THE CENTERPIECE
May, 2005
  From The Editor
Since March 27th, 2005, we have been celebrating the Easter miracles of resurrection, redemption, forgiveness and grace.  We celebrated the Easter joy to which Lent took us by acknowledging the above miracles through Scripture, hymns and homiles.
  The Easter tribute which I would now like to offer is in the form of a hymn entitled, "How Amazing." Here, now, are the words to this musical tribute which is dirived from "Amazing Grace":
  "How Amazing."
  1.  God's amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved someone like me.  I once was lost, but now am found; my blinded eyes now see.  R.  How amazing is your love for me.  How amazing! O, what mystery! that your perfect love reached a sinner like me; how amazing your love, how amazing your mercy, how amazing your grace is to me.
  2.  It was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; O how precious was your grace to me the moment I believed.  R.  How amazing is your love for me; how amazing! O what mystery! that your perfect love reached a sinner like me: How amazing your love; how amazing your mercy; how amazing your grace is to me.
  3.  Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; your grace has brought me safely here, and it will surely lead me home.  When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun.  R.  How amazing your love; how amazing your mercy; how amazing your grace is to me.  (I learned the above hymn from Saint Paul's Monastery choir director Charles Wilson.) Remember that if you have a suggestion for this column, both Bob and I would love to hear from you.  You can reach Bob Mates by phoning him at 412-682-1800 or via e-mail at bluesbobatearthlinksionet.
  Since this is the last newsletter until September, 2005, I would like to break for the summer by saying how richly and abundantly blest with fun, friendship and safety I hope your summer will be.  Blessings,
  Terri Watson
  April's Meal
  Counting meal attendees other than Lutheran Center staff and volunteers from Abraxas, 26 people were present, including first-time attendee Sue Etters.  A Welcome Back is extended to Jim Musto who has not been to a Lutheran Center meal for some time.  People with April birthdays to whom Happy Birthday was sung were Karen Good and Bob Mates.  (Believe it or not, we sang so much better than usual that we could yet be offered that contract instead of a contract being put out on us.)
  In addition to thanking Center Director Bob Mates, Associate Director Sherri Crum, Pastor Spittel, the Pastor's family, Debra Terhune and volunteer helpers from Abraxas, an extra special thanks is also generously extended to Sherri Wippenbeck who provided the delicious cake that we all enjoyed for dessert.  To say more about the April meal, Bob Mates and Louise Chuha did an excellent job of co-presenting the devotion.  (This devotion, which was entitled, "Installing Love," also appeared in April's newsletter as Bob's devotion under CONTRIBUTOR's CORNER.)
  A final note about this well-presented devotion is that Jim Winaught also helped by holding the microphone for Bob and Louise and by guiding Louise.
COMING IN the FALL
by Bob Mates
Starting in September, we'll be bringing back three groups which, at one time, were very popular parts of the center.  They are the Dog Guide user Group, the LIFE group, and the weekly Bible study.
The Dog Guide Users group will discuss various issues of concern, to those of us who use dog guides.  We will have speakers, and will try to make this group one in which information is exchanged, and education is given.  It will probably meet on either Saturday afternoon, or a week night.
Our LIFE group (This is an acronym, standing for Living in Faith and Encouragement.) will focus on every aspect of blind folks' lives, and will endeavor to find answers to important questions from God's Word, the Bible.  We will meet on a week night; perhaps, Friday.  This will be your group, and will go in whatever direction you want.
The weekly Bible study will meet on a week-day afternoon.  While we will be studying a particular book, we will try to make each Bible study self-contained, so you won't fall behind.  One book, which we might study, is THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE, by Rick Warren.
If you have any suggestions for, or questions about, any of these groups, you can call the Center, at: (412) 682-1800, or email me at: bluesbob@earthlink.net.  I'd especially be interested in what day you'd like to have these groups, and the path you think these groups should take.
As I've said, throughout the years, this is your Center.  Your wish is our command.  We covet your prayers, and need your help, to mae these groups viable.  Express your opinions, and attend the group of your choice.  Together, we can make them work, and proclaim the gospel of Christ as well.  I'll be looking forward to hearing from you.  Thanks, and God bless.
