RANDOM THOUGHTS ON "THE SLAP"

 Let's talk about "the Slap."

Of course, I'm referring to the recent Academy Awards show in which comedian Chris Rock told a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss, prompting husband Will Smith to march up to the stage and slap Rock in the face. 

Based on what I've seen and heard, celebrities and news makers--with a few exceptions--are condemning Smith, characterizing his action as "violence" and "assault." The Academy has banned Smith for ten years and some are wondering if he should be stripped of his "Best Actor" Oscar, exiled for life from Academy programs, or even arrested for his "crime."

Since everyone else is weighing in, here are a few brief, off-the-top-of-my-head observations:

1. Will Smith should not have slapped Chris Rock. Smith has said as much in an apology to the Academy and to Rock. Will the Academy and/or Chris Rock formally accept the apology? 
Why, back in my day (putting on old man voice), the acceptance of an apology was a pathway to putting an unpleasant incident behind us. Nowadays, accepting an apology is tantamount to surrendering your soul and worldview to whatever enemy offended you. 

2. If comedians or parodists can be attacked for their comedy, it will have a chilling effect on the art. That is not to defend some so-called "comedy," much of which, in my humble opinion, consists of cheap shots, crude language, and pointless ad hominems. But if a critic can punch out a bad comic, then what is to stop him from punching out a good comic with whom he takes exception? Hey, if I don't like a comedian, I express my displeasure by changing the channel and voicing my opinion to others. 

3.  Many folks are rushing to Chris Rock's side for his dignity and composure in light of a public, humiliating incident. I too commend Mr. Rock for the way he has handled this. Things could have gotten ugly real fast, but sometimes, all it takes is for someone to walk away.

4. On the other hand, Rock's joke about Jada Pinkett Smith was tasteless and uncalled for. Comedians, pundits, actors, commentators, and stars have been "cancelled" for far less. The near silence of commentary about the joke speaks proverbially louder than the slap itself.

5. Back to a previous point: Will Smith should not have slapped Chris Rock. But does not motive matter here? Is no one standing beside Will Smith and at least attempting to understand his anger? Smith took action in defense of his wife. Back in the old days (there I go again), this was--dare I say--normal.  I cannot or will not defend the slap. It was a poor choice in a public venue that upset a lot of people. But, even so, I do see a certain chivalrous nobility here. Smith was not some wild-eyed thug seeking to beat up a helpless host, but a husband defending his wife's honor. That's got to count for something. Call me naive ("you're naive!"), call me old-fashioned ("you're old fashioned!"), but I don't see a lot of "Hollywood" holding to values of honor and chivalry these days. 

6. Whenever I see people profess faith at one moment and yell angry profanity the next, it causes a huge disconnect in my brain.  Celebrities who are Christians are particularly susceptible to this. Everyone is watching for the slip up, the slur, or the slap in order to brand the star as a hypocrite or even laugh off Christian faith as irrelevant.  I'm not sure what my point is here, just that if Will Smith is a genuine believer, his fame is going to mean an extraordinary amount of scrutiny and pressure on him. A lesson for all of us to guard our hearts.

'

THANKSGIVING: A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Precipitation on roses.

Vibrissae on young cats.

Shining cookwear suitable for water.

Oversized gloves made of a textile fiber with exceptional thermal qualities.

Gifts wrapped in repurposed grocery sacks and bound together with. . .well, strings.

No these are not a few of my favorite things, which is why I had no problem playing with the wording a bit. Nothing against any of them, they just don't make my list. But there are other things that do.

With Thanksgiving drawing near, there is a usually a push to list the things for which we are thankful. Certainly, our favorite things, the trivial and the meaningful, would fall into that category. So here are seven of my favorite things. They are always important, but they add to the total tapestry of my life. Who knows, you may learn a few things you never knew and find your own things for which to be thankful.

(Quick disclaimer: I deliberately did not list my wife, family, salvation, and so on. While I am truly thankful for all of the above, I believe they are so far above any list that they are in a category of their very own.
And, of course, to add the Lord to a ranking, even if He is number one, sounds odd to me. No one or no thing is even in the same race). 

So without further ado...

Study and research. I love to study. I love to deep dive into a subject and look up stuff I never knew before. Yes, at times, it is difficult, but overall, I find it thrilling.

Writing. Like studying, there are times when writing is plain, hard work, where I spend an hour composing what I feel is a paragraph worthy of Shakespeare, only to find I wrote something along the lines of "See Spot run!" But there are those other times when it feels as though the words just flow from the inner recesses of my brain and I almost cannot write or type fast enough to keep up. 

Access to information. Study and research has changed over the years.  I am old enough to be "pre-internet," which means I did a lot of research at the public library, digging through archives of actual periodicals and thumbing through the massive card catalog made up of (wait for it) typed cards in wooden drawers. Nowadays, I can find nearly anything I need on my laptop computer.

Hobbies and diversions. Yes, amid the study-work and the writing-work and the research-work, I have some hobbies that give me a much-needed mental break. To be honest, some of my study and writing and research is very relaxing, but I also enjoy reading fiction novels or collecting in my "off-time."

Streaming devices. Through this tiny little box attached to my tv, I can access classic and modern television shows, watch great movies, engage in some more research on a variety of topics, and watch news from several sources, not just one. The nice thing is that I can watch programs when I want. 

Music. All kinds: rock, pop, country, classical. My mood determines what I am interested in at a given moment. I think there are maybe five musicals I enjoy; otherwise, it's safe to say I like some of the songs from some of the musicals. I like cover songs, especially if they do a song in a different genre or style (a country song turned into a pop song, or a flowing classical piece turned into a driving rock ballad). It's safe to say my tastes are eclectic when it comes to music.

Quiet and solitude. While I wouldn't want to be cut off from civilization for long periods, there is a benefit to the peace of being in a location alone with my thoughts, able to think, pray, create, and sing without interruption.

