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Requesting your prayers……

Some days are just harder to write than others, and today is no exception. I had actually written my blog for yesterday on Saturday, knowing I would be in a bit of a funk on Sunday. This site allows you to write early and “schedule” a post, and it was the first time I had tried it. I am thankful I did.

Sadly, the day yesterday turned tragic. I was notified by Deacon Morgan as I left St. Paul’s in Greenfield that one of our parishioners, Sarah Woodruff, who was just 20, had just been killed in a traffic accident on I-69. He was already with her parents and they were on the way to the hospital and that’s where I met them.

There is really no need to go into details other than to say that as you can imagine, Sarah’s family is devastated. Sarah’s funeral will be on Friday morning at 10:30 am at Davis Park in Anderson where St. Anne’s meets, and PT and I will meet with them tomorrow night to plan it. I ask you to please keep Sarah’s family in your prayers.

May Sarah’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the tender mercy of God rest in peace.

Fr. Tom+

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Remembering my sister Stephanie today……on her birthday.

Had she not died of cancer in 2001, today my sister Stephanie would have turned 46 and would have received some sort of passive aggressive gift from me reminding her of how old she was. Unfortunately I cannot send it, but I can think of her and remember her fondly on this day.

Steph was diagnosed with cancer the week before I went to seminary in 1986. Though I was supposed to go on vacation, I instead drove up to Chicago to pick her up to take her to a doctor in South Bend the very next morning. So we spent the week together, one I will always remember, but a week I wish she never had to go through.

My relationship with my sister was always intense…..like Notre Dame, you either love them or hate them, but with us it always went back and forth. We were two siblings who were fiercely devoted to each other, but who also would probably want to throw the other out in front of a bus at any point if it were just legal! We could pull each other’s chains better than even our spouses, and often could by just being in the same room. But we wouldn’t trade a moment, or at least I wouldn’t. We loved each other very much, and I miss her every day.

My daughter Stephanie is named for her, and they had about 10 great years together before she died. Steph got a lot of joy from that and so did I. And now when my daughter yanks my chain, I just remember she can’t help it…it’s in her name!

On this day I rejoice for my sister Stephanie! I am thankful for her and for her life. But more than anything, in faith, I am thankful that one day I will see her again (and pull her chain!)

God Bless!

Tom+

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Of Blessings Eternal………

Today we went down to Nashville to attend the interment of Jim Morrison, a parishioner from St. Matthew’s in Nashville. It was the last part of Jim’s funeral, the first part being held in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis. The celebrant for the first part was Jean Denton, who is a fine priest and friend. The second part, was conducted by our own Deacon Dan Conley who did a great job at what was his first funeral.

As I said, I only attended, but what was so comforting were Deacon Dan’s words to us all. It really makes me feel good when I see one of our clergy do such a wonderful job. I couldn’t help but think of how comforting his words must have been to the family and to those gathered there. Jim certainly had a lot of family and friends, and I know they all are saddened by his death, but Dan reminded us all that he was with the Lord, and not just that, but that one day we would see him again. There was a lot to be thankful for in the truth of his words!

We will see Jim again, and all those who we love but we see no longer. We serve a great God, greater than we could ever ask for or imagine! It has been a great day, and I am thankful for all He has given us!

God Bless!

Fr. Tom+

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The Return of the Two Yutes……..

It has been an exciting day! Stephanie and Scott returned from New York a day early and we spent the day hanging out at home. Stephanie made candy with Amanda, and Scott and I drywalled a few spots we have been meaning to in the basement. We accomplished a lot, but more than anything it just felt good to have them home.

Ben of course is beside himself! He is SO EXCITED to play with them both. They all miss each other and it is no wonder…..when they are together they play hard! The three of them laughing together is perhaps my favorite sound, and I was so blessed to hear that all through the day.

There is no other news besides that, but for me that is enough! I will go to bed tonight quite content! God is good, and He has blessed me with wonderful children, many smiles, and a lot of laughter.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tom+

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My year in review…at least what I can remember of it!

