The Age of Innocence

 If I had to give a sub-title to my first 2015 blog it would be When We Nailed the Windows Shut.

This past Christmas Eve we attended services at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC. Pastor Dr. Ross preached a heartfelt message from Luke 2:13-14:

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

The birth of Christ is supposed to usher in a peace to all on whom God’s favor rests. Dr. Ross pointed out that few, if any, are experiencing the peace they believe Christ promised. Why? The obvious answer is that the peace from Christ is not necessarily tranquility in our lives or having all we need or want. True peace comes from our trust in Christ and our best efforts to walk in His way despite the pitfalls of life.

Dr. Ross established a personal point in his life when everything changed for him. It was a time he realized tranquility in the world and our personal lives were fragile and could change in an instant. For him that moment was the assassination of our President John F. Kennedy. One’s world view changed from that point on. He referred to it as the end of “the age of innocence.”

As a young boy growing up in a coal mining town I recalled a defining moment when my worldview changed. The home we lived in had no locks on any of the windows or exterior doors. There was no need to be concerned about security. Everyone was at peace with each other. That changed one day when a convict escaped from the police who was transporting the individual to a state prison. The escapee was reportedly in the immediate area where we lived. That day before the sun went down my parents had nailed all the windows shut. In hindsight we were probably more in danger of escaping a fire than an intruding convict.

From that point on I no longer felt at peace. The words of Jesus in John 16:33 tell us: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." We cannot escape trouble. The best we can do is to decide to view our circumstances with a different set of eyes.

As we face the coming year reflect upon those moments in life where your worldview changed by problems, global conflicts and personal trials. Instead of spiraling downward out of fear and anxiety, look upward. When Simeon saw the Christ child being dedicated in the Temple he said, “I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people (Luke 2:30-31).

Use the defining moments of life as a reason to turn your eyes toward Jesus and find true peace.

Robert Parlante

January 2015

Count Your Thanksgiving Blessings

As we make our plans to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with  family and friends, take the opportunity to reflect upon the  lyrics for the old church hymn "Count Your Blessings".  All of us have blessings despite the circumstances of our lives. So start counting and share with others!

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

Robert Parlante
November, 2014

Author Interview with Christian Book Distributors

Just posted my author interview with Christian Book Distributors (cbd.com). Check out the latest on Patch Town: A Letter from Miss Wingate.

Tell us a little about yourself:
I am married to Angela and we have three children and nine grandkids. I was born at home in a coal mining community located in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania. I crafted my first short story when I was 13 years old ,and I have never since put down my pen ... well today it would be my laptop. I was a food researcher, technical writer, a manufacturing site manager, a director of external affairs for a major corporation but the most satisfying vocation of my life was being a minister.

What was your motivation behind this project?
I concluded after years of pastoral care ministry that many problems faced by people are rooted in unresolved anger and lack of forgiveness. I speculated what if someone from the past came forward years later and asked for forgiveness. What would I do? That question was the genesis of my book Patch Town.

What do you hope folks will gain from this project?
I pray readers will experience God's grace and mercy as they experience forgiveness when they reach out to those who may have hurt them.

How were you personally impacted by working on this project?
I realized I had harbored past hurts and anger that interfered with my spiritual well-being and growth.

Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors/artists?
My favorite author is Robert Whitlow. I also enjoy some books written by Nicholas Sparks, and I like the writing style of Jan Karon.

Anything else you'd like readers/listeners to know:

I named characters in my book and its future derivatives after my nine grandkids. I warned them though. The characters are not them, and do not have the physical appearance or personality. I just thought it was a fun thing to do. Hope they are not disappointed. I made sure I did not name any villains after them!

Robert Parlante
October 24, 2014

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER?

I did not use scientific statistical methodology. The sampling was way too small but that did not stop me from using bad science to reach quasi truth about human nature. Spin doctors and politicians do this all the time, but that does not make it right.

Despite the unsound approach I arrived at the following conclusions.

When someone mentions that they had read my book Patch Town – A Letter from Miss Wingate, I asked them a question: Who was your favorite character in the book and why?

Excluding “Martin” the principal character in the book, the next most favorite person mentioned was Sonia Washington who runs the senior adult care home in Shanks Patch. The reason for her popularity is that she is spunky and knows how to pull things together quickly and efficiently when the moment calls for action.

Therefore people like spunky people, despite the bad science used. Well, sort of!

One poll result I recently saw suggested most people do indeed like spunky people (however one defines “spunky”). But get a little too spunky and you turn off people. Sonia has just the right blend of spunk. I guess that’s the key balance goal for all of us.

The second feedback relates to Sonia’s ability to rise to the task set before her with limited resources or time. In the novel she cooks a great Thanksgiving meal on short notice. She knows how to acknowledge value or a blessing when she encounters them.

