THE CENTERPIECE
April, 2006
 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, that they may reach out and
touch others with the love of Jesus.

THE CENTERPIECE is available in Braille, large print, and on
cassette tape.  You may also read it online, at our web site:
www.plcb.net.

Terri Winaught, Editor

THE CENTERPIECE,
  April, 2006
  FROM THE EDITOR
  When I think of Christ's loving sacrifice which made Easter
possible, I also think of words like hope, renewal and rebirth. 
To capture that sense of new and better beginnings, I have chosen
to share the following story from heartwarmersddcom:
  EASTER MEMORIES by Laurel Jean
  Throughout my life, I have heard many profound interpretations
of the Easter story in drama, in song, in written form, and in
the words of great speakers.
  However, my personal experience was the most profound.  It was
when God taught me to have patience and to trust Him, with the
help of loving people and, of course, His gentle creatures.
  I was seven years old and recovering from the chicken pox.  My
maternal grandfather (mom's dad) was a patient in the cancer ward
of Decatur Memorial Hospital.  Grandma was dividing her time,
helping to care for me and visiting her husband.  Mom was working
full time, along with helping to care for me and visiting her
dad.
  That Easter Sunday morning found the three of us -- mom,
grandma, and me -- in the car traveling to the hospital.  I was
very sad, because I was not yet well enough to be allowed to see
my grandpa, the hero of my childhood.
For as long as I had known him, he had been severely crippled by
rheumatoid arthritis, confined to a chair and at this point,
completely bedridden.  He was slowly dying from cancer of the
esophagus.  Grandpa had learned Braille so he could help me learn
to read.  He taught me the basics of everything from music to
life in general, and told me countless stories, reading aloud
from titles that ranged from "The Holy Bible" to "The Adventures
Of Alice In Wonderland".
I couldn't imagine not being with this special man on Easter
Sunday.  But, the rules had to be kept and I would have to sit in
the downstairs lobby while grandma and mom took turns visiting
grandpa and sitting with me.
  As the three of us crossed the hospital parking lot, mom and
grandma noticed a little wren which had apparently been hit by a
car.  The bird was still alive, though unconscious.  Mom lifted
the wren from the ground and handed it to me, instructing me to
cradle it in my hands until we could find a paper cup, punch an
air hole in the lid, and give the little bird a place to try to
revive.
  In the lobby waiting room, mom and I sat holding the sleeping
bird in its container while grandma visited grandpa.  Then, mom
took her turn while grandma sat with me.
  As grandma and I were sitting there, who should happen through,
but the Easter Bunny!
  He had been to the children's ward and was accompanied by a
very sweet African-American lady who said to my grandmother, "Oh!
Let this little girl see the Easter Bunny!"
A very tall, very discerning bunny knelt in front of me as I
stood, allowing me to touch his furry ears, nose, and whiskers. 
When I reached his hand, I found a small sack of candy, which he
gave to me.  I gave him a hug, and before they left, the lady
gave me a dollar and wished me a Happy Easter.
  Mom returned shortly thereafter, and we walked outside.  The
little wren had begun to move around in the paper container, and
as we gingerly lifted the lid, the bird flew away with a renewed
sense of purpose.
This took place just one month prior to my grandfather's death,
and continues to be a treasured memory.
  I hold very dear the mother and grandmother who respected life
down to the smallest of beings, the grandfather who put aside his
own pain and suffering in order to make my life better, and the
grownups (Bunny included) who put aside issues of "disability"
and "skin color" so that I -- a little girl -- could be reminded
that God loved me.
  --
If you have a submission or an idea for a future column, please
feel free to call Bob Mates at 412-682-1800 or e-mail Bob at
bluesbob at earthlinkddnet.  May the peace and love of the risen
Christ bless you with a Happy and spirit-filled Easter.
Terri Winaught,
Editor
next
  MARCH's MEAL
Everyone who attended March's meal of chicken, fish, onion rings
and cole slaw on Saturday the 25th thoroughly enjoyed both the
food and the fellowship.