As I remember, I started 2008 with a promise to partner with the Lord to lose some weight…..and it worked!!! I lost 45 pounds in 45 days without really even trying and even had to buy new pants and wear smaller shirts! I felt great, although I thought I looked like I was sick!!! But at my age and height, it was better to have the weight off and look different than to keep it on and look “marvelous!!” (right)

But of course in April I suffered a stroke, and that was post-diet. My weight, my blood pressure, everything was good. I just wasn’t. The rest of the year had me struggling to get back to my old self, which I am afraid will have to just stay in the past. There are things I probably will never recover, but other things I find I have compensated and do better. Personally, I am a LOT more happy with where I am than where I was before the stroke. Sure I still have my days, but heck, who doesn’t? I am just thankful to be around.

We planted a fourth Church in 2008 and moved 2 of our Churches to their own facilities. I survived Ben turning 1, Stephanie turning 17, and my son Scott driving on a permit…yep, the child trifecta! And I think I can endure even more! I would like to see at least two more Churches next year and maybe more. But I am okay if Ben doesn’t drive for a few more years, Stephanie never moves out, and Scott stops wanting a sports car.

Ben and Amanda are in our bed. Stephanie and Scott are still in NYC, and if I stay up just an hour and 45 minutes more I will be able to toast in the New Year with the cat (who only sleeps in the day). We will see…..I think I can, but at my age that is often disproved.

Anyway my friends, I hope you have had a great day and year as well. May 2009 be a year full of God’s abundant blessings for you!

Goodnight and Good Year!

Fr. Tom+

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Goodbye for now to an old friend………

Today a good friend of mine was laid to rest….Bill Drake. I have known Bill since the early 1980’s and he, I can easily say, was one of a kind. He has had a bad heart for as long as I have known him, and that heart finally gave out just prior to Christmas. But I am sure that if you looked at it you would see it was great big and made of gold.

Bill was buried in the Episcopal Church in Plainfield, and though I know a lot of people out there, Sadly I felt it best not for me to go. I have been so demonized by people within the Episcopal Church for retiring and becoming a Church Planter for the Orthodox Anglican Church that I felt my being there would distract what everyone was there for. Deacon Tony was one of Bill’s best friends and Bill had even asked him to be in the service before he died. But get this……the Episcopal Bishop of Indianapolis told the priest doing the funeral that Tony couldn’t, because “he was not really ordained.” How tragic and shameful. Of course she considers me in that very same light. Yet if Tony were a Methodist or a Lutheran, it would have never been an issue. It is a shame that vindictiveness is placed above pastoral concern. Please pray for her. Tony and Bill were devoted friends. Bill came to Tony’s ordination. We laughed and rejoiced as always. And I even gave him communion……imagine that. All people deserve dignity. It amazes me that I am always portrayed as intolerant and exclusive. I think the evidence suggests the converse.

Anyway, before bed I will raise a glass to my dear friend Bill. His wife and family are in my prayers and I hope in yours. I was blessed to have known him, and I know so many others who would say the same. But more than anything, thanks be to God, I will be blessed again to walk with him in the life to come! (And beat him at euchre!)

May Bill’s soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Fr. Tom+

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Of living life to the fullest……….

There are so many things I thought I would have accomplished by this point in my life, and I often wonder why they were set aside. It never takes me too long to realize that being a dad is a big priority for me, and apparently more of a priority than writing that book, or working to get a teaching gig at a university part-time.

Tonight I set a few things aside to go with Amanda and Ben to the bookstore and grocery. Sure, I spent a good piece of time looking through the “Religion” section to find books to continue our clergy training, but after that was done I spent quite a bit more time with my head under a blanket with Ben in his shopping cart laughing and giggling while people walked by clearly thinking we were lunatics. I recommend it, because it is really good work if you can get it. AND, it really is much better than theology any day.

