THE CENTERPIECE
January, 2004
The Newsletter of the
Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind
535 North Neville Street
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213
PHONE: (412) 682-1800
Bob Mates, Director
Sherri Crum, Associate Director
The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind seeks to reach out to the visually
impaired of Pittsburgh, feeling their needs, and touching them with the love of
Jesus, so that they may reach out and touch others with the love of Jesus.
THE CENTERPIECE is available in the following formats: Braille, large print,
audio cassette, and E-mail. You may also read the newsletter on the World
Wide Web, by going to: www.firsttrinity.net
and clicking on the "Center for the blind" link.
Terri Watson, Editor
FROM THE EDITOR:
The Triple Filter Test
A scholar in ancient Baghdad was said to be unusually wise. One day, an
acquaintance met the great scholar and said, "Do you know what I just heard
about your friend?" "Wait," the scholar replied.
"Before you continue, let me ask a question: Is what you are about to tell
me true?" "I don't know," the man said. "All
right," the scholar responded. "Let me ask you another question:
Is what you are about to tell me good?" "No, it isn't," the
scholar's acquaintance replied. The wise man responded not with advice but
with another question: "Is what you are about to tell me useful to
me?" the man asked. "No, it isn't useful," the man
admitted. Then the scholar said: "If it may not be true; if it is not
good, and if it is not useful to me, why do you want me to pass it along?"
Before you share news that is really gossip, ask yourself these questions to see
if your news passes the triple filter test.
Too often, I have spread news that was really gossip because I did not
check to see if it passed the triple filter test. For myself--and for all
of us when we are tempted to gossip--I pray that we might grow not just in years
but also in wisdom. To inspire and shepherd us along the straight but
narrow path of spiritual growth, I offer the following prayer:
O Christ, fully God and fully human, we give thanks that you came to
fulfill the expectations of a people who put their hope in you. Fulfill
our own desires to meet you as we look for you in Scripture. Let us know
the same Spirit that imparted to you wisdom and understanding, counsel and
might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Fulfill our heart's deepest
longings.
Thank You, Jesus, for your holy and wise words in Scripture that always
pass "the triple filter test."
Blessings, happiness and health,
Terri Watson
DECEMBER's MEAL AND CHRISTMAS PARTY
On Saturday the 20th, many of us gathered at the Lutheran Center for the
Blind for our monthly doses of food and fellowship. This fellowship began
when the Center's Director, Bob Mates, welcomed meal attendees. After
Bob's warm welcome, Pastor Spittel said the blessing over the Christmas meal.
Served at this meal were: spinach salad, rolls and butter, chuck roast, a potato
and carrot casserole, yams, corn, regular and decaf coffee, regular and diet
pop, and a variety of desserts which included French vanilla ice cream, vanilla
bean ice cream, cookies, a sesame almond cake, a pumpkin cheese log, a coffee
cake and after-dinner mints. (If you left that meal hungry, it was your
own doing.) After dinner, Director Mates acknowledged Jim Musto as a first-time
meal attendee by introducing him, giving him a chance to say a few words and
presenting him with an answering machine. Next, everyone sang Happy
Birthday to three people with December birthdays. More music followed, th!
anks to a flute choir who gave a glorious Christmas concert in which a
sing-along was included. Before the Vespers Service with which every
evening is beautifully concluded under Pastor Spittel's direction, Bob Mates
invited everyone to the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services that will be
held at First Trinity Lutheran Church. (Bob also mentioned the
availability of Christmas programs in Braille and Large Print) The following
people enjoyed this spirit-filled evening: Ayn Apelman, Lois Briggs, Sherri
Crum, Eileen Davis, Cindy Fenger, Ellie Goldfon, Karen Good, Charity Houser, Bob
Mates, Jim Musto, Mike O'Connor, Cindy Perseo, John Perseo, Milette Reid, Chuck
Ridley, Gene Rossi, Norma Jean Rossi, Jane Royal, Sylvia Royal (Jane's daughter
and first-time meal attendee), Leigh Spittel, Pastor Spittel, Regis Sullivan,
Debra Terhune, Geri Vacco, Jim Vaglia, Terri Watson, Cathy Weber and Jim
Winaught.