After the meal, Bob did an excellent job delivering a timely
devotion and an equally great job lifting joys and concerns in
prayer.  As it always is, this evening of food and fellowship was
concluded with Pastor Spittel leading a Vespers service.
April's meal, at which chicken and pasta will be served, will be
from 5 to 7 PM on Saturday the 29th.  To attend this meal,
reserve with Bob Mates no later than 6 PM Thursday the 27th by
calling 412-682-1800.  A Bible study will precede the meal from 4
to 5 PM.
  next
CONTRIBUTOR's CORNER IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH by Kathy Susany
Although many of us have been blind since birth, I know that some
of you have lost--or are continuing to lose sight gradually. 
What makes the eye see, what can cause blindness and what some
diseases of the eye are are just some of the topics that Kath
will excellently discuss.  So, without further ado, let's hear
and read Kathy Susany's insights in, "In Sickness and In Health."

In Sickness and in Health
The Eyes Have It
by Kathy Susany
Have you ever wondered: how do your eyes see? What is a cataract,
and how does it affect your vision? What is macular degeneration?
These and other questions will, hopefully, be answered in this
column.
In our culture, the eyes really do seem to "have it." There are
sayings such as: "Seeing is believing", and: "You are the apple
of my eye." It's not: "Hearing is believing", or: "You are the
apple of my ear." We use sight as our "supreme-court" sense, so
to speak; in other words, we must look at something even those
we've already touched it--to get it out of a pocket, for
instance.  It may even be thought that the word
eye--comence-y-e-- is similar to the word aye--a-y-e--which means
"yes."  (as in: "The ayes have it.") Does that sound familiar?
Yes, Ma-a-more, it's like the title of this article.  At any
rate, we value sight as an all-important sense.  We also talk
about: "Christ as our light", and about how Satan was cast out
into the darkness.  God has given us a marvelously intricate and
ingenious optical system.
Structurally, the eye may be somewhat likened to a ping-pong ball
whose front part contains, among other things, a watery fluid and
whose back part is "stuffed" with a jelly-like fluid.  Actually,
a real cow's eye--outer coverings and all--, fresh out of the
fridge, somewhat reminds me of a head of cabbage.  I know this
because I've participated in the dissection of a cow's eye during
a course I've previously taken.  Of course, a real eye doesn't
have leaves as does a head of cabbage; it just somewhat feels
like one.
Functionally, the eye works very much like a sophisticated camera
system with a "cable" connecting it to the brain.  The brain
processes and interprets what one sees.  There absolutely must be
light for there to be sight.  Yes, it is true that people, and
animals such as cats, are able to see in very dim light, but, the
point is, there is a source of light nonetheless.  When one looks
at an object, light  is reflected to the eye from that object; it
strikes the colored part of the eye, known as the iris. 
Actually, the eye has an outer "window" called the cornea, onto 
which the light is first reflected.  Like a camera, the eye has
an opening (called and pupil) through which the light passes. 
Also, like a camera, the pupil can get bigger or smaller.  In
bright light, the pupil constricts, or gets smaller whereas in
dim light, the pupil dilates, or becomes larger.
It takes some time for these pupillary size adjustments to occur,
which is why it may seem unusually dark when going from a
brightly-lighted place into a darker environment and visa versa. 
The light then encounters the lens--a disk-shaped object-- which
focuses the light through the jelly-like fluid (called the
vitreous) and onto a structure known as the retina.  By the way,
the lens of a cow's eye feels to me like a hind-plastic disk;
actually, it is made of protein and other substances.  The retina
is composed of different varieties of nerve cells, also known as
photoreceptor cells; hence, they receive light.  These nerve
cells come in two forms: rods and cones; the rods help you see in
dim light whereas the cones are essential for color and central
vision.  (Incidentally the term retina means network.) It is
rather analogous to the film in a camera; the visual image is
focussed on, and "developed" in,   the retina.  From there, the
image travels via the optic nerve--a kind of cable system--to the
brain, which processes and interprets what you see.  So much for
how the eye functions.