So there you have it: these are a few of my favorite things, some things I am thankful to have in my life. They are not the total scope of my life, nor are they necessarily the most important things in my life. But if, after reading this, you feel led to take stock of some of your favorite things, you might find you have more things for which to say, "thank you."

Happy Thanksgiving!

CHURCH REPORT FOR OCTOBER 31, 2021: end of another month

Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR October 31, 2021

Ahhhh, Reformation Day, October 31, 2021. The day Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Door in Germany, an event that triggered the Reformation. 

Oh, yeah, it's that other day too. Hallo...something.  More on that in a second.

Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study was back in full swing after our missionary break last week. We began the second half of Romans 8 with a section about groaning. We looked at how all creation is groaning. Next time, we'll start with believers groaning, followed by the Holy Spirit groaning. Who would have thought groaning could be so exciting? 

Pastor Dick brought the message from Joel entitled "Wake Up!" There were two parts to the book: The Day of the Locusts and the Day of the Lord. I remember telling a group of preschoolers that a locust was a grasshopper with a bad attitude. And the swarm attacking Israel was indeed that. But there was coming another swarm--the Assyrians--and they would foreshadow something even worse.

My favorite quote from the message was, "Demons don't flee at the name of a denomination, but at the name of Jesus." What a great truth! No matter what tribulation may come, we can and should walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, being filled or controlled by the Spirit day by day, moment by moment. 

photo courtesy of Alex Grichenko

In the evening, the church hosted a community event called "Trunk or Treat." We've had many such events over the years, with varying success, but this year, with our event coordinator coordinating (way to go, Chris A.!) and our elder board showing their support (hooray, elders!), the evening was a hit. The purpose, as it is every year, is to provide a fun, safe, family-friendly alternative to the usual Halloween celebrations. It could be considered an "onramp" event, a non-threatening way to welcome the community to our church. And from all indications, it served its purpose.

So October closes and November starts. And as prophetic trends unfold around us, we have to wonder if the return of Jesus is near. Stay tuned.

So, how was your church service this weekend?

CHURCH REPORT FOR OCTOBER 24, 2021: We yield to missionaries!

 Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR October 24, 2021

In all the years I have had the privilege of guiding the Adult Bible Study, one phrase has stuck in my mind:

"We yield to missionaries."

I first heard this phrase from a fellow facilitator from the "class next door." We agreed early on that visiting missionaries would have the entire period to do a presentation to our combined classes regarding their field. 

Even though we no longer have two classes, we've continued the tradition of letting missionaries have the class. We still "yield" to missionaries.

Last Sunday, we had the honor of having John and Dee Cook with us. The Cooks have a ministry in parts of the world that, under regular thinking, would be considered dangerous. And while some would think those regions deserve to be blown up, their heart is to see the gospel spread to as many as possible. 

The challenge, of course, is with what we are doing in our own, arguably less dangerous, neighborhoods to share the gospel. it was an enjoyable, challenging time. The Cooks also took a few minutes to share in the Morning Service which followed.

Mike Bull wrapped up the book of Hosea with a topical message. In my opinion, it was an unusual approach. But, as per usual, it was a Biblical message--which is the point, right?

The morning did not end after the last song. First we had a special business meeting to talk about some property and then there was a Q&A luncheon with the Cooks.

So it was busy, active, unusual, and blessed day.

So how was your church service this weekend? 

CHURCH REPORT FOR OCTOBER 17, 2021: a word about my pastor

Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR October 17, 2021 

At our church service on Sunday, we observed Pastor Appreciation Day. We called Pastor Dick and Becky and Pastor Norm and Jessica to the front, presented them with gifts, and prayed over them. 

I've know Pastor Dick for 30 years, give or take. I'm tempted to think of how old that
makes me, but I get a little perspective when I realize he became pastor at roughly the same time I graduated high school! He has been a faithful under-shepherd to the flock. One of my activities is archiving messages (most of which are being painstakingly digitized) and I can tell you that Pastor Dick is a man whose textbook over the decades has been the Bible He is authentic. 

I haven't known Norm as long, but in his role as Youth Pastor, it is hard to picture a time he has not been here. He is a man of vision and integrity and humor. 

So we began the service by appreciating our pastors. Last week, we had an overview of Hosea. Today, Pastor Dick opened up for us the first three chapters. It is hard to believe some producer hasn't turned this account into a full scale prime-time drama! But more than just the drama of it all is the promise of restoration and deliverance of God's people. 

In our Adult group, we finished up the first part of Romans 8. Next week, we will be having some guest missionaries speaking in our class, so we'll be taking a break before the second part of this great chapter. So thankful for this group and their insights, knowledge, and observations...born out of a desire to know Scripture better. I'm so blessed to be with these folks.

So, how was your church service this weekend?

CHURCH REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 19, 2021: A rainy weekend

 Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR September 19, 2021

It was a rainy weekend in the city of the eagle. A steady rain. A heavy rain. A rain that made me glad that I wasn't a lump of sugar left outside on the sidewalk. . 

With apologies for that little film noir introduction, we did have a rainy weekend. It helped wash out the smoke from the air and add some much needed moisture to our drought-stricken region. It also made for a refreshing atmosphere as we headed to church.

The Adult Bible Study went well. We started chapter 8 last week and got all the way through verse 4 this morning. I know that doesn't sound like much, but the way we all like to share insights and questions, that is an accomplishment. I was given a suggestion on how to arrange the class so we can have more Bible study time, so it's something to consider.

Pastor Dick spoke from Daniel 10 this morning about the spiritual warfare that we are in and the vital importance of prayer. It is a reminder that the battle we are in is a spiritual one. Closing the message, Pastor brought up a group of folks to lift us up corporately in prayer. 

