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RELIGION
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A charcuterie board of fun and wisdom
CHURCH-COMMUNITY CONNECTION Pastor Ed Delph
Peoria Times Columnist
Every once in and while, I like to write an article containing some fun and wisdom. These are primarily others’ thoughts that have impacted or inspired me. Hopefully, these thoughts will do the same for you; some maybe even change your life. These stories or quotes are easily accessible on the internet or other public sources. So let’s get equipped for living in today’s chaotic world.
This story is called “Everything You Need to Know About Life in Three Minutes.”
God created a dog and said, “Sit by the door of the house and bark at everyone who comes by, and I will give you 20 years.” The dog replied, “That’s too long. So I’ll take 10 years and give you back the other 10.” Then God created a monkey and said, “Entertain people and do tricks. I’ll give you a 20-year life span.” The monkey said, “That’s too long. I can’t do boring monkey tricks for 20 years. So I’ll take 10 years and give you back the other 10 years.”
Then God created a cow. “Go out into the field, eat grass, work in the sun, have calves and support the farmer. I’ll give you a 60-year life span.” The cow replied, “That’s too long. I’ll take 20 years and give you back 40 years.” Then God created a man and said, “Eat, sleep, play and enjoy life. I’ll give you 20 years.” The man replied, “Only 20 years, that’s not enough! So I’ll take the 20 years, plus the 40 years you gave to the cow, the 10 years you gave to the monkey, and the 10 years you gave to the dog. That makes 80 years.” God said, “OK, you have a deal.”
But somehow, all these things ended in men and women in reverse. That’s why we eat, sleep and play in the first 20 years of our lives. Then, we work in the sun for the next 40 years to support our family. Then, for the next 10 years, we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren. And for the last 10 years, we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone who goes by or everything we read or see on TV.
Aha! Now, you’ve had life explained to you. If you’re sitting by someone, read this story to them and say, “I think Ed’s talking to you.”
Here’s an aha about a compliment someone recently received. “You know, somebody complimented me on my driving today. They left a note on the windshield of my car. It said, ‘Parking fine.’” Here’s another driving “aha.” “I picked up a hitchhiker. He asked if I wasn’t afraid that he might be a serial killer. I told him the odds of two serial killers being in the same car was extremely unlikely.” Here’s a love “aha.” “If two people love each other, nothing is impossible, except deciding where to eat.” Consider this Super Bowl aha: “You should be as excited about going to church as about the Super Bowl. So, when your pastor makes a great point this Sunday, pour Gatorade over their head.”
Consider this thought about valuing time and investing time with people.
“To realize the value of four years, ask a graduate. To realize the value of one year, ask a student who failed a grade in school. To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of one week, ask the weekly newspaper editor. To realize the value of one hour, ask the lovers waiting to meet each other.
“To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who just missed a train. To realize the value of one second, ask someone who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of one millisecond, ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics. Treasure every moment that you have. Realize the value of your family. Realize the value of real friends.”
Here’s some wisdom for many of us at this present time. “Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s hap-
SEE CHARCUTERIE PAGE 27
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Vober’s ‘choices’ shared in new book
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor
Lori Vober said she believes God has a plan for everyone, citing Jeremiah 29: 11 NIV, “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Vober suffered an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke at age 29 and, from it, developed epilepsy. She felt called to share her story, and her journey of faith and perseverance, to encourage others.
“It was caused by a malformation of the blood vessels on the right side of my brain,” she said. “I had a massive brain bleed. I had just left corporate America, left the airline industry, three weeks prior to take a position at our church.
“We were trying to start our family, and we thought less travel and less stress would help the situation. One day, I started feeling really bad. I called my parents, and they met me at the church.”
Before she made it to the hospital, she lost consciousness. Upon arrival at the medical center, she had five-hour brain surgery to stop the bleeding. For several days, she was in a drug-induced coma.
When she awoke, her left side was paralyzed. She had to relearn to walk through therapy.
“I’m doing very well,” she said. “I’m independent. I don’t need a walker. I still have a disability, especially on the left side. I can drive. I dedicated the next seven years of my life to physical therapy. It was a full-time job for me.”
To share her story, she is releasing a book called “Choices” on Trilogy Christian Publishing, a subsidiary of TBN. Set for release Friday, March 11, “Choices” can be picked up early at Ribbons Tea House in Litchfield Park from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5.
“About this time last year, I felt God calling me, saying, ‘I saved you from a stroke and I gave you a story, so get writing,’” she recalled.
“A year later, this is how my book is coming out. It’s about my faith journey and my journey through our perseverance and the challenges of stroke.
