19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 9, 2020

Readings: Isaiah 55, 10-11; Psalm 65; Romans 8, 18-23; Matthew 13, 1-23

Isaiah: The Great One lived around 750 B.C.  He is one of the 3 Major Prophets along with Jeremiah & Ezekiel, mostly because their works are larger than the 12 Minor Prophets.  Like all prophets he  condemned the behavior of the people, promised punishment from Yahweh, and foretold that a better day was coming after the punishment.

Isaiah has some of the most beautiful passages, many of which are seen as foretelling the coming of the Savior.  His readings are used all through the Advent & Christmas readings, as well as in Lent. 

Note, however, that there is evidence from different writing styles and length of time that three authors at least make up the book of Isaiah.

Both the Isaiah reading and Psalm 65 are beautiful.

What Kind of Soil Am I? 

One day when I was a little kid, so little I was not in school yet, I was playing in the driveway beside our house.  We had a driveway that ran from the street, along side the left side or east side of the house, all the way to the back where the two car wooden garage was.  We had no fence along that side of our back yard and the neighbor’s house had no fence. 

At some point in my play the lady who worked for the neighbors came to the back door.  I did not like this lady.  Actually, she had a small apartment attached to their garage where she lived when she was not working in the house. 

I do not know what it was that got me off on her.  Certainly she was not friendly, nor warm & fuzzy with this little boy.  So, out of the blue, I say to her standing there in the doorway, “You are a big, fat elephant.” 

Maybe I ran.  I don’t know.  But, I give that lady credit.  She marched right over to our house and told my mother.  And my mother went ballistic.  I got a spanking. Which certainly did not make me more fond of that lady.

As a result of this event, plus numerous other little behaviors that were unacceptable, I entered adolescence with the thought that I was a pretty bad kid.  My soil was rocky and I was probably on the express train to hell.  Which definitely played a role in my decision to enter the Jesuits and become a priest.  Save my lost soul before it was too late. 

I talk about this because it connects me with the parable of the sower, one of the many so called agricultural parables found in Matthew.  In the parable, Jesus says we got four chances to get the message and with three of them we don’t get it.  Not good odds.  I go along with this and suggest that the path, the rocks, and the thorns symbolize three ways we sabotage our process of getting the message. 

• First, I suggest the path symbolized a lack of gratitude. We take for granted all the blessings and beauty that make up our life and, in fact, often feel entitled. Our time is so limited that we never reflect.
• Second, the rocks symbolize our middle class obsession with stuff, toys, things. We have to have the latest thing, the biggest, the best.
• Thirdly, the thorns may symbolize the fact that I hear the wrong message. I pick up that I am bad, like I learned when I was a little kid.

What is really devious about these three, is that they are reciprocal.  They interact among themselves. Here is what I mean.

Say, I have the self image that I am bad.  If I am already bad, why make an effort.  Certainly, I don’t incline toward gratitude.  I do incline, however, toward toys & stuff.  The toys are medication for my disappointment in myself.  If I have enough toys, I think that others will think I am hot stuff. 

I was into toys as a teen.  No doubt.  One of the best things that happened was when I joined the Jesuits, I let go of it all.  I had no possessions to impress others with.  None of us in my class had possessions.  We were just guys. 

The reason this is pathetic is that while I am ungrateful and obsessed with toys because of my lack of self acceptance, I never achieve The Peace, which is where the rich soil is that yields a hundred fold of peace.  I don’t get the message.  The message is I’m okay.

How do I break this cycle?  I think I can intervene anywhere along the process.  I can focus on gratitude, I can detach from stuff & toys, and I can work on self acceptance.  Maybe all at the same time.  That is getting the message.

The beauty about all this is that ultimately, wherever I am, I am okay.  I am accepted.  I am not riding the express train to hell.  Jesus presents us with ultimate demands, and ultimate acceptance.

What is the challenge to you?  How do you get The Message?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-07-13.mp3

 Readings:  

 Joshua, 24,1-2, 15-17,  We will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

 Psalm 34, Taste & See the Goodnesss of the Lord (3rd week)

Ephesians, 5, 21-32, Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of his wife.

John, 6, 60-69, Master, to whom shall we go?

