Busy Sunday

Last Sunday was a busy day across the district. Here are three examples:

Block Party was a Blockbuster!

The rain didn’t dampen the spirits or the enthusiasm at Park View Community Mission’s annual block party last Sunday.  The weather forced activities indoors but the facility was large enough to handle the crowd.  Robert Cardwell kicked-off the afternoon of praise and fellowship by leading gospel singing in the fellowship hall while Balloon Dude Travis fascinated children in the smaller social hall.  After a sumptuous meal was served Humble Tip rattled the stained glass windows with Christian Rap in the sanctuary.

Teens Opposing Poverty (TOPS), a conference ministry for the homeless, co-sponsors the event every year with Park View Community Mission.  The purpose is to bring people in the community together to establish relationships.  You have to meet people before you can meet needs.  The Block Party always brings in new people that aren’t regulars for the Wednesday Night Service and Suppers and provides an opportunity to celebrate what God is doing in our lives and in our midst.

District UMW has yearly meeting at Centenary UMC

Julie Taylor from our Denomination offices in New York was the main speaker as she talked about how the UMW works as a team from the top at the Women’s Division all the way down to the local units. She said: “You can accomplish at lot if you work together and make it fun.” She told of the story when she was asked to be the President of the Main Street UMC Unit in Bedford. At the time she was doing a lot of traveling didn’t think she could do it but the outgoing president said, “Julie we work as a team and when you can’t be there the rest of us will pick up and do the job when you can’t.”

Julie concluded: “When you work as a team you can accomplish a lot. You need to set goals and a mission project you want to work on and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.”

When I had my accident and Franks open heart surgery, my mission team at Mount Hermon UMC really pulled together. The programs we planned for spring all went off as nothing was wrong I just gave them some guidance by phone when they had a question and they had no problems. If you work as a team and set some goals you would be surprised at what you can accomplish and enjoy doing. It.

Jan Kahn – District UMW

Faith in Action Day

The congregation of Timberlake UMC participated in our 2nd Faith in Action Day.  Our theme was “Don’t Just Go to Church… Be the Church.” We gathered for a brief worship service at 8:30 a.m. and then headed out of the church to the mission field. We returned at 5:00 p.m. for a pancake supper and a Praise & Worship Service. During the service, members of the congregation gave testimonies about their experiences. Everyone felt truly blessed to be able to share our Faith in Action.

• Packed over 30,000 meals to be sent to Pakistan through Stop Hunger Now
• Installed a roof on a home in Lynchburg with Rebuilding Hope (Friday & Saturday)
• Children delivered doughnuts to workers at health care facilities, fire departments, rescue squads, etc.
• Delivered apples to Salvation Army and Daily Bread (gleaned from a local orchard)
• Decorated tote bags to be used for food pantry collection
• Paid for meals for drive-thru patrons at Arby’s ($300)
• Sorted clothes at Parkview Mission
• Served breakfast at Salvation Army
• Served lunch at Daily Bread
• Visited people at nursing homes
• Sang songs to people in hospitals
• Held a worship service in a nursing home
• Installed a handicap ramp at the church’s youth center
• Decorated “School Bags for VAUMC Conference”
• Wrote cards for soldiers
• Cleaned carpet for a homebound member
• Made crafts for the UMW bazaar
• Painted walls in the church
• Changed light bulbs for the church
• Hosted a neighborhood block party that included Praise & Worship music, children’s activities, free popcorn, and funnel cakes (had to be inside due to rain, but still had fun)
• Blessed 76 hand knitted helmet liners to be sent to soldiers

For more information, contact Betsy Harkleroad at TUMC. She and Alison Pettit will be glad to share information about organizing a Faith in Action Day. betsy.harkleroad@timberlakeumc.org

Important Dates to keep on your Calendar

October 5: 7:00 PM - Common Table, Fort Hill UMC

October 12: 9:00 - District Clergy Meeting, Court Street UMC

October 21: 9:00 - District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Court Street UMC

October 22-23       Lay Speakers Training, Location Fort Hill UMC

October 30: 9:00 - Staff/Pastor/Parrish Relations Training, Court Street UMC 

November 2           Common Table, Fort Hill UMC, 7:00 pm

November 24-26   Thanksgiving Holidays, District Office Closed

December 5            District Conference, Amelon UMC, 3:00 pm

December 11-12     Lynchburg District hosting Cabinet Meeting

December 23-28     Christmas Holidays, District Office Closed

January 29, 2011    Leadership Training Event, Heritage UMC 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Spring – 2011     Leadership Training Event – Focus on Missions

Lynchburg District Youth Leadership Retreat

On September 17-19 twenty youth workers from seven churches gathered at Myrtle Beach Christian retreat center for the Youth Ministry Dialogue event. The event was sponsored by the Lynchburg District youth.

