St. Luke's Communicator November 2006

This article is about our 50^th Anniversary celebration, St. Luke’s Jubilee celebration. The Old Testament teaches us that a Jubilee year is seven times seven plus one, i.e. the fiftieth year. In the calendar of faith it has some very special implications. Bear with me please for a moment, I will get to this important event in our church life but before I do ponder the following.

The gospel writers – Luke, Mark… all are remarkably consistent in Jesus’ mission to the poor. What’s more, the poor are poor because they are always under obligation. Consider this question for just a moment… “What do you want in life?” The answer to the question can usually be summarized in one word, “enough”. Don’t you think that summarizes our life goals?

We want enough - enough money for retirement, enough resources to launch our children, enough time, enough… you get the idea. It all seems so appropriate, so reasonable… what’s wrong with enough? The prosperity churches teach you can have it all; you can have Jesus and this world too. The problem is that Jesus does not say that. Jesus says that wealth must be common wealth; what’s more the radical nature of the gospel calls us to recognize that our common nature is poverty. If everyone starts from the position of a shared common poverty then relief from poverty should be common as well. So, what would our world view look like if we agreed we all start from poverty?

A Jubilee year was as celebratory as it was utterly life-changing in that it was a critical goal to bring glory to God by removing all from the status of being “under” obligation. One is no longer poor if one is no longer under obligation. A Jubilee celebration is a celebration of common wealth – everyone has enough!

Okay… so what does that have to say about our fiftieth anniversary… or the price of tea in China, for that matter? Our Jubilee Celebration, the theme of which is “There is a fire in the Church!” should be understood for the monumental achievement that it is. Truly this is meant to be a time of joy and remembrances. Your fiftieth anniversary planning committee has laid out a 14 month celebration (lots of opportunities to become involved).

Yet, my prayer is that in the best of scriptural tradition someone, someone who does not yet know of God’s love for them, someone who is yet living under the obligation of their sin, will experience Jesus in all of our plans and activities. That would then truly make this a Jubilee celebration. Imagine, escaping the poverty of life without Christ and coming to the common wealth of this church community celebrating 50 years of ministry.

Come join us on Saturday, November 18 at 4:00 p.m. and explore your own spiritual journey. The book we’ll be discussing is Timothy Radcliffe’s What is the Point of Being a Christian? The book is for sale for $13. Call the office if you would like to get a copy.

Give me your harried, your hassled, your sleepless, your “where is my valium”, and I will give you the profile of a teenager’s parent. I want to help. (No, I cannot help with prescription drugs.) I think there are some wonderful resources out there to assist you in the most holy of assignments of parenting. The conversation I had with Confirmation parents the beginning of this past fall program was enormously helpful in identifying significant issues. If you would be interested in such a group designed to offer support, education and conversation, please let me or the office know. We are currently gathering names to begin such a support group in November. Call the office, I believe this effort will not only be helpful but fun. Hmmm… there’s a novel notion, parents of teenagers having fun, hmmm…

"How Do You Honor Someone Who Has Died?"

Several persons I've known for a long time and come to treasure have died. Most recently there has been Helen, Ann, Dan, Don and Edna. A question I ask myself is, "How do you honor someone who has died?"

That's a question I asked myself when my father died. He was a commercial fisherman and died in 1970 while out at sea. My initial impulse was to honor him by visiting his gravesite. It seemed more important to spend time with my mother who was still living. After my mother died in 1990, I visited her homeland of Norway several times. I visited her sisters, extended family, and friends and I heard stories of her early years before coming to the United States. Ken (my husband) and Karl (our youngest son) each joined me on one of those trips. At present I am thankful for the opportunity to occasionally bring my stepdad to the doctor or church. It's a way of honoring my

mother in addition to enjoying his company.

What else can I do? I thank God often for those persons I have known in the past who are now with the Lord. There are daily reminders of all of them. When I see the Quilters on Thursdays I recall how Helen loved to quilt and how she worked quietly so others would have a warm covering over themselves. When I see someone play the piano, I recall how gifted Ann was and how she taught others. When I sit at my desk, I recall the time Dan helped me learn new things about my computer. He had expertise in that area and was willing to share it. When I visit someone at the Foss Home in Seattle, I am reminded of how Don helped them obtain a dental clinic. When I attend a Women's Bible Study I am reminded of how many of those women are there because Edna invited them, not just once, but often over and over again. When I attend a Faith Formation Board meeting I am reminded of how often Edna gently encouraged and inspired the younger women about the joys of working with children. When I bring communion to a home-bound person I am reminded that Edna also did this. When she couldn't be there in person she knitted a prayer shawl and sent a card.

