That’s All…for now!
I’ve been writing on this blog for over 5 years.
Its time for a new direction since I’ve made some of my own changes.
I won’t be posting on this blog anymore but plan to start-up a new one –
when I figure out what I’ll let you know!
To all of you that have read my scribbles over the years –
Thanks for reading & stay tuned – I can’t keep quiet for long!
The Church – Cowardly or Courageous?
“A church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed, what gospel is that? Very nice, pious considerations that don’t bother anyone, that’s the way many would like preaching to be. Those preachers who avoid every thorny matter so as not to be harassed, so as not to have conflicts and difficulties do not light up the world they live in. They don’t have Peter’s courage, who told that crowd where the bloodstained hands still were that had killed Christ: ‘You killed him!’ Even though the charge could cost him his life as well, he made it. The gospel is courageous; its the good news of him who came to take away the world’s sins.”
Archbishop Oscar Romero – 1978
Providence is not only a city in Rhode Island
The terms ‘chance’, ‘accident’, ‘contingency’, as they are employed by the world in connection with the
events of human life, should be entirely expunged from the Christian’s vocabulary.
They belong solely to the dictionary of the atheist, and should never pass the lips of the believer.
Beware of that practical atheism which excludes God from His own world; which excludes Him
from your individual history. He is not only present in His created universe, but He is as much in personal events of life, shaping, guiding, overruling each and all.
Beloved, God is in history.
God in every man’s history.
God is in your history.
Octavius Winslow
2013 in review
I have not posted as much in 2013 as in years past but thank you for reading! The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for my blog. Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,300 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 38 trips to carry that many people.
A few things I have learned being a “bi-vocational” pastor
For the last 2 years I have been a “bi-vocational” pastor – I work at least 40 hours a week as a substance abuse counselor and pastor a church “part-time.” I have found it rewarding and challenging but it has required me to think about the assumptions, myths and distortions about what constitutes pastoring and ministry.
I began working part time initially because our family needed more income that our small church could not provide. Our family home schools and my wife and I have felt that since that is our priority we have tried to have only one of us employed outside the home. I also needed a different challenge. I have always chaffed at traditional limitations, thinking & expectations in regard to pastoring, the church and ministry when they are limited to Sunday morning building oriented activities or inward focused, pleasing member demands. I’ve seen too much of what God is able to do to limit his power or reduce the Gospel to that.
I was able to dust off some counseling skills and found that I enjoyed my new job and was getting good feedback from my employer, eventually leading to full time employment & certification. I understand a lot better how it feels after working all day and then to try to find the energy for a board meeting. I also have learned a lot about people from all walks of life who have wreaked havoc with their lives from addiction but who would never think about walking into a church building and talk with “the Pastor.” I have listened to the stories of women & women who have been assaulted as well as men and women who have done the assaulting and served time for it; who have stolen medications and money from their family for a fix, who have neglected or abandoned children for another high. I work with parole & probation officers, child protective services and court officials. You could say I ran into life in the raw and not the Sunday morning “put on a happy face to go to church” variety.
I have also seen God work in people’s lives – Holy Spirit directed words of comfort, wisdom and encouragement, the forming of real community as burdens and tears and “breakthroughs” are shared, and the birth of hope – the realization that there is another way to live and a future that is more than a repeat of the past.
However, I as a result of my new official ecclesiastical status, I have run across a number of myths, assumptions and distortions. The first is that a bi- vocational pastor is not a “real” pastor or successful – real and successful defined as compensated fully or employed full time by a congregation. I wanted to go to a retreat years ago and applied for financial assistance but was told by the ministry in charge that I was not eligible for the aid since I worked another job. I guess the Apostle Paul wouldn’t have qualified either since he made tents to support himself!
I have also run into “church shoppers”who look down their nose at a congregation with a bi-vocational pastor. The underlying assumption may be that a real or successful congregation is one that can afford the salary and benefits required for a full time employee who will then take care of member’s needs. However, most pastors, if full time, survive if married, by their spouse working. Despite the claim of “family friendly,” (and unless your Steven Furtick) many congregations provide a low level income that requires extra income to survive and qualifies for food stamps.
