The Scroll A Periodic newsletter for SAM's Lambs http://www.samslambs.org	*The Rev: A View from Upstairs*
*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?	*From The Rev:* *Are You Ready For Spring?* by Reverend Lance Robbins Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Spring is here. Are you ready? I don't know about you, but I have an amazing amount of work to do around the house to get ready for those glorious days of sunshine and warmth just ahead. As you get your home ready for spring, have you given some thought to a good spring cleaning of your heart, mind, and spiritual life? I suggest that could be even more important than sprucing up your yard. As I reflect on my own interior spring cleaning, I realize that I need to sweep away some old resentments, anxieties, and disappointments. This spring I really must make more room for joy, simple pleasures, delight in others, and perhaps the most difficult of all, a new-found delight in myself. It may just be that we find happiness through a discovery of how much we are treasured and loved by God. Recently, I ran across an article by Richard L. Clifford. In part, he writes: "I suppose each person's definition of happiness is as different as the uniqueness of his or her life and diversity of desires. But, essentially, happiness is not so much something we find as it is something that finds us. It sneaks up on us when we are not looking; when we are not analyzing our unhappy state. It visits us quietly when we are distracted by our work, our professions, our responsibilities when we are involved with our family and with the countless human beings who live and work and love at our side. It whispers to us through a word, a gesture, a sign, a moment of concern or compassion, or interest and understanding. It is then that this elusive element takes hold of us to enrich and guide us, to inspire and direct us onward. "And in the midst of all that would signify disappointment and disillusion, restlessness and infelicity, we experience that attitude, that secret of happiness which so often whispers to the human heart in an everyday language, so simple it is seldom understood." His words area beautiful way of saying: this spring let's clear the decks. Let's make some room in our hearts and lives so that through a gesture, a word, a glance, happiness will happen to us just as surely as the warmth and sun will come this summer. Faithfully, (The Rev) Lance Robbins, Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Webster NY Tel: 585-872-2281 Good Shepherd church has begun a new Singles Ministry which is open to all single people in the Webster NY area, of any denomination and any single marital status. You can view their progress on their site. Bishop Jack McKelvey of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester NY recently visited Good Shepherd where he delivered an address on "Marks of an Effective Congregation" It looks like Good Shepherd’s congregation and clergy would definitely fall in the Effective Congregation category.

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

The Rev: A View from Upstairs

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?

From The Rev: Are You Ready For Spring?

by Reverend Lance Robbins
Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

Spring is here. Are you ready? I don't know about you, but I have an amazing amount of work to do around the house to get ready for those glorious days of sunshine and warmth just ahead. As you get your home ready for spring, have you given some thought to a good spring cleaning of your heart, mind, and spiritual life? I suggest that could be even more important than sprucing up your yard.

As I reflect on my own interior spring cleaning, I realize that I need to sweep away some old resentments, anxieties, and disappointments. This spring I really must make more room for joy, simple pleasures, delight in others, and perhaps the most difficult of all, a new-found delight in myself. It may just be that we find happiness through a discovery of how much we are treasured and loved by God.

Recently, I ran across an article by Richard L. Clifford. In part, he writes: "I suppose each person's definition of happiness is as different as the uniqueness of his or her life and diversity of desires. But, essentially, happiness is not so much something we find as it is something that finds us. It sneaks up on us when we are not looking; when we are not analyzing our unhappy state. It visits us quietly when we are distracted by our work, our professions, our responsibilities when we are involved with our family and with the countless human beings who live and work and love at our side. It whispers to us through a word, a gesture, a sign, a moment of concern or compassion, or interest and understanding. It is then that this elusive element takes hold of us to enrich and guide us, to inspire and direct us onward.

"And in the midst of all that would signify disappointment and disillusion, restlessness and infelicity, we experience that attitude, that secret of happiness which so often whispers to the human heart in an everyday language, so simple it is seldom understood."

His words area beautiful way of saying: this spring let's clear the decks. Let's make some room in our hearts and lives so that through a gesture, a word, a glance, happiness will happen to us just as surely as the warmth and sun will come this summer.

Faithfully,

(The Rev) Lance Robbins,
Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd,
Webster NY Tel: 585-872-2281

Good Shepherd church has begun a new Singles Ministry which is open to all single people in the Webster NY area, of any denomination and any single marital status. You can view their progress on their site.

Bishop Jack McKelvey of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester NY recently visited Good Shepherd where he delivered an address on "Marks of an Effective Congregation" It looks like Good Shepherd’s congregation and clergy would definitely fall in the Effective Congregation category.