants are invited to come for dinner and a program. We will begin at 5:00 p.m. and should conclude by 6:30. Invite your grandparents and we'll see you then!
The arts and crafts team is planning a craft activity for this Sunday. Plans are to make a craft that will be given to grandparents when they come for Grandparents Night on March 17. Dinner will be served at 5:00 and the craft work will begin at 5:30. We hope to see you there!
SNL March 10 & 17
Because of spring break for area schools, SNL will not meet on March 10. We will have the last SNL for the spring and summer on March 17. That night will be Grandparents Night and grandparents of SNL participants are invited to come for dinner and a program. We will begin at 5:00 p.m. and should conclude by 6:30. Invite your grandparents and we'll see you then!
~*~
GO PDA! The following is an email I just received from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance ...
Georgia Crematory
PDA Situation Report
February 21, 2002
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is rushing $10,000 from the One Great
Hour of Sharing offering to Chickamauga Presbyterian Church in response to
the horrific events unfolding at the Tri-State Crematory in northwest
Georgia.
With the number of human remains recovered topping 250, hundreds of family
members are re-experiencing the grief and pain surrounding the loss of
loved ones, while area residents are suffering from emotional stress.
Reverend Edward Langham and the Chickamauga congregation will use the
funds to train grief counselors through a program certified by the Grief
Recovery Institute of Los Angeles. Please remember all those caught up in
this human-caused disaster in your thoughts and prayers.
Stan Hankins
U.S. Disaster Response
~*~
GO PDA! The following is an email I just received from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance ...
Georgia Crematory
PDA Situation Report
February 21, 2002
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is rushing $10,000 from the One Great
Hour of Sharing offering to Chickamauga Presbyterian Church in response to
the horrific events unfolding at the Tri-State Crematory in northwest
Georgia.
With the number of human remains recovered topping 250, hundreds of family
members are re-experiencing the grief and pain surrounding the loss of
loved ones, while area residents are suffering from emotional stress.
Reverend Edward Langham and the Chickamauga congregation will use the
funds to train grief counselors through a program certified by the Grief
Recovery Institute of Los Angeles. Please remember all those caught up in
this human-caused disaster in your thoughts and prayers.
Stan Hankins
U.S. Disaster Response
~*~
One Great Hour Offering
The “One Great Hour of Sharing” offering will be received during each worship service on Easter Sunday. The offering supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance from which we have received $10,000 for storm mitigation in Panola County. Let us show them our support.
Coin boxes will be distributed to the children for their collection of change for the “One Great Hour of Sharing” Offering. Extra coin boxes will be on the table in the hallway. The children's coin boxes will be collected during the children's sermon on Easter Sunday.
Congrats to Chesley
Congratulations to Chesley Lightsey, daughter of Jerry Lightsey and grand daughter of Margie Lightsey. Chelsey has been accepted into the Law School at Temple University in Philadelphia. Chesley scored in the top 5% in the nation on the LSAT.
Congrats to J.R. Smith
Congratulations to John Robert Smith who has been selected as the new Chairman of the Board of Amtrak. Mr. Smith was elected mayor of Meridian in 1993. The city of 40,000 is served by Amtrak's New York City-New Orleans "Crescent" train. Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis will serve as vice chairman of Amtrak. John Robert Smith is the brother of Briggs Smith.
Presbyterian Women
The PW Coordinating Meeting will be Monday, March 4th, at 9:30 A.M. in the Session Room.
Youth Retreats
Maggie Parker will chaperone the Jr. High Retreat at Camp Hopewell on March 1-3, 2002. The Jr. High retreatants will leave the BPC parking lot at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1 and return by 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3. These Jr. High Youth will participate in the retreat: Ariel Brasher, Sadie Broome, Elizabeth Williams and Emily Williams.
Maggie's cell phone number is 601-248-2869 and the number at Camp Hopewell is 234-2254.
Ginnie Monteith serves on the Presbytery Youth Council which is leading the retreats.
Due to the weekend retreats, PYF will not meet on the Sunday evenings of March 3 and 10. Wednesday night Bible Studies will continue at 7:00 P.M. in the
The “One Great Hour of Sharing” offering will be received during each worship service on Easter Sunday. The offering supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance from which we have received $10,000 for storm mitigation in Panola County. Let us show them our support.