Another distortion that usually tags along with the assumption that successful = full time is that the pastor is the only real minister since they are “the professional.” Besides the mistaken belief that a degree alone makes one a capable and godly leader, this undercuts developing the spiritual gifts and ministry of other members of the local body. It prevents the development of quality spiritual leaders whether deacons or elders. It also usually leads to leadership boards that do not lead and do not serve but manage and control. It often joins with the distortion that “real” ministry occurs only on the church property or during Sunday morning or office hours or other stated times of gathering on church real estate. The truth is that real ministry occurs where ever Spirit filled, Christ loving believers go. A truly functioning body requires that all its members exercise their God ordained function – a wonderful opportunity to develop a multi-gifted eldership that can expand and diversify the work and service of a congregation.
There are real benefits for the bi-vocational pastor and the congregation they work with. These include understanding the pressures and demands of people and families instead of becoming myopic about what defines ministry and mission; freedom from control and manipulation when the big givers try to use their financial clout to stop change or control true leadership; freeing up money spent on high cost benefits such as health insurance & the opportunity to influence the community to a higher level by being “salt” in everyday life.
There are also challenges – the most obvious is time. I have less time to study and write. I have to manage my minutes. I have less time to waste. As has been pointed out by numerous spiritual giants of yesteryear, pastoral ministry can provide a temptation for sloth. It is all too easy to confuse and justify “busyness” and a full calendar with genuine spiritual progress. I have to delegate and share the load of caring for people instead of trying to indulge my own need to be needed. I have to challenge my own assumption that “its all up to me” or that ministry doesn’t happen unless I show up. In other words the challenges of being bi-vocational are tough on my own sinful self but good for my sanctification & I pray ultimately good for the mission of the church.
Will I continue serving this way? Only God knows. Some believe”bi-vocational” ministry will become the norm for the future in our post-Christendom age. Its not for everyone. I see fruit in what I am doing. I don’t see think its realistic that society or the church will return to how it used to be 40 or 50 years ago. The missional status of the church is clearer than ever. What is needed is an apostolic spirit to match – and that requires thinking beyond how how pastoral or congregational ministry and success has been defined – by employee status.
Only words?
I am thankful for many things. This Thanksgiving I am particularly thankful that over the years I have encountered many men & women who were able to “speak to my condition.” There have been many. Some names I recall, others I don’t but here are a few…(first names only so as to protect the identity of the innocent)
Ruth
Paul
Anton
Joe
Sammy
Al
Charles
Gary
Hobart
Leon
Steve
Don
Ken
Gary
John
Jim
Steve
Josimar
Your words were important but more so your presence. God worked through you to give me encouragement, life and hope especially when I felt I had little to offer or little faith. I try to pass the blessing on.
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and healing for the body.” Proverbs 16:24
Samurai Sault?
Chippewa County Sheriff Deputies assisted Sault Tribal Police with a Friday complaint after a man with a samurai sword threatened patrons at a local house of gaming. The matter was apparently triggered by the man’s belief that Nazis were at that location. Authorities eventually overpowered & arrested the 66 year old man without incident.
Life in da Soo…
Should Only Governments Have Vehicles of Mass Destruction?
A new anti-weapons lobby group called “Only Governments Should Have Weapons” issued a statement concerning the car attack on the Capitol on Thursday – “once again we are faced with the attempt to use a weapon of mass destruction against innocent people. We call on all leaders and law enforcement officials to work to enact licensing of these dangerous weapons before more people are killed. Furthermore, we want to see owners of these lethal weapons licensed as well including background checks along with the obligation of having liability insurance. These innocent looking vehicles are actually a steel & gasoline disaster waiting to happen and a threat to civil peace when hurtling along at 60 plus mph by deranged drivers. It is the height of irresponsibility that the manufacturers of these dangerous weapons continue to profit at the public’s expense. How long must these incidents happen and the toll in loss of life go on before action is taken?”
When the spokeswoman was informed that these measures had already been taken the organization had no comment except to repeat the statement with a louder volume and more shrill voice.
Through the Storm
He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.
He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it.
He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.
The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.
By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.
By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent.
And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?
Job 26:7-14
A tree in our front yard came down the other night during a storm. We heard a crash and then the power went out. We looked out the windows and all we could see were tree branches. We knew our two vans were underneath but could not see anything except the back of them and the downed power line. One van (vintage 1995) took the brunt of the tree’s weight which crunched the windshield, driver side door & frame. Since it’s so old its probable time for the junk yard. The other van had some crunches in the roof and luggage rack, a broken windshield and smashed side mirror. There was no damage to the house except a hole in a screen from a branch and a loose piece of siding when the power line was pulled down. For the size of the tree it could have been much worse! It seems the tree had very little root system and the soil underneath was very saturated with water which may have loosened what little was holding it down.