I had a good time visiting shortly with a couple of folks after the service. One asked me a Bible question during the last song--my brain went blank, but I assured her I would find the answer.  I know a few folks in our congregation that are hurting or going through some issues. One gentleman shared a difficulty he was facing. And as I was leaving, I glanced out a door and saw a couple of our ladies comforting another woman. It made me happy, but it did not surprise me either--I've seen these ladies do this before. It's part of being in a family.

Prayer, support, encouragement, and time in the Word.  What a great place to be on a rainy weekend!

And how was your church service this weekend?

JUST FOR FUN: HIGH SCHOOL THEATER MEMORIES

 Ahhh, theater! The smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd. . . .

Drama Club, as well as Speech and Debate team, comprised the bulk of my extra-curricular life in high school. These two groups helped a shy teenager step outside his box and do something different. So today, just for fun, I offer some quick recollections of some of the "big" productions in which I participated. Keep in mind, these memories are from nrrmhgleftgtr years ago, so if I mess up a detail or two, I'm sure you will understand. 

"Paul Bratter," Barefoot in the Park. This was a Neil Simon comedy about a newlywed couple in New York's Greenwich Village. I played Paul, a conservative, some would say, uptight, lawyer. His wife Corie was  free-spirited and spontaneous. They start their life together in small walk-up apartment, where they deal with an eccentric neighbor and Corie's mother.

Having never been a part of a full length play before, it was a fascinating experience. Of course, as this was a school activity, everyone did everything, from building the set to coordinating wardrobes. It was the proverbial "learning experience," one that I look back on fondly. Plus, it was my first stage kiss.

Point of interesting trivia--to me, anyway--was the fact that the 1967 movie adaptation of Barefoot in the Park starred Robert Redford and Jane Fonda (you may draw comparisons between me and Mr. Redford, if you'd like). Well, Redford and Fonda went on to star in the Netflix movie Our Souls at Night, which happened to be filmed in my home town! Yes, my home town was now hosting the same actors who played in the movie version of the play in which I once appeared in that very town. Will the amazing coincidences never cease!

"G"remio, Shrew. This! This was the bestest, most funnest production of my short career. It was a semi-anachronistic, slapstick musical comedy adaptation of the famous Shakespearean play The Taming of the Shrew (not to be confused with the hit musical Kiss Me, Kate, which was entirely different). The plot is simple: before fair Bianca can be married, someone has to marry her ill-tempered sister, Kate. One of Bianca's suitors was the aged Gremio. That was me. The fact that I would not need the special make-up now kind of tells you how long ago this was.

A lot of neat memories. I participated in an exciting sword fight, which was all too brief on stage, but took hours to rehearse the precise choreography in order to prevent, like, running the other guy through. I also had a solo. Yes, a musical solo (I know, right?). Now, I love music and I love to sing, but those who know me know I am not a singer. Fortunately, this song was performed almost like a speech set to music, and with the crackly old man voice of my character, I was able to pull it off.  

And then there was the night I had a bit of a runny nose. The prosthetic rubber nose I wore had no outlet, so in the course of the evening, it, umm, filled up. Yeah, I know, gross!

"Andy Hobart," Star Spangled Girl. This was another Neil Simon comedy about a small town woman athlete (Sophie) who comes to the big city and meets a pair of struggling, underground newspaper publishers (Andy and Norman). Norman falls in love with Sophie, but Sophie finds she is falling in love with Andy.

I was Andy in the play. There was another stage kiss (what is it with Neil Simon plays?), and I think the hardest part for me was acting the part of a radical subversive newspaper publisher when I had no real background or frame of reference. That is why it's called acting, I guess.

For those of you who are fans of such things, Star Spangled Girl was also made into a movie. It starred Tony Roberts as Andy, Todd Susman as Norman, and Sandy Duncan as "Amy" (renamed from Sophie). The movie did not do well, but the soundtrack included the song "Girl" by the late, great Davey Jones.

Surprise! Yes, the name of the play was Surprise!, but I'm afraid I don't remember much about this one. Maybe it's because my character gets knocked out and hidden away in an ottoman for a good portion of the play. I tried to see if I could find it online, but my initial search attempts to find "play" and "Surprise" gave me a bunch of ads for children's toys.

But like all the plays I was in, I do remember the fun and camaraderie of taking a booklet-sized script and bringing it to life.  I remember long evenings of rehearsals. I also remember the cast parties afterwards. And most of all, I remember stepping out of my shell and doing something I enjoyed.

Here's to the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowds. May it never be the other way around.

NOT QUITE A CHURCH REPORT

 The last time I posted a church report, our congregation was in a "pause" because of concern about the uptick in illness. Some followers thought that maybe we were still shut down.

I'm happy to say that our "pause" lasted for one Sunday and that we were "back in business" the following week. Of course, some of our other ministries--small groups, Bible studies, and so on--have chosen to postpone until things settle down. But the Sunday Morning activities (Worship Service, Adult Bible Study, and Children's Church) are actively meeting, as are the Middle School and High School youth groups throughout the week. 

We won't go into details about the services on which we did not report, but if anyone is keeping track, our speakers have finished Daniel 9 and Pastor Dick is working hard in preparation for the closing chapters of this great prophetic book. Oh, and I had the joy of speaking on the 12th. If anyone wants to see that service, or any of the services, just visit epcbc.org.

Okay, this was brief, but I wanted to clear up any concern about why we were not posting any updated church reports.  Have a great week, everyone.

Oh, just because there was no report, we still want to ask, "How was your service this week?"

CHURCH REPORT FOR AUGUST 15, 2021: A Pause

CHURCH REPORT FOR AUGUST 15, 2021

The word "church" refers to an "assembly of called out ones." Sometimes, due to pressing concerns, the "called out ones" have to show their "church-ness" in other ways. It is not ideal, it is not preferable, and, if done too long or made habitual, it can even be detrimental to the individual member and to the local body as a whole.