How can I honor these and others? How do I let God know how much I cared for these people in my life? I can thank God for them. I can remember why they did the acts of service and I can in turn use my gifts to show love and caring to others. I can help and encourage others to do the same acts of caring that they did. Who will be the new generation of Quilters? Who will teach Sunday School? Who will become a Eucharistic Minister and bring communion to those unable to come to church? Who will encourage the younger women? Who will teach the First Communion class?

The answer to that question for all of us may be the words to the hymn, "Is it I, Lord?"

Shalom,

Roselyn

It is strange to think that Christmas is right around the corner, but before we can even think about that we have to get through Thanksgiving. I am so excited about Kid’s Holiday Store (KHS) on December 9^th and for all the good that we will do. The Thanksgiving dinner will be on November 19^th at 5:00 p.m. and we hope every family that is able can come. We will be decorating the Christmas trees and begin setting up for KHS.

Over the past few months we have seen a growth in the youth program. This is due to some changes that the youth have made, such as having more events that include both middle and high school youth. I thank everyone who has helped or been part of the youth program. Without you we would not be where we are today. We definitely need more growth but we are doing well.

I want to let you all know that we are working on putting together an after school program for the youth in the church and the community. Right now we are still developing what the program will look like, but we know it will be mainly homework based. We also want this to be a place where youth can come and feel safe. If anyone has an interest in helping tutor youth in any subject please let me know. Also, if you have any hints that would help this process please let me know as soon as you can.

Please look at the calendar for the upcoming events this month and do not forget that if you are an adult who would like to help chaperone or drive for events please let me know. Take care and God bless!!!

Each month for the next year we will have a section in the Communicator that has information on youth at St. Luke's. We will introduce you to one senior high and one middle school youth. This month we are featuring Holly Dunning and Michael Dunning. (Yes, they are siblings.)

Holly Dunning is 18 years old and is a senior at Lake Washington High School. Her favorite ice cream is cookies and cream. Friends feel that she is the most loyal person they know. Her favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Do everything in love (NRSV).” Holly comes to St. Luke’s because she desires to grow in her knowledge of the Bible and how to bring it into her life.

Michael Dunning is 13 years old and is an eighth grader at Kirkland Junior High. He enjoys strawberry ice cream and his friends say that his best quality is that he is just very nice. Michael comes to St. Luke’s for friendship and to grow closer to God.

Their pictures, including all this information, are on the bulletin board located by the nursery. Check it out!

Give Thanks! There are so many things to be thankful for. I am thankful for a congregation that continues to love and care for others. Also, I am thankful that children, youth, and their families are such an important part in the life of St. Luke’s. So let’s give thanks this November for our wonderful church family. Let us truly be thankful for Jesus, who unites us!

This month Dave Harsh will be performing a concert. All are welcome! The concert is on November 12^th from 6-7:30 pm, here at St. Luke’s. It is a free concert, however there will be a freewill offering given to support the ministry that Dave is doing. Bring the whole family for an evening of music, fellowship, and fun!

The Advent Fair is coming up on December 3rd. This is a time for the children to come to Pierson Hall and get creative. There will be six stations with different crafts at each. If you are interested in helping with the fair or planning some crafts, please let me know. Get involved with this holiday tradition for children!

Our Children’s Christmas program is on Sunday, December 17^th between services. If you are or your child is interested in being a part of the program please be ready to attend two practices after church. There will be a practice on December 3^rd and 10^th. We will also be getting ready during the Sunday School hour. If you have any questions please contact me for further information.

Congratulations to this year’s confirmands! Reformation Sunday, October 29^th was a milestone event for Brad Duncan, Chandler Kokosz, Martin Kollmorgen, Spencer Matlock and Madison Moore and we are proud of the hard work it took for them to get there. On Reformation Sunday, we were reminded that by grace through faith we are justified and set free from sin. It was a grand celebration of both Baptism and Affirmation.

