The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • Page C3

JACKSON SUN SECTIONC RELIGION CHIEF CONTENT EDITOR: AMY MCDANIEL, 731-425-9638 Afew months ago, I got the ridiculous notion that the senior pastor in my church was giving me the stink eye. Prob- em is, I figure out why or what I was feeling. he reason came to me last onth when I was paying my bills I had accidentally topped making my monthly onations. My oversight occurred after I enrolled in our online contribution system. Ibegan the program by setting up three test payments my credit card.

If it worked well, start making semimonthly debits and rack up frequent flyer miles. However, aking the initial payments, I forgot to add more. he result was I give so much as a penny in four months! A a Protestant, I norm ally confess to my pastor, nor does he track my giving. However, since some congregants xpress their unhappiness by withholding contributions, I thought I should set the record straight with him. Of course I as too much of a coward to tell him directly, so I went to ur administrative pastor ins tead.

(Kind of like picking which parent least dis- a ppoint.) Norris, so glad you mentioned he said. bookkeepers had asked me if ou were upset with I insisted. been quite happy here for 12 years. Please forgive my sen- i or can understand he aid. of us check our redit cards and bank statements looking for fishy harges and to see if somebody ook something from us that The case ofthe confused contributor is quickly solved NORRIS BURKES On Thursday, my wife Missy and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary.

truly grateful. We first met when I was a sophomore at Freed-Hardeman and she was a high school enior visiting from Kansas. Missy ended up attending FHU in 1987 and we quickly fell in love. We just clicked. imagine what our arents thought about our decision to get engaged because, at the time, she was 19 and I was barely 20.

We got married in 1988 on a hot Kansas evening at a beautiful fountain located at Ralph Mitchell Park in Independence, Kansas quaint hometown. It was a beautiful edding that included a bell choir, harpist, and horse drawn carriage, which transported Missy around the circle the aisle she walked down. I got to say she was a stun- ingly gorgeous bride (and till is in my eyes). As I reflect over our years of marriage, I remember many ups and downs, highs a nd lows, victories and def eats, and joys and sorrows a long the way. I also ponder what it is that has kept our marriage strong and mutually satisfying this long.

ow, let me make this disc laimer: we by no means have a We have both made many mistakes along the way and have hopefully learned from those. Howe ver, even though we married at such a young age, I do think have done several things right that have contributed to our happiness (or marital bliss) and have consequently witnessed our relationship flourish. I would like to share just a few things we have learned a bout the secret to building a successful and fulfilling marriage. I imagine there are several helpful ideas you could a dd to my list, but mine for your consideration. irst, we have fought for our relationship.

never given up on each other and our commitment to keep our vows. At times been tough but battled our way through disagreements and disappointment with the hope of things improving which they eventually always have. Simply put, we quit! Second, we have been honest with each other even when FAITHFUL LIVING: YAN FRASER Marriage: Not perfect, but worth celebrating embers of Trinity United Methodist hurch in Nutbush met in their own church building Sunday for the first time in seven months. The original church building was destroyed by a fire in anuary. Joan Parks, a member of the uilding committee, said the church was not allowed access to the property until March in order to allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to complete their investigation.

When they were given access, she said they salvaged what they could. found the old cross, but it was bent and KENNETH THE JACKSON SUN ABOVE: In this January file photo, a member of the Haywood County Office surveys damage done to Trinity United Methodist Church in Nutbush. Through the fire Church rebuilds after arson estroys building in January NATHAN HANDLEY NATHAN HE JACKSON SUN RIGHT: The construction of Trinity United Methodist Church in Nutbush is almost complete. The church had to be rebuilt from the ground up after a fire destroyed it in January. NATHAN HANDLEY THE JACKSON SUN Pastor John Bonson looks at photos on the wall in the new building of Trinity United Methodist Church in Nutbush.

The wall shows pictures from before and after a January fire destroyed the church. came out ofthe woodwork to answer the need ofa very small JOHN BONSON, pastor of the church.