The part I like best about Sonia is that she was the initiator of the plot. Her decision to write a letter triggers the entire plot. The second best thing I liked about her was that she captured the heart of Leroy. Miss Spunky meets Mr. Spunky! The conclusion: spunk is attracted to spunk.

If you have read or planned to read Patch Town – A Letter from Miss Wingate let me know who is your favorite character and why.

Robert Parlante

September 2014

From Failure to Forgiveness to Freedom ... and Fiction!

Many of us have likely had this experience. Someone approaches you for counsel or advice and begins the conversation with, “I have this friend who is going through this or that problem, and I’d like to help them with this issue.”

After the problem is shared, the person asking then says, “What should I tell my friend?”

Oft times the “friend” reference is a way to conceal the fact that the person seeking your counsel and the so called “friend” are one and the same. I've been through enough pastoral-care sessions to conclude that creating a substitute focus is a defense mechanism to get answers while keeping the focus off the person and their issues. I understand this approach because I've employed the technique at times in my life.

When I decided to write a book about moving from failure to forgiveness to freedom, I had to decide what genre I would use to help people confront the personal hurdles they face. I decided to use fiction even though I could have taken a non-fiction pastoral approach with Scripture references and results from life experiences. But some people are not open to full discussion in a group study format where the focus could be so direct on the group participant.

I chose to approach the issue through fiction. That’s why I wrote the fiction book Patch Town-A Letter from Miss Wingate. People are more comfortable when they comment on a fictional character’s successes and failure. There is a built-in separation between the reader and the character in the book. We learn through the character’s responses how to approach life-controlling issues. We may even conclude the character’s responses make sense. And we might even consider applying those steps to our own lives.

The approach is less threatening, and we don’t need an imaginary friend tagging along with us.

The Bible is certainly the go-to non-fiction book when dealing with life issues. Do you also feel a fictional approach to learning has merit? Drop me a comment!

Robert Parlante

September 2014

Just Say "YES!"

A few weeks ago our granddaughter got engaged and is now planning a late February 2015 barn wedding. For those new to the idea of a barn wedding, your mind may be visualizing animals roaming the dance floor or some other stereotypes associated with farm life. The barn that our granddaughter and her future husband are using is brand new, never saw an animal except the human party-types, and was built as a wedding venue.

The future groom’s actual proposal was fun and captured on video. The future bride and groom invited both sets of parents out to an Italian restaurant for dinner. After the meal was completed and coffee was poured, the young man turned to the father of his intended wife and asked his permission to marry his daughter. He did not even formally propose yet and tears started flowing.

He then got down on one knee and proposed marriage to our granddaughter. That’s when the customers in the restaurant began to clap in unison and chant, “Just say yes!” Over and over, they chanted. Talk about pressure to say “YES.” The proposal turned into a group event.

Our granddaughter and her future husband are in love with each other, so saying “Yes” was never in contention.

Actually Jesus Christ offers his love for us because his desire for each of us is to establish a permanent union between him and individuals ready to make a commitment. He’s waiting for us to say “Yes”.

Ephesians 28 reminds us “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Just say “Yes” to that gift.

Hebrews 11:6 – “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Just say “Yes!”

James 4:8a – “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” Just say “Yes” and draw close to him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 _ “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Robert Parlante

August 2014

A Sample of Patch Town

On August 7th the kindle edition of book 1 of Patch Town became available. The print edition is due October 1st. The link to Amazon for Patch Town is

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJ5YQCM

Below is a sampling of the opening chapter titled A Letter from Miss Wingate.

  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.~ Colossians 3:13, NIV   

     "The unopened letter stood in the middle of the kitchen island where Martin Gilmore had tossed it aside as an unexpected reminder of his past. Since its arrival, the letter felt like a throbbing thorn in his finger. Instead of being a reason to show mercy toward Miss Wingate, as his wife Sarah would likely have encouraged, it was more a reminder of what might have been had he never encountered Elizabeth Wingate.

     Martin heard the Lancaster Herald morning newspaper land with a soft thud on the front steps leading up to the wrap-around porch. He glanced out the window and saw the delivery van make a swift U-turn and work its way down his driveway through the patches of early-morning September mist. When the vehicle reached the main road that encircled Lake Windermere, it turned right and faded into the fog hovering along the shore line.

     He slipped two slices of whole wheat bread into the toaster before he went outside and picked up the newspaper, anxious to scan the weekend classified pages. The moist air felt clammy against his face. The weather forecast predicted heavy rain starting early in the morning and into most of next week. And the sudden appearance of that letter still felt unsettling, like a thunderous cloud ready to burst open with angry rain.

     When he got back inside, he could smell the satisfying fragrance of toast. The coffee-maker wheezed and sputtered with steam, announcing the end of its brew cycle. He poured a cup of coffee, its stimulating aroma giving little encouragement to open that letter delivered in yesterday’s mail from his old 8^th grade teacher."

Robert Parlante

August 2014