savior sigHtings

WHy WE’RE LOOKING fOR GOD IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

We have another Jesus sighting.

They’re calling it the Divine Vine: overgrown Kudzu on a wire in a Raleigh, North Carolina park — 30 feet tall! It resembles Jesus from the back, his arms outstretched on the cross and head dangling in pain.

The homeless sleep beneath it to gain comfort. The mystical see it as sign of God’s presence. The skeptical see a random flora formation.

It’s always that way with these things. We’ve lately had Jesus showing up in a half-eaten Kit Kat candy bar, in a slice of grilled cheese and on a Las Vegas toilet seat. The first two disappeared in short order, the latter lingered because, as we all know, what happens in Vegas

As one news report put it, jokes about the Jesus in the Park phenomenon have spread like, well, Kudzu. Someone probably named John quipped for the Kudzu Jesus: I am the way, the truth, and the plant life?

The Shroud of Turin has fascinated the faithful with the idea that the Lord’s image was left imprinted on his burial cloth. A woman named Esperanza (Hope) sees Jesus’ face in a brown stain on the stucco wall of her neighbor’s house in the movie Henry Poole Was Here Miracles start to happen, like a mute girl named Millie suddenly speaking. Henry still doesn’t buy it.

“Buying it” is sometimes the point, as people commercialize these supposed relics or epiphanies of Jesus. But that’s not always the point. Some of us just want to see Jesus. We long to pull back the veil that separates heaven and earth, the invisible and the visible.

People nearing the end of their lives sometimes report that they see him as they are slipping away. Those who return after near-death experiences say the same thing. Who’s to say? Maybe they did. Or maybe they just wanted to and thought they did.

Jesus promised his disciples that he would be with them always, even to the end of the age. We presume he also meant that for all of us who have followed them in following him. But where are we most likely to see him? Not in Kudzu overgrowth or chocolate confections.

In one of the most Jewish-sounding passages of the New Testament, Jesus tells his disciples about the final judgment when the

Son of Man will separate the sheep from the goats (they look much the same when grazing in the same field). In Matthew 25, he says that the blessed will be rewarded because they saw him hungry and gave him food, saw him thirsty and gave them drink, saw him a stranger and welcomed him, saw him naked and gave him clothing, saw him sick and took care of him, saw him imprisoned and visited him.

BaPtist

Forest MeadoW / 9150 Church Rd. / Welcoming the mosaic of cultures living in our neighborhoods / www.fmbcdallas.org

Worship 10:50 / Bible Study 9:30 / Tim Ahlen, Pastor / 214.341.9555 gaston oaks BaPtist / Greenville Ave & Royal Lane

Sunday Worship 10:45 am / Bible Study 9:30 am www.gastonoaks.org / 214.348.0958

Park cities BaPtist cHUrcH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

All services 9:20 & 10:50. Traditional (Sanctuary), Comtemporary (Great Hall), Bible Study (Church Campus) / 214.860.1500

WilsHire BaPtist / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

BiBle cHUrcHes

nortH HigHlands BiBle cHUrcH / 9626 Church Road

Sunday: Education (child & adult) 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am

Wed: kids 6:20, JH 6:30, HS 7:30 / www.nhbc.net / 214.348.9697

disciPles oF cHrist

east dallas cHristian cHUrcH / 629 N. Peak Street

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 & 10:50 am

214.824.8185 / Rev. Deborah Morgan / www.edcc.org

ePiscoPal

st. JoHn’s ePiscoPal cHUrcH / 848 Harter Road, 75218

Sunday Worship: 8:00 & 10:30 am / Christian Ed. 9:00 am 214.321.6451 / www.stjohnsepiscopal.org

lUtHeran

They will then ask when they saw him in these states of needs. They won’t remember seeing him so and tending to him. Jesus says, Truly I tell you, inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, my brothers [and sisters], you have done it unto me.

When people came to see Mother Teresa in Calcutta, she knew they really came to see Jesus. So she would take them to back alleys to find the sick and the starving. Here, she would say, here is Jesus.

