Greetings from Pastor David A. Bliss

 dabliss@goodhopelutheran.com

   Several people have requested this opening sermon illustration that was used May 9, 2010.  Please enjoy!

  Someone has made a list of nine things a Mother would never say. See if your Mom would ever say these things:

1. “How on earth can you see the TV sitting that far back?” Anybody?

2. “Yeah, I used to skip school a lot, too.”

3. “Just leave all the lights on . . . it makes the house look more cheery.”

4. “Let me smell that shirt. Yeah, it’s good for another week.”

5. “Go ahead and keep that stray dog, honey. I’ll be glad to feed and walk him every day.”

6. “Well, if Timmy’s mom says it’s OK, that’s good enough for me.”

7. “The curfew is just a general time to shoot for. It’s not like I’m running a prison around here.”

8. “I don’t have a tissue with me . . . just use your sleeve.”

I greeted you with my official name in the above title, but I enjoy being called Pastor Dave.  Even though I have lived in Ohio longer than my home state of Indiana, I am still in heart a Hoosier.  I was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I am the oldest of a brother and two sisters.  I was graduated from Purdue University

 a Boilermaker! Although, I know that doesn't mean much living in OSU country.  My wife is a fanatic Buckeye supporter, which makes for interesting life in our household.) and did my graduate study at Hamma School of Theology on the Wittenberg University campus.  My class was the second to the last to be graduated before it merged with the seminary at Capital to become Trinity Seminary.

    I met my wife Jill during my internship at St. Paul, Warren, Ohio, and one year later, we were married in 1978.  Jill worked as a administrative assistant for 31 years, and returned to school studying to become an Esthetician, a person who specializes in skin care.  We have four children: two daughters and two sons.  Our oldest is our daughter Rada.  David is our oldest son.  His wife is Amy, and they have a daughter Jocelyn, who will turn two in October.  He is planning to enter seminary either this Winter or next Fall and Amy is a teacher. They live in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

    Next in line is our son Michael, and his wife is Daralyn.  They live in Chicago.  He is an Assistant Manager for Mens' Warehouse, and she is a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools.  Our youngest is our daughter Rachel, and she is a special education teacher at Northridge School System in Springfield, Ohio.

    We live in Grand Rapids, Ohio, which is about 15 miles west of Toledo, and our home is a small cottage that sits on the bank of the scenic Maumee River.  We inherited three Black Labrador Retrievers: Miracle, Spookie, and Alex, after our kids left home, but they have been a joy as well as a challenge in our lives. 

     I have been involved with Christian Mission work in the Dodoma Diocese, Tanzania for the past 16 years, and have led mission groups for 13 years.  My wife, a friend and I have established a non-profit organization called “Christian Mission for Dodoma,” which is involved with educational, medical and safe water projects.  I love just about all sports, and am Detroit everything when it comes to the pro sports.  I enjoy gardening, boating and water skiing.

     I pray that God in Christ Jesus bless us, as we journey in His footsteps for this coming year.  I believe that Christ has called us in partnership as pastor and congregation for a purpose, and may that purpose and mission unfold as time passes.

I am especially excited at the opportunity to meet and know you all.