All Saints Sunday, November 5^th is a celebration of the baptized people of God, living and dead, who make up the body of Christ. During the worship services on this day, the Saints who, through death have joined the Church Triumphant, are remembered as a bell is tolled.

November 26^th is Christ the King Sunday. We will celebrate Christ as the King of kings, and Lord of lords! This also marks the end of the Season of Pentecost, and the church year.
The new church year begins with the first Sunday in Advent, December 3^rd.

Autumn is a time of brilliant colors as we move through the changing of seasons. Colors in our worship life also become noticeably different! During the Season of Pentecost, the worship color is primarily green. On Reformation Sunday however, wasn’t the red brilliant! In the worship schedule below, notice how the colors will be changing even more in the coming weeks.

The 11:00 service will continue to be Informal, and all services always include the celebration of Holy Communion.

At this busy time of the year it is especially necessary for us to get worship assistants signed up for services. Are you a little afraid of getting up in front of everyone to read? Or would being a communion assistant be something you would like to try later? You can always be a greeter — just put a smile on your face and make people feel welcomed to St. Luke’s. Call Sally Otten at (425) 828-4921 and she’ll gladly answer any questions you may have about helping on Sunday. Give it a try!

We are three months into our new fiscal/program year. As you can see, in September we received a very generous gift that was an answer to prayer. This gift was not a gift pledged through the Consecration Sunday program. Your Board of Trustees asks that each of you continue to pray for the ministries of St. Luke’s and the support that is needed for them. God blesses this congregation in so many ways by the gifts we receive and the faith we have that these ministries, with your support, will flourish.

Every year at this time I take a look around my house and realize that I didn’t get all those little projects done over the summer. Then I look at the calendar and realize that the holidays are just around the corner and company is coming.

Well the same thing is true here at St. Luke’s. We had a list of things we wanted to accomplish, but just didn’t quite get them all finished, and now company is coming! So in a shameless attempt to bribe you into helping us, we are inviting everyone to a famous Carnel Hagen breakfast, The Big and Brawny Breakfast on Saturday – November 4^th between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. Carnel will be providing us with a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit and juice. Not only will we be feeding your bodies, but we will also be feeding our facility fund. Thrivent will be matching money raised at this event.

We will have a variety of projects that you can help with, including completing the fire lane painting, sealing windows, scraping paint off the outside of windows, spreading bark, leaf blowing and fall flower bed clean-up. There are also several other little projects that can be done, such as cleaning out closets and cupboards.

If you can take on a little work, we would love your help, and if you can’t lend a hand, join us just for breakfast and show your support for the facilities team. Remember — company is coming and we want everything to look beautiful.

David is a National Award winning Christian songwriter and guitarist who was fir trained as an opera singer and transformed himself into an acoustic Christian artist. He’s become known as the guy who plays a guitar with his feet”. (You need to come for this alone!) David’s vision for his ministry is to “share God’s love through music and through my life with a spirit of total excellence, for His Glory, until I am completely poured out.”

Come hear this concert on Sunday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. A freewill offering will be taken.

In your “Fire in the church” brochure inserted in the Communicator, please make the following changes in dates:

Carnival Night originally scheduled for January 20 will be held on March 10 or 11.

The Bowling Tournament originally scheduled for March will be held in January.

Watch for our giving tree to be in place the first Sunday in November. The tree will have “gift idea ornaments” which you may take off the tree as your reminder to purchase special items for our annual Kid’s Holiday Store.

On Saturday, December 9, St. Luke’s provides an opportunity for needy families to Christmas shop for family members, make crafts, visit with Santa and decorate cookies. Our Kid’s Holiday Store (in the transformed Winter Wonderland Pierson Hall) will be stocked with merchandise provided by church members and friends. Turn in all unwrapped gifts by Friday, December 1. If you have questions, call Ethel Brende (425) 828-6222 or Kim Johne (425) 957-1107.

Don’t forget to send in your volunteer sheets that were sent out a few weeks ago – let us know how you will help out.

Besides December 9, when we need many helpers, mark your calendar to help at work parties on:

Everyone invited for turkey, dressing & the works!
Decorate trees for Kid's Holiday Store

All girls ages three through senior high are welcome to be part of our traditional Lucia Pageant. One of our senior girls will be chosen to be our Lucia Bride. To participate, please call Karen Dunning at (425) 822-7502.

