worship lis T ings Anti-wAr but pro-soldiers

The organizers of Carry the Load might be befuddled by my endorsement. They might scratch their heads like politicians who get the blessing of dubious public figures and then wonder what they’re doing wrong that their endorsers think is right.

After all, I never served in the military. I am a tenaciously softhearted preacher, always answering for my preachments about Jesus’ command to love enemies, do good to those who hate us, and practice nonviolence resistance toward those who hurt us. I pray for swords to be turned into plowshares.

I believe war should only be a last resort after every means of seeking peace with justice is exhausted. Even then I struggle to feel joy over victory that costs human life. Violence begets violence. Every time we kill an enemy, we seem to create three new ones. Too many noncombatant deaths are justified now as “collateral damage.”

In addition I am for handgun control and assault rifle bans here at home. I think our allegiance to handguns for self-protection ends up with too many tragedies that come from the law of unintended consequences. Our obsession with personal security drives us further from our neighbors, and makes it harder to find common humanity with strangers.

So why am I telling you that on Memorial Day Weekend you will find me on the Katy Trail walking, running, and carrying a pack for some part of the 24-hour event I am commending to you?

I will be there with many others in memory of and in honor of soldiers, police officers and firefighters who have lost their lives in service to our country and communities or who are now on the front lines in harm’s way — whether their theater of operation is a mountain range in southern Afghanistan, or the streets of Dallas, or a burning house next door. I will be there to help raise money for the families of the fallen and wounded who gave life or limb for you and me. I will honor their bravery, their skill and their sacrifice. I will pray for peace while I do.

Our country needs to grow up. We need to stop demonizing those with different points of view, counting peaceniks unpatriotic or military supporters the only patriots. We may need more flowers, but those who weed the bed and protect it from predators are helping the garden grow as much as those who fertilize and water. We are all in this together.

Our nation was conflicted over the justness of the cause in Vietnam. It led to shameful disregard for veterans of that war. We must never be guilty of that again. Those of us who think it politically and nationally unwise to send troops here or there, for this reason or that, should not blame those we send. They are not just serving those who sent them against our will; they are serving us all with all the will they can muster. They deserve to be honored.

We are fighting wars abroad now that we have delegated more to specialists than general troops, the net effect of which is that we are not as broadly or personally affected. World War II defined national service and sacrifice. Fighting fascists with imperial ambitions required everyone’s effort. Nowadays we assume that the pursuit of peace requires a constant state of war, and we have hired professionals to carry that load for us.

Carry the Load seeks to reengage disengaged spirits. It calls us to restore the meaning of Memorial Day.

So, consume grilled hot dogs and a distilled spirit or two. But remember spilled blood, too. Honor those who serve us still, and those whose sacrifice is a load now carried by families and communities across our nation.

Let’s be a country worthy of their service and sacrifice.

For inFormation on Carry the Load, visit carrytheload.org.

Baptist

ForeST Me Adow / 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

LAKeSIde BAPTIST / 9150 Garland Rd / 214.324.1425

Pastor Jeff Donnell / Worship 10:30 am & 10:31 am www.lbcdallas.com

PArK CITIeS BAPTIST CHUrCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

All services & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45. Trad. & Blended (Sanctuary), Contemporary (Great Hall), Amigos de Dios (Gym) / 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

BIBL e CHU r CH eS

NorTH HIGHLANdS BIBLe CHUrCH / www.nhbc.net

Sunday: Lifequest (all ages) 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am

Wed: Student Ministry 7:00 pm / 9626 Church Road / 214.348.9697

dISCIPL eS oF C Hr IST

eAST dALLAS CHrISTIAN CHUrCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / THE TABLE Worship Gathering 9:30 am

Worship 8:30 & 10:50 am / Rev. Deborah Morgan / www.edcc.org

ePISC oPAL

THe ePISCoPAL CHUrCH oF THe ASCeNSIoN / 8787 Greenville Ave.