CONTRIBUTOR's CORNER
In Sickness and in Health
by Kathy Susany
With the Hepatitis A outbreak that began in Beaver County in October, 2003 and
an unusually severe flu season that began wreaking its havoc in December, 2003,
there have been--and I'm sure continue to be--a lot of sick people and their
families to pray for. Without further ado, here's Kathy's column:
Operation Microbial Freedom by Kathy Susany
Before proceeding with my column, I wish to preface it with a few
remarks. First, I want to thank a reader for her interest in, and feedback
on, my Virus column. I hope that my future columns are just as
down-to-earth and informative and hope that they are not too overwhelming or
complicated.
Second, I'd like to say something about my use of medical terminology.
When I first conceived the idea for this series, I vowed to use as little
medical jargon as possible; however, I have changed my mind. I don't want
to confuse or mystify the reader with an overabundance of such terms, but, on
the other hand, one of my goals is to make you aware of them and, hopefully,
"make friends" with them. Medical terms are nothing to fear, and
I hope you will not be intimidated by their use. When you get to know
them, scientific terms may actually be fun, at least, that is my intent. I
realize, though, that using too many of these terms may bog the reader down and
take away from the enjoyment of my columns. There are some terms that are
important enough to warrant a whole column, or perhaps even two. Some
terms are superfluous or unnecessary to what I am discussing. I will try
not to bore or overwhelm you with such unneeded terms. However, there will
be some terms that, wh!
ile they may be superfluous per se, may be interesting or informative to the
reader. I will define and explain such words in separate Terminology
paragraphs which may be read or skipped as desired.
And now, on with the main attraction-my column:
Operation Microbial Freedom
Well, here we go again; a new year has dawned. As we review events
of last year, there is much to consider and ponder. There were good times
and bad times. One of the biggest occurrences of this past year was, of
course, the war in Iraq. Last year may also be remembered as the year of
epidemics. We have been treated to outbreaks of SARS, hepatitis-A, and
influenza, or the flu for short. Such diseases foster a sense of fear and
trepidation; they make people's lives miserable. They have certainly
engendered much panic and pandemonium. Just hearing about them can scare
us to death.
When we reflect on disasters like these, we begin to realize just how
vulnerable we really are. We are constantly bombarded with germs every
day, but, only when something like these epidemics happens do we even begin to
think about what the human body has to deal with day in and day out. We
don't ever give our bodily defense systems the credit they deserve-until such
illnesses make the scene. Even then, I don't think people realize just
what the body must do to fight off disease-causing organisms. We are
constantly fighting our own "Iraq war" on a daily basis.
Disease-causing agents can be just as ferocious, terrifying and deadly as any
military enemy can be.
Just what is this plethora of pathogens we must fight on a daily basis;
of what do they consist? Well, there are a great many different types of
microbes. There are bacteria such as strep, staph, and anthrax.
There are viruses such as hepatitis, SARS, and flu. There are pollens such
as ragweed and grasses. There are organisms such as mites and ticks.
There are protozoans such as ameba and malaria. Even our own cells may
become like foreign invaders. When they become cancerous, they must be
destroyed and eliminated. The same is true for transplanted organs and
tissues; the body thinks of them as enemies that must be killed.
Terminology Bacteria bact means rod. Bacteria are one-celled organisms.
Their cells are more primitive and less compartmentalized than are animal cells.
Some bacteria are, indeed, rod-shaped; some are spherical shaped. Some
have other shapes, such as the print letter V. Protozoan proto means
first; zoan means animal. Protozoans are also un!
icellular, one-celled organisms, but their cells are more complex, like those of
animal cells. Their cells have a true nucleus and cellular organelles,
little organs.
How do we deal with these numerous foreign invaders? We have an
unbelievably-complex armament of defenses which we refer to as our immune
system; that is what this column is all about. We have a whole host of
chemical and cellular weapons designed with one purpose in mind: to destroy the
enemy.
At birth, we are endowed with some innate immunity. For instance,
we don't get the same diseases that fish or frogs get. On the other hand,
we do get some diseases that other organisms get, such as rabies. For most
diseases, we must acquire an immunity to them. Acquired immunity may be
either nonspecific or specific.