I usually do not react well to things breaking, busting or being damaged but this time was different and I’m not sure why. The damage on the van is fixable and the yard seems more open without the tree I never liked and was home for the birds that liked to spoil a good car wash with a direct hit. Today, many in the church openly mock or deny the truth of God’ sovereingty and omniscience. However, I have a sense of the hand of God protecting us through it all because a few inches in a different direction would have meant more serious damage. If not a sparrow falls without the Father’s knowledge then I’m fairly certain it’s also true for trees as well. For that I am thankful.
Out of Step
My first official dance lesson was a rite of passage as well as part of 1970’s grade school tradition. It was exciting as well as scary – the female of the species seemed to have lost their “cooties” and taken on a strange alluring, magnetic attraction. Our teachers acting as chaperons kept a close eye on the proximity of our hormone laden bodies that seemed to have the instability of nitroglycerin. The awkwardness of physical contact eased after repeated attempts to get in step with the instructions of the teacher & the rhythm of the music, eventually, 2 pairs of adolescent feet found an uneasy synchronized pattern. Missteps and falling out of step were often but given the simplicity of the Foxtrot getting back in step was easy along with an awkward smile. After time, the fox trot became routine, the watchfulness of the chaperons relaxed, and as music changed keeping in step gave way to circulating in proximate orbits of movement.
Keeping in step was easy for the fox trot but it has rarely been so for me in regards to anything else. Bandwagons have had little appeal. I tended to be the one who in the midst of a wave of group think raised his hand and asked “but what about…?” which is usually as popular as a skunk at a picnic. Having tried to be an institutional, denominational pastor for over 20 years still hasn’t changed me that much. Movements, revolutions and reformations run out of steam, money or hype. As it seems to have turned out most of us were not history makers or nations changers. Having tried to pastor for over 20 years still hasn’t changed me that much. I still let ecclesiastical bandwagons pass me by – these days they look all too familiar – recycled with a fresh coat of paint that doesn’t look like it will hold out under the bright sunlight or a heavy rain. I’ve seen this part of the parade before and it usually leads to the same end – distracting detours, deceptive dead ends and doctrinal disasters.
As far as I can tell, Jesus was never concerned about dancing to the tune of his generation. When it comes to faith, it’s easy to get side tracked. Peyton Jones, in his book “Church Zero” calls the mistaken priorities of the church as a dance with 5 easy steps:
1) Get more people
2) More people = more money
3) More money = more toys
4) More toys = More ways to get more people
5) Get more people (rinse & repeat)
That’s like replacing an entirely different dance with different steps – you end up a tangle of feet or dancing alone. However, there are a few things I recall from my early dancing days that correspond with which tune church dances to today and the missteps that are possible:
1) It’s not about the building – Dance lessons were not in a mirror lined studio with polished wood floors but in the school lunch room, with the tables pushed to the side and the aroma of that day’s lunch of tater tots and mystery meat lingering in the air. So much for ambience and atmosphere! But it didn’t matter. We didn’t need a lot of techno-wizardry or designer dazzle. That wasn’t what we were there for.
2) It’s not about the music – I remember some of the bands such as “Bread, “The Guess Who” and “America” and even some of the song titles that were spun on the 45 rpm record player. We listened to the same tunes on the radio at home. That’s not what we were there for.
3) It’s not about getting more feet in the door or on the floor – We weren’t keeping count. We were on the look out for that special someone to dance with and more bodies just got in the way.
What were we there for? For the encounter – to be with the other -even if for a few moments – even a choreographed one – with the person of our desire. Most young men in their early teens wouldn’t be caught dead expressing an interest in dance for dance sake. But this was different. We were willing to be stretched out of our usual comfort zone, to even look like clumsy fools simply for an encounter with that special other.
A dance has basic steps that form the pattern for movement. Faith does as well. Faith is more than knowing certain facts or performing certain actions. First and foremost faith is an encounter with the Triune God. Being a disciple of Jesus means first and foremost not following principles but a person. Preachers of another age used the term “experiential” or “experimental” because faith involves an interaction with each member of the Trinity. Patristic theology uses the Greek term “periochoresis” (to dance around) to describe the interrelations and interactions of the persons of the Trinity. Peter Leithart points out that the word’s verbal form, besides providing the root for the English word “choreographed” was also used as a metaphor of how the members of the Godhead dance around and with one another, what St. Maximus called the “eternal movement of love.”
