Pastor Tom's Journal

If CEU credits were required to renew our citizenship credentials, i would recommend this one hour to be on our common curriculum.

In praying for peace, we must always ask ourselves and God, "Have I done and am I doing, saying, and being all I can do, say, and be?"

In 2013, suicide took the lives of 41,149 people in the USA alone. Depression affects about 20 million people in the USA, 350 million worldwide. Mental health disorders are serious issues in our culture and it is important that we have open conversation about their existence and that we show support to those who are battling them. “Please Stay” is an anthem for hope — an attempt to destigmatize mental illness and challenge all of us to support those who are battling depression and thoughts of suicide. You are not alone. We can make a difference. We can be the support system that saves a life. Give voice to hope: Share your #ReasonsToStay on Twitter. #PleaseStay A portion of the proceeds from this work will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. [For some people, depression may lead to thoughts of suicide. Try to remember that you don’t have to act on these thoughts, no matter how overwhelming they might be. If you’re considering ending your life, it’s impor

This Day – by Lowell Alexander  This day is fragile - soon it will end And once it has vanished, it will not come again So let us love with a love pure and strong Before this day is gone This day is fleeting when it slips away Not all our money can buy back this day So let us pray that we might be a friend Before this day is gone This day is fleeting When it slips away Not all our money can buy back this day So let us pray that we might be a friend Before this day is spent This day we're given is golden Let us show love This day is ours for one moment Let us sow love This day is frail - it will pass by So before it's too late to recapture the time Let us share love, let us share God Before this day is gone Before this day is gone

Happy New Year, my friends! May 2022 be filled with serendipitous joy, abundant grace, deep insights, courageous steps, continuous comfort, jaw-dropping wonder, unfolding wisdom, leaps of faith, unbridled laughter, unhindered growth, and life-affirming moments with friends and loved ones. This is my hope and prayer for you: Shalom in the midst of a tumultuous world. Love and Peace to you. - Tom

I wish I had a transcript of that monologue. She made a powerful point.

I don't know much, but I do know enough to know that I suspect that I think that this might be right to the best of my knowledge :) Actually, we seem to often be pretty lazy thinkers.

 

This contains my favorite verse from Cohen: "Ring the bell that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."