Vol. 2, # 25, Jan. 30, 2004

Prayer Rounds

Kay Culpepper has been moved to a new room at Lakewood Manor. Her new address is: Mrs. Kay Culpepper, Lakewood Manor, 1900 Lauderdale Drive, Health Care Center, Room 116, Richmond, VA 23233. If you would like to send her a note or a card, you may reach her there. She is an inspiration to one and all.

PH has heard from Linda Mears. A portion of her E-mail follows:

"Dear Henry, Thank you for your prayers. Absolutely, please do tell the class that we are doing OK. Rick has his good days and bad, but, all in all, is doing well. We have moved in to a 3 room apt. in order for him to have the peace and quiet his doctors said was very important. He loves being around the grandchildren, but living there was just too much turmoil for him. Since I wrote you, I had a paper shredder blow up in my face. Thank the Lord, I threw the back of my arm up to shield my eyes, and other than losing my eyebrows, eyelashes, the hair around my face, and some superficial burns to my arm and forehead, the doc says I will be fine. It could have been so much worse. Our son is home from Iraq because of my daughter-in-law's physical problems, but they want to send him back in May Once again, thank you for your care and concern and please give the class my love." Love, Linda

Mary Pentecost continues to have a chronic cough due to allergies.

Margaret Phelps has heard some hopeful news from her college roommate regarding Matt Brooks. Her roommate's E-mail is below:

"I wanted to let you know the latest on Matt. He is off the respirator and breathing on his own. The ultra sound shows blood clots still in his right arm but they are not interfering with circulation. The left arm is healing well. He had a severe reaction to the penicillin but is doing okay now. His fever has stabilized at 101 degrees. The doctors still do not know the origin of the infection. The family greatly appreciates the prayers of so many people who do not even know them but have shown concern and love for them. And I appreciate being able to bring a concern to my friends and know they will join me in prayer. We have a very large family, don't we?" Love, Virginia

Kathy Wade has requested that Dan Beatty and his family be added to our prayer list. Dan worked with Kathy at the IMB and lost his job at the IMB at the same time that Kathy lost her job. Kathy's E-mail follows:

"Would you mind keeping Dan Beatty and his family in prayer? His sister-in-law, Jewel, 57, was in a horrible car crash recently in which one of her three grandkids was killed. A drunk driver was going 90 mph without its headlights and slammed into the car. Jewel is in ICU in Hampton after several operations. It looks rather bleak I'm afraid. The 14-year-old who was killed had been ejected 40 feet out of the vehicle and died instantly. The other two kids are pretty banged up but will survive I'm told.

PH has since learned that Jewel expired from her injuries.

John Oliver Is doing better and medical tests have been normal.

Remember in your prayers Linda Mears and her family, Matt Brooks, Carmella Bond, Durell Ashlock, Kay and Bob Culpepper, John and Margaret Oliver, Mary Pentecost, Dan Beatty and his family, Donald Deer, Dot and Cecil Sherman, the Church staff, the Pastor's Search Committee, the Denominational Affairs Committee, our military in harm's way, the least among us (especially those fellow citizens who are homeless) and those only known to you.

There is a rumor from a reliable source that some "reorganization or downsizing" may occur at the IMB after the trustees meet in February. Reorganization and downsizing can often mean lost jobs.

When Spring Arrives, We Will Sing A Hymn or Two

CALENDAR-CLEARING TIME! Please save Saturday, March 20, on your calendar for the Spring Hymn Singing Social at the home of Donna and Rob Brown. This has traditionally been a glorious time for the class and our dynamic Doug Moyers returns as our pianist. What a great occasion this will be!

Shepson Bill Is Reading the Lost Gospel of Q and Is Excited About It.

Hi, everyone! I am thoroughly enjoying reading THE LOST GOSPEL: THE BOOK OF Q AND CHRISTIAN ORIGINS by Burton L. Mack (San Francisco, 1994, paperback). It is fascinating, and the author refers to an upcoming "unified text" under the direction of James Robinson of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity in - guess where - Claremont, California! The actual textual work is being done by the International Q Project and the Q Project of the Society of Biblical Literature.

Bill E-mailed eminent Bible Scholar Donald Deer about knowing James Robinson:

And Donald responded with the following:

"I first met James Robinson at a professional congress in Claremont in 1972. We now live in the same retirement community, and eat our noon meals in the same dining hall; seating is assigned by the computer, so we sometimes eat together. He was the intermediary who arranged for the translation job I'm now doing (a commentary on Luke, from French into English). I proof read his The Critical Edition of Q. My name appears in the book for that reason. Right now he's away for a few months in Canada, so I can't give him your greetings today."

Donald S. Deer
607 Leyden Lane
Claremont, CA 91711-4236
Tel.: 909-621-5315
E-mail: db.deer@verizon.net

PH believes that the book mentioned below is the one that Donald mentions. This might be a worthy study for our class after completing John in 2005. This volume has 581 pages, which might be too long for our comfort.

Critical Edition of Q: A Synopsis Including the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and Thomas with English, German and French Translations of Q and Thomas James McConkey Robinson, John S. Kloppenborg, Paul Hoffmann Hardcover, September 2000

PH wonders if seating in the EBWMMA should be assigned by computer?

