Pastor Tom's Journal

It is sure good to know that an old stump is still good for something. As long as we can give, we can be happy.

Born this day in 1871 – Frederick Converse, American composer and academic (d. 1940). His works include four operas and five symphonies. The Mystic Trumpeter (1904), is based on the poem of the same name from Walt Whitman's iconic anthology, Leaves of Grass. Many biographies note the similarity of his work to that of Richard Strauss and Converse's influence upon Strauss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbQRCDywi1s and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1IuT8qWwfI

Opinion Expression Avoidance Syndrome This popped up in my "On This Day" feed from May 11, 2016: Have you ever felt intimidated about stating an opinion, question, observation, or passing idea? Have you ever calculated the fear of being judged, labeled, or categorized for having a divergent view on some subject or a doubt about some matter of ideological orthodoxy? We have all seen people pounced on and maligned. I tend to identify with such people and feel really bad for them, even when I am not in agreement -- but I am sometimes too big of a coward to come to their defense. I am getting a little weary of critics, mean-spirited commentators, and ungracious quip-jockeys who latch on to any and every bit of negative evidence to prove their point against someone or something - with or without verifying their information --- and without regard to context, real meaning, or relevance. A lot of this comes from my tribe, but it is not tribal. It is a not the product of any one ideol...

I am glad I can spell resilience. Now, if I can live it like these folks, that will be something!

The Word Became Flesh and We Beheld John 1:1-18 (NRSVU In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   He  was in the beginning with God.   All  things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.   There was a man sent from God whose name was John.   He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.   He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.   The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.   He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him.   He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.   But to all who received him, who believed in his name, ...

https://kingsriverlife.com/01/04/remembering-our-neighbors-homeless-memorial/