But because of ongoing concerns about the appearance of covid within our congregation, the elders, after meeting and discussing and deliberating and debating, and, most of all, praying and searching the Scriptures, came to the incredibly difficult decision to pause our in-person worship service this Sunday. 

One of the "good things" that came from last year's outbreak is that it pushed us into making our services available online. It wasn't a live stream, but a pre-recorded service that we released at 10 a.m. The very first service we did, back in March of 2020 was a disaster. Not the service--it was fine. But because of the huge demand at 10 a.m. and the limits of our own knowledge of the technology, the site crashed. Ahh, memories...

Well, we still offer the services online (usually released Monday) and they serve a need for folks who cannot attend on a given Sunday or who were here, but missed the service (kids workers, service & safety team, and others--SA-LUTE!). 

So, back to the subject: last Sunday, pausing in-person service. . .

Pastor Dick pre-recorded his message from Daniel 6, called "Trusting in the Lord." This brought back some other memories of a time that he spoke on this chapter and used an actual lion to illustrate it (I have a videotape of it).  This time, it was a timely word about trusting the Lord, even in the midst of pandemics. Pastor Dick reminded us that God brings peace when we're surrounded by lions. He pointed out that, "the banner over David's life was because he trusted in the Lord."

So the message went on at 10. And dozens of "called out ones"--some, no doubt, in their jammies or finishing breakfast or brunch, or laying on the couch with their tablet--worshipped the Lord through the Word. For one Sunday, we paused an in-person service for an on-line service. Was it preferable, was it ideal, was it the best? No, but as a good friend of mine is fond of saying, "it is what it is." 

Here's to the return of the actual assembly of the called-out ones. Pray for those who are sick with covid and pray for all of us who are sick of covid. And pray that our focus, our hope, our trust be ever in the Lord.

And how was your church service this weekend? Did you take any special measures in light of health concerns or local regulations? Let us know in the comments below (be nice! This is not the forum for a debate or argument). 

Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

AN ESSAY ON GETTING OLDER

 I have a senior friend at church who is fond of reminding me that "getting old ain't for sissies." I never appreciated what that meant until I got older.

It is sad when a vehicle starts breaking down the minute the manufacturer's warning expires. I'm convinced this happened to me at some point. The warranty expired and things that never hurt before now ache with a jarring regularity. Limbs that could climb a hill and dodge and weave in a backyard football game start to object upon arising from bed. When my older friends used to tell me about their medical issues, I used to nod in sympathy. Nowadays, I nod in affirmation, then share my own!

Do not misunderstand. I am far from "over-the-hill" or "washed up." Some wise choices early in life have held off some of the consequences of some not-so-wise choices.  Working in children's ministries for 15-plus years has permanently programmed my brain to "kid mode." My hobbies and interests skew "young." I laugh easily and have been known to break into song at a moment's notice. My ambition and dreams remain active. Like the fictional musical character of Hamilton, I feel compelled to "write like I'm running out of time." This last year, I've started a new project (which I will share another time). If anything, my curiosity and thirst for knowledge has increased.

No doubt, I have earned the gray in what is left of my hair. I am smarter, wiser and more determined in some areas than I ever was. I know more. But with that knowledge comes the realization that I do not know as much as I thought I did earlier in life. My heart breaks far easier at the growing divineness in our society, the embrace of things that God has warned us about, the presence of real injustice, and the knee-jerk abandonment of faith and values. I grieve for friends who have lost their lives--the number sadly grows--but I also grieve for those who have lost their love for their Creator.

Forgive me for using a stodgy expression, but as I think about this "stage of my life," I like what the psalmist says: 

"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light."  (Psalm 36:7-9)

"Getting old ain't for sissies." But in the satisfaction of the Lord's presence, the years ahead are full of hope.

CHURCH REPORT FOR AUGUST 8, 2021: Slightly different service

 Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR AUGUST 8, 2021

Church was decidedly different this last weekend. For one things, our Saturday evening service is adjourned until September. For another thing, many of our staff and teenagers were away for our annual High School camp. Among the missing were our song leader, most of our praise and worship team, and most of the usual men who are called upon to fill the pulpit.

Yup, you guessed it: I had the honor of bringing the message on Sunday morning! More on that in a second.

As usual, the morning began with the 9:00 Adult Bible Study. We blazed through a whole three verses from Romans 7. I love the interaction, the questions, the discussion. It's almost like gathering around a family table.

When the service started, I ran up at the last minute to welcome everyone. It's at those moments that we realize how much we depend on those who serve in various capacities, such as Dick K, who faithfully reminds us each Sunday to take a deep breath in preparation to simply surrender ourselves to God. 

Our musical guests were Dakota and his wife and they BROUGHT IT!  In this modern era of full instrumentation (nothing wrong with that), who would have thought a guitar and keyboard would bring such a blessed atmosphere to the service?

I gave the message (a link to the service is below) from 2 Peter 1:12-21 about the reliability of Scripture. There were some positive comments from folks afterwards and I'm humbled by them. 

The second worship set ended with a medley of hymns and choruses that got everyone singing and engaged. I love toe-tapping music. . .and traditional music done in a contemporary way is just exciting to listen to.

So it was a good Sunday. I have found out later that the staff, counselors, and high schoolers from camp returned safely that afternoon, with everyone accounted for and no major injuries. As a wise man once said, any camp you can walk away from is a good one. And I guess that applies to services too.

So how was your church service this weekend?

Morning Worship Service 8-8-21

CHURCH REPORT FOR AUGUST 1, 2021: Daniel continues

 Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR AUGUST 1, 2021

Happy August! It's hot. Smoke is in the air from our annual regional fires. And did I mention it is hot?

What better place to be than an air-conditioned building for the Sunday Morning Worship Service! 

