Symbols of Redemption
Newsletter

Pastor's Column

The World's Busiest Man

  A friend of mine was recently called the "world's busiest man." This auspicious honor was in response to an e-mail he sent. He said his inbox is regularly packed with e-mail forwards of jokes, stories, political diatribes, dancing cards, chirping birds, songs and religious trivia. He decided to deal with this situation by explaining to the senders that he wanted to maintain friendships with them, and that he welcomed and would respond to "personal" e-mails, but that he would delete the forwarded material.

  Evidently, one such sender said that he would never, ever hear from her again, concluding by writing, "You must be the busiest man in the whole world." He thought the new identity had some advantages. So, during the next two days, whenever his wife asked him to do something, he quickly announced that as the "world's busiest man," he didn't have time. (That was not a good idea!)

  I receive many forwarded e-mails that are humorous, inspirational, and interesting. The ones that I think are worthwhile, I pass on to a few other people as well. In fact, if I do NOT receive emails from some individuals I get concerned about their health! When they are feeling well, I regularly get some forwarded emails from them; when they are “under the weather” I receive few or no emails – and I get concerned.

  God gives us time to tease, laugh and enjoy the ironies of life. While e-mail is an excellent way to convey information, it is not one of the best vehicles for building relationships.

  Personal, face-to-face contact is still needed. But sharing information with people who are far away (i.e., my family in California, Washington, Texas, Ontario, New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) with whom a relationship has already been built, and with Redemption’s officers and board members, and with far-away and near-by friends is done very easily and quickly through email. Unlike a telephone call the recipient of emails can read them whenever they have the time. I can send the same message to more than one person at a time (that works well with my siblings). It’s also a good way to stay in touch with snowbirds during the winter months and keep them abreast of what is happening at Redemption in their absence. I was told by a snowbird I didn’t send an email often enough this past winter!

  With Ann Behning directing the email prayer chain, prayer requests get around quickly to our Redemption prayer partners. That keeps us quickly informed as the Body of Christ as to the needs of other “family members” in the Church. And there is still an alternative prayer chain directed by Carolyn Maple that uses the telephone.

  When we had the recorded phone message going out for a few years, it was a way of staying in contact with Redemption’s membership. With that system breaking (remember that late night phone call!) a new system has been talked about but not yet realized. In the meanwhile, we are trying to come up with an alternative way of contacting as many members as possible in a short space of time. E-mail is one way but not all people have access to e-mail. So how about e-mail for those who have it, and a phone chain for those who don’t have email? A weekly message could be sent around both ways that would be partly inspirational and partly a reminder to the membership of up-coming events (including funerals).

  We’ll use August to get organized for both the email chain and the phone chain. Watch for a sign-up sheet that will give us your preference, and either your email address or phone number. I’ll not send any “forwarded emails” to you – unless there is a real good one that I can’t pass up!

UPCOMING EVENTS                       

August 12: Outdoor Worship at 10:00am

September 9: Rally Sunday