Leading the conversation was Mark Oestreicher or better known as Marko. MarkO is a 30 year youth ministry veteran who was previously the youth ministry president. He has also written many youth ministry books including Youth Ministry 3.0.

The weekend consisted of 5 sessions with MarkO. The conversation focused on adolescent development and how the church should respond. We discussed new ways of doing youth ministry that will best be able to reach the constantly changing youth culture.

Overall the weekend was a great time of networking, learning, and encouragement. Carol Ellis from Main St. in Bedford summed it up best by say "We learned a lot and came home feeling ready for the challenge.  We are looking to God for guidance and help and we are looking to the future with excitment.  I can't wait to see how God will move in and through us as we  minister to the youth."

-- Shawn Kiger

Church and Leadership News

I love to share what is going on in our churches across the district. Here are two examples. If you too have news you want to share that could possibly be of interest to the Lynchburg District please feel free to email me.

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Hey Larry, I just returned from a terrific Conference in Atlanta.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it. I was encouraged by Rev. Tyrone Gordon, from Dallas, Texas. 

Tyrone has been at his first and only appointment for almost 30 years.   When he was assigned to St. Lukes, the church had an average attendance of 30.   They now have nearly 5,000.

Bishop Larry Goodpaster  also spoke at the conference.    As chair of the Council of Bishops he told us the results of a recent study concerning the United Methodist Church in North America.   He said the study revealed the following facts:

·         The average age of United Methodist in the US is 59.  At this rate in 20 years the United Methodist Church could die out.

·         Most growing churches had the same pastor for more than 10 years.

·         Churches that have a pastoral turnover every four years seem to be in decline.

I was encouraged, because Salem seems to be going against the trend seen nationwide.   I was also encouraged because many of the church growth tools presented are things we are trying.

My next move is to propose "Rotational Sunday School".   As with all new things some will resist, but I think once they see how well it can work, they will come around.

Sincerely, Chuck Schooler

Pastor Of Salem UMC, Friend To All

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Hey Larry, As you requested I am sending you the information on the Concord Cluster's Charge Conference project with the YWCA/Frannie's House. Recently the cluster of churches including Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Early's Chapel, Indian Hill, Mt. Comfort & Trinity UMC gave a check for $5,500.oo to assist the new shelter for abused and battered women.  At the time the check was presented the YWCA took a picture of the presentation and is putting it on their web site and on Frannie's House web site.

Sincerely, Rev. Ron Litten

Pastor of Bethany Charge

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Thursday Morning Clergy Leadership Group

Every Thursday morning at 8:00 AM a group of clergy have been meeting to share ideas and pray for each other. For the last six months we’ve been discussing the book, Leadership Gold by John Maxwell. Next week we will begin another book as we continue. It’s a great time to stop by and check it out. Ministry improved and lives were changed. Don’t miss out. Come join us.

Important Dates to keep on your Calendar

October 5: 7:00 PM - Common Table, Fort Hill UMC

October 12: 9:00 - District Clergy Meeting, Court Street UMC

October 21: 9:00 - District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Court Street UMC

October 22-23       Lay Speakers Training, Location Fort Hill UMC

October 30: 9:00 - Staff/Pastor/Parrish Relations Training, Court Street UMC 

November 2           Common Table, Fort Hill UMC, 7:00 pm

November 24-26   Thanksgiving Holidays, District Office Closed

December 5            District Conference, Amelon UMC, 3:00 pm

December 11-12     Lynchburg District hosting Cabinet Meeting

December 23-28     Christmas Holidays, District Office Closed

January 29, 2011    Leadership Training Event, Heritage UMC 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Spring – 2011     Leadership Training Event – Focus on Missions

Prayers

Prayers

            Jerry Viemeister – Leg is still fractured. Difficulty healing.