Ordinally, I would refer to the "Weekend Worship Service." For several months, we have had a duplicate service on Saturday evening. The Saturday service was started primarily in an attempt to address concerns about Covid spread. By offering a second service, it would spread out our crowd, thus reducing issues of distancing. The Saturday night service did not have a huge turnout, but there were positive comments from those who came.

But since our church has headed into youth activity season (camps, VBS, and so on), it has become difficult to staff a second service. And with camps winding up, many families are trying to squeeze in one last vacation or getaway. So the elder board decided to discontinue the Saturday night service until September, when they will reevaluate the program.

So that leaves us with Sunday morning. . .

We've been going through the book of Daniel and this week's message from Mike
Bull was from chapter 5. Mike usually does not have a title for his message, but the passage had to do with another famous account: the handwriting on the wall. King Belshazzar, at a drunken revel, sees a finger appear and write a cryptic phrase on the wall. Daniel announced that Belshazzar and the Babylonian's kingdom was at an end. And that night, Babylon fell to the Medes and Belshazzar was killed. 

Mike's style of preaching is to bring in a lot of background and then bring in a lot of application: personal, society, church, nation. One of the asides had to do with the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused such division within the church at large. Vaxxers, anti-vaxxers, maskers, anti-maskers: we need to be more open and tolerant to one another. Personally speaking, I think he's right, but I can't help but feel there were a few on both sides of the debate who who took umbrage at his statements. But good preaching does that. Not that the speaker should seek to make someone mad, but sometimes, it happens. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.

Quick shout out to our music director Chris Alden. Week after week, the music is consistently good. Sometimes, his challenge is to find enough musicians and singers to bring it over the weekend (particularly Saturdays!). But bring it they do...and I would put our praise team against the "big boys" any day.

Being as it was the first Sunday of the month, we also observed the Lord's Supper, remembering the death of Christ on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Folks came forward to take the elements during the second worship set. Doing it in remembrance of Him!

So how was your church service this weekend?

9 (JUST FOR FUN) OBSERVATIONS ABOUT NCIS

 

Like many tv viewers, I enjoy the program NCIS. Originally launched as a two-part episode of the series JAG, NCIS chronicles the activity of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service's Major Case Response Team, led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs and his squad of highly skilled agents. 

I spent several months of semi-binge watching the series from the beginning (by "semi-binge watching", I mean one, maybe two episodes a night), as well as full scale binging while recovering from surgeries. So as I watched these shows one after another, I began to notice things. Mostly minor things. Things that made me go, "hmmm." So I'd like to share them with you.

Three quick disclaimers before we start:

• NCIS is a very entertaining show. I enjoy it. So nothing I say in this post should be interpreted as nit-picking or griping or complaining about the show. 
• No major plot points in this list, but if I accidentally say something that you may have preferred to find out on your own, then just put this list in the category of spoilers.
• Super fans of the show have no doubt addressed most, if not all, of these items. Plus some things may have been touched on in an episode. I have avoided the fan boards and chat rooms for that very reason. I'm just a normal guy with a casual enjoyment of NCIS. If you want to weigh in on the comments after you've read the piece, that's fine, but be nice about it. 

And now , without further ado, here are nine observations about the series NCIS.

1.Who are these people? During a typical episode, there are people who are working at other stations, people carrying papers, and people simply walking around. Who are these people and what do they do at NCIS? One episode arc had a female agent whose team was on the other side of a divider. Why don't we hear more about these other teams?

2. Is it connected to the Navy or Marines? Is it just me, or does it seem like the Navy connection for a given case is sometimes a stretch?

• "Got a dead sailor in Norfolk. Grab your gear!"
• "Got a dead Marine in Arlington. Grab your gear!"
• "Got a dead janitor at a Marine Base. Grab your gear!"
• "Got a dead window washer at Quantico . Wait a second. Oh, okay, uncle is a reservist. Grab your gear!"
• "Got a dead body at the park. Ummm, he was wearing a navy blue suit. Close enough. Grab your gear!"

3. Who gets a hall pass? How does someone get admission to the "bull pen" level? At times, we see agents escorting guests (and while we're here, those agents nod, but rarely speak).  But there have been times when people seemingly have come up on their own. In fact, there have been times when "nefarious ne'er-do-wells" have stepped off the elevator, much to the surprise of Gibbs and his team (but not always the other people, who continue to walk around). 

4. Who does what? I used to watch JAG, in which the Navy lawyers would investigate Navy crimes, even going undercover at times to nab the bad guys. So what exactly is the relationship between JAG and NCIS (the fictional series, that is, not the real-life agencies)?

5. Down time? Does Gibbs and his team  work more than one case at a time? What do they do while waiting for the phone to ring or for Gibbs to stride into the room and announce that they found the leg of a biologist whose lab was next door to a Marine recruiting station, so "grab your gear!"?

6. How do you get to the Director's office? Does it not seem unusual for NCIS Director Leon Vance, the head of a major federal law enforcement agency with world wide contacts, to have his office just upstairs from where the agents are working? I'm not saying it's impossible, but isn't that like a local school district superintendent having her office at the elementary school?

7. Is one expert enough? For the amount of cases that NCIS tackles from Gibbs' team and (I assume) from other teams, is just one Forensic Scientist and one Medical Examiner enough? While some episodes have addressed the workload, most of them have Abby (and later Kasie) and Ducky (and Jimmy) perform in-depth analysis and detailed autopsies fast enough to give the results to Gibbs in a timely fashion.  I wish I had that mojo of energy and productivity.

8. The biggest small agency in DC? In early episodes, NCIS was portrayed as an undervalued, little known federal agency. One of the running jokes was when the agents would identify themselves, they would be met with confused stares and questions of "who?" or "what's that?" Since then, at least in the tv universe, NCIS appears to have field offices and major operations in several locations in the U.S. and around the world. It regularly takes the lead role in investigating and stopping global terrorism and high crimes. And its technological brilliance would be the envy of most spy agencies. So just how amazingly awesome is NCIS?

