Steeler Nation

Way to go Pittsburgh! Six-time Super Bowl Champs!!

Hope In The Midst of Trying Times

I have a dear family member who is going through something very difficult: Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer. In the midst of the news that we received last week, my family member has remained very hopeful. Hopeful for what we ask? When you receive a diagnosis like this, the end result is quite grim. However, in the midst of it all, I see hope. 

Another family member asked my relative, "Why are you so hopeful?" To which my relative replied, "I have faith." Yes, my born-again relative has witnessed the hope that Jesus Christ brings in the midst of troubled times. Christ proved to us that we do have something to hope for; Eternal Life. I am grateful for the promise Jesus gives us and the assurance we have as His children. That's why my relative can live as Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, Rejoice!" Praise be to God for the hope God gives us through Jesus Christ!

The Eye Roll

Let's have some Christmas spirit. This morning, I left early to officiate a funeral in West Virginia. It was a bit of a road trip so I thought I would fill up my new Sheetz mug (thanks Allan for the mug!) in Canonsburg and then jump on I-79 and make the rest of the way south. Sheetz was normally busy for that time of morning and I had on my suit, long coat and a donut in hand and my mug of coffee. The line was all the way back to the coffee table. I saw a man, with his coffee and I said, "Go ahead, you were before me." He looked me in the eye, looked me up and down and then rolled his eyes in disgust. 

Is there that much hatred and anger in the world we live? I smiled and just got behind him. We celebrate Christmas this week. We celebrate the Prince of Peace that came to us; Emmanuel, God with us. May our hearts be in tune to the peace that Christ offers us. Pray for the heart of the man who wanted to "hate" me this morning. I ask that the peace of Christ will penetrate his heart so that he can experience the joy that Jesus offers us. 

Afternoon in Bethlehem

Today, the people of Baldwin Community got a start on the Advent season with an Afternoon in Bethlehem! We had such a great day sharing our faith with each other and eventually the people of Overlook Green Assisted Living Center! After a wonderful lunch by our Parish Life team, we enjoyed crafts, dressing in costume and eventually a chance to sing to the people of the Living Center. Below are a few pictures of the memorable day! 

Way to Go Baldwin Community!

I walked into my office this afternoon to see a letter from the Western PA Annual Conference Camping Office. It was a list of all the churches in the Conference who sent campers to one of the three camps (Allegheny, Jumonville, Wesley Woods). I was ever so pleased to see that Baldwin Community sent 42 campers to camp this summer!!! We increased from 18 campers in 2007 to 42 in 2008! Way to go people of Baldwin Community! 

I have a deep and profound love for the camping ministries of the WPA Conference. It was at Jumonville that I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It is our hope that through camping, our children at Baldwin Community and the children all over can experience the love Christ has for us. 

I also want to thank everyone who gave to our Baldwin Community scholarship to assist our campers with a full scholarship this year!!! You are a blessing to many! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 

OK This Should Not Be Happening to Me Right Now

This morning I was hit with something I did not expect. Abby and I were heading to class this morning. Abby's preschool room is the last class at the end of the hallway. I hung her little jacket on her hook and we carried her cookie cake into the classroom (It's Abby's fifth birthday tomorrow, November 7th). As we walked into the room, a little boy from our church, Jack, handed Abby something. I didn't think much of it. She then handed it to me. I looked at it and then just kept talking to Mrs. Riani and Mrs. Pavlick. Then about 10 seconds later, I looked at it again. It was a beautifully wrapped purple rose. This struck me hard! My four year old daughter just got her first rose from a boy! Abby was so tickled by this and Jack was so proud at that moment to give his "girl" a rose! I had to get a picture with my phone (I'm glad my phone has a camera for quick moments like this). Jack, thanks for giving me (and Abby) a great big smile today (and for giving me an increased heart rate)! Happy 5th Birthday Abby (Little Betty)!  

Way to Go Pastor Gretchen!

Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Voters feel tension of historic moment at North Side's New Hope church
By Asia M. HowellPOINT PARK NEWS SERVICETuesday, November 4, 2008

Gretchen Hulse, a first-time pastor at New Hope Methodist Church on the North Side, sipped her coffee in the far corner of her church lobby early this morning as she watched neighbors patiently wait, some in the bitter cold, determined to have their votes counted.
"People are very tense in this election," she said. "I mean we have the possibility of making history. They're worried about what this day will bring, but my prayer is that everyone that can vote will vote."
Voters at New Hope were lined up before the poll doors even opened at 7 a.m. Many people had turned out to vote in the presidential race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

"I usually come right around the corner every election and walk right in, vote and come out, but some of these people have been in line since 6:30 a.m.," said Michelle Clark, 38, a disabled veteran from the Central North Side. "This is new to me."
The lines were new, but the voters' concerns were familiar: Voters talked about potential problems and issues the day's events might unravel.
Stephanie Jones of Homewood, working the polls at the North Side church said, "I'm expecting a blackout, system failure, and numerous recounts -- something to change the results."
Some voters challenged the training of poll workers when they were asked for legal identification.
"A lady behind me was yelling and threatening to report poll workers because they asked her for ID," said Jackie Myers, 67, a psychologist. "Those same workers asked me, too, but I simply told them I've voted at (New Hope) every election and they were able to check me off that way."

Way to Go Gretchen! (Gretchen is in my Young Cohort Group through WPA Conference)