            Mary Jones – Surgery complete now at home.

            Les Trail – continuing treatments

            Ken Jackson – Home and expecting to return to work as much as possible during treatments

I can only speak for myself but I found last week extremely stimulating. Part of it was Pete Moon’s challenging study of Revelation. I was energized by the ideas. But a lot of the excitement for me was simply being around you.

I saw and heard a lot of enthusiasm and creative ideas during our 24 hours together. I can’t wait to hear some of the 100 word testimonies that will come out of your churches.

Alex Duncan is moving fast and is full of enthusiasm over the miracle of a new roof for Jackson Street thanks to your generous efforts.

Now what?

This is when the two questions can help us stay focused. “How big is your dream?” Is a reminder that we all serve a God much bigger than ourselves and our churches. The question is a challenge that can continually motivate us to keep our attention on God. “How good is your team?” serves as reminder that we were never meant to be in this alone. Our primary function as pastors is to challenge our churches with big dreams – (Vision and Preaching) and continually build good teams: (Evangelism & Discipleship.)

Now what?

First, we prepare. We take seriously the Bishop’s call to fast and pray each week between now and December 31. Each of us has to interpret fast in our own way and with our own health needs but the critical point is not in how we fast. The critical part is in the way we discipline ourselves to receive a word from God. I believe as a conference we will receive that Word clearly.

Second, we share. Today most of us will preach for the first time since our time together. How can we begin sharing what we have learned? What kind of dream will you share? What kind of team will you begin to build?

John Maxwell in his devotion today mentioned the old expression, “bring something to the table” to describe a person’s ability to contribute to the conversation or to add value to others at a meeting. Some will add value with their creative ideas. Others will add value by helping to turn those ideas into reality.

Today we all look for a way to bring something to the table that will add value.

Third, we anticipate. I believe we can anticipate a better future as we struggle to dream our dreams and build our teams.

Now what? Prepare, Share and Anticipate. I’m looking forward to what happens next.

Lynchburg District Clergy Retreat

Lynchburg District Clergy Retreat

Last week, our district clergy spent twenty-four hours together at the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center in Blackstone, VA. Our retreat focused on the theme: “How big is your dream? How good is your team?” The theme was originally conceived with-in a clergy leadership group that meets every Thursday morning. Over the last six months this group has witnessed great improvement in our leadership skills and several remarkable transformations.

The main speaker was Rev. Peter Moon of Woodlake UMC, which is one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the Virginia Conference. Using the seven letters within Revelation as a guide, Rev. Moon led us to consider: “How big is your dream? How good is your team? All in the midst of these difficult financial times.

Lynchburg District Clergy Challenged to Follow Bishop’s Call to Fasting and Prayer

At the closing worship service, Larry Davies, the District Superintendent issued a challenge to the clergy. He said: “Something happened at our cabinet meeting that I believe is God’s way of shaking us up from our routine and daring us to dream bigger dreams.”

“Bishop Kammerer called for all of us to join her in a weekly time of fasting and prayer through Dec. 31, for God to work within us for the future of the church. Bishop Kammerer will be fasting and praying each Thursday evening through Friday and she invited us to join her at that time or another time of our choosing. This will be a time when we ask God’s Holy Spirit to work within us and provide direction. “

“Mindful of health concerns, fasting must be done carefully so it is left to the individual as to how the fast should be followed but it’s not as much about the way we fast as it is about our willingness to spend time listening for God’s direction. If we do this together, I believe we will hear God’s voice and receive the guidance and direction we need.”

“Basically I’m asking you to use your creativity and spiritual resources to join the Bishop and the Cabinet as we dare to dream big dreams and form good teams. I have no idea what will come of this but I trust that God will be giving us a bold vision and will be guiding us to a future where the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church will make a bigger difference in our community and in our world for Jesus Christ.”

As our clergy considers their response to Bishop Kammerer’s call to fast and pray I offer the same opportunity to everyone on our district: To pray and fast as you are able for the future of our church. May we receive guidance from God.