What can go wrong with the eye? It is not my intent here to
mention everything that can happen, just the more common eye
problems.  Let's go from the outside inward.
The cornea, which is usually clear, or transparent, may become
opacified, or "milky", thus not allowing light to penetrate it. 
This may happen as a result of accident or injury.  The only cure
for a cloudy cornea is to get a corneal transplant.  The cornea
may also become "cone-shaped", thus not allowing light to be
focussed through it correctly.  This problem may be corrected
through the use of glasses or contact lenses, or by means of
surgery.
As I mentioned before, the front--anterior--part of the eye
contains a watery--aqueous--fluid which circulates under some
pressure.  If the fluid pressure goes above a certain level, the
disorder which results is called glaucoma.  Glaucoma is the
"sneak-thief" of sight; one may have no symptoms of it until it's
too late.  This is why it is important, especially for the
elderly, to get your eye pressure checked often.  Whatever vision
which has been lost through glaucoma cannot be reversed, but
further sight impairment, and thus glaucoma's progression, may be
halted if it is detected early.  Glaucoma may be treated by drugs
or, sometimes, surgery.  There is a drainage system through which
the aqueous fluid goes; surgery may enhance that drainage
mesh-work.
Now let's fucus our attention on what can happen to the
lens--ha-ha-ha!  Normally the lens can change in shape in
response to whether or not we are viewing something close-up or
from a distance.  This ability is known as accommodation.  As we
age, the lens loses some of its elasticity, therefore, we are
unable to accommodate for far or close-up vision as well.  This
condition is called presbyopia, which, literally, means "old
eye." The way to compensate for this lack of accommodation is to
use reading glasses.  The other major problem that can happen
with the lens is a cataract, which has to do with a "waterfall". 
A cataract is a clouding of the lens; it's a bit like a "fogged
up" window; indeed, I have had a cataract, and my vision was as
if I were looking through a waterfall, or a fogged-up windshield. 
As the cataract got worse, my sight got blurrier and blurrier,
and I had trouble seeing in a dark environment.  I was told that,
on a scale as 1 to 10, my cataract--at its worse--was a 9.  I had
cataract surgery in which the cloudy lens was liquefied through
the use of ultrasound, and the liquefied material was sucked out
of the eye.  Such surgery is much more comfortable the less
debilitating than it was years ago; I would recommend it to
anyone who may benefit from it.  It was not a difficult
experience at all.
Then, there are the retinopathies, (diseased retina) such as
diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.  Diabetic
retinopathy results when excess systemic glucose causes the
retinal blood vessels to become fragile and, thus, bleed easily;
the same kind of vascular fragility and bleeding can happen in
retinopathy of prematurity, but the cause is different. 
Prematurity plus excess systemic oxygen brings it about.  Note
that the retinal tissue itself is very delicate and fragile,
almost like wallpaper on a wall.  It is held in place mainly by
the vitreous--jelly-like--fluid lining the eye.  Any excess
pulling on the vitreous may cause retinal detachment, which can
be a serious matter; it requires immediate attention by an eye
doctor.  If you frequently "see star", get in touch with an
ophthalmologist as soon as possible.  As far as diabetic
retinopathy is concerned, surgery can delay, or retard, the
development of blindness--if such retinopathy is detected early. 
Surgery involves the removal of bloody vitreous fluid and
replacing it with a salt-water solution.
Finally, I will discuss macular degeneration.  First, just what
is the macula, anyway? It is the spot, or area, of the retina
most involved with central and fine-detail vision; the word
macula, in fact, means spot.  When it degenerates, such central
and fine-detail vision is lost.  Macular degeneration in which
the macular blood vessels bleed is called the "wet" form, and is
more serious than is "dry" macular degeneration, which is not
accompanied by bleeding.  I don't believe that there is a cure
for macular degeneration, but, as with so many other conditions,
if it is detected early, there might be some therapies, such as
taking vitamins, that may help.
