Kairos & Ambiguities

Jet Lag

I am still trying to catch up from last weekend, Ash Wednesday, and a budget meeting.  Last weekend I had the opportunity to go out to California for the GCFA (General Council on Finance and Administration) training.  It was very informative and outlined a lot of the financial challenges that the United Methodist Church will be facing over the next couple of years.

Some of the important topics we covered:

1. Legal Liability Issues
2. Health Care Costs in a Difficult Environment

3. How we will keep our Pension Funding at excellent levels.

4. What is financial health for an annual conference

One of the interesting things I found out is that annual conferences who have cut district superintendent positions haven't saved any money....actually it has cost them more money.  We have experienced that here in Western PA also.

It was wonderful to share the experience with Pat Morris, Eddie Patterson, Barb Port, and John Wilson.

Well say a prayer as we are in the middle of the budget development process for the conference.

Until next time...Grace and Peace

VMI Hockey and a Good Cause

I was reading my new Legion magazine, and saw a picture of a hockey player (older) with a VMI shirt on.  It turns out that a fellow pastor/alum from North Carolina set up a hockey game between the Citadel and Virginia Military Institute. He was Rev. Phil Taylor.

He was looking for a cause to use the money for and selected a scholarship fund to benefit children of active-duty U.S. service members who have given their lives in the global war on terrorism.  The game was a success and raised over $5,700 for the fund.

I always rejoice when people reach out to help others and make a difference in the world.  I am particularly happy when VMI leads the way.  I can't think of a better cause and my heart goes out to those children who are living with out a mother or a father because of their great sacrifice for us.

Say a prayer for them and...

Until next time...Grace and Peace

University of Pittsburgh

I am heading out this morning to meet up with Rich Hoffman.  We are going to do a presentation, a "Village Meeting" at the University of Pittsburgh.  Our project has to do with a deeper way to celebrate Christmas using the ages and stages model from psychology.  I think it will be an interesting day.

The theology part of the project comes from Tillich's Theology and Culture. The key element is how to put together the narrative of  Christmas and the narrative of our lives together using the metaphor of depth from this work. 

I am looking forward to the questions that the students and professors will be asking.  I really think it will help us develop this idea.

Until next time....Grace & Peace

Sara and the Comic Book Museum

I have written a little bit about Sara's adventures at the comic book museum.  I thought it might be worthwhile to post the link to her new work....check it out!

She seems to be doing well and received a comic book from one of the artists for her labors that first night.  Considering the family watched Hancock last night, maybe she will get interested in that sort of media.

Until next time....Grace and Peace.

A Superhero in a Comic Book Museum

I was very excited that Sara has been selected for an internship at a museum in New York.  It turns out that she is now an intern at the Comic Book Museum as we call it around the house.  She had her first evening working there last night.

I think she had a really good experience at the museum, but her coat (and money) was stolen from the cloak room.  She had to race home without a coat in the wind.  Fortunately she met a superhero who helped her get a cab home and for that I am grateful.  And for that Gothem is a better place.

I hope that I will be able to pass this on to a stranger in need.

Until next time...Grace and Peace

Heading to Nashville

I am heading off to Nashville today for Finance Committee Meeting of the General Board of Discipleship.  The recent financial events has caused an critical need to restructure the finances of this board.  It will be a difficult task to bring the finances of this board into a stable situation and it can't be done with out some pain.

Already there has been a cut back of staff positions.  I hope we can hold the line here as we have already lost the Small Church staff person (small churches make up a majority of the churches in our denomination).  At the board meeting in September there were pages and pages of General Conference directives to the board and I think many of them will go unfulfilled.

Probably the most critical item on the agenda deals with the Board's planned meeting in 2010 in Germany.  This meeting was planned so that the board would meet with the Global Youth Convocation of Young People.  As the contracts are about ready to be signed for this event my hope is that even if the funds can't be found to have the board present at this event, that we would find the funds to still allow the Division on Ministries with Young People to remain a global presence.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Until next time...Grace and Peace

A Couple of Nice Surprises

I received a couple nice surprises over the past couple of days.  First, I had contact with a long lost roommate of mine from college, Steve Dombroski.  Last time I really saw him was at my wedding 23 years ago.  He is married and a computer consultant living in Chicago.  I hope to see him again the next time I am out in Chicago!

Another first is that Sara made the New York Times.  Well she is in the New York Times as the story is really about Cooper Union admissions.  We are proud of Sara as she continues to do well and work toward her goal of becoming an artist.

Here is a link to the article.

So until next time....Grace & Peace

A New Greek Place

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go back to Brookville.  I was helping Tim McConnville out with a funeral for Phil Lingenfelter.  Phil was a good friend at Brookville E.U.M.

Tim and I were both surprised to see Jerrad and Becky Peterman (who entered the ordained ministry while I was serving Brookville) at the funeral.  Jerrad, Tim and I (Becky went to see her mom)took the opportunity to have lunch together at the new Greek place in Brookville.  It really was a joy to meet together and break bread with friends and co-workers. 

I pray those opportunities may come into  you life and when they do...take advantage.

Until next time...Grace & Peace

What I Did in January

Here is a list of a couple of things I did in January that I didn't Blog about, but should have.

1. Laura had a great experience at a Crusade for Christ Rally in Indianapolis.
2. Sara had awesome grades for her first semester in New York (Laura made the deans' list too)
3. Amy loves snow days...but misses the sun.
4. Polly got a lead part in the Middle School Play.
5. Robert dropped over 7 seconds off his three racing times

So until next time....Grace and Peace

Ground Hog Day Resolution

I haven't been writing in my blog lately.  I guess I didn't make a New Year's Resolution about that.  So I guess I will have to work with a Ground Hog Day Resolution to write on this blog more regularly, especially since there will be six more weeks of winter.

At least the Ground Hog acknowledged the Steeler's victory!  Even Polly is happy because she guessed fifty as the the total score for the Super Bowl in her math class.   May she get lots of extra credit!

Until next time...Grace and Peace