9. How many clicks does it take to get to the center of a file? I'm not a computer expert by any means, but it seems like the agents tap a LOT of keys in order to bring up a picture or document on their monitors. I can usually access a picture with a few clicks of my mouse. Come to think of it, do they even use a mouse? They must use a mouse....I just never paid attention. Or maybe it's the high-tech sophisticated systems they have. Either way, the clickety-clickety-clickety seems excessive to me. 

So that's it: nine fun observations about NCIS. Like I said, I really do like the show, so nothing takes away from the entertainment value. These questions make me think, research, have fun, and draw conclusions based on what I see. I'd love to hear your thoughts and maybe even some of your observations in the comments below. Again, keep it nice and respectful

CHURCH REPORT: JULY 25, 2021: Special VBS Edition!

 Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR JULY 25, 2021

I'm back with a double-header! Not only a report on our Sunday services (said report sadly absent for the last few weeks, due to the proverbial circumstances beyond my control), but also a brief summation of what happened the week before at the annual Vacation Bible School.

Sunday Morning:

I'm always thankful for the Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study. About a dozen folks gathering together to plunge into the book of Romans chapter by chapter, section by section, (verse by verse, word by word, etc.). We've been unraveling chapter 7 and made it all the way to verse 10. We had some folks traveling and others back. Such is the nature of summer.

Pastor Dick was preaching today from Daniel 4 with a message entitled "God Rules." He emphasized the fact that God's sovereignty is the theme of David. King Nebuchadnezzar certainly found that out, as he was transformed into a wild beast. In the end, God's dominion is an everlasting dominion. God is in control.

Following the service as a prayer meeting in order to lift up the search process for a new pastor. I was unable to stay, but I understand it was a blessing. My own prayer is not only for wisdom for the search, but also for how the process is carried out, that there be no misunderstandings or procedural arguments.

Vacation Bible School:

August 19-23 was incredible. Our theme was Treasured (a Group Publishing curriculum). My friend Kim directed the program. As per usual, she unleashed the kids to sing some great, uplifting songs during the opening and closing. I admire her obvious love for the children and her ability to pull together all the elements. She helped me on several VBSs when I was doing children's ministries so I appreciate what she brings to the VBS table.

My primary "job" was doing the Bible story. I did some adapting each night as what was written in the curriculum book would not have worked in our situation. Brenda helped me primarily with picture taking a moral support. A few discipline problems here and there, but overall some good groups. Some of the major and minor highlights of the week:

• When describing the qualities of a king, one 7 or 8 year old said the king should be "devastatingly handsome." A kid with a vocabulary like that will go far!
• I used a puppet to play "David." His headband fell off, so I had to ad-lib a line. It worked so well that when the headband fell off in the other sessions, I just used the same line (puppets are so temperamental!)
• One of the kids gave me and some other leaders a beautiful blue polished stone.
• Another girl approached me during transition times and asked some very insightful Biblical questions. 
• There was a medical emergency on one night. There also just so happened to be a nurse and a paramedic in the building that night. What a "coincidence," huh? (sorry, being a touch sarcastic).
• Pastor Dick sat in one of our sessions. It's always great to see him at these things.
• Thursday night is gospel night. The salvation message is emphasized in a special way. 34 kids raised their hands to profess faith in Christ! (notice that I use the phrase "profession of faith." That's because kids don't always raise their hands because of trusting Christ. But God knows their hearts, even if all we can see is their profession. One of these days, I'll write more about this).
• Ice cream social for volunteers after Friday's final session. Yum.

As I write this, Kim is starting preparation for Kids Camp, which is coming up this weekend. I'm not involved in that, but to shift from VBS to Kids Camp in less than a week is a Solomonic/Samsonitic feat (I'm pretty sure I made up those words), so I'm praying for Kim and her team.

And that was the double-header of our Sunday...and our week. So how was your church service this weekend? And if you've had a Vacation Bible School program, how did it go? Let me know in the comments.

 

A REFLECTION ON THE 4TH

 Happy Independence Day!

When I was a kid, someone asked me, "do they have a 4th of July in other countries?" Of course, the answer is "yes, they have a 4th, and 2nd, and 3rd, and 5th, and all the other days of the month."

But as I often do, I started picking apart the reasons for the joke. The basic premise behind the joke is that we have, in practice, used "4th of July" as a stand-in for "Independence Day." This, in and of itself is fascinating to me. I cannot think of any other holiday that has adopted its calendar day as a designation. I have not heard anybody say, "Merry 25th of December.!" or "would you like to come to my October 31st party?" or "Happy 4th Thursday of November!"

(Okay, someone is going to write me and say, "What about Sinco de Mayo?" Well, as far as I have found in my research, that's its actual name. No substitution of the actual name for a date. Those who are far more knowledgeable can leave a comment about this, but that's what I've found.)

So the idea behind the joke is that, duh, "4th of July" is a date on the calendar, so naturally it's everywhere. As an innocent kid, I got caught up in the whole, "gotcha!" aspect of the joke. It was a fun way for the questioner to demonstrate their superior reasoning skills. And at 10 years old, it's pretty impressive to be intellectually superior to one's peers. Of course, it can also get one bullied, but that's another subject for another time.

So why this analysis of a childhood joke?

As I write this, it is Independence Day. 245 years ago, a document known as the "Declaration of Independence" set this fledgling nation on its course through the channels of history. But even in the last few days, I have read opinion pieces from those who would think of themselves as "intellectually superior" who question the very documents and institutions of this country. Like the kid who snarkily asks, "do they have a 4th of July in England?", these experts ask, "did you know what the flag really symbolizes?" Or "do you know the real meaning behind the National Anthem?" Or "do you know how unbelievably repressive our form of government is?" And they ask these questions with such earnestness, such depth, and not a little amount of celebrity appeal, that if you give the wrong answer, they are more than willing to correct you. "Gotcha!"

