Dr. Palmer's blog

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Burt's Bytes (Feb. 10, 2012)

The season of Lent has become a meaningful part of my spiritual journey.  Lent is often connected with the practices of repentance, self-denial and giving to others.  It should be no mystery to us why there are no Hallmark cards bearing the message

Happy Lent!

     May your time of self reflection deepen your understanding of your mortality and the need for forgiveness.”

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Burt's Bytes (Jan 27, 2012)

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"

Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Psalm 122:1-2

In my trip to Haiti earlier this month, I was struck by the tragic, conflicting imagery as we passed by the Cathedral of the Assumption of our Lady in Port-au-Prince Haiti (pictured below).  A symbol of hope was destroyed by the earthquake in 2010 and has not been rebuilt.  Our largest UMCOR project in Haiti is Grace Children’s Hospital (GCH) and 80% of the hospital on the original campus was destroyed.

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Burt's Bytes (Dec 4, 2011)

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12

As I referenced in my sermon on December 4, “Cairns” are rock formations that mark trails. They are one of the oldest forms of communication in our human history. A person would use a particular stack of stones to give a warning or simply mark the trail for other travelers.

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Burt's Bytes (Nov 18, 2011)

I walked into a major retail store last week and just stood at my shopping cart as I studied my list of items and developed a shopping game plan.  A store employee approached me, probably because I was blocking the major retail traffic inflow into the establishment, and asked if I needed anything.

“No thanks, “I replied, “I’m just trying to get a plan in my head of where everything is on my list.”

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