Ken and Cindy celebrating 50 years

Joshua:

Who is Joshua and what is this booklet about:  Joshua was Moses' assistant, his lieutenant when the the Israelites wandered in the desert.  The booklet is the story of the Israelite invasion of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. 

Author: somewhat amusingly, the fundamentalists say that Joshua wrote most of the booklet.  More scientific scholars say the work is a compilation of a number of sources.

The Beautiful Georgie

Date of composition: again fundamentalists state that the booklet was composed 1400-1370, i.e., while Joshua lived.  Scholars of a broader vision suggest that even if a Joshua existed the work was put together 800-700 BCE. 

The work combines a number of traditions about battles & destruction of cities to create a nationalistic narrative that justifies the Israelites' taking another peoples' land for their own.

Ethical Question: genocide.  This is a bloody book.  Yahweh commands that the Israelites exterminate every breathing thing, including women & children & livestock. 

Cara at 12 years

 The battle of Jericho is characteristic.  For 6 days the Israelites marched around the city, blowing horns and menacing the people.  On day 7 they marched around 7 times and the walls came tumbling down, as in the spiritual.  Then every person except one woman & her family were slaughtered.  Lots of debate and rationalization over these events.

Our Selection: The last chapter of the booklet.  Joshua, who is dying, calls the people together at a place called Sechem and puts it to them.  Stick with Yahweh who has done all these things for you (which are mentioned in the text but are long & tedious) or choose another path of your own.

Sources: Good News Bible, Got Questions.org, Wikipedia

Special pastries ready for Jim's birthday party

 Rosemary be Subservient to Me as to the Lord?

A crazy thing happened to me some time ago that I will never forget.  I was standing in a line.  Around me were families with kids.  At one point a nice looking family with two or three young kids got into a small disagreement over something involving the kids.  The wife wanted to do one thing, the husband another.

At a point the husband says to the wife, “you are to be subservient to me because the Bible says so.”

Harper

I almost dropped my teeth.  I could not believe what I was hearing.  I even think the wife let him get away with this justification.  Can you imagine me getting away with this with Rosemary?

I love this passage because it exemplifies the danger of taking the Bible literally.  The passage is so easy to explain in terms of contemporary psychology and the value of a human person, male or female. Here is how we see it today.

Blakely

Three models of family interaction.

1.   The patriarchal.  This model considers the male the superior, like in Paul’s instruction.  It is based on an old belief that females were  inferior.  This model certainly exists today. 

When I was in East Africa the men considered themselves the master of the household.  Muslim examples abound these days, even to horrible stories of disobedient women being beaten, starved, and locked in underground rooms.

The HHH team of crazies at dawn along with 15,000 other crazies, An old geezer, Rosemary, George, Dwayne, Tom, Greg, John

2.  The matriarchal.  In this example the wife or mother is considered the head of the household.  There are many amusing examples of families where the male thought he was the head, while everyone knew the household was ruled and organized by the wife.

3.   The equality model.  Both husband and wife are seen as equal and complimentary.  Today this model is more common in many societies, though not all.  Today both the husband and the wife have graduate degrees and professional careers.  The model is teamwork rather than dictatorship.

Sag Wagon, what you don't want to need, but are happy to see if you have a bike problem or are sick. Usually pretty busy the last 25 miles of the 100 mile distance.

Paul sounds pretty archaic and chauvenistic today, but actually at that time he was trying to elevate men’s treatment of women.  Treating a wife with respect was pretty radical for Paul’s time. 

Whatever the model chosen, it comes down to a choice by the couple.  Even this involves equality and mutual input.  Today equality is so taken for granted that a husband saying to his wife that she must obey him because the Bible says so sounds ridiculous. 

HHH riders passing through Shepherd A.F. Base. Touching, a lot of cheering.

Obviously the one couple I was watching took it literally.  I wonder where they are today.

Which of the three models do you choose?

Readings: Jeremiah 31, 31-34; Psalm 51; Hebrews 5, 7-9; John 12, 20-33

Jeremiah:  We have not seen Jeremiah for a long time, since before Thanksgiving.  Remember that he is one of the Big 3 Prophets (because of the size of the works, e.g. 62 chapters in Jeremiah), who are Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel.   A review:

Author: mostly Jeremiah as put down by his scribe Baruch.  Described as the broken hearted prophet because of his heart rending life warning the people & kings that their behavior was going to be punished.  And so it happened with The Babylonian Captivity.