For information please call Carolyn Saxegaard at (425) 454-9650 or Nancy Quale at (425) 746-6559

Please bring two dozen cookies which we will share with Kid’s Holiday Store and the Feeding Program.

Calling all girls who would like to be Lucia Maidens at our Advent Dinner. If you participated last year and have a robe to share, please bring it to Pierson Hall to “pass down” so we can swap. If you are participating for the first time, let us know. We have patterns for making robes. Please call Karen Dunning at (425) 822-7502 with any questions.

Now is your chance to show off your skills waiting on the women and girls of St. Luke’s. We need your help at the Advent Dinner. Please call the office to volunteer.

Well, folks, it’s time to get serious. We have the dates and prices for our Alaska cruise in July and need to get people signed up! So – here we go:

We need $350/person to reserve your cabin. Final payment is due on April 7, 2007. Down Payment can be made to Jackie Roberts at (425) 391-9275. The difference in cabin prices is based on the location of the cabins; the higher up you go in the ship, the greater the price. The first two people in a cabin pay full fare. Extra people (i.e., children) in the cabins are discounted. See me at church for more information. Also, we decided on the July dates because it will be a bit warmer, there should be less fog and the days will be longer. In addition, most people preferred July.

The ship leaves from and returns to the Seattle waterfront. Ports of call are Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau and Victoria BC. I have to tell you that I am SO EXCITED about this cruise. I have never been to Alaska – I have never been on a cruise – and I get to check these two items off my wish list in one fell swoop! What fun. Kathy Finnegan and I had lunch on a Holland America ship in early September just to get a taste of cruising and it was wonderful. I thought that exercise would be a problem on a ship, but I was wrong! Just getting from one end of the ship to another is exercise – let alone the availability of all the equipment.

As for kids, Princess Cruise Line is known for its programs for children. There are all sorts of activities for them and adults aren’t allowed – that means freedom for the parents while the kids are having a ball. All of this sounds good to me. How about you? Let’s get cracking and have a great sign-up for one of the highlights of our 50^th Anniversary Year.

There are two opportunities for Adult Education each Sunday at 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Nov. 19 “The Examen” a spiritual practice based on a book by Dennis Linn, Sheila Fabricant Linn, and Matthew Linn

The Compass Center in Seattle provides Christmas gifts for over 250 homeless and low-income individuals each year. Because of the love and support we receive from our community each holiday season, we are able to bring joy, warmth and light into the lives of those less fortunate. Please remember the Compass Center and the clients we serve when preparing for the holidays this year. Many of our clients wear Large, Extra-Large an Extra-Extra-Large sizes!

Men: Backpacks; coats; underwear; socks; sweatshirts; flannel shirts; bathrobes

They can also use gifts cards in denominations of $5.00 or more to establishments such as Starbucks, Tully’s and McDonalds.

Please clearly mark any items designated for the Compass Center and bring to the church office. We will see they are delivered.

Hearing Assistance

St. Luke’s does provide assisted listening headphones for your use during church services. However, have you considered you may have a hearing loss. Approximately 31.5 million Americans suffer from hearing loss which includes a third over 60 and up to half of those over 75. Hearing loss is the third most common chronic condition among older Americans, after hypertension and arthritis. Hearing difficulties can have serious consequences, including social isolation, functional decline and depression. Listed below are some questions you can ask yourself to see if you may have a hearing loss.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders offers this simple test of hearing acuity. If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, you should be checked by a hearing professional.

Do you have problems hearing on the telephone?
Do you have trouble hearing when there is noise in the background?
Do you have to strain to understand a conversation?
Do many people you talk to seem to mumble or not speak clearly?
Do you misunderstand what others say and respond inappropriately?
Do you often ask people to repeat themselves?
Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?
Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?
Do you often hear a ringing, roaring or hissing sound?

Thanksgiving Health Tips

Thanksgiving dinner can be the best meal of the year, but the worst for your diet. One estimate puts the traditional turkey feast at 2,100 calories; another tops out at about 3,500. You don’t need to hit either amount to have a delicious, abundant meal. You don’t want to be actually dieting on Thanksgiving either. The sense of denial might send you off on a rebound quest for rich desserts and high-carb snacks.

