THE CENTERPIECE
February, 2007
The newsletter of the
Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind
535 North Neville Street
Pittsburgh, Pa 15213
PHONE: (412) 682_1800
Sherri Crum, 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.
THE CENTERPIECE
February, 2007
FROM THE EDITOR
Hi Everyone. It is February. That brings several things to mind: Ground Hog Day (I can't help it, I was born and raised in Jefferson County), also, President's Day, Valentine's Day and the beginning of Lent. February has also brought to us some very blustery, treacherous weather which made it rather difficult to travel. I pray that despite the cold, snow and ice you have all been safe and warm.
Some noteworthy items: We have several things to give away to good homes. 1. Braille books__let me know if you would like an updated list of what is available. 2. Various old time radio cassettes__at least 50 tapes with two shows per tape. 3. Bibles: one in braille and one or more on cassette. Please contact me if you are interested in any of these items. They will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Thanks to those of you who have donated these things for the use of others.
Also, just to let you know, I still take used magazine cassette tapes and braille materials and send them off to be reused. So if you have questions about these types of things, please contact me.
JANUARY'S MEAL IN REVIEW
On Saturday, January 27, 2007 the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind held the first meal of the new year. Eleven guests took part in the pre_meal Bible study conducted by the Reverend Douglas Spittel. When it was time to eat, those 11 were joined by 6 other guests to dine on Italian fare. An appetizer of Italian bread and wedding soup was followed by the main course of Italian baked chicken, manicotti and sautéed bell peppers and onions. Dessert consisted of assorted Italian cookies. Though there was no formal entertainment scheduled for the meal, some poems were read. Some announcements were made, guests shared prayer requests and birthdays were mentioned_followed by the ever_popular singing of Happy Birthday. Many then attended the Vespers service. Those who helped in January included members from the congregation of First Trinity and a youth group from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The wedding soup was generously provided by Mrs. Rossi. Whether it is your time, talent or treasure, we would not be able to continue our mission without help. Thank you, one and all, for your support of the PLCB. If you would like more information on how you can become involved please phone: (412) 682_1800 or e_mail director@plcb.net.
It is off to Mexico for the next meal on Saturday, March 31, 2007. I hope to see you all there. Olay!
A LITTLE HUMOR ... VERY LITTLE
The Silent Treatment A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 a.m. for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 a.m." He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 a.m. and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 a.m. Wake up."
Words A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men... The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"
Advice for the Ladies...Decades Too Late!! If you want someone who will bring you the paper without first tearing it apart to remove the sports section__buy a dog. If you want someone willing to make a fool of himself simply over the joy of seeing you__buy a dog. If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never says its not quite as good as his mother made it__buy a dog. If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want__buy a dog. If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies__buy a dog. If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores__buy a dog. If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually__buy a dog. But, on the other hand, If you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness...Then...buy a cat!
DEVOTION by Sherri Crum
Matthew 19:26 "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible."
I've been doing some thinking about relationships. We have a lot of different kinds of relationships: husband_wife, brother_sister, parent_child, doctor_patient, merchant_customer, friend, neighbor, and on and on. Obviously there are many different reasons for these various relationships. Sometimes, such as with friends, we have common interests and mutual like and respect for one another. We have fun together, and genuinely like to be with the other. Then there is the relationship between a plumber and his client. There is a problem, the client calls a plumber (hopefully one who has been recommended) and the problem gets resolved. They probably don't know anything about one another__only that one has a problem and the other has the knowledge and skills necessary to fix the problem. We have all kinds of acquaintances too. These are the people we contact because we need information. These kinds of relationships are reciprocal__they give us information, we, in turn, give them information sometime down the road. However, when we are looking for information, we may ask several people. Why? Because no one knows everything. In meeting the pressures and demands of everyday life we may leave out a step. We don't do it deliberately, we just can't always gauge the knowledge of the other, or we think they already know about that, or we are rushed, or temporarily forget ourselves. ... No matter how good the relationship, how skilled the serviceman, ... other people will disappoint us. Why? Because we are mortals. We don't know all, can't see all and can't be all. There is only one who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent and He is Our Lord God.
May the Christ who is the same yesterday, today and always bless you with the peace that only He can give.
MISCELLANY
As it is February, the month in which Valentine's Day is celebrated. I thought I would share an A_to_Z list of things a friend does. We love family and friends and these ideas are equally applicable to our family members as well as our friends.
A friend does most or all of these:
A__Accepts you as you are! B__Believes in "you!" C__Calls you just to say "HI"! D__Doesn't give up on you! E__Envisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)! F__Forgives your mistakes! G__Gives unconditionally! H__Helps you! I__Invites you over! J__Just "be" with you! K__Keeps you close at heart! L__Loves you for who you are! M__Makes a difference in your life! N__Never judges! O__Offers support! P__Picks you up! Q__Quiets your fears! R__Raises your spirits! S__Says nice things about you! T__Tells you the truth, when you need to hear it! U__Understands you! V__Values you! W__Walks beside you! X__X_plains things you don't understand! Y__Yells when you won't listen! and... Z__Zaps you back to reality!
Here is a list of comments about love which were made by children.
Love These are truisms that only kids can express. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year_olds "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." __Rebecca _ age 8 "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth." __Billy _ age 4 "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." __Karl _ age 5 "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." __Chrissy _ age 6 "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." __Terri _ age 4 "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." __Danny _ age 7 "Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss." __Emily _ age 8 "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." __Bobby _ age 5 "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." __Nikka _ age 6 "There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them." __Jenny _ age 4 "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." __Noelle _ age 7 "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." __Tommy _ age 6 "During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." __Cindy _ age 8 "My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." __Clare _ Age 5 "Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken." __Elaine _ age 5 "Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." __Chris _ age 8 "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." __Mary Ann _ age 4 "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." __Lauren _ age 4 "I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her." __Bethany _ age 4 "When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." __Karen _ age 7 "Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." __Mark _ age 6 "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." __Jessica _ age 8
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 all who are associated with the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind: blind/visually impaired friends who we haven't seen in a while, all volunteers, all sponsors, all who receive the newsletter and are unable to be with us in person, and all who are currently involved with the Center.
2. For R's soul. It is unknown what his relationship was with Christ at the time of death.
3. For G who is grieving and has numerous other issues.
4. For family and friends of blessed Gene Barton who went home to be with Our Lord on January 26.
5. For Aphia who has cancer.
6. For Chris as he continues to recover from a car accident.
7. For all who are losing vision.
8. For those who are lonely and depressed during this time of year.
9. For Joann who has multiple health problems.
10. For continued outreach by Lutheran Blind Mission.
11. For compassionate care for all who are in nursing homes, and healing for all who are in hospitals.
12. "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."
THE END