Church Signs -- arrrgggh!!!

There are 2 churches which I pass regularly on my way home from almost anywhere and they drive me nuts.

The one sign currently reads Get Right or Get Left. Being a Lutheran, I well understand that the Holy Ghost calls people by the Gospel but this sign is all LAW, LAW, LAW. First it is a command to Get Right. Sounds great, doesn't it? I'm certain that any nonbeliever passing by, upon reading the command "get right", will immediately turn his life around through sheer effort of his own. They most probably will do this repenting because of the fear they have that they will Get Left. This church is attempting to use the law to convert sinners and that just isn't going to happen. I scream at this sign regularly : (

The other sign is so annoying also. It currently reads, If God is your co-pilot, switch seats. I assume they are talking to Christians because a non-Christian wouldn't even have God as his co-pilot, let alone his pilot. So to the Christians that are passing by, their message is just be a helper to God...let Him do the driving/flying and you be His assistant. Sounds like synergism to me. I also scream at this sign although now that my windows are open, I have to be careful that someone doesn't report me for disturbing the peace. I personally think this church should be prosecuted for disturbing the peace : )

If these are the messages on the outside (remember LAW, LAW, LAW) what is the message on the inside. There must be a multitude dying to hear the sweet message of the Gospel. Kyrie Eleison.

What a guy!

As I mentioned previously, my husband really knows how to show a girl a good time. Today was no exception! He took me to lunch. He took me to lunch at Denny's. He took me to lunch at Denny's in Angola NY, a 350 mile round trip!! The draw wasn't New York, although we passed mile after mile of grape arbors in Western NY. It's interesting to note that the Chautauqua region began their grape cultivation in the early 1800's when German immigrants settled in the area. Later, in the 1870's, the Women's Temperance Union had their first meeting in nearby Fredonia. Coincidence or cause and effect?

But this lunch date happened so that we could actually meet our friends, Mark and Beth and visit over lunch. They drove down from N Tonowanda and we drove up from Cleveland. Here we are enjoying ourselves.

My husband is well known as the-one-who-only-hugs-his-family. Here is digital proof that it is all a ruse : ) He and Beth are sharing a goodbye HUG

The Greek Festival

Memorial Day weekend is always the time for the Greek Festival at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Cleveland. It is the home congregation of my husband's family. His paternal grandmother, YiaYia, was instrumental in raising great sums of money for this church. We return every year to enjoy some of the tasty Greek food they have such as

My 2 personal favorites I love Greek oven roasted potatoes and also souvlaki so that is my choice each year. This year I am eating a low carb diet so I asked for the souvlaki without bread. The man taking the order asked in a heavily accented voice, "South Beach or Dr. Atkins?". I was amazed that he spoke English with a strong accent but knew immediately that I was on one of the 2 popular low carb diets : )

This year some of our friends from church joined us at the festival...Tom and his wife Lori and their children Juli and Kyle. Here they are enjoying themselves. Kyle is the one successfully hiding himself behind a roll!



Of course part of my family was there also. My dear husband, my mother-in-law and my dear daughter-in-law, Naomi


I don't even want to begin to mention the Greek Pastries....

Catechesis for Exaudi Sunday

Here is what the students in our catechesis class will learn today...well, actually, this is what I will teach. Whether or not they learn it, is another thing!!

Catechesis Class May 28, 2006 Exaudi Sunday

Begin with Luther’s Morning Prayer Books of the Bible Sing TLH 222


Review The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

New Lesson We are approaching the end of the Easter season . This past Thursday we celebrated Ascension (40 days after Easter). Next Sunday will be Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter). Ask what happened on Ascension and review it. Where is Jesus now according to the creed (He is seated at the right hand of God the Father) Today is Exaudi, the 6th Sunday after Easter. Exaudi is Latin for “Hear” and the introit begins “Hear O Lord when I cry. We no longer see the Paschal candle since the Risen Christ is no longer walking on the earth



Review: What is Confession? Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. What sins should we confess? Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts. Which are these? Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?
What is the Office of the Keys? The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of the repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent. Where is this written? This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:22-23 What do you believe according to these words? I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and

Memorize: and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain , even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us himself.

Explain, read and enact the Gospel lesson: John 15:26 to 16:4



Memorize TLH 239

Come Thou almighty King, Help us Thy name to sing, Help us to praise.
Father all glorious, O’er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days.

Come, Thou Incarnate Word, Gird on Thy mighty sword, Our prayer attend.
Come and Thy people bless And give Thy word success; Stablish Thy righteousness, Savior and Friend

Come, holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear In this glad hour.
Thou, who almighty art, Now rule in ev’ry heart And ne’er from us depart Spirit of Power

To the great One in Three Eternal praise be Hence evermore!
His sov’reign majesty May we in glory see And to eternity Love and adore!

My Pistol Packin' Day

Today I had such a great time...my husband really knows how to show a girl a good time. On our laid back Saturday, we decided that a visit to the range was just the thing to make our day : ) They just installed a target which has 6 metal disks which ping and go down when hit squarely. After they are all knocked down, you use a rope to reset the target. I used my favorite pistol a Smith & Wesson 9mm Model 3953. I can hit a target and here's proof.....

2 LEFT...













1 LEFT





SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!

















I also practiced shooting with my left hand. You never know when you might have to use your non-dominant hand to shoot. I was really surprised at how well I did with my left hand. My left arm did tire more easily though. It was a beautiful sunny Saturday and spending it with my sweetie and with my dear husband was fantastic. My sweetie???? --- my Smith and Wesson of course.