An optimist views a glass as half-full.

A pessimist sees a glass as half-empty.

A realist realizes the glass needs to be washed.

We view life through glasses that affect our vision. Perspective informs experience, and perception becomes reality. We see what we seek.

Friends snicker at the thought, but I began life as a wild-eyed optimist. Then life happened. These days I am a recovering pessimist who realistically aspires for more.

Therefore, I chose GRATITUDE as my 2025 Star Word. An attitude of gratitude practices three disciplines:

• Recognize the gifts
• Recognize the Giver
• Give thanks

I begin each day with The Lord’s Prayer. Then I list five blessings in life. I recognize that God is the author of every good and perfect gift. I conclude by saying, “Thank you.”

A gratitude attitude transforms how we see the world; but I am still enough of a realist to realize that someone needs to wash the glass.

Ya can just call it an occupational hazard.

I have led and heard countless pastoral prayers over my lifetime. They have ranged from simple and heartfelt to complex and theological. Some have inspired tears and others somnolence.   

All preachers possess particular speech mannerisms. Words, phrases, utterances, and inflections make regular appearances. Pastoral prayers showcase these personal peccadillos.

The Babylon Bee, a satirical Christian website, published a fictitious pie chart on prayer among English-speaking evangelicals. It revealed that the word just composes 37% of all pastoral prayers. No doubt the nonstandard spelling of you as ya came in a close second.

The two words typically occur in prayer while addressing God. Examples: We just came to worship ya, Lord. I just ask that ya bless us, Father. May ya just grant this one request, we pray.

The colloquial ya makes ministers sound homey and approachable. Adding y’all certifies a pastor’s credentials as a good-old-boy-or-girl.

The adverb just seasons prayer with dashes of false-humility and self-abasement. We don’t want much Lord, just this simple request that’s hardly worth mentioning.

It’s a hazardous business critiquing prayer; but maybe the Lord Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, deserves more than a casual ya from God’s people. The Holy Spirit calls believers to address Yahweh with a capital You.

Perhaps we can just omit just in our prayers, too. Hebrews 4:16 encourages Christians to approach God’s throne with boldness and confidence. Let’s pray BIG prayers filled with audacious expectation.

Ya just might be surprised what happens.

The North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church meets this week at The Classic Center in Athens, Georgia. Laity and clergy will practice “holy conferencing” and do kingdom work. Annual Conference sessions include reunion, worship, business, debate, beginnings, and endings.

Annual Conference traditionally begins by singing And Are We Yet Alive? Charles Wesley originally published the hymn in 1749. John Wesley began using it around 1780 during the opening worship services of annual society meetings. The practice continues today.

The stanzas recall the past twelve months since the conference gathered last. The stanzas celebrate those “yet alive” to do God’s work, and those who “the crown obtain” in heaven’s kingdom.

The hymn’s lyrics have grown increasingly poignant and meaningful over the years. I enjoy the family reunion atmosphere of greeting old friends; but I mourn the absence of God’s saints no longer present. I remember and celebrate brothers and sisters who have gone from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant.

Reflect upon the power of the hymn’s lyrics:

And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face?

Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!

What troubles have we seen, what mighty conflicts past,

Fightings without, and fears within, since we assembled last!

Let us take up the cross till we the crown obtain,

And gladly reckon all things loss so we may Jesus gain.

Amen.

Churches everywhere are observing Vacation Bible School Season. Although liturgical calendars do not note the sacred time, summer would not be complete without the Holy Week of bedlam and chaos.

I grew up attending VBS with a different theme each year. A joyful Jesus adorned all of the materials. Maps, pictures, and posters adorned the cinderblock walls. Flimsy 33-rpm records supported the curriculum with the week’s featured songs.

Filmstrips were high tech way back then. Multi-media presentations included felt boards with cartoon figures. For years, I thought all the disciples were six inches tall with Velcro strips down their backs!

Recreation was the high point of the day. The older youth led the playtime, which meant the teenage boys flirted with their female counterparts while we ran wild. The more organized leaders tossed us a kick ball before standing aside.

Refreshments included juice along and cookies. Whenever I read about Jesus feeding the five thousand with loaves and fishes, I always assumed the writers meant to say Kool-Aide and Oreos! I also thought that the pastors ought to substitute iced sugar cookies for the stale crackers used at Holy Communion.

We loved arts and crafts time, using markers, construction paper, glitter, balsa wood, and modeling clay. Oh, and the things we could do with a few Popsicle sticks and some paste glue! No doubt Noah constructed the ark with only these supplies on hand.

During music, we enthusiastically sang the songs of faith. Our Top Ten List included “This is My Father’s World,” “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and “The B-I-B-L-E.”  Our all time, number one, favorite was “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.”

Truth to tell, I remember the context of Vacation Bible School much more than the content. However, those summer weeks became grace-moments in my life. I learned that the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, loved and cherished ME!

I hope every child in our community has the opportunity to attend Vacation Bible School this summer. The experience will transform their lives, and the memories will last forever.

Give this generation a foundation of faith along with some juice, cookies, and Popsicle sticks, and they will change the world forever!