“I developed epilepsy from the stroke. My book also discusses job loss and adoption parenting. We’re all faced with challenges — big and small. We also have a choice of how we’re going to react to those challenges. It’s our attitude that can carry us a long way. I hope my story can give hope and encouragement to others.”
Born in Atlanta, Vober considers Texas to be her home because she spent her high school and college years in the Lone Star State. She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.
Vober and her husband, Dainis, met in Minnesota after she was transferred there for her job after graduation. Married in Texas in 1998, they live in Goodyear. They purchased land in Pinetop for their retirement home.
“We’re happily married and have a strong faith and a strong love,” she said. “It’s carried us through some pretty tough times.”
The Vobers adopted a sibling group of three kids from Colombia, South America, in 2011.
“Our journey of adoption parenting has been a blessing and has had its challenges,” Vober said.
Lori and Dainis Vober adopted three siblings. That is shared in her new book, “Choices.” She will sign copies of the book on Saturday, March 5, at Ribbons Tea House in Litchfield Park. (Photo courtesy of Lori Vober)
SEE CHOICES PAGE 26
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Using “The Bible Now” by Richard Elliot Friedman and Shawna Dolansky as a reference, Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, Ph.D., will show participants of a new class, “Hot Biblical Topics: Controversial Issues as Seen in the Bible,” what the ancient Bible teaches regarding contemporary controversies.
The Zoom class includes fresh interpretations of texts that have been misused to justify both stringent and lenient positions on such topics as capital punishment, homosexuality, abortion and environmental issues. These “hot topics” will be discussed with respect for all attendees.
This three-week course will be taught by Kaplan, rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley. Kaplan has a diverse rabbinic background, having served congregations in Israel; Capetown, South Africa; Albany, Georgia; Kingston, Jamaica; and Mobile, Alabama, before assuming his current position at TBS.
The author of several books and numerous papers and articles, Kaplan earned an undergraduate degree at Yeshiva University with a major in Jewish studies; a Ph.D. in American Jewish history from Tel Aviv University (his dissertation was on “Conversion to Judaism in America: 1760 to 1897”); and a rabbinic degree and a MHL (Hebrew Letters and Literature) from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (Jerusalem). He was subsequently ordained as a rabbi in the Reform Jewish movement.
The course will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays March 15, March 22 and March 29 on Zoom, or anytime on YouTube (enrollees will receive link for both).
It is open to anyone interested in attending. The cost is $18 for members of TBS and $25 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required. To enroll, call the TBS office at 623-977-3240 or send an email templebethshalomaz@ gmail.com before March 10. PT
CHOICES FROM PAGE 25
“It has not been easy, but God really called us to give kids who didn’t have a home a forever home. That was 11 years ago. They’re now 21, 19 and 17. The 21-year-old is on her own, living in Ohio. Our 19-year-old is a senior in high school, and the 17-year-old is a junior in high school.”
The couple are members of Desert Springs Community Church in Goodyear, and Vober is an active part of the women’s ministry.
She serves as a weekly Bible study leader and enjoys connecting with women each week.
Vober’s goal is to be a motivational speaker. She will attend a conference in Texas this summer to refine her speaking skills and confidence level.
“God is not finished with our story yet,” she said. “One day, this will all come to fruition.” PT
IF YOU GO...
WHAT: Lori Vober “Choices” book signing WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5 WHERE: Ribbons Tea House, 111 W. Honeysuckle Street, Litchfield Park COST: Free admission
March 3, 2022 CHARCUTERIE FROM PAGE 28 pening around you get inside of you and weigh you down.” Consider this statement: “If you don’t fight for what you want, don’t cry for what you lost.” Here’s poet Mary Anne Radmacher’s aha about courage: “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” Think of this: “Growth is stepping over the things you used to trip on.”
Consider this aha about happiness or the lack thereof. How to be unhappy: Stay inside all day; move as little as possible; spend more than you earn; take yourself (and life) too seriously; look for reasons why things won’t work; always consume, never contribute; resent the lucky and successful; never say hello first; be unreliable.
Now, let’s invert each point for happiness: get outside each day; move, walk, exercise, dance; spend less than you earn; view life as an opportunity to live and play; be the one who looks for solutions; develop a mindset to contribute and create; learn from the lucky and successful; be the first to say hello; be reliable.
Here’s the last quote for us to remember today. “Faith and fear both demand that you believe in something you can’t see. You choose.”
Now, turn to the person sitting next to you and say, “Now I know Ed’s talking to you!” PT
Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com. For more info, see nationstrategy. com.
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