In fact, despite an undergrad in Religion, and masters and doctoral degrees too, I have learned that all the intellect and theory in the world can never replace our call to be with and care for people. And though I am pretty smart, I believe I became a better priest and person when I set aside the notion that all that knowledge was more important than doing the right thing (which is often pretty simple.)

Sadly, I spent a lot of years listening to clergy, and many times they were bishops, intellectually attempting to justify what I knew in my heart was sinful. If education is supposed to make you smarter, many of them should ask for their money back! I don’t follow them anymore!! But sadly many people still follow this nonsense because they listen to these theological dissertations that don’t sit well even in their own hearts. They stay with people who say “well that isn’t us,” yet who remain under the very authority they claim to not be a part of. I am no rocket scientist, but if you are in bed with someone you are in bed with them, you cannot deny it. It doesn’t fool the simplest soul, why do they think they can fool the Lord. A lot is at stake. A love for a building, or to follow people making immoral choices, is pretty risky if you ask me…..but maybe I am just not smart enough to know!

Anyway, all this is to say life matters and our choices do as well. Jesus does accept us for who we are, but then as the Bible tells us we are called to live from that point as “new creations.” We were never promised that it would be easy. In fact, being a Christian is often hard, and their is often a cost for making the right choice. But we ought to remember that Jesus Himself has led the way for us, and He has paid a price higher than we ever will. Choose that good road, that road less traveled, and see what the Lord has in store for you!

Life is good my friends…..live it! Goodnight and God Bless!

Fr. Tom+

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Of learning that I cannot help it…….it’s just genetic!

Steph and Scott are becoming New Yorkers, at least temporarily, but they come by it naturally…..it’s in their blood. Scott shared tonight that he has been picking up on some of the family accent, which is no surprise since he is in our American Motherland! My Uncle Mickey told him that when he gets home he will be able to hear our accent here, and I suppose he is right. I always enjoy being with my family because the accents and language are different, and it reminds me of our heritage. We have a great family.

Oddly enough, I actually sound very much from New York, but only when I get mad. I have surmised that it is a connection from me being in trouble with my dad as a kid. My dad sounds pretty Midwestern, but if he gets mad, or if Notre Dame screws up (okay, that is the same thing) his accent clearly comes out. And though I have BEEN TO New York, I have never LIVED THERE. We often imitate what we know though, and the fiery NY temper is just genetic as far as I am concerned. My kids will learn from visiting that the NY that I really am honest when I describe my “concerns” I have with them at times as emotional (I prefer passionate). There is one thing I have learned from being a Tirman and that is that in no way is there a gray area in knowing how someone feels! That NY style is pretty straightforward. I am happy my kids will learn that blood is stronger than psychology from the best.

Anyway, both of them have checked in and I am off to bed. Tomorrow they head for the city itself where they will stay till New Year’s Eve. I am glad they are there and it makes me proud.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tom+

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A day in my own Brigadoon……..

Amanda, Ben, and I went up to Goshen this morning to visit my grandmother (my mom’s mom) who lives in the Greencroft Retirement Community there. It was great to see her. My grandma is 92, and she watched with great joy Ben run all around her apartment. A short time later my cousins Steve and Matt came, and she had all her grandsons but Scott there.

As we always do, we went out to eat, this time to Bob Evans. But sadly as it always is with old people, I tired out pretty quick!!!! And when Ben sacked out on the way back to Greencroft, we decided it was best to head home. I still had a lot of work to and there were storms coming so it made sense to head out. An as we also always do, we stopped at the cemetery to visit my grandfather’s grave on the way out of town.

It seems so strange to me to just visit there. Goshen was my second home as a kid, and somehow I still feel drawn to it. I guess it may because life was always so wonderful there for me and filled with such great memories. It’s like a Brigadoon I can visit many times a year, and for that I am thankful.

Anyway, I am back and have most of my work done for tomorrow. I am thankful for the re-charge of my spirit today. I am also thankful for my grandmother. Without her or my grandfather there is no telling where I would be. It was so great to see her.

Okay, it’s off to bed for me. A unseasonably warm goodnight to you all….and God Bless!

Tom+