THE CENTERPIECE
April, 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 NOTE: As many of you know, your humble director was absent
from his duties, to a great extent, during the month of March, and the first
half of April. This absence was due to the fact that I had to undergo
hernia surgery, which I did, on March 23.
I write this for two reasons. First, I want to extend my deepest thanks
and appreciation, for all of the voice-mail and E-mail messages of support and
prayer. You'll never know how much they meant to me, and how much they
helped to speed my recovery. From the bottom of my heart, thanks; I love
you all!
The second thing is this: because we had to do the brailling of the March
newsletter in a different way, it seems to have gotten a bit chopped up!
Therefore, for our Braille readers, we're reprinting it, along with the April
issue, so that you may read it, the way it was intended to be read! We apologize
for the Braille of the last issue, and hope, by this means, to make it right.
Thank you.
FROM THE EDITOR
I so love praising God through song that I consider singing to be prayer
prayed twice. Along those lines, I'd like to focus my column this month on
two songs, the first of which focuses on Christ's passion, death and
crucifixion; the second of which focuses on the resurrection that gave birth to
Easter joy:
LAMB OF GOD
by Twila Paris
1. Your only Son no sin to hide,
But you have sent Him from your side
to walk upon this guilty sod,
And to become the Lamb of God.
2. Your gift of love they crucified:
They laughed and mocked him as he died;
The humble King they named a fraud
and sacrificed the Lamb of God.
REFRAIN O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God! I love the
holy Lamb of God. O wash me in his precious blood, my Jesus Christ the
Lamb of God.
3. I was so lost I should have died,
But you have brought me to your side,
To be led by your staff and rod
till I am just a lamb of God.
REFRAIN O Lamb of God, sweet lamb of God! I love the
holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood ... till I am just a lamb of God.
Never since I began singing in the Saint Paul Monastery choir have I
learned a song that more poignantly and beautifully expresses the divine
sacrifice that transformed us from human beings shrouded in sin into an Easter
people destined to sing: "Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia!"
1. Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss! Alleluia!
May the living waters of Easter cleanse you and the hope of Christ's
resurrection renew you.
Blessings,
Terri Watson
MARCH's MEAL
Although only twelve people attended March's meal which was held on
Saturday the 27th, all who did thoroughly enjoyed the Italian-style pie known as
"Debra's
Delight." (While those of us who missed this excellent food and uplifting
fellowship because we were at Camp Kon-o-Kwee totally enjoyed that weekend BOLD
outing, this editor sure wishes she could have been at two places at once
(through bilocation, of course, not the C word)!)
In addition to the food and fellowship already mentioned, there were also
prayer requests and the vespers service which Pastor Spittel always leads so
movingly.
Happy Birthday to meal attendees who celebrated March birthdays; thank-yous
to all of the dedicated, hard-working volunteers without whom these meals would
not be possible, and a special GREAT JOB! to Sherri Crum who coordinated the
meal while Bob Mates was recovering from very painful hernia surgery were also
highlights of March's meal.
CONTRIBUTOR's CORNER
(NOTE: The following is a response, by Ayn Apelman, to Bob Mates's
column, in the February CENTERPIECE, "Who Really Done It?".
FEEDBACK CORNER
By Ayn Apelman
I received the CENTERPIECE and read it with mucho gusto! I would like to comment
on your devotional on Mel Gibson's movie. I'm saying this from my little
Jewish heart now.
When I first read the question of who killed Christ, I answered "D."
You don't have to be a master-mind or Bible scholar to figure out why. If
there's anyone worth blaming, it was Jesus Himself. Ask Mel Gibson in his
interview with READER's DIGEST! God was so passionately in love with the human
race that He became a man, and that the purpose of His sacrifice was to
"expiate the transgressions of all mankind." Jesus became the
"scapegoat, the whipping boy so we could have that second chance."
He could've come down from the cross if He wanted to. He could've saved
himself; he even said so. The point is: He didn't. And that's
a good thing. 'Cause here we are to tell and retell the story-no matter
what the medium.
I was talking to an Access driver who saw the movie-just to see whether or not
he thought it was anti-Semitic. Knowing I was Jewish, he started
discussing it with me. He said, "Absolutely not."
"Mel Gibson was telling it the way it was. It was something that had
to happen. Those who are discrediting him and his film are jealous because
he put up his own money to produce it. They're mad because they're not
getting any kickback."
My personal comment is as follows: I think the Lord is using Mr.
Gibson in a very remarkable way! He's a man with a mission. If this movie
makes people think of the spiritual vacuum they're in and reflect on their
eternal destiny, or it reinforces what they already believe in, then, it's a
good thing. Naturally, it will make some people uncomfortable.