Through the sacrifice of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit, the Father has made it possible for us to join in their relationship in a way that is beyond metaphor – to join in the divine fellowship. In John 17:21-13, Jesus prayed for his disciples that “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” This is a unity in which the uniqueness of persons is not absorbed or erased but allows them to interact with one another in genuine communion or “koinonia” and with one another. A holy, circling dance is a fitting image.
I know for some that dance is not going to be a popular or appealing picture especially if you hold to the old-time adage “the praying knee can’t belong to a dancing leg” (of course thankfully, Miriam & King David did not know that!). Other metaphors of the spiritual life that focus on warfare or conflict or battle are far more appealing especially to the male of the species especially when fueled by images of “Brave Heart,” Gladiator” or those who think the church’s confession of faith should sound like “THIS IS SPARTA!”
God’s not asking us to stretch our awkward frames into pink tutus but we are commanded to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5: 16) which speaks of following the lead of the 3rd member of the Trinity. If I as a pastor or leader or believer am trying to dance to the tune of my or another generation or the demands of institutional priorities or the expectations of the current cultural despisers of the faith then I am not following the right steps. I will be moving to a foreign tune that will be out of step with the Holy Spirit.
The Triune God has made it possible for us to join in his eternal movement of love. It also means we join with other believers as part of the divine choreography as we encounter the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That’s worth staying in step with.
A Veteran of a Different Stripe
I recently finished an older book entitled “Blood and Fire: The Story of William and Catherine Booth and the Salvation Army” by Roy Hattersley (Doubleday, 2000). I have wanted to learn more about the Booths, the founders of the Salvation Army since (as family history tells it) my maternal, Scottish great grandfather, Moncrieff Galloway, signed the “Articles of War” or “Soldier’s Covenant” of belief and practice after surviving the Boer War in S. Africa in 1902. He later moved to the U.S. in 1909 and worked in a factory as he continued to preach and serve in “the Army” as a Sgt. Major. I have a small pocket New Testament of his with one of his sermon outlines written in pencil on the inside of the cover.
While best known today for their social work and the storefront Christmas bell-ringer and change bucket, in their times, the Booths were unconventional, radical and shocked the stolid church establishment. They were routinely attacked by the press and church leaders as rude, crude, and socially un-respectable even as their adherents from the working classes, once decimated by crime, poverty, prostitution and alcohol were physically attacked by mobs and gangs organized by liquor manufacturers and bar owners. Like many trailblazers and leaders they were autocratic, insensitive and demanding but worked with a clear sense of drive and mission that was almost apostolic in spirit.
Reviewer Wendy Smith writes, “They preached in the streets of London accompanied by brass bands, appropriating the methods of ungodly popular entertainment to draw working-class sinners to righteousness. They founded soup kitchens and people’s halls to feed the hungry and give them a place to congregate other than the tavern. William Booth (1829-1912) and his wife, Catherine (1829-90), outraged polite society with the establishment of their Christian Mission in 1865. Rechristened the Salvation Army in 1878, the organization challenged the smug Victorian status quo by insisting that sin sprang from unjust social conditions. British writer and Labour Party stalwart Roy Hattersley vividly conveys the political and religious context within which the Salvation Army operated without scanting the forceful (not to say peculiar) characters of its founders. William was authoritarian and self-righteous, yet he often deferred to intellectual, strong-minded Catherine, whose instinctive sympathy for the poor and belief in women’s equality before God shaped their ministry. They were hardly warm people, yet their marital love was unshakable and absolute. The Salvation Army survived their autocratic leadership to flourish into the 21st century: ‘It is not necessary to believe in instant sanctification,’ writes Hattersley in a characteristically balanced summing-up, ‘to admire and applaud their work of social redemption.”
Of course social change is always controversial these days to some – such as former-Fox News TV show hosts who reduce all issues to chalkboard comic characters and produce nothing but hot air. However, the work of mission and evangelism are false to the good news of the kingdom if they ignore the sad reality of the conditions of the real 99% and majority of the 7 billion of the world. The Booths grasped that the Gospel is truly transforming – a person who is new creation because of the Spirit of God will bring change to their family and community. The Booths weren’t the first to grasp that truth of gospel transformation and thankfully they weren’t the last. Ministries that address practical solutions to child labor, prostitution, grinding poverty & unhealthy living conditions due to substance abuse as well as economic inequality are thriving from Guatemala to Tajikistan, from all corners of the earth because sin still is the source of human misery and the atoning work of Jesus Christ, his blood brings freedom from its consequences.
