Focus Forward

It’s About Compassion

Our Methodist Men study group is involved in the reading of and discussion surrounding a book by Karen Armstrong entitled Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life.  Armstrong lays out a strong case for the importance of religion in our lives and in organizational structure whether  they a service club, church, or nation.  Central to her assessment is the importance of the Golden Rule.

The author takes the reader on a challenging ride through the concepts of compassion, the personal demands it makes on each, and the potential benefits it provides to self, community, nation and world.

For a sample of Armstrong’s exploration go to http://www.ted.com/talks/karen_armstrong_makes_her_ted_prize_wish_the_charter_for_compassion.html   .   Here she gives a fine preview of what she has to say and hints of what the book provides.

And a reminder.  All men are invited to join in free wheeling discussion of current religious, cultural, and social topics every Friday morning at 7:00am in the Church Commons.

Just the beginning…

Here we go!  This is the first entry on my Centenary blog and its purpose is pretty straightforward.   It’s my hope that occasional, unscheduled ramblings here might keep everyone a bit better informed about the doings here at the church.  Of equal, if not greater importance, will be the pieces I offer about questions I may have about this journey each of us is taking toward a closer, clearer relationship with God.  So, here goes.

As you may know, my work here at the church is primarily of an administrative/management nature.  I work with the non-clergy side of the church’s activities.  In that role, I watch the financial side of our work although it is Jim Williams (church accountant) who keeps the books and pays the bills.  My work is focused on observing the expenditures in concert with the revenue coming into Centenary each month.  I am pleased to report that the budget balance for 2011 looks very good.  Our projections indicate that we have the resource to finish the year in the black and that’s good news any year.

Of late, some congregation members have commented on what they observe as a “dark” appearance inside the sanctuary.  By this they mean that the colors employed 20 years ago seem a bit too “heavy” and not uplifting.  Anybody else wish to weigh in on this subject?  Sometimes getting used to a certain appearance immunizes me and prompts me to ignore what is apparent to them.  If you have any thoughts, drop me a note in the box below.