"Man Is A Fool"

As a rule, man is a fool,

When it's hot, he wants it cool;

When it's cool, he wants it hot,

Always wanting what is not.

~ by that prolific writer, Anonymous

This is a poem my very wise dad often quoted to this restless, sometimes unhappy daughter during her childhood.  Vee


Snow picture - Clipart Heaven
Folk Sun - Clipart Weather

Who’s Minding the Store?

A while back I posted a blog titled, “What’s in a Name?” It was my fun take on all of the new names churches assign to themselves, most of which give no clue concerning denominational affiliation. Other than thinking these decision-makers are a little silly and trying much too hard, I don’t have problems with what they choose to call themselves. This week, however, I came across a church website that gave me pause. One statement I read on this site was: “It’s an extremely scary, dangerous, exciting time to follow a God who is on the move in new ways in order to redeem a world in peril. The Resistance is our no-looking-back way of celebrating the good news of the end of Christian America. Together, as artists, poets, dreamers, and innovators, we will break all the rules and lay out the welcome mat for Church 2.0.”

The owner of this website is “The Resistance Church.” Further investigation of the site yielded additional information that troubles me. This group has Provocateurs rather than pastors. According to their definition, a provocateur is “an individual who provokes, excites, agitates.” Hopefully, these would not be verbs found in the job description of a pastor.

The manifesto posted by this “church” states that they are “an underground organization composed of individuals working together as an opposition force in conquered territory to overthrow the occupying power.”

This group opposes: 

• Legalism or the “strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code”.
•  Nationalism or “loyalty and devotion to a nation”.
• Fundamentalism or “a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles”.

They also refer to, but do not name, “other similar isms.” Obviously, egoism is not one they oppose.

Resistance movements are usually formed to resist legally established governments. Think “Occupy Wall Street” and “American Resistance Movement.” So, wrongly, I assumed this was such a movement and that they had decided to steal the designation, “church,” from Christians in much the same way the Wiccan “Church” and the “Church” of Satan have done. However, while I continued to navigate the site, I came across this statement: “We are a community in the tradition of the Church of the Nazarene." Clicking a link directed me to information posted by the international headquarters of the church to which I belong. Additional searching on the internet located a site out there in the middle of fly-over country that listed this group as a recognized church in my denomination.

Angry. Disgusted. Concerned. I’m all of those things and I have to wonder if the leadership types in my denomination are too busy with the things of this world to be troubled with “minding the store.”

The Resistance Church Website

Our Marine Recruit

The image was a little blurred as I viewed the pictures through misty eyes. Today, Ben, our youngest grandson, stood at attention in front of the symbol of his country. High school senior, honor student, student body president, possessor of almost enough university recruitment letters to wallpaper his room, our Ben was pictured at the marine recruitment center. He is now a marine recruit. His dream.

I’m proud of Ben and his commitment to support and defend the constitution of the United States. Following his high school graduation, the first stop on his journey will be rigorous recruit training in San Diego. My prayers and love will go with him to every assignment.

When I look at our country’s flag pictured behind Ben, I see the symbol that represents my country and the high and noble values we uphold. Many have given their lives to preserve these values: human rights, liberty for all, equal justice under the law, democracy, equality, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, individual rights and privileges, the right to privacy, freedom to assemble, and commitment to the good of all.

I recognize that it isn’t considered cool and politically correct by many in our left-leaning society to display and salute our flag, and I classify these people with those who dishonor our flag by desecration.  My proud Marine will defend your right to flaunt and promote your ignorance.

Semper Fidelis!

Naming A Hermit Crab

Our grandson, Jesse, and his wife, Jeni, took her niece and nephew to a fish store for the purpose of acquiring pet hermit crabs. After the little girl made her selection, they asked her what she wanted to name it. “Verla,” she replied. “Verla Horsey Cookiepants.”

So happy my parents did not think of the second two names!

Clip Art Source: Buel P. Colton, Zoology: Descriptive and Practical 
(Boston:D.C. Heath & Co., 1903) 82

Doing Church in the New Millennium

It is one minute before midnight, December 31, 2000. Some think it is an angel poised on the cloud. They see a bright vessel in his hand and conjecture that it contains peace, goodwill, and prosperity. These people smile in anticipation. Others view the figure as dark and twisted. They see a shadowy being holding a large black box. These people periodically glance anxiously toward the cloud.

The crystal ball drops, the people scream and kiss and, based on the Gregorian calendar, the new millennium begins. Only the most observant see the twisted, dark figure pour perceptions from the sky, perceptions capable of creating thoughts and conclusions; perceptions powerful enough to change the standards of normal for the world’s relational groups.

With lightening speed, organizations change. Even Christ’s Church transforms from being (presence) to doing (performance) with secular and familiar coiling around sacred and tradition, crushing them together until they are blended and inseparable. This blending of sacred and secular is regarded by some Christians as enlightenment and is immediately accepted.  In many churches, care and concern are replaced with self-interest and defensiveness.

Inexplicably, church leaders are infatuated with a new paradigm that is based primarily on values not dissimilar from those of secular culture. Innovative thinking provides the structure for such actions as using Aretha Franklin’s hit song, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” for the closing song during Sunday “Alternative Worship,” incorporating rock guitar as a staple when creating new worship tunes, producing a club atmosphere in sanctuaries by dimming audience lights and installing stage lighting, adding a rock beat to traditional hymns, and placing cute little ladies wearing short skirts and boots on-stage to dance.

I’m trying to recall who said, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Oh yes, that was written long ago by Paul Somebody (Romans 12:2 NIV).

This could be page one of a thousand-page book. But it may be just a one-day reflection.