Well, I guess that's about it as far as optical disorders are
concerned--unless you want more detailed information about any of
them.  If so, let either dedicated Director BOB, or
tremendously-talented Terri, our editor know, and I will try my
best to answer whatever questions you may have.  You can call Bob
at 412-682-1800, or you can get in touch with Terri at
412-758-5612.  Next time, I will discuss the eye exam, eye-care
specialists, and strategies for coping with low-vision, or visual
loss.  See you soon.
 next
A LITTLE HUMOR ...  VERY LITTLE by Bob Mates.
  Being as joyful with jokes and as plentiful with puns as he is,
Bob gets hands down when it comes to this great column, so let's
open our ears and be prepared to laugh as we read what I call, "A
lot of humor ...  quite a lot!"
All too rarely, airline attendants make an effort to make the in
flight "safety lecture" and announcements a bit more
entertaining.  Here are some real examples that have been heard
or reported:
 1.  On a Southwest flight (SW has no assigned seating, you just
sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time
choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people
we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"
 2.  On a Continental Flight with a very "senior" flight
attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've
reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin
lights.  This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance
of your flight attendants."
 3.  On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all
of your belongings.  If you're going to leave anything, please
make sure it's something we'd like to have.
 4.  "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are
only 4 ways out of this airplane"
 5.  "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express.  We hope you
enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you
for a ride."
 6.  As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald
Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. 
WHOA!"
 7.  After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in
Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced,
"Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because,
after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
 8.  From a Southwest Airlines employee: "Welcome aboard
Southwest Flight 245 to Tampa.  To operate your seat belt, insert
the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight.  It works just
like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate
one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."
 9.  "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will
descend from the ceiling.  Stop screaming, grab the mask, and
pull it over your face.  If you have a small child traveling with
you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs.  If you are
traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."
 10.  "Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken
clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive.  Thank
you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than
Southwest Airlines."
 11.  "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the
event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and
take them with our compliments."
 12.  "As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your
belongings.  Anything left behind will be distributed evenly
among the flight attendants.  Please do not leave children or
spouses."
 13.  And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Delta
Airlines is pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in
the industry.  Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
 14.  Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing
in Salt Lake City the flight attendant came on the intercom and
said, "That was quite a bump, and I know what y'all are thinking. 
I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the
pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the
asphalt."
 15.  Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo,
Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final
approach, the Captain was really having to fight it.  After an
extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and
Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo.  Please remain in your seats with
your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of
our airplane to the gate!"
 16.  Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect
landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo
bounces us to the terminal."
 17.  An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he
had hammered his ship into the runway really hard.  The airline
had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the
door while the Passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks
for flying our airline." He said that, in light of his bad
landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye,
thinking that someone would have a smart comment.  Finally
everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with
a cane.  She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Why, no, Ma'am," said the pilot.  "What is it?" The little old
lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
 18.  After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant
came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats
until Capt.  Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a
screeching halt against the gate.  And, once the tire smoke has
cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door
and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."
 19.  Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd
like to thank you folks for flying with us today.  And, the next
time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in
a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways."
 20.  Heard on a Southwest Airline flight.  "Ladies and
gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this
airplane is on the wing and if you can light 'em, you can smoke
'em."
 21.  A plane was taking off from Kennedy Airport.  After it
reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an
announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is
your captain speaking.  Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop
from New York to Los Angeles.  The weather ahead is good and,
therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight.  Now
sit back and relax...  OH, MY GOD!" Silence followed, and after a
few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said,
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. 
While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally
spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap.  You should see the front
of my pants!" A passenger in Coach yelled, "That's nothing.  You
should see the back of mine."
next
DEVOTION by Bob Mates
  Though spring is blessing us with weather that's less frightful
and more delightful, there's still nothing like a nice warm bowl
of chicken soup--especially when it's a heaping helping of Bob
Mates' spiritual chicken soup.
