Welcome to another week!

I hope you enjoyed last week’s sunshine. Does the snow lift or lower your spirits? People rattle off snow’s cons without any prodding. But snow has its pros. For one, it reflects sunshine, brightening the day. Secondly, it keeps skittish drivers off the road. It also paints trees, grass, even weeds white. Everything is beautiful when it’s snow covered.

Americans celebrate the life of Martin Luther King on January 16. A lot of people call this day MLK day and see it only as a day off of school or work, if you’re a federal employee. It seems that few recognize King’s importance. Why do we celebrate King’s life, anyway?

I’m a student of the American Civil War. I have read novels, taken two college courses, and watched every Civil War movie I could get my hands on.

What does the Civil War have to do with Martin Luther King? Everything. So many things changed as a result of that war that it’s hard to pinpoint the most significant changes. But I’ll list three.

First, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in all American states and territories. The 14th Amendment granting citizenship to all blacks, and the 15th Amendment granted voting rights to black men. Sadly, laws didn’t change attitudes. Eleven southern states enacted poll taxes, which taxed lack men who tried to vote. Vigilantes often lynched blacks who attempted to vote.

It wasn’t until a century after the Civil War ended until the civil rights movement began. Martin Luther King, a minister and doctor of philosophy, led his people in a peaceful revolution. He organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and urged people to peacefully protest segregation. Blacks wanted equal rights to bus seats, restaurant seats, and schools.

King didn’t advocate violence. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Thanks to King’s leadership, blacks received Congress’ hundred-year-old promise to equal rights without another a second civil war.

I hope you will thank God for leaders who practiced Jesus’ peaceful model for changing the world.

The annual chicken pie sale is coming to Fallowfield United Methodist Church. They pies will be made fresh and sold on January 28 and February 11. Each pie comes with a quart of gravy. You may order pies at the church. Money is due when you pick up your pies. All profits support missions.

There will be a men’s retreat in the Jumonville Conference and Retreat Center in Jumonville, 50 miles south of Pittsburgh and near to Uniontown, PA, in the Laurel Highlands. United Methodist men are welcome to sign up for this weekend retreat at Fallowfield or Kennard United Methodist Churches.

Have a wonderful week. Blessings!