Don't worry, I'm not going to launch into an explanation of our national heritage in order to answer the latest social media influencers. There are many resources out there by truly intellectually superior writers who do a far better, far more thorough job than I could ever do. But what I would ask you to do, when these opinions drift over the internet, is to ask, "what is the motive behind the joke?" The kids on the 4th of July are saying, "We're smart and you're not!" The adults today may be giving more sophisticated reasons, but it still boils down to the same thing: "you're dumb and we're not."

And that's no joke.

Happy 4th of July and God bless the United States of America.

CHURCH REPORT FOR JUNE 27, 2021: Hot Day, Cool Service!

 Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR JUNE 27, 2021

Another hot day in southern Oregon. So thankful for an air-conditioned building in
which the church can gather. And we were blessed to have our senior Pastor, Dr. Richard Bull speaking today. 

I like it when Pastor Dick is in the pulpit. And the fact that he is kicking us off in chapter 1 of the book of Daniel is even better!

We had a decent turnout in our Adult Bible Study, as we explored Romans 6. One of our newest group attendees made an excellent observation about the good works that unbelievers do--stating that they are "horizontal" good works, they often will benefit friends, family, our fellow man, but they cannot do "vertical" good works, those works done to please the Lord. One of the greatest blessings of our Sunday Morning study is that I learn and am enriched from the others in the group. Great way to start the morning.

And then came the service, with Pastor Dick speaking on "A Test of Character." It was a breakdown of chapter 1, with Daniel's deportation, his education in the Babylonian system, and his commitment to live for the Lord in spite of his surroundings. 

A little "behind the scenes" info: when talking about the food and diet set before the Hebrew youths, Pastor Dick had thought about showing the famous "Dinner of Doom" banquet scene from the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (you know, the one where they're eating snakes, and bugs, and monkey brains, and so on!). But after consultation with wise counsel, he decided against it (it probably would have been fun for a a middle school group, though!).

The theme of focus of the message was this: "How can we live in Babylon without being a part of Babylon?  By living our inner convictions." Great lesson, great reminder.

So how was your church service this weekend?

CHURCH REPORT FOR JUNE 20, 2021: We Got Cookies!

Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR JUNE 20, 2021

How does a nice guy like me end up with a special, hand-selected bag of cookies AND a belt-clippable tape measure that ensured me that I am loved beyond measure?

Well, I went to church on Father's Day! And there, waiting in the foyer, was a container with the aforementioned cookies and another container with a full supply of tape measures! The note on the tape measure said "You are loved beyond measure," while the other side was a quote from 1 Timothy 6:11: "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness." What a great way to start the morning!

After a good Adult Bible Study (in which we finished off the first half of Romans 6), my wife and I decided to enjoy the service in the comfort of the Fireside Room. Usually, there are a few other folks in there with us, but this time, we were all by ourselves. Not counting the people in the foyer. And the auditorium full of people just outside the door.

We started a brand new series in the book of Daniel. I've always enjoyed Daniel--it is a rich and exciting book. Mike Bull gave the overview of the book (in a message entitled--you guessed it--"Overview of Daniel"). He gave us a rundown of the historical background of the book and its main themes and characters. He pointed out that Daniel is often blasted by critics, but there are answers to those attacks.

Overall, Daniel considers the question of how we live faithful lives to God while living in Babylon. And of course, the bottom line of the book is that it isn't about us, it's about God. 

There was a little sadness this day as well, as one of our longstanding church members passed away after a long fight with cancer. He passed on Saturday, making the Sunday Father's Day observance a little bittersweet. The father of a friend of ours from church also passed a couple of weeks ago. I'm reminded of the Scripture which encourages us not to, "sorrow, but as those who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

While Mike's message wasn't directly about this, it did contain hope---hope in the great God who brought Daniel into Babylon and works daily in my life.

So how was your church service this weekend?

SO THAT'S HAPPENING

Yeah, so that's happening . . . .

What follows is a short, spontaneous rattling of a few things off the top of my head. If some of it makes no sense, it might be because it lacks careful, deliberate thought and editing. And keep in mind also, these are little snapshots of the moment. Next week, I might be feeling or thinking differently. You've been warned.

*Swimming pools. When they reach the level of sparkling blue bliss, they are a wonderful addition to one's back yard.  But getting there is not half the fun. Scrubbing, sweeping, vacuuming, scooping. Engaging in a delicate balance of chemistry that would make Walter White proud, adding pounds and gallons of stuff to bring these numbers up and bring these numbers down in order to maintain a safe environment and visual appeal of what often looks like a swamp. And, of course, there is the equipment, the failure of which will set back all the progress being made within a very short time. Yeah, so that's happening . . . .

*Father's Day is almost here. The most interesting gift I ever got for Father's Day is when my daughters took a Monopoly game and changed everything on it to "Dadopoly." What was so amazing is that they incorporated "dadisms" and hobbies and interests to such an extent that it could have been manufactured by the company itself. What also impressed me is that, in order to nail all my habits and idiosyncrasies, my kids were watching me all these years. There's a lesson for fatherhood in there. So that's happening . . . .

*I don't particularly enjoy musicals as a genre, but it's safe to say that I enjoy some of the music from musicals. Lately, I have been watching songs and covers from various shows. A few songs from Hamilton, Wicked, Les Misérables, and even a couple of Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Some of them are very inspirational and motivating, especially when the song transcends the immediate setting of the story.  And I particularly like to see covers of these songs from either different professional artists, or just ordinary people with extraordinary talent. During those quiet moments within the whole study, writing, preparing continuum, I'll click on some videos, just to get my brain stimulated. So that's happening . . . .