Maybe the reason we want to see Jesus in Kudzu and Kit Kats is that we want to see him on our terms and on our turf. We want to see him in ways that beguile us or bless us, but not in ways that bother us or beckon us to act.

I have decided to look for Jesus more intently. I intend to look longer into the eyes of those I usually avert my eyes from quickly. I wonder if I’ll see him there? Guess I won’t know until the judgment.

First United lUtHeran cHUrcH / 6202 E Mockingbird Ln.

Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule. 214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

Zion lUtHeran cHUrcH & scHool / 6121 E Lovers Ln.

Sunday: Sunday School 9:15 am, Worship 8:00 am, 10:30 am, & 6:00 pm / 214.363.1639 / www.ziondallas.org

MetHodist

lake HigHlands UMc / 9015 Plano Rd. (at McCree) 214.348.6600 / www.lhumc.com / Sun. School 9:45 am

Sun. Worship 8:30 & 11:00 Traditional / 11:00 Contemporary

WHite rock United MetHodist / wrumc.org

1450 Oldgate Lane / 214.324.3661

Sunday Worship 10:50 am / Rev. George fisk

non-denoMinational

lake HigHlands cHUrcH / 9919 McCree

Sun. Classes 9:30 am, Assembly 11:00 am / 214.348.0460 Home groups meet on weeknights. / lakehighlandschurch.org

WHite rock coMMUnity cHUrcH / 9353 Garland Road

Sun. Bible Study 9:00 am, Worship 10:45 am / 214.320.0043

Wed. Bible Studies 10:00 am & 7:30 pm / www.whiterockchurch.org

PresByterian

lake HigHlands PresByterian cHUrcH / 214.348.2133 8525 Audelia Road at NW Hwy. / www.lhpres.org

Christian Ed. 9:45 am, 9:00 am Contemporary, 11:00 am Traditional neW st. Peter’s PresByterian cHUrcH / 214.438.0120

Meet at Dallas Children’s Theater – Skillman at NW Hwy Worship: 9:30 am / www.newstpeters.org

religioUs s cience

gloBal Heart dallas / 11020 Audelia Road, Suite B107

Sunday: Meditation 10:20 am / Service 11:00 am 214.361.2096 / www.globalheart-dallas.org

Community

SummErvillE aT l akElaNd HillS is offering “You Don’t Have to Live with Us for Us to Help,” a complimentary homevisit service for senior citizens. Healthcare professionals will visit senior citizens to help evaluate care needs, and find resources or referrals for other services. To arrange a visit or for more information, call 214.321.7300.

Pa Sl , Parents and Advocates for Slower Learners is a nonprofit organization that provides social opportunities for adult slow learners in our community. Visit pasldfw.com or contact Wade Mercer at WADE1@airmail.net for a list of monthly activities and to find out more information.

S OuTHErN mETHOdiST uNivEr SiT y’S dEdmaN ScHOOl Of l aW offers free one-hour tax consultations for anyone who can’t afford attorney services and is facing an IRS audit, appeal or collection process; involved in innocent spouse relief; or needing to resolve a past-due tax matter. To schedule a free consultation, call 214.768.2562 or visit smu. edu/law/taxclinic. The school’s small business clinic also is providing free legal services to new and existing small businesses and nonprofit organizations that can’t afford to pay legal fees. For information, call 214.768.4935.

TE xa S cENTEr fOr THE PHySically imPairEd, an organization founded by Lake Highlands resident Robert Langford, seeks donations of used computers and computer parts, which will be refurbished and then shipped free to visually impaired people. According to the organization, 3,200 computers have been donated to the visually impaired during the past five years. For information, visit handicapability. org or call 214.340.6328.

c a S a dE vida, a respite care program for caregivers of early onset Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, is offered weekly on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at NorthPark Presbyterian Church, 9555 N. Central Expressway. It’s strictly a social program, with no medications or health care administered. Activities include morning snacks, exercise, bingo, crafts and music. A $10 fee covers the day’s program; application required. Call Ann Anderson at 972.783.8780 or Nick Harper at 214.349.6584 to apply or for information.