Sunday School 9:00 am / Worship 8:00 & 10:15 am 214.340.4196 / more at www.ascensiondallas.org

L UTHerAN

CeNTrAL LUTHerAN CHUrCH, eLCA / 1000 Easton Road

Sunday School for all ages 9:00 am / Worship Service 10:30 am

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

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

Me THodIST

L AKe HIGHLANdS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com 9:30 – Sunday School / 10:30 – Fellowship Time

10:50 – Traditional & Contemporary Worship

NoN- de NoMINATIoNAL

L AKe HIGHLANdS CHUrCH / 9919 McCree / 214.348.0460

Sun: Assemblies 8:45 & 11:30, Classes 10:10, Coffee 11:10

Home groups meet on weeknights. / lakehighlandschurch.org

SHoreLINe dALLAS CHUrCH / 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane

ShorelineDallas.com / 469.227.0471 / Pastor Earl McClellan

Everyone’s Welcome at 9:15am / Children’s & Youth Ministry

PreSB yT erIAN

L AKe HIGHLANdS PreSByTerIAN CHUrCH / 214.348.2133 8525 Audelia Road at NW Hwy. / www.lhpres.org

9:00 am Contemporary, 9:55 am Christian Ed., 11:00 am Traditional

NorTHPArK PreSByTerIAN CHUrCH / 214.363.5457

9555 N. Central Expwy. / www.northparkpres.org

Pastor: Rev. Brent Barry / 8:30 & 11:00 am Sunday Services

UNIT y

UNIT y oF dALLAS / A Positive Path For Spiritual Living 6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 / 972-233-7106 / UnityDallas.org Sunday services: 9:00 am & 11:00 am

Enrolling for Summer and Fall Call for a Tour

Highland Park Presbyterian Day School

3821 University Blvd. Dallas / 214.525.6500 / www.hppds.org

We are proud of our rich heritage as a fully accredited co-educational Christian school serving children 3 years old through 5th grade. Small classes allow for emphasis to be placed on the academic, spiritual, emotional, creative, social, and physical needs of the young child through a developmentally appropriate approach to learning. For a scheduled tour or more information, please contact the admissions director.

Janie

School Of Dance

9090 Skillman, Ste. 299A Dallas 75243 / 214.343.7472 / janiechristydance.com

This is Janie Christy’s 19th year teaching children to dance in Lake Highlands!

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931, lakehillprep.org

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org

Design/Build New Installations Fine Gardens Outdoor Rooms Plus Patios Paths Walls

Pergolas Trellises Water/Fire Features Tree Work Drainage Solutions Lighting Total Makeovers ConcreteWork Art Installs

SCOFIELD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

3K through Grade 6 / 214.349.6843 / scofieldchristian.org

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

9727White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410.

ParadiseLandscapes.net

SPANISH HOUSE

5740 Prospect Ave. Dallas / 214.826.4410 / DallasSpanishHouse.com

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630/ ziondallas. org

Samuell Grand Tennis Center 6200 E. Grand Ave., 75223 214-670-1374

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

7900 Lovers Ln. / 214.363.9391 stchristophersmontessori.com

Community

Lake Highlands residents will be assuming new duties on behalf of the Lake Highlands Exchange Club, one of the neighborhood’s pre-eminent volunteer groups. Among those recently elected to leadership positions: John Alspaw, president; Tate Gorman, president-elect; Bryan McCrory, past president; Doug Rabe, treasurer; Travis Shahan, secretary; Mark Holmes, vice president of fundraising; Justin Bono, vice president of programs; Ronda Moreland, vice president of youth; Kelly Jones, citizenship and Americanism; Patrick Brown, membership director; John Waters, community service director; Brian Huddleston, community events director; Bob VanAmburgh, communications director; Steve White, newsletter director; Tracy Cox, scholarships director; Tommy Bailey, member involvement director. Not listed among those elected but incredibly active is longtime member Don Lee, who regularly circulates information to neighbors and media about the club.

Education

The Lake Highlands High School theater department has been nominated in three categories for the prestigious Dallas Summer Musicals High

School Musical Theatre Awards. LHHS’ production of “25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee” was nominated for Best Musical Direction, Best Scene Design and Best Lighting Design. The winners will be announced May 5 at the Fair Park Music Hall in a Tony Awards-style event. Comerica Bank is sponsoring the awards, including nine $3,000 college scholarships for the winners.

Ten Richardson ISD teachers were honored as STAR teachers, and five of them teach in Lake Highlands schools. The STARs (Superior Teaching Achievements in RISD) are selected by a committee, including Superintendent Dr. Kay Waggoner and representatives from the RISD Excellence in Education Foundation. Alisa Bettega teaches third-grade at Merriman Park Elementary; Kyle Griffis is a Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Mentor and Texas History instructor at Forest Meadow Junior High; Katy Phinney teaches pre-kindergarteners at Skyview Elementary; Ashley Rich teaches fifth-grade at Moss Haven Elementary; and Hunter Wood is a Debate and AP English instructor at Lake Highlands High School.