Any time someone tells the truth, there's bound to be controversy. People
will either believe or disbelieve; they have a choice. God gave man a free
will; he has the right to say "no." But, look out! When he dies
and stands before his Maker, he's going to feel even more uncomfortable!
In regard to anti-Semitism, there's a need to be cautious but not to panic.
People will find any excuse to foment anti-semitism, racism, or any other form
of persecution; that's human nature. Anti-Semitism is nothing new.
There was anti-Semitism before the movie. There will be anti-Semitism
after it. As Christians, we should not tolerate it! After all, Jews are
our brothers (and sisters). Jesus was a Jew. The early Christians
were Jews. God made a covenant with Abraham, saying that "through his
seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed." Anyone who hates
Jews is in deep trouble with the Lord! So, why not love one another the way
Christ taught us despite our differences? Eh?
As far as Mel Gibson's father is concerned, well, he sure has a lot of chutzpah
(nerve)! It hurts. Anything that hurts my people hurts me. I stay
away from Holocaust films or seminars; it upsets me. As a Christian, I
share the guilt that Christians mistreated Jews down through the centuries and
didn't do enough to help them during the war. As a Jew, I am grateful that
I was born soon after the war, or I would've been one of those six million
victims.
I don't care if Hutton Gibson feels that way; that's his opinion. Bug, for
God's sake, "stick your foot in your mouth!" People have feelings!
Don't hurt them any more than they already are. Besides, how can you
equate the Holocaust with Christ's suffering. He suffered more than anyone
can ever imagine. It was like the Diaspora, Crusades, Spanish Inquisition,
Blood Libels, Pogroms, and Holocaust-magnified 100 times! Jews went to the gas
chambers against their will. Christ willingly went to the cross for
Jews, Gentiles, Muslims-all humanity. Amen/shalom.
Every CENTERPIECE reader knows how insightful and inspirational Bob Mates'
monthly devotions are. Add to that the extra time Bob has had while
recovering to think, pray, write and reflect and I'm sure that this month's
devotion will be extra good. With that in mind, let's read and reflect on
brilliant Bob Mates's awesome April devotion:
True Or False?
by Bob Mates
13: But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14:
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also
vain. 15: Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have
testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that
the dead rise not. 16: For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ
raised: 17: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your
sins. 18: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable. 20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians, 15.13:20, KJV.)
The resurrection of Jesus is the cement, which holds our faith together.
No matter what else He did, it is His resurrection which makes everything work.
While His shed blood offered us forgiveness, it is His resurrection, which give
us eternal life. It was His resurrection, which gave us victory over sin,
death and the devil.
Therefore, it should be no surprise that, when the enemies of God seek to
discredit Jesus, one of the first things they do is attack the resurrection.
They say that, aside from the fact that the resurrection has no scientific
basis, it's nothing more than a story, cooked up by Jesus's followers, to help
in the spreading of the new sect.
As to the first statement, it is true, that the resurrection can't be easily
explained away, but neither can many other phenomena, which are accepted as
fact. For instance, no one really knows what makes gravity work.
Yet, it does. (To prove the existence of gravity, let a very heavy jar
fall toward your foot.) No one can explain why a tornado may cause severe damage
on one side of a street, while the other side is completely spared. Yet,
these things are accepted. The resurrection was a supernatural event.
It was a one-time occurrence. To believe that it happened, one must
believe in the God who made it happen.
And yet, there's something else here. I believe that that the resurrection
of Jesus was an event, taking place at a particular time in history. It is
an event which can be proved to have happened.
First, let me state that, after His resurrection, Jesus was seen by a lot of
people. The first person, to actually talk to him, was Mary Magdalene.
Now, I suppose that, if Jesus had really wanted to prove His resurrection, He
could have gone to Pilate's house, knocked on the door, and said, "Hi,
there! Remember me?". However, that was not what He wanted to do.
He wanted to let those who loved Him know that He was risen, and because of
that, they could now have His peace, and His power to spread the gospel, no
matter what they might face. Therefore, He appeared to Mary, Peter, (who
better than Peter, who had denied Him three times, received forgiveness, and
went on to preach the Pentecostal sermon), and John, the disciple whom Jesus
loved.
But, that wasn't enough! He then showed himself to at least five hundred other
people! These were not "big shots." They were just His
followers--folks like you and me. Twenty or thirty years later, most of
these folks were still living. What does that mean? Well, it means that,
had we been around back then, we could have walked up to old Hymie, and said,
"Hymie, tell me about when you saw the risen Lord." And he would have
done it! Imagine, telling that story to your grandchild!
But, there's even more! If the resurrection was a lie, the story would have
changed, from person to person, and from telling to telling. That's often
what happens with folk tales; they change and evolve into something very
different from the original. Not so with the resurrection! The details
have stayed the same, for two thousand years.