There are several different types of nonspecific immunity; some are
chemical and some are cellular. There are also physicalstmechanical
barriers against pathogens. Incidentally, Nonspecific refers to the fact
that the immunity involves all kinds of pathogens, not any one specific
organism. Terminology Pathogen patho means disease and gen means to cause,
bring about, or give rise to. A pathogen is any disease-causing organism.
A good example of a physicalstmechanical barrier !disease is the skin.
One doesn't realize the importance the skin plays in the prevention of disease
until it is lost, such as in the case of burns. When the skin is burned
away or broken in any way-such as from a cut-microbes have a chance to invade
the body. The intact skin keeps out such invaders. If pathogens do
manage to penetrate the body through its openings, body fluids or secretions,
such as tears or saliva, may wash them out. If such washing-out is
ineffective, there are chemicals in such secretions that are capable of killing
bacteria.
Terminology. Lysozyme Lyso means to break down or destroy, and zyme
refers to an enzyme. Lysozyme is the name of a specific chemical found in
such secretions as tears and saliva. It destroys or kills bacteria by
breaking down their cell walls. (Animal cells don't have cell walls.)
If germs get into the stomach, another chemical weapon comes into play,
hydrochloric acid. The stomach makes this acid which kills most bacteria,
although some do survive in this acidic environment. One kind even thrives
in it. Most such pathogens do get disposed of in this strong acid.
There is a complex system, or chain, of chemical reactions referred to as
the complement system. In this system, one reaction leads to another one,
and so on in a cascade. I guess it's called the complement system because
each reaction complements each other. The chemicals evoked in this
reaction cascade are capable of killing various microbes.
Besides chemical and physical mechanisms, there are also cellular
components to nonspecific immunity. There are special types of cells that
"eat" or "engulf" pathogens and other debris. Some of
these cells are big, and some of them are small. The general term for
these cells is phagocyte; the large phagocytes are referred to as macrophages,
and small ones are microphages. These cells will be described more fully
in my next column, as well as in an upcoming article about the blood. Many
of these cells are white blood cells.
Another bodily defense against infections and injuries is inflammation,
or the inflammatory process. Inflammation comprises a complex series of
chemical and cellular responses to infection and injury. Its purposes are
to "wall off" the problem area and to call forth phagocytes and other
varieties of immune-related cells. The site in question becomes red, warm,
swollen, and painful. If the inflammation becomes systemic, one may
develop a fever, or elevation of body temperature. If it isn't too high,
fever may be a good thing. Some microbes can not survive at
higher-than-normal body temperature; thus, fever can be germicidal. I will
elaborate further on inflammation in my next couple of columns.
Well, I guess I'm being a bit long-winded; space precludes my going on
with this any further. After all, I don't want to bore you with a great
American novelette. In part two of this discourse, I will discuss specific
immunity and what happens when it goes awry. I will also write about how
we help out our immune system when it becomes too overwhelmed, and how to
prevent epidemics. As you can see, God has endowed us with a truly
marvelous and wonderful defense system against foreign invaders. You will
read more about this miraculous creation in the following issue of this
newsletter. I'll see you next time. Try to enjoy January as much as
possible.
THE DIRECTOR's DESK
Our dashing director is also so dedicated that he consistently does an
excellent job writing a devotional column, and his witty column, "A Little
Humor ... very little." And now--here's Bob!
Who's Got The Truth?
by Bob Mates
Recently, I was listening to a talk show. An irate caller was blasting
President Bush. In the midst of his tirade, he said, "He's not my
president!". I thought to myself, "Hmmm! I wonder what country
he's calling from?". He sounded like an American, but he had just
said that Bush was not his president. I was shocked to find out that, not
only was he an American, but that he - calling from Pittsburgh!
I've never been able to understand anyone who says that, just because they
disagree with a president's policies, that person is not their president.
President Clinton was my president, as was Nixon, Johnson, (LBJ) Reagan, Carter,
and Bush. As far as that goes, so were Harding, Hayes, Polk, Harrison,
Arthur, the two Adamses, and everyone else who has ever held this noble office.
Now, I'm not writing this simply to make a patriotic statement, (though I'd
gladly do that) but, rather, to point to a deeper problem: namely, that of
relativism.