Lynchburg District Clergy take up an offering for roof repair for Jackson Street UMC

During the final worship service, Rev. Bonnie Pizzeck, pastor of Hurt UMC suggested we take up an offering to help Jackson Street UMC repair and replace the shingles on their roof. Jackson Street UMC is one of the oldest churches on our district and has a rich history of providing spiritual leadership within the African American community as well as the city of Lynchburg. With the help of volunteer labor, district funds and a continued offering from the clergy and other members of our district we are already close to having the necessary funds. If you would like to add your support to this project please call Fran Briley at our District office – 434-832-0401.

Stop Hunger Now Packaging Events for Pakistan

So far several churches asked to be considered as possible locations for our 100,000 meals for Pakistan. The list is below. If you want to be added or have questions, please let me know. We hope to be able to set up our packaging events in October.

Epworth UMC – Rev. Joe Shoop

Mount Hermon UMC – Rev. Allan Murphy

Chestnut Hill UMC – Rev. Becky Cloud

Timberlake UMC – Rev. Rob Colwell

Centenary UMC – Rev. Rick Ecklund

Rustburg UMC – Rev. Liz Ecklund

Fort Hill UMC – Rev. Phil Waltz

Important Dates to keep on your Calendar

October 5: 7:00 PM - Common Table, Fort Hill UMC

October 12: 9:00 - District Clergy Meeting, Court Street UMC

October 21: 9:00 - District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Court Street UMC

October 22-23       Lay Speakers Training, Location Fort Hill UMC

October 30: 9:00 - Staff/Pastor/Parrish Relations Training, Court Street UMC 

November 2           Common Table, Fort Hill UMC, 7:00 pm

November 24-26   Thanksgiving Holidays, District Office Closed

December 5            District Conference, Amelon UMC, 3:00 pm

December 11-12     Lynchburg District hosting Cabinet Meeting

December 23-28     Christmas Holidays, District Office Closed

January 29, 2011    Leadership Training Event, Heritage UMC 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Do Clergy Peer Groups Help Pastors and Their Congregations?

The article below confirms my belief that active participation in a peer group improves the pastor and the church. On the Lynchburg District, I belong to such a group that meets every Thursday morning at 8:00 AM at Court Street. All of us have received real benefits and the ideas coming out of the group have benefited many of our churches. I am aware of several other such groups that meet regularly. Our cluster groups are designed to encourage meeting and sharing. I pray that every pastor on our district will enthusiastically participate in such a group. -- Larry

"Do Clergy Peer Groups Help Pastors and Their Congregations?"

By Lovett Weems - "Update" Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Clergy are often encouraged to be part of an ongoing group of peers for support, learning, and accountability. Busy pastors sometimes wonder if they can spare the time for such groups. And congregations can be skeptical of yet another activity that takes time away from their church responsibilities.

Now we have some evidence about the benefits of such groups. It turns out that not only do the pastors benefit but their congregations also benefit in tangible ways.

For a number of years the Lilly Endowment, Inc., has funded a wide range of clergy peer groups. As part of their own evaluation process, the Endowment engaged researchers Janet Maykus and Penny Long Marler to examine the difference peer group participation made. Their research drew not only from a survey of Lilly participants but also from a larger clergy sample reported by the Faith Communities Today Survey. With both groups they examined a range of characteristics of pastors and their churches to discern the impact of a pastor’s participation in a peer group.

Churches and pastors will be pleased to know that a relationship exists between pastoral participation in a group and the growth of congregations. But the authors point out that just being in a group is not enough. Two specific characteristics of a pastor’s participation strongly relate to numerical growth in the congregation. One factor is the length of time a pastor has been in a group. "The longer a pastoral leader has participated in a peer group," the report finds, "the more likely is his or her congregation to experience growth." The other factor related to growth was that the groups have a certain degree of structure including good facilitation and/or a plan of study.

Another important finding of the study was that participation in a carefully planned peer group legitimizes activities that pastors know they should be doing but find hard to schedule. Prayer, meditation, Sabbath time, study, laughter, and fellowship with friends now become a part of their ongoing patterns of life and ministry. So for pastors and congregations, the benefits of clergy peer groups can be, as the report says, "quite tangible."

A free downloadable version of the report can be found online at Austin Presbyterian Seminary.

Lovett H. Weems, Jr.