Greetings, in the name of Jesus: Since Terri has placed such a
wonderful devotional in this column, I would like to depart from
my usual monthly devotional, to first of all, express my
heartfelt thanks to all of you, for your comfort, love and
support, upon reading the announcement of the passing of my wife,
Arlene.  I received numerous emails and phone calls.  I can't
begin to express how much this outpouring of love and support
meant and still means to me.  It has helped to make this
difficult time much easier to bare.  I love all of you.
With your indulgence, I would like to publish a few words about
Arlene, which I read at the viewing, on April 11, 2006.  (By the
way, I was thrilled and gratified by the number of blind and deaf
folks, who showed up at the viewing and funeral.  It was a great
witness to her family, many of whom are Jewish.) I think this
sums everything up quite well.

I'm glad I've been given the opportunity to say a few words about
Arlene.  It's a subject about which I know quite a bit, having
been married to her for 22 years.
Now 22 years is a long time to be with someone, especially in
today's world, where hardly anything, from a job, to a car, to a
marriage, lasts longer than 5 or 10 years.  It's true that the
marriages on TV, like that of Ossie and Harriet, lasted a long
time, but we weren't Ossie and Harriet.  We never pretended to be
the perfect couple.  We were Bob and Arlene, two very different
people, with very different life experiences, whom God threw
together, and said, "Make it work!".  And We did.  Ossie and
Harriet never had their money taken away by the government; we
did.  Ossie and Harriet weren't two handicapped people, living in
a world that isn't always nice to handicapped folks; we were. 
And yet, through the good times and the bad, the arguments, the
tears, and the troubles, Arlene was there.  Sometimes, she'd try
to act tough and mean, but, at the heart of things, she was a
generous, loving person, who couldn't stand it if you stepped on
a dog's paw.  Was she perfect? Far from it.  Could she be
demanding? Not bet! But, for all of that, she also had a deep,
abiding faith in Jesus Christ.  She loved to go to church, and
though she didn't usually sit in the sanctuary, she always
enjoyed the service.
Arlene loved life.  She loved her family and friends.  She had
such an affection for her son, John! And, being a true Christian,
she was able to forgive those who treated her badly.  She loved
to swim, and she loved to socialize with her friends, whether
that meant visiting with them, or going out to a restaurant.  She
always had to call her family, such as her sister, Barbara, her
mother, or her Aunt Rose, to see how they were.
Now, there is one more thing you should know about Arlene: she
always tried to get her way.  And, at this last time, she got it. 
For one thing, she wanted to stay at home, after leaving the
nursing home.  She did that.  She died in her bed, in her house,
with her husband and dogs.  Then, too, she said she could hardly
wait to be home with Jesus.  Well, that's exactly where she is:
home with Jesus.  She can breathe again; she is whole in body and
mind; she is happy and free.  She got her way.
This brings us to the question: What about us? What about those
of us who knew and loved her, and are left behind to grieve?
Well, we'll just have to do that.  And yet, even as we grieve, we
can rejoice, because, as Christians, we know that, not only is
she happy, but we know that we'll see her again.  It isn't
goodbye; it's So long for now.
And so, here I am at the end.  I have to say so long to the
person who read me my books, when I was in seminary; the person
who took care of me, when I had my hernia operation a couple
years ago, and the person who would wake me up, in the middle of
the night, with those gentle words, "Bob, get me some pop ice!"
They're all the same person, and I loved her for 22 years.  So
long, Poodle.  See you later.
Amen.
next
  AN ADDITIONAL DEVOTION
  by Terri Winaught.
  As I mentioned in my From The Editor column, Easter represents
and symbolizes the supreme sacrifice which Christ made for us.
  As I reviewed saved e-mails to see what material, if any I
might have that would appropriately address this theme, I found
the following which I consider an appropriate addition to an
Easter-oriented newsletter:
  Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little
boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his
house.  In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the
back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.