THE PrESby PrESENTErS TOa STma STErS group meets Thursdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, 8200 Walnut Hill. The non-profit public speaking club was founded to help members overcome public speaking fears and develop and enhance their leadership skills. Newcomers are welcome. Meeting rooms and lunch plans change weekly; contact Lynda Waters at 214.288.7959 or LyndaWaters@texashealth.org for information.

l akE HigHlaNdS miliTary mOmS is a friendship and support group for mothers with children currently serving in the military. For information, contact Rhonda Russell at lhmama1@yahoo.com.

THE ExcHaNgE club Of l akE HigHlaNdS is compiling a list of names and military addresses of former Lake Highlands students serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in order to send supplies, phone cards and letters. Lake Highlands soldiers currently serving overseas are Christopher Alexander, Matt Booth, Michael Edwards, Joshua Franks, Amy Hargis, Carl Holland, Tobias Henry, Andrew Hinshaw, Jeff Kramb, Wes Mullins, Brian Novy, James Rackler, Lee Russell Jr., Ledarrius Wade and Nicholas Yates. For updates visit lhexchangeclub.org and click on “Lake Highlands Military”.

THE SPca Of TE xa S runs an injured animal rescue ambulance service to help strays. SPCA responds to calls in our neighborhood from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Field officers will evaluate injured animals and take them to the SPCA, Highland Park Animal Clinic, or an emergency clinic for treatment. 214.651.7387.

WHiTE rOck NEWcOmErS club meets at 10 a.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Radisson Inn, LBJ Freeway and Jupiter. The group welcomes visitors and newcomers. Call Gladys Innocente at 214-348-4825 or Pauline Ellis at 214-348-0229 to make a reservation.

Comprehensive Dentistry

AshlyR.Cothern, DDS, PA

DrCothern is one of a small distinguished percentage of dentists who have invested in postgraduate training at one of the world’s premiere continuing education institutes, The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. We care about you as a unique individual and examine you in a way that together we can understand every aspect of your oral health. In our office we love what we do. NOW THAT IS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT!

WWW.DRCOTHERN.COM

9669 N.CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY #220 DALLAS 75231 214.696.9966

Optometrist

Dr. Clint Meyer www.dallaseyeworks.com

One in four school age children has an undiagnosed vision problem that can interfere with learning. Vision is critical to learning. Make sure your child is really ready for back to school. Schedule a back to school eye exam and ask about our special children’s eye exam and glasses package!

DALLASEYEWORKS 9225 GARLAND ROAD SUITE 2120, DALLAS, TX 75218 214.660.9830

Internal Medicine

RachelL.Dunagin, M.D. www.wadehuebner.com

Dr. Dunagin and the other physicians at The Wade-Huebner Clinic believe in providing state-of-the-art medical care while adhering to traditional doctor-patient values. In addition to treating most acute and chronic adult illnesses, our board certified physicians perform wellness and preventative examinations. We are on staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas and will attend to our patients if hospitalization is needed. Our physicians are on most insurance plans and new patients are being accepted.

WADE-HUEBNER CLINIC 9301 N. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 670, DALLAS, TX 75231 214.345.8250

Orthodontics

Patricia A.Simon,DDS www.lakewoodortho.net

Do you remember the braces of yesteryear? Those big clunky “railroad tracks”? My how things have changed! Today we can move teeth with tooth-colored braces, braces that are attached to the back of your teeth and with aligners that are completely transparent. And thanks to space-age technology, the wires are activated by the temperature of your mouth! Come see what’s changed!

LAKEWOOD ORTHODONTICS

1809 SKILLMAN ST., DALLAS, TX. 75206 214-826-9000

Cosmetic And Family Dentistry

Dena T.Robinson, DDS, FAGD

Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry

“It’s not just about the teeth, but the whole person. Seeing someone’s oral health improve means their total health has improved as well. The focus at our White Rock Lake cosmetic dentistry practice is on comprehensive dental care.” Let us help you make a difference in your life!

WWW.DRDENAROBINSON.COM

8940 GARLAND RD., SUITE 200, DALLAS, TX 75218 214.321.6441