Backpacs and Pakistan Response

Backpacks for Kid’s Sake


Many of our United Methodist Churches attended and actively participated at our introductory breakfast last week. The program was introduced and we enthusiastically endorsed the goal of offering food for the 6500 elementary school children throughout central Virginia. The program is offered through www.FeedingAmerica.org and will be managed by the Blue Ridge Community Food Bank and Gleaning for the World. Area churches large and small as well as local business leaders will be helping to coordinate the program.

The first school served will be Bass Elementary in Lynchburg. In addition, Blue Ridge Community Food Bank is already helping at least one Elementary school in the Amherst area. Also, several of our churches are sponsoring Body Camp Elementary in Bedford. They have already obtained funding and working with the Roanoke area Food Bank.

“Backpacks for Kid’s Sake” is well underway.

Check out our Facebook page – “Backpacks for Kid’s Sake”

If your church chooses to be involved but did not participate in the breakfast, please email our office or check with your pastor. We have a DVD video, a sample backpack and commitment cards that can be distributed to each church. Bulletin inserts are also available and you can get a copier-ready insert by emailing Ishmael Labiosa at ismaell@gftw.org.

 

Pakistan

The situation in Pakistan continues to worsen. Yet the response by our churches has been mild in comparison to Haiti and other areas affected by tragedy.

UMCOR is in the area offering help right now. They are operating on limited funds and could use our help. You can help by giving a donation to your local church and earmarking it to either Pakistan or UMCOR.

I have been in conversation with Ray Buchanan and other staff members of “Stop Hunger Now.” I was hoping to coordinate a “Stop Hunger Now” 100,000 meal event again but was unsure enough people would turn out from the community at large.

Several of our churches suggested that we do the 100,000 meal commitment but at four or five different churches instead of one big location. That way we could still work together for a large number but spread it out among several of our churches.

 

I thought that was a great idea and we’re working on that now.

Possible church locations that have volunteered:

• Epworth UMC – Rev. Joe Shoop
• Timberlake UMC – Rev. Rob Colwell
• Centenary UMC – Rev. Rick Ecklund
• Rustburg UMC – Rev. Liz Ecklund
• Fort Hill UMC – Rev. Phil Waltz
• Chestnut Hill UMC - Rev. Becky Cloud

 

We could still get the community support by advertising all of the times and places and actually give more choices as to how people could participate. Dates are being set and organized. More will come out of our district office soon.

 

Important Dates to keep on your Calendar

 

 

September 9: 10 & 7 - Charge Conference Orientation, Court Street UMC

 

September 7: 7:00 PM - Common Table, Fort Hill UMC

 

September 14-15 - Clergy Workshop and Training, Blackstone, VA

 

October 5: 7:00 PM - Common Table, Fort Hill UMC

 

October 12: 9:00 - District Clergy Meeting, Court Street UMC

 

October 21: 9:00 - District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Court Street UMC

 

October 22-23 Lay Speakers Training, Location Fort Hill UMC

 

October 30: 9:00 - Staff/Pastor/Parrish Relations Training, Court Street UMC

 

November 2 Common Table, Fort Hill UMC, 7:00 pm

 

November 24-26 Thanksgiving Holidays, District Office Closed

 

December 5 District Charge Conference, Amelon UMC, 3:00 pm

 

December 11-12 Lynchburg District hosting Cabinet Meeting

 

December 23-28 Christmas Holidays, District Office Closed

 

January 29, 2011 Leadership Training Event, Heritage UMC 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

 

Myths about Clergy Burnout and Managing Stress

Myths about Clergy Burnout and Managing Stress -- By Tom Nees

The plight of stressed-out pastors has attracted a great deal of attention since The New York Times front-page report, "Taking a Break from the Lord’s Work," by Paul Vitello and an op-ed response, "Congregations Gone Wild," by Jeffrey MacDonald. The Huffington Post followed with "Soul Care and Roots of Clergy Burnout" by Anne Dilenschneider citing a new report from Clergy Health Initiative at Duke on the poor mental and physical health of pastors.

These timely articles have drawn attention to some very real concerns about the health and well-being of pastors. But in the midst of the ensuing conversation, there are a number of myths and misconceptions about clergy burnout that should be reexamined in light of the research on this subject.

Myth One: Taking time off is enough to prevent stress and burnout.