Here are a few suggestions for a better Thanksgiving. You’ll notice some smarter versions of traditional favorites. Depending on your choices, you could save more than 1,000 calories with these delightful dozen tips.

The Delightful Dozen

· Be thankful for turkey, and load up on white meat. Dark turkey meat has more fat.

· Have fat-free gravy.

· Use 98% fat-free mushroom soup for the green-bean casserole.

· Have baked sweet potatoes topped with a little light margarine and nutmeg or cinnamon.

· Have two types of healthy vegetables steamed with herbs, not swimming in buttery or creamy sauces.

· Sip one glass of red wine instead of having several mixed drinks.

· Have lighter stuffing, made with minimal fat and cooked as a side dish, not in the bird.

· Use sugar-free gelatin for molded salads.

· Serve whole-wheat dinner rolls, and have only one.

· Wait 10 minutes after you finish your first plate before going back for seconds (you probably won’t be hungry by then because your satiety center will have kicked in).

· Have pumpkin pie, not pecan pie, and have a smaller piece.

· Take a long walk during the day, and one after dinner if possible.

The following “recipes” are from Recipe Round Up published by the PTA of Concordia Lutheran School in Seattle in 1955. The book belongs to Jodi Daub who got it from her grandmother, Wanita Heine. Carolyn (Heine) Norton also had some recipes in the book from her high school days.

Unfortunately there are no instructions on baking temperature or time, so you’re on your own for the baking. If someone does look up all the scriptures, please email them to the “Communicator” and they will be printed next month.

Mix the children with the dogs and empty them into the field, stirring continually. Sprinkle with field flowers; pour brook gently over pebbles; cover all with a deep blue sky, and bake in hot sun. When children are well browned, they may be removed. Will be found right and ready for setting away to cool in a bathtub.

ThankOfferings are given in thanksgiving to God--who blesses us to be a blessing to others. God is calling women disciples to go beyond charity by educating and equipping ourselves to do more effective ministry. Our ThankOffering is given to the national Women of the ELCA. They use it to provide programs and resources that help women grow in faith and use their gifts in active ministry in daily life. We live in a culture where those in need are in competition for help. ThankOfferings not only serve you; they also serve to support the total outreach of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Special envelopes will be available for you to use.

This year’s Christmas Concert will be held during worship services on Sunday, December 17. Please invite your friends and neighbors.

St. Luke’s Adult Christmas Party will be held Sunday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m. Location and other information will be in next month’s Communicator.

Mark your calendars!

The St. Luke's Women's Retreat is scheduled for March 9-11 at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. Watch for the sign-up sheet in the narthex sometime in January!

It’s never too early to start planning!

Dates for Daroga will be July 19-22, 2007. Put in for your vacation now!

Men’s Breakfast

All St. Luke’s men and their friends are welcome at the Men’s Breakfast at Denny’s in Overlake. Come the first, third and (fifth) Wednesday morning of the month at 8:15 a.m. It’s good conversation and so-so food.

This group meets monthly to support one another in our losses. Sometimes it is a spouse; at other times it can be another person, a pet, or a dream. Bob Smith leads this group. Contact him at 425-415-6190 for more information.

This group of women meets on the third Wednesday of each month. After a break this summer, we blessed two shawls at our September meeting. A prayer shawl was sent to Renate at our sister church in Moscow , Russia . She sent a beautiful painted bowl to our prayer shawl group. You may see it in Roselyn’s office. If you like to knit or want to learn, join us on Wednesday, October 18^th at 1:00 p.m. If you are unable to come at that time, contact Roselyn. Another group may be formed at another time. For further information contact Donna Kobelin (425-822-4536), Norma Peterson (425-885-5114), or Karen Richards (425-828-9493).

In 2005, twenty-nine percent of students in grades 9-12 reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for an extended period of time (two or more weeks) in the last year (http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org).

As I talk with church councils, call committees and transition teams in our synod, the one recurring message I hear is the importance of youth. It isn't always expressed the same way; some are eager to share the vital youth program in their congregation, some are defeated by the fact that there are no young people in church, others want the young folks to start taking over the committee responsibilities because the older members have done our time.