  He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward
the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the
shore.
  His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer
and closer together.  In utter fear, he ran toward the water,
yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
  Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a
U-turn to swim to his father.  It was too late.  Just as he
reached his father, the alligator reached him.
  From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms
just as the alligator snatched his legs.
  That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two.  The
alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was
much too passionate to let go.  A farmer happened to drive by,
heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the
alligator.
  Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little
boy survived.  His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious
attack of the animal.  And, on his arms, were deep scratches
where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort
to hang on to the son he loved.
  The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the
trauma, asked if he would show him his scars.  The boy lifted his
pant legs.  And then, with obvious pride, he said to the
reporter, "But look at my arms.  I have great scars on my arms,
too.  I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
  You and I can identify with that little boy.  We have scars,
too.  No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. 
Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. 
But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let
go.  In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to
you.
  The Scripture teaches that God loves you.  You are a child of
God.  He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. 
But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not
knowing what lies ahead.  The swimming hole of life is filled
with peril -- and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. 
That's when the tug-of-war begins -- and if you have the scars of
His love on your arms, be very, very grateful.  He did not and
will not ever let you go.
  You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what
they are going through.  Never judge another person's scars,
because you don't know how they got them.
  If you have a devotion to submit, we'd love to hear from you,
so please contact Bob Mates at 412-682-1800.
  May the Christ who is the same yesterday, today and always
bless you with the peace that only He can give.
  PERSONAL PROFILES
  Knowing as many meal attendees as I do--and in some cases have
for some time--I know that we've got some really good
storytellers, so come on out there and tell your story.  To be
profiled, contact Bob Mates via e-mail at bluesbob at
earthlinkddnet, or phone him at 412-682-1800.
next
LUTHER's SMALL CATECHISM: Part SIX
This is the last installment of Luther's Small Catechism.  This
installment deals with the Sacrament of the altar, also know as
"The Lord's Supper" or "communion".  I have also placed Luther's
instructions on how to say morning and evening prayers in here,
because I think they're worth reading.
I hope you've enjoyed this reprint of the Catechism.  If you'd
like the whole thing, please email me at: bluesbob@earthlink.net,
and I'll be glad to send you a copy.  Without further ado, here's
part Six

VI.  The Sacrament of the Altar The Simple Way a Father Should
Present it to his Household
  What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
  It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under
bread and wine for us Christians to eat and to drink, established
by Christ Himself.
  Where is that written?
  The holy apostles Matthew, Mark and Luke and St.  Paul write
this: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the night on which He was
betrayed, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to His
disciples and said: 'Take! Eat! This is My body, which is given
for you.  Do this to remember Me6' In the same way He also took
the cup after supper, gave thanks, gave it to them, and said:
'Take and drink from it, all of you! This cup is the New
Testament in my blood, which is shed for you to forgive sins. 
This do, as often as you drink it, to remember Me6'"
  What good does this eating and drinking do?
  These words tell us: "Given for you" and "Shed for you to
forgive sins." Namely, that the forgiveness of sins, life and
salvation are given to us through these words in the sacrament. 
Because, where sins are forgiven, there is life and salvation as
well.
  How can physical eating and drinking do such great things?
  Of course, eating and drinking do not do these things.  These
words, written here, do them: "given for you" and "shed for you
to forgive sins." These words, along with physical eating and
drinking are the important part of the sacrament.  Anyone who
believes these words has what they say and what they record,
namely, the forgiveness of sins.
  Who, then, receives such a sacrament in a worthy way?
  Of course, fasting and other physical preparations are
excellent disciplines for the body.  But anyone who believes
these words, "Given for you," and "Shed for you to forgive sins,"
is really worthy and well prepared.  But whoever doubts or does
not believe these words is not worthy and is unprepared, because
the words, "for you" demand a heart that fully believes.
  Appendix I How a Father Should Teach His Household to Conduct
Morning and Evening Devotions.
