News & Updates

Friday morning riddle:  How do you try not talking about something, but intentionally make sure your point is clearly understood? My wide-eyed, blonde-haired, blissfully innocent, 11-year-old son came home with a purple paper a few weeks back.  The paper went under the radar for several days… perhaps even weeks.  It was a dated purple paper requiring signatures of both parents.  Sherry discovered it in Michael’s folder a day or two before the deadline. It was the 5th grade boy’s health…

A sweet, bright, on-it, young couple showed up at our marriage class a few months back.  They were excited to gain more proactive tools for their burgeoning marriage.  I wondered why such a great duo needed any marriage help.  Things were going so well, why were they pushing it?  The husband told of a commitment they had made to do something (retreat, class, conference, book, counseling) each year that would build into their marriage.  I did an internal sigh wishing…

Memories of my dad in restaurants can come screaming back like they had just unfolded yesterday.  My father was quick on the draw of a tip withdraw.  He would send a filet or bowl of beans back to the chef in a New York Steak minute.  His standards were extremely high, and often he was a bit grumpy.  If the health inspection score was below a 98, the whole family would pack’er in and head out the door even after…

Is life supposed to be this hard-wired?  Complex? Last night at the annual Scott Formal, Red, Dress-Up, Valentine’s Day Dinner — it was complicated.  It started with our required background music.  In olden days, we’d simply drop the needle on a good Air Supply record and go.  This year we had to plug a laptop into our sound bar and find the perfect Spotify “love songs” playlist to set the mood.  Photos of years gone by would require time and patience…

A PARKING NOTE FROM ALAN:  If you are a regular Cumberland attendee, would you consider parking on the grass when you come for Sunday gatherings?  You can park your car to the left or right… just before our Kenyan hut.  There are widened asphalt ramps clearly marked. During the 10:30 gathering last week, our parking lot was jammed full.  We saw people drive in and leave because there simply was no room. If you park your car to the sides…

Super Bowl fever is starting to kick in… kind of.  An estimated $12.3 billion will be spent when all is said and done.  That’s equal to the Jamaican GDP!  If you’re planning on doing some grocery shopping, I would go ASAP.  Publix & Krogers will be slammed with people buying the four food groups of the NFL:  pizza rolls, salsa, chips, & dip. Do you wonder what the big hype is really about?  Some 179 million are expected to tune…

My glasses broke last week.  With no warning nor neglect on my part, the right arm of my spectacles simply fell off.  I assumed I could quickly get my frames fixed at my local optometry office. Nope.  Eye frames are discontinued every 1-2 years, and my prescription lens would not fit any current frames.  My cynical olfactory sensed a scam which my Visa card would minutes later confirm. In order to see again, I had to:  1) have an updated…

Last night was a long night.  Michael came home from school yesterday and suddenly turned sour.  He was siiiick.  Michael hugged porcelain most of the night.  Not even an ounce of Gatorade would remain in his quickly dehydrating 5th grade body. Of course, you do what you have to do as a parent.  We tried tea, ginger, peppermint candy, mint gum, ice, crackers, and the aforementioned power of Gatorade electrolytes.  Nothing.  This didn’t bode well for the dose of sleep…

I had a really great holiday season.  I enjoyed the music, the lights, the travel to Indiana, family, down time, giving, my wife & kids, and even the food which certainly removed years from my lifespan.  It just was all good.  I am a very blessed man. The upside of my holidays were nothing short of a “10” on the holiday happiness meter for this pastor.  I’m not sure my “10” is the real goal of Christmas, but it certainly…