A LITTLE HUMOR ...  VERY LITTLE
  by Bob Mates
We all know that, traditionally, dogs and cats just don't get along.  However, here, at the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind, or, at least, in THE CENTERPIECE, they get along just fine.  To prove it, we have two pieces for you this month: one, about aging dogs, and the other, co-written, or, so she says, by Kathy Susany, and her cat, B.J.  (Kathy's rest cure start Monday.) These two coluns have won the Dr.  Doolittle seal of approval.  In fact, the seal is sitting on my desk, balancing a ball on the end of his nose! I can think of no better way to finish this season of THE centerpiece than with these two pieces.  (Okay, maybe I could think of a better way, but, seeing as how we have these pieces, we'll use 'em.  Without further ado, let's get started!
BANNING the VACUUM SWEEPER
by Kathy Susany
   Well, hello there, I think, though I'm not sure.
Do you ever get the feeling that at times, everything is working against you?  Well, that's how I'm feeling now; at this point, I could take this BrailleNote and toss it down the trash chute.  Of course, if I did that, I'd be throwing away a valuable piece of equipment, not to mention the fact that I'd be wasting the State's money and my time.  Anyway, I had fully intended to write a normal In Sickness and in Health column; I was going to finish my four-part series on the blood.  However, fate intervened.  I was writing my article, and I made the big mistake of trying to edit it and correct my mistakes.  Oh, brother!  My aching head!  What a heinous error that decision turned out to be.  Rather than make things better, I messed things up royally!  That's the thanks I get for trying to fix things up; I never did finish the column because I was so mad and disgruntled.  I do not wish to kake a big supreme-court brief out of this thing, but you'll have to wait until next time, for the end of my Blood articles.  You see, I've recently purchased a gadget known as the BrailleNote, and it's a wonderful little computer, but when you do stuff wrong, it can really bite you back.  I found out the hard way that I need some more training, which I'll be getting soon.
   Ah-huh!  you cry with glee!  I'll be free of her boring dissertations for yet a while longer! Well, that's where you're wrong; you're not getting away scot-free; no, no, no!  There's no rest for the weary and wicked.  Actually I--and my cat--are going to write something that we were going to save until next time, but we'll do it this month instead.
   With our Director's encouragement and approval, we are proposing a resolution to ban all vacuum sweepers from the whole world for all time.  My cat, whose name, by the way, is Bobbijo, has told me what to say.  Actually, I'd let her write this resolution herself, but you wouldn't be able to undersand it because it would be in kitty-code.  So, I'll have to do the honors, then.  This is what B.J., Bobbijo, wishes me to communicate to all of you:
   Whereas, vacuum sweepers are nothing but big, gigantic monsters that attack kitties and hurt their ears; and
   whereas, vacuum sweepers are a constant and continuous source of noise pollution; and
   whereas, vacuum sweepers are no good for nothing except making a frightful din; and
   whereas, vacuum sweepers are scary contraptions that seem to suck you up out of nowhere; and
   whereas, all self-respecting kitty-cats hate vacuum sweepers with an intense passion; therefore,
   be it resolved that all vacuum sweepers shall, forever and all time be banned from the entire universe.
   I hereby appoint and nominate Lady Elaine Fairchild, curator of the Museum-go-round in Mr.  Roger's Neighborhood, to be in charge of collecting, rounding up, and destroying all existing vacuum sweepers.
   This is our platform, rah, rah, rah!  We intend to put this resolution before the legislatures of every state inthe Union, and before the U.S.  Senate and House of Representatives!  This is a very serious matter, and we wish your full co-operation.  Thank you very much.
   I'll see you next month--if my BrailleNote hasn't eaten me first.  Bye.
(NOTE: We hope to have Kathy with us next year, but, if we should go into her apartment, and see a very chubby BrailleNote, then we'll know that the worst has apparently happened.)