Time:  ca. 600 BCE, as an easy date to remember, or more precisely for 40 years from ca. 610 to 570 BCE.  The Captivity went from ca. 585-550 BCE (note my error last week, typing 450).  Jeremiah probably died in Egypt during The Captivity in Babylon.

The Scene:  Remember that the Holy Land had a north & a south, Israel & Judah.  First, the northern kingdom, Israel, was defeated by the Assyrians, 622 BCE.  These Hebrew tribes vanish into the DNA of the region.  Next, the Babylonians & Nebuchadnezzar defeat the Assyrians and threaten the southern kingdom, Judah with the capital Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is watching this and seeing it as Yahweh's punishment.  In 596, more or less, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and cart the Hebrews into slavery.

Today's selection, chapter 31.  Yahweh is promising to make a new covenant or agreement with all the people, and to forgive them, after having shown the people who is master.  This is the only time in the O.T. that a New Covenant is mentioned.

Sources: Wikipedia; Answers.com; Encyclopedia of Judaism 

Hate My Life?

I have a story this morning which I have told only once, and that was at St. Mark's, over 4 years ago.  Pardon me if you've heard it.  It speaks to my point today.  I had permission for the story.

It was many years ago.  I think it was the first Monday morning of May, a beautiful morning.  A boy came to see me who had been in my office on and off for about six years.  He had graduated from high school and enlisted in the Air Force.  He had struggled since grade school with bouts of depression, and that morning seemed to be in great shape.  We did not even spend more than 30 minutes together, his mood was so up beat and hopeful.

He left.  Maybe two or three hours later a call came in.  The boy had left Jesuit where my office was, crossed Inwood to the Lincoln Center complex, drove up to the top of the four floor garage, parked his car, headed to the edge of the garage, and walked over the side.  He landed on the cement street four floors below, face down flat.

Passersby saw it, called 911, and in a second the paramedics from just around the corner were on the scene.  He was in Parkland in a flash.  He lived.

It was not for about 3 weeks until I got to visit him.  He apologized.  I admit I was mad.  I loved this kid.  He fooled me.  He said that he was in a zone, happy because he knew he was out of there.  He wanted to escape the pain and go to heaven.  There had been no fear in walking off that fourth floor, none of the hesitation you feel before you jump off the high diving board the first time. 

You may guess why I tell this story.  It exemplifies what happens when you take literally "whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life."  This little piece of advice, taken the wrong way, can be dangerous.  It also shows how far we have evolved and matured philosophically and psychologically over the past centuries.  We are maturing.

I would suggest there is a negative and a positive approach to hating my life. 

The negative is exemplified by this kid's story.  This is often what is happening when you hear of someone cutting on themselves.  If I hate my life and hate myself, I will want to punish myself.  So I cut myself.  Or I may think that I am such a loser that no one will pay me any attention if I do not do something dramatic like spill my blood. 

Even without such dramatic examples, I do not want to encourage someone who hates their body, hates their job, hates their family, hates their school, hates.  Just thinking about this I recoil.  "There is a better way," I want to say.  Maybe change is called for, but hatred is not a constructive, long range motivation.  So I would say, "Don't hate it." 

On the positive side, I would suggest two things.

First, the word hate can be considered as hyperbolic, a big word meaning exaggeration.  It is like Rosemary telling me, "You put a TV screen up on that wall so everyone can see you like in the mega-churches, Divorce!"  Think she is exaggerating?  I hope.  I won't test. 

Secondly, I would suggest that this all has to do with being more alive now, in this life. The grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying fits in with this.  For example: March Madness.  Many of these player have died to themselves to achieve, to be better players.  How many hours in the gym have the spent practicing free throws?  When they could be hanging out, sleeping in, text messaging?  And they love their lives. 

Goofy, but I hate my life to love my life.  I don't want to get up early.  I could sleep in to 11:00.  However, I put this part of myself on the shelf for another day so I can dedicate myself to a greater.  To maintain my health and fitness I work out 45 minutes in a gym every day.  Because of the result I love my life.

