Bob's EPSpace

Modern Technology

So who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? This new technology is a "piece of cake!"

I'm just kidding. Every time I think I know about some new procedure or some new piece of equipment a whole new world opens up for me to learn about. However I have learned a few things. I am also grateful for and my younger sons and friends who keep tutoring me.

One of the new programs that I love on the compiuter is called SKYPE. First of all it is a free download. Second you can buy a camera/microphone combination for about $25. If you have a Mac that equipment is probably already built in your computer.Bingo! you have a system that allows you to make video phone calls anywhere in the world---for no additional computer charge. Now there's a bargain for you.

We can talk and see our grandchildren on a regular basis even though they live over one thousand miles away. What fun to see them try on their Holloween costumers before they went our Trick or Treating. Friends in Australia are in touch with us about once a month. Soon we hope to connect with our son who spends a great deal of time in Ukraine.

Now the kicker---One of our great nieces in the Seattle, WA area asked me to perform her wedding service in August. So how to do wedding arrangements and pre-marriage counselling? Bingo--that's right- SKYPE. I just finished my third conversation with them on SKYPE. Not only that Carolyn and I were introduced to the groom's parents in Hawaii two months ago via SKYPE.

So I do appreciate our modern day ability to communicate so easily and so quickly. There is no question that I have more contact every day with more people now than I did a decade ago. So I'm grateful for the tools that allow us to be that much more in touch. What great tools we have for ministry. I hope you too find it exciting to be in the 21st Century.

.

Lay Leadership

Over the past several days I have attended many meetings as well as having the joy of visiting with many ministers. Toward the end of the week I felt an old principle of our Presbyterian Church pushing its way into the forefront of my thinking.

No longer able to contain myself I blurted out to a freind while walking to the elevator: "We need more lay people on that group to give it balance." That same evening at the Council Meeting our Vice Moderator made an insightful comment about the need for equity between lay and clergy in all of our decision making groups. She said this with a great deal energy and passion.

This lead me to repeat a statement I have made for many years. "I have never seen our Presbyterian Church  work well except when it has strong lay leadership at every level: Congregation, Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly."

It is also true, in my observation, that our Presbyterian Church works well when we encourage our lay persons to speak up and share their ideas and opinions. If I am not mistaken I think we call this "The Priesthood of All Believers."

Enjoying my work???

The question I am most asked by people is "How are you enjoying your work as Interim Transitional EP? My usual response has been, "Well I'm not sure if the word "enjoy" is what I would use."

Yesterday when asked that question by three long time friends I stopped after my usual response and said.. "No I want to restate my answer. There are some days when driving to the office I ask myself 'Why am I doing this?' However I do want to say that I am thoroughly enjoying my visits with the ministers across the Presbytery."

It is true, there are still a lot of ministers for me to visit. However, the many I have already visited have impressed me with their dedication, committment, deep faith and love of their work. There has been almost no complaining. Most are challeneged and fulfilled by what they are doing.

Perhaps my most significant observation is the great diversity and talent that we have in the Presbytery. This is not surprising to me. It only confirms my experience with clergy over my fifity-three years of ministry.

Another obseervation is that many of the ministers find support and insights from conversations and friendships with other clergy both within and without the Presbyterian Family. That sharing is very beneficial to all of those who get so involved.

When talking with a commitee last night it was obvious that it is not only clergy who gain from conversations with their peers but it works for everone. Support persons and support groups really do make a difference to our health, productivity and effectiveness.

Just a personal note: Without support groups thoughtout my life i don't believe I would have made it! In fact that is still a reality in my retirement years.

Freedom

Carolyn and I decided to take a little break tonight so we went to a movie. It was a toss up between a comedy and what we thought was going to be a mystery. We choose what we thought was a mystery. Surprise!

The movie title is "Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed." Ben Stein is featured in the film portraying how the world leaders in science do not want to take seriously the possibility of "Intelligent Design." It is not a mystery movie. The only lmystery is how come we didn't read the movie ad more clearly.

Having said that I'm glad we saw this movie. It reminded me of a movie that we saw about a year ago entitled "What in the Bleep." If you saw that movie you may remember the theme was: "Most everything you thought was real probably is not and that which you thought was probably not real maybe is real."

Although these movies come at the subject quite differently both are trying to deal with some ultimate questions, through science, as to how we got to be here. That is: how the universe was started and is continuing to expand? Neither movie attempted to prove the Bible story of creation. Both movies raise the question of a design with a higher power behind it.

I want to be clear that the movie did not argue for "creationism." In fact the movie very explicitly interviewed many scientists who practice no religion. There were no religious leaders interviewed in the movie.

The ultimate point of "Expelled" is the need to allow total freedom in the scientific community to look at all of the options and not block off possibilities that may be slighly different than Darwin's.

So the movie was a change of pace and also a thought starter. It made me glad to be part of a denomination and a faith tradition that is always searching for freedom and truth. What is that old saying, "Know the truth and it will make you free."