The church is still one of the few places in American culture where generations have an opportunity to interact, where values can be taught and modeled and where an individual is valued as a gift to the community. It is not random or accidental that this should be so; community and relationship are the very heart of our values. Remember that Jesus said the heart of the gospel is to love the Lord and love the neighbor...that's relationship. So rather than shuffling a specific age group off to an isolated youth room, our call is to embrace community and relationship as it relates with youth and families. In an age when so many young people are feeling hopeless, we need to think more seriously, more creatively and more urgently about the message and resources of hope of which we are stewards for the sake of Christ.

How important is youth ministry in your congregation? You decide...but don't decide based on how many children come to your church...don't decide based on what Luther League looked like when you were a child. Indeed, base your decision on the 29 percent of young people who have no hope and don't know where to find it.

Youth ministry in your congregation may look different than in the congregation down the street. There are any number of models for youth ministry, but the most effective models are integrally related to the ministry of the whole congregation. Youth ministry is not simply a youth group. The emphasis of youth ministry models and an integral youth ministry is one that honors each young person's baptismal calling and our own Lutheran understanding of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12.12-27). The church is built on a foundation that we add to each day through our ministries and actions, and we lay that foundation on the hearts of our young people and followers.

So then, the burning question is: how and where do we begin? There are three challenges to face in making youth ministry an integral part of congregational ministry: The first is to ask: "To what degree is our youth ministry an integral part of the life of the congregation already?" The second is to seek: "What are some things we might do to make it more integral?" And the third is to find; Okay, not a question, just a challenge: "Do something!" Even if you have no children, young people or parents in your congregation, think about how God is calling you to youth ministry. Check out just this resource http://www.elca.org/youth/helpsheets/ and do something for the sake of the Gospel.

My father was a seafarer’s chaplain. During World War II he was posted at London’s Norwegian Seamen’s Church. When preparing his sermons he would often be moving, either pacing up and down in his study or walking out of doors. The church was appropriately built in the port area. There he was one day, strolling along, notepad and pencil in hand, looking around but deep in thought and making notes. Suddenly a police officer appeared and confronted him. He wanted to know what this person was doing, making notes about dockside buildings and layout.

Before he knew it, my father found himself at a nearby police station trying to explain. It did not help that his notes were in a foreign language and that the scripture reference numbers also looked suspicious. In addition, he spoke broken English, saying that he was a pastor. “Oh yeah, next you’re going to tell us you’re Churchill!” It was not until the church janitor was called and came with documentation that he was let go. Whew! My father the spy?

Trust is confusing, isn’t it? We can’t trust everyone and everything. And yet, we can’t distrust everyone and everything either. Trust is a favorite term used by some young people: “Mom, Dad, don’t you trust me?” Probably yes—if the trust has been earned. We start out trusting our parents, our spouse, other family members, professionals, authority figures. When trust is betrayed it can be both disillusioning and heartrending. Building trust again is tough and takes time. It has been said that we need to learn to trust appropriately. Trusting is really a gift from one person to another and from people toward an establishment. If trust is broken we need to beware of becoming cynical and to remember that there are countless other reasons in the world for trusting. And, as Christians, we believe that God in Christ is the most trustworthy, the One who has earned our highest trust—and never betrayed it.

In an old comic strip, Lil’ Abner, there was a character who always had a rain cloud over his head. He went about his way, independently, oblivious of the other characters. They noticed him and commented to each other but were unable to really interact or engage him. Any attempt at dialogue simply got deflected back with a scowl and mini lecture about the real nature of reality.

Perhaps you have met this character in person. He or she enters the room and all of a sudden everything is darker and gloomier. “What is their problem?” is the usual reaction, with most people stepping back to keep from getting contaminated. Occasionally some cheery soul will continue to make contact with no immediate hope of change, motivated only by a sense of ministry to a desperate and lonely soul.

We have to talk ourselves into such a gloomy state. We have to be active participants. Bitter is not an inevitability, but it is a powerful temptation. A little dwelling on dark thoughts can distort our perceptions of life just enough to create a slippery slope. Soon, everything is serious and we are irritated at those who don’t understand that.

God, deliver us all from a living death like this! Thanksgiving is coming. How about instituting a daily practice of self examination to look for the mould and mildew of seriousness in our souls? How about practicing a daily cleansing with gratitude and thanksgiving?

If you did this daily, in a serious way, maybe Thanksgiving would feel more like Easter!

		Light in a world of darkness
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