My friend who jumped is now okay, amazingly.  It took him years of physical recovery.  Two things did not happen that blessed him.  He did not damage his brain and did not damage his spine.  Every other bone, plus his teeth, were broken.  Once he got strong enough he went to medical technical school, got his certificates, and now has good jobs in various hospitals in the city.  I don't think he hates his life anymore.  In fact, loves it. 

How do you love your life?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2009-03-29.mp3

Sources:  The Center for Liturgy, St. Louis U.; St. Raymond Catholic Church, Dublin, CA; Carmelite Order Web; Homilias Domincales.

Picture 1:  Mass with Sabrina & Anthony

Picture 2:  Barb celebrates her birthday

Picture 3:  Geordie Robinson stuck at home in Dallas because of snow out at U. of CO in Boulder

Picture 4:  Chuck with sons Andrew & Danny

Readings:

Acts 13, 14, & 43-52,   Both Paul & Barnabas spoke out boldly.

Psalm 100,  We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Revelation  7, 14-17,  I, John, had a vision of a great multitude.

John 10, 27-30,  I know them, and they follow me.

The team is ready.

 Acts observations & review:   

We have already covered this material.  What I have here is a quick reminder. 

Date:  sometime before the year 70.  Why?  No mention of the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place the year 70, a Big Date in Jewish history.  The Romans destroyed not only Jerusalem, but also the Temple, the only place where the priests offered sacrifices.  The temple has never been rebuilt and the priests have been replaced by rabbis, teachers formerly.  Today there is a holy mosque on the site of the former temple.

Harper is ready, too.

Who:  The same person who wrote the Gospel of Luke.  How do we know?  Similarities of style, language (Greek), and theological themes.

Subject:  The story of the expansion of the Jesus story in 3 areas, first, Jerusalem, then, Palestine or the Holy Land, and finally, into the Mediterranean and ultimately, Rome.  Stories about the early communities are a bit romanticized, like advertisements for Pleasant Valley Retirement Center.

Harper's grandmother, Cathy, just having too much fun in life.

Today’s Subject: noting that the chapter we are reading is 13, you can guess we are not reading about the first circle, Jerusalem.  Not even the second, but the third, the Mediteranian.

Sources: Good News Bible, The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, Wikipedia

Emma and her friend.

The Lord is Good

This morning I would like to talk about the first line of the third stanza of our Psalm 100, ‘The Lord is Good.’

Our week has been extraordinarily stressful.  First, the Boston Marathon bombs.  Then, West.  I actually was in West at the Czech bakery, the original, genuine bakery in town, about 4:00, Wednesday afternoon, just before the explosion.   I have fond memories of one really friendly lady at the bakery and hope she is okay. 

Emma's mom, Beth, on the chase.

I would like to say, yes, the Lord is Good.  Also, people are good.  And, you are good.  Here is what I mean despite the stress of the week.

First, Rosemary & I had our routine appointments to give blood at Carter Blood at Preston & LBJ Wednesday & Thursday.  When I went in Thursday afternoon the place was more busy than I had ever seen it.  Even extra techs had been called in. 

 Meredith and Brent with Meredith's dad, Joe.

 I asked why and they said it was because of, first, Boston, and then, secondly, West, which had just happened that morning.  The Lord is good.  People are good. 

John Botts, Iraq vet with left leg prothesis, at the capitol building in Austin.

 Secondly, remember last Saturday, which seems forever ago?  Love for the Kids picnic.  About a quarter of you volunteered to make that day special for handicapped kids and their families.  God is good.  People are good.  You were good.  This is typical. 

Thirdly, this past Wednesday, two days after Boston and the day of the West explosion, I went to Austin with a group of which I was humbled to be part of.  The Nuns on the Bus.

Nuns on the Bus rally on the capitol steps in Austin. John Botts is back left.

We departed Dallas at 5:30, 10 of us, 2 guys & myself, 7 women, 3 of whom are nuns.  We arrived at the capitol about 10:00 for a little rally on the steps of the capitol building.  I expected maybe 50 people.    300 were registered and another 100 joined, 400 all together from all over the state.