Shepson Beth Likes Meatloaf and Opens a Box of Memories. Beth's E-mail Follows:

"Hi, Henry! I've been thinking about you today. I talked to Margaret Phelps this morning and she told me that Wednesday night dinner was canceled. My very first thought was, "Poor Henry. He won't get his meatloaf." When I mentioned that to Margaret, she said that maybe George would take you some since he realizes how important meatloaf is. To tell the truth, I like it, too. It's wonderful comfort food - served, of course, with mashed potatoes. Today, being snowed in, I went through a little box that has been under my bed for a long time. My aunt gave it to me when my grandmother died. On the box was written, "This box has not been gone through." My grandmother was a keeper so I knew I would find lots of letters, newspaper articles, etc. You may be interested in a couple of the things I looked at. One was a letter, dated 1948, from Altavista. It was signed Helen - and I think it may have been from Helen Falls (Shepson Brenda's Aunt). The other was a prayer offered by F.D.R. for Liberation Day. It's a beautiful prayer. Perhaps you've already seen it, but I hadn't. (In the box, I also found a letter from my mother, written on her honeymoon, to my grandmother. A fun discovery! Hope you're well and keeping warm."
Beth

Mentioning FDR reminded PH of FDR's last speech, which was never delivered. The speech was intended for broadcast on April 13, 1945, Jefferson's birthday. FDR died on April 12, 1945, just weeks before Nazi Germany collapsed. The conclusion of FDR's written text reads:

"Today, science has brought all of the different quarters of the globe so close together that it is impossible to isolate them one from another. Today we are faced with the pre-eminent fact, that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together and work together in the same world, at peace. Let me assure you that my hand is the steadier for the work that is to be done, but I move more firmly into the task, knowing that you - millions and millions of you - are joined with me in the resolve to make this work endure. The work, my friends, is peace, more than an end of this war - an end to the beginnings of all wars, yes, an end, forever, to this impractical, unrealistic settlement of the differences between governments by the mass killing of peoples. Today as we move against the terrible scourge of war - as we go forward toward the greatest civilization that any generation of human beings can make in this world - the contribution of lasting peace, I ask you to keep up your faith. I measure the sound, solid achievement that can be made at this time by the straight-edge of your own confidence and your resolve. And to you, and to all Americans who dedicate themselves with us to the making of an abiding peace, I say: The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith."

Only a few months earlier in his twelfth State of the Union Address FDR stated:

"We need the continuing friendship of our Allies in this war. Indeed, that need is a matter of life and death. And we shall need that friendship in the peace.

I quote from an editorial in the Stars and Stripes, our soldiers' own newspaper in Europe:

"For the holy love of God let's listen to the dead. Let's learn from the living. Let's join ranks against the foe. The bugles of battle are heard again above the bickering."

That is the demand of our fighting men. We cannot fail to heed it.

This new year of 1945 can be the greatest year of achievement in human history.
Nineteen forty-five can see the final ending of the Nazi-Fascist reign of terror in Europe. Nineteen forty-five can see the closing in of the forces of retribution about the center of the malignant power of imperialistic Japan.

Most important of all, 1945 can, and must, see the substantial beginning of the organization of world peace-for we all know what such an organization means in terms of security, and human rights, and religious freedom.

We Americans of today, together with our Allies, are making history-and I hope it will be better history than ever has been made before. We pray that we may be worthy of the unlimited opportunities that God has given us."

Shepson Bill Reviews SSBSC Biblical History

SHEPHERD-SIMPSON BIBLE STUDY CLASS BIBLE STUDY PROGRAMS, 1979-PRESENT

All Shepsons should review this list and recommend our next book of study. PH joined the class in 1993; thus PH missed Job and Luke. But PH also likes Q. Express your opinion regarding our next study.

News Flash from Shepson Bill

PHIL'S CONTINENTAL LOUNGE, a popular West End restaurant next to the Westhampton Theatre, now has a River Road Church connection. Kyle Measell, son of Sam and Peggy Measell, and his wife, Katy, purchased the restaurant in mid-December and now own and operate it. The food is excellent (and has been since 1939) and the prices great. A special on Thursdays is the best meat loaf in town. Breakfast all day long. A neat place.

The Ladd's Are Twenty-nine

PH believes that Jim Ladd's birthday is today and Charlotte Ladd will be twenty-nine tomorrow (Saturday)

Teacher Bob Remains in Chapter Sixteen

Teacher Bob is moving through the Gospel of John like a turtle in quicksand, but all of us are learning more than just John. PH believes that Teacher Bob will start around verse 12 of John 16 this Sunday. Bring your Bible. Any translation should do.

Religious Query of the Week

Does God Have Any Influence on Who Wins the Super Bowl? Reader responses welcomed.

The SSBSC is the only RRCB Sunday School Class to have two physician couples as members. This is indeed an honor. Attached to this PHA is a photo of Board of Administration Chair Donna and husband Rob taken at the time of the Christmas Pageant in 2001.

PH

Poor Henry's Archives

January 23, 2004
January 16, 2004
January 9, 2004
January 2, 2004
December 26, 2003
December 19, 2003
December 12, 2003
December 5, 2003
November 28, 2003
November 21, 2003
November 14, 2003
November 7, 2003
October 31, 2003
October 24, 2003
October 18, 2003
October 10, 2003
October 3, 2003
September 12, 2003
September 5, 2003
August 29, 2003
August 22, 2003
August 15, 2003
August 8, 2003
August 1, 2003
July 25, 2003
July 18, 2003
July 11, 2003
July 4, 2003
June 27, 2003
June 20, 2003
June 13, 2003
June 6, 2003
May 30, 2003
May 23, 2003
May 16, 2003
May 9, 2003
May 2 , 2003
April 25, 2003
April 18, 2003
April 11, 2003
April 4, 2003
March 28, 2003
March 21, 2003
March 13, 2003
March 6, 2003
February 27, 2003
February 20, 2003
February 13, 2003
February 6, 2003
January 30, 2003
January 23, 2003
January 16, 2003
January 9, 2003
January 2, 2003
December 26, 2002
December 19, 2002