Rebuilding your life

JIM DE BOOM

Contemplating suicide is something most people would not share with

friends or even family members, but the Rev. James Stout does just

that in the introduction section of his book “Rebuilding your Life --

Bipolar Disorder,” now in its third printing. The description of his

despair got my attention.

Many of us know the Rev. Stout from his years at St. Andrews

Presbyterian Church or his leadership in the Gathering of Men. He is

a great storyteller and effective public speaker. But he is an even a

better writer.

Stout shares an extremely personal story of turmoil in childhood

and early family life, in his career as a pastor, in his marriage to

Leah and in his later family life in 258 gripping pages. It is a

riveting story of a man dealing with mental illness with help from

his family, church and medical professionals. It is a message of

struggle and hope with specific advice and information about mental

illness and sources of help that are available.

It’s a book that most of us should read: moms and dads, college

students, clergy, teachers and those in the helping professions. The

book is available from Cypress House publisher for $18.95. You might check the shelves of Barnes and Noble Booksellers or Borders, or our

local libraries for a copy. God’s speed, Jim!

LIONS SPEAK, DON’T ROAR

Area students competed in the Lion’s International Student

Speakers Zone contest on March 8 at the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District Office. The winning speaker was Caitlin Hewes, a sophomore

at Edison High School.

Sponsored by the Huntington Host Lions Club, she will go on to

compete at the regional level on March 22. The subject of the contest

this year is “Democracy: Is It For Everyone.” Other students in the

contest were sponsored by the Harbor Mesa Lions and the Costa Mesa

Orange Coast Breakfast Club. Scholarship money is awarded at each

level, with the final contest awarding $10,000.

For more information about the contest, call (714) 534-3791.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY LUNCHEON

The Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council will hold its monthly

luncheon on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at St. Mark Presbyterian

Church in Newport Beach to hear Monsignor William McLaughlin discuss

“Interfaith Challenges in Lands of Persecution.”

McLaughlin of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church will share

his experience living in Northern Ireland, to which he plans to

return to upon retirement this summer.

Corned beef and cabbage will be on the day’s menu at $7.50 per

person said council President Dennis Short of Harbor Christian

Church.

The meeting is open to the public, but reservations are needed by

5 p.m. on Monday. Reservations can be made by calling the council’s

office at (714) 921-8665, ext. 3 or by e-mail at

nmiinterfaith@aol.com.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD

OF SERVICE CLUBS

Steve Hutchins, sponsored by Dave Brakesman, joined the Exchange

Club of Newport Harbor. Michelle Marie Grettenberg and Orange County

Supervisor Jim Silva, both sponsored by Bette Moses and inducted by

past district President Dick Freeman, joined the Exchange Club of the

Orange Coast. Maury Panza, sponsored by Dick Dickson, joined the

Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for Today, provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council:

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does

bathing -- that’s why we recommend it daily.”

-- ZIG ZIGLAR

American sales trainer, author

and motivational speaker

SERVICE CLUB

MEETINGS THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at Five Crowns Restaurant to hear John Dolan discuss “Reasonable

Doubt” (https://www.newportbeach sunriserotary.org).

6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club will meet at

the Costa Mesa Country Club (https://www.geocities.com/

cmnhlions/page5.html).

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 10-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet

at the Center Club; and the Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at

the University Athletic Club.

Noon: The Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Tim Estes, owner of Fiesta Floats,

discuss “Creation of a Rose Parade Float.”

6 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear author Donna Genet discuss

her latest book, “If You Want It Done Right, You Don’t Have to Do It

Yourself!” (https://www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-plus-member Costa Mesa-Orange Costa Breakfast Lions

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the

Holiday Inn for a program on parks ministry

(https://www.kiwanis.org/club/ costamesa); the 50-member Kiwanis Club

of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar will meet at the Bahia Corinthian

Yacht Club; the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the

Nautical Museum to hear Bill Bechtel discuss the DARE program

(https://www.nh exchangeclub.com); and the Rotary Club of Newport

Irvine will meet at the Atrium Hotel to hear Mike Carpenter of the

Altria Group discuss “Corporate/Community Responsibility”

(https://www.nirotary.org).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655

or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.