  Morning Devotions
  As soon as you get out of bed in the morning, you should bless
yourself with the sign of the Holy Cross and say:
  May the will of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be
done! Amen.  Then, kneeling or standing, say the creed and pray
the Lord's Prayer.  If you wish, you may then pray this little
prayer as well: My Heavenly Father, I thank You, through Jesus
Christ, Your beloved Son, that You kept me safe from all evil and
danger last night.  Save me, I pray, that you will keep me safe
today from every evil and sin as well,, so that all I do and the
way that I live will please you.  I put myself in your care, body
and soul and all that I have.  Let Your holy Angels be with me,
so that the evil enemy will not gain power over me.  Amen.  After
that, with joy go about your work and perhaps sing a song
inspired by the Ten Commandments or your own thoughts.
  Evening Devotions
  When you go to bed in the evening, you should bless yourself
with the sign of the Holy Cross and say: May the will of God, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be done! Amen.  Then,
kneeling or standing, say the creed and pray the Lord's Prayer. 
If you wish, then you may pray this little prayer as well: My
Heavenly Father, I thank You, through Jesus Christ, Your beloved
Son, that You have protected me, by Your grace.  Forgive, I pray,
all my sins and the evil I have done.  Protect me, by Your grace,
tonight.  I put myself in your care, body and soul and all that I
have.  Let Your holy angels be with me, so that the evil enemy
will not gain power over me.  Amen.
  After this, go to sleep immediately with joy.
  Appendix II How a Father Should Teach His Household to say
Grace and Return Thanks at Meals:
  The Blessing
  The children and servants should come to the table modestly and
with folded hands and say: All eyes look to you, O Lord, and You
give everyone food at the right time.  You open Your generous
hands and satisfy the hunger of all living things with what they
desire.  (Psalm 145:15-16) Note: "What they desire" means that
all animals get so much to eat, that they are happy and cheerful. 
Because, worry and greed interferes with such desires.  After
this, pray the Lord's Prayer and the following prayer: Lord God,
Heavenly Father, bless us and these gifts, which we receive from
Your generous hand, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.
  Thanking God
  After eating, too, they should modestly fold their hands and
say:
  Thank the Lord, because He is kind and His goodness lasts
forever! He gives all creatures food.  He gives livestock their
food and feeds the young ravens that call out to Him.  A horse's
strength does not give Him pleasure.  A man's legs do not give
Him joy.  People who fear the Lord and who wait for His goodness
please Him.
  After this, pray the Lord's Prayer and the following prayer: We
thank You, Lord God, Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for
all Your blessings.  You live and rule forever! Amen!
  Appendix III The Home Chart A number of passages to use to
teach and admonish people in all holy orders and statuses in life
about their duties.
  For Bishops, Pastors and Preachers: 1 Tim.  3:2-4 Titus 1: 6
  What Hearers owe their Pastors: 1 Cor.  9:14 Gal.  6: 6 1 Tim. 
5:17-18 Heb.  13:17
  For Earthly Authorities Rom.  13:1-4
  For those Under Authority Matt.  22:21 Rom.  13:5-7 1 Tim. 
2:1-3 Titus 3:1 1 Peter 2:13-14
  For Husbands 1 Peter 3:7 Col.  3:19
  For Wives Eph.  5:22 1 Peter 3:5-6
  For Parents Eph.  6:4
  For Children Eph.  6:1-3
  For Servants, Maids, Hired Hands and Workers Eph.  6: 5-7 Col. 
3:22
  For the Man and Woman of the House Eph.  6:9 Col.  4:1
  For Young People in General 1 Pet.  5:5-6
  For Widows 1 Tim.  5:5-6
  For Everyone in General Rom.  13:8-10 1 Tim.  2:1-2
  If everyone will learn his part, The whole household will fare
well.
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 BIBLE BITS
  As the war rages on in Iraq and various conflicts surface in
rural communities and inner-city neighborhoods alike, we can see
quite clearly how much of a need there still is in the world for
peace.  What does the Bible say about peace? What a Google search
told me was that the Bible says a great deal about peace.  What
follows are just some of those verses:
  John: 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do
not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid.
