Rev. Donald Foster

Hello and welcome. I will try to update here as often as possible, I come here a lot so feel free to say hello or even add me as a friend if you like.

This I Believe:

There is one God. The God I know does not care what denomination you are. Marriage is for man and woman.

Services Performed: Spiritual counseling. Solemnizing Marriages (Weddings). Substance abuse counseling. Self-esteem and basic daily counseling.

I am a one on one type of preacher (if you can call what I do preaching) and I am a long way from the chapter and verse style of orator we see in many church's and on television. I spend less time on scripture and more on getting to know people. Being a former pot head I know why a lot of users started in the first place. Because of my own success in kicking the habit first by beating more than 30 years of low self esteem I choose to use my life's experiences to try to help others. I will try to teach by example as much as by my words and God will be there guiding me along a path I can not see yet but will still follow faithfully.

My story is a much longer one than I have typed here but for now I hope this condensed version answers some of your questions.

My blessings to you, Rev. Donald Foster

One thing I know is the more I learn the more I come to realize just how little I know.

How to pray:

It is not the oratory of your prayers, how elegant they may be; nor the geometry of your prayers, how long they may be; nor the arithmetic of your prayers, how many they may be; not the logic of your prayers, how methodical they may be; but the sincerity of them that matter.

(In other words; Your prayers don't have to sound as if you helped write the Bible, they don't have to be long, you don't have to pray all the time, prayers don't have to be full of details, simply say what you mean and mean what you say.)

God knows you better than you know yourself so just be yourself and use your own words.

Services Performed:

Spiritual counseling. Solemnizing Marriages (Weddings). Substance abuse counseling. Self-esteem and basic daily counseling (a friendly shoulder to lean on).

Note: I can't pay your rent or put food on your table but I am here for you when you need someone to talk to.

It Isn't the Church - It's You

If you want to have the kind of a church

Like the kind of a church you like,

You needn't slip your clothes in a grip

And start on a long, long hike.

You'll only find what you left behind,

For there's nothing really new.

It's a knock at yourself when you knock your church;

It isn't the church--it's you.

When everything seems to be going wrong,

And trouble seems everywhere brewing;

Just take a look at yourself and say,

"What's the use of being blue?"

Are you doing your "bit" to make things "hit"?

It isn't the church--it's you.

It's really strange sometimes, don't you know,

That things go as well as they do,

When we think of the little--the very small mite--

We add to the work of the few.

We sit, and stand round, and complain of what's done,

And do very little but fuss.

Are we bearing our share of the burdens to bear?

It isn't the church--it's us.

So, if you want to have the kind of church

Like the kind of a church you like,

Put off your guile, and put on your best smile,

And hike, my brother, just hike,

To the work in hand that has to be done--

The work of saving a few.

It isn't the church that is wrong, my boy;

It isn't the church--it's you.

Author unknown

The poem above seems to be a variation on one I found that was published in the St. James' (San Francisco) Parish Paper, February, 1929:

IT'S YOU!

If you want to work in the kind of a church

Like the kind of a church you like.

You needn't slip your clothes in a grip

And start on a long, long, hike.

You'll only find what you left behind,

For there's nothing that's really new;

It's a knock at yourself when you knock your church:

It isn't your church- it's YOU.

Real churches are made by men afraid

Lest somebody else go ahead;

When everyone works and nobody shirks,

You can raise a church from the dead.

And if while you make your personal stake

Your neighbor can make one, too.

Your church will be what you want to see-

It isn't your church- it's YOU.

Humor section

When you lose your sense of humor, you lose your footing

When the going gets tough, humor is how one keeps a firm footing and avoid slipping and falling into an abyss of despair?

A few little stories I like and want to share.

(These may not be politically correct by some peoples standards but  I will share what I think humorous and hope I do not offend anyone.)

Subject: The atheist holiday, the judge ruled.

Have you heard about this case? Great answer from the judge!

  In Florida , an atheist became incensed over the preparation of

Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the

discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded

to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no

holiday to celebrate.

  The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the long

passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and

declared, 'Case dismissed!'

  The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said,

  'Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have

Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom

Kippur and Hanukkah...yet my client and all other atheists have no such

holiday!'

  The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, 'Obviously

your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own

atheists' holiday!'

  The lawyer pompously said, 'Your Honor, we are unaware of any such

holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?'

  The judge said, 'Well it comes every year on exactly the same

date---April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools Day,'

consider that Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart,  there is

no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then

by scripture, he is a fool, and April 1st is his holiday! Now  have a good

day and get out of my courtroom!!

  Way to go, Judge