THE AGING DOG
by Bob Mates
 There are two things, about which I'm quite sure.  (Actually, there are three or four things, but, for the purposes of this column, I'll mention two.) One is that, for both humans and animals, the longer you live, the older you get.  Prety profound stuff, eh? The other thing is, that, if you use a dog guide, everyone, and I do mean everyone, has opinions, which they're only too hafpy to share, concerning the care and welfare of your dog.
Now, how do these two things tie together? Well, as someone, who's been using dogs for over thirty years, I have found that a great many folks are more than happy to tell you that your dog guide is aging.
Now, this is quite bothersome for many reasons.  For one thing, if your dog is getting up there in years, you sure don't need anyone to inform you that this is the case.  You're only too aware of it.  Even more bothersome, though, is the fact that this starts occurring, not when your dog is ten, but when it's around seven! Now, seven years is not particularly old for a dog, and it's not particularly young; it's middle age.  In this period, your dog's coat or muzzle may start to have white or grey in it, just as the hair of middle-aged people changes color.  The difference, however, is that, while you wouldn't go up to a stranger and say, "Boy! You're getting a bit grey! How old are you, anyway?", unless you didn't really value your teeth, that's exactly what people say to dog users! They'll say, "Your dog's all grey around his muzzle.  He's getting pretty old, huh?".
Now, when I first heard people say this to me, back in the days when I had my second dog, Neus, (My first dog, Norton, didn't live to be very old.), I used to get a bit testy and defensive.  After awhile, though, I decided that it was okay.  After all, I reasoned, not every dog lived to be old, so I might as well embrace the fact that mine was now an older pup.  I'd say, "You know, I knew I should have kept that appointment, to get his coat dyed!".
Well, now Max is seven, and I'm starting to hear the "getting old" stuff.  So, the question is, how do I handle it? Well, I've decided to follow the lead of our president, and make a "pre-emptive strike." (The difference between his and mine is that mine won't kill anyone, or lead us into war.) Now, when someone asks me a question about Maxy-wax, such as how long I've had him, I answer it, and then, I volunteer the information that he's almost seven.  This usually makes them say something like: "Oh, he still looks so young!", to which I answer: "Yeah, he still is, but, he's already joined the AARF, (American Association for Retired Fidos) and he's started looking at condos in Fort Lauderdale.".  There's nothing they can say to that, so they end the conversation quickly, and walk away, thinking "This guy's crazy as a bed-bug!".  We can discuss whether I am or not later.
To end this column, I'd like to give you the top ten signs that your dog guide is ready to retire.  I may have done this once before, but it's worth repeating.  Besides, it's my column! So, here they are.  Enjoy!
TOP TEN SIGNS THAT YOUR GUIDE DOG IS READY to RETIRE
  10.  starts receiving mail from AARF.  9.  has an un-controllable urge to listen to very old songs, like "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?" 8.  nods in agreement, when referred to as "old boy" or "old girl" 7.  is studying social security law.  6.  refers to him- or herself as a "notch dog".  5.  lies about its age.  4.  dyes its coat.  3.  keeps looking at its contract.  2.  pulls toward offices of realtors, specializing in retirement living.  1.  starts barking out the words to "Take This Job and Shove It!"
    DEVOTION
  by Bob Mates
  Bob never seems to tire of simmering steaming pots of spiritual chicken soup, as only he can, by cooking up educational and uplifting devotions.
  Because there's no doubt that God helped Bob develop, prepare and write yet another insightful and Bible-based devotion, let's turn, now, to Bob's educational and informative words of wisdom:
The Tug-of-will
by Bob Mates
Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  7:16 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 7:25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.  Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Have you ever played "tug-of-war"? We used to play it in gym class.  In this game, you have two teams of participants, each team consisting of the same number of players.  The teams hold onto a very stout rope.  The object of the game is for one team to pull the other team out of its territory.  Sometimes, one team may win, because its members are stronger than those on the other team.  Sometime, a member of one team may slip, causing the other team to gain the advantage.  Then, sometimes, the rope may break!