It should also be pointed out, that people are not willing to die for a lie, or
for a cult leader. People were subject, in those days, to whippings,
crucifixion, and death in the jaws of the lions, just because they believed in
Jesus. If the story wasn't true, this kind of belief could never have been
sustained, because, eventually, the lie would have been discover.
Now, at the beginning of this piece, I said that the resurrection is the cement
which holds our faith together. If there was no resurrection, everything
else is wasted.
But, there was a resurrection. Jesus did rise from the dead. He did
show Himself to a lot of people, and then, he did ascend to His father.
And, we do have eternal life We will live with Him in Glory!
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
Hallelujah!
Amen.
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
by Kathy Susany
In her column, Kath always does a consistently creative job of combining the
academics of science with the spirituality of her faith.
This month, and for the next two months, Kathy will be using her skills
and insights to tell us about the makeup of and problems that can occur with our
blood--fitting considering this being a time for us to praise God for our
salvation through the shedding of Christ's blood. Without further ado,
then, let's read "In Sickness and in Health."
In Sickness and in Health
Our Living River
By Kathy Susany
Well, spring is here-I hope-and, as Purkey Puppet wrote in a very old
Jack and Jill magazine: Spring spring Beautiful spring All the birds are on the
wing. My My How absurd; I thought the wings were on the bird. Ha ha
ha. I wish I had made that up, but, alas, I can not take credit for that.
Anyway, thank God, the weather has begun to warm up, and I like it just fine.
This article begins a three-part series of columns on our blood. I hope
this discussion will be both enjoyable and informative. And now, let's get
on with the main event.
Our Living River
One of the things that makes Pittsburgh the great place that it is is our
three rivers. Our three majestic rivers-the Allegheny, monongahela, and
the Ohio, give life to, and support, this wonderful city. Actually,
geologically speaking, our rivers should be called streams, at least, according
to my former Earth Science professor. I suppose, therefore, that our
former sports facility should, therefore, have been called Three-Stream Stadium.
Be that as it may, our rivers-or streams-are an important economic and social
aspect of Pittsburgh. Without them, life in this metropolis would have a
hard time existing.
Well, we have a living river-correction, a stream-within our bodies.
It's called the blood stream, and it is just as essential for our survival as
our three rivers are to Pittsburgh's functioning, perhaps even more so.
Without our blood, we literally could not live. It is so essential to life
that we go to great pains to prevent its loss. We often think of blood
being synonymous with life, as in the expression "life-blood".
We refer to people of royalty as "blue-bloods". Such expressions
demonstrate the importance of blood in our life and culture. There are
actually quite a few similarities between a river and our blood stream. A
river flows within its channel, or banks; our bloodstream flows, or circulates,
within our vascular system. A river carries dissolved and suspended
substances in its water; likewise, the blood also carries dissolved and
suspended substances in its fluid.
There are, however, some differences between our bloodstream and a river.
Our blood is like a living river, or stream, if you will. It does, indeed,
have non-living chemicals dissolved in it, but it also has living cells
suspended in it rather than rocks or soil. Besides its liquid component,
blood has red cells, and white cells, and cell fragments called platelets
suspended in the liquid.
Just what is this living stuff called blood that flows within us? Blood
is rather a sticky, red substance somewhat thicker than water. Though it
is viscous, it does flow, or run, pretty easily. It has a distinctive,
metallic taste and a very noticeable odor. It is propelled through our
circulatory system by the heart. I will go into blood circulation more
deeply in a future article. Actually, blood is not all red; its fluid part
is yellowish, or straw-colored. This liquid portion is known as plasma.
Just what's in plasma anyway? Well, a large percentage of it is water,
but there's other stuff in it as well. Plasma contains substances such as
sugar, salts, vitamins, minerals, and hormones. Besides these chemicals,
plasma has three broad varieties of proteins: albumin, globulins, and
fibrinogen. Albumin is important for the maintenance of fluid balance; it
keeps blood within the vascular system. Fluid balance is for another of my
future columns. Fibrinogen is involved in the blood-clotting, or
coagulation, process which will be discussed in either Part Two or Part Three of
this series; I haven't quite decided yet. Globulins perform a host of
functions, one of which is to transport such substances as hormones and
minerals. One kind of globulin with which you may be familiar is referred
to as gamma-globulin. Actually, it should be gamma-globulins.
Gamma-globulins are also known as immunoglobulins, or antibodies. Oh, oh,
here we go with immunity again. Recall th!
at I discussed antibodies in my series on the immune system, and I will
elaborate on them even further in my next article. Immunoglobulins can
provide passive immunity for someone who has been exposed to a particular
antigen, but who has not been immunized against that antigen. Recall that
antigens are like "name badges" on cell membranes; they are
counteracted by specific antibodies against them.
Well, I think I'll end my discourse at this point and pick it up again in
the next column. Next time, I will write about the cellular aspects of
blood: red cells, white cells, and platelets, and probably, blood clotting as
well.