Sports

Reagan Dunk, Murphy Short and Mason Miller, seniors at Lake Highlands High School, led their club soccer team Solar Chelsea to the under-19

COSMEtIC aND faMIly

DenA t. Robinson, DDs, FAGD www.drdenarobinson.com

Four Steps to a Terrific Dental Experience

1. Call and ask us about sedation dentistry options

2. Come to your appointment in our comfortable office setting

3. Take a nap

4. Awake to a beautiful, healthy smile

Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry 8940 Garland Rd., Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75218 214.321.6441

OPtOMEtRISt

championship April 8 at Dallas Cup, defeating Arsenal FC 3-1. The boys are long-time Solar teammates.

Lake Highlands High School senior Will Moomaw has been named to an elite list of local scholar-athletes by the National Football Foundation’s Gridiron Club of Dallas. Moomaw was one of 58 students from schools around North Texas honored at the club’s fourth annual awards banquet April 16 at the Marriott Quorum in Addison. He is the only scholar-athlete from Richardson ISD on this year’s list.

Volunteer

Maggie’s House, a nonprofit in the White Rock Lake area, helps women overcome alcohol and substance abuse addictions and offers volunteer opportunities. Attend a foundation meeting the first Sunday of each month to learn more about the program and ways to help. For information, call 214.324.9261 or visit magdalenhouse.org

HAVE AN ITEM TO BE fEATurEd?

Please submit news items and/or photos concerning neighborhood residents, activities, honors and volunteer opportunities to editor@advocatemag.com. Our deadline is the first of the month prior to the month of publication.

DR. Clint MeyeR www.dallaseyeworks.com

The technology to provide a thorough examination, the caring to take the time to explain the results, the experience to develop a comprehensive plan for your vision and eye care needs. Dr. Meyer and the staff at Dallas Eyeworks believe it’s important to listen to each patient to achieve best results. Call and schedule an appointment to discover how pleasant and educational an eye examination can be.

Dallas Eyeworks

9225 Garland Rd., Ste. 2120, Dallas, TX 75218 214.660.9830

COMPREHENSIVE DENtIStRy

Ashly R. CotheRn, DDs, PA www.drcothern.com

Dr. Cothern 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!

9669 N.Central Expwy., Ste. 220 Dallas, TX 75231 214.696.9966

Submit

Classes/TuToring/ lessons

ADHD TEST PREP & TUTORING Dedicated, 1 on 1, for ADD/ADHD & alternative learners. Incl SAT, ACT, PSAT & creative study techniques. Free Consult & 1st week tutoring. Outstanding References. Yale ‘93. Anthony 214-484-4488

ART: Draw or Paint. All Levels. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Jane Cross, 214-534-6829. Linda, 214-808-4919.

ARTISTIC GATHERINGS

Art Classes For All Ages. Casa Linda Plaza. 214-821-8383. www.artisticgatherings.com

DRUM & PIANO LESSONS Your location. All Ages/All Styles. UNT Grads. Betty & Bill 972-203-1573 • 469-831-7012

JEWELRY MAKING CLASSES

214-824-2777 www.beadsofsplendor.com

Lakewood Shopping center: 1900 Abrams Pkwy @ La Vista

LEARN GUITAR OR PIANO Professional musician. Fun/Easy. Your Home. UNT Grad. Larry 469-358-8784

SWIM LESSONS Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. 10+ Yrs. Exp. All Ages. Your Location. 214-823-1123

TUTORING All Subjects. Elem-middle School. Algebra 1, Dmath. Your Home. 25 + Yrs. Dr. J. 214-535-6594. vsjams@att.net

TUTORING Reading/Writing. All Grades. Master’s/10 Yrs Exp. Your Home. 214-515-5502. lissastewartjobs@hotmail.com

UKULELE LESSONS Instruments, Workshops. www.UkeLadyMusic.com 214-924-0408

VOICE TEACHER with 38 years experience. MM, NATS www.PatriciaIvey.com 214-769-8560

Star volunteer

Scott Manis , Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake’s CEO, presents volunteer J.C. Reneau a balloon bouquet on Reneau’s 90th birthday. Reneau started volunteering at the hospital 11 years ago and has put in more than 3,300 hours of service. He works as a patient ambassador, among other roles, and is famous for his buttermilk pecan pralines. Reneau also is a crime watch volunteer in his Lake Highlands North neighborhood, often manning the midnight-3 a.m. shift patrolling the community.

Senior success

Lake Highlands High School senior Stephanie Eyocko received a $20,000 Dell Scholarship ($5,000 per year for her four years at the University of Oklahoma), plus a Dell laptop. She will major in political science and minor in Mandarin Chinese. Pictured: Eyocko , right, and Shameka Brackens from the LHHS counseling office.