The Saints Go Marching In!!!!

This morning I attended the memorial service for Virginia Reid---one of the Saints.

Just a few weeks ago I met her for the first time at a Committee of Ministry meeting. She was very quiet but when she spoke it was right on target.

That evening she accepted a responsible with me to visit one of our congrergations were was need to deal with an uncomfortable issue. We prepared for that visit in her home. Would you believe on my way there, while using my GPS, I got totally lost. I called Virginia on the my cell phone. She patiently guided me to her door. I sure  it was not the first time she guided others to a safe place when they were lost.

Soon I discover she was the sister of Ed Reid who I have known and respected for almost 20 years. We had served together on the Presbyterian Homes Board. Ed is also one of the Saints.

How shocked I was while on vacation I received the Email that Virginia had died very suddenly. Would you believe she was on a tour bus in Hawaii. She laid her head to one side and died. What a way to go!

So tonight I am grateful for a friend I knew for such a short timwe. In the service today I learned about her great contributions in many congregations and presbyteries. In her professional life she made a difference in health care as a hospital administrator. The world is a better place because of Virginia.

So here is one of the rewards and pleasures of serving in this Interim EP position.  I get to meet and know some of the greatest people. Even though my contact with Virginia was very limited my life is richer because of this friendship.

So who was the Saint in your life today?

Thanks for the wonders of Science

This Morning at 9:00 A.M. I went for my monthly series of Asthma shots. Now, I know that sounds like not too happy an experience. However it is one of those gifts that has given me back an almost normal life. For almost twenty tears my Allergy Specialist tried all sorts of medicines on me. I even was one of those persons used to try new drugs. Then three years ago a new drug appeared that is now working on about 90% of those who use it. I am one of those fortunate people.

So yes, I am fortunate in many ways:

       The drug works for me.

       My doctor was smart enough to use it on me.

       Our health insurance picks up most of the cost.

So while being thankful I am also concerned for those who do not have the same great medical coverage. We do need to find a way to care for all of our citizens. Then how about the millions more in the world who we could help to live with better health?

It is something for us not only to ponder. We need to do something to correct this injustice!

Niagara Falls

Well looks like I ignored this Blog for several days now. Driving home over 1000 miles was part of my absence. The other part is walking back into the office after two weeks. I can best describe it feeling like being under Niagara Falls. It is even hard to get your breath! Enough of that!

All of us get in positions were there is more to do than we can acomplish in the time available. A Time Managment course I took years ago taught to an interesting practice. At the beginning of each day make your usual list of things to do. Then prioritize it. Now here was the leson that still works for me. When you finish the #1 priority --reprioritize the list. Then do #1. Each time you finish an item keep re-prioritizing. By the end of the day you will have hit most of the high priotiy items. As we all know priorities change rather unexpectedly.

Another thing I learned in that Time Management Class: If you don't get to any item after many days it probably is not that important after all.

So---One more thing off my list today I did the blog.

Bucket List (What to do before you Kick the Bucket

In just a few hours Carolyn and I will be attending the Memorial Service for our sister-in-law Phyllis Yow. She was an outstanding person who spent all of her professional carer workihg for the CIA. She was one of the first women to begin cracking the glass ceiling. She died at age 81 after suffering for over fifteen years with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

So we celebrate her life today while we mourn her loss and the years of her suffering.

Some years ago when Carolyn was facing major surgery one of our son's asked us what we thought about when we got to this mature age. Our respnse was that we were not afraid of death however what we did fear was long protracted illness where we either lost our mental or physical abilities to funtion somewhat normally and independently.

So today as we trust again in he promises of our faith and the support of family and friends we again comtemplate our own untimate reality. Last night around the dinner table in a wonderful restaurant the same son, David, asked, "So Dad do you have a Bucket List? What is the number one priority on that list?"   Interesttly when I first retired thirteen years ago we had a ten year plan. Well we completed that plan p[lus a few more items on the list. As we drive home on Saturday and Sunday I guess we will update our "bucket list." There still is so much to see and do!

Yesterday, in the final hours before sundown we walked along the beach. The waves of the Atlantic Ocean were crashing on the beach of Seabrook Island, SC. Once again I was in awe of the power of the sea. In fact I said to my frined John, "It is really scary."

Moments like that. when coming face to face with the power of nature I realize both my limitations and the awesome power of our Creator. Once again I am struck with the unlimate dimensions of the God who far exceeds the bounds of our human limitations.

There on the beach were two stranded jellyfish. They were lifeless in appearance. However as the tide came in they were soon lifted up by the current and life was restored.

So what are the things that lift us up and get us going again? A few things for me in the last few hours:
Worship yesterday in a little whilte Presnyterian Church build alost 2000 years ago.
Watching a movie last night with the best of friends.
Sharing the joys and pains of life with people who care about us.
Being at the Communion Service that connects us with a power greater than ourselves.