Well...it's official....I've got a blog!

You can’t imagine how long I’ve been resisting this. Well, if you’re a member of my church who emails me, perhaps you can. Technology and I are on growing terms as I endeavor to make a better friend of my computer.

This morning at breakfast with some Pastor colleagues, though, I realized it was time to take the plunge. Yes, I do read my email and respond and periodically experiment with “surfing” the Internet for information about church history, Biblical archeology, evangelism, church revitalization as well as the news. But a blog? Wow. This seemed quite beyond my minimal computer abilities until, after much reassurance and explanation from my pastor friends that even somebody with my modest skills could do this and, well, here I am.

Yes, my wife Karen (the technological person in the family) helped me find the best setting for my blog. First I checked out “Facebook” as this was the place some of my pastor colleagues found to be a good networking tool. I even registered there. Then, however, it seemed to be that there had to be a “blog space” better suited for Christian writing rather than the totally inclusive compendium of what can be found on “Facebook”. So, friends, ignore my registration on Facebook …. But also ignore the one at Chrisitanblog.com as that just seemed too difficult to navigate! Blogspot.com seems the easiest to write for someone a little technology challenged like myself, as well as the easiest for others to find. So now here it is: the name of my blog is "Christ is my Brother" and it's location is http://www.christismybrother.blogspot.com/ . For me, so far blogspot.com is an ideal (and free) hosting place.

So now, after writing my “about me” and my Testimony as my first blog post, this is my introductory entry. I don’t know how often I’ll post but I will try to do so on a regular basis. Some insight from my reading that I think might be interesting to you, a piece of news you might find edifying in your growth or even potentially funny stories about our dog (or cats) which usually end up with rather surprising Christian moral endings --- especially about relationships and how to get along with one another embracing our differences.

I invite you to link up as a “friend” (however that goes --- remember I’m really new at this) and join me on this journey. Already I’m beginning to get over my blog-anxiety…this is starting to be fun!!! See you again soon!

Next topic may likely be about why I’m not wearing my alb in church these days…..(and no, I haven’t been “de-albed” …completely voluntary for intentional reasons)

My Testimony

As a Christian, our testimony stands as an important witness to our life. However, it's not the "be all and end all"...it's really a glimpse into our spiritual beginnings and provides information about the path which brought us to where we are. People have asked on occasion about my testimony as a Christian, so it seemed fitting that my first post be about this important subject. Here goes!

Jesus has been part of my life as long as I can remember. I guess you could call me originally a "cradle Baptist" as this was the denomination of my grandparents and my parents. My family moved from Massachusetts to run a ski inn in Franconia NH and then to Cazenovia, NY where my dad continued in his profession as a chef but as a "trouble shooting" chef which sent him to many exotic places to "fix" various large hotel restaurants. My family became members of the Presbyterian church where I was baptised and confirmed. My brother and I were hugely involved in the church youth group and then I went off into the world as an adult and into the service as a Russian Linguist in the US Air Force. This experience led me to walk in many parts of the world where my Biblical "mentor", Paul, lived, wrote and taught and enriched me deeply. Unknowingly, still, Christ was calling me closer to Himself and to a ministry I had not yet envisioned. It was here, though, through some tragic occurrences and losses of a close Christian friend, that I realized Jesus was more than a guiding "principal" in my life, but a blazing powerful presence who had saved me literally many times from my own folly and distress. Jesus became real to me in a way that has not only shaped the rest of my life, saved me for all eternity, and compelled me to carry His peace and healing grace and minister it to hurting people everywhere. Later came Boston University and Andover Newton Theological School and ordination in the United Church of Christ. During the time of great turmoil of the Viet Nam War, I realized the people who most needed Christ were soldiers in the field and I re-entered the Air Force as a Chaplain. Since then I have served people in churches and communities all over the US and continue to be amazed and grateful at the healing power of the grace of Jesus. Truly Christ is not only my savior, He walks with me every day as my brother. Joyfully, I am currently serving as Pastor of The United Church of Penacook.