As the author Roy Hattersley points out, one does not have to agree with all the Booths believed (I certainly don’t) to applaud what they attempted and achieved. Hattersley is honest about their faults and the challenge for all strong, founding leaders – what happens when your gone. The Salvation Army survived family member defections as well as the inevitable process of a spiritual movement organizing into an institution. There had to have been something of the fire of God’s grace at work to reach a battle weary soldier’s heart in South Africa over a hundred years ago that led to a true confession of saving faith and brought blessings to his family for years to come . My great grandfather was promoted to glory in 1953. I am told that he prayed for many years for his family both born and yet un-born. I am thankful he did and I am thankful there was someone there that day in S. Africa, even if dressed in what was considered an odd & unconventional uniform, to point him to his Savior.
Some of the Galloway Family – John, Crief, Mary, Lilas and my Great-Grandfather, Moncrief
True Love or Lure?
Sault Police report happening upon a man and woman trailering a boat over the weekend with the couple seeking directions to the nearest hospital. The woman, reports indicate, had come out on the losing end of a battle with a fish and wound up with the lure stuck in her chin. It seems the woman had asked her husband to cut the hook to avoid an embarrassing trip to the hospital, but the man had reportedly declined to do so explaining he did not want to ruin his favorite lure.
Seems to me this guy’s got his priorities mixed up…
In the court of God’s justice there is no such thing as an inalienable right to sin.
Does God Do “Retro” ?
Thanks to Netflix and Amazon I am able to indulge in a little nostalgia by watching my old TV favorites like “Andy Griffith” and “Dick Van Dyke.” While obviously dated, there are many times the comedic genius and writing skill shine through. I enjoy the classics in movies as well but realize that the “good ol’ days” are usually more imaginary than reality. Nostalgia used to be considered a psychological problem for sailors and soldiers away from home for long periods of time. “Retro” is now its own brand – Cracker Barrel specialize in providing the candy and toys from the childhood of it patrons. However enjoyable “Double Bubble Gum” or playing with a wooden glider may be, the problem with nostalgia is that it focuses on the past to the neglect of the present, distorts one‘s memory by becoming selective and ignores the potential of the future.
The generation freed from Egypt learned the hard way that nostalgia is dangerous. Though divinely supplied by the Lord, when thirsty, hungry and weary, the former slaves began to reminisce about “the pleasures” of Egypt – “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic” (Num. 11:5) and ended up desiring to return to slavery. In reality, the pleasures of Egypt were anything but (unless decades of toil, deprivation and hardship qualify!). Nostalgia distorted their memory, they forgot what the Lord had done for them and chose to reject the future they had been promised. Their nostalgia resulted in their slow death by wandering in the wilderness.
The generation that re-settled and rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple under the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra faced the same choice. On the day of the “groundbreaking” of the new temple, the shouts of joy are mixed with tears especially for those that had seen the Temple of Solomon before it was destroyed (Ezra 3). When the enthusiasm for the building project lags the prophet Haggai diagnoses what seems to what’s hindering the effort – the memory of the old temple’s glory “back in the day” seems to make the new project paltry in comparison. Yet the prophet declares (Haggai 2:3, 9): “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now…Is it not as nothing in your eyes?… The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts.”
The Lord seems to have no interest in a nostalgia that causes his people to lose sight of their future, remain stuck in what has been or desire to return to what used to be, no matter how wonderful or glorious at the time. The Lord never even promises a return to the garden of Genesis, as wonderful as it was & despite the yearning (as Jodi Mitchell put it) to “get ourselves back to the garden.” God does not work backwards but forwards into the future he has planned, promised and is working to bring about. The Lord does not promise a return to the old creation but a new creation and a new heavens and new earth. He does not promise to reform Egypt but “a city to come,” not a restored temple of Solomon but a temple of surpassing glory, his people as living stones, a dwelling for the Spirit. The God of our redemption does not work in reverse but forward, to the future which is far promised to be greater than the past.