WHAT IS TRUTH? In his interrogation of Jesus, Pilate sarcastically asks,
"What is truth?". Were he alive today, he would be told, by many
people, that, in fact, there really is no such thing. There's your truth;
there's my truth; there's another's truth. Everyone has his or her own
truth. You throw 'em all into a big pot, mix 'em up together, and hope for
a consensus. If you get one--great; if not, well, everyone still has his
own truth! That's what relativism is: everything's relative; it's all how you
look at it. What a wonderful thing, right?
No! Without the acceptance of certain values, morays, and moral distinctions, a
society cannot function. Here's why. Supposing, for instance, that
there was no agreement that killing is wrong. Under these conditions, if I
decide that I don't like Joe for some reason, I can kill him that impunity.
If I should be asked about it, I simply say that I felt justified, for whatever
reason, in killing him. Who's going to argue? After all, in my mind, I was
right!
Actually, we see the beginnings of this today, with all of the drug-related
violence. We also see this relativism in the fact that, no matter what
kind of moral chinanigans a politician, or any other public figure, engages in,
we are willing to let the person go, whether there is repentance or not!
(Rather, Pete Rose?)
Now, having railed, as I have, against the lack of truth in today's society, I
think it only fair to give you some. It's found in the Gospel, according
to St. John, chapter 3, starting at verse 16. Here it is:
16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through him might be saved.
There is truth! It's the truth of God's love for us; it the truth of His mercy;
it's the truth of His grace; it's the truth of the gift of his salvation.
That's truth that defies relativism. It's yours, mine, and everyone's.
It's God's truth!
Since this is January, and everyone is talking about New year's resolutions,
we'll put down a few, and they tie in with what we've been speaking of.
During this year, the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind resolves to
affirm the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, of the Gospel of
Jesus. We resolve to touch as many people as we can with His love, and to
let them know that, no matter what they've heard, there is one thing which is
true: God loves you, and wants to redeem you from sin.
"What is truth?" Well, Pilate, the truth is that God loves you!
Amen.
PERSONAL PROFILES
Bob Mates has put in this newsletter an article from the January 7 Post Gazette:
an article about this editor as one of seven Jefferson Award winners from
Western Pennsylvania. In humility, let me be quick to emphasize that, as
the giver of all good gifts, God is the real "superstar": Without Him,
I would have no gifts; no opportunities to use them, and no people to encourage
me in their use for God's glory.
Jefferson Awards: Terri Watson Hard-working volunteer isn't slowed by
disability
Wednesday, January 07, 2004 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
There's only one Terri Watson, but some people think it'd be a good
idea -- or at least a good laugh -- to have her cloned. Terri
Watson, program coordinator for Blind Outdoor Leisure Development, takes a walk
at Riverfront Park, South Side. She's a longtime volunteer for Western
Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development, or BOLD, which organizes
affordable activities to enrich the lives of its 172 blind, visually
impaired and sighted members. Planning the outings -- everything from
camping to tandem bicycling to ice skating -- is the work of Watson, who
since 1997 has been the group's program coordinator and, for the past two years,
its fund-raising chairperson, too. Sometimes she could use a body double
to get everything done. But it's much more common for her to cheerfully
tell other nice people her favorite line: "You should be cloned!"
"This is a difficult job for anyone, and being blind does not
slow her down," notes BOLD treasurer Charlotte Wowczuk. Because
Watson "enriches the lives of many while giving her time and asking for
nothing in return," Wowczuk nominated her to be one of 53
"community champions" chosen from this region for 2003. Now,
Watson is one of seven of those to earn a Jefferson Award. Considered
to be the Nobel Prize of volunteering, the Jefferson Awards for Public Service
is a program of the American Institute for Public Service. There are
122 media partners in 92 U.S. markets for the awards, which are sponsored
here by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Comcast and Eat'n Park, with help
from the United Way. During a ceremony Jan. 29 at the Carnegie Music
Hall in Oakland, each of this area's seven winners will receive a medallion and
$1,000 to give to a nonprofit group. Watson is giving her money -- donated
by the Federation of Independent School Alumnae Foundation -- to BOL!
D, in which she's been active since 1991. Now that she's starting a
two-year term as its co-president, she hopes to improve the group by
generating more publicity and activity by working with other groups.
