I was pleased to offer my services this past week-end at Deer Park Campgrounds, in New Hope, PA. I was busy setting up and running the sound system, assisting with the planning and configuration of the satellite dish, language interpreter modules were available, video projection machines were supplied by Dale and Jeff, CD changer, VCR, cassette tape deck, digital piano, Jeff sat next to me typing questions for Grant to answer during his satellite address via the RLDS Chat Room using a laptop communicating over a phone line... etc.

This was truly a team effort, and I was happy to be a part of it and to put my gifts into service.

We were having fun learning about how the Transformation 2000 program is progressing and what more needs to be done.

What a fabulous week-end.

Leonard Young was with us from World Church. Len is a Member of the Standing High Council, Director of Field Resources, and president of the Quorum of High Priests.

He delivered many inspiring messages, and on Sunday, during the worship service became very animated. He spoke about our unity. And tied it into a topic we have been discussing on the RLDS WebBoard... concealed weapons.

I'm sure I can't do his message justice, but the gist of it was, that if we retreat to our separate corners, ready to protect ourselves at all cost, we sink to the same level, and make the problem of violence in our society even worse. The practice is known as isolationism.

Instead, he suggested that we are called to move in the opposite direction from our natural tendency... to move toward each other. To be examples of how we can become communities of faith and peace. (Littleton by the way is doing just that.) In doing so, we take risks, yes, we may be injured, yes, we may even lose our lives, yes, but it is much better to die boldly professing God's love and then awaken in heaven, than to remain here, bringing more weapons of violence and destruction into our daily lives. WWJD?

This of course is Len's personal opinion, and was only one aspect of discussions, and messages on the issues of T2000, peace, reconciliation, and healing of the spirit.

We laughed and we cried... and that's usually a good sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Still reeling from the shock of the killings at Columbine High School, I thought Len's comments were timely and worth repeating if you were there, and worth sharing if you could not attend.

I dedicate this issue of the 5-A-Day Club to the families and friends of those who were murdered, and continue to pray for the town of Littleton, Colorado.

I have included an interesting link below for your consideration. If you feel so moved, please share your thoughts with the group by replying to all, or by responding to me via e-mail.

Were the killers nothing more than a product of their environment? Or was it something deeper? Sarah Hinlicky wrestles with the "whys" in "(The Massacre at Littleton)."

Excerpt from Webzine "Boundless" at : (http://www.boundless.org/) .