Category Archives: Spirituality

“We Lose A Library”

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

“When an old person dies, we lose a library,” is a loosely stated African proverb.  How true.  How much that person has read throughout life and digested from fun fiction to telling biographies to shocking newspaper headlines. Digested but remembered?  … Continue reading →

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One, Tiny Flame

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

There it is, now lit.  It took longer to light this time because the wick is lower and I just can’t seem to reach deep enough inside to relight it.  But I did. The house is still heated, I can’t … Continue reading →

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Phobias: ReVisited

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

Agoraphobia  fear of choice,  –  you may have to live with it. Claustrophobia fear of being left alone because you’ve successfully alienated everyone around you. Homophobia  fear of yourself. Necrophobia  fear that the casket will not close because of your weight. … Continue reading →

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A German’s Hope

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

Americans have a hard time expressing themselves or finding the right words to describe how they’re feeling.  An example would be, “Like it was a totally awesome movie, dawg.”  I rest my case.  The Germans may help us with this … Continue reading →

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Our Christmas “Hero”

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

“Ahhhhh. It’s finally finished.  The wars have ended.  Famine is now an ancient word that future generations will ask, ‘What was that like back then?’  Unemployment, fare wages, excellent healthcare will have solved themselves, all because of this historic and … Continue reading →

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Preaching: About You or “Them?”

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

The minister sits down with his yellow pad, black and red pens next to the Bible he’s possessed for years and behind him are rows of biblical commentary books carefully shelved in his study on a lonely, dark Thursday night. … Continue reading →

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Fictional Facts: TV & Christmas

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

It happened again last night while I was eating supper and watching Chris Matthews on MSNBC.  His program is interrupted with a tragic shooting at a mall as the Christmas season unfolded. The announcer could not have qualified her words … Continue reading →

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Ungotten Gifts

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

It was a plastic car dashboard priced at $19.95, surely beyond my parent’s 1960’s budget.  I’d look at it (wait, “look” is too mild.)  I would admire it at the grocery store while it teased me on the top shelve … Continue reading →

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Christmas with Frank & Paul

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

(Frank Sinatra sings and St. Paul tells us of the beautiful incarnation story.) “She was Boston, I was Vegas, She was crepe suzette, I was pie, She was lectures, I was movies, but I loved her. She was Mozart, I … Continue reading →

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“Snow, Snow, Snow”

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Rev. Joe Jagodensky, SDS.

Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen are on their 1954 movie train to experience “snow.”  They harmoniously sing about snow as though there’s a harmony to be found in it. “Snow, it won’t be long before we’ll all be … Continue reading →

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