Facts

Reprinted from:
Redlands Daily Facts, Redlands, California - May 1, 1997
(used with the Publisher's Permission)

PRAYER GATHERING RALLIES OTHERS TO GO BEYOND BELIEF
By NELDA M. STUCK
Our Town Editor

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REDLANDS - "What are you going to do this week to make someone's life better?" was the challenge for 125 community leaders at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast celebrating National Day
of Prayer this morning.

"If you died today, what three things would people say of you?" challenged the Rev. Jim Vuocolo of Redlands United Church of Christ. "Write them down. If you don't like them, then you have time to change. We have the power to do something about it if we want."

"How many here are non-Christians?" Vuocolo opened, with a single hand raised. "Beliefs unite us and beliefs divide us. Is there anyone here this morning who doesn't think our nation is in trouble, our community is in trouble, our world is in trouble?

"What do people do in trouble helping the flood victims in North Dakota, earthquake victims in California, the human devastation in Africa, Asia and Europe? We don't say, 'Excuse me, are you a Christian?' We say simply, 'Let me help.'"

Vuocolo, punctuating his serious challenges with humor, defined the difference between an optimist and a pessimist. "An optimist says, 'Good Morning, Lord' and a pessimist says, "Good lord, it's morning."

"I saw some pessimists this morning on their way to school," he continued, "It scared me. Drive by the (local) high school. There is no joy in their eyes. When I was in high school, I was filled with joy, and it was not that long ago. What happened?"

Vuocolo emphasized to the breakfast attendees representing some 30 churches his "so what" attitude to those professing belief in God, in the 10 Commandments and in the Bible.
"You need to walk the talk:' he, said. Quoting Nietzche Vuocoto told Christians that they need
to "look a lot more redeemed."

"The Internet has changed everything, except our way of thinking," Vuocolo said. "Governments are scared to death of the Internet because they can't control it. Mr. Mayor, I don't envy your task. There is not a harder job in the world than being a politician.

"There is a lack of following through in our beliefs," Vuocolo said. "The truth is within yourself. It's not how much you know or believe, but how much you care about (people). We're in crisis. Look at the faces of school kids. Turn on the news. I don't care what you believe. We have too much (more) to worry about than the color of the drapes in the (church) fellowship hall.

"What will you do to feed and clothe people? Will you tell them what to believe? Jesus never told people (what they had to believe). He just said to follow. God calls us to be a witness, not a prosecutor - not blaming, defending, not prosecuting. If you believe in your Redeemer, you're going to have to look a lot more redeemed."

Vuocolo's remarks in the University of Redlands Casa Loma Room followed a presentation by
the PeaceBuilders, including personal statements by five students from Victoria Elementary School, one of 77 PeaceBuilder sites in San Bernardino and Riverside counties ....

The breakfast was planned by Redlands Area Interfaith Council.

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