Daniel Fleming and Stephanie at their wedding.

 My job was to visit my two representatives, Dan Branch & John Corona.  It was in Branch’s office that a remarkable event took place.

Tom and Lynda processing.

 The Nuns on the Bus, who had advocated throughout the Midwest in the summer before the presidential election, were requesting our government to not forget the poor, especially that the billion dollars of federal money be accepted for expansion of Medicaid this year.  25% of our population is uninsured, a million & a half. 

Rob and Casey celebrating 10 years (and 4 kiddoes).

We are talking with the aide, basically just letting him know our case.  I have picked up about 6 people from San Antonio, 4 nice, Hispanic little nuns, and a young, nice looking guy.  He had a limp. 

Rob and Casey renewing their vows and signing up for another 10 years.

Suddenly, the guy, John, tells the aide, “Let me tell you my story and why I am here.  I walk with a limp because I lost my left leg in Iraq.  I got this prosthesis because I was a vet, no question.  I could have even gotten one more expensive.  I am here because I have become aware that so many people don’t have that care that I had, people who are working full time and still don’t have enough, certainly not enough to buy insurance.” 

The whole gang. The kids now are 5 years old.

The reception office went dead silent.  Everyone was touched, including the nice kid who was the aide. 

God is good.  People are good.  You are good. 

What are you doing to continue to make it better? 

 Video:  The community blessing Chuck's health and his struggle with cancer (1/2 minute)        

Readings: 

 Amos 6, 1, 4-7,   Woe to the complacent.

Psalm 146,  Praise the Lord, my sould.

1 Timothy 6, 11-16,  Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love.

Luke 16, 19-31,  The rich man and Lazarus.

Francis and Gloria Vanderwall.

Amos observations :  (from last week's Mass)

What :  One of the 12 minor prophets, only 9 chapters.

Who: 
the book presents the thoughts and observations of Amos, who was a sheep herder
and a fig farmer.  He was born in the southern kingdom of Judah in a
little town south of Jerusalem, but he is condemning the people, especially the
rich, of the northern kingdom, Israel.

Time: 
Amos was active around 755 before Christ, but his words and message were
revised and edited down through the years, especially during the Babylonian
Captivity, around 555 before Christ.  He lives just before the Syrians
destroy the northern kingdom of Israel, around 700 before Christ.

Francis speaking to the people at Open Window's Saturday seminar.

Message: 
Prayer and sacrifice don’t make up for social injustice and oppression of the
poor by the rich. 

 Today: 
God will punish you rich and prosperous for your abuse of the poor.  Amos
may have seen the threat coming from the Syrians. 

Sources:  Good News Bible, New Interpreter’s Study
Bible, Wikipedia

Cupcakes of The Week to Patricia and Fred (3 years), John (52 years ordained), Torri and Buddy (3 years).

Some of Francis’ points in his homily this morning:

1.  The first sin
   of the rich man is that he is blind.  He
   came and went every day and did not even see Lazarus at his doorstep.  Wealth can blind us, too.
2. The second sin of the rich man is that even in Hades
   he still thinks he is significant enough to tell Abraham to order Lazarus to
   warn his 5 brothers.  His self image is
   inflated and blinds him to this character flaw.  Entitlement?
3. The rich man is condemned not because of his wealth in
   itself, but that because of it he feels self righteous.  The trap of wealth, I am better than that one.
4. There may be a parallel in Luke’s mind between Lazarus
   and Jesus, which comes out in the talk between the rich man and Abraham.  Jesus was poor, died, and returned to
   life.  Were Lazarus to die and return to
   life, neither would he be believed, any more than Jesus was believed.
5. There is a play on words with Lazarus.  In ancient languages the name Lazarus could
   be equivalent to Abraham.  Therefore,
   Luke rubs it in: Lazarus may be a personification of Abraham himself, lying on the
   doorstep of the rich man who never sees him.

 The lesson: Who is the Lazarus, who is the poor
person at your own doorstep?

Source:   The Liberating Stories of Jesus, Francis Vanderwall

Emma with her mom, Beth, another Cupcake winner.

Readings:   (A couple of good readings today)

Genesis  18,  1-10,  I will return next year and Sarah will have a son.  She laughs.

