The Scroll A Periodic newsletter for SAM's Lambs http://www.samslambs.org
*Why God Will Never Get Tenure at Any University* Only published one book. It was in Hebrew. It had no references. He did not publish it in referenced journals. Some doubt He even wrote it Himself. He is not known for his cooperative work. Sure. He created the world, but what has He done lately? He did not get permission from any review board to work on human subjects. When one of His experiments went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning all the subjects. When sample subjects do not behave as predicted, He deletes the whole sample. He rarely comes to class. He just tells His students to read the Book. It is rumored that He sometimes lets His Son teach the class. Although He only has 10 requirements, His students often fail His tests. He expelled His first two students for learning. His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top. (From faculty members at Kansas State University and instructors at Allen County Community College) Internet References: Singles in the Church: Is There Seating For One In The Church?	*Are You a New Year's Sheep or Goat?* by Betty Van Volkenburg Webster NY, January 1 As I think about my goals for the coming year I am reminded of a homily by Rev. Dahn Gandell, our former assistant pastor of The Episcopal Church of The Good Shepherd. She based her homily on a passage from the Book of Matthew She related how, in this parable, sheep and goats were separated, with the sheep being sorted to the right of God for entry into heaven, and the sorting being based on their day to day activities, not their Holy Day church attendance, or sporadic gifts. When an opportunity appears in our daily path, how do we respond? Mother Dahn related how she had been shopping with her baby girl one day and was hurrying towards her car with a cart full of packages when a homeless beggar approached her. As she spoke I could empathize with her motherly and womanly instincts to protect herself and her baby as this strange looking man approached her so persistently. She did not tell us if she gave him the money he was persistently demanding but reminded us that opportunities for giving will come up every day in our lives and God leaves it up to us to decide how we will respond. Little things really do mean a lot and can add up over a lifetime. Meeting your pledges at church, or to the United Way is a very commendable act of charity. But these are also conscious, public acts whereas the little daily acts of charity and giving are spontaneous acts from your heart that only God and ourselves know about. Rev. Gandell has since been called to lead her own church but every year around this time I remember her homily and I’m thankful to her for showing me that I was missing out on some golden opportunities for loving and sharing. I can’t tell you how I plan to respond in the future – that’s between God and me, but if you see me smiling you’ll know what I’ve been up to. I plan to do a lot of smiling in the coming year. How about you? In which fold will you be - the goats or the sheep?

The Scroll
A Periodic newsletter
for SAM's Lambs
http://www.samslambs.org

Why God Will Never Get Tenure at Any University

Only published one book.
It was in Hebrew.
It had no references.
He did not publish it in referenced journals.
Some doubt He even wrote it Himself.
He is not known for his cooperative work.
Sure. He created the world, but what has He done lately?
He did not get permission from any review board to work on human subjects.
When one of His experiments went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning all the subjects.
When sample subjects do not behave as predicted, He deletes the whole sample.
He rarely comes to class. He just tells His students to read the Book.
It is rumored that He sometimes lets His Son teach the class.
Although He only has 10 requirements, His students often fail His tests.
He expelled His first two students for learning.
His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top.

(From faculty members at Kansas State University and instructors at Allen County Community College)

Internet References:

Singles in the Church: Is There Seating For One In The Church?

Are You a New Year's Sheep or Goat?

by Betty Van Volkenburg
Webster NY, January 1

As I think about my goals for the coming year I am reminded of a homily by Rev. Dahn Gandell, our former assistant pastor of The Episcopal Church of The Good Shepherd. She based her homily on a passage from the Book of Matthew

She related how, in this parable, sheep and goats were separated, with the sheep being sorted to the right of God for entry into heaven, and the sorting being based on their day to day activities, not their Holy Day church attendance, or sporadic gifts.

When an opportunity appears in our daily path, how do we respond? Mother Dahn related how she had been shopping with her baby girl one day and was hurrying towards her car with a cart full of packages when a homeless beggar approached her. As she spoke I could empathize with her motherly and womanly instincts to protect herself and her baby as this strange looking man approached her so persistently.

She did not tell us if she gave him the money he was persistently demanding but reminded us that opportunities for giving will come up every day in our lives and God leaves it up to us to decide how we will respond.

Little things really do mean a lot and can add up over a lifetime. Meeting your pledges at church, or to the United Way is a very commendable act of charity. But these are also conscious, public acts whereas the little daily acts of charity and giving are spontaneous acts from your heart that only God and ourselves know about.

Rev. Gandell has since been called to lead her own church but every year around this time I remember her homily and I’m thankful to her for showing me that I was missing out on some golden opportunities for loving and sharing. I can’t tell you how I plan to respond in the future – that’s between God and me, but if you see me smiling you’ll know what I’ve been up to. I plan to do a lot of smiling in the coming year.

How about you? In which fold will you be - the goats or the sheep?