She's thrilled to win a Jefferson Award, but "I'm sure there are so many
people who do much more than I do and a lot better, no less," she says
with humility that colleagues say is typical of her. She hasn't had an
1sy life. She was born three months premature and blind (but for being
able to see a small amount of light and shadow with her left eye) in 1953
in Philadelphia. At age 19, she moved to Pittsburgh to attend
college, going from studying voice to graduating with bachelor's and master's
degrees in education with an emphasis in guidance and counselling.
These days, she does a lot of singing -- at St. Paul of the Cross
Monastery -- and uses her degrees in her now part-time job at Mercy
Behavioral Health's South Side drop-in center. There, she leads v!
arious support groups, including one that writes poetry and produces the
center's newsletter. She's also editor of the newsletter of the
Lutheran Center for the Blind and contributes to one at Moorehead Tower in
Oakland, where she lives. She's president of the tenants' council, but her
helpfulness to other residents -- many of whom also have disabilities --
goes beyond that, says neighbor, friend and fellow BOLD member Kathy
Susany. "She's a very loving person, very spiritually oriented.
She'd just about do anything for you. She's very generous." And
very funny and outgoing, she adds, noting, "There should be a million
of her." Watson, who does have a great sense of humor and a great
laugh, says at least one person doesn't want her to be cloned -- her new
boyfriend (and BOLD co-president) Jim Winaught, whom she loves in part
because of another quirk of hers: She's crazy about guys with hairy arms.
As BOLD membership chair Jerry Blum puts it, "She's not bland. !
It's fun to be around her." And fun is what BOLD is all about.
LOOKING AHEAD
January's meal at the Lutheran Center meal will be held on Saturday the 31st.
The meal will be a lasagna-style pie that will contain crescent rolls, cheese,
tomato sauce, sausage and ground beef. (This "delight," which
Debra Terhune will prepare, won a Better Homes and Gardens bake-off.) At
February's meal, Bob Mates will have Jeremy Feldbusch as an honored guest.
A LITTLE HUMOR: VERY LITTLE
NOTE: I think we wish to thank Ayn Apelman, for submitting these jokes.
After you read them, you can decide whether you actually want to thank her or
not.
DISCLAIMER: The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind neither condones nor
endorses the organization of lynch mobs, for the purpose of dispatching folks
who submit corny jokes to the humor column! This is especially true, since the
Director, himself, is very likely to submit corny jokes, and wouldn't want a
lynch mob after him!
Be nice to Ayn.
OZY's STILL
King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the
Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the
most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Crosus,
the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan.
Crosus said, "I'll give you 1000,000 dinars for it."
"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested.
"Don't you know who I am? I am the king!"
Crosus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you
are."
A BURIAL IN THE HOLY LAND
A man goes on vacation to the Holy Land with his wife and mother-in-law.
Halfway through the trip, the mother-in-law dies. So, the man goes to an
undertaker, who explains that they can ship the body home, but it will cost
$5,000. Or they can bury her in the Holy Land for $150.
"We'll ship her home," says the son-in-law.
"Are you sure?" asks the undertaker. "That's an awfully big
expense. And I can assure you we do a very nice burial here."
"Look," says the son-in-law, "two thousand years ago they buried
a man here, and three days later he rose from the dead. I just can't take
that chance."
BEES AND WASPS
Two bees ran into each other one day. "How's everything going?"
one bee asks the other.
"Terrible. Too much rain. No flowers or pollen."
"Here's what you do," says the first bee. "Fly down 5
blocks. There's a bar mitzvah, with all kinds of fresh flowers and fruit.
But here-put this yarmulke on. You don't want them to think you're a
wasp."
JESUS SAVES
Jesus and Satan were arguing over who was better with computers. Finally,
the Father suggested that they settle it once and for all! Each one would spend
two hours using spreadsheets, designing web pages, making charts and
tables-everything they knew how to do.
The two sat down at their keyboards and began typing furiously. Meanwhile,
the Father was devising a plan as to how he would fool the Devil. Then, it
happened: Just before the two hours were up, a thunderstorm rumbled
through Heaven and knocked out the power. Once it came back on, they
rebooted their machines.
"It's gone! It's all gone!" Satan began to scream. "All my
work for nothin'. All destroyed!"
Meanwhile, Jesus began quietly printing out his work. "Hey, your son
must be cheating!" the Devil yelled. "How come my stuff's gone
and his stuff wasn't lost?"