Psalm 15,  He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Colossians 1, 24-28,     I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.

Luke 10, 38-42,  The story of Martha & Mary.

Old buddies, John & Leo, say, "Welcome in, Everybody."

Genesis observations:

What :   This is the first book in the whole bible, a good read.  It begins with the 2 versions of creation, Adam & Eve, the apple, Cain & Abel, the Ark and the flood with Noah (see the picture of the huge ark somebody has built?), Abraham & the almost sacrifice of his son, and others. 

When put together:  Babylonian Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ.

Kevin, too, says, "Come on in, Folks."

Today’s story: An amusing little story, though you don't know it because the editor snipped off the end.   Abraham is hospitable to three travelers.  This results in the men, messengers from Yahweh,  saying that a year from now Sarah will have a son.  Sarah is 99 years old and never had a child.  She is behind a tent flap, hears the promise, and she laughs.  Amusingly Yahweh hears her laugh, asks her why, and she lies, saying she did not laugh.  

Offertory with Tom & Teresa & Sandra, and, of course, Leo.

Martha & Mary, who is better?

This morning I would like to talk about who is better, Martha or Mary?  Before I even begin I must acknowledge that Rosemary has a strong opinion on this subject.  You can guess it.  She thinks that Martha is getting a bad deal. 

It must be also admitted that Rosemary has a bit of the Martha complex.   She tells me often how she feels like Martha because she is so over worked. 

Want to see one happy kid today?  

So, being a good husband and trying to lessen the load, I will tell you what I do.  This is also my way of finding meaning to this either/or story.  Maybe it is not either/or? 

It happens on Tuesday evenings when the sun is going down and I am in the shade that I mow our lawn.  I not only mow, but I edge, trim the bushes, use the weed eater, and blow it all.  Just mowing the grass takes me 90 minutes.  I enjoy doing it.  It is like an art form.  I am imitating Rosemary, the artist.  Plus, it is good exercise.

The Wedding, Lisa Anderlick and Mark Cheek, Saturday evening, Suncreek United Methodist, Allen.

When I am mowing I get into a pretty swift rhythm.   I can push the lawn mower faster than the mower ordinarily goes.  My little 88 year old neighbor lady who lives across the street, Joyce,  says I look like I am running behind the lawn mower. 

One evening recently when I was zooming back & forth across our front yard, a neighbor couple, Barbra & Bud, and their white sort of poodle dog, all came walking by.   This happens occasionally in front of our house and in front of their house when we are walking Aviana.  The dogs have a relationship that consists of all of about a two minute mutual check out.  I love these people and they are the couple who introduced me to the “J,” the Jewish Community Center.

"I take you, Lisa, in Marriage.  I promise to be true to you in good times & bad, in sickness and in health.   I will love and cherish you all the days of my life."

So I see Bud & Barbra & Patty.  I wave but do not lessen my rhythm.  I keep chasing that lawn mower.  And then….I feel guilty. 

I have just again chosen Project over People, one of my most favorite activities.  I think to myself, ‘What if I just stopped and chatted for 5 minutes?’  ‘Would it make the slightest difference in when I finish?’

I have known Lisa Anderlick since the time she was a little girl.  Now she has not only grown up beautifully, but she is an MD.  In fact, she and two of her brides maids all became MD's together.  

5 minutes later here they come back the other way toward their house.  So, what do you think I did?  Yep, I kept right on chasing that lawn mower.  And they passed me by and went home.  I still cannot believe I did it.  I have yet to apologize to them.  As Rosemary is happy to observe, I get OCD about projects & work.  Obsessive, compulsive, that is. 

Sound familiar?  You got a similar obsession?  Maybe you don’t.  If so you are blessed. 

The first steps on the road to a New Life.

Maybe in our Martha-Mary story Martha gets obsessive, compulsive and needs to be more like Mary?   At least I do.  Mary, who knows?  Maybe she needs to be more sensitive to the job to be done?

For me, the story is a challenge to be both, focused on the work, and focused on the person.  In fact, I believe the person always takes priority despite my behavior.

How do you balance the Martha-Mary dynamic in your life? 

Long time and dear friends, Lisa's parents, Karen & John Anderlick.