Coin boxes will be distributed to the children for their collection of change for the “One Great Hour of Sharing” Offering. Extra coin boxes will be on the table in the hallway. The children's coin boxes will be collected during the children's sermon on Easter Sunday.
Congrats to Chesley
Congratulations to Chesley Lightsey, daughter of Jerry Lightsey and grand daughter of Margie Lightsey. Chelsey has been accepted into the Law School at Temple University in Philadelphia. Chesley scored in the top 5% in the nation on the LSAT.
Congrats to J.R. Smith
Congratulations to John Robert Smith who has been selected as the new Chairman of the Board of Amtrak. Mr. Smith was elected mayor of Meridian in 1993. The city of 40,000 is served by Amtrak's New York City-New Orleans "Crescent" train. Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis will serve as vice chairman of Amtrak. John Robert Smith is the brother of Briggs Smith.
Presbyterian Women
The PW Coordinating Meeting will be Monday, March 4th, at 9:30 A.M. in the Session Room.
Youth Retreats
Maggie Parker will chaperone the Jr. High Retreat at Camp Hopewell on March 1-3, 2002. The Jr. High retreatants will leave the BPC parking lot at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1 and return by 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3. These Jr. High Youth will participate in the retreat: Ariel Brasher, Sadie Broome, Elizabeth Williams and Emily Williams.
Maggie's cell phone number is 601-248-2869 and the number at Camp Hopewell is 234-2254.
Ginnie Monteith serves on the Presbytery Youth Council which is leading the retreats.
Due to the weekend retreats, PYF will not meet on the Sunday evenings of March 3 and 10. Wednesday night Bible Studies will continue at 7:00 P.M. in the
Festival of Renewal
March 23-25, 2002 with Dr. Paul Eckel
Sponsored by the Panola Presbyterian Partnership.
You are cordially invited!
Saturday X March 23, 2002Bearing Witness ‘decently and in order’
A one day retreat at Black Jack Presbyterian Church from 10:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Palm Sunday X March 24, 2002
Exploring God’s Purpose in Christ: The Purpose of Christ’s Coming
Morning Worship Services, 8:30 A.M. & 11:00 A.M., at Batesville Presbyterian Church
Exploring God’s Purpose in Christ: The Purpose of Christ’Crucifixion
Evening Worship at 5:00 P.M & Dinner at 6:00 P.M. at Independence Presbyterian Church
Monday of Holy Week X March 25, 2002
Growing Small ~ Men’s Breakfast, 7:00 A.M. at Batesville Presbyterian Church
Where’s Home? ~ Women’s Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Batesville Presbyterian Church
Exploring God’s Purpose in Christ: The Purpose of Christ’s Resurrection
Pot-Luck Supper, 6:00 P.M. & Closing Worship, 7:00 P.M. at Batesville Presbyterian Church
March 23-25, 2002 with Dr. Paul Eckel
Sponsored by the Panola Presbyterian Partnership.
You are cordially invited!
Saturday X March 23, 2002Bearing Witness ‘decently and in order’
A one day retreat at Black Jack Presbyterian Church from 10:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Palm Sunday X March 24, 2002
Exploring God’s Purpose in Christ: The Purpose of Christ’s Coming
Morning Worship Services, 8:30 A.M. & 11:00 A.M., at Batesville Presbyterian Church
Exploring God’s Purpose in Christ: The Purpose of Christ’Crucifixion
Evening Worship at 5:00 P.M & Dinner at 6:00 P.M. at Independence Presbyterian Church
Monday of Holy Week X March 25, 2002
Growing Small ~ Men’s Breakfast, 7:00 A.M. at Batesville Presbyterian Church
Where’s Home? ~ Women’s Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Batesville Presbyterian Church
Exploring God’s Purpose in Christ: The Purpose of Christ’s Resurrection
Pot-Luck Supper, 6:00 P.M. & Closing Worship, 7:00 P.M. at Batesville Presbyterian Church
25 February 2002
Greetings cyberspace compatriots. I will post here random notes from the field in Batesville, Mississippi where I serve as pastor of Batesville Presbyterian Church.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)