  16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I
have overcome the world."
  20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the
disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the
Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with
you!"
  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
  1.  Imagine that you are an original disciple to whom Jesus has
just appeared.  Would His greeting, "Peace I give you; my peace I
bring to you" fill you with peace, or would you be troubled?
(Although I'd like to think that my heart would be calmed and
filled with peace, I might at first be troubled because I might
think, "But how can this be? Just two days ago, He died on a
cross and we laid Him in a tomb.  How can this been")
  2.  In the above Scriptures, Christ tells us that He has
overcome the world.  Given all that still goes on in the world,
do you find that statement hard to believe? (Despite all that
still goes on in the world, and despite my not having the active
prayer life that I'd like to, I do believe that Christ has
overcome the world because of the victory that His cross and
resurrection gave us over the eternal damnation that would
otherwise have been our lot.)
  3.  What additional thoughts occur to you as you reflect on the
above passages from John? (Although I'm sure that more
observations and inspirations should occur to me, none do.)
  Please feel free to let Center director Bob Mates know if there
are Scriptures or a theme around which you would like to see a
future BIBLE BITS based.  Bob can be reached at 412-682-1800 and
bluesbob at earthlinkddnet.
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  AN EXTRA EASTER GREETING
  Several years ago, I received an Easter greeting from good
friends Ray and Geri Reiman.  Because of how meaningful their
greeting was to me, I'd now like to pass it on to you:
  CELEBRATE OUR RISEN LORD ! ! ! !
  "May every delight and discovery of spring, every tradition
that Easter can bring, every bright blossom so fragrant and new,
remind you that someone is thinking of you."
  "It means so much to greet you at this special time of year,
when everything is fresh and EASTER time is near.  And it means
so much to wish you every bright and hopeful thing that makes a
lovely Easter and a very happy spring."
  "All good things come from God, and Easter is one of His
greatest gifts."
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  A FINAL EASTER THOUGHT
  Before I conclude this newsletter with Prayer Requests, I'd
like to share some final thoughts on Easter and the resurrection:
  EXPERIENCING THE LORD's RESURRECTION
  "We experience the resurrection . . . . .
  "When we sense the presence of a loved one we have lost,
  "When we feel the spontaneous joy of holding a new baby,
  "When we know bodily healing,
  "When we let go of a grudge or experience real forgiveness,
  "When we learn something the hard way and then do better the
next time around."
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  PRAYER REQUESTS
  As you lift up the following concerns, joys and intentions to a
loving Lord and special Savior, may you, and the people you will
be praying for know that you were fashioned, formed, minted and
mined in God's unconditional and everlasting love.
  1.  For the repose of the soul of Arlene Mates who went home to
the Lord on Friday, April 7th, 2006.
  2.  For God's grace, Christ's comfort and the Holy Spirit's
help for Bob Mates as he grieves the loss of his wife.
  3.  For the continued success of the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center
for the Blind.
  4.  For the health and well-being of Center Director Bob Mates,
Associate Director Sherri Crum, Pastor Spittel and the Spittel
family.
  5.  For Jim Winaught's brother, Jeff, who is in need of a heart
transplant within the next year.
  6.  Thanks be to God for the healing of Jim Winaught's recently
injured ankle.
  7.  For a strong foundation of faith for all who are being
received into the Church this Easter.
  8.  For compassionate care for all who are in nursing homes,
and healing for all who are in hospitals.
  9.  "God of the resurrection, you reveal your Son wherever life
overcomes death, joy follows pain, and growth ends stagnancy. 
Open my eyes to Him!" --
  10.  "Risen Christ, be present at all our meals where the menu
is love and acceptance, equality, pardon and non-judgment.  Thank
You for showing us the way." --
  May you and yours have a blest, joyful and joy-filled
resurrection day!