*If I could ever start my own business, I know who I want to hire. Not in general, but the specific people. I would pay them well, respect their work, and value them highly. I would expect their best work and their loyalty. Did I mention I would pay them well? I don't know if recruiting people for a company that does not exist, for jobs that are not determined, and for great pay that exists only in my mind is weird, but might as well start somewhere. So that's happening . . . . (the idea, not the business itself!).

So what's happening with you?

CHURCH REPORT FOR JUNE 13, 2021: Outside In

Disclaimer (because someone will say something): although I am actively involved in my church, all opinions and observations are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the leadership, staff, or congregation.

CHURCH REPORT FOR JUNE 13, 2021

As always, my Sunday morning began with the 9:00 Adult Bible Study. We've been going through Romans and, as I mentioned in the class, we're moving at the speed of the Holy Spirit, which means we sometimes only get to one or two verses. Discussions, questions, "rabbit trails," and laughter all contribute to what is a very enjoyable 45 minutes. But in-depth diving into the text does not always mean moving forward a chapter at a time. 

This week, however, we went a little further in chapter 6, emphasizing the point the apostle Paul makes in the chapter that we are dead to sin and alive to God. Good group too (but then it always is...shout out to the folks in the class: if you're reading this, thank you for ministering to me each week!)

I hung out in the foyer for the main service. It's always risky doing that, because there are folks chatting, visiting, or walking through. So if it's so distracting, why do I do it? Three reasons: 1) Sometimes, when I'm putting away my gear from the ABS, I don't get into the main sanctuary in time to grab a "good seat." Granted, nobody would care if I stepped over them, but I don't want to be a distraction. 2) Sometimes, I check and make sure the sound and video on our monitor screens is working right. Nobody asked me to do it, it's just something I do to report on the service from a "layman's" perspective. 3) The main reason is because I really want to get into the sermon. I take notes on the message and sometimes, I'm looking up other references. And it is a lot easier to do this when I can spread my Bible, note sheet, note pad, and cell phone with the Bible app on a flat surface, as the little tables in the foyer provide. 

In the sanctuary or in the foyer, we have a cool praise and worship team. Every week, they bring newer and older songs in what, in my opinion, is a good blend. The service is divided into two song sets, sandwiching the message in the middle. Not my favorite arrangement, but it's growing on me. 

Pastor Dick finished up the book of Ezekiel this morning with a sweeping look at chapters 40-48 in a message entitled "Holy Ground." I loved the main theme of the message; namely, 48:35 that the name of the city is "THE LORD IS THERE." God will never leave us, nor forsake us. How evident is it that I know and believe the Lord is with me?  Good application.

If I could call out one observation: this was not a deep verse-by-verse examination of the millennial temple and its worship. Obviously, because covering nine chapters in 30-40 minute time span would be extremely difficult. I also got the impression that Pastor did not want to wade into some of the controversies surrounding the interpretation of these passages. I'm not talking about compromising, but about choosing the battle to emphasize. Zeroing in on the Lord's abiding presence with His people in all generations was THE point he chose to drive home. Cannot argue with that.

Would I have tackled Ezekiel 40-48 differently? Probably--and it might have been a two hour message! But now that we are finished with Ezekiel, it's time to head into Daniel, with its dreams and visions and eschatology and all sorts of exciting stuff. I can hardly wait.

And how was your church service this weekend?.

THINKING ABOUT MARGINS

I once listened to a speech about the necessity of "margins" in one's life. It has stuck with me ever since, especially at those times when I am feeling overwhelmed.

What is a "margin?" I see it as the liberty to adjust or adapt to life's situations because the basics are taken care of. A margin represents extra space, "wiggle room" if you will, to enjoy or to respond to a need. And margins take many forms.

We can have margins with money, where we have enough left over in our budget to enjoy, invest, or do something different, as well as help others.

We can have margins with time, where we have enough extra time to engage in hobbies, enrichment, or service.

We can have margins with health, where our time and energy spent in diet and exercise allows us to do things that we otherwise could not do.

Margins can really apply to anything.

So I get the concept of margins when it comes to money. Like millions of Americans, I often live from paycheck to paycheck, or, in the words of another cliché: "there's too much month left at the end of my money." At those times, I long for margins, to know that I can write a check with the full confidence that I won't have to "rob Peter to pay Paul" (sorry, another cliché!). And then, if my car breaks down or I need an emergency root canal, there is enough margin in my budge to absorb the added expense.

And I sometimes struggle with time management; or more accurately, "priority management." I've got a lot to do, but it seems like the clock speeds up in proportion to my list. I'd love to be caught up, I'd love to be ahead, so that, if something happens that requires my full attention, I'm ready for the task.

But when it comes to margins, I think one thing that burdens me the most is that, without margins, I am often unable to be a blessing to others. Yes, there is the grace of giving and God has proven Himself time and again that He will provide our needs, even in the paycheck to paycheck existence. And I have shifted priorities in the face of a greater need, setting aside something urgent in order to do something important. These things don't change.

But the advantage of a margin is freedom. Freedom to write that extra check to support a missionary or community outreach. Freedom to take time off to volunteer. Freedom to invest in my family (oh, so important). There are advantages to margins.

Of course, margins take work and a deliberate decision to do something about it. Giving extra involves a determination to be a giving person, regardless of your budget. If all you've got is a dollar and someone needs a dime, give them a quarter (or hey, maybe the whole dollar!). Volunteering some extra time may involve giving up your favorite tv show.  Having the buffer in your checkbook may require that you take advantage of good financial and budgeting tools.

(And yes, as another old saying goes, if it seems I'm pointing a finger at you, it's because four others are pointing back as me)

This is not a confession. I'm not saying, "woe is me." Because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, my day to day life is pretty good. Things aren't that bad all the time. But once in awhile, when the deadlines loom and the bills are due and my text messages pile up, I think about the need for space, for breathing room. 

I think about margins.