Preachers will often invoke a return to the 1st century apostolic church or a repeat Pentecost as an ideal. While such sentiments are often used to whip up the crowd or express a desire for something more than the current status quo of the church’s condition or experience, ultimately they point us in the wrong direction. There is no such thing as a spiritual time machine that can return us to the days gone by. While the church is rooted in its history its future is not found there but in the unfolding of God’s purpose for his people. There is a maturity that will be made reality, a fullness in Christ that will come to complete fruition (Eph. 4:13) that will surpass apostolic days. As wonderful as the day of Pentecost was there is a greater glory to come. While the resurrection of the Son of God was earth shaking, the raising up of millions of God’s saints will amaze heaven and earth. As precious to me is to me is the day of my conversion the day of my transformation and glorification will far surpass it. When it comes to what God will do “you ain’t seen nothing yet, folks!”
Nostalgia can be an enjoyable trip down memory lane but it has its drawbacks – as some “reunion tours” of ageing rock stars reveals – some things are best left in the past! Nostalgia in God’s people can be debilitating when the rose tinted glasses of yesteryear blind us to what God is up to in the present and what he has promised for the future. God’s people are called to remember – his nature, his mighty acts and his promises. But this remembering is to strengthen our faith in the same God for the present and to anchor our hope for the future. The Lord of past, present & future has no reverse gear. He does not work backwards. He is not into “retro.” The Lord is working forward according to his promises and drawing those who trust in him to walk with him towards the future he is bringing to pass.
(This post is an adaptation of a sermon I preached Jan. 27th, 2013)
Mr. Bumblehead says…
(From the Collected Works of Julius R. Bumblehead)
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 4,600 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 8 years to get that many views.
The “War on Christmas” Continued…
“Sault Police are investigating a Thursday night incident where various lawn ornaments were damaged by a vehicle in the 1600 block of Marquette. Evidence suggests that the vehicle was eastbound when the driver decided to cross the westbound lane of traffic, left the roadway and ran down a ceramic angel, three decorative candy canes and a wooden bench, before departing from the scene. There are no suspects in this matter.”
However, unnamed city sources confirm that this person was sighted leaving the crime scene:
Songs for Turkeys
Top 10 Favorite Songs about Thanksgiving
10. “I Want to Hold Your Yam”
9. “These are a Few of My Favorite Wings”
8. “I Can’t Get No Second Helpings”
7. “Give Peas a Chance”
6. “Red Butter Ball”
5. “Cranberry Fields Forever”
4. “Feelin’ Gravy”
3. “Take It Greasy”
2. “We’re Off to See the Gizzard”
1. “Inna-Gobble-Da-Vita”
Cha-cha-cha-cha-changes…
Once upon a time I thought it was up to me to change the world. I soon found out that the rest of the world wasn’t as convinced as I was that it needed changing. Then I envisioned that the church needed to change and I thought I was the one for the job! I was quickly informed that the church was not interested in change of any kind especially mine. Eventually, I realized that I was the one needing change and so I did my best to change myself. I learned the hard way that self-surgery is very painful and nearly impossible since my perspective is not accurate enough except to make a bloody mess. There came a time when I realized that all my attempts at change either were fruitless or blew up in my face. I finally said “God – I have had enough – you will have to change me!”
And that was when the real change began.
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:7
A Real Bible Thumper!
A 64-year-old woman is facing an assault charge after allegedly striking a pastor in the head with a Bible during a dispute inside a Baptist church in Tennessee. Cops busted Ina Garrett for the alleged Bible thumping of Rev. Leon Taylor, who heads the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Selmer. County Sheriff deputies were summoned to the church in late-May to deal with a “lady that was unwanted.” Taylor told investigators that Garrett had been voted out of the church. During the church confrontation, “Ms. Garrett took her Bible and threw it at Mr. Taylor hitting him in the face.” Taylor then took a swing at Garrett, but did not make contact. After a brief detour to a local hospital, Garrett was transported by a sheriff’s deputy to the county jail, where she was charged with “assault on the preacher Mr. Taylor.” In a TV interview, Garrett copped to striking Taylor in the head. “He’s got the demon in him,” she explained.
The Preacher biz can be dangerous!
Introducing Mr. Bumblehead…
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Bumblehead who will be sharing his insights, ponderings and gems of wisdom for life & living.
To start us off here’s his thought for the day:
We have warning labels for food, alcohol, cigarettes & such.
How about warning labels for people?
Like “Danger! This person may be hazardous to your health, sanity or well-being!”
extraecclesiam... 
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