As important as time off is, returning to work after days off, vacations, and sabbaticals without changing stress-producing behavior patterns will not make much difference. For example, a good diet and physical activity, which have been demonstrated to reduce stress, are just as essential to emotional fitness as time off.

Myth Two: Clergy leaders are in poorer health than the general population.

Clergy have historically enjoyed the distinction of being healthier and longer-lived than other professionals. What seems to have happened in recent decades is that clergy have "slid toward the norm." The overall physical health of clergy is not worse than that of the general population; rather it has become more like that of the general population. In other words, clergy today are less likely to be healthier than the norm, but that does not mean they are sicker.

Myth Three: Older leaders are more likely to burn out than younger leaders.

Recent research on clergy age seems to indicate that younger clergy are more likely to burn out than their older colleagues. In general, levels of mental health improve as people age. And older clergy are more likely than their younger colleagues to have learned how to manage their stress.

Myth Four: Clergy leaders are dissatisfied with what they do.

Research on job satisfaction in the United States holds some good news for clergy. Among all the professions surveyed, clergy were most likely to indicate they were very satisfied with their job – 87 percent of clergy compared to the national average of 47 percent. This is not to say that clergy do not experience high levels of job-related stress. They do. But existing research seems to suggest that a stressful job can still be rewarding.

Stress and the calling of clergy

I recently reread The Stress of Life by Hans Selye. Dr. Selye’s research, conducted over fifty years ago, examined how our bodies respond to and sometimes cause stress. He wrote about good stress and bad stress and how to achieve balance so that we do not wear ourselves out prematurely. We all live with everyday stress, which Selye described as the normal "wear and tear" of life. To live a fulfilled life, he said we must find a way to avoid the "stresses of senseless struggles." Selye’s research helped him avoid bad stress by adopting personal "rules of conduct" or short-term, long-term, and ultimate aims.

• Short-term aims are rewarding activities that bring momentary pleasure.

• Long-range aims are things that we must plan for and for which we are willing to forego immediate gratification.

• Ultimate aims are the guiding values that "should lead us through a meaningful, happy, active and long life, steering us clear of the unpleasant and unnecessary stresses of fights, frustrations, and insecurities."

We all live with stress. Some may be induced by unrealistic expectations that we impose on ourselves or that others impose on us. Some stress is natural and good.

The current discussion about clergy stress is a reminder that clergy leaders have the opportunity and the obligation to exemplify fulfilled living by focusing on what is ultimately important. Managing stress is part of our calling.

Dr. Tom Nees has served the Church of the Nazarene in multiple capacities including as the first director of Nazarene Compassion Ministries, USA/Canada. Early in his ministry he was the founding director of Community of Hope, a low-income neighborhood organization in Washington, DC. He now is a consultant and coach and lives in Arnold, Maryland.

"This article is reprinted by permission from Leading Ideas, a free online newsletter of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary and available at www.churchleadership.com."

Are People Listening?

“What are people hearing when they listen to you? What do they expect? How are you relating? Here is a conglomerate of people’s opinions from the book, “Killing Cockroaches” by Tony Morgan. I don’t completely agree and I would add more emphasis on relating to Scripture and the overall Spirituality of the message but from a communications point of view I do find several of the statements challenging. What do you think?”

• I want to hear your heart and not your brain.

• If you listen to me, I may listen to you.

• At best, I’ll remember one thing you say.

• Your message is only one of thousands I’ve already heard today.

• When you admit you messed up, it reminds me that you are real.

• I’m not convinced it’s truth.

• I’m moved by stories.

• When you make me laugh, I engage.

• I hear it but sometimes I need to see it or feel it or experience it.

• I’m watching to see if you keep your promise.

• I think it’s funny that you think you control your message.

• Polished scares me.

• In order to speak to me, you can’t speak to everyone.

• I’m not impressed by big words.

• If it’s not about me, then I’m not listening.

• Your message has more impact when you shorten it.

• It’s OK if you don’t have an answer to everything.

• What are your questions?

• Your message has impact if someone disagrees.

• You’d be wise to participate in our online conversation.

• I know it seems awkward but it helps me when you repeat the important stuff.

• Your message is not for you.

• I don’t have to listen to you.


-- From “Killing Cockroaches” by Tony Morgan