The Father shrugged and said simply, "Jesus saves."
LAB REPORT AND CAT SCAN
Polly the parrot didn't look well, and the vet confirmed it.
"Oh, no," wailed the owner. "Are you sure?"
The vet left the room and returned with a big black Labrador, who sniffed the
bird from top to bottom, then shook his head. Next, the vet brought in a
cat. He, too, sniffed the parrot and sadly shook his head.
"Your bird is definitely terminal," said the vet, handing the owner a
bill.
"Wait--$500! Just to tell me my bird is dying?"
The vet shrugged. "If you'd taken my word for it, the bill would only
have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan ..."
NAVY SEAL
Some people are extremely impressed when you tell them you're a Navy SEAL.
Case in point: My grandson's pre-kindergarten class. It was career
day, and I was impressing them with stories of my experiences in the military.
After I finished, all hands shot up in the air. The kids were fascinated
and eager to ask questions.
"So," asked one little girl, "Can you balance a ball on your
nose?"
SOME REFRIGERATOR MAGNET
My friend panicked when her two-year-old son swallowed a tiny magnet. She
immediately rushed him to the ER. "He'll be fine," the doctor
promised her. "The magnet should pass through his system in a day or
two."
"How will I be sure?" she pressed.
"Well," the doctor suggested, "you could stick him on the
refrigerator and when he falls off, you'll know."
TWO SMART DOGS
Two dog owners were arguing about whose dog was smarter.
"My dog is so smart, said the first, "that every morning, he waits for
the paper boy to come by. He tips the kid and then brings me the paper,
along with my morning coffee."
"I know," said the second.
"How do you know?"
"My dog told me."
TALKING TO A WALL
A young reporter was traveling through Israel to cover the fighting. She
decided to look for a human interest story. In Jerusalem, she heard about
an old man who's been going to the Wailing Wall to pray, twice a day, every day,
for a long, long time.
So she went to the last remains of the Second Temple, and there he was!
"Sir," she asked, "how long have you been coming here and
praying?"
"For 50 years."
"What do you pray for?"
"For peace between the Jews and the Arabs. For our children to grow
up in safety and friendship."
"How do you feel after 50 years?"
"Like I'm talking to a wall."
THE DOG IN THE BANK
I was in a bank when a man entered with a rather large dog on a leash.
When he asked if it was all right to bring his pet into the building, a bank
official answered, "Yes, providing he doesn't make a deposit."
THANK YOU's AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The editor thanks the following contributors and helpers:
Bob Mates, Mike O'Connor who puts this newsletter on the Center's
website; Cindy Perseo, who puts this newsletter onto audiocassette; Kathy Susany,
and Aimee Yunt who sent an email that inspired this month's From the Editor
column. (The prayer at the end of the editor's column was taken from The
Present Word: Winter 2003-2004.)
"NO MORE EXCUSES"
The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember . . .
NOAH was a drunk.
ABRAHAM was too old.
ISAAC was a daydreamer.
JACOB was a liar.
LEAH was ugly.
JOSEPH was abused.
MOSES had a stuttering problem.
GIDEON was afraid.
SAMSON had long hair, and was a womanizer!
RAHAB was a prostitute!
JEREMIAH and TIMOTHY were too young.
DAVID had an affair and was a murderer.
ELIJAH was suicidal.
ISAIAH preached naked.
JONAH ran from God.
NAOMI was a widow.
JOB went bankrupt.
JOHN the Baptist ate bugs.
PETER denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
MARTHA worried about everything.
MARY MAGDALENE was, well, you know ...
The SAMARITAN WOMAN was divorced ... more than once!
ZACCHEUS was too small.
PAUL was too religious.
TIMOTHY had an ulcer ..... AND
LAZARUS WAS DEAD! ... no more excuses now.
God's waiting to use your full potential.
PRAYER REQUESTS
1. For our members of the military, currently serving our country in
different parts of the world.
2. For Sherri Crum's housing situation.
3. Thanks be to God, for reconciling people who have been estranged.
4. That we might be presented with opportunities to bring the Gospel to
other blind people.
5. For Eugene Rossi, that he would be feeling better.
6. Thanks be to God, that Norma Jean Rossi is continuing to convalesce.