Keep enjoying this marvelous springtime; I sincerely hope your Easter was
a happy, healthy, and holy one. Speaking of blood, remember: Christ shed
his blood for us and rose from the dead ensuring our salvation. See you
next time.
A LITTLE HUMOR ... VERY LITTLE
by Bob Mates
It has often been said that laughter is the best medicine. How
privileged we are, then, to be treated monthly to the Director's doses of
"Lots of Laughter ... definitely lots." With Bob's help, let's
now look, listen and laugh.
With everyone being so health conscious these days, it seemed only fitting that
I should write a set of lyrics, commenting on this stuff. So, that's what
I did. It is called "The Health Food Boogie". It's a
catchy little thing, guaranteed to make you a hit with every "nutri-terrorist."
(Well, it'll either make you a hit with them, or make them want to hit you.)
Well, whichever the case, here's "The Health Food Boogie."
I was sittin' in a place, eatin' burgers and fries,
When a chick walked up to me, and said, "Hey, man, get wise!
That stuff's got lots of "bad" cholesterol, and such;
If you eat a lot of it, you're gonna get in dutch.".
She did the Health Food Boogie;
Did it loud and long.
Well, I listened so politely, till the chick was through,
And then, I said, "Now, lady, this I say to you:
We live here in America, the land of the free.
I ain't a-botherin' you, so don't you bother me!
Do your Health Food boogie, but don't make me hear your song.".
Now, I really don't care, if the health food's your beat,
But, don't come around, puttin' down the food that I eat.
You can be a vegeararian, if you think it's great;
But, I'll eat my steak and roast beef, and I won't hesitate.
Do your Health Food Boogie;
But don't make me tag along!
I gave the chick my hand, and said "There's no more to say.
Please, don't go away angry, dear; just go away!
You can eat wheat germ and vegetables; with me that's okay.
But I'm gonna eat my french fries now, so have a nice day."
You did your Health food Boogie;
Now, I say to you, "So long.".
And now, two observations, from Ceinwen King-smith: Do you realize that,
if everyone owned a pink automobile, we'd be a pink car nation! (carnation) Do
you realize that, if everyone owned a horse, the economy would become stable-ized!
Thanks, Ceinwen, and thanks to Kathy Susany, who brought those two nuggets to my
attention.
Do you have a contribution to make to CENTERPIECE? Whether your submission is a
joke, (clean, of course), a prayer, a poem or an article, this editor would love
to hear from you, so please feel free to call 412-683-9935 with any upcoming
newsletter contributions.
PERSONAL PROFILES
How long, since it opened in March of 1999, have you been attending the
Lutheran Center's monthly meals? When you think about reaching out to others and
touching them with the love of Jesus, how has the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for
the Blind helped you do that?
To share this and much more information about yourself with fellow meal
attendees, call Terri Watson at 412-683-9935.
LOOKING AHEAD
April's meal, which will be a marvelously made meat loaf dinner, will
take place on Saturday the 24th from 5 to 7 PM. (As always, dinner will be
preceded by a Bible study which Bob Mates will skillfully lead.) To sign
up for some delicious delights and faith-filled fellowship, call Bob Mates no
later than 4 PM on Thursday the 22nd at 412-682-1800.
PRAYER REQUESTS
1. Thanks be to God for Bob Mates' successful recovery from hernia
surgery he had on March 23rd.
2. Thank you, also, dear Lord Jesus for Charity Houser's recovery
from the removal of her colon and Jane Royal's complete recovery from two
cataract surgeries in February.
3. Dear heavenly Father, may your mercy be upon my niece and her
two months premature son as they deal not only with the challenges of premature
birth but also with the rejection of the baby's father.
4. We lift up to you, Lord, Cathy Weber's petitions for her
sisters, Dee and Pat and for her friend, Mary Berlin: We pray for their general
well-being and also for divine intervention with health problems.
5. We pray for the continued success of the Pittsburgh Lutheran
Center for the Blind: Watch over it, Lord, and guide it as the Center's
dedicated director continues to reach out to the blind community of Pittsburgh,
feeling our needs and touching us with the love of Jesus.
6. To God our faithful Father, to God our saving Son, and to God
our helpful Holy Spirit: John was exiled to Patmos for teaching and
preaching in your most holy name, and Peter endured a martyr's death for his
bold proclamations and ministries. When we are tempted to lose our way,
our walk and our faith, give us the courage of John and the bravery of Peter
that we may ever be a people of light and life who always thirst for the milk of
our Savior's salvation. Amen. (This prayer goes out especially to
everyone who became new creations clothed in Christ through baptism this Easter
season.)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1. Bob Mates.
2. Mike O'Connor
3. Cindy Perseo
4. Kathy Susany