We, as believers, are also engaged in a tug-of-war.  One might say that it's a battle between God and Satan.  More simply put, it's a battle between our two desires: those of the spirit, (wanting to do God's will) and those of the flesh.  (wanting to do what feels good) It is a battle, unique to Christians.  The ungodly don't have to worry about this, because there is no conflict with them.  But we, precisely because we are Christians, sense an immediate tension between doing what is pleasing to God, and doing what would be pleasing to us.  Now, the two things are not, of course, always mutually exclusive, but, in terms of our daily conduct, they are often at logger-heads.
For instance, I'm in a public rest-room, and I find a role of money.  There's no ID, and there's no way to tell who the money belongs to.  What do I do? One part says, "Keep the money.", while the other part says, "Turn it in.".  One may wrestle with this!
Here's a trickier example; more subtle.  You meet a member of the opposite sex.  Now, there's no problem, in the sense that you know you're not going to act in an unseemly way.  And yet, a part of you may lust for that person, even thou you know that you're wrong to do so.
And that's what the Scriptures, at the beginning of this devotional are talking about.  We know what we should do.  We know what God wants us to do.  However, we find ourselves acting, or thinking, in exactly the opposite way.  Why?
Well, the answer is that, even though, as Christians, we are positionally perfect, no longer living in sin, we are, nevertheless, human, still posessed of a sinful nature.  We are, after all, sinners saved by grace.  What separates us from our unsaved brothers is nothing that we have done, but, rather, what God has done for so: i.e., the shedding of Jesus's blood, that our sins might be forgiven.
And, therein lies the good news for us.  True, we always seem to find ourselves acting and thinking in a way that is opposed to God's way.  But, we know that we have been delivered through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  In over-coming sin, death and the devil, He made it possible for us to cling to our position, as His heirs, no matter how badly we are pulled in to sin's snares.  We can say, with St.  Paul, "Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ!"
In the movie "Godfather III., Michael Corleone says, talking about the MAFIA, "Every time I try to get out, they keep pulling me back in again.".  He could have been talking about all of our lives.  Through Jesus, we do not have to stay in a sinful condition, because we have been rescued and redeemed.  How comforting it is to know that!
Amen.
  PERSONAL PROFILE--
  Although I am not profiling anyone this month, I will be interviewing people thout the summer so that I will have plenty of Profiles ready to go in the fall.  If you are willing to be profiled, please call our dedicated Director at 412-682-1800, or e-mail Bob Mates at bluesbobatearthlinksionet.
  BIBLE BITS
  The purpose of having Bible Bits each month is to increase your love of and walk with the Lord.
  Because we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension this month, my theme for this month is, "God ascends to His glorious throne." To develop this theme, I will be using the words to the Responsorial Psalm I sang at Church on Ascension Thursday:
  R.  God mounts His throne to shouts of joy, O sing your praises to the Lord.  1.  All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with cries of gladness.  for the Lord, the most high, the awesome, is the great King over all the earth.  R.  God mounts His throne to shouts of joy, O sing your praises to the Lord.
  2.  For King of all the earth is God, sing hymns of praise.  God reigns over the nations, God sits upon His holy throne.  R.  God mounts His throne to shouts of joy, O sing your praises to the Lord.
  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
  1.  Praising the Lord with joyful noise and shouts of joy is something we are told to do repeatedly throughout Scripture.  How often, though, do you take the time to praise the Lord (I know that I don't take nearly as much time as I should).
  2.  Just as individuals can praise the Lord, so, too, can nations behave in ways which show that they want to walk in the ways of the Lord.  Do you feel that our nation walks in the ways of the Lord? Why or why not, and what can we do to more actively seek God and more effectively walk in His ways?
  3.  As I think about God mounting his throne to shouts of joy, I think of the angels (the cherubim and seraphim) joyfully welcoming the ascending Savior? How do you think, though, that the disciples might have felt as they stared into the clouds, their eyes following their Master, Teacher, and Lord? Trying to put yourself in the place of Jesus' disciples, how do you think you would have felt witnessing the ascension?
  4.  Jesus tells us in the Gospels that he "will not leave us orphans" because he is going to prepare a place for us.  Do you think Jesus' disciples believed this? Do you think they derived any comfort from Christ's words? How do these Scriptural references touch your heart and soul? if you have a theme on which you would like me to center and develop a future Bible Bits, Bob and I would be delighted to hear from you.  Share any ideas you might have for this column by calling Bob at 412-682-1800 or by e-mailing him at bluesbobatearthlinksionet.
  LOOKING AHEAD
  May's meal, which will be hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, and other picnic-style foods, will take place on Saturday the 21st.  There will be a Bible study from 4 to 5 PM; the meal will go from 5 to 6:30 and the Vespers service will be held from 6:30 to 7 PM.
  To attend this meal, reserve with Bob Mates no later than 4 PM on Thursday the 19th by calling him at 412-682-1800.  Remember that if you must cancel your reservation to attend a monthly meal, you must do so no later than 2:00 PM on the day of the meal.  Also remember that you are under no obligation to give a free will offering when one is taken up at meals, but if you do give whtever you feel you can afford, your donation will be very much appreciated.
  A final note about monthly meals is that a meal also takes place at the Lutheran Center East in Swissvale.  If you would like to attend meals there, or would like more information about that outreach ministry, call our wonderful director at 412-682-1800.  (Also for more information about the Lutheran Center East, see PERSONAL PROFILES in April's newsletter in which Louise Chuha briefly outlined the Swissvale facility's mission and ministry.)
  PRAYER REQUESTS
  As you prepare to lift up the following joys and concerns to the Lord, know that you were formed, fashioned, minted and mined in God's unconditional and everlasting love.
  Also as you ponder the petitions, prayers and intentions listed below, say, first, whatever prayer or prayers would best guide you to a prayerful state of mind.
1.  Thank You, Lord, for Jim Musto's new job at Steak and Shake.
2.  May God's blessings be on Gene Rossi's Aunt Virginia who is 86 years old, which heart is functioning at only 40 percent capacity, and whose kidneys are failing.
3.  May God guide to the right employment opportunities persons from Pittsburgh Vision Services who lost their jobs due to PVS moving to Homestead.
  4.  For Christ's presence with the Pittsburgh Vision Services employees who will be transferring to their Homestead facility.
5.  Thanks be to God for Bob Mates, Sherri Crum, Pastor Spittel, the pastor's family, and all who make the work of the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the blind possible.
  6.  Blest and Happy Birthdays to all meal attendees and volunteers with May birthdays, including CENTERPIECE reader Dee Wilson and meal attendee Rege Sullivan.
  7.  For positive outcomes for the Saint Paul Monastery choir director, Charles Wilson, as he prepares to perform many organ recitals.
  8.  Congratulations to any meal attendee who has achieved a significant accomplishment in May, and praise the Lord for the works and the gifts that make all of our accomplishments possible.
  9.  May the Lord's love and the Holy Spirit's healing be with one of our servicemen in Iraq who was recently shot in the head, and may Chri's comfort and compassion be with his family as they cope with this horrible crisis.
  10.  May the Savior's soothing presence be with Dee Wilson as she deals with some stressors.
  11.  For a meal attendee  whose mother is in Mercy Hospital with cancer and not doing well.
  12.  For Millette Reid who became very ill at the April meal: Thanks be to God for the people who helped her in a way that mirrored Christ's compassion.
  13.  For a friend of Angela's who is continuing to undergo chemotherapy and is still in a lot of pain with her cancer.
  14.  For Linda Davis's mother who was in the hospital at the time of the meal but who has since died: May she rest in peace with the angels in paradise.
  15.  For a strengthening in faith to all who have lost their faith in God or whose faith in our loving Creator is in need of being boosted.  16.  For God's healing touch to be upon the husband of one of Terri Watson's friends.
  17.  That God will grant Jim Winaught an accurate diagnosis of his shoulder pain and bless him with healing.
  18.  prayer by Mary Stuart Keep me, O God, from pettiness.  Let us be large in thought, word, and deed.  let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking.  May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face without self-pity and without prejudice.  May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous.  Let us take time for all things.  Make us grow calm, serene, and gentle.  Teach us to put into action our better impulses and make us straightforward and unafraid.  Grant that we may realize that it is the little things in life that crate differences, that in the big things we are all one.  And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind.  Amen.