Vacation Bible School

This year's Vacation Bible School (VBS) was July 20-25. For several years now, the Monroe City United Methodist Church and the Monroe City Christian Church have held a combined VBS. The location trades back and forth between the two churches each year. This year, VBS was held at the United Methodist Church. Next year it will be held at the Christian Church.

A number of photographs from VBS have been posted at the Monroe City UMC blog. To see them, as well as to read a bit more about this year's VBS, click HERE and go to the blog entries for Monday July 28 and Sunday July 27, 2008.
Enjoy!

TPT: Make Room for Joy

Today's Power Thought comes--once again--from the June 2008 issue of Bits and Pieces. (If you haven't guessed already, I love that magazine.)

When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.
--Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D.

This power thought by Dr. Bolen reminds me of a quote and a story:

Quote: "Don't prioritize your schedule; schedule your priorities!"--Dr. Stephen Covey

Story: Filling up the jar.
(Here's the short version). A man fills a jar with large stones. Is the jar full? No. He then adds a bunch of small pebbles. Is the jar full now? No. He then adds sand to fill in all the spaces. Is the jar is full now? No. He then adds water until it flows over the sides. Now the jar is full!
Moral: If you don't put the big stones in first, there won't be room for them later. The same is true for our lives. If we don't give first priority to the important and foundational things of our lives, they will be crowded out by smaller and less significant things.

TPT: Optimism

Now that I'm finally getting "back in the saddle" after my recent move, I can go back to posting my occasional series: TPT (Today's Power Thought). Today's Power Thought is from the June 2008 issue of Bits & Pieces.

"More than any other major personality trait,
Optimism is a matter of practice."
--Kathleen McGowan (writer)

What wise words these are. In my assessment, pessimism comes so easily to most people. It's kind of like their "default" setting. But just as we can override the default setting on a computer or other machine, so too can we override our tendency to be pessimistic and instead work at maintaining an optimistic outlook on life. Pessimism kills, so let's get practicing!

By the way--this is the 100th post at "The